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
The scene continued to unfold with intense emotion, as Ainsley’s words hit Eloise like a bitter storm. When he spoke of her life being worthless, it felt as though a dagger had pierced her heart, leaving her breathless. The words felt like poison, seeping deep into her soul. Her chest tightened painfully, and for a moment, she instinctively placed a hand over her heart, trying to shield herself from the sharp sting of truth.His hand had raised, as though he might reach for her, but then it dropped, his expression unreadable. His composure, however, was a facade. “Alpha Williams, you are right. My life is worthless,” Eloise repeated, each word carrying a sense of finality.But when she repeated his own cruel words back to him, something shifted in Ainsley. A deep irritation, for no clear reason, bubbled within him. It wasn’t that he thought she was wrong, it was that hearing those words from her made his chest constrict. He couldn’t understand it. It was as if her repetition somehow m
The tension in the room thickened, suffocating both Ainsley and Eloise. Ainsley’s grip around Eloise’s neck tightened, and her lifeless expression only seemed to fuel his frustration. The woman beneath him showed no resistance, her body limp, her eyes dull. It was as though she had resigned herself to her fate, her soul already distant, leaving Ainsley struggling with his own emotions. Beneath the anger, there was a gnawing pain in his chest, one he couldn't fully understand or control.Adrian, unable to tolerate the torment that was escalating within Ainsley, began to fight for control. The battle for dominance inside Ainsley's mind intensified as Adrian pushed harder, desperate to protect his mate from Ainsley’s destructive path. Yet, Ainsley resisted, his own will overriding the turmoil within. His mind, overwhelmed by the jealousy and rage, could no longer comprehend the depth of his actions."Why don’t you fight back?!" Ainsley yelled, his voice raw with frustration. "Why?!" His
“I deserve this punishment,” Eloise said calmly.Her voice, low and unwavering, cut through the heavy silence that filled the room. It was not the voice of a woman pleading for mercy, but one who had surrendered herself entirely to her fate.Eric didn’t doubt her words. He had known Eloise since they were children, and even now, there was a bitter truth in her resignation that stung him deeper than he could have imagined. She had always been strong, confident, and unyielding, but now, she was nothing but a shadow of her former self.The night air was still, and the Litha Night Walker Pack’s lands stretched dark and endless around them. The Golden Moon Pack, a force to be reckoned with, bordered their territory. Eloise, as the daughter of the Alpha, had once been a woman with every reason to stand tall and proud. She had been a symbol of power, of grace.Eric remembered her from when they were younger, a fierce, untamed beauty. She had completed her transformation at fifteen, the wolf
Ainsley stood in front of the couch, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular, yet his mind was consumed by thoughts of Eloise. Why does she always make me feel this way? His heart twisted with frustration. The very idea of her, trembling, submissive, and fearful, made his blood boil.Suddenly, the soft, almost imperceptible sound of footsteps reached his ears. Ainsley’s senses sharpened, instinctively recognizing her presence. His sharp wolf senses could pick up her scent; hear the quiet shift of her movements, even the slight hesitation in her steps.Eloise.He turned to face her, his heart thudding in his chest as he saw the hesitant look in her eyes. His anger flared, and he couldn't hide it. Why is she always so uncertain? He thought bitterly. Why does she never stand tall?"Stop right there. Where are you going?" Ainsley’s voice was harsh, filled with a command that left no room for disobedience.Eloise stood frozen, her eyes wide with caution. "I’m going to work, Alpha Williams,
Rachael immediately sensed something in Elijah's words. After all, she had managed to secure a place in the Scarlet Heart Club for years, navigating the club’s inner workings with precision and caution. She could read people well, and Elijah’s tone was off, there was a tension in the air, a sense of urgency she couldn't ignore.Her delicate eyebrows furrowed as she asked, “Wait. A dangerous job, you say?”What does he mean by a dangerous job? Rachael thought, feeling her gut tighten with unease. What’s going on that I don’t know?Rachael, always one to stay composed, couldn’t help but wonder. Eloise must have lost her mind. She hasn’t fully recovered yet, and she’s already back here, asking me for a job. How reckless is she?She steadied her voice and said seriously, “I’m not that ruthless, okay? She came back before she recovered, but I never gave her any work to do. Well, the only exception was that unknown guest a few days ago. But he didn’t give her a hard time.” Rachael’s eyes na
Mavis felt Ainsley’s disdain like a cold blade slicing through her heart. His voice, dripping with venom towards Lucian, made her stomach churn. Every insult, every cruel word about the man she loved, felt like a personal wound. But she couldn’t speak, couldn’t defend him. Fear held her tongue in place.How dare he say that about Lucian? Her mind screamed, but the words couldn’t escape her lips. Her gaze flitted between Ainsley’s cold face and the floor beneath her, desperate for the strength to speak, to challenge him, but the courage failed to materialize. She knew the danger of antagonizing him, the fear of what he could do. He wasn’t just any man; Ainsley was the Alpha of the Litha Night Walker Pack, ruthless, calculating, and untouchable.Her heart ached for Lucian, the man she admired with every fiber of her being. Lucian deserves more than this. He deserves respect, she thought bitterly. But there was nothing she could do at that moment. Her hands, clenched into fists by her si
After the cloth was removed, Mavis immediately relaxed. She had been gagged for so long that she couldn't help but cough, her face turning red from the strain. Her vision blurred for a moment, but when it cleared, Ainsley's feet appeared in her line of sight. For a brief second, Mavis paused, the overwhelming emotions of fear and frustration almost drowning her. Suddenly, she felt a harsh grip on her chin, pulling her head up sharply. The force was enough to make her eyes widen in shock. She saw Ainsley's eyes dangerous and full of malice."I'm in a bad mood right now. I don't have much patience. You better answer whatever I ask you..." His voice was cold, each word dripping with icy authority.Mavis's heart skipped a beat, and a chill ran down her spine. Ainsley's grip tightened, and she felt the pressure digging into her jaw. It hurt, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she dared not show weakness. The pain was overwhelming, but she fought to stay composed. Ainsley's hand, gloved i
When Eric heard Ainsley's words, he was filled with a mix of frustration and disbelief. Typically, tasks like this were left to the pack’s doctors, but now he found himself being summoned to take on a job that seemed beneath him. He couldn’t help but feel resentful as he moved forward, preparing the IV.“Eric, wait a second, do you know how to do this?” Ainsley’s voice cut through the air, dripping with doubt.Eric’s hand trembled as he tried to find the right vein, but in his haste, he struck the wrong one. Ainsley’s expression soured immediately, his gaze growing colder with each failed attempt. “If you can’t, I’ll get someone else to do the job. Don’t force yourself.”Eric, who had always prided himself on his skills, clenched his jaw. His face tightened in determination. “Keep still,” he snapped. “If I don’t get her on a drip, I’ll write you a letter of resignation tomorrow and go home to help my father gather herbs.”Ainsley’s jaw tightened. He didn’t have time for games, but Eri
“Well, since you love your job so much, work hard for it.” Ainsley’s voice was cold, his eyes hard as stone. “In one month, transfer a million dollars to my card, and I’ll let you go. Otherwise, it won’t matter where you run. You’ll never be free.”Eloise felt the blood drain from her face, but she didn’t flinch. She couldn’t. She had no choice but to accept it. A million dollars in a month? Her mind raced, trying to find a way out, but she knew there was none. Not now.“Alpha Williams, you’re right,” she said, her voice steady, though her heart was a chaotic mess inside her. “I still owe you a million dollars. You ordered me to pay it back within a month.”She didn’t fight him. She couldn’t afford to. She had nothing left. Eloise had long ago learned to swallow her pride and accept whatever came her way. She had no other option. Her debts, emotional and financial, were far too great.“Very well,” she continued, taking a slow, controlled breath. “I’ll be going to work now.”Ainsley’s
“What’s wrong?” Ainsley asked, setting aside the document he had been studying. His gaze shifted to Eloise, a subtle arch in his brow that spoke volumes of his curiosity.Eloise hesitated before asking, her voice laced with a quiet concern, “Is Mavis okay?”At the sound of her question, a sharp edge darkened Ainsley’s mood. The gentleness that had once lingered around him evaporated in an instant.Eloise, how dare you ask about her? Ainsley thought bitterly. How can you even pretend to care about someone else, when you’re drowning in your own mess?Eloise’s lips tightened, but she didn’t falter. She pressed on, her tone unwavering. “Alpha Williams, you were wrong to do what you did to her. I want to beg you to spare her life. As for the rest, you can do whatever you want…”Ainsley scoffed, his face twisting in disbelief. “I didn’t know you were such a hypocrite,” he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “You can be friends with people who’ve hurt you so deeply?”Eloise, despite th
Ainsley watched Eloise with a strange, almost obsessive gaze. His thoughts, tangled in a web of confusion, betrayed the feelings he couldn’t quite understand. How had it come to this? She was just a woman, an important one, yes, but nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, the more time passed, the deeper the pull grew, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something in him had awakened.What the hell is going on? Ainsley demanded, his voice sharp and uncertain, spoken not aloud but in the privacy of his mind.His wolf, Adrian, answered instantly, his tone firm and unyielding. She’s our mate.Ainsley’s heart thundered in his chest as the word echoed in his thoughts. Mate. The concept had always been something distant for him, something he hadn’t truly believed in. But Adrian was insistent. We werewolves need to be with our mates. That bond... it’s what keeps us whole. It’s what keeps us happy.Ainsley said nothing in response. The silence between them hung heavy, thick with confusion. He tr
Suddenly, Eric recalled what he had said to Eloise earlier. He had told her she had disappointed him, blamed her for changing. Now, as he thought about it, he was filled with regret. It wasn’t him who had been suffering all these years.Eric continued, “When I checked on her earlier, she wasn’t in a serious condition. I don’t know why she fainted again, but I suggest you take her to the hospital now. She’s been through a lot, drowning, running a fever, and fainting. Even healthy werewolves couldn’t handle that, let alone her. Werewolf herbs might alleviate the symptoms, but it’s our strong resistance that helps us recover. Eloise doesn’t have her wolf anymore. She may be more vulnerable than humans.”“Okay. I’ll take her to the hospital now,” Ainsley responded.“Okay. See you there,” Eric replied before hanging up.Ainsley stood by the bed, looking down at Eloise. Eric’s words echoed in his mind: “Don’t you know that your attitude towards Eloise and the disposition you show have deter
Ainsley stood over Eloise’s unconscious form, his eyes scanning her prone body. His mind was in turmoil, but his focus was sharp. He didn’t break the mental link. His gaze was locked on Eloise as she lay motionless on the bed.He moved closer, his hands trembling with a mixture of frustration and confusion. He pushed her aside gently and, with a steady breath, lifted her shirt.As her shirt slowly moved upward, his eyes fell on her waist.What he saw stopped him cold.A gruesome, jagged scar marred the skin on her left side. Ainsley’s pupils constricted, his heart thundering painfully in his chest. The breath caught in his throat.Our mate... Adrian’s voice was pained, distant. I can’t feel her... not properly. The words cut through Ainsley’s mind like ice. There was only the faintest breath, the shallow pulse beneath her skin, and that was all that marked her as his mate.“Who did this?” Ainsley’s voice was icy, his tone as cold as a blizzard, his words sharp with the promise of wrat
Eloise’s thoughts were heavy, weighing down her every step. I know what it is to owe someone your life, and it’s a debt I can never repay. No matter how hard I work, no matter how many hours I toil away, Rain will never see my efforts. She paused for a moment, letting the sting of truth settle in. But I don’t care about Mavis. She felt an odd indifference towards the woman. It’s not that I hate her, nor that I like her. She’s selfish, and often insolent, crossing boundaries without a second thought. But I don’t care enough to involve myself in her matters. I didn’t come here to beg for her.Her breath caught as the weight of her decision sank deeper. I just... I just don’t want to owe anyone anything. Not a single person. Whether they’re kind or cruel, whether they matter to me or not, it’s the principle. I don’t want to owe anyone, not again. She exhaled sharply. That's why I came here, despite every ounce of resistance in my body. I can’t stand this feeling of indebtedness.Ainsley