Rachel blinked, stunned by the simplicity of the answer. “A kiss?” she repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. “That’s it? Just a kiss?” But before Eloise could respond, Rachel fell silent, her thoughts running a mile a minute.Rachel's voice trembled slightly as she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind. "Eloise, are you sure it was just a kiss?" Her eyes searched Eloise’s face for any sign that she was lying, but all she saw was sincerity, though tinged with a vulnerability that only made Rachel's worries deepen.Eloise’s heart warmed at the concern in Rachel's voice. She could see the worry etched across her friend’s face. She didn’t want to make Rachel anxious, so she answered as calmly as she could, "Yes, Rachel. He only asked for a kiss."It couldn’t have been that simple.Rachel knew the world they lived in. the world of men who had money, power, and twisted desires. She had seen enough to know that when a man of that stature made an offer, there were always st
Rachel couldn’t quite grasp why Ainsley seemed so obsessed with Eloise. But there was one thing she did know: Ainsley despised Eloise. He hated her with a passion that Rachel couldn’t entirely understand. The way he treated Eloise was harsh, even cruel. Ainsley’s disdain was clear in every action, every look.After a few seconds of deliberation, Rachel decided to downplay the situation, speaking with a calm tone. “Nothing out of the ordinary,” she said, her voice light, as though brushing it off. “The guest simply asked Eloise for a kiss.”She didn’t think Ainsley would care. After all, in the world of Club Scarlet Heart, such requests weren’t unusual. Guests often asked for kisses from the escorts, and sometimes even left generous tips in exchange. The women at the club didn’t mind. It was just part of the job, something that kept the customers satisfied and the money flowing. But Rachel didn’t anticipate what would happen next.The moment Rachel finished speaking, Ainsley, who was i
Eloise stood there, her eyes fixed on Mavis. There was a calm, unwavering intensity in her gaze, but Mavis didn’t acknowledge it. She was too focused on her own thoughts, the weight of her words. Eloise could feel the tension in the air between them. Mavis wasn’t talking to her.Eloise wasn’t one to be easily deceived, and she could sense there was something off about the situation. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of Mavis’s actions. She wasn’t used to being lied to so blatantly, and there was an unsettling feeling that gnawed at her from within.Mavis continued to speak, her voice still controlled. “I left my things in the bedroom that day,” Mavis said, her eyes not meeting Eloise’s. “So, I went back to retrieve them. That’s when I found you lying unconscious on the floor. I didn’t think twice; I took you straight to the hospital. I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened if I hadn’t returned when I did.”Eloise’s frown deepened as she processed Mavis’s words. Something d
Charles Oliver, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, stood still, his brow furrowed in confusion. He stared at the door Lucian had pointed to, the door to Room 3. There was nothing extraordinary about it. It was just a simple wooden door, no different from the others at Scarlet Heart Club.Lucian’s voice broke through his thoughts. “A beautiful woman will walk through this door shortly. She’s someone special, a sweetheart. Alpha Oliver, I’m just being a friend here, giving you a little advice.”Lucian smiled knowingly, and the look in his eyes was one that made every man in the room feel like they were part of a secret, unspoken bond. He tapped Charles on the arm, the gesture filled with more meaning than words could express. “You know what I’m saying, don’t you, Alpha. Oliver?”Charles, despite his initial confusion, understood all too well. He wasn’t some naive fool. He was the Alpha, respected and admired, and he knew what Lucian was implying. His expression softened, and a knowing smi
Charles stood by the transparent container that was ominously positioned in the center of Room 3. He pointed toward the large, almost suffocating structure with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Miss Mavis,” he said, his voice smooth and too kind, “have you ever seen a diving performance? This is what you need to do. Please, enter the container.”Mavis’s heart sank. The words hit her like a slap on the face, her breath catching in her throat. She blinked rapidly, trying to understand what Charles meant. A diving performance? Her mind raced, struggling to put the pieces together. But there was no mistaking it, she was being asked to enter that container.The workers in the room, having no time to waste, began to move quickly. They grabbed the transparent container and began carrying it toward the bathroom. Mavis stood frozen, her eyes glued to the glass structure that now seemed far too large, too oppressive. The container was nearly three meters high, its shape reminiscent of
Charles smiled at Eloise’s words, clearly intrigued. She’s more interesting than Mavis, he thought. There was a dark curiosity in his eyes as he observed her.“I heard you love money very much,” Charles said, his voice smooth.Eloise, not one to engage in such conversations, lowered her head, a knowing silence hanging between them. Everyone knew that she had a deep love for money, it was practically a trademark.She pursed her lips into an inscrutable smile before she finally spoke, her voice steady. “Yes, and that’s why I agreed to risk my life to do it.”Charles chuckled, his grin widening. “Alright! Four hundred thousand dollars. Deal!”He seemed genuinely amused, though Eloise knew it was merely a transaction to him. The deal was made, but the stakes were terrifyingly high.Eloise, while not outwardly graceful, had something more visceral, a certain edge that Charles found intriguing, even though she was far from the typical beauty. She wasn’t the type to shy away from risk, and f
Mavis stood frozen, her eyes wide in terror, her body stiff with shock as she witnessed the horror unfolding before her. Every muscle in her body screamed for her to run, but her legs wouldn’t move. The scene before her seemed like a nightmare, surreal and impossible. The container holding Eloise was filled with water, and Mavis couldn’t tell if Eloise was alive or unconscious, or if she had even made it through the torment. The water sloshed around, threatening to engulf her, and Mavis’s heart thundered in her chest. This can’t be happening. It can’t be real, she thought, barely able to comprehend what she was seeing.Mavis’s eyes remained locked on Eloise, her thoughts a jumbled mess. The overwhelming fear of the moment caused her breath to become shallow and uneven. Is she alive? Is she breathing? The questions bounced in her mind, but no answers came, only fear. She knew time was running out. And then, a name echoed in her head. Ainsley.Ainsley. The man she had only heard whisper
Ainsley held Eloise’s hand, his grip strong, but the anger that had consumed him was slowly fading. As his fingers interlocked with hers, a strange warmth spread through him. His rage, his fear, the desperation to save her, everything calmed as though the touch itself was grounding him. Why does this feel so… right? His mind raced, unable to process the unexpected tranquility.For what seemed like an eternity, time stood still. Eloise coughed, water spewing from her mouth as she struggled to breathe. Each rasping breath felt like a battle, but slowly, with a strained gasp, she opened her eyes. They were swollen and irritated, her vision blurry. She could barely make out the figure in front of her, but there was something about his presence that comforted her.Ainsley watched her with a mix of relief and uncertainty. He could see her lips move, faint and trembling. Her voice, hoarse and weak, reached his ears. “Money,” she whispered.The word hit Ainsley like a slap in the face. The su
Eloise practically ran home. She slammed the door to her dorm room behind her and leaned against it, trying to steady her breath. Her heart was hammering in her chest, a fierce ache in the pit of her stomach.Her face had been pale, like a ghost. Lucian had heard Serah's words, his expression unreadable, but the look in his eyes... That look still lingers. She'd thought she could ignore the pain. I’m stronger than this, she had told herself. But now, it all felt like a tidal wave crashing over her.Her thoughts spiraled. No. No, I can’t do this.There was a huge line between her and Lucian. In the eyes of the world, she was nothing more than a prostitute, a product to be bought and sold. Lucian was a successful CEO, a man with power and respect. In the eyes of the werewolves, she was a wolfless rouge, an outcast. Lucian was the powerful Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.She tried to push the thoughts away, but the reality of it all dug deep into her heart, making her chest feel tight. He
After Lucian finished speaking, he took a sharp turn on his motorcycle and pulled up in front of a towering wall of blooming roses. Eloise blinked, momentarily disoriented by the beauty of the scene. Without waiting for her to speak, Lucian nimbly dismounted from the motorcycle, his movements fluid and effortless.“We’re here,” he said, gesturing to the entrance with a subtle smirk. “This is the back door. Normally, I enter through the front.”Eloise hesitated. Something about the hidden entrance made her feel uneasy. A back door? What kind of place is this?Lucian raised an eyebrow, catching her reluctance. “Get off. Staying on the bike won’t change anything.”Eloise crossed her arms, defiantly refusing to move. “No,” she said with a stubborn little blink. Her grip tightened on the seat beneath her.Lucian smirked, clearly amused by her childish resistance. “Are you sure about that?”“I’m not hungry,” Eloise replied quickly, her mind racing for any excuse to avoid going inside.“But
"Rachael, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired. Can I take the day off?" Eloise said, her voice sounding unusually content.Rachael's tone softened, a hint of concern mixed with relief. "Sure. I’m glad you’re finally listening to your body. Take the day off, Eloise. You deserve it. Don’t worry about a thing here." With that, the line went quiet as Rachael hung up.Eloise stared at the phone for a moment, a slight smile tugging at her lips. She had made it through the morning without a major crisis, and now she had an entire day to herself. Her thoughts felt unusually clear as she stood up, stretching her stiff limbs. She wandered over to the small wooden table by the bedroom window, sat down, and opened the drawer, retrieving her well-worn notebook.It had become her one true companion over the years, the place where her thoughts roamed freely.I should write. I always feel better when I write.The last time she wrote anything was years ago. Her fingers flicked through the pages until sh
"Eloise, you don’t need to do anything. Just stay where you are, and I’ll come to you. I’ll hug you. You can leave everything to me. How will you know what happiness feels like if you don’t even try? I promise I won’t make you cry again, or... well, I’ll try my best not to, at least.”Lucian’s words hung in the air like he was trying to win an Oscar for “Most Heartfelt Speech.” It was almost working.But then, like an unwanted pop-up ad in her brain, Ainsley’s voice appeared.“Eloise, do you actually believe you deserve happiness?”Oh, great, thought Eloise, now I have the soundtracks of two people echoing in my head at the same time.Lucian’s offer of sunshine and rainbows was drowned out by Ainsley’s snarky voice. Happiness? Eloise thought, clutching her head. Who has time for that? Happiness doesn’t even fit into my schedule right now.It’s not that she didn’t want it. Who wouldn’t want happiness? But... I’m a mess. Rain died because of me. Because of ME! She winced at the thought.
Eloise's silence pressed down on Lucian like a weight he couldn't shake off. Her stillness seemed to say everything that her words had not. For a moment, he stood there, unsure whether to push forward or retreat. He gathered every ounce of his courage and spoke, his voice tentative yet sincere."Eloise," he began, his eyes searching hers. "You deserve a chance at happiness. Don’t shut me out so quickly. Even if you can’t be my mate right now, I want you to know you have every right to be happy. You can live a life filled with joy; I believe that."Eloise felt a flicker of warmth stir within her, his words brushing against the edges of the cold, distant walls she had built around herself. But then, as quickly as it came, the warmth was smothered. She wanted to say yes, to allow herself to hope again, but her heart fought back with a harsh, impenetrable truth.Lucian continued, undeterred by the quiet between them. His words, so genuine, cut through the heavy air like a knife."You can'
"Yes, I’m waiting for you, my lady," Lucian said briskly, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Eloise, you still haven’t answered me. The last time we spoke, I asked if you could be my mate. So, what do you think now?"Eloise froze, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. The words, so direct and unexpected, sent a rush of emotions through her. Her mind scrambled, trying to piece together her thoughts. She had rejected him before, hadn't she? But now... now he was standing there, so close, with that same intensity in his eyes. What is he really asking me?Her breath caught in her throat, her heart accelerating at the thought. Lucian was looking at her with such intensity, like she was the only person in the world. How can I say yes after everything? She blinked, suddenly lost in the storm of emotions."I was in the UK for a while," Lucian continued, his voice now softer, filled with something almost... pleading. "But the moment I returned to Metrocity, I came straight here. I k
"If I were you, I’d send her away," Eric’s voice sliced through the heavy silence of the room. His gaze held no warmth as he thought back to Ainsley "She had a lot to do with Aura’s death, you know. And you, Alpha Ainsley... You’re just shocked by how much Eloise has changed. After all, the two grew up together. You’re just shocked by what she’s become. That’s all."The words struck Ainsley like a punch in the gut, yet he said nothing for a moment. His chest tightened, but he couldn’t bring himself to argue. He simply murmured, “Let me think about it.” His voice sounded hollow to his own ears.As the Alpha of the Litha Night Walker Pack, Ainsley had been conditioned from childhood to believe that mates were unnecessary distractions, that emotions were weaknesses. He’d grown up to be a leader, not a lover, and for the longest time, he hadn’t even questioned it. But now... Now, the walls that had kept him distant from everyone, from her, were crumbling. Eloise, the very woman he had onc
Ainsley slouched back in his chair like it was his throne, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him like a lead blanket. The flickering light from his desk lamp cast shadows across the room, but none of them could match the dark cloud hanging over his mood. Eric broke the silence, his question hanging in the air like a stubborn fly."Ainsley, it’s not because of her, is it?" Eric asked, his finger tapping out a beat on the desk. The rhythm was annoyingly steady, like a metronome ticking down to his doom.Ainsley didn’t budge. He didn’t even flinch. His gaze was as cold as a freezer in Antarctica. Jacob, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with curiosity. He leaned in, practically licking his lips. "For her? Who? Spill it, man. Who are we talking about?"Eric’s stare never wavered, but Jacob’s playful smirk was the real problem here. "Alpha Ainsley, have you found your mate? Who’s the lucky lady? What pack does she belong to? When can we meet your future Luna? Are we ta
The night air was thick with tension as Gary’s car came to a stop, the wheels grinding to a halt next to Alex. The distance between them felt like miles, the silence hanging heavy, but Alex didn’t move. He stood rooted to the ground, watching as Gary hesitated before getting into the car.Gary’s eyes flickered briefly towards Alex, his face filled with guilt and something like regret. With a deep sigh, he finally spoke, his voice heavy with an emotion Alex couldn’t place. “Beta Alex,” he said, looking at him through the windshield. “We failed to raise that girl right. Everything that happened to Aura... was all her fault. I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”The words were like a cold slap, but they didn’t sting as much as they should have.If Eloise were here, she would be devastated too, Alex thought, the anger churning in his chest. But she wasn’t here. She hadn’t confessed her own sins, and yet, her father stood there, offering up apologies for her. How many times has he been asked to tak