Ella - POV One year later The threat of war has passed. Ladon, Blair, and Arya have all passed away, and the contract made with the dark world has been broken. So, after our mate connection, Darcus and I resumed our relationship. Darcus wanted to date me because he believed I had rushed into mating with him. He wanted to break the mating bond to ensure my happiness, even if I changed my mind within a year. I tried to convey the sincerity of my emotions, but he insisted on dating me, so I gave in. When Hana gave birth to her twins, I provided a helping hand, and even Darcus was there to lend a hand. I informed Hana about Darcus and me dating, assuring her that Darcus had not cheated and was a misunderstanding. When Hana saw me happy with Darcus, she stopped arguing about it. Darcus wanted Hana to take care of her children and be around, so he encouraged his HR team to let Hana work from home. This choice genuinely pleased me, and Hana was happy with Darcus's idea. James traveled
My name is Alice Brooks, and I am a dragon shifter. Today, I stand inside a cave known as the Mating Rejection Chamber. The trial results will be announced; the accused is my abusive mate, Jeffrey Claire. The monarch of the dragon kingdom, Darcus, and his mate, Queen Ella, sit on the judgment seat together. I anxiously await the hearing on the proceedings to reject the fated mate who abused and betrayed me. I pray to the gods for a harsh punishment for the wicked mate. "I, King Darcus of the Dragon Kingdom, have gone over every piece of evidence and statement made by Alice Brooks and Jeffrey Claire. The trial verdicts will be revealed by the queen," King Darcus stated, gazing at his queen, who had risen from her throne. My pulse pounds anxiously in anticipation of her words. "Alice Brooks, the court rules in your favor, and you will reject your mate with the help of the witches' ritual. I will condemn Jeffrey Claire to three years in a dungeon for the crimes he committed." The words
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