AshantiCarmen's words and actions made me lose composure. I was lost for words when I was ejected into the night, covering my face with my hands. I cringed and leaned against the wall outside the apartment, gulping hard and wondering why I felt like crying. It's not like anyone died.Rigidly holding my tears in check, I swallowed hard, controlled my emotions, and shoved my hands into my pockets. The only thing I left the house with was my purse, which contained my phone and some cash.Laughing it off, I walked away, each step leading me to the streets' nightlife. Things were never going to be the same again, and I knew that I would never step foot into Harrison and Carmen's apartment anymore.I thought of Chadwick's house. I didn't want to feel any guilt tonight because I had kept my identity hidden. I needed a break from everyone and didn't have the strength to explain anything.I kept walking from street to street without any destination in mind. Carmen’s reaction stung, but hey, n
ChadwickI arrived at the Golf Club, waving up my friends and pulling my club from the trunk at the parking lot. But before I joined them, I tried reaching Ashanti again and pinched my lips together when her phone was still switched off.It made me wonder where she could be. When I didn't get her yesterday morning, I stopped by her apartment, met Carmen, and asked about Ashanti's whereabouts, but her response was strange."I don't know," she mumbled and avoided eye contact. I dismissed it because I didn't expect her to be cool with me and felt she was transferring the aggression of Ken's betrayal to me, which kind of made sense as Ken was my best friend. Poor girl.My ball took flight after a satisfying thud. I was enjoying the game a little too much. People say golf is boring, but it always helps to clear my head after a very stressful week.Steve, one of my longtime acquaintances and a neurosurgeon, nudged me. He was almost a decade older than me, but we clicked on many levels."Yo
AshantiI needed a charger because my phone was about to shut off. When I went downstairs to look for one, I discovered that Chadwick had left me a package.I stopped in surprise, wondering what could be inside. Upon taking a peek, I frowned at the carefully curated box specifically designed to ease menstrual cramps.My mind wandered, leaving me to stare at it in confusion and it raced with questions about the purpose of this box. Was he misinterpreting something?I sighed, realizing that I ought to have told him where I was. I asked if I could borrow a charger and connect it to the power supply. My phone blinked back to life, and before I could get in touch with Chadwick, Harrison texted me.He said he had concocted a story for Chadwick, explaining my absence as a need for personal space. I suppressed my laughter at the hideousness. I should thank Harrison for his good intentions.I texted Chadwick to let him know I was alright and to thank him for the unexpected gift box before head
Ashanti I woke up with a long yawn and the most wonderful headache of my life. The nightstand clock read six am. It was time to show myself to the world. Stretching my arms over my head, I pushed myself out of bed and settled for a cold shower to get rid of any remnants of the headache. After drying off, I donned some loose office pants and a striped shirt because I wasn't in the mood for my tight gowns and stilettos. A fluttery, empty feeling rose in my stomach and I was excited to see Chadwick. Although I felt a little guilty for lying to him, it didn't change the fact that I longed for his presence more than the air. For now, he seemed like the only person who could make me truly happy and feel alive again. But at the same time, it made me feel so vulnerable in every way imaginable and terrified me to think about what would happen if he ever found out about my identity. This thought gnawed away at my confidence as I checked out of the hotel and booked an Uber to work. By now
Ashanti's POVMy breathing came to a fast halt as Chadwick's rejection echoed in my head. He said it with an emotional deadness, like a cold fish.The man had such a provoking character that pissed me off so badly. If the stupid mating bond wasn't affecting my senses, I'd want nothing to do with such a condescending brute."Why?" I demanded without thinking."Excuse me?"Instant distaste filled my mouth. Even my wolf was annoyed at him for treating us like we were unworthy of his attention."You know what I mean, sir," my voice trembled from anger. "Why waste my time with all those questions if you didn't plan to employ me?"His hand rose the sleeve of his white-as-snow button-down shirt. "It's not my fault you didn't do extensive research before applying to my company. Unfortunately, you're not a good fit for the role."The flippancy of his tone made me want to scream. I shot him a glare, and his eyes twinkled with amusement. Typical male. All my life, I've had to deal with worse m
Chadwick wasn't home when I got to his house, so I waited for him to return. I met Ellen's nanny, who was taking a break to visit her family members."How's your leg?" I asked, concerned, and she smiled while leaning in."I've learned to live with it. It's one of the curses of old age, but my drugs are helping with the pain."We talked for a while, and being a good listener, I was a perfect companion for her as she smiled in response to everything she said."Between the both of us, I have something to say," she said in an awed yet gentle tone. "I see how my boss has changed ever since you came into his life, and I'm your secret cheerleader. You're like the missing piece in his puzzle."A blush crept on my neck, and I pushed myself to a standing position to hide it."I know I'm just his son's nanny, but I know the man too well, like the back of my palm. He needs you, and you complete him."While struggling for a response, Chadwick arrived, and she slipped away quietly.His face lit up
Chadwick's house was empty with neither him, Ken, or Elen around. I went upstairs to freshen up knowing that my man would want to cuddle and kiss me. I changed into some comfy shorts and a T and climbed onto the couch, streaming Netflix until I became hungry. The kitchen had a couple of uneaten takeout food from Blitz, a popular restaurant. I settled for a plate of pasta carbonara and was eating when I heard Chadwick's car pull in. He walked through the door with a tired look on his face. The last few weeks had been extremely stressful for him and were showing in his sunken eyes. I didn't think twice about it as I wrapped my arms around him, kissing his neck. Chadwick cupped my butt and lifted me to the kitchen countertop. His mouth found mine and we kissed like lovers who'd not seen each other in months. It felt so good to be close to him and I couldn't think of anywhere else. Chad's hands roamed over my body while I felt his hard abs through his sweatshirt. I could tell he was
AshantiThe Saturday morning sun hung high in the sky as Chadwick, Ken and I embarked on a hiking trail. Because I was Lycan, it was very easy for me to meander through the stone path flanked by plants and ferns without effort. The cool mountain air felt good in my lungs and as I walked, my gaze drifted off into space, seeing nothing other than endless green grass. The view was breathtaking with tree roots crisscrossing the forest canopy. Birds sang from every direction as they fed off the fruit that grew there. It smelled fresh and earthy in a way that only a natural spring would smell. Burrs stuck to my jacket and Chadwick's skin glistened with sweat under the exertion. “Come on, Chad. Don't be a lazy bum today. We have to head back for breakfast,” Ken said over his shoulder.Chadwick tossed Ken the middle finger and grunted in reply before running ahead of us. His eyes met mine and a grin spread across my face. “Don't listen to Ken. You're doing great.”We stopped to catch our
Vespa's POVEvery detail about my wedding day brought joyful tears to my eyes. The tears were silent but uncontainable. I didn't mind that I was ruining my makeup in the process. On a beautiful summer afternoon, the biggest event of my life was about to take place. I felt like a fairytale princess and Kai made sure every detail I asked for in my dress and the decor was fulfilled. An archway adorned with roses and peonies, a velvet aisle runner that led me to my happily ever after. My fucking mermaid gown and a tiara, and oh, my groom who truly made my heart sing. This day was the start of our forever. Weak-kneed with excitement, I stood outside the majestic Moon Goddess Temple, a white, three-storey building with white marble pillars. My brother, Luke, waited for me with a warm smile, ready to walk me down the aisle.“You’re a gorgeous bride, sister. And it's not just your looks but the energy surrounding you. I’m glad you found happiness.”With a playful wink, his blue eyes twinkl
The taxi drove away from George's family mansion and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I was finally free from their judgmental eyes and condescending smiles. I felt a bottomless peace and satisfaction wash over me, relieved to be out of George's claws. I'd thought he was different, but it turned out he was just like the rest of them.Fucking manipulative bastard. After paying the taxi driver, I stood outside Grandma Zora's house and let out a swoosh of air. I was hesitant to go inside, wondering if I should tell Grandma Zora and Ziah everything that had gone down with George. But I knew that if I did, Ziah would likely go mental and attack George. He had a temper, and I didn't want to make things worse. I stood there for a few moments, weighing my options. Part of me wanted to spill everything, to let someone know the truth about George's family and their cruel words. But another part of me wanted to keep it inside. I decided to keep quiet and headed inside.My gaze landed o
Dear readers,I want to start by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who has read my book "Claimed by the Triplet Alphas" and followed me to my new series "Lycan Princess Disguise". Your support means the world to me!However, I must humbly beg you to please continue reading "Lycan Princess Disguise". The truth is, if I don't get enough readers, I won't be able to receive payment for my work. I understand that there are many great books out there, but I promise that this series will be worth your time.I also want to assure you that I haven't forgotten about Camilla's story in "Claimed by the Triplet Alphas". Many of you have been asking for updates, and I promise to complete part 2 of the book. Your enthusiasm and encouragement drive me to keep writing!Thank you again for your unwavering support. Your kind words, reviews, and messages mean everything to me. I'm honored to have such a dedicated readership, and I promise to keep working hard to bring you the
GeorgeBefore I hit Camilla, my heart was bristling with rage, and I wanted to let it out, but after I did, I felt so stupid. My hands fell to my side, and I felt so heavy with regret.She stood there, her hands on her cheek, horrified like a child who had just witnessed something horrible. She blinked slowly and couldn't believe what had just happened.I trembled and slammed my fist on the couch. She took a step back, thinking I was going to hit her.“What the fuck?” Her voice cracked. It was a low tone of disbelief. “You hit me!?”“Camilla, I—”She turned away from me, and I felt a pang of guilt. What the fuck have I done?I had tried to control myself but couldn't. I was consumed by a jealous rage, and I blamed her for it. She went to fuck Ziah. I could bet on that with my last cent.I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. But the damage was already done. Camilla was quiet, her back still turned to me.She was leaving when I rushed to hold her back and wrapped my arms aro
GeorgeBefore I hit Camilla, my heart was bristling with rage, and I wanted to let it out, but after I did, I felt so stupid. My hands fell to my side, and I felt so heavy with regret.She stood there, her hands on her cheek, horrified like a child who had just witnessed something horrible. She blinked slowly and couldn't believe what had just happened.I trembled and slammed my fist on the couch. She took a step back, thinking I was going to hit her.“What the fuck?” Her voice cracked. It was a low tone of disbelief. “You hit me!?”“Camilla, I—”She turned away from me, and I felt a pang of guilt. What the fuck have I done?I had tried to control myself but couldn't. I was consumed by a jealous rage, and I blamed her for it. She went to fuck Ziah. I could bet on that with my last cent.I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. But the damage was already done. Camilla was quiet, her back still turned to me.She was leaving when I rushed to hold her back and wrapped my arms aro
CamillaI tried and failed to restrain my smile when I overheard Lisa fuming at Paul.She was saying that I didn't deserve to release a single so early in my career and that no one ever got such luck.Lisa was a jealous sadist, and at the same time, she wasn't wrong. I was too lucky to have found Paul, who cherished my musical talent and gave me a chance.I covered my face with my bag and warmth spread through my body, satisfied that Lisa couldn't stop Paul from helping me. I didn't understand why she was so bitter and consumed by jealousy.It was ironic that she felt envious of my success when she had her own unique voice and sang better than me. I counted my good fortune and intended to milk my success for as long as possible, and Lisa would need to get ready for more.Oops. She shot me a 'you'll pay for this' look. My heartbeat quickened as she turned on her heel and walked away.“Whoa, that was some glare,” I said to Paul, who was smiling and opening his bottle of water."What ex
CamillaHours turned into a day, and I was super uncomfortable and uneasy in George's house. Fortunately, he didn't ask for a blowjob or sex, and I was glad he wasn't entirely stupid. He worked from home and sat behind his desk all day, and his mom had gone to a convention, which suited me fine. After spending the day by myself, George came downstairs in the evening when I was watching TV. I became uncomfortable and sat up, eyeing him warily.“Baby, let's go shopping. I want to spoil you with the finer things in life. He walked over, put his arm around my shoulders, and hugged me tight. His lips were on mine, and before I could get out an objection, his fingers were stroking my hair.He kept kissing my neck, and I fought the urge to gag. He stopped and looked at me expectantly.“You should be resting. Don't worry about me,” I said, looking down at my hands fidgeting on my lap. “And I think I should go home now. I'm not comfortable staying here anymore."“I insist,” he said and leane
"She's with her boyfriend, the doctor."Vespa's tongue went limp, and when I gave her a summarized version of all that has been going on with Camilla and George, her eyes doubled in size."He sounds very manipulative. I don't think Camilla should be with him if she doesn't want to. The fact that she rejected his proposal is enough warning.""Grandma said if she leaves him, he'll kill himself. Camilla must be feeling guilty and feels that it's her obligation to take care of him.""That can never be me," Vespa said under her breath, and I nudged her playfully.When Kai called for a meeting, I knew he was about to enact some stupid rule that would only favor himself. I stared at him blandly and watched as Grandma Zora sat in her favorite chair."This had better be quick. I have a show to attend," Zeke said. "Fine," Kai said, rising. "As you all know, Vespa's coronation is near. She has decided to reject two people, and we know who they are." His voice was commanding and final and he gl
ZiahThe silence in the house was deafening, it felt like a heavy emptiness that echoed through every room. My heart felt just as hollow, like something was missing, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. It was like I was searching for something, but I didn't know what I was looking for, or maybe I just didn't want to admit it to myself.I was stuck in a funk, waiting for Vespa's return after five long days away with Kai. But instead of excitement, my mind was consumed by thoughts of Camilla.Camilla…Even the mere mention of her name turned me on. I couldn't shake her off, no matter how hard I tried. I let out a frustrated sigh and gazed out the window, watching the trees sway in the breeze. It was like my heart had a mind of its own, stubbornly fixated on someone who wasn't even meant to be mine. I wondered if Camilla had cast some sort of spell on me - how else could I explain this crazy, all-consuming attraction? It defied all logic, especially since I already had