I shoved his grip off me, fury replacing the initial shock. Every instinct screamed at me to lash out, but then I realized Lily was not around. Panic flooded me as I scanned the room, searching in vain.Had she left, furious and heartbroken? She might have misunderstood me. My irritation morphed into bitter resentment aimed solely at Noel. Why? Why did he lie and claim me as his fiancée? How could I possibly explain this to Lily?Lily might be thinking I hid my relationship with Noel. I was not sure what she was thinking about me- an opportunist to date my boss?My gaze snapped back to him, my insides simmering with rage. "Why did you do that?" I spat, the words laced with venom. "Fianceé? How could you lie so effortlessly? I can’t believe it.” I sighed in dismay, looking at him disdainfully. “I didn’t know you, a strong Alpha, would resort to such cheap manipulation!"My voice trembled with restrained rage. "You're despicable," I hissed, "You use your power to manipulate and control
I burst through the pack entrance, my heart hammering in my chest. The sight that greeted me was one of raw anxiety. My father, a usually stoic figure, paced the hall like a caged animal, worry etched deep on his brow."Dad," I called, approaching him. He spun around, relief flooding his face as he pulled me into a tight embrace.“I am relieved you are here,” he murmured, his voice heavy with concern. He pulled back, his hands gripping my shoulders tightly. "Things are escalating quickly, Noel. We've lost three warriors in these attacks. The pack is on edge, and their faith is wavering. You have to act quickly.”I could feel his fear, a stark contrast to his usual unwavering demeanor. A sense of determination to protect our pack at all costs stirred within me. The attacks were indeed alarming, but I held onto a sliver of certainty."I know who is behind this," I snarled, jaw clenched. "Richard is seeking vengeance. But he won't win. I'll find him myself and end this." My fists clenche
Adelynn’s POV…Noel's abrupt departure left me stunned, my mind reeling with unanswered questions. I couldn’t understand what had happened all of a sudden. One phone call made him serious and prompted him to leave.‘Who called him?’ I wondered. My stomach twisted into a knot of confusion.My appetite vanished like a wisp of smoke. Then I realized the bill was not paid yet. Suddenly, a sense of unease settled like a weight in the pit of my stomach. I felt a cold wind blowing across my back, causing my hair to rise. I swallowed hard.“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath. “You are a fool, Adel. You shouldn’t have trusted that man.”The bill would be high without a doubt. With a resigned sigh, I signaled for a waiter.“Please prepare the bill,” I said.“Don’t worry about the bill, ma’am,” he said politely with a smile. “You are Mr. Wilkinson’s guest. Enjoy your meal.”I blinked in disbelief. Did he mean I didn’t have to pay the bill? The realization brought a wave of relief to me, and I
The room seemed to shrink, the air thickening around me. Every fiber of my being tensed as shock and disbelief surged through me, rendering me momentarily speechless. Was he serious? Or was this some twisted form of mockery?I stared, wide-eyed, at him, searching his face for a hint of amusement"Please, Mr. Wilkison," I managed, my voice tight with humiliation, "don't mock me like this. I simply requested my salary in advance. It wouldn't have come to this if I was not in dire need of money.”My emotions were spiraling out of control."I'm serious too," he countered, his voice leaving no room for doubt. "Accept my offer, and I'll make all your troubles disappear."A flicker of anger ignited within me, laced with a deep, chilling fear. Marrying him? That was never the plan.No one could be loyal to me. My parents abandoned me when I was just a baby. Then my fiance deceived me. And Noel, powerful, commanding Alpha werewolf that he was, could never truly be mine. He too would leave, ine
The air crackled with tension. I thought he was asserting his dominance without giving me a chance to express my opinion. He just delivered his decision as he commanded his employees, trying to convince me that it was for my own good. However, he didn’t give me an equal chance to discuss this matter before concluding. It was clear he saw this as a done deal, a decision he'd made and I'd merely rubber-stamp.Anger bubbled in my gut. I refused to let him dictate to me."Are you going to decide everything?" I asked contemptuously. "You haven't even asked what I think."“Your opinion!” He chuckled humorlessly. “Don't be ridiculous. I'm giving you the options, here. It's your choice. Take it or leave it. I am only pointing out what is beneficial for you. If you don't want it, fine. Nobody's forcing you to marry me."He turned on his heel and stalked back to his chair, sagging into it gruffly.A knot of confusion tightened in my stomach. Anger warred with a sliver of fear. While I was furio
I emerged from the ward, my mind still reeling from the conversation with the director. Amy's frantic approach caught me off guard. Her face was flushed with worry, and my heart clenched with concern at the sight."What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.“The situation is getting worse at the orphanage,” Amy said. “The financial crisis is increasing, and the orphanage is about to close.”Amy's words hit me like a ton of bricks, each syllable carrying the weight of impending disaster.“What?” I exclaimed. Shock and disbelief mingled within me as I struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. I never knew that the situation was so bad. How could this happen? Why hadn't I been informed sooner? Questions tumbled through my mind.“It has been quite a while since all this problem started,” Amy narrated. “The previous sponsors are pulling their hands, refusing to fund us any longer. No one is willing to sponsor the orphanage. The director has been depressed these days and because of that
The next day…It was Monday, and I arrived at the office early, hoping to catch Noel before the day's chaos unfolded. The office buzzed with the usual morning fervor, but my mind was preoccupied with the looming crisis at hand. Before I could even gather my thoughts, Lara approached my desk with a flustered look.Sensing something amiss, I asked worriedly, “What is the matter, Lara? Why do you look so pale?"With a heavy sigh, Lara proceeded to disclose the latest setback plaguing our project. “The project is facing another issue,” she said anxiously.Regret washed over me. My personal turmoil these past few days had left me neglecting my work. "What happened now? More data errors?" I blurted out, surprised. Everything seemed fine on Friday. What had transpired over the weekend to throw us back into crisis?“No, there are no data errors this time,” Lara explained. "It's a consequence of the previous issue. The client is coming to the office. The boss has a meeting with him this aftern
The whole journey passed in silence. I longed to break the ice and speak up, but my voice seemed to have deserted me. Noel didn't seem inclined to chat either, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. My mind raced with thoughts of what could have changed since our last conversation.What if he changed his mind? What if he had found someone already to be his wife? The uncertainty gnawed at my insides, making my stomach twist into knots.I fiddled nervously with my fingers, trying to distract myself from the growing anxiety. It wasn't until the car came to a stop outside the bar that I realized how much time had passed.“We are here,” Noel announced, breaking the silence.“Yeah.” I nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment in myself. I had let this opportunity slip away. Stepping out of the car, I took a deep breath and tried to shake off my uneasiness.‘Shit, Adel,’ I cursed myself inwardly.Half an hour. Half an hour I had had with him, and I had blown it. All day I had waited for this chanc
Meanwhile, Adelynn entered. “Noel!”“Come here.” I beckoned her. “Richard is… dying. Talk to him for the last time.”Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, darted between me and Richard. Hesitantly, she approached the bed.Richard stirred slightly as she neared. A weak smile, tinged with regret, flickered across his lips. “Adel, I am sorry,” he whispered and then coughed. “I-I wanted to reject you properly, to sever the mate bond completely.”“Don’t talk,” she said. “You will be fine. Noel… why are the doctors not treating him?” Her gaze flicked to me, a question brimming in her tear-filled eyes.“He was poisoned,” I replied. “It’s too late.”“What?”“You still feel bad for me even though I hurt you so badly,” Richard chimed in, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t deserve it, Adel… Now…” He coughed. “I, Richard Gray, reject you, Adelynn… Have a happy life… with Alpha Noel…”With that final declaration, a long sigh escaped his lips, his eyes fluttering closed. The faint rise
Upon arrival to the pack, we sent Richard for treatment. Adelynn materialized at my side. Her eyes were clouded with worry. Before I could say a word, she wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight.“I saw the news,” she murmured. “The attack was brutal. So many casualties. I was terrified… terrified the witch would hurt you."Holding her close, I inhaled the comforting scent of lavender that clung to her hair. "I'm alright, my love," I murmured, stroking her back gently.“Are you hurt?” She pulled back slightly, scrutinizing my face. Her concern intensified as her gaze lingered on the faint line of dried blood near my chest. Her fingers brushed the injury with a feather-light touch, sending a jolt of electricity sparking through me.“Are you seducing me?” I asked, grinning mischievously.She looked at me with her wide eyes and my heart thumped. At this moment, I could only think about pulling her into the bedroom and claiming her.“How mean?” She pushed me away, jolting me back to
Noel’s POV…Two days passed, and we were still looking for the pregnant human ladies who had been taken away. But we found no clue. We had been keeping tabs on the Black Hounds Pack also, but nothing suspicious was noted. Instead, Tina had been helping us in the investigation, which was a stark contrast to the suspicion in my mind.On the other hand, human representatives were happy with us for rescuing the abducted people. We also presented evidence of witches transforming those rogues to attack the humans. While they acknowledged the explanation, the growing public outcry demanded a formal clarification. To quell the rising anxiety, they conducted a press conference.I was invited to the press conference. With all the evidence, I was ready to face the inquisitive reporters.The conference hall buzzed with anticipation. The mayor, with a reassuring smile, took the stage. He began by welcoming the assembled crowd. He announced that the kidnapped people had been rescued. He reassured t
My initial apprehension morphed into a cautious scrutiny. She was a mess. A worn-out white gown, once elegant, now hung on her frame in tatters, revealing glimpses of dirt-smudged skin. Her face, pale and gaunt, reflected a hardship that went beyond simple neglect. The stench that hit me then confirmed that she had not taken a bath for a long time.I was shocked. How did someone end up like this within the pack? My gaze drifted to the exposed skin on her arms and neck, marred by livid bruises and angry red welts. It was clear that she was abused. Who could have done this to her?Taking a deep breath, I forced my voice into a neutral tone. "Who are you?" I demanded. “What were you doing there?”She dropped to her knees and cried. “Please don’t hurt me. I didn't mean to… I didn't mean to hurt anyone here."“Who are you?” I asked again.“Ava,” she replied, her voice trembling. “Please don’t hurt me.”The fear in her posture, the raw vulnerability in her plea, chipped away at my initial a
I confirmed with a nod."Are you serious?" he breathed, disbelief coloring his voice. "The baby… It's mine? I am the biological father of your baby!” A flicker of a smile, hesitant yet hopeful, played on his lips. “That means… my infertility issue… Why did you lie to me? How could you be so cruel?” He barked, glaring at me. The pain in his eyes ached my heart."I'm so sorry," I whispered, regret gnawing at me. "I… I thought you didn't love me. That you just needed a temporary wife to solve some pack issue." Shame burned in my cheeks. "I-I was afraid," I stammered, tears stinging my eyes. "Afraid you'd take the baby away from me if you knew the truth."“What?” Hurt flickered across his face, morphing into a grimace of frustration. "Take the baby? What are you even talking about?" He shook his head. "So, you planned on leaving me… with the baby? That's why you were so eager to break the contract. Why wouldn't you trust me, Adelynn? I promised to take care of you both. Didn't that mean a
Ivy’s words caught me off guard.Second chance mate? The revelation slammed into me with the force of a rogue wave. She'd already found her fated mate? So that was it. The realization dawned upon me. Ivy had returned because her mate had been kidnapped.Who could have done this and for why? Why did Ivy approach me? What did she want from me?Several questions rushed into my mind, increasing my confusion.“Tell me clearly,” I demanded.Her eyes, red-rimmed and pleading, met mine. "I'll tell you everything," she choked out. “When I met Jack abroad, I realized Mood goddess had blessed me with a second chance mate. I immediately fell in love with him despite him being a human. We thought we would have a happy life together.”She choked back a sob, her voice cracking. "Then everything changed. We learned that a werewolf had kidnapped his sister. We rushed back, hoping to find her, to help. But we were wrong. So wrong."Her eyes welled up with tears, and she chomped with emotion. She regain
Adelynn’s POV…When I regained consciousness, I found myself in the familiar bedroom nestled in the warm bed. Relief washed over me, followed by a wave of dizziness. I blinked, trying to focus on the figure sitting beside the bed."Hey, sweetheart, you're awake." Noel's voice, gentle and warm, filled my ears. His smiling face stirred conflicting emotions in my heart.Gratitude warred with resentment. Yes, he had saved me once again. If he had not appeared on time, I would have been killed. But I couldn’t forget the fact that he had ignored my calls."Why did you come for me?" I blurted out, the anger laced with a tremor I couldn't quite control. "Shouldn't you have been with Ivy?"His smile faltered, a flicker of pain crossing his features. "I know you're upset," he said slowly, “but it’s all Ivy’s doing to make you jealous. She invited me to dinner, but I declined the invitation. I had an important meeting to attend to. She knew about it.”Noel explained everything to me.After heari
With a dismissive wave, I signaled for Caleb to leave. When he walked out, I answered the call.“Hello?”"Noel... Did I disturb you?" Ivy's voice, usually dripping with sweetness, came through the receiver. It used to sound endearing, almost playful. Now, it grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard."You already did," I replied flatly. "What is it, Ivy? Get to the point."A hesitant pause followed before she spoke again. "Don't be rude," she whined, the playful facade slipping slightly. "I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay at your place. I called you to invite you to dinner. Look, don't say no right away! I already invited Adelynn, and she said she'd come. It’s a treat from my side. Please, Noel… come.”I couldn't help but feel a surge of annoyance at Ivy's persistent attempts to insert herself into my life. I rubbed my brow, hesitating for a moment.I had an important meeting that I could not postpone. But the prospect of Adelynn alone with Ivy made me anxious. I did
Consumed by unease, I mechanically ate small portions of food whilst grappling with increasing turmoil within. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that Noel was in trouble.Suddenly, she broke through my reverie, probing gently, "Is something wrong with the dish?"Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I muttered half-heartedly, "No, it isn't that. I just... don’t feel like eating.”“Oh, are you okay? You don’t look good.” She squinted at me inquisitively.“It’s normal for a pregnant woman to feel revulsion to certain food,” I replied nonchalantly and took some more bites.The next few minutes passed in a blur. Ivy resumed eating, eventually finishing her meal. However, I scarcely touched my plate, rendered unable to focus on anything other than Noel.Eventually, Ivy turned her attention back to me. “You must be thinking why Noel has not answered your calls. Isn’t it obvious that you mean nothing to him? As soon as I returned, his suppressed love for me emerged. He will soon break up