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Chapter 16
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2024-08-13 20:52:54
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In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 17
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. Itâs another day of work to the project site. I wanted to look prettier than the usual, so today is different.âThis one? Nah,â I mumbled to myself as I throw away the dull colored dress and find another one. âSeriously, why am I glamming up when Iâm just going to the site? Itâs not like the Chancellor is there,â I told myself, frustrated because of my behaviour.In the end, I settled on a dressâa soft, navy-blue number that had always been a favorite.
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-14In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 18
My voice trembled as I tried to explain, "Archer, it's not what it looks like. She attacked me firstâ"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 somethingâanythingâto make him understand. "Archer, please, you have to believe me. Sheâ"A voice bombarded the three of us. âWhatâs happening here?â My dad's authoritative voice broke through the tension, his subordinates flanking him, their curious eyes assessing the scene.âD-Dad.. Itâs nothing,â I whispered, my voice barely audible.âS-Sir!â 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
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-15In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 19
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.âThank you, Arch
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-18In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 20
Katrina.I had just found out that Archer was fired because of my father. The moment the news hit, a storm of anger and frustration welled up inside me. Without a second thought, I stormed to my fatherâs office, throwing the door open and slamming my hands on his desk.âWhy did you do it?ââManners, Katrina. Didnât Lily teach you that in your Luna lessons?â he responded, his eyes still fixed on his monitor as he continued typing.His calm demeanor only fueled my agitation. âOh, stop teaching me about manners like a good person, Dad! I know what you did to Archer!ââEllington, hmm. Him again?â He finally swiveled his chair to look at me, folding his arms and clicking his tongue. âWhat about him, my princess? Is he pestering you again?ââWhat? No!âHis gaze hardened. âI found a video clip of you and Archer having an intimate moment. You knowâĶ the way you look at Archer felt different compared to the way you look at your boyfriend. Anyone could tell thereâs something going on between you
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-18In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 21
Archer gently released me and stepped back, scanning the room as if expecting the shadows to move again. âDid you see anyone?ââNo,â I whispered, my voice trembling. âI just heard the knocking. It was so real. I swear, it wasnât my imagination.âHe nodded, his expression thoughtful. âI believe you. But we need to figure out what happened,â he paused and squinted his eyes. âIâll ask you again, Katrina. Are you alright?âArcherâs voice cut through my fear like a knife.âYeah, Iâm fine. I just need to inform the security personnelâââGive me that.â He reached over, snatching the telephone from my already shaking hand with a firm yet gentle grip. âSomeone tried attacking a female worker inside her office! Where the hell were you?! Isnât someone monitoring the CCTV cameras?!â His voice was a mix of fury and urgency as he barked into the receiver. He slammed the phone back into its cradle and turned to me, his eyes softened with concern. âLetâs go check the camera.âNodding, I followed him
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-19In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 22
Archer.I hurried Katrina onto the bike, her eyes wide with lingering terror. âGet on!â I urged, my voice sharper than I intended. We couldnât stay here. Not with that thing lurking.She climbed on, clutching me tightly as I revved the engine and took off. The roar of the bike drowned out the pounding of my heart, but I couldnât shake the image of that creature from my mind. My eyes flicked to the side mirror, catching a glimpse of it shifting into a shadowy figure that seemed to melt into the darkness.âArcher, what was that thing?â Katrinaâs voice was a mix of fear and confusion, her grip tightening around my waist.âI donât know,â I admitted, keeping my eyes on the road. âBut weâre not sticking around to find out.âWe sped down the deserted streets, the wind whipping past us. I felt her trembling against my back, and I wished I could offer more reassurance. But the truth was, I had no idea what we were up against.âWhere are we going?â she asked, her voice muffled by the wind and h
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-19In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 23
KatrinaIâve been avoiding my parents more than usual lately, but itâs not like theyâve noticed. Theyâre probably relieved that Iâve stopped going to the site, away from Archer. The gym became my sanctuary, a place where I could drown out the noise in my head with the rhythm of my heartbeat. But during the day, I stayed in the library, surrounded by books that didnât ask questions or offer unsolicited advice.As I was flipping through the pages of yet another novel, my phone buzzed beside me. Daphneâs name flashed on the screen. Again. I stared at it, debating whether to answer, but let it ring out like I had so many times before. A moment later, it buzzed again with a message.Daphne: If you wonât go to this party tonight, consider our friendship as dead!I groaned, dropping the book onto the table. âIs that a threat?â I muttered, shaking my head. Daphne had always been dramatic, but this felt like a new level. I couldnât keep avoiding her forever.With a sigh, I shelved the book
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-20In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 24
My heart pounded in my chest, drowning out the partyâs music. Damienâs gaze bore into me, his eyes pleading for an answer I wasnât ready to give. Calebâs smirk only fueled my anger, his words like gasoline on a fire that was already burning out of control.âKatrina,â Damienâs voice was quieter now, almost desperate. âIs it true?âI clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to hold onto whatever composure I had left. The truth was a heavy weight on my tongue, one that I wasnât sure I could swallow anymore.âWhat if it is?â I finally said, my voice cold, distant. I watched as Damienâs face crumpled, the pain in his eyes slicing through me like a knife.âSo, you were with him?â His voice cracked, the hurt unmistakable.I didnât answer right away, my mind racing through every memory, every moment Iâd tried to bury. The late-night rides, the way Archerâs presence had become a comfort I couldnât deny. But admitting it now, in front of everyone, felt like ripping open a wo
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-08-20
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In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 56
Katrina.âThey wouldnât just leave. They wouldnâtâĶâ Archerâs voice was barely audible, as if he couldnât quite believe the words himself. His eyes were fixed ahead, lost in thoughts I couldnât reach.I stepped closer, trying to offer some comfort, but he moved away, the distance between us growing. âI need to go and see our house,â he muttered, his voice strained.âIâll go with you,â I said softly, knowing he didnât have to face this alone.The drive to the Madsun Pack was heavy with silence. Archer sat beside me, stiff, his gaze locked on the passing trees but seeing none of them. I wanted to say something, but the weight of his past hung too thick between us.When we arrived, the house looked like it had been forgotten by time. Rusted metal lined the once-sturdy fence, and weeds choked the front yard. The windows, now dark and cracked, seemed to stare at us like empty eyes. I felt a chill crawl up my spine. Archerâs steps faltered as we approached, his breath coming in short, uneve
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 55
The thumbs-up from Katrina made me feel like I could breathe again, even in a place like this. It was such a small thing, really, but damn, it was like she was telling me without words, "You've got this." I smiledâcouldnât help itâand gave her a quick nod before the guards led me back inside. The sound of the doors slamming shut behind me was usually like nails in my brain, but today? Today, it didnât feel as heavy.The cafeteria was its usual mess of noise and clattering trays. I grabbed my foodâif you could call it thatâand found a seat. Barely a minute in, and Lucifer leaned over, grinning like heâd just won the lottery.âWow, your lawyer looks young and sheâs good at handling your case! Iâm so envious of you!âI chuckled, shaking my head, but before I could say anything, another guy, Damon, piped up.âI heard sheâs the one who paid off the rest of your fees too. Must be nice, huh?ââYeah, guess I got lucky.â I tried to sound casual, but it was more than luck. That girl really c
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 54
Archer.Years rotting in prison had changed me. The first week tasted like hell. Iâd heard the rumorsâliving with real criminals wouldnât be easy, and they were right. The moment they found out my sentence had been reduced to ten years, it became a game of survival.They didnât like it. They didnât like me.I was always trapped in some dark, secluded corner. The punches came in waves, followed by bruises so deep they felt permanent. My body almost gave out after my regular trips in and out of the prison clinic. That was the first few weeks, thoughâback when I still cared about my fate.But now? Now they treated me like a king. After I killed their Alpha in a duel, no one dared to touch me. Respect came swift, like blood flowing from a fresh wound.No one visited me, though. Not once. Trial after trial, I waited, hopingâmaybeâAlpha Steven or Damien would come, give me a chance to break their faces, even for a moment. Just once.So when the guard stopped by, face hidden under his robe
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 53
âLet me explain myself, Katrina!â I stared at Damien, my chest tight with anger, disbelief swirling in my head. He was kneeling in front of me, like that would fix everything. Like his regret would magically erase the hell he put Archer through.âIt was my fault!" Damien's voice cracked. "I let my father do it because itâs for my welfare! I know it was selfish to put Archer in prison instead of me.âMy heart pounded. He looked at me like he was about to shatter, but I didnât care. My blood boiled. Archer had suffered because of thisâbecause of him."I took advantage of our similar face and body!" he confessed, his words spilling out in desperation. "But you know whatâs more fucked up?! That fucking bastard is my brother! Heâs my fatherâs missing biological son, Katrina. Weâre twins!âI froze. My brain couldnât process what he was saying fast enough. "What...?" My voice barely came out as a whisper. "Archer is... what?"âAlpha Stevenâs son. My twin,â he repeated, his head hanging low
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 52
âThis is insane! How are you not in prison?!â My voice trembled, but I shoved down the fear, stepping forward, eyes narrowing. âI know Alpha Steven can pull strings, but I saw you on the TV. Thereâs no way you walked out of that. What did you do, hire a doppelganger?!âDamienâs smirk was infuriating. He leaned in closer, too close, his breath hot against my face. His eyes gleamed, wild and untethered, like a man unraveling at the seams. âYou were right,â he said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.My heart pounded, and my fists clenched at my sides. His presence felt suffocating, but I held my ground. The air between us crackled with tension. He knew exactly how to push me, how to make me question everything. But I wasnât going to let him win.âFuck you!â I spat, voice rising. âYou donât feel any shame? No guilt for what you did?â"You think I havenât felt guilt?" His voice cracked, an edge of hysteria creeping in. "Since Iâve been hiding in the U.S., I haven't slept right! Ev
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 51
Katrina.âWeâre officially bad blood with the Smiths family,â my fatherâs voice boomed through the room, the words chilling me to my core. âAnyone caught dealing with them... will be punished by me.âI stood at the back, arms crossed, trying to ignore the heavy tension swirling around the mansion. My fatherâs fury was palpable, his eyes still dark with rage from the attack. The memory of him lying there, blood pooling on the ground after being struck in the head, was still too fresh. And for what? For helping Archer.The Smiths wouldnât get away with this. Not anymore.I gripped my phone tighter, pacing the length of my room, my mind racing. Damien and Daphne. They had to be behind this. My gut screamed at me that Archer was with themâwhether he wanted to be or not.I pressed the call button again, my hands shaking with a mix of fear and frustration. Ring. Ring. Straight to voicemail. Again.âCome on, Daphne. Pick up.â My voice cracked, and I cursed under my breath.I needed answers.
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 50
To hear that I am Alpha Stevenâs biological son is insane.I donât fucking believe him. Damien is my brother? No way. Heâs a murderer. He insisted on joining a fucking illegal street race, and it killed an innocent woman. She had a baby in her cart. I didnât know who they were, but I felt sorry for her family.And now Iâm the one paying for his crime.I had no choice. I had to act like Damien in prison. It was the only way to keep the pack from falling apart, but it felt like I was the one falling to pieces. He held me captive, threw me into this secluded room with nothing but white walls. Theyâd already forced me into an orange jumpsuit, marking me as a prisoner. And slowly, I was losing it.âThis is fucking crazy. Come on, Arch. Think about something!â I muttered, pacing back and forth. The room felt like it was closing in, my footsteps echoing off the walls like a taunt.Then the door creaked open, and there he stood. Damien.My pulse spiked. All the anger, the frustration, the g
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 49
Archer.I woke up to the taste of iron in my mouth, blinking against the glare of a single bare bulb hanging overhead. My wrists were tied tight behind me, cutting into my skin as the chair creaked beneath my weight. I was abducted. It has been seven days already after our supposed date with Katrina. These men only gave me food and water. I didnât know what they want. Escaping wasnât the best option either because I want to know whoâs their fucking leader.âWell, well, look who decided to join us.â It didnât take long for me to recognize one of the voices in the background. The leader stepped into the light. He yanked off his ski mask, revealing a face Iâd punched more times than I cared to count. The same guy from the convenience storeâone of the drunk idiots who thought they could hurt Katrina. He smiled like he was on top of the world.âYou think youâre a fucking Alpha now, huh?â He leaned in, his breath hot and rancid. âYou couldnât beat us then, and you sure as hell canât now.
In Love With a Criminal Alpha   Chapter 48
It had been a week since Archer ditched our date night. For the first three days, I was furiousâangry even. But as the days passed, and still no texts or calls from him, my anger shifted into something elseâworry.My thoughts were preoccupied with what happened with Damien, too. Every channel, every articleâit was all about Damien. His name plastered on the screen, tied to an illegal street car race. My heart dropped when I read about the crash. An innocent woman and her child... gone. I was angry at him, furious for putting himself in that situation. For making that choice.The case was still ongoing. Alpha Steven hadnât held a press conference yet, and everything just felt... off.I was sitting in the living room, my eyes glued to the TV as the reporter droned on about the details. My mother, clearly tired of it, grabbed the remote and turned the screen off with a click.âIf anyone asks if youâre involved with Damien, tell them youâve cut him off,â she said sharply, not looking at m
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