“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 echoe
Eloise clenched her fists, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. She wanted to tell them no, to walk out of the room, but she couldn’t. This was her life. If they asked her to sing, she would. She had no choice.“Her voice is so unpleasant,” the man said, looking skeptical. “Are you sure you want to hear her sing?”Amelia’s smile widened, clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing Eloise. “That’s exactly why I want her to sing,” she said, her eyes glittering with amusement. “I’m curious how unbearable it’ll be.”The mocking tone in Amelia’s voice cut deep into Eloise’s heart. How had her life come to this? To be a subject of entertainment, something to be laughed at, to be humiliated for the amusement of men like Mr. White.“Mr. White, what do you say?” Amelia asked sweetly, her hand resting on his arm, as if she owned the moment, owned him.The man’s eyes lingered on Amelia for a moment before turning to Eloise. His expression was one of indifference, but there was a
Eloise wasn’t mocking her or trying to start an argument; it was just a fact, stated plainly. Her tone carried no judgment, but it hit Mavis like a sharp slap.Mavis’s face flushed with embarrassment at first, her anger boiling over. "I…" she stammered, trying to gather her thoughts. Then, in an instant, her frustration bubbled over. "I came to Club Scarlet Heart to be a waitress. You know my family's situation. I needed money to pay for my studies and living expenses."She paused for a moment, trying to collect herself. Eloise said nothing, simply watching her. The silence between them felt heavy, thick with unspoken words.Mavis’s eyes narrowed as she glared at Eloise, her voice suddenly cold. "I'm not like you! I won't do anything just for money. Unlike you, I have limits!"The words stung. They were meant to make Eloise feel inferior. To paint her as someone with no dignity, no self-respect. But Eloise just smiled softly. Mavis could say whatever she wanted, but the truth remained
Eloise continued, her voice low and strained, “I was humiliated, made to crawl on the ground and bark like a dog, scorned with every dirty word they could think of. But that’s nothing compared to what happened to me in prison. They stripped me naked and threw me into a cage, hosed me down with high-pressure water. And so what? What does any of it matter now? Racheal, I endured pain that I can’t even begin to explain. And Rain… He died trying to protect me. I owe him everything. Her death, her sacrifice, it haunts me. I owe him that much. That’s why I have to keep going, no matter how much it hurts. I have to live, to fulfill the dream he had for me. It’s the least I can do for him.”Racheal listened quietly, her heart heavy with the weight of Eloise’s words. She had known that Eloise had a tragic past, but hearing it all laid bare like this was something else entirely. Rain. Who was he to Eloise? And what dream had he left behind for her? Racheal didn't have the answers, but she could
Ainsley’s POVThree years. Three long years since I last saw her facial features up close. And now, here she was, lying in front of me in a hospital bed, a mere shadow of the woman I once knew. Eloise… "my mate"The sight of her took me by surprise, knocking the air out of my lungs. Time had worn her down, just as it did everyone. But I wasn’t prepared for this. Her skin, once as soft as moonlight, now had a rough, weathered texture. Her eyes, once sparkling with life, were hollow like someone who had been through hell. And maybe she had, I thought bitterly.I could see the traces of her former beauty, the features everyone in the Golden Moon pack and all over the packs in America worship her beauty, but now they were buried beneath exhaustion and neglect. Her lips were chapped, the corners of her mouth turned down in a way that made my chest tighten with something I didn’t want to name.You should never have let her go. You had rejected her, pushed her away when you should’ve fought
Eric knew instantly that the woman lying on the bed was Eloise. He had recognized her the moment he saw her at the Scarlet Heart Club. But what he didn’t expect was to witness her disbelief as she grappled with what had happened.“Ainsley, you pressured me… you kissed me...” Eloise murmured, still reeling from the experience."Can't you see it?" Eric asked, his voice tinged with frustration.“No way!” Eric grabbed Ainsley as he was about to leave the room. “Ainsley, don’t tell me you have feelings for her?”Ainsley froze, his expression turning dark. Slowly, he turned back to face Eric, his eyes filled with menace. “Her? Who are you talking about?”“Eloise,” Eric responded, his voice sharp.Ainsley’s gaze sent a chill down Eric’s spine as he stepped past him, re-entering the room. He was like ice—cold, distant, indifferent. He looked at Eloise as though she were nothing more than an inconvenience.“I asked Eric to bring you food,” he said, his tone flat. “It’s on the nightstand.”Eloi
“Do you remember what happened in the private room that day?” Rachel’s voice was sharp, laced with anger. “If it weren’t for Eloise sacrificing herself, do you think you’d still be standing here, spouting nonsense and making snide remarks?”Mavis’s face paled, but she quickly hid her unease behind a mask of defiance. She couldn’t bring herself to admit that Eloise had helped her out of sincerity. “Rachel, what you’re saying is true. Eloise did help me,” Mavis began, her tone defensive. “But I didn’t ask her to act like a dog to please customers. She did it for the money, and that has nothing to do with me.”Rachel’s anger flared as she stared at Mavis, but her lips curled into a bitter laugh. It seemed to her that Eloise’s sacrifice had been wasted on Mavis, an ungrateful person who couldn’t see the depth of the gesture. She sighed, shaking her head. “It’s a shame that Eloise paid such a high price to save someone like you, someone who doesn’t even know how to be grateful.”Mavis’s fa
Rachel wasn’t sure about Ainsley’s attitude, so she decided to simply recount the situation calmly. She took a deep breath and began speaking in a clear, steady tone."At first, only Amelia, her client, and Gloria knew what had happened that day." Rachel’s eyes darted over to Eric for a moment, before continuing. "Gloria bore all the pain in silence, unwilling to reveal a thing. In fact, it was Amelia who casually mentioned it as a joke to the others at the Scarlet Heart Club. That’s how I found out."Eric's expression shifted, and his eyes widened in surprise. He leaned forward slightly. "Amelia’s not a werewolf," he said, his voice laced with disbelief. "But she’s more vicious than any beast I’ve ever seen."Ainsley’s face darkened at the mention of Amelia. His lips tightened into a thin line, and his cold gaze sharpened as he looked at Rachel.Without another word, he nodded towards her. "Bring me Amelia. I’ll wait for you in Room 1."With a fluid motion, he turned and walked towar
"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
Gary couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The words hit him like a freight train. Did Eloise just say that Ainsley owns Club Scarlet Heart? Ainsley? The Alpha of the Litha Night Walker Pack?Gary, the Alpha of the Golden Moon Pack, couldn’t process this fast enough. He was used to being in control, to commanding the situation. But this… this left him scrambling. He quickly tried to gather his thoughts. But as the pieces fell into place, his face twisted with rage. He growled, "Bitch! You’ve crossed paths with Alpha Ainsley again?"Eloise felt the bitter sting of his words. Her chest tightened with disappointment. Is this really how he reacts? Is this really the first thing he thinks of when he hears Ainsley’s name?She couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t concerned about her. About what she had been through. He wasn’t even concerned that his daughter had been imprisoned. No, what bothered him was Ainsley. Is that all that matters to you?Eloise fought to swallow the lump in her throat, try
Pamela bent down, her trembling hands reaching for Eloise, who had collapsed to the floor. Eloise didn’t resist; her body sagged beneath the weight of the years she’d carried. She slowly lifted her head, her eyes hollow with a coldness that seemed foreign to the mother who once held her in her arms.Eloise tried to speak but only a broken, hoarse sound came out. She winced, her throat raw, but even at that moment of pain, she knew she could not hide the damage in her voice. It was a voice ruined by years of neglect, imprisonment, and hardship. A voice no parent should have to hear.Pamela hesitated, then placed her hand on Eloise’s shoulder. But her touch wasn’t comforting; it felt like a cold reminder of how disconnected they had become. Eloise raised her head fully, her gaze locking with her mother's, her breath coming in shallow gasps.She stopped trying to hide the cracked, broken sound of her voice. She realized something: they weren’t here to show concern for her at all. No one