Eloise did her best to avoid making eye contact but she failed.
Her gaze flickered toward him, helplessly, involuntarily. The moment their eyes met, regret surged through her chest like a punch.
His golden eyes locked onto hers like a predator snaring prey. He didn’t blink. Didn’t smile. He just stared, too amused, too aware. His lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk. Then, still staring straight at her, he kissed the woman in his arms, deeper this time. Hungrier. Wetter. It wasn’t a kiss; it was a spectacle.
It was deliberate.
The woman moaned softly against his mouth, her long fingers tangling in his dark hair. She arched into him, loving the attention. Eloise knew her name Amelia Javis. One of the Scarlet Heart's top escorts. Tall, statuesque, with legs that went on forever, and a face so sculpted it looked unreal. She oozed sex and poison in equal measure. Her beauty was the sharp, cold kind, the kind that didn’t warm when she smiled. Because she never smiled. She smirked. She owned every room she entered.
Eloise dropped her gaze, her face burning. Shame crawled up her spine. She turned quickly and pressed the elevator button like her life depended on it.
Get out, get upstairs, forget this. The thoughts ran through her mind and then.... The mans voice rang
"Stop."
With just one quiet, firm and lethal voice Eloise froze. Her finger hovered over the button panel. Her pulse stuttered. That voice held the weight of command, of someone who wasn’t used to being ignored.
“I.... I wasn’t watching,” she said quickly. “I was just going to the fifth floor. I didn’t see anything.”
“You stared,” he said, tone unreadable. “And you froze when I said stop.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I didn’t mean to......”
“What’s your name?” the man asked playfully, she flinched. “I’m not supposed to give my name to guests.”
“Which floor?”
“Fifth.”
“I’ll ride with you.”
She turned her head slightly, panicked. “You really don’t have to......”
“I wasn’t offering. Get in." He commanded. The elevator doors opened with a ding that sounded far too loud. She stepped in, her pulse thundering. He followed, filling the small space with heat and menace.
Amelia’s voice floated after him, coy and amused. “Alpha Astra, don’t keep me waiting long.”
Eloise felt her blood run cold.
Alpha Lucian Astra!.
The name hit her like a blade. One of the most dangerous Alphas in the North. Known for his unpredictability, his brutality, and his complete disregard for consequences.
Lucian didn’t answer Amelia. He just pulled a sleek black card from his coat and tossed it toward her.
“Sign my name,” he said flatly. “Buy yourself something that sparkles.”
Amelia laughed softly, the sound like broken glass wrapped in velvet. “Don’t be too long, darling.”
The doors slid closed. Silence followed.
Eloise pressed herself against the corner, her heart racing. The scent of him overwhelmed the tiny space, woodsmoke, cold steel, pine. He smelled like power. Like the wilderness. Like danger.
“You always that shy?” he asked, voice low and edged.
“I just clean,” she said quietly. “That’s it.”
He stepped closer. Not touching, but near enough she could feel the heat coming off him.
“You’re not just a cleaner,” he said. “You move too quiet. You watch too closely. What are you really doing here?”
She stiffened. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.” He said
Her fists clenched at her sides. “I said, I clean. That’s all.”
Lucian studied her, golden eyes narrowing slightly. “You flinched when I touched her. But you didn’t run. You didn’t look away fast enough.”
“I wasn’t watching you,” she snapped. “I was trying to mind my own business.”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face.
“You don’t scare easy. I like that.”
“I don’t care what you like,” she bit out.
The elevator chimed. Fifth floor.
He stepped toward her, close enough that their bodies almost brushed. “You’re hiding something, cleaner girl. I’ll find out what.”
“You don’t scream. You don’t beg. That makes you very interesting.”
Eloise turned, her eyes blazing. “I’d rather be invisible.”
Lucian chuckled. “You were. Until now.”
“Mm,” he hummed. “Or maybe you’re hiding something.”
She didn’t answer.
He pushed off the wall, stepping more closer. “You don’t belong here. Not really. You’re too… contained.”
“I told you I'm just here to clean,” she replied with a flat voice. “That’s all.”
He chuckled, low and deep. “Everyone at Scarlet Heart is running from something. What’s yours?”
“Please,” she said, her jaw clenching. “Let me do my job.”
He moved behind her, close. Too close.
“You think I’m dangerous?” he murmured near her ear. “Because you don’t smell afraid.”
Eloise bit down on her tongue. Don’t show him. Don’t react.
“I'm not convinced. You didn’t flinch,” he added. “Not when I touched her. Not when I said I’d ride with you. That’s rare.”
“Maybe I’ve seen worse, and why do you keep saying that over at over again?” she muttered.
That earned a sharp laugh. “I don’t doubt that.”
The elevator shuddered to a halt. Neither moved. Then, without warning, his hand slid along her hip. Casual. Possessive.
She jerked away like he’d burned her. “Don’t touch me.”
He raised both hands slowly, smiling. “Sensitive.”
“I’m not one of your girls,” she snapped.
“Oh, I know,” he said, and there was something dark in his voice now. “But maybe you should be.”
“I’d rather die.”
“Careful,” he murmured. “That can be arranged.”
Silence pulsed between them.
Then, more softly, like he was speaking to her wolf, “You’ve got something under there. Not just pretty curves. Something old. Wild.”
She backed away, breathing hard. Her pulse was screaming.
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing.
“What are you, little cleaner?”
Eloise said nothing, she just shook her head.
The doors finally opened, Lucian stepped out, slow and smooth. But he turned back before the doors closed.
“I’ll find out,” he said.
Eloise met his gaze for half a second, and saw the promise in it.
His lips curled again. “You don’t scream. You don’t beg. I like that.”
Then he was gone.Eloise’s knees buckled as soon as the doors slid shut.
Her life, once hidden in shadows and silence had just been cracked open.
And she had no idea how to seal it again.
Eloise stepped into the dimly lit room, her heartbeat quickening the moment the door clicked shut behind her. The air felt thick, almost suffocating, and the hairs on the back of her neck prickled with unease. She hesitated for just a moment, taking in the scene before her.A handful of guests lounged casually on the sofas, their eyes glazed with boredom, while several escort girls flitted about, their fake smiles barely hiding the tension in the air. But it wasn’t the guests that held her attention, it was Mavis.Mavis stood in the center of the room, her body stiff, her face twisted in quiet desperation. As soon as their eyes met, the younger girl’s lips parted, and she took a shaky step forward.“Eloise, help me!” she cried out, her voice breaking through the thick silence of the room.Eloise’s heart lurched at the sound of Mavis’s plea.The moment Mavis spoke, the entire room seemed to shift. The guests she had learned to fear in silence turned their eyes toward Eloise, scrutinizin
Eloise’s breath hitched in her throat as she slowly raised her head, her gaze locking with the man sitting across from her. The weight of his words lingered in the air like a suffocating fog, thick with venom and malice.“How could I ask her to kiss another man?” Ainsley’s voice was low and deceptively calm, but there was a cruel edge behind every syllable. It sliced through her like a knife. Her heart stuttered painfully as she tried to comprehend the reality of what he had just said.Ainsley. Her fated mate. The man she had once loved more than life itself. The same man who had cast her aside without remorse.Now, after all these years, fate had dragged them back together, not in love’s embrace, but in a brutal power struggle. Love was long gone. What remained was raw pain, betrayal, and the scorched remnants of a bond that had been burned beyond recognition.How could he ask me to do this?Eloise’s stomach twisted, bile rising in her throat. The room seemed to shrink, the air too he
Lucian stood at the entrance of the hotel room, his eyes moving between Ainsley and the woman standing behind him.Both led powerful packs in Metrocity, and as rivals? Yes, but there was an unspoken bond between them as well. They were enemies, and yet, at times, they were also reluctant allies.His gaze shifted to Eloise, standing stiffly behind Ainsley. To his surprise, her ears were bright red, a clear sign of embarrassment.So, it’s her first kiss, Lucian thought with a sly grin. Interesting.“Hey,” Lucian teased, breaking the silence, “was that your first kiss?”Eloise’s face flushed a deeper shade of crimson. She didn’t answer, but her downcast eyes and the way she nervously shifted her feet were enough to confirm his guess.Lucian couldn’t help but smile, feeling a small, satisfied thrill. There was something amusing about catching her in such an awkward moment, but before he could continue his teasing, he turned his attention back to Ainsley.Ainsley’s cold gaze lingered on Luc
For a moment, Eloise thought she was already dead. The world around her was a blur, the air thick with the scent of earth and blood.Her body felt weightless, like it wasn’t her own. And then, the grief hit her a sharp, suffocating wave that made her chest tighten, her throat close. She couldn’t even pinpoint why she felt this way, but it was overwhelming.Maybe it was the loss of her wolf. Maybe it was the years of running, always running. Maybe it was the realization that there was no place in the world for someone like her.She tried to shake it off, but the heaviness lingered.Slowly, Eloise opened her eyes. The ground beneath her felt cool and soft grass.It took a few moments to register where she was. The sharp pain shooting through her body quickly brought her back to reality. Her ankle throbbed, and the blood soaking into her shirt made her stomach turn.You’re alive girl. That’s what matters.She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind. Her wolf was gone. But somehow, it
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
Ainsley returned to work after resting for a few more days. When Jacob called him……………Ainsley didn’t hesitate. He glanced at Ellison, who looked back at him curiously.“You don’t mind, do you?” Ainsley asked, already picking up the phone before Ellison could even respond. But Ainsley knew this call wasn’t from Jacob.His chest tightened. His voice remained calm, but every nerve in his body stood on edge, waiting and wanting.Then……..“Let the Anthony Group go,” her voice came, stiff, emotion coiled tightly beneath the surface.Ainsley leaned back in his chair. His grip on the phone tightened. It was her. That damn voice, he hadn’t heard it in days, and yet the second she spoke, his entire world tilted.He smiled slowly and coldly, and said in a voice that burned with longing masked as mockery, “Are you begging me now, Eloise? Or is that just your way of dressing up pride in pretty words?”Ellison's blood ran cold.Eloise! The name slammed into his chest like a fist. He stared at Ains
The conference room turned thick with tension as people were afraid Ainsley would make a comeback. If so, they would suffer.Ainsley sat still, the usual fire in his gaze dulled. No color touched his cheeks; he looked neither angry nor defeated.“Ainsley,” one of the shareholders snapped, almost too quickly. “It’s done. Step down from your position. You’re no longer CEO of the Williams Group.”Another chimed in, his voice tremulous but thrilled, “Yes. You heard the board, get the hell out of the building.”Chairs scraped, papers rustled. Tension rolled like a wave about to crash.But then, a voice rang out, cutting clean through the noise. It was steady, almost too steady.“Who said the final vote had been cast, or have I suddenly been removed from the shareholders? Because the last time I checked I happened to be one of the shareholders.”The room fell into a shocked hush, people’s heads snapped toward the source. Gasps rippled across the boardroom. Faces turned pale.Ellison’s brows
Eloise’s brow twitched slightly. Her calm gaze faltered for a second.Jacob caught it. That tiny flicker of emotion sent a surge of rage through him. He threw the apple aside.“Aren’t you worried? "Don’t you care what could’ve happened to him?” he snapped, his eyes burning into her face.Eloise turned her head away. “I didn’t ask him to.”Jacob stood. His voice was firm, serious. “No, you didn’t. But maybe you should’ve. You could hate him, you could curse his name. But don’t act like you don’t care. Because when you collapse, your body answers what your mouth refuses to say. The only treatment you responded to was his touch.”She clenched her jaw. “He locked me in that place. I don’t care how long he sat by my bed.”Jacob stared at her. “Then tell him that. Not to me. "You keep telling everyone you don’t care, but your hands were shaking when he touched you.”She didn’t answer.“During the years you were gone, Ainsley searched for you like a possessed man,” he added, his voice sharp
The car reeked of blood. It was the only smell Ainsley could register; thick, metallic, and heavy in his nose and mouth. He stirred with a low groan, his body aching as if it had been crushed from the inside out. Pain throbbed behind his bandaged head, spreading like wildfire through his skull and down his spine.He tried to move.“Don’t move,” Jacob snapped from the front seat, spinning around. His voice cut through the air like a blade. “You scared the hell out of me, Ainsley. What the fuck were you thinking?”Ainsley winced. His hand reached for the door handle, but it slipped off weakly. His head dropped back, the world spinning.“I passed out again, didn’t I?” he muttered.Jacob’s hands clenched the steering wheel, so tightly his knuckles turned white. “You did more than that. You nearly fucking died. You collapsed in front of a hundred people like your damn soul left your body.”He turned fully to face him, his eyes blazing like fire. “Do you understand what that looked like? Yo
Suddenly, Ellison stood up and pushed Ainsley hard. He said, “Let her go. You’re so selfish! Didn’t you hear her? Eloise has no intention of going with you!”Ainsley, caught off guard, stumbled backward. His usually fierce and commanding presence, like a true Alpha, was broken at an unexpected moment. He collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.Gasps echoed through the crowd, the people’s eyes widened in shock. Even the air seemed to stand still.Jacob’s face darkened. Without hesitation, he rushed forward and knelt beside Ainsley. “Ainsley, are you okay?” His voice cracked with concern as he reached to cradle his head. But his palm came out wet. Jacob looked down and froze. His fingers were stained red.“What is this?” he whispered, stunned.Blood!A sharp silence followed. Ellison, noticing the shift, stepped forward instinctively, but Hank had already rushed past him, panic flashing in his eyes. “Alpha Ainsley?”Eloise’s eyes widened. Her body stiffened, and for a moment, she see
Ellison stood frozen on the stairs, halfway down, his hands clenched tightly on the railing. He’d come down to stop Ainsley, to intervene, but when he saw the fire in Eloise’s eyes, the way she held herself back from launching another object, he couldn't move. Not yet.Ainsley’s cold voice echoed through the tension-filled room. “What else do you want to throw at me? I’ll get it for you.”Ellison stepped forward, breaking the thick silence. “No need to bother you, Ainsley. I’m free right now, and I’ll help her.”Hank took a step, ready to intervene, but Kelly subtly blocked him with a glance.As Ellison reached the floor, he picked up a broom lying nearby. The scrape of the handle against the tiled floor felt too loud in the quiet. He offered it to her with a calm face, but sarcasm glinted in his eyes.“Ma’am, here you go.”Eloise looked at the broom, then at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. “A broom?”He nodded once, the corner of his lips lifting in a crooked smile.“Ma'am, flu
Lucian, unfazed, threw his jacket to the ground in front of Ainsley. “Fine. Let’s see what happens,” he said before he turned and left.Ainsley stayed where he was, watching Lucian’s departure with steely eyes. The tension still hung in the air, thick and unresolved.“We’re going to Waikiki Beach this afternoon,” Ainsley said after a long pause. “I’m sure she’s there. I need to find her.”Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, Eloise paced restlessly in her room, her nerves fraying with each passing moment. Her thoughts spiraled. She had been hiding, but it was all falling apart now. Ainsley was coming for her.No, she told herself. I can’t let him find me. Not again.Then, just as the wind picked up, a familiar warmth brushed against her.Her body stiffened, her breath caught in her throat. She didn’t have to turn to know he was there. The scent of him, so unmistakable, overwhelmed her senses.Ainsley stood behind her, his presence enveloping her. His arms wrapped around her alm
In the car, Ainsley gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white as he sped toward the airport. His mind was spinning. Without thinking, he reached out to Jacob through their mind link. His voice was sharp, his words clipped with urgency.“Do you know Remmy?” Ainsley asked, his tone barely contained as anxiety surged through him.Jacob’s voice crackled through the link, his confusion evident. “Why are you looking for her?” He didn’t fully understand the gravity of the situation.Ainsley’s voice hardened, desperation creeping into his words. “She knows where Eloise is.”Jacob didn’t hesitate. “Understood,” he said, his voice steady despite the tense situation. “I’ll handle it. Do you need me to book you a flight?”“No need,” Ainsley replied immediately, his tone resolute. “I’m heading to the airport now.”As Ainsley disconnected the link, he pushed the accelerator harder, the engine roaring as he raced back home to grab his ID. Every second felt like an eternity, the pressure mountin
“Ellison! "I don’t want to bet anymore!” Eloise shouted at the stage, her voice rough and hoarse, like a desperate cry.“It’s too late,” Ellison’s lips moved, his words like ice. He’d made a decision. Instead of leaving, he wanted to win the bet. More than that, he wanted her.Memories flooded Eloise’s mind, sharp and vivid. In her eyes, Ellison at that moment seemed just like her in the past, lost, defiant, and broken.But Ellison didn’t deserve it! Not after everything.She walked toward the center of the stage, her steps deliberate, her heart pounding with emotion. She bent down and picked up the white shirt from the floor. Her fingers brushed against the fabric, and then she reached for Ellison’s hand, which rested on the zipper of his suit pants. Her voice was low but commanding, “Come with me.”Ellison stood frozen, stunned by the sudden seriousness of her expression. His heart skipped a beat.The audience below the stage began to murmur, their annoyance growing louder. “Who are