Eloise clutched her chest as the pain twisted inside her, the emotional weight suffocating. Don’t bother. Don’t try to make him believe you. She repeated it over and over in her head, as though it could drown out the agony coursing through her veins. But no matter how hard she tried, the look on Ainsley’s face shattered her. The calmness in his eyes, the indifference to her pain, it felt like a punch to her gut. She was crumbling, unraveling in front of him, and he didn’t even care.Her voice broke through the eerie silence, sharp and mocking, cutting her deeper than anything physical could. "Do you think Aura was innocent? Do you think she was perfect? Let me tell you something, she deserved it. She deserved to die!"Eloise’s breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering. She didn’t know how to react. The words were so cruel, so final. And then, Ainsley raised his hand, as if to strike her. She froze, her body tensing in anticipation of the blow. Her eyes instinctively shut tight,
Rachael didn’t need Eloise to tell her about her past. She had already pieced it together herself. The hints had been subtle at first, but over time, they had become impossible to ignore. Eloise and Ainsley had a history. A deep, painful history that lingered between them like a shadow. Rachael had seen the way Ainsley’s gaze softened when he spoke about Aura, and how Eloise’s eyes would grow hard whenever the subject was brought up.Though Rachael had joined the Litha Night Walker Pack only two years ago, she had heard enough stories to understand the weight of Aura’s name. Aura had been the younger sister of Alex, the woman Ainsley had fallen in love with. But it wasn’t just a simple love story, it was a betrayal. Ainsley had rejected his fated mate, Eloise, for Aura. But then, one fateful night, Aura was murdered by rouges.It had devastated both Ainsley and Alex. And yet, Rachael had never understood how it had happened. She had heard about the strong protection from the Litha Nig
The Beta of the Riders' Pack suddenly snapped his fingers, a thought racing through his mind. "I remember something," he said, his eyes lighting up with realization. "George mentioned Eloise when he called."Theodore’s face tightened as the memory hit him. "Eloise? From the Golden Moon Pack? Isn't she supposed to be in the werewolf prison?" His voice faltered slightly, but only for a moment. "Call Alpha Gary. I want to hear it straight from him."The night was dark and still when the phone call to Alpha Gary finally went through. The sleepy, irritated voice that answered the phone made it clear this was a disruption."What’s so urgent? It’s late," came Gary's groggy voice.Theodore smiled thinly, his tone smooth but sharp. "Alpha Gary, are you asleep?"The voice on the other end was slow to wake, but the mention of Theodore’s name piqued his attention. "Oh, it’s you, Alpha Theodore," Gary responded, now more alert. "What do you need at this hour?"Theodore leaned back in his chair, en
The next morning, the soft light of dawn trickled through the blinds, illuminating Eloise's hospital room in muted tones. Despite the warmth of the sunlight, there was an overwhelming chill in the air. Eloise sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers gently tugging at the hem of her hospital gown, lost in her thoughts. The walls around her seemed to close in, as if they were a constant reminder of her past mistakes, the prison she had been trapped in for three long years.Eric entered the room, his footsteps deliberate and slow. He was carrying his usual aura of professionalism, but today, there was something different about him. Something was weighing heavily on his mind. As he looked at Eloise, his lips parted to speak, but his words seemed to falter for a moment. He cleared his throat and walked over to check her vitals.“You’re free to go, Eloise,” Eric said finally, as he jotted down a note on her chart."You’re healthy enough to leave the hospital. But I need to tell you something.
Eloise never wanted to return to those memories. She wished she could banish them, push them away like a forgotten dream, but they wouldn't leave her alone. They clung to her, sharp and relentless, as if they had a life of their own. The past wasn’t something she could escape from; it was a weight that pressed on her chest, suffocating her, reminding her with every breath that she had been deceived, betrayed in the most unforgivable way.Once, Aura had said to her, with a look of worry in her eyes, “I don’t like Alpha Ainsley.”At the time, Eloise hadn’t given it much thought. It had been a fleeting comment, a passing feeling. Aura was a sensitive soul, prone to moods, and her discomfort with Ainsley, the Alpha, was nothing more than a trivial concern. But now, those words were etched in Eloise's mind, haunting her. Why hadn't I listened?Then there was that other time when Aura had comforted her, speaking with the gentle care only a true friend could offer. “It’s okay, Eloise. You’re
Ainsley stood over Eloise, his gaze fixed on her still form lying on the bed. His eyes burned with an intense, aching regret, the sight of blood staining the corner of her mouth eating away at him.What have you done, Ainsleyy, can you hear her? She said she regretted loving us. If she hates us, we’ll be weak. Talk nicely to her, Adrian roared angrily at Ainsley and, for the first time, he didn’t snap at Adrian, he didn’t tell him to shut up. It was as though the weight of everything had finally come crashing down.Aura’s face, once so vivid in his memory, was now nothing but a blur. But Eloise, Eloise was different. For three long years, he had never been able to shake her from his thoughts.She’s not the same. Why is she like this?Eloise, so fierce and proud, had never been one to speak ill of others. But now… now she lay there, a shadow of the woman he once knew, and it broke something deep inside him."I can't bear to see you like this..." he murmured, his voice cracking with uns
Eloise’s expression was heavy, her words sharp like a dagger. “My biggest mistake was falling in love with you.” The seriousness in her voice, the coldness in her eyes, sent a shiver through Ainsley. It was the same Eloise he had once known, the one who had stood before him, time and again, passionately declaring they were destined by the Moon Goddess. She had insisted that they were mates, meant to be together forever.But now, the same woman who had once clung to him with unwavering belief, was telling him she was wrong. That she had made a mistake. What did that even mean? Ainsley thought, his chest tightening as confusion and pain coursed through him. She was going to correct her mistake? She had spent so much time convincing him that they were everything to each other, only to now tell him it was all a lie?He didn't understand. His heart twisted painfully, an ache that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was as if something inside him was unraveling, and he couldn't stop it. But o
Eloise's heart was heavy with an overwhelming sense of defeat. The fight within her seemed to vanish, drained away by a force beyond her control. Why resist? She thought, as her shoulders slumped in resignation. Let him pull me along, like a puppet on a string. When he’s finally had enough of me, when he doesn't even want to look at me anymore, I’ll quietly slip away.The thought of leaving, of finding some peace, was almost a comfort. At least it would be on her terms, and not at the whim of someone who had never truly cared for her, someone who believed she was just another possession to be discarded when no longer needed.But then, Ainsley’s voice shattered her dark thoughts. "Eloise, stop cursing Aura. She’s dead, and you’re still alive. Don't you think it's pathetic to be consumed with hatred for someone who isn’t even here anymore? It’s not worth it."His words were an unexpected blow. For a brief moment, Eloise felt a flicker of something. Did he care? How could that be? How co
"Ainsley WIlliams! Damn you! "You promised me!” Eloise’s eyes blazed red with fury, veins visible on her temples as her body shook violently.Her scream echoed so loudly throughout the room that the light on the ceiling trembled from the force of her rage. She kicked at the bed frame, sending it crashing against the wall with a loud bang. The curtains flapped wildly in the air from the force of her movements, as if they too were disturbed by the storm erupting within her.The pain that flashed through Ainsley's eyes nearly froze him in place. His breath caught, but he focused hard on what he was doing, refusing to waver, even though guilt was clawing through his chest.Then her voice ripped through the room, raw and shattering, “Ainsley! I hate you!”Ainsley's eyes were filled with unbearable pain, the kind that didn’t show in blood but hurt worse than any wound. He clenched his jaw and abruptly lowered his head. Without a word, he pressed his lips to the scar on the back of her waist
The fall of the Anthony Group was no longer just a rumor, it had become a harsh, bitter truth echoing through every corner of Metrocity’s high society. Stock prices had started to tremble, investors were pulling out like rats from a sinking ship, and tonight’s extravagant banquet couldn’t mask the rot eating away at the core of a once-mighty empire. The air was thick with tension and forced laughter, the scent of overpriced wine failing to disguise the underlying stench of desperation.Michael Eliot leaned against a marble column; he stood silently at the edge of the lavish banquet, his tall frame cloaked in a sleek black suit that matched his mood. His fingers played with the rim of a half-empty glass of red, untouched wine since it was poured. On his other hand, a cigarette smoldered, forgotten and the ash dangling dangerously. He looked detached, like a man who had accidentally walked into the wrong life. He hated these gatherings. The fake smiles, the hollow toasts, the false cama
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