Ainsley’s gaze remained fixed on Eloise, who was struggling weakly against his grip. Her trembling form, once filled with strength and defiance, now appeared fragile, shattered in a way that made his heart twist with something he couldn’t quite name. Satisfaction? Resentment? A mix of both, maybe."That’s right," Ainsley murmured with a cold smile, his voice laced with mockery. "A toy should act like one."He stepped closer, his hand tightening around her wrist as he pulled her toward him, feeling her stiffen beneath his touch. He exhaled a final puff of smoke from his cigarette, flicking it to the ground without sparing a glance. One of his men quickly took the cigarette from his hand, wordlessly.Eloise winced as Ainsley’s other hand moved to her chin, his fingers sharp as they tilted her face upward. She felt a jolt of pain as he moved her head back and forth, studying her expression. The cruel amusement in his eyes made her want to look away, but she forced herself to meet his gaze
Eloise could feel the weight of Ainsley’s words crushing her. "Do you still remember that you're a werewolf?" The cruel question hung in the air, a stark reminder of everything she had lost."You looked so cowardly when you were begging for mercy, which disgusts me." His voice was colder than she remembered, every syllable laced with contempt.She could barely breathe, let alone speak. His words cut deeper than any physical wound ever could. “If the members of the Golden Moon Pack knew that their Alpha’s daughter was so weak and incompetent, what would they think?” The disgust in his voice was palpable, and Eloise felt the sting of it settle deep in her chest.Her body swayed on its own, barely able to hold itself up. Her mind swirled in confusion and shame. She had hoped, in some corner of her heart, that Ainsley might show her some kindness. Some recognition of what they had once shared, but that hope was now shattered.The Golden Moon Pack. She could barely bring herself to think of
Everything Ainsley did seemed to push Eloise closer to her breaking point. He hasn't yet realize it, but buried deep inside him, despite the anger, despite the cruelty, he loved the proud, defiant Eloise.Once, when his bond with Aura had been a promise, she had warned him, “If Aura becomes your mate, I’ll abandon you!” But now, Eloise was a shadow of that woman, broken, humiliated, and desperate. She begged for mercy even when she had done nothing wrong.Ainsley, blinded by his emotions, didn’t understand the truth: he was the one who had changed her. He was the one who had broken her spirit, and yet, he wasn’t ready to face that reality. Not yet.In his mind, the humiliation was justified. He had every right to torment her. She had killed Aura. That was the reason. He could convince himself of that, at least. It made the darkness inside him easier to handle. But somewhere deep inside, another, more dangerous truth gnawed at him.What if it wasn’t just about revenge? What if the bitte
Eloise PovI winced as I tugged my shirt down, trying to hide the deep, jagged wound on my waist. It looked as if something or someone had savaged me, leaving a mark that resembled the bite of a wild beast. The wound was large and raw, a constant reminder of my tortured past.Racheal, who had seen her share of wounds as a fellow werewolf, immediately understood what this meant. The shape, the severity, it wasn’t just a normal injury.“You’re a werewolf?” Racheal asked, her voice filled with confusion and surprise. “Why can’t I sense it?”I didn’t flinch at her question, my eyes distant, lost in a place darker than any of them could imagine. I had been bitten by a wolf, and while werewolves had incredible healing abilities, able to heal from broken bones or nearly any wound we were also tied to our wolf counterparts. A werewolf’s healing was as much about the bond with their wolf as it was about the strength of their body.But my wound wasn’t healing as it should. Weeks had passed, mont
Racheal stepped out of her office; her eyes quickly falling on Eloise, who was standing at the doorway, her posture slumped from exhaustion. The sight of her made Racheal’s heart tighten. There was something about Eloise’s defeated demeanor that made Racheal want to reach out and comfort her."Come in, Eloise," Racheal said gently, her voice softer than usual. "Change into something more comfortable. There's a private bathroom here. You should shower and rest.""Thank you, Racheal," Eloise whispered, her voice tired. She didn’t refuse. She needed rest more than anything else. Her body ached from the constant pressure and humiliation she’d endured. Without another word, she entered the office, and Racheal turned to head back to the private room where Ainsley and Felix were.As she walked down the hallway, she could already hear the raised voices of Felix and the members of the Purple moon Pack. The tension in the room was palpable, and Racheal felt a knot form in her stomach.She pushed
Ainsley moved closer to Eloise, his imposing presence filling the small space between them. “Oh, Eloise, there are so many things I want from you. But for now, I simply want you to remember who is in charge here.”Eloise swallowed, feeling the pressure of Ainsley's proximity. She knew he was in control, and she also knew she couldn't let Ainsley see her give in to him.Eloise's body stiffened at his words, her mind filling with panic.Suddenly, she felt a warm body pressing against her back, and her heart began to pound in her chest. Ainsley's firm hand closed around her waist, sending a shiver down her spine.Eloise squeezed her eyes shut, feeling Ainsley's breath on her neck as she fought to contain the fear that washed over her.Meanwhile, Ainsley struggled internally with the fight between his human and wolf selves, each fighting to take control. Eloise's closeness intoxicated him with her scent, confusing him even further.His hands, guided by a desire he couldn't control, began t
Eloise felt the weight of a thought settle into her mind a thought as cold and suffocating as a fog rolling in. Death. It loomed over her, a shadow that threatened to swallow her whole. For a moment, she almost gave in, letting it embrace her. But then, as if a light cut through the darkness, a name appeared. Rain.Rain, the girl who had been a flicker of hope in the bleakness of Eloise's life.The girl who had cared for her, who had shown her that kindness was still possible. The thought of Rain pierced through the haze, and in that moment, Eloise’s mind snapped back to consciousness.She couldn’t die like this. Not yet. Not when there was still a promise she hadn’t kept. Rain’s wish, she had to fulfill it. Eloise took a slow breath, and with all the energy she could muster, she opened her eyes.The room around her was as harsh and bright as it always was. The sterile walls, the harsh lighting everything about the place was unwelcoming. She slowly lifted her head, the ache in her body
“Racheal, we were just joking around while we were resting,” Gold said, her tone casual, as if nothing had happened. “Why make such a big deal out of it?”Racheal’s eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step forward, her voice cold and menacing. “Is this how you entertain yourselves? By bullying someone weaker than you?”The other girls who had been standing nearby looked uncertain, exchanging quick glances. They had never seen Racheal this angry. One of them, a taller girl who had been standing too close to Gold, tugged at her arm, a silent plea to calm down.But Gold wasn’t done. She looked down at Eloise, her eyes narrowed with disdain.“Are you talking about her?” Gold scoffed, her lips curling into a sneer. “She’s just a useless little bitch, isn’t she? She doesn’t even know her place.”Before anyone could react, Racheal moved faster than anyone could have anticipated. She raised her hand, and with one swift motion, slapped Gold hard across the face. The sound of the slap echoed
The car drove toward the Iron Gate, and the Alpha’s villa of the Litha Night Walker Pack stood as organized and pristine as Eloise remembered it.She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder. Through the back window, she watched the black Iron Gate slowly close behind her.From today on, I'm just a caged bird.She closed her eyes, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. When she opened them again, she was obedient Eloise once more.Ainsley caught every flicker of emotion on her face, and for a fleeting moment, guilt flashed through his eyes.I'm sorry, Eloise, but I just don't know how to keep you around. I want you to love me like you did three years ago.“Our mate is suffering. Why can’t you make her happy?” Adrian's voice thundered in Ainsley’s mind.Ainsley clenched his jaw. Because I love her. I'll never let her go.His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles whitening. He felt himself slipping; drowning in an obsession he could no longer control.“Alpha Ain
Their lips fused together. Eloise couldn't move her jaw at all, so she could only let saliva drip from the corner of her mouth.This wasn’t a kiss. It was punishment.Torture.Eloise shut her eyes, forcing herself not to shed a single tear. She had long since realized her pain meant nothing to the man in front of her. Or rather, the beast in front of her.Inside Ainsley, Adrian stirred.She’s trembling! She’s afraid of us.Ainsley could feel his wolf’s anguish twist through his mind like a blade. Adrian ached for Eloise in a way that Ainsley didn’t fully understand.Why does she always flinch away? Adrian’s voice was pained. Why does she fear me when all I want is to protect her?Ainsley’s grip on Eloise tightened. His lips pressed against hers, not just with punishment, but desperation, possession, obsession.Eloise, don’t do this. Don’t make us villains.Adrian’s pain merged with Ainsley’s fury. He had gone mad the moment he found out that she had gotten a new driver’s license. She
Ainsley yanked the car door open, slid into the driver’s seat, and sped off without a second glance.“Fuck” Hank cursed under his breath, jumping into another car to follow.But Ainsley was driving like a madman, his rage fueling his speed. Hank could barely keep up.Then, suddenly… screech!Ainsley slammed on the brakes in front of a building, tires screeching against the pavement.Hank watched as he stormed inside.“Miss Anthony, here is your new driver’s license.”“Thank you…”Before Eloise could finish speaking, a strong hand snatched the license away.She turned sharply, ready to protest… then froze.Ainsley Williams!Her lips turned deathly pale.“Why are you here?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.His icy gaze locked onto hers. “Are you trying to run away from me?”“No, I’m not,” she denied, but her voice wavered.“No?”Ainsley lifted the license between his fingers, his smirk razor-sharp. “Then tell me, Eloise… what’s this for?”Eloise’s stomach dropped.He wasn’t stup
Ellison smirked and thought, Ainsley, it turns out you can't say no to the Moon Goddess' arrangements either. If you had known this was going to happen, would you have been so cruel?Ellison was very shrewd. He had deduced from Elijah's behavior that Ainsley had changed his attitude toward Eloise.He muttered to himself, “I was wrong to think that Aura was Ainsley’s weak point. Behind her angelic face, she was actually an evil woman. No wonder Ainsley didn’t do anything about Aura’s terrible death." His eyes were shining with excitement, and he was eager for the next challenge.Ellison dialed a number immediately. With a sly grin on his face, he told Alex, “Got it, Ainsley has already accepted Eloise as his mate.”As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of something falling to the ground through the phone.Alex, who was on the other end of the line, lost his grip on his phone, and it fell to the ground.After a while, he trembled, bent down to pick up his phone, and said,
Alex walked into his room and locked the door behind him. His hands were clenched into fists, and his mind raced with unease. Elijah searching the warehouse and taking Aura’s address book wasn’t just unusual, it was suspicious. Something was happening behind the scenes, and he had no intention of sitting back and waiting to find out secondhand.After a moment’s hesitation, Alex pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. His thumb hovered over a name he hadn’t called in years. With a deep breath, he pressed dial.The line rang twice before a voice dripping with sarcasm answered. “Well, well, Beta Alex. It’s been a long time since we last spoke.”Alex’s frown deepened, but he ignored the other man’s mocking tone. He didn’t have time for games. “Elijah just searched the warehouse and took Aura’s address book. That was strange. Do me a favor and find out what he’s up to.”A low chuckle echoed through the phone. “Beta Alex, you know better than anyone who Elijah works for. He’
Ainsley’s eyes were filled with pride. Seeing Eloise like this made his heart beat faster. It was as if he was seeing the Eloise from three years ago, the strong & confident woman who never backed down. He had never realized how much he missed that version of her until now.Nightfall Rachael’s Office at Club Scarlet Heart.Rachael had just finished giving a report to Ainsley when a knock on the door interrupted them.Ainsley barely looked up as he said, “Come in.”The door swung open, and Elijah stepped inside, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. "Alpha Ainsley, you want to see me?"Ainsley leaned back in his chair and studied Elijah for a moment before speaking. "I want you to find out if there’s anything we missed about what happened three years ago."Elijah’s brows furrowed in confusion. "You mean about Aura?" His voice wavered slightly as if he wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. "Alpha, I thought that matter was resolved already. Why reopen old wounds?"Ainsley’s ga
Eloise spoke very slowly. Then, she turned firmly and walked toward Ainsley.She looked at Ainsley standing in front of her. From the moment she knew he was her mate, they were destined to be entangled for life.No one else could interfere in what was going on between her and Ainsley."Alpha Williams, let’s go to the Moonlight Group," Eloise lowered her head and whispered.She felt a hand on her shoulder, and the next second, the world turned upside down. By the time she could see her surroundings again, she found herself being carried by Ainsley. Bowing her head, she didn’t resist and let him pull her out without a fight.Lucian stood there stiffly. After Ainsley and Eloise disappeared, he suddenly staggered and leaned against the wall behind him.He couldn't stop thinking about Eloise’s words. What did she mean? Why didn’t she fight back after I insulted her? Why doesn’t she hate me?“She said I was her light! How ridiculous!” Lucian said to himself, his voice choking. Tears spilled
"Lucian, you said I lied to you. "That I hid my past from you," Eloise’s voice wavered, rough from unshed tears. "I’ll say it one last time; I never meant to hurt Aura. I never asked anyone to ra*e her. Her death was self-inflicted, it wasn’t my fault."Her throat burned, her chest tightened, but she held his gaze, she had to.Lucian stood like a statue, the dim lighting of the café casting jagged shadows over his sharp features. His expression was unreadable, but the storm in his eyes told her everything: rage, disbelief, betrayal.Eloise swallowed back the lump in her throat. "Believe it or not, that’s the truth. And now…" her voice steadied, cold and final, "I don’t owe you anything."She didn’t wait for a reaction. She shoved him, her hands trembling against his solid chest.Lucian barely staggered, but it wasn’t the force of her push that knocked the air out of him, it was her words.No. She rejected me.The thought struck like lightning, searing through his veins. She’s okay wit
"Really? Am I worse than you? You played the victim and seduced me, and now you're using the same trick to flirt with Ainsley." When Lucian mentioned Ainsley, he became even more furious, and his words turned harsher. He sneered, "I wonder how you managed to seduce Ainsley."He lifted Eloise's chin, came closer, and said, "You are sleeping with him, right? Tell me how hard he used to fu*k you. You must enjoy having sex with him? Damn it!"Eloise's chest heaved violently, and her face turned as pale as a ghost. She never thought she would hear such insulting words from Lucian."Let me go," Eloise said, trying to stay calm. But her voice was shaking.She looked up and met Lucian's eyes. She still remembered that when she first met him, he was just as frivolous. But after getting to know him better, she had learned that wasn't really who he was."Is that what you think of me?" Eloise asked.Lucian had once been like a ray of light that illuminated her world. If she had a choice, she woul