Lenora I tiptoed down the hallway, crimson with frustration and humiliation. CJ's response bruised me and my embarrassment quickly turned to annoyance. I didn't know what to do or think anymore. He couldn't tell me he loved me back, despite knowing how I longed for him to say it out loud and to mean it. Every cell in my body wanted him and he knew this, yet he hurt more than he could possibly imagine. It seemed he had a field day by always making sure I was unhappy. My heart felt like an aching old wound and I shook my head regretfully, blaming myself for always falling for his antics. Everything was confusing because if he wanted me for sex, he would have fucked me and dumped me afterward, but tonight when I initiated sex, I found his rejection vaguely disturbing.Although he'd satisfied me wholly with his tongue, I wanted him to penetrate inside me and make love to me properly. I wanted skin-on-skin contact with his cock buried deep in my moist wetness. A part of my brain assu
LenoraCJ's declaration filled my day with a radiant glow, breathing life into my heart. Hearing him declare his love for me was the best feeling in the world. It sewed up a long-felt emptiness, a puzzle piece falling into place. It made my soul sing. Mariselle's moodiness lingered, and because I didn't want to seem insensitive, I suppressed my happiness, saving it for later.But I couldn't help it. A wistful smile graced my lips, especially when CJ was within earshot. He winked at me, that handsome smirk on his lips. My face burned like wildfire. I blushed profusely and tried not to let Mariselle notice me staring at her dad like a lovesick fool. If I wasn't careful, it won't be long for me to get busted.The house seemed to hum with my happy mood, each step infused with newfound lightness. Humming a melody, I danced to an invisible rhythm as I tidied up Mariselle's room.She walked past me, brooding and silent. I paused, holding a folded blanket. "Mari, are you planning on a
CJ I met my brother Harrison in a rundown bar not so far from the werewolf pack. It was quite a journey but I needed to make sure that Giovanni and his cronies didn't defeat my brother like they did to me. No one knew when this whole fiasco would blow over, or what Giovanni's next plot would be.When I arrived, I quickly spotted Harrison by his tall frame standing out against a sea of patrons. He looked different from the last time I saw him, older and devoid of his boyishness. Now he had weary lines on his forehead and I felt guilty for throwing him into the spotlight. Before now, I'd never felt this happy in a long while. Lenora had returned to her house, but the weekend was memorable. We hid like horny rabbits, almost getting caught by Mariselle. Harrison got off his stool, and I lowered my hoodie, walking past a vintage bar where live rock music was playing.We exchanged pleasantries, and I sat opposite him on the bar stool that had stood the test of time."Whiskey?" I respon
Lenora 🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞 Hungry and bored as hell, I groaned into my hands. I returned from CJ's house the previous day, but I already wanted to go back. Fixing my gaze on the ceiling, mental images of CJ filled my head like an addiction, and I was hooked. A grin sneaked its way onto my face as my phone chimed with a text. /Hey, baby. I think you took something and need to return it./ I frowned, sitting up. /What is it?/ /My heart./ I burst into soundless laughter, shaking my head at his cheesy line. Well, I had the perfect comeback. /It's mine now, and I don't plan on returning it to you./ I stared at my screen, waiting for his reply. /In that case, how am I supposed to function without it?/ /I don't know. Maybe you can find another one. What are you up to?/ /Fairtrade. Nothing much, just going through my thesis. Mariselle isn't home; she's having dinner with Regé. You know, this would have been the perfect time for us to be alone together while you rotate your hips in small c
Lenora"What the fuck!" Mariselle exploded sharply, her shriek tearing through the air. My heart raced like a marathon runner and my breath caught in my throat.CJ and I leaped apart. I was naked and grabbed the sheets to cover myself up as if that would protect her from my wrath. My breathing became painful and I prepared for the worst, knowing that this right here was a damn catastrophe."Dad... what the hell is going on here?" Her voice trembled. "No, let me rephrase that. Why are you fucking my BEST FRIEND?"CJ's composure was under attack. I'd never seen him so shaken and it frightened me. But he mustered a step closer while Mariselle took several steps back, eyes darting between us both like an animal trying to determine which of us was most dangerous.She seemed so shocked. So lost and bewildered. It broke my heart just to see the hurt and rage that made my insides churn."Mariselle, baby, I... It's not what you think..." CJ's voice shook.Mariselle's voice erupted like a to
CJI felt bouts of sadness watching Lenora. She looked lost, with a flash of wild grief rippling through her. Her hair was disheveled, and she was dressed in pajama pants and a T-shirt with 'Sugar Baby' written across her chest. She must have been in bed all day. My fingers twitched to hug her and make her feel better. My poor baby.Her alluring lips trembled when I approached her and a small, breathless whisper escaped them. Although she wanted us to break up, I could see in her eyes that she didn't want to let me go without a fight. We were supposed to be together for the rest of our livesA heaviness centered in my chest when her doe eyes clung to mine, making my heart skip several beats."Baby, I want us to talk.""There's nothing to talk about," she looked away, frowning."I know you love me, and I know you're hurt, but we can't let our families stop us from being happy, whether or not they approve of us."She looked down as if hiding her feelings. "Mairselle is your daughter
LenoraI sorted through my wardrobe, the colorful fabrics tumbling through my fingers. This trip was annoying and I wasn't excited for it. I know it sounds selfish, especially when my dad was trying so hard to mend things between me and Esme. With a soft groan, I settled amidst the sea of clothes and travel bags, sighing as if the weight of the world rested on my shoulders.Then Dad walked into my room just as my fingers were lingering on the frayed edges of my favorite boots. He held my passport in one hand and waved the boarding pass in the other, excitement dancing in his eyes."Ethiopia. Here we come."I let out another groan. "Dad, I don't think this trip to Ethiopia is the right time."He raised an eyebrow, looking curious. "And why's that?"I shut my vanity mirror, frowning a little. "Firstly, I feel like we're being rushed into this whole bonding thing. It's not that I don't want to connect with Esme, but forcing it might just make things worse."He sat down beside me, a reas
LenoraThe dining table was a delightful sight, adorned with an array of colorful and aromatic Ethiopian dishes that made my mouth water. Plates of injera, a spongy flatbread, were spread out, accompanied by doro wat, a spicy chicken stew, and kitfo, a minced meat dish. We all gathered around the table and my grandma served us specially. It felt good to be pampered by a female figure. Although my mum was Ethiopian, Esme and I looked more Caucasian than African because of our redundant genes. Esme had curlier hair than my straight one and had a flatter nose. My grandma, her face radiant, heaped more food on our plate. "Lenora, my dear, how do you find the food?" "Absolutely amazing," I smiled. "The flavors are so rich and unique. I've never had anything quite like this before."My dad chuckled, giving me a knowing look. "Told you. Ethiopian cuisine is a treat for the senses and that's one of the reasons I fell in love with your mum."My grandma beamed with pride. "I'm glad you're
LenoraI was busy making sure that the party was going in full swing and tried as much as possible to avoid Titan. Unfortunately, his charming smile and seductive voice had gotten some females in the house, including the married ones. He flirted with anyone, not caring whether they were married or not, and I was annoyed. I couldn't wait for him to get the hell out of my house.I hated him so much because he was a very good pretender and hated myself for falling for his cheap ploy. The party was over. CJ asked me to show the entourage their rooms. I was about to walk past a room but gasped in shock when he drew me inside and shut the door."What are you doing, Titan?" I yelled, giving him a dirty look. I never knew I was capable of being this angry. I felt like using a knife to stab him.My nasty look didn't stop him. Instead, he was adamant and had an amused smile. "You know you turn me on when I see you mad. I missed your lips, darling. And this is between you and me, but I came here
RubyI couldn't believe that that wicked boy and his father were here. It hurt more that he was sitting at the dining table chatting with my dad, looking so smug and confident as if he had done nothing wrong and was fooling my dad, who didn't know how terrible the boy was.He didn't even glance at me and was acting like I was invisible. I felt a surge of pain. How could people be so cruel and heartless? I wanted to scream at him, to tell my dad and everyone how much he hurt me. But I couldn't do that because the Lycans were very important and powerful, and they were my dad's guests. My dad beamed with pride, and I could tell that he was so happy.I was glad that my sister spiked Enzo's food, and I wished she had done more. I couldn't stand being in the same room with him anymore, so I excused myself to get some fresh air. My mom gave me a worried look but didn't say anything. She was also battling with her demons.It didn't help that Jade and Luca were also around. I didn't want to se
Ruby My niece, Jade, hugged me so hard I could barely breathe. Squealing in delight, she wrapped her arms around my neck, almost lifting me off the ground."Can you believe it, Rubs? We're in senior year! This is going to be the best year ever, especially now that I have a boyfriend," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with happiness.Pretending to share her enthusiasm, I returned the smile. There were familiar faces here and there, all chatting, laughing, and reminiscing about their summer. I wished I could escape from it all and go back to my quiet room where I could lay in bed all day. I didn't care about senior year or any of the things that Jade was babbling about. I just wanted to be left alone.I was in the bathroom doing my thing when I heard Tammy and the other queen bees of the school walking to the bathroom. They were putting the finishing touches on their makeup and also talking about who was dating whom. My stomach tightened when they mentioned Luca and Jade."Oh my God,
Lenora After the craziness the previous night, I woke up at five-thirty with a splitting headache. Luckily, there were painkillers in the drawer. After taking them, I decided to go for a run to clear my head and escape from the nightmare that had happened last night.I put on my running shoes, grabbed my phone, and checked the flight app again, hoping to find a way out of this hell, but the next available flight was at seven PM, which meant that we had to wait for another fourteen hours before we could leave Bali.Muttering to myself, I tiptoed out of the room without wanting to wake Ruby, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed. She looked so innocent, like an angel, and I felt like a failed mother, for exposing her to strangers who had tried to hurt her.I began running along the beach, feeling the sand under my feet and the breeze on my face. The rising sun painted the sky with orange and pink hues but I couldn't enjoy the beautiful scenery and, despite trying not to focus on what
RubyI sobbed uncontrollably, bitter with myself and that pretender, Enzo, who ended up being everything I never thought he'd be. He seemed harmless, but little did I know that he was up to no good.My mom led me out of the nightclub, her eyes wide with fright. Although I suspected she was a bit tipsy from her stumbling movements, she still managed to hail a taxi and shove me inside.I hated her. I hated her for making me come to Bali with her. I hated her for encouraging me to explore and have fun. I hated her for being a hypocrite and a liar.But I couldn't tell her these things, so I kept quiet.We arrived at the hotel, and she locked the door behind us and turned on the lights. She looked at me with concern in her cornflower-blue eyes."Baby, what happened?" She asked softly. "Did that boy hurt you?"I glared at her through my tears. "And how's that any of your business?"A gasp escaped as if I'd struck her, and her face paled with tears gathering in her eyes."Don't raise your vo
Lenora The first thing that hit me when I stepped into the nightclub with Titan by my side was regret. Unable to fill my lungs, my thoughts turned inwards. I didn't know what it was, but it felt like Titan was controlling my mind, taking control of every cell in my body and keeping a tight grip on my consciousness.When I got to the door, I realized just how stupid I was acting. After CJ called me earlier, I decided to stay away from Titan, knowing that I was growing an attraction for him, but here I was in the club with him, ready to dance the night away. He took my hand and gave it an appreciative squeeze before releasing it.The music was too loud, and the lights were flashing everywhere, making it impossible to see past the crowd, but Titan's eyes were glued to me as if he wanted to see what was under my clothes.I didn't belong here. Maybe if Ruby hadn't gone out for the karaoke night with Enzo and I had someone to talk to, I wouldn't have agreed to come out with Titan.But when
Lenora An adorable smile appeared on Ruby's face, and Enzo grabbed her hand as they ran off, laughing. My daughter looked so happy and carefree, and I could tell she was into the boy. I couldn't blame her. The young man was dashingly handsome, with eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. His hair was parted neatly on one side of his head, with a few tendrils that had escaped, falling onto his forehead. He had a well-built body and strong arms.Standing beside his father, I stole a glance at him. His eyes lit up with a warm smile as he watched the children."It seems our kids are really into each other," he smiled, thrusting his hands in his pockets."It seems so," I cleared my throat and smiled back. But when Titan leaned closer to me, my body froze with paranoia, my blood started beating rapidly, and my heart skipped a beat as though it wanted to escape from my chest."You know, there's something very unique about your girl. Something I can't quite place my finger on," he reac
Ruby I was as high as a kite. The vape was so powerful, and it made me feel dizzy and lightheaded. Enzo was high too, and he was smiling, talking, and even touching me."Enzo, please. Let's go," I tried to push him away, but he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. Then he planted a kiss on my neck."Come on, don't be a sourpuss. We're having fun, sweetie."My body shivered, and I pushed myself away from him. "I really have to go to my mom."Adding enough strength, I stumbled away from him and towards the hotel, hoping my mom wouldn't be in the room. But when I opened my door with my key card, she was on the couch watching a movie on the TV.My heart skipped, and I hoped she wouldn't notice. She merely looked in my direction and waved at me. I sighed in relief when I snuck into the bathroom to wash my face with cold water.After failing miserably to sober up, I snuck into the bedroom and hit the bed, pulling the covers over my head and closing my eyes.I woke up hours late
Ruby I ran into my mum at the hotel lobby, just as I was coming back from the beach. She looked surprised to see me and flustered, like someone running away from something."Darling Where have you been?" she asked. "You need your sunscreen so you don't get sunburned," she said in a motherly voice."I was at the beach. What about you? Where are you coming from?" I asked, staring at her flushed cheeks.She smiled sheepishly and glanced around. "Oh, I was just... sightseeing. You know, enjoying the beauty of Bali."I raised my eyebrows and smirked. "Sightseeing, huh? With whom? That man?"She blushed and shook her head. "No one, just by myself."I didn't believe her for a second. I knew she was lying but decided not to confront her about it. I didn't want to ruin our vacation. Besides, it was none of my business. She was a grown woman, and she could do whatever she wanted except cheat on my dad."Come on, let's go to our room," she grabbed my hand..We entered our room and locked the do