Alice - POV I had to get home as soon as possible because it was getting late, and I needed to prepare a meal for Jeffrey before he got home. "Hey, easy there; why are you rushing?" Isha, my caring neighbor friend, asked as she walked beside me. "I have to hustle to cook dinner on time. If I saw Jeffery late, you know how upset I would be..." I paused, not adding any further. Isha's expression conveyed her feeling of pity as she gazed at me. "Why don't you leave such an abusive mate, Alice? I can assist..." "No, Isha. You know he is simply quick-tempered, but he is faithful to me," I said. Isha grumbled at me, tired of justifying Jeffery's wrongdoing. However, I care deeply about my husband, and ending our relationship would be a struggle for both of us. I pushed my thoughts aside. I am putting up with Jeffery's anger issues because I love him. "Thank you for offering to help, Isha. I'll see you around," I said. In contrast to my other neighbors, who couldn't care less abou
Alice - POV As Jeffery's eyes scanned the paper on the desk, Isha's voice cut through the air with a venomous hiss. "Get out of my house, Jeffery." My heart raced as I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Isha standing beside me, her persistent presence giving me the strength to face my monstrous mate. Jeffery's eyes flicked at her, and anger rippled through his features. "Let us go home now," he commanded, his voice cold and controlled. I shivered, feeling the weight of his dominance pressing down on me. "She won't go anywhere," Isha shot back sternly. I gripped her hand, silently urging her to stay calm. "Stay out of this, Isha," Jeffery growled, his gaze fixed on me. "She is my mate and wife. She will stay with me." I knew better than to argue with him. If Isha continued to challenge him, it wouldn't be long before Jeffery's violence erupted again. I couldn't risk putting her in danger. "Isha, please let me go," I whispered, hoping she would understand. "No, he wi
Alice - POV "Capture this man, guards," Isha ordered, rushing to my side with a concerned expression. "Let go of me. You don't know who I am," Jefferey growled. "I know you're an abusive and toxic man who mistreats his mate," Isha hissed. "Shut up, you bitch," Jeffery spat through clenched teeth. "I told you not to interfere in my family matters. You know I'm a noble dragon. I'll sue you, Isha. you fucking bitch." "Mind your tongue, Mr. Claire," a sweet feminine voice with a sharp edge interrupted. My eyes widened in surprise. "Queen Ella," I whispered as Isha helped me stand. "You claim to be a noble dragon, but the way you speak to women makes me doubt your noble bloodline," Queen Ella said coldly, making Jeffery shiver. I could see the hatred reflected in his eyes as he looked at Queen Ella. The guards took me away to be put in the dungeons. "Isha, you did well in calling me," Queen Ella said. I stood marveling at her beauty; she looked like a goddess. "You must be Alice,"
James - POV It has been three years since Ella and I broke up, but the pain of her choosing her dragon mate, Darcus, over me still lingers. As an orphan and the last prince of my clan, who was killed by the witches and Warlocks, I find it difficult to fill the void in my life. No clan accepted me to stay in the realm because of my powers, which could disrupt their realm. So, I created my community, Hope, where rogue witches and warlocks find shelter homes and pledge loyalty to me as their clan head. Though I have everything I need, I still miss a lover or mate. I have tried to move on from Ella by meeting other women, but it always ends in disappointment. They either want me for my powers or just for a one-night stand. On the other hand, Ella loved and cared for me, and it is hard to forget that. Despite all this, I am happy for Ella and that Darcus is taking good care of her. However, I try to avoid her as much as possible because seeing her reminds me of when we were happy togethe
Alice - POV "Please have a seat; we'll begin the interview," Mr. James Davis said firmly. I nodded as he maintained his composed demeanor and inquired about my interest in the associate lawyer position rather than the paralegal role. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I applied for the Paralegal position, correct?" I asked, seeking clarification from Mr. Davis. "Are you not aware of the job you have applied for?" Mr. Davis responded briskly, making me uneasy as confusion overtook me. "Ms. Brooks, the Paralegal position, has been filled. We currently have an opening for an Associate Lawyer. Are you interested in this role?" Mr. Davis asked, this time in a softer tone. I could sense his empathy as I struggled to keep my composure, eager to secure any job. "Yes, Mr. Davis, I would be interested in applying for the Associate Lawyer position," I whispered, trying to hide my disappointment at not getting the job I originally applied for. "Very well, the interview rounds are complete. You w
James - POV It has been a frustrating week. Despite several rounds of interviews, none of the candidates met the qualifications for the associate position. My mind wandered to when I first met Alice, with her soft skin, sharp features, and curly golden locks. I scowled at my own thoughts, feeling frustrated. A snort escaped my lips involuntarily, catching the attention of my colleague, Dave. "What's the matter?" he asked skeptically. "Nothing," I replied dismissively. "Why are you here? Didn't you hate being in the human realm?" Dave chuckled awkwardly, holding out a shiny envelope. "I thought you'd want to see this." As soon as I saw the letter from Ella, my heart began racing. It was an invitation to a dragon festival, and she asked for my forgiveness and about my health. I skimmed through the letter and folded it back into the envelope, tucking it away with the rest of the letters from Ella and Darcus. "Are you going?" Dave asked. I glared at him, not wanting to discuss my p
Alice - POV Mr. Davis appeared irritated when I informed him that his current associate, Dave, had come to my place to collect an envelope from Isha. He gave me a Letter of Appointment a few hours later upon learning that I was a dragon and looking for work while waiting for a response from the California firm. Dave paled when Mr. James scowled at him. "Stay here," Mr. Davis sternly added as I stopped at the door's entrance. "I need to speak with you, Dave," he said sharply. I noticed the office staff glancing at Mr. Davis's office and then at me. "Dave, I told you not to hire Alice. Why did you do it? Alice is a dragon, and I need human employees," Mr. Davis muttered. Though I heard it clearly through my shifter ears, it was a murmur to humans, who weren't sure about the heated discussion. I sighed. "You knew Alice was a dragon, and having a supernatural being as your associate is beneficial. When your dark power is out of control, some can withstand it, and no human can come in
Alice - POV When I saw his toned body, I couldn't say anything. James smirked at me as he caught my gaze lingering on him, and I blushed with embarrassment. Thank goodness he put on a t-shirt, or I would have been drooling like a teenager for a few minutes. "You had something to tell me," he said, and I handed him the last case so he could sign it and we could send it to court. Suddenly, a tremor of light came towards the window. Before I could understand what was happening, James's hand encircled my waist and pulled me out of the way. A large impact of fire magic hit the walls, creating an enormous gap. "What's happening?" I muttered as James bounced back onto his feet and summoned a magic barrier. I watched as waves of various colored magic spears were hurled at us, but they didn't invade the barrier, and I sighed in relief when the spears stopped at once. "Are you alright?" James came to me with a concerned gaze, and it surprised me that his steely gaze could also reflect other