Ainsley’s eyes narrowed, and in his mind, a sharp thought cut through the tense silence: Do as I say? Is this truly you, Eloise Anthony? I don’t think so.He didn’t say it out loud, but his gaze alone was enough to pierce through her, a forceful reminder that Ainsley Williams never let anything go unnoticed. His arm rested on the armrest of the couch, his fingers gently caressing his chin as he watched her. The dim light cast shadows over his face, hiding the emotions he was battling to suppress.Eloise sat across from him, her heart pounding in her chest. The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Time seemed to crawl, and with every second, she felt more exposed under his unyielding gaze. She glanced up at him, only to meet the coldness in his eyes, and each time, her heart trembled. Why am I here? Is this really worth it? Her thoughts raced, but she couldn't find the strength to look away.Minutes passed, and the unease began to gnaw at her. Ainsley never blinked, n
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
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
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 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
“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
“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
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
Ainsley threw her onto the bed. Before Eloise could sit up, the bed dipped beside her. She looked up. Ainsley was sitting on the edge of the bed, one of his hands holding up her left leg.Eloise's face suddenly turned pale. She couldn't help but look toward the door.There were so many people at the door. Did he want to have sex in front of everyone?With that possibility in mind, Eloise's face turned sullen. She extended her leg to kick Ainsley.Then, Ainsley tightened his grip on her ankle.He turned his head and looked at her with a warning in his eyes.Eloise's heart skipped a beat. She gritted her teeth and suppressed the urge to kick him.Ainsley held her ankle with his slender fingers and slowly lifted her foot.This action made Eloise feel embarrassed. She bit her lower lip, and her face turned pale.“Ainsley, if you want to humiliate me, there is nothing I can do!” Eloise was desperate.At that moment, she wanted to either die or tear the man in front of her to pieces.She si
Ainsley turned his head, his sharp gaze piercing through the dimly lit study. Hank remained on his knees, his body tense.“I told you to look into things from three years ago.” Ainsley’s voice was calm, yet it held a quiet storm. His fingers drummed against the report on his desk, his expression darkening. “Hank, do you still think no one knows about it?”The weight of his words sent a chill down Hank’s spine.Ainsley tapped the report again. Once, twice...the sound was eerily sharp in the heavy silence. His jaw tightened. “I think they found out the moment you made a move. See? The proof here is perfect.”Ainsley’s mind churned with unanswered and unsettling questions. Why did Grandpa make that decision three years ago?His fingers curled into a fist as frustration gnawed at him. What happened three years ago?It haunted him, a relentless shadow. But even if it concerned the entire pack, there was no reason, none—that justified killing a pack member and framing Eloise of the Golden M
Thinking of Eloise, Ellison shook his head. I'm not that shameless. She's been pushed to the edge of survival, and now Alex still wants me to kill her. That poor woman? I'm not that terrible.At the other end of the line, Alex continued cursing Eloise.Hearing Alex's vicious words, irritation surged through Ellison. He raised a hand, ran his fingers through his hair, and snapped impatiently, “Enough.”His voice turned cold as he roared, “Beta Alex, I’ll say it again. If you want to kill someone, do it yourself. I will not stop you or help you.”Beta Alex got one thing right. If Eloise were to die, it would be good for me, too. The truth from three years ago will never come to light.“Ellison, you have to help me. Or I’ll tell Alpha Ainsley what you did three years ago.” Alex’s voice trembled with nervousness.Ellison let out a low chuckle. “Beta Alex, then you knew Eloise was innocent.”A heavy silence followed. Alex's grip on the phone tightened as realization struck.From the moment
Ainsley’s body tensed as the warmth in his arms shifted.Something was off!.His eyes snapped open, and in the dim glow of the room, he caught sight of Eloise, her legs dangling off the side of the bed, her slender frame slipping from his grasp.His breath hitched.Before she could touch the floor, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, yanking her back with force. Eloise let out a sharp gasp as she was pulled against his chest. Without hesitation, he repositioned her, forcing her down onto his lap."You really have no sense of fear, do you?" Ainsley’s voice was low, edged with warning.Eloise struggled, twisting in his grip. “Let me go!”Ainsley’s jaw tightened. Without another word, his palm landed on her backside with a sharp smack.Eloise froze. A second later, she realized what had just happened."Stop! Stop it!" she cried, her breath shaky.Ainsley exhaled slowly, his control razor-thin as he dragged his hand over the curve of her ass, his fingers teasing the heated skin.“Do you
In the middle of the night, only the sound of steady breathing filled the room.Eloise clamped her trembling hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the sound of her own horror. Her heartbeat pounded so violently that she thought Ainsley would wake up just from the force of it.What the hell was I thinking?She felt sick. The warmth of his skin still lingered on her fingers, the pulse of his life steady beneath her grip only moments ago.Her breath came in shallow gasps as she struggled to process what she had almost done. Mica/Rain… was that what you would have wanted? Would you have wanted me to kill him?Her entire body tensed as a cold shiver ran down her spine. Slowly, as if afraid she might startle a beast in slumber, she withdrew her hand from Ainsley’s neck. The air felt heavy, suffocating, as she stared at his face was peaceful and unguarded.He looks so different when he’s asleep… almost human.Tears burned at the edges of her eyes. She hated him, loathed him & despised him. B
Ainsley felt physically satisfied. At that moment, they both reached a climax at the same time.As they panted, experiencing the pleasure of their bodies, their hearts broke."Ainsley, I hate you," Eloise said hoarsely.Ainsley's fingers trembled, but he still managed to wipe the beads of sweat from her forehead.There was something inexplicable hidden behind his deep eyes, something that confused Eloise. However, the moment she looked into them, the familiar pain resurfaced from her numb heart, piercing her with sharp clarity.Three years ago, just a single glance from him could make her heart race. She had naively believed he was the mate chosen for her by the Moon Goddess, that their love was destined. She never imagined he would be the one to bring her such endless pain.Ainsley ran a hand over her forehead, wiping away the sweat."Don’t touch me," Eloise snapped, pushing his hand away. She glared at him coldly, even as he hovered over her. "Alpha Williams, I hate you. And I will
Ainsley stared in disbelief at Eloise, who at that moment was so lovely, yet so strange to him. His eyes were full of pity.Eloise gritted her teeth. She was a sensitive and delicate person, able to sense the emotions in Ainsley’s eyes. However, she couldn't believe that she was the reason for such changes.After all, it was Ainsley who had pushed her step by step into the miserable state she was in today. He was the main culprit in everything.“Alpha Williams.” She approached him again, her movements slow, deliberate, each step a silent promise of something forbidden. She wrapped her arms seductively around his neck. At this point, she was half-kneeling on the bed, her hands tangled behind his neck, her head slightly bowed, her lips barely inches from his skin.“You are my sugar daddy. I still owe you a lot of money, Alpha Williams, you are just lying down on my bed like this… isn’t that a sign that you want me?” she murmured, her voice dropping into a husky whisper.She tried to ign
At that moment, the sound of the hairdryer still buzzed in Eloise’s ears. It was a dull, mechanical hum, one that had accompanied her every night, just like the heavy weight in her chest.Like always, she sat on the edge of the bed, her damp hair clinging to her skin. She lowered her gaze, staring at the delicate fabric of her nightgown. The new nightgown… Ainsley bought for her.Behind her, he held the hairdryer, its warmth brushing against her scalp. The fabric in her lap was soft, expensive & exquisitely made.But why does he think I like pink?A bitter smile tugged at her lips.It’s funny how I don’t even have the right to choose what I wear, let alone the color I prefer.The warm air ghosted over her shoulders, but it did nothing to chase away the chill beneath her skin. The hum of the hairdryer filled the silence between them, stretching, suffocating.Her fingers clenched around the silky fabric.Then suddenly, a silent, lifeless smile appeared on her lips. Tears glistened in he
With a heavy heart, Alex walked silently over to the sleeping woman and stood by the bench, his resentful eyes fixed on Eloise’s face.After staring at her for a long time, he finally spoke. “Wake up.”Eloise stirred at the sound, pulled from the depths of her sleep.As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Alex standing beside her. Instantly, her drowsiness vanished.She opened her mouth but hesitated. What could she even say to Aura’s brother?Apologize? But why should she? She was the one who had been deceived. Why should she bear the weight of someone else’s sins?Slowly, Eloise lowered her head and remained silent.Alex’s sharp gaze bore into her. He had waited three years for this moment, for whatever excuse she might give him.“Miss Anthony, don’t you have anything to tell me?”Eloise parted her lips, but no words came out.She could easily offer a meaningless “I’m sorry” to anyone, to ease their anger, to lessen her burden. But Alex… Alex was different. He was Aura’s brother. A