Lyra's POV Tears streamed down my face, relentless and warm as they fell from my eyes, unable to stop despite my best efforts to fight them. Marcello’s grip on my hand was firm, almost cruel in its insistence. His fingers were tight around mine, as though he was trying to brand me with his touch. Every second felt like an eternity as his words echoed in my mind, mocking me, trapping me in a cage I couldn’t escape. “I’m your mate, Lyra. You’ll accept me, whether you like it or not.” The words themselves were a poison, dripping from his lips like venom, and yet, I couldn’t do anything to stop them. My heart raced with fury, the beating of my chest a constant reminder of the life I was supposed to live before this nightmare. His cold, commanding gaze bore into mine, and the heat of the moment was suffocating. My stomach growled loudly, a cruel reminder of the emptiness that gnawed at me, of the hunger that I could no longer ignore. “Can we eat first?” I muttered, voice low and hoars
Vincenzo’s POVI rushed down the stairs, my boots thudding heavily against the cold marble as each step seemed to echo in the vast, empty hall. My breath came in ragged bursts, thick with anger, frustration, and an overwhelming sense of dread. Every inch of me burned, the tension boiling down my spine like fire. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not like this.How could Marcello have my mate? How could he? The idea of it sent a rush of heat to my chest, a searing, unbearable sensation. My heart pounded, the pulse quickening with each passing second, almost as if it were trying to escape my body. And what made it worse was the fact that he wouldn’t even let me near her. He had blocked me at every turn, and the only thing I could do now was to confront him, face to face. But how? How did I even begin to fight for her when everything about this felt like it was falling apart?I threw the door to the courtyard open, the cool evening air slapping my face. The sky was darkening, a deep v
Author’s POVMarcello’s eyes were like ice as they locked onto Vincenzo. The air between them was thick with tension, each second stretching longer than the last. Vincenzo, still reclining in the luxurious leather chair, looked far too comfortable for someone who had just crossed a dangerous line. He was calm, cool, collected—everything Marcello wasn’t. Marcello’s pulse was quickening, his control slipping just slightly, but he held it together as he took another step forward.“Vincenzo,” Marcello’s voice was low, a knife buried deep in his words. “You’re just a client. A client. Don’t you dare stand here and act like you’ve earned some claim over her. You’ve had her for one night. One night.” His eyes burned as he stepped closer, his presence suffocating. “You think that means something?”Vincenzo's lips curled into a slow, mocking smile. He leaned back further into the chair, his eyes flashing amusement. He didn’t seem intimidated, not in the slightest. That irked Marcello even more
Meera’s POVThe incessant ringing of my phone was starting to get on my nerves. Gabriel. Again. His name flashing on my screen like it was some sort of emergency, when I knew it wasn’t. He’d been blowing up my phone all day. I couldn’t even count the number of times he’d called. And if that wasn’t enough, my father’s calls kept interrupting, his number constantly popping up after each one of Gabriel’s.What do they want? I wasn’t in the mood to answer anyone today.I tossed my phone to the side and turned up the music in my car, hoping the loud beats would drown out the buzzing. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with either of them, not now. Not after everything that had happened earlier in the day.But just as I was about to pull into my driveway, the phone rang again. My father’s name lit up the screen. I cursed under my breath. I didn’t have a choice. I had to pick up. The last time I didn’t, he had made my life a living hell for the next week.I reluctantly answered.“Meerah. I’ve been
Vincenzo’s POVI grabbed my phone from the desk, staring at it for a moment as if the device itself held some kind of answer to the turmoil running through my veins. With a hesitant exhale, I pressed the dial button, the faint ring vibrating in my palm as the call connected. It rang three times before my accountant, Frank, picked up on the other end."Hello?" His voice was steady, calm, as always, but I could detect the smallest trace of fatigue in it."Frank," I said, my voice rough, weighed down with more than just a business inquiry. "I need the full details of the property in Las Vegas. The one I’ve been considering. The one near the Strip."There was a pause on the other end. Frank was never one to take a second too long before responding, which made me all the more aware of his hesitation now."Of course, I’ll pull it up for you. But, listen, we need to talk about something first. It's important." His tone shifted, just enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck."Importan
Vincenzo's POVThe world felt like it had shifted beneath my feet, the ground unsteady and foreign, as if the very foundation I had spent my life building was crumbling before my eyes. My mind raced, thoughts colliding in chaos. Someone had hacked into my accounts, manipulated my dealings, violated the fortress of security I had carefully crafted over the years. And I couldn’t help but feel that Marcello had a hand in it.Marcello. His name echoed in my mind like a drumbeat, relentless and ominous. It made sense, didn’t it? The way he’d hovered around me like a predator, always just out of reach but never fully committed. We’d both been playing this dangerous game, testing each other, but now? Now, it felt like he’d crossed the line. If I were to be honest with myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the one pulling the strings behind this scandal.I was done being polite. Done with games. This wasn’t about business anymore; this was personal. If Marcello thought he could dra
Lyra’s POVThe air felt thick around me, the tension in Marcello's gaze as he spoke of what happened, of how he forced me to leave, filling the room. His words were like daggers, sharp and unforgiving. Yet, despite the sharpness of his tone, there was an undeniable layer of vulnerability in his voice that I couldn’t ignore. He made me leave, but there had to be more behind it. I watched him, every fiber of my being focused on understanding, but at the same time, the past still lingered like smoke in the air, hard to shake off."You know why I did it," Marcello said, his voice low, almost a growl as he leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his dark hair. "I thought I was protecting you, Lyra. It was the only way. I didn’t want you to be caught in this madness."I swallowed hard, my heart thumping against my chest. It was a struggle to keep my thoughts clear, to keep the past and the present from colliding. I could feel the rawness of it, the anger I had buried for so long su
Lyra's POVI leaned back in the chair, still feeling the remnants of the wine swirling in my head. It was a heady, dizzying warmth that wrapped around me, making everything feel a little out of focus. My laughter from earlier still lingered in the air, faint echoes of madness. I hadn’t even realized how much tension had been building in me until it all cracked open, spilling out in bursts of hysterical amusement.But now, I was alone with my thoughts again. Alone with the consequences of everything that had happened. The rogues, Vincenzo's confession, and then… Marcello.Marcello.The name tasted bitter on my tongue. The man who had looked at me like I was nothing more than a piece of prey. He had wanted nothing to do with me, and now… Now he wants to be my mate?I exhaled sharply, the confusion and anger bubbling up inside me again, threatening to spill over.I grabbed a lock of my hair, the strands slipping through my fingers as I brushed them back over my shoulder. The motion was r
Vincenzo's POVThe mirror reflected my image with an almost mocking clarity. Black trousers, sleek and tailored, hugging my legs just the right amount. The black jacket? Impeccable. It wasn't just a jacket; it was a statement. A smooth, polished statement that screamed power, control, and ambition. Perfect for tonight, or so I thought. The event was close, and I could already hear the music of the Hell Pit party thumping in the distance, reverberating through the walls of the grand estate. Everyone would be there. Everyone important. And more importantly—Lyra would be there.I clenched my jaw as I pictured her, her delicate smile, the way her eyes seemed to light up when she was near Marcello. Damn him. It wasn’t just that I wanted to be the one in her sights, but the fact that Marcello had a way of making every woman he looked at feel like the only one in the room. The bastard was charming, sure, but I wasn’t about to let him charm Lyra into his bed. Not tonight. Tonight, I would be
Author’s POVLyra stood in front of the mirror, the delicate fabric of the gown now draped over her body, its intricate lace and beads clinging to her curves in a way that was both intoxicating and alien. The soft shimmer of the gown reflected in the dim light, the kind of beauty that could turn heads. She hadn’t expected to look this… elegant. She hadn't expected to feel the way she did, either.Her fingers traced the edge of the lace at her collarbone, the fabric so fine it almost felt like a second skin. The dress fit perfectly, as if it had been made specifically for her body—no room for any rebellion or defiance. No, the gown had been crafted for submission, and for a brief, dangerous moment, she felt it."Look at you," she whispered to her reflection, a bitter laugh rising in her chest. "A perfect little puppet in Marcello's play."The bitterness in her voice echoed louder than the silence around her. She was playing his game, but the rules were becoming increasingly hard to swa
Lyra's POVI leaned back in the chair, still feeling the remnants of the wine swirling in my head. It was a heady, dizzying warmth that wrapped around me, making everything feel a little out of focus. My laughter from earlier still lingered in the air, faint echoes of madness. I hadn’t even realized how much tension had been building in me until it all cracked open, spilling out in bursts of hysterical amusement.But now, I was alone with my thoughts again. Alone with the consequences of everything that had happened. The rogues, Vincenzo's confession, and then… Marcello.Marcello.The name tasted bitter on my tongue. The man who had looked at me like I was nothing more than a piece of prey. He had wanted nothing to do with me, and now… Now he wants to be my mate?I exhaled sharply, the confusion and anger bubbling up inside me again, threatening to spill over.I grabbed a lock of my hair, the strands slipping through my fingers as I brushed them back over my shoulder. The motion was r
Lyra’s POVThe air felt thick around me, the tension in Marcello's gaze as he spoke of what happened, of how he forced me to leave, filling the room. His words were like daggers, sharp and unforgiving. Yet, despite the sharpness of his tone, there was an undeniable layer of vulnerability in his voice that I couldn’t ignore. He made me leave, but there had to be more behind it. I watched him, every fiber of my being focused on understanding, but at the same time, the past still lingered like smoke in the air, hard to shake off."You know why I did it," Marcello said, his voice low, almost a growl as he leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his dark hair. "I thought I was protecting you, Lyra. It was the only way. I didn’t want you to be caught in this madness."I swallowed hard, my heart thumping against my chest. It was a struggle to keep my thoughts clear, to keep the past and the present from colliding. I could feel the rawness of it, the anger I had buried for so long su
Vincenzo's POVThe world felt like it had shifted beneath my feet, the ground unsteady and foreign, as if the very foundation I had spent my life building was crumbling before my eyes. My mind raced, thoughts colliding in chaos. Someone had hacked into my accounts, manipulated my dealings, violated the fortress of security I had carefully crafted over the years. And I couldn’t help but feel that Marcello had a hand in it.Marcello. His name echoed in my mind like a drumbeat, relentless and ominous. It made sense, didn’t it? The way he’d hovered around me like a predator, always just out of reach but never fully committed. We’d both been playing this dangerous game, testing each other, but now? Now, it felt like he’d crossed the line. If I were to be honest with myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the one pulling the strings behind this scandal.I was done being polite. Done with games. This wasn’t about business anymore; this was personal. If Marcello thought he could dra
Vincenzo’s POVI grabbed my phone from the desk, staring at it for a moment as if the device itself held some kind of answer to the turmoil running through my veins. With a hesitant exhale, I pressed the dial button, the faint ring vibrating in my palm as the call connected. It rang three times before my accountant, Frank, picked up on the other end."Hello?" His voice was steady, calm, as always, but I could detect the smallest trace of fatigue in it."Frank," I said, my voice rough, weighed down with more than just a business inquiry. "I need the full details of the property in Las Vegas. The one I’ve been considering. The one near the Strip."There was a pause on the other end. Frank was never one to take a second too long before responding, which made me all the more aware of his hesitation now."Of course, I’ll pull it up for you. But, listen, we need to talk about something first. It's important." His tone shifted, just enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck."Importan
Meera’s POVThe incessant ringing of my phone was starting to get on my nerves. Gabriel. Again. His name flashing on my screen like it was some sort of emergency, when I knew it wasn’t. He’d been blowing up my phone all day. I couldn’t even count the number of times he’d called. And if that wasn’t enough, my father’s calls kept interrupting, his number constantly popping up after each one of Gabriel’s.What do they want? I wasn’t in the mood to answer anyone today.I tossed my phone to the side and turned up the music in my car, hoping the loud beats would drown out the buzzing. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with either of them, not now. Not after everything that had happened earlier in the day.But just as I was about to pull into my driveway, the phone rang again. My father’s name lit up the screen. I cursed under my breath. I didn’t have a choice. I had to pick up. The last time I didn’t, he had made my life a living hell for the next week.I reluctantly answered.“Meerah. I’ve been
Author’s POVMarcello’s eyes were like ice as they locked onto Vincenzo. The air between them was thick with tension, each second stretching longer than the last. Vincenzo, still reclining in the luxurious leather chair, looked far too comfortable for someone who had just crossed a dangerous line. He was calm, cool, collected—everything Marcello wasn’t. Marcello’s pulse was quickening, his control slipping just slightly, but he held it together as he took another step forward.“Vincenzo,” Marcello’s voice was low, a knife buried deep in his words. “You’re just a client. A client. Don’t you dare stand here and act like you’ve earned some claim over her. You’ve had her for one night. One night.” His eyes burned as he stepped closer, his presence suffocating. “You think that means something?”Vincenzo's lips curled into a slow, mocking smile. He leaned back further into the chair, his eyes flashing amusement. He didn’t seem intimidated, not in the slightest. That irked Marcello even more
Vincenzo’s POVI rushed down the stairs, my boots thudding heavily against the cold marble as each step seemed to echo in the vast, empty hall. My breath came in ragged bursts, thick with anger, frustration, and an overwhelming sense of dread. Every inch of me burned, the tension boiling down my spine like fire. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not like this.How could Marcello have my mate? How could he? The idea of it sent a rush of heat to my chest, a searing, unbearable sensation. My heart pounded, the pulse quickening with each passing second, almost as if it were trying to escape my body. And what made it worse was the fact that he wouldn’t even let me near her. He had blocked me at every turn, and the only thing I could do now was to confront him, face to face. But how? How did I even begin to fight for her when everything about this felt like it was falling apart?I threw the door to the courtyard open, the cool evening air slapping my face. The sky was darkening, a deep v