Ainsley opened his eyes in the darkness, the silence heavy around him. His body ached from the weight of exhaustion, but he couldn’t stop himself from turning to look at Eloise. She was still sleeping, curled in his arms, her soft breathing the only sound in the room. His gaze fell to her neck, where he could still see the marks he had left, the angry, purple hickeys scattered across her delicate skin.To Ainsley's surprise, Eloise left so many bloody bite marks on his shoulder.He didn't understand. Why did he let her do it? And why did he kiss every part of her body so madly?His hand instinctively brushed the edge of her neck, but as soon as his fingers touched hers, he quickly pulled them away. His mind was swirling with thoughts he couldn’t control.With a sigh, Ainsley closed his eyes again, trying to push the thoughts from his mind. He could feel the warmth of her body against his, could smell the sweet scent of her hair. And yet, his instincts urged him to do more, to pull her
In the Ocean Moon Pack, Michael stared at Jack across the room, his expression hardening as he noticed the smug smile on Jack’s face. The atmosphere in the office, thick with tension, made the air feel suffocating. Jack was lounging casually on the couch, but Michael could see the flicker of something darker behind his eyes."You seem to be in a good mood these days," Michael commented, his voice cool but laced with something that could almost be concern.Jack's smile widened, and he leaned back further, his arms resting comfortably behind his head. "Why wouldn't I be?" he replied nonchalantly. "I've stumbled upon some very interesting prey."Michael set the document he had been reading aside, narrowing his eyes as he studied Jack. "Jack," he said, his tone turning serious. "Stop, there's nothing funny about this."Jack chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of arrogance. "Michael, you're an Alpha. Don't you know that hunting is a very elegant sport?" He winked as if this were som
Jack didn't care about her attitude. "The wounds must be treated. Leaving them untreated will only make them worse."Eloise stared at him coldly, her expression hardening. Why does he always feel the need to control everything?"It's none of your business," she said with a chill in her voice. Then she remembered that she had just received 20 thousand dollars from Jack, and her mood shifted slightly. She adjusted her tone, trying to be more civil, and continued, "Alpha Jack, please don't kiss me on the forehead again."Jack, however, didn't seem to be deterred by her coldness. He looked at her with a knowing smirk, his eyes glinting mischievously. "So, can I kiss you?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with a challenge.Before Eloise could even process his words, Jack closed the distance between them and quickly kissed her on the lips. Eloise’s gaze dropped to the floor, a flash of disgust crossing her face.She forced a smile. "Alpha Jack, the kiss is included in the money, right?" s
Eloise returned to the Public Relations Department office and sat at her desk, the sterile surroundings offering her little comfort. She was the only one there. Time seemed to slow down as she stared at the empty room. There were no calls from her colleagues or supervisors. Soon, the clock ticked past the hour, and it was time to go home.Just like the day before, and the day before that, she hadn’t received any work at all.She sighed and stood up from her desk, gathering her things before heading out the door. She left the Scarlet Heart Club behind, and made her way back to her dorm.The walk back was uneventful, and the stairs creaked under her feet as she ascended to her apartment floor. Just like yesterday, as she reached the landing, she saw Jack standing by her door, his figure as imposing as ever.This time, Eloise didn’t ask anything. The previous days of questioning, of wondering, had led her nowhere. She simply pulled out her key in front of Jack and opened the door. Her mo
"Alpha, Jack, I never said that the meal I cooked was worth a hundred thousand dollars. You gave it to me because you thought it was worth it. I was short of money, so I accepted it. Why did I accept it, even though I knew it wasn't an equal exchange? Perhaps you've forgotten that I'm a woman who will do anything for money. I'm a company girl, not a socialite. I need money. I need a million dollars. It means the world to me. If I don't get this money by the deadline, I'm going to lose something very important," she said frankly.Jack was silent, his face expressionless. He didn’t care about anyone else, least of all her problems.He raised his hand, looking at his watch. "I've already wasted enough time. Miss Anthony, I've bothered you for too long. There's no need for us to meet again in the future.""I thought that too. That's why I accompanied you downstairs," Eloise replied thoughtfully. She paused, and added, "Alpha, Jack, thank you. Also, you were wrong about one thing. We're jus
Pa!The sound of a loud slap echoed through the quiet hallway, its sharpness breaking the stillness of the night.Eloise stood there, her hand still trembling after delivering the blow. Jack’s face turned to the side from the force of the slap. After a long pause, he slowly raised his hand to touch his cheek, his fingers tracing the spot where the sting still lingered."That was a good slap," Jack remarked, his voice surprisingly calm, though his eyes sparkled with something darker, something that looked like both anger and intrigue. Eloise could feel her own heart racing with a mix of adrenaline and satisfaction. There was a strange, twisted pleasure in delivering the slap, something that made her feel empowered.She stared at him, her eyes burning with a quiet fury. "Alpha. Jack, you so enjoy rubbing salt on other people's wounds. Now you know. It hurts," she said, her voice low and steady.Turning on her heel, she walked away, her back straight and her steps firm, as if nothing had
Jack stood up, turned his head to look at the watchful woman and asked, "Aren't you going to accompany me?""No, Alpha. Jack, close the door when you leave," Eloise said."Isn't it a basic requirement of your job to escort people? Or, Ms. Anthony, do you think I'm no longer a guest to you since you're off duty and in your dorm now? Ms. Anthony, perhaps I should go to Club Scarlet Heart, the place where you work, to see you tomorrow. What do you think?" Jack said casually.Eloise thought. Seriously? Are you threatening me again? How despicable!Eloise gritted her teeth. Every time, Jack always managed to make her gnash her teeth in hatred.She said, "Alpha. Jack, you are right. I should not neglect my guests, just because I am off duty. Alpha. Jack, let me accompany you."As she spoke, she walked forward, looking at the man beside her even more vigilantly.Who knows what's wrong with him? He likes to kiss my wound so much, and he has the nerve to claim that it's healing.Thinking about
Eloise stood frozen, her mind racing as Rachael’s words hit her like a slap in the face. She could feel her pulse throb in her temples, and her stomach churned with confusion. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing."I haven't changed," Eloise muttered, her voice low and tight, though she wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince Rachael, or herself.“Eloise, can’t you see?” Rachael’s voice softened. "Your face used to be so stiff. All I saw in it was emptiness, like it didn’t belong to a living person. But now… now, I see something different. I see a spark." Her words hung heavy in the air. "I think you’re starting to feel again."Eloise opened her mouth, but the words tangled in her throat. She had wanted to protest, to say something that would make Rachael stop looking at her like that. But Rachael wasn’t finished.“Is it Jack, Eloise?” Rachael’s eyes narrowed, her voice suddenly darkening with anger. “Is that who’s making you change? Because if it is… you should know better. He
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