ElaineeI froze. I instinctively tried to steady my breathing as I wiped at my damp cheeks. “N-No,” I said quickly but my voice betrayed me with a slight tremble. “I’m fine.”Obviously, he didn’t buy my lame excuse for a second. “I can feel your tears,” he murmured. “You don’t have to lie to me, Elaine. I know something’s wrong.”His words made my shoulders sag. I realized there was no point in pretending anymore. Trevor always saw through me, no matter how hard I tried to hide what I was feeling. It was like he could read my heart without me saying a word. That’s how much this wolf knew me. In fact, i felt like he knew me better than I knew myself.I took a shaky breath and tried to calm myself but it didn’t work. My chest felt tight, and my hands fidgeted as I struggled to find the right words. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out at first. The fear inside me was so big that I imagined it being a large boulder that was on top of me.“It’s just…” I paused, my throat dry, unsure
ElaineI was standing at the hospital’s billing counter and reviewing the paperwork in my hand to make sure everything was in order. Meanwhile, Liz was beside me. She was pacing slightly as she spoke on the phone. She sounded so irritated at the caller. “Yes, I already submitted the request!” she whispered in frustration. “I’m using my approved day off right now. This isn’t up for debate.” She then paused to listen to the response on the other end. She was drumming her fingers impatiently against her leg. “Look, I’ll deal with it when I’m back. But right now, you need to figure it out yourself.”With that, Liz ended the call. She let out a huff as she tucked her phone into her bag. “Sorry about that,” she said as she turned to me with a slightly-awkward smile. “My boss is impossible. I swear, even when I have a day off, he acts like I’m on-call 24/7.”I gave her a sympathetic look. “Sounds exhausting,” I replied while holding up the clearance papers I’d just received. “But at least t
ElaineLiz drove through the winding streets. I stared out the window. I fiddled with the hem of my shirt as I tried to process what I’d seen earlier. That masked figure stayed in the back of my mind like his creepy image had been tattoed inside my mind. “Elaine,” Trevor’s voice broke the silence. I glanced over at him. His brow was furrowed in concern. “What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet this whole time.”I forced a smile, though I could feel how unconvincing it was. “I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all. I didn’t sleep well last night.”Liz, who had been unusually quiet herself up to this point, scoffed loudly. That pulled my attention to her. “Oh, come on.” She shot me a sideways glance as she navigated a turn. “Don’t insult me, Elaine. You really think Trevor and I are that clueless? I’m your best friend and he's your boyfriend. We know exactly when something’s bothering you. There's no point of hiding it. In fact, it's stupid.”Trevor nodded in agreement. His eyes were still on me. “L
MeganI clenched the stress ball in my hand and squeezed it so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The squishy material compressed under my grip. But it wasn’t doing much to eliminate the irritation building in my chest.“This is ridiculous!” I snapped as I paced the length of Aunt Melina’s living room. “The guy you hired to take care of Elaine is a complete idiot. How do you mess up something so simple? How does someone fail to finish the job?”I threw the stress ball onto the couch in a huff and turned to face Aunt Melina. She was seated elegantly in her favorite armchair while sipping a glass of red wine. She was unbothered, as always. And her calm demeanor was infuriating me further.“Come on, Aunt Mel! The bitch survived,” I continued. “Elaine walked away from that attack alive thanks to that irritating Trevor. And now, instead of us being done with her once and for all, she’s still out there, living, breathing, and probably plotting some happy little future.”To my surprise,
ElaineMy hands trembled as I stared into the box. The contents were seared into my mind no matter how much I wanted to look away. It was a rotten head of a dog lying inside the box with its lifeless eyes open. The stench hit me seconds later and I recoiled. The box instantly slipped from my hands and fell to the floor with a mild thud.I stumbled back and shuddered. I was barely able to breathe. The world around me felt like it was spinning. And my vision blurred as the horror of what I’d just seen settled in.“Elaine?” Liz’s voice cut through the haze. She rushed over. Concern was etched deeply into her face. “What’s—” Her words faltered as her gaze dropped to the box. Her hand flew to her mouth as she let out a sharp gasp. “Oh my God!”She knelt down cautiously. Her hand was trembling as she reached for a folded piece of paper resting inside the box. It was just beneath the gruesome display. Slowly, she opened it. She then scanned the words. Her face paled as she read aloud.“Ela
TristanThe sharp sound of my alarm jolted me awake. My hand searched the bedside table until I found the noisy device and turned it off. For a moment, I just lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling. I wanted the day to begin differently, but of course, it couldn’t. The “perks” of being an Alpha, sarcastically speaking. A dull headache reminded me of last night’s drinks. Or maybe it was from the night before. Honestly, I didn’t remember anymore. All the days seemed the same now.Weird, wasn’t it?When I swung my legs over the bed, my feet landed on something that crunched. I looked down to see broken glass and empty bottles scattered on the floor. The room smelled of old alcohol, and a heavy frustration settled in my stomach.Fuck! How could an Alpha like me could possibly live in this pig sty? Well, this was my life now. A mess I created myself. Since Elaine left Wolfsilver, the house had fallen apart. I never expected that a mere omega like her could become the glue that binds ev
TristanI was stunned into silence for what felt like an eternity as I tried to process the audacity of what I had just heard.“Where is the lie?” The words echoed in my head like a taunt. It was refusing to fade. It was making every ounce of my being shook in anger.My hands tightened into fists. I shot to my feet. The chair scraped against the floor with a screech that matched my temper. “Explain yourselves!” I barked. But the council members didn’t flinch. They remained seated with their faces betraying nothing. My fury burned hotter at their defiance.In a fit of rage, I swept my arm across the desk. I sent papers, pens, and even the heavy paperweight tumbling to the floor. The crash was deafening. But still, none of them reacted. “Apologize,” I demanded. “Now!”But there was only silence. Not a single head bowed, and not a single word of regret was uttered. My chest heaved as I glared at them. My anger was boiling over.“You!” I snarled as I pointed a finger at Gamma Jeff. “Th
Elaine“Yes, Mr. Smith. It’s been… a challenging few days. I appreciate your understanding.”Mr. Smith’s voice echoed through the receiver. “Elaine, you don’t have to explain. Take the time you need. You’ve earned it. In fact, take as long as necessary.”I sighed. I was touched by his generosity but shook my head instinctively. Even though he couldn’t see me, I knew that the message would be clear. “A week will be enough,” I replied. “I just need a little time to clear my head and settle things. If I need more, I promise I’ll call.”“Good,” he replied after a pause. “But remember, the offer stands. Call me if you need an extension. We’ll manage, Don’t worry.”“Thank you,” I murmured, feeling a swell of gratitude. “I’ll keep you updated.” With that, I ended the call and set my phone down on the coffee table.A quiet moment passed before Trevor appeared. A steaming cup of tea was in his hands. He offered it to me with a small and warm smile. “Here. I thought you could use this.”I too
ElaineLiz didn’t say anything. Her mouth opened a little, yet no words came out of it. The usual brightness in her hazel eyes turned into something uncertain She glanced down at the floor, then back at me. The pink color in her cheeks earlier was gone. Now, her face looked pale. The happy look she had when she arrived was replaced by sadness. Her lips pressed together tightly as if she was trying to hold back her feelings.“I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I didn’t mean to ruin the mood. I should have kept quiet instead of sharing—”“Stop,” I said gently as I cut her off. I reached out and took her hand. I held her warm hand firmly to let her know what I really felt inside. “You don’t have to say sorry, Liz. You were just telling me something about your life. And I’m happy you did. That’s what best friends are for.”Her brow furrowed. "Yeah. But I don’t want to make things harder for you. I didn't even know what you were going through. What kind of best friend am I?”"It's my fault a
ElaineTrevor and I were sitting on the sofa. We do not talk much but feel relaxed in each other’s presence. This was how we normally spent the rest of the night before going to bed. Then, we heard a knock at the door. Trevor gave me a quick nod before telling me to stay while he got up to check. My heart was pounding inside my chest. Eventually, I reminded myself to stay calm and don’t let my overthinking get the best of me. The door opened, and Liz rushed in before Trevor could say a word. She was so full of energy and was like she was bringing the sunshine into the room. In one hand, she held a paper bag that smelled amazing. In the other, she carried a pile of colorful board games that wobbled as she moved. Her smile was so big, it made me smile too. “Hope you’re both hungry!” Liz said, setting the bag on the coffee table. The smell of sesame chicken and fried rice filled the room right away. Expectedly, it made my stomach rumble.“I’m in the mood to play some games tonight. Wh
Elaine“Hmm…”The kitchen was filled with the warm aroma of coffee brewing and the faint sizzle of something cooking on the stove. Trevor stood at the counter with his sleeves rolled up. He was too focused on chopping vegetables with such precision that seemed almost out of place in such a casual setting. I leaned against the counter opposite him as I watched his hands move.“You’re really good at that,” I teased to break the silence. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”He glanced up at me. A playful smile appeared at the corners of his lips. “A man’s gotta eat, Elaine. Besides, you’d be surprised what a few cooking shows can teach you.”I laughed softly. And it sounded light and free. Something I hadn’t felt in days. It amazed me how easily Trevor could make me forget the heaviness that seemed to cling to me lately.“Do you want to help? Or are you just going to stand there admiring me?” he teased before tossing a piece of chopped carrot in my direction.I caught it mid-air and
MeganI was knee-deep in paperwork. My desk was full of piled files and documents demanding attention. The sound of the clock ticking faintly in the background was the only company I had in the silence of my office. I barely glanced up when Marie entered. But she sounded like something was urgent which made me pause.“Miss Megan, the peacekeepers are here. They said it’s about Elaine Scott,” she announced.Elaine Scott. My hand froze mid-signature. I looked up sharply and masked my unease with a calm smile. “Send them in.”Marie nodded. Then she stepped aside to let them enter. Two officers walked in. Their presence was shouting authority. I gestured toward the chairs opposite my desk. “Please, have a seat.""Thank you," They uttered before settling in. I put down the pen I was holding and smiled at them before asking, "How can I help you, officers?”One of the officers, a tall man with a stern expression, got straight to the point. “We’re investigating an incident involving Miss Ela
TristanI had not planned to follow them. It wasn’t something I’d intended to do, but the moment I saw them leaving Elaine’s apartment together, curiosity turned into an uncontrollable pull. Trevor’s car disappeared into the distance. And I found myself trailing them. I couldn't resist it. The mere sight of Elaine beside him stirred a storm within me. I noticed how she smiled at him so easily. My blood was boiling as I realized that it seemed to belong to that bastard now. It was hard to believe that she would easily give it to another wolf just like that. It felt like all the moments we shared had disappeared. It felt like those were replaced by something I couldn’t reach.“As if you shared something wonderful with Elaine. You’re not fooling anyone, Tristan,” My wolf uttered sarcastically inside my head which I chose to ignore.Even if I walked a few distances away from them, they didn’t seem to notice me. They were too engrossed in their world. Trevor’s hand guided Elaine protecti
ElaineThe drive to my apartment was quiet. Trevor was driving beside me, and his calm presence made me feel safer. That was something I was so grateful for.Earlier, Trevor said something that stuck in my mind. He told me I couldn’t let my fear control me. He was right. If I stayed afraid forever, I would lose who I was. I've come so far to claim my life back from my failed marriage and I couldn’t let all those efforts go to waste simply because I was afraid to die.As we arrived at the apartment complex, Trevor parked near the entrance. He looked at me and smiled. “I’ll wait here,” he said gently. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”His words made me feel a little braver. “Thank you,” I said softly before stepping out of the car.Walking into the building, I felt a mysterious chill. Everything looked the same, but it didn’t feel the same. My heart started beating faster as I opened the door to my apartment. Suddenly, the memory of that awful box flashed in my mind. I stood
ElaineI couldn’t shake the heavy feeling brewing inside me. It stayed like a shadow, always following me wherever I went. The thought just wouldn’t leave me alone.Someone wanted me dead, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.Even when I tried to feel safe, my mind kept overthinking. I was even afraid to close my eyes, feeling that, at any moment, someone might barge through the door and kill me. Despite Trevor being here to accompany me, it did nothing to ease my fear. Not because I doubted his ability to protect me, but because I was afraid he would get hurt because of me again.My concerns were valid, right?Trevor must have noticed my distance. He always did. I heard his soft footsteps walking toward me and soon, he was sitting next to me. He didn’t have his usual smile. Instead, he looked worried.“You’ve been quiet all day,” he said gently, “I am not used to you being like this.”I let out a shaky breath and held the edge of the chair tightly. “How can I not be? Someone out t
TristanMy room felt like a prison. The walls were cold and suffocating. I was a free wolf, but I obviously didn’t feel like one.I smirked at my own thoughts. As an Alpha, I shouldn’t have felt this way. Mom and Dad had given me a little kingdom of my own to rule. I had money to spend on anything and servants willing to do all my bidding.But none of that mattered. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. No matter how much I tried to distract myself, every thought dragged me back to the same place.After the council meeting earlier, I felt like even my birthright as Alpha could be taken away from me at any moment, just because they weren’t satisfied with my rule anymore.Pathetic, wasn’t it?I felt alone. Truly alone. I had no one to turn to. Nothing to quiet my thoughts or provide comfort when I needed it. For the first time in years, I felt the burden of being alone.My parents were long gone.My best friend, Shawn, had died years ago.Aunt Melina had lost her mind to the point where I could
Elaine“Yes, Mr. Smith. It’s been… a challenging few days. I appreciate your understanding.”Mr. Smith’s voice echoed through the receiver. “Elaine, you don’t have to explain. Take the time you need. You’ve earned it. In fact, take as long as necessary.”I sighed. I was touched by his generosity but shook my head instinctively. Even though he couldn’t see me, I knew that the message would be clear. “A week will be enough,” I replied. “I just need a little time to clear my head and settle things. If I need more, I promise I’ll call.”“Good,” he replied after a pause. “But remember, the offer stands. Call me if you need an extension. We’ll manage, Don’t worry.”“Thank you,” I murmured, feeling a swell of gratitude. “I’ll keep you updated.” With that, I ended the call and set my phone down on the coffee table.A quiet moment passed before Trevor appeared. A steaming cup of tea was in his hands. He offered it to me with a small and warm smile. “Here. I thought you could use this.”I too