The redhead girl whimpered, her voice grating on my nerves. “I didn’t want to do it! Someone sent me a task to do that. I needed the money!”“Who?” I snapped, my anger boiling over. “Who sent you?”“I don’t know!” she cried, her tears streaming down her face. She glanced at Daphne before looking at me. “They contacted me anonymously! I swear to the Moon Goddess! And then they paid me a lot of money!""Why did you do that?" I asked, my voice a whisper, trying to calm down from what she had said."I was desperate! I really needed money! Please, don't tell them or else they'll kill my family!" The girl’s incessant whining made my blood boil. Every word she spoke, every tear she shed made me want to lash out. She was pathetic, irritating, and I wanted to crush her.“Enough!” I shouted, my voice echoing in the dim light. “I don't fucking care about your excuses."She shut her eyes. "I'm not lying to you. What I said is true..." The redhead cowered, her pleas turning into rambling gabbles
Damien didn't budge, his eyes locked on me as if I'd committed a crime. Mrs. Smiths arrived in the kitchen, making us both jump."What's happening here?" she asked, her curiosity evident. Her gaze lingered suspiciously on Damien's hand gripping mine.I plastered a fake Luna smile on my face. "N-Nothing! We were just bickering, Mrs. Smiths."Damien snickered, refusing to let it go. To cover up, I laughed and pulled away from his grip, intertwining our fingers instead. "We're okay, Mrs. Smiths," I said, showing her our joined hands."Alright..." she replied, still eyeing us suspiciously."Tsk." Damien withdrew his hand and walked out of the room. I heaved a deep sigh and looked at Lily. "He had a bad morning," I shrugged.We continued the Luna lessons until summer arrived. Damien and I agreed to act as a couple in public and ignore each other in private. I had no idea what he was up to anymore, not that I cared. I became busy when my father summoned me to take a summer job at his office
Archer.The sun scorched the construction site, relentless and unforgiving. Sweat trickled down my back as I adjusted my hard hat, the rhythmic clink of tools and hum of machinery creating a cacophony around me.The bell rang, signaling our break time. I wanted to check on Katrina’s condition after what happened earlier, so I headed towards the building and climbed the stairs. As soon as I reached the hallway, a familiar figure greeted me.“Archer Ellington?” she asked, and I nodded in confirmation. “You are…” I whispered, trying to recall her name, but she broke into laughter.“Oh my gosh! You look different! You don’t remember me, your physics partner?” she asked. I bit my lower lip and shook my head. “No, I don’t,” I replied honestly.She sighed but kept smiling. “My name’s Claire! Remember that time in high school with Professor Jacobs?" Claire chuckled, her eyes dancing with amusement.I shook my head, grinning as the memory resurfaced. "You mean the solar-powered toaster fiasco?
Katrina."Ever since we fucked, I can't stop thinking about you..." Archer's voice sent a thrill through my entire being. The sight of his toned body, the smell of the lingering cologne on his skin... I wanted to feel him, taste him. Neither of us moved for what felt like forever. My eyes were glued to his lips, the way they formed words made me feel dizzy, and the way he ran his tongue across them made me want to fall into his arms and let him do whatever he wanted with me.Damn it. My wolf is going crazy for him; and I can’t believe I’m going feral, too!I was inching closer to him, my breath catching in my throat, and I didn't even realize it until our lips almost touched again after that one passionate kiss. By then, it was too late to pull away. Archer leaned in, capturing my lips with his and pressing me against the cool metal lockers with his strong body. I dropped my phone, and he let his shirt fall to the floor. His hands reached for my blouse, pulling it over my head, the
Archer.The rowdy hum of Teddy's bar thrummed in my ears as I nursed my beer, the buzz of voices and clinking glasses creating a cocoon of noise around me. The dim lighting cast long shadows, and the scent of alcohol mingled with the faint odor of sweat and cologne. My friends, a motley crew of construction workers and town regulars, filled the air with laughter and shouts, their faces flushed with alcohol and good spirits.I took a long sip, feeling the cold liquid slide down my throat, and let my gaze wander aimlessly around the bar. Just another night trying to forget the chaos outside these walls. Suddenly, Leon’s voice cut through the din, louder than usual."Bro, look at this video! It's gone viral now."I barely glanced his way, rolling my eyes. "I'm not interested in your porn vids, man—""It's about Katrina, you dumbshit!" Leon shot back, his words sharp enough to pierce through my indifference.At the mention of her name, my heart skipped a beat. I turned quickly, snatching
Katrina.I have never felt so disoriented in my life.Each morning, waking up felt like dragging myself through a fog, thick and suffocating. The past few days had been feeding up my emotions. I felt confused and regretful. Damn it! Why did I fucking confessed to him? What was I thinking? Was it really the right moment, the right words? I had always prided myself on being decisive, but now, doubt gnawed at my every thought.Standing in front of my wardrobe, I stared at the rows of clothes, feeling an uncharacteristic sense of defeat. It’s another day of work to the project site. I wanted to look prettier than the usual, so today is different.“This one? Nah,” I mumbled to myself as I throw away the dull colored dress and find another one. “Seriously, why am I glamming up when I’m just going to the site? It’s not like the Chancellor is there,” I told myself, frustrated because of my behaviour.In the end, I settled on a dress—a soft, navy-blue number that had always been a favorite.
My voice trembled as I tried to explain, "Archer, it's not what it looks like. She attacked me first—"But my words were drowned out by Claire's pitiful wails. "She hates me, Arch! She's always hated me. She wants to ruin everything between us."The intensity of his glare cut through me like a blade, the depth of his disappointment and anger more than I could bear. I stumbled backward, my mind racing for something—anything—to make him understand. "Archer, please, you have to believe me. She—"A voice bombarded the three of us. “What’s happening here?” My dad's authoritative voice broke through the tension, his subordinates flanking him, their curious eyes assessing the scene.“D-Dad.. It’s nothing,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.“S-Sir!” Claire uttered in a shaking voice, her feigned innocence sickening. Archer's stern face remained fixed on me, unmoved by my father's presence.One of my dad's subordinates leaned in to whisper something to him. He let out a deep sigh, nodding
Archer.I leaned against the cold steel of the elevator wall, my breath still ragged from the memory that wouldn't leave my mind. Every time I closed my eyes, I was back in that moment with Katrina. The small, confined space of the elevator had only heightened the intensity, making every touch, every kiss, feel forbidden and exhilarating. I remembered the way her hands had roamed my back, her fingers digging into my muscles as if she needed to anchor herself to something real.Just as things were heating up, the elevator jolted to a stop, and we froze. The sound of voices outside sent a shockwave through us, and we scrambled to pull ourselves together. My heart had pounded in my chest, not just from the thrill of our stolen moment, but from the fear of getting caught. The door had slid open to reveal a couple of utility workers, their expressions a mix of surprise and suspicion. Katrina and I had managed to feign innocence. His father was also there to get her home.“Thank you, Arch