"I hope you know that you’ve ruined me. I’ll never be able to just point and shoot again with a disposable camera from the drug store.” I laughed up at him as they stood by his truck, our shoulders lightly touching.He chuckled, but the sound did little to lighten the sudden sourness that bubbled up in my stomach. "You won't be the first woman I've ruined.""Great," I muttered, stepping back and offering him a hand. "Maybe we can pick up this interview tomorrow?"Viktor brows furrowed. "What's wrong, Ria?""Ria," I repeated, forcing a smile. "Nothing's wrong."He ignored my hand and surprised me by pulling me into a hug. My breath hitched against his chest. This was a bad idea, a very bad idea."One minute we're laughing, the next you're giving me the cold shoulder," he murmured against my hair.Against my better judgement, the words tumbled out. "You mentioned all these women you've...ruined. It just reminded me that I'm on a deadline here. Getting too friendly isn't exactly part of
Water dripping from my hair and clothes, I stood there gaping like a fish out of water. One minute I was admiring a perfect shot, the next I was taking a dunk in the icy stream. Thankfully, strong hands gripped my arms, hauling me upright before the current could turn me into a bobbing toy.Viktor loomed over me, a thundercloud forming on his handsome face. "What the hell were you doing?" he bellowed.The shock slowly wore off, replaced by a simmering annoyance. "Hey! I wasn't doing anything!" I protested, blinking water out of my eyes. "Until that..." I trailed off, searching the area for the magnificent black beast. "We need to get out of here! There's a wolf!"Panic clawed at me as I spun around, searching for an escape route. The cabin was behind me, but so was the wolf. "There, by the trees!" I pointed, my voice a touch higher than usual.Viktor didn't even glance in the direction I pointed. Instead, he stared at me with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Wolf? Ria, there'
Taking the camera back from my outstretched hand, Viktor hesitated. His mouth opened, then snapped shut. Instead of facing me, he turned and marched towards the door."Umm..." I couldn't resist a playful jab, the tension in the room crackling like a live wire. "Didn't you forget something?"He didn't turn, just stood stiffly with his hand on the doorknob. "What?""Clothes?" A snicker escaped my lips, even though I tried to stifle it.He froze. Then, with a swivel of his entire body, he shot me a look that could curdle milk. Scooping his clothes up from where they lay drying by the fire, he muttered, "I'll get dressed outside." With that, he stormed out, leaving me alone with the echo of his retreating footsteps and a silent giggle.Well, this was certainly a turn of events. At least there weren't any neighbors to gawk at a naked man using my porch as a dressing room. Another giggle bubbled up. He beat the usual lawn gnome by a long shot.Shaking off the amusement, I sobered as I walke
Lying beside him, I couldn't help but stare up at the ceiling, my hazel green eyes filled with a mix of emotions. It had happened. The deed was done. We were officially mated now. But deep down, I knew the truth, our union was not born out of love, but rather selfish political alliances. The thought offered me no comfort, only the ache of a broken heart.Beside me, I sensed his movement as he turned towards me, his eyes searching for mine. I purposely avoided meeting his gaze, instead focusing on calming my racing breath. But try as I might, my breath still trembled, betraying my inner turmoil. Despite my rapid blinking, a single tear escaped, making its way down my cheek.I heard the covers rustle as he shifted closer to me. His finger gently brushed against my face, capturing the tear. "I'm sorry, Hailey," his voice resonated in the dimly lit room, both deep and gentle. His touch was followed by a soft stroke through my brunette hair and a tender kiss on the crook of my neck."I kno
"What?" I couldn't contain my surprise as a strange quivering feeling began to develop within me."Do not make this difficult, Hailey," Alpha Dean sighed frustratedly."Difficult?" I fought the urge to glare hard at him as my lips trembled. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening, I thought, my mind racing."The elders have requested an alliance to maintain peace. Alpha Killian leads the largest and most powerful pack in the eastern region. This is a perfect opportunity, and it seems he has taken a liking to you. He did not object to this proposal," my father explained, his voice holding a gentler tone."But... it's too sudden," I said, my gaze darting nervously across the room at Killian, who stood stoically with his hands behind his back. His expression remained distant, unreadable. I turned to my father, desperately trying to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes."What about Stephan?" I half-yelled at him, my voice filled with a mix of sadness and anger. "You know I love him. Y
Three hours later, I found myself seated at a table beside a stranger, a man whose name I did not even know.My gaze swept across the hall, my heartbeat echoing like a drum in my chest. The atmosphere was adorned with vibrant fall flowers, their colors weaving together in a tapestry of warmth. The best china gleamed upon the tables, shrouded in delicate linen cloths.An array of mouthwatering dishes, from savory meats to fresh vegetables, rolls, and salads, adorned the serving tables. I marveled at Lily's ability to effortlessly conjure a feast for the pack with such short notice.Despite the delicious spread before me, I found myself unable to partake in the meal. The food sat untouched on my plate, my appetite suppressed by the overwhelming weight of my circumstances. Well-wishes and kind words from my pack members were offered, accompanied by speeches from the elders.As the bonding ceremony commenced, Killian stepped forward, guiding me to the front of the room. Words were spoken,
In the morning, I stirred from my slumber only to find myself alone in the bed. As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, a hollow space on the pillow beside me and the disheveled covers confirmed that the events of the previous night were not mere figments of my imagination.Killian and I were now mated, bound together by an unbreakable tie, despite the absence of any genuine love between us.If it had been Stephan, our connection would have been solidified through a blood-bond, the act of biting each other's necks serving as a mark of our belongingness. Such a bond would have woven our minds together, growing stronger as our lives intertwined.However, this customary gesture was absent with Killian. While I felt a tinge of relief for avoiding the mark, an unexpected sense of annoyance crept upon me. I had secretly longed for the opportunity to refuse, to claim a small victory and reaffirm my loyalty to Stephan."Where the hell is he anyway?" Taking a soft breath, I raised my head and
One hour had passed, and I found myself standing on the forest's edge, patiently waiting for Killian. After tidying up from breakfast, he had hurried off to the pack house to attend to urgent matters, promising to meet me in thirty minutes.Uncertain if I truly desired to run with him, an activity I had previously enjoyed with Stephan, I recognized the importance of putting in effort to make our relationship work. Running together could potentially be one of the few shared interests we had.The day was a picturesque autumn scene, with trees adorned in shades of orange, red, and gold, and a clear, azure sky above. Although the morning mist was receding under the warmth of the sun's ascent, delicate tendrils of fog still danced near the ground, lending an ethereal touch to the surroundings.This place truly felt like paradise to me, and I couldn't fathom ever finding such comfort and tranquility elsewhere."Where the hell is he?" I muttered under my breath, taking a long, deep breath to