EllaThe suffocating darkness of the burlap sack seemed to amplify every sound and sensation.The rough fabric chafed against my skin, and the acrid smell of stale sweat filled my nostrils. I could feel the car’s movements, every twist and turn of the winding roads, and the muted voices of the men accompanying me.They were taking me far away from home. I could feel it. And if I knew anything about the Mafia… I knew that I wouldn’t be coming back.Using every ounce of Ema's strength and courage that was left, I tried to break free. My legs kicked wildly, and my muffled shouts resonated through the tight confines of the vehicle, but the men around me seemed unperturbed.“Please!” I called out, struggling against the absurdly tight restraints around my wrists. “Please, just let me go! I’ll disappear! You’ll never hear from me again!”No one responded to my pleas, no hands attempted to calm me or even restrain me further. It was as if they had done this countless times before, grown immu
EllaAs we exited the mansion, the gravel crunched underfoot, the sound reverberating in the otherwise silent evening. Logan led the way, his long strides confident and unhurried.We approached a sleek black car with tinted windows. Its polished surface mirrored the moon’s glow, casting eerie reflections of our figures.“Get in,” he instructed, not a command so much as a casual suggestion. But his clear blue eyes told a different story. They were always watching, assessing.I hesitated, eyeing the vehicle and then him.“Where are we going?” My voice carried a hint of defiance, a touch of the suspicion I felt. Logan had an unpredictable streak that made him intriguing, but also undeniably dangerous.“To eat,” he replied nonchalantly, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I know a good place.”The guarded expression didn’t leave my eyes. “And why should I trust you? If you try any tricks, Logan, I swear, I’ll kill you.”His response was swift and unexpected. With an amu
EllaThe night was awash with ambivalence and intrigue as Logan and I sat side by side, the city lights playing a serenade of reflections on the dark waters. The weight of his proposal hung between us, making the air palpable with tension.“I don’t understand,” I began, hesitatingly. “Your ‘fake girlfriend’? Why? What does that have to do with… literally anything?”Inside, Ema was raging.“Fake girlfriend?” she hissed. “First, he just wants you as a mistress. Then he wanted to trick you into being his girlfriend because you are Ella Morgan. Now that he knows you’re not going to follow his mind, he wants to use you as a fake girlfriend? Not even an official one anymore?!!”“It’s not like I’d want it to be official anyway,” I replied. “But I don’t want this, either. Let’s hear him out, though.”Logan took a deep breath, as if preparing himself for a confession.“You see, my brother recently got engaged to an Alpha from a prestigious family. Her father’s wealth is vast, and it could very
LoganThe chilly wind that night was relentless, and as I stepped out of the car, I felt a pang of emptiness as I looked up at my dark mansion.The ever-present guards flanked my home, silent statues in their tailored suits.Their stillness was deceiving, because beneath the calm exterior, they were ready to leap into action at any moment. All it would take was one order from me. The fight that ensued earlier when they stupidly kidnapped Ella was proof of that.However, even with their presence, I couldn't help but feel isolated.My home was a testament to my tastes: large, opulent, and overlooking the vast expanse of the sea. But tonight, it felt different.The house that had been a silent refuge now echoed the solitude of my thoughts. Why was it that just a short meeting with Ella made everything seem so... incomplete?As I walked through the spacious rooms, I noted the intentional lack of decor. A deliberate choice. The walls held memories, some that I preferred to forget. To fill
EllaThe soft hum of my ceiling fan was the only sound accompanying my thoughts. As I lay in bed, the silky sheets enveloping me, a sense of strange relaxation washed over me. I should have felt agitated, furious even. But there was a tranquility I couldn’t understand.I let that jerk into my life, I chided myself.But even as I mentally berated myself, I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face. My phone vibrated on my nightstand, breaking my introspection. A glance revealed Moana’s name on the screen.“I heard you got your first case!” Moana’s chirpy voice rang through the phone. We might have been mother and daughter, but in moments like these, she was just like a giddy school friend.“Yeah,” I hesitated. The truth would be too much for her to handle. “It’s just a problem with a bad tenant. The client wanted to keep things confidential.”A laugh. “Always the mysterious ones, huh? Well, as long as you're safe and doing what you love.”I swallowed hard, guilt gnawing at me. If
EllaThe imposing structure of the law firm stood tall against the city skyline, its grandeur echoing the prestige and authority it held in the legal world. Its broad stone steps, worn by the footfalls of countless attorneys and clients, led up to tall, ornate double doors.Taking a deep breath, I hesitated at the foot of the stairs. The chatter of the city faded as dread pooled in my gut. Logan’s confident stride next to me seemed out of place at this moment, and the realization of what I was about to do hit me full force.Here I was, waltzing up to my old place of work after letting a mobster threaten my old boss. Not only that, but I was walking up to my old place of work with that very mobster. It was absurd! Brazen!Without warning, I yanked my hand away and spun around, my heels clicking against the pavement as I made a break for it.“I can’t, Logan,” I called out, my voice tinged with panic. “I can’t go back in there, not like this. I’ll find another city, another job. This...
EllaThe sunlight filtering through my office window bathed the mahogany desk in a soft golden hue. As I perused the documents in front of me, the weight of my current circumstances pressed on me like an unwelcome shroud.I could feel my wolf also getting alert to the situation.How did I get embroiled with the mafia, and more importantly, how could I extricate myself without causing further complications?“No way,” I said, shaking my head. “I won’t be going to a family event with you. Not so… soon.”Logan’s blue eyes narrowed. “It’s not really up for debate, unfortunately,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “Did you think that only you would benefit from the deal?”“Well, no, but—”“But nothing,” Logan interrupted. His voice was firm, but not angry. “Sorry, Ella, but you need to come. I’m not asking. I’m telling you that we have to go. Besides, I already agreed on your behalf.”I couldn’t help but frown. Attending a family dinner with Logan’s clan made me nervous, not only
EllaWe didn’t just stop at one store. No, Logan wouldn’t have it. The shopping center was enormous, and Logan clearly had a penchant for spending money. We spent hours in there, perusing each store.Normally, I didn’t enjoy shopping trips. My dad never really took me on them, maybe once or twice a year we would go out on a shopping day, but Moana was the type to instill in me that money wasn’t everything, and so we didn’t splurge too much. I didn’t mind, though. Her precautions made sure that I never got spoiled, despite the fact that my dad was one of the richest men in the world.However, I couldn’t deny the enjoyment of shopping with Logan. I hated to say it, but he was… fun. Maybe it was the mate bond surreptitiously slipping rose-colored glasses onto my face, but I liked seeing him smile as we perused the stores. I liked hearing his jokes about silly outfits, ridiculously high heels, and hats with all sorts of bizarre decorations on them.He made me laugh.At one point, we found
EllaThe reception was in full swing, the air filled with the soft sound of music, the clinking of cutlery and champagne glasses, and the pleasant murmur of guests. It was the perfect night, too; the sun had set, and the air outside had cooled to a pleasant temperature as the crickets and cicadas sang.Walking hand in hand with Logan, we approached the multi-tiered wedding cake. It was unbelievably tall, adorned with carefully piped flowers and leaves. There were two little figures at th
EllaThe reception hall was filled with the soft, warm glow of hundreds of candles, and the sound of gentle music filled the space. It really was everything that we had wanted. The wedding planner had outdone herself.“What do you think?” Logan asked, holding my hand as we meandered around the room. “Quite the party, huh?”
EllaThe doors to the chapel opened, and the soft sound of orchestral music filled my ears. This was it; this was the moment. Everything felt like it was moving so fast, and yet somehow it felt as though time was standing completely still at the same moment.I watched as the wedding planner gestured from the sidelines for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to pair up and walk through the doors, preceded by the flower girl—a family friend’s daughter, who looked absolutely precious
Ella“Are you nervous, Ella?” the makeup artist, Jenna, asked as she selected a palette of soft, natural colors that complemented my skin tone.Nervous would have been an understatement. It was the morning of my wedding; the day had finally come, after what had somehow felt like both an eternity and no time at all at the same time.
LoganI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the little silver key in the palm of my hand.“I should just go and do it,” I whispered, more to myself than to my wolf. “Get it over with, right?”“What’s the worst that could happen?” my wolf added. “It’s
EllaAs I walked into the bridal boutique with my entourage, the little bell on the door chimed and I was immediately greeted with the scent of lavender and the smile of a bridal assistant.Daisy, Moana, Clara, and Sarah were with me; it was just a couple of days after the housewarming party, and our new house felt full to the brim with my family and Clara staying for a while. Not that I minded, though. It was fun having them here, and I was glad to have them all by my side as I tried on
LoganI was enjoying the party, watching with a smile on my face as Clara, Ella, and Sarah exchanged stories, when the sound of my phone ringing suddenly cut through the lively atmosphere.Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I felt my heart lurch in my chest. It was Hartman; I hadn’t heard from him in months. After Marina and Harry had taken off and Devon had been caught, I had paid Hartman for his help—even though our plan wound up being foiled—and that was the end of t
EllaThe months following Logan’s and my engagement was a whirlwind of change. We sold Logan’s mansion to a wealthy family from out of the area, and before I knew it, we were moving into our new home.It was a 1920s Spanish-style home, with warm stucco walls and breezy windows. The first floor was open concept, and I could already picture all of the wonderful parties we could have here. I fell in love with it immediately.
Ella“Sit down. Both of you.”Sarah and I exchanged wary glances. Her face was just as pale as mine probably was, and I felt a wrench in my stomach.“But Mr. Henderson, Sarah never—”