Anita’s POV:I still couldn’t believe my father was gone. His death was so sudden, so inexplicable, that it felt like I was living in a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. I had been his only daughter, his pride, and joy, and now I was left alone, drowning in a sea of grief. The pack had always been my family, my home, but without my father, it felt like a prison.It wasn’t long after his death that my stepmother, Evelyn, and my stepsister, Amara, began their vicious campaign against me. At first, I didn’t understand what was happening. I was too wrapped up in my own sorrow, too blinded by my pain to see the venom in their eyes, the malice in their smiles. They whispered behind closed doors, their voices like a thousand tiny knives, cutting away at my heart.“She’s unstable,” Evelyn would say, her voice dripping with feigned concern. “She hasn’t been the same since her father died.”“I saw her in the woods the night he died,” Amara added one day, her eyes narrowing with false suspicion
Hades’s POVAs I stepped off the plane, more than a dozen of my bodyguards and assistants were already waiting in a tight formation. Their presence drew attention, causing people around the airport to glance our way. Some looked out of curiosity, others in awe, but it was all the same to me.I adjusted my sunglasses, feeling the sun’s warmth on my face. Wearing a black jacket, I walked elegantly toward the line of luxury cars waiting for me. At the front, the sleekest car stood ready—my favorite. Its black paint gleamed under the sunlight, the chrome accents catching the light perfectly.As I approached, the doors opened automatically, welcoming me into its lavish interior. I slid into the back seat, the soft leather immediately conforming to my shape. I leaned back, taking in the familiar smell of rich leather mixed with a hint of sandalwood. The car was spacious, giving me room to stretch out and relax.The dashboard was packed with all the latest technology, everything from navigat
Anita’s POVWho was this maniac of a man?Why had he tried to force me to believe him even after I told him I didn’t know him from Adam?I hung up the call and let out a deep sigh, shaking my head. If he had been trying to scam me, luck had obviously run against him today.I hissed in frustration and stood up from the sofa in the cozy living room, where Martha, Zach, and I had been lounging.“Annie, who was on the call with you?” Martha, my best friend, asked, curiosity in her voice.I turned to look at her with a faint smile. “My dear, don’t bother about it. It was a scam call. Maybe this one had seen my number somewhere and thought he could reach out, thinking I’d fall for him just because he mentioned I was his mate. It’s just like the way they dupe women all around because of love. Haha. I’m bigger than that, bruh,” I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.Martha’s eyes softened with empathy as she reached out to pat my shoulder. “I trust you, Anita. You’re a strong woman, stronger
Anita's POVI trailed behind Beta Damian as we moved toward the place where the Alpha stood. As we reached him, he looked at me with a suspicious gaze. I wondered if he had seen me before because I had never seen him. This was my first time meeting the Alpha of this pack, despite having been here for three years.He removed his gaze from me and waved his hand through the air, signaling us to follow his lead.I glanced up at Beta Damian, wanting him to take the first step before I joined in, which he did. We walked through the double doors adorned with beautiful chandeliers that cast a soft glow throughout the room.There were paintings and artwork all around. Everything was so stunning.My eyes quickly caught sight of a particular painting of a middle-aged man with a woman wrapped around him. It seemed like she was his wife. She was beautiful, and her smile made the picture come alive.In all the time I've been working in this pack, I've never entered this grand hall. Luxurious black
Anita's POVMy head snapped back instantly as Marshall shot me a disdainful look. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind right now.I felt awful about the way Alpha Hades had asked him to leave his office. It was harsh, really harsh, and so unlike him. Even if Marshall had decided to pitch himself so aggressively, it was only because he believed in his qualifications; his confidence was rooted in that belief, not like me, who has nothing to show.Why did Alpha Hades choose me over him? I feel so bad for Marshall, and I know deep down that I'm the one who should be leaving, not him. My eyes flicked to Alpha Hades as the door clicked shut behind Marshall.This is purely unfair, just like Marshall had said earlier. Maybe Alpha Hades was upset by how rudely Marshall had addressed him. I should probably talk to him about it."Alpha Hades," I called softly, and he turned to face me."Yes." He answered, turning his face."Please I want to talk to you about him." I said, p
Alpha Hades's POVThe boldness of the lady standing in front of me is astonishing. Her audacity to plead for that narcissist of a man left me speechless. I despise people who flatter excessively or exude too much ego just because of their accomplishments. They have no idea what life might have in store for them down the line. They clearly don't know.When she finished explaining her perspective on how I concluded that Anita was cheating, I found some logic in her words. I gave her an acknowledging nod, a rare gesture from me."Yeah. I understand what you mean, Anita. Maybe I misinterpreted things earlier. The way you explained it makes it more relatable and understandable. Well, thanks for that. Seems like I'll just go along with your idea then," I said, my voice surprisingly calm and steady.A warm smile began to spread across her cheeks. I nodded again, standing up from my chair.I'll need to get a gift, something thoughtful, because as I am going there now. I need to see with my ow
Alpha Hades's POV"Thank you, Alpha Hades. I am so grateful," Anita said with a deep bow before me, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.I scoffed inwardly at her politeness, though I couldn't deny that it pleased me. It was rare to find someone who could express such simple gratitude without a trace of entitlement. Many others in her position wouldn’t dare to bow like this, especially not in such a respectful manner. Most of them were too full of themselves, feeling too important to acknowledge even the smallest favor with humility.I had learned long ago that people who judged based on appearances or qualifications were often the most ungrateful. They felt they were owed something more, that whatever you gave them wasn’t enough to match what they believed they deserved. It’s why I never made the mistake of trusting people at face value. Their words might say one thing, but their hearts? Another matter entirely.My eyes softened a little as I looked at Anita. Unlike the others
Alpha Hades povSitting in the back of the car, I couldn’t help but feel a certain tension lingering in the air. As Anita and Damian handed me the documents and the bouquet they had retrieved from the ground, I placed the flowers carefully on my left lap while the files were arranged neatly on my right. The beautiful petals brushed against my fingers, but my mind was elsewhere, focusing on the papers before me.I began flipping through the contents of the folders absentmindedly. Standard documents. Legal agreements. Financial reports. The usual.Then something unusual caught my eye—a contract tucked between the pages. I paused for a moment, then pulled it out, my gaze immediately landing on the title:Marriage Contract.A slow, deliberate breath escaped me. I hadn't recalled placing this in here, so it piqued my interest. My eyes quickly scanned down to the line where the bride’s name was written.Anita.The world seemed to narrow in that instant. The name on the contract matched perf
Anita's POVAlpha Hades walked toward me, his presence so commanding that the room seemed to shift with his every step. People around him, sensing the intimacy that was about to unfold, tactfully retreated, leaving us alone in the quiet of the dressing room. The air felt different now, charged with something unspoken, an electric tension that hummed beneath my skin. I stood frozen for a moment, unable to move, my breath shallow as I stared up at him. His eyes, dark as the night, met mine with an intensity that made my heart race faster than I could comprehend. There was a calm confidence in his every move, but something in the way he looked at me, something in the predatory gleam in his crimson eyes, made the space between us seem impossibly small. My pulse quickened. I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid or excited, but the emotions mixed together in a cocktail that left me breathless. As he drew closer, his hand brushed lightly against my back. The sudden coldness of his touch made m
Anita's POVAt first, I thought I was still dreaming. But the tightness of his arms around me, I could feel his warmth seeping into my skin, his heartbeat thudded loudly, steady and strong beneath my ear. He was real. This was real. He wasn’t the wolf from my dream. My breathing slowed as I clung to him, still half-convinced I was trapped in the haze of sleep.I couldn’t help it; tears welled up in my eyes. I hadn’t realized just how frightened I had been until I felt the safety of his arms around me. The panic, the confusion, the overwhelming feeling of vulnerability all seemed to melt away in an instant.I pulled away just enough to look at him, my voice trembling. “Why did you come?” The words came out in a broken whisper, the flood of emotions too much for me to contain. My throat felt tight, and I had to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.Alpha Hades’s gaze softened as he cupped my cheek, his thumb gently brushing away the tear that had escaped. His voice was calm, but
Hades’s POVThey were visibly shaking as they stood before me. Their earlier bravado had crumbled into an intense fear. I could almost smell their anxiety. Carla, the one who had been the boldest in the video, was now trembling, her hands clutching at her arms as if she could keep herself from breaking apart. Lila and Michelle, the other two, were similarly pale, their eyes darting between me and each other. They didn’t know how far this would go, but they knew it had already gone too far.My Beta, Damian, stood behind me, his arms crossed, his face as stern as mine. He was the one who spoke, his voice a cold, steady echo of my own. "Do you understand the gravity of what you've done?" he asked, his eyes scanning the women as they cowered before us.Carla’s voice trembled when she spoke. "We... we didn’t mean any harm, Alpha. It was just a prank... It was just a joke!" Her words tumbled out as a desperate attempt to justify their actions.I didn’t let her finish. "A joke?" I said, my v
Hades’s POVThe day had been long, but nothing could have prepared me for what awaited when I got home. I was barely through the door when my phone buzzed, the notification lighting up the screen. It was a message from Damian, my Beta. The subject line alone—Surveillance Footage: Restroom Incident—set my blood boiling before I even opened it.I swiped open the message, my heart thudding heavily in my chest. As I opened the attachment, a surveillance video file, I braced myself, my instincts screaming that something was wrong. The video started, and my focus zeroed in on the footage. It showed the hallway leading to the restrooms.The first thing I saw was Anita. She appeared calm, walking hastily towards the restroom. My chest tightened at the sight of her. Moments later, three female employees appeared in the frame. They were clustered together just out of sight of the restroom door, whispering animatedly. Even without sound, their body language was clear—these women weren’t just go
Hades's POVAnita's weak voice from inside the bathroom was all the confirmation I needed. My chest tightened as her words echoed in my ears: “I’m hurt. I can’t get out.” For a brief moment, panic threatened to take over, but I crushed it down, replacing it with cold determination.“Someone get the key!” I barked, my voice sharp and commanding as I turned to the gathered employees. They scrambled to follow my orders, scattering in different directions.Beta Damian returned moments later, holding a key in his hand. “Here, Alpha. This should be the one.”Without wasting a second, I snatched the key from him and attempted to fit it into the lock. My hands moved swiftly, but the key wouldn’t slide in. I tried again, twisting it, forcing it, but it refused to go in, almost as though something was blocking the keyhole.“This isn’t right,” I muttered under my breath, my frustration mounting.Damian leaned closer, his brows furrowed. “It doesn’t make sense, Alpha. That’s the correct key for t
Anita's POVPain shot through my body like lightning, each nerve screaming in protest as I tried to move. The moment I attempted to shift, it felt as though my limbs were foreign to me, like they belonged to someone else Every inch of my body seemed to be made of fragile glass, and I was too terrified to risk the slightest crack. My knees throbbed fiercely, the impact of my fall radiating up to my thighs, and my hands stung sharply from the abrasions left by the rough tiles. They felt raw, like the skin had been peeled away to expose something vulnerable beneath.I closed my eyes tightly, trying to steady my breathing, but each inhale felt shallow and shaky. The cold air of the bathroom did nothing to calm the rising panic in my chest. It felt like the walls were closing in, and my pulse drummed violently in my ears. Worst of all was the sharp ache in my right ankle, a pain so intense it felt like knives twisting with even the slightest movement. I couldn’t remember how I had fallen o
Anita’s POVThe sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft beams across the room as I slowly stirred from my sleep. The events of yesterday—the kiss, the bond, and the uncertainty that lingered—still felt like they were suspended in the air, surrounding me. My heart ached in places I hadn’t known existed, and my mind raced as I tried to wrap my thoughts around everything that had changed so quickly.But as the morning light began to warm my room, I forced myself to rise. I couldn’t remain in this emotional haze. I had responsibilities and I had to face them head-on.I dressed quickly, pulling on a simple yet elegant blouse and skirt, not wanting to dwell too long in front of the mirror. As I tied my shoes, I caught a glimpse of my reflection and let out a sigh. It was hard to focus on my own face when the idea of him kept swirling in my mind. The truth of the bond between us was undeniable, but what did it mean? Was I ready to confront that reality?I grabbed my bag, feeling
Anita’s POVI could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I stood in the corner of the living room, hidden from view. There, just outside the door, was Alpha Hades. Standing there with him was Zach and Martha, the two people I trusted most. I could hear their voices, but I couldn’t bring myself to join them. Not yet.Zach’s voice broke through the tension, light but full of an underlying sincerity. “I forgive you, Alpha Hades,” he said firmly, his tone not one of mockery like before but something else. "You’ve apologized. You messed up, but we all do. I’m sure my sister's got her reasons for the way she feels."Martha, standing beside him, nodded thoughtfully, but there was an unreadable expression on her face. She wasn’t entirely convinced, I could tell, but she wasn’t one to make judgments without hearing both sides.I could feel the weight of Alpha Hades’ gaze on the spot where I was hiding, and despite my best efforts, I couldn’t shake the sensation that he knew exactly where I wa
Anita’s POVThe truth had settled in my chest like a stone. Alpha Hades was my mate. But that wasn’t the worst of it. No, the worst part was that he wasn’t just my mate. He was my mate—a powerful Alpha, and not the only one.There was another name. Another woman. A woman named Anita.I couldn’t believe it. I had thought for a fleeting moment that maybe, just maybe, my bond with Hades was fated, unique. But as it turned out, fate was a cruel mistress. Anita was the woman Alpha Hades had been destined for long before me, and I was only the latest chapter in a story that had already been written. What did this mean for me? What did this mean for us?I sat on the couch, my fingers tightly gripping the fabric as I stared at the contract. I hadn’t realized it, but my mind had been spinning since the moment I’d seen Alpha Hades’ name scrawled across the page. How was I supposed to process this? How was I supposed to move forward when everything I thought I knew had just shifted beneath my fe