Marissa Knowing that my mate had a woman in his life caused an overwhelming sorrow in my heart. I almost collapsed in my seat and covered my face with both hands. Of what use was this bond that was causing me so much pain? It felt like my spine was curling forward, and I was at a loss for words.Why was the universe punishing me? Why did I keep imagining that seeing my mate after waiting for so long would be all bliss, where he would rush to hug me and ask where I had been all his life? I didn’t expect this cold silence and rejection.From how she glided into Justin’s office, it was clear she wasn’t the daughter of a pauper. She was effortlessly beautiful, wearing a statement dress and ridiculously high heels. One look at her, and it was obvious—this was a woman who had never struggled a day in her life.He chose her over me.A lump lodged itself in my throat as reality settled. Of course. This explained the absolute lack of acknowledgment. He wasn’t ignoring the bond because he was
Marissa The cursor blinked on the screen, and I grew strongly aware of Justin standing behind me. His presence sent warmth flooding through my body, making my hair rise on my arms and the nape of my neck. I was trying so hard to focus, trying not to react, but his body inches from mine was a force that sent my nerves into overdrive.As much as I pretended to ignore him—just as he was doing to me—the bond wrapped around me, pulling me in, making me want to touch and explore. If I kept bottling up my emotions, I was going to go insane.A rush of heat ran down my legs, and I swallowed a gulp of air when his breath fanned against my neck, brushing the sensitive skin below my ear. My pulse pounded, and it felt like he was doing this deliberately, maybe waiting for me to crack and admit defeat so he could laugh in my face and reject me.My eyes fluttered shut for a split second. Get it together, Marissa.I couldn’t look at him or wonder why he was hovering so close. When I finally mustered
Justin I leaned against my seat and took a drag of the cigarette between my fingers, inhaling deeply. The acrid taste of wolfsbane filled my lungs like numbing poison.The aftermath of the meeting still clung to my brain. My dad couldn't even bring himself to pretend—it was clear he didn't like me, all thanks to that bastard Sean's attempts to undermine me.The cigarette smoke curled around my face as I exhaled slowly, trying to quiet my thoughts.Despite how hard I worked to prove to my father that I wasn't a failure, it wasn’t working. My cousin wanted my throne. That smug fool.Meetings and public events always ended like this. He found a way to undermine me and act like he was the more competent one, like I was some trophy prince keeping the throne warm until someone more suitable—meaning him, of course—could take over.The fucking nerve.I could still hear his mocking voice from today's meeting, casually implying I was overburdened, that maybe it was too much for me to handle a
JustinIt was clear that the Moon Goddess never created my mate. I wasn’t meant to have one. Maybe my curse had erased the very existence of the one person who could have freed me. And now my twin was feeling something for my assistant.The irony stung.I rubbed my temples. At least I hadn’t crossed the line with Marissa. That would have been a disaster. My sister would never forgive me for touching her.Justine sat opposite me, propping her boot-clad feet onto the table like she owned the place, lifted a cigarette from the ashtray, twirled it between her fingers, then wrinkled her nose in distaste before flicking it back into the tray."So, tell me. Why have you been avoiding Wendy?"I groaned, tilting my head back against the chair. "What does she want from me? Haven't I already agreed to marry her?"Justine laughed dramatically. "You sound like you're being sold into slavery.""Aren't I?" I shot her a dry look. "Tell your best friend to leave me the fuck alone.""You do realize you
Marissa My first encounter with Wendy was exactly as expected, like a scene from a movie where the villainess enters with her nose in the air. She was rude, no doubt about it. And this wasn’t some petty jealousy over my mate’s perfect fiancée. She was just genuinely insufferable. Tell me why I was sitting at my desk, minding my business, when she waltzed in like she owned the place, dropped her overpriced designer bag on my table, and demanded sparkled water. No "please," no basic courtesy. Just entitlement, like I was her personal servant. She did it naturally, as if looking down on people was second nature to her. I gave her a tight smile that said, Try me, princess. But she barely noticed, probably because this was how she treated everyone. Still, I didn’t blame her. I blamed Justin. Without him and his uncanny ability to make my life miserable, I wouldn’t be sitting here, enduring this. But most of all, I blamed the so-called Moon Goddess, the supposed expert at matchmaking s
MarissaI walked out, and had barely stepped out of the door when Justin started to cough. It was not serious at first, but then it became a fit as he kept trying to maintain control. I tried to ignore the sound of the harshness of his coughing, but I failed as my wolf grew restless, pushing me toward him.Each ragged breath he took felt like a knife twisting inside me. My fingers clenched around the tablet in front of me as my body screamed at me to move.Before I could stop myself, I was already halfway across the office. I pushed open the door and found him hunched over his desk, his body wracked with violent tremors. His breathing was labored, and when he tried to straighten, another coughing fit nearly sent him to his knees.I cried out in shock, seeing him doubled over."Justin!" I cried, rushing forward and grabbing a glass of water from his desk, pressing it into his shaking hands. He tried to wave me off, but the moment he tried to speak, another painful cough tore through h
Marissa I groaned inwardly the moment the words left my mouth. A fake boyfriend? Really? Of all the excuses I could have come up with, that was the one I chose? Now, I was trapped in a ridiculous lie that I'd have to back up with an actual person. I rubbed my temple, already dreading the consequences. Justine was going to be a problem. Would Justin even care? I didn’t like this. Not at all. --- Employees trickled into the conference room, filling the seats around the oak table. A projector screen displayed the weekly milestones. I couldn’t concentrate. My foot kept tapping beneath my chair. Hector, my ex-boyfriend's best friend who knew about the cheating and now wanted to be friends again—sat diagonally across from me. He kept trying to get my attention, but I ignored him, nodding absently at the conversation. I kept my gaze fixed on my notepad, scribbling unnecessary bullet points to distract myself. At one point, Hector sent me a text. You okay? I read it and didn't resp
JustinAnger was mild compared to the fierce rage consuming me. Sean was mocking me, knowing that I could only fight in my human form. He wanted me to shift—to humiliate myself.My chest heaved, and my heartbeat threaded wildly in my ears. My fist throbbed from the impact, but it wasn’t enough—not even close. The smug bastard deserved worse. He was always undermining me, always waiting for any crack to push me—just like now. I wanted more blood. I swung, again and again. The amusement in his eyes vanished, replaced by raw hate, His first strike landed in my stomach. My muscles coiled, and my hand lifted, but before I could follow through, a blur of movements stopped me. Marissa’s hand shot out, blocking the space between us. Her eyes pleaded desperately.“Justin, stop. Please!"My fingers curled into a tight fist. She thought this was her fault."The only reason you've been allowed to run your mouth and act like you matter is because my father lets you. Nothing else," I said,
Marissa The Queen’s rage came with thunder. It wasn’t the typical raised voice or shaking hands kind of anger. It was primal, bone-deep, and terrifyingly loud. Her voice bounced off the ancient stone walls of the royal study like a storm crashing into a cliff. If Sean had been anywhere near her at that moment, she would’ve carved his name off the family tree with her bare hands.I stood still. A part of me was stunned, but the other part missed my own mother. I wondered how she might’ve defended me if she were still alive and if she would’ve gone to war for me too. Maybe it’s just something about mothers. No one quite loves the way they do."Well, I think you're going too far to be taken seriously," Justine muttered with her usual sarcastic flair, sipping casually from her glass.The Queen's head whipped around. Her eyes flared wide and wild. My heart genuinely skipped.“Too far?” she echoed, rising from her seat like storm-given legs. “Hell no. I haven't even started.”Justine bli
MarissaGoing back to work for Justin felt like willingly stepping into a lion’s den. The moment I walked into the building, all eyes were on me and whispers followed me like perfume.Justin and Wendy’s separation wasn’t just public knowledge. It had become entertainment. And now that Justine’s mate was revealed to be a werewolf, people were foaming at the mouth, looking for scraps to gossip about.Everyone had something to say.Some were convinced I was a gold digger, clinging to Justin for luxury and status. Others swore I must’ve used some dark spell to trigger the mate bond. “No way the future king would bond with a mere werewolf,” they said. “Especially not one from a crumbling pack.”If I hadn’t already earned my stripes in heartbreak and humiliation, I might’ve cracked under it all. Even Justin and Justine were beginning to ask if I was okay. I always brushed it off."Trust me," I told Justine two days ago while she was getting her hair done, “you don’t know what survival looks
SeanMy hatred for Justin grew like firewood stacked daily on a flame. Every time I heard his name, felt his presence in a conversation or headline, my blood ran hot. He was my target. I didn’t care that we shared the same blood. I was obsessed over this revenge. Over victory.Everyone thought I’d taken the loss like a man. Calm. Graceful. Accepting. But they had no idea I’d only swallowed my pride to buy time to burn him from the inside out.I would smile, shake hands, laugh when I had to. All while tightening the noose around Justin’s perfect little neck. One step at a time. One move after another.I didn't care whose blood got spilled in the process. Collateral damage meant nothing when I was playing for the crown.He didn’t deserve the throne. I did. I’d worked for it. Bled for it. But life had handed it to him like it was owed. The cursed golden boy with the name, the wolf, the face. While I stood in the shadows, planning how to take it all away.I parked a block away from the sa
Justin “Justin,” Marissa hissed under her breath, her hand tightening on mine. “I don’t trust you. What the hell are you up to?”I handed her the simple plastic bag with the black satin dress I’d picked out, keeping my expression neutral even though I was fighting a grin.“There’s only one way to find out,” I said, tugging playfully at the edge of her tank top. “But I promise, it’s not a kidnapping. Yet.”She squinted at me, not amused. “I swear, if this ends in something ridiculous—”“Shh,” I interrupted, slipping behind her and sliding my arms around her waist. I kissed the soft skin just below her neck, right over the mark I’d given her. She shivered. Jackpot.“If you could read my mind right now,” I whispered against her ear, “you’d be blushing so hard, you’d need aloe vera.”Her reflection in the mirror gave her away. She was flushed. Trying not to smirk. Pretending to be above it, but I knew better.I spun her gently to face the glass and let my hand rest low on her hip. “You
Marissa We were just about done with lunch when the sound of heels echoed down the corridor.Justine paused mid-chew. “Shit… that’s Wendy.”I wasn’t afraid of Wendy, but a sour feeling stirred in my gut. Guilt. Heavy and cold. The kind that clung to your skin and settled in your spine. I hadn’t planned to fall in love with someone else's fiancé. But here I was, sitting next to him at the royal table. The same royal table that the world had assumed she’d own soon.Every magazine had painted their fairytale wedding. The Future Queen. Elegant. Regal. Loved. I’d seen the headlines, the edited spreads of her trying on designer gowns, the speculated venues, the flower arrangements, and the wild guesses about their future pups. She was meant to be Justin’s forever. And now I was the shadow stepping into her spotlight.Wendy stormed into the dining room like a queen without a throne. Her fiery red dress clung to her like armor, and her eyes scanned the room until they landed on me. I dropp
Marissa My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open the moment Justin blurted out his father’s secret family, right there in front of the Queen and Justine. The air shifted. Cold. Heavy. Like something sacred had just been desecrated. I couldn't dare glance at the Queen. Time slowed. Why the hell couldn’t Justin have kept that to himself?“Justin, this isn’t even funny,” Justine said, her voice sharp as a blade. She shot her brother a glare. “You can joke about a lot of things—but not this. This is too heavy.”“It’s true,” Justin said flatly, eyes fixed on his mother. “I’ve seen the woman. I dare him to deny it.”My hand trembled as I reached for him, trying to get him to stop before this turned into a wildfire. The Queen’s head stayed bowed. Sean looked mortified, and Justine actually stepped back like she’d been pushed.“My dear, it’s not how—” the King started, lifting his hand, “—Justin’s just trying to twist everything to suit his selfish narrative.”The Queen slowly raised her
Justin A soft smile played on my lips as I adjusted the torchlight, lowering the beam so it wouldn’t wake her. I traced the curve of Marissa’s cheek with the back of my knuckle, memorizing the peaceful rise and fall of her chest. I’d never felt this kind of calm before, not once in my life, and I didn’t want it to end. She was the anchor I never saw coming, the balm to everything broken in me.Watching her sleep, I tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Who would’ve thought I’d ever feel normal again? It still didn’t seem real. It felt like I’d stepped into someone else’s life—a simulation too good to be mine. Like at any moment I’d wake up, cursed and hollow, back to being the joke of the royal house.But when I curled my fingers around hers and felt her warmth against my skin, I knew this wasn’t some delusion. This was real. It was here to stay. The pain, the pressure, the doubts… none of it mattered anymore. I felt overwhelmed in the best way—like I could fall to my knees
Marissa The constellation overhead scattered like glitter, and the sound of the ocean made the night feel magical. Nothing looked more beautiful than the sea at night—dark, open, endless. The air buzzed with life, soft birdsong blending with the hush of waves. I helped spread out the blankets while Justin turned on the battery-powered lamp, casting a warm glow around us. We were all alone. And happy.The wind played in my hair as I watched him, and when he reached for me, I didn’t hesitate. Hand in hand, we walked down to the water, dipped our fingers in the ocean, and stared at each other like nothing else mattered.“Are you ready?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.“Never been ready my whole life,” he said.“I love you, Marissa,” he added, voice steady, eyes locked on mine. “There’s no problem, no curse, no system that’s going to come between us. Not in this world, and definitely not in the next.”“Please,” I smirked. “I wouldn’t want to come back here again anyway. I thin
MarissaWaking up to Justin’s tongue circling my drenched bud wasn't how I expected to wake up.I arched into him as he ate me, with his eyes locked on mine, the bold swipe of his tongue sent me spinning into pleasure’s arms Growing embarrassingly damp at his touch, I squirmed and writhed as he moved hard on fast. My body bowed to sensation as an orgasm hit full force “Oh Justin,” I cried out, coming in cascading waves. He didn't stop until a more powerful sensation built and dropped inside me, causing me to grab his hair and ride his face. My body was gripped by a pleasure I had never known and a white-hot climax ripped through me._______My grin refused to hide as I nestled into Justin, feeling the quiet pleasure of his warmth, the comfort of our closeness. We’d lost track of time. My head rested on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat like it was the only sound that mattered.“I’m sorry,” I murmured, looking up at him. “I didn’t mean any harm.”He sighed. “