EllaThe evening was unusually cool, and the air held the crispness of an impending storm. As I walked along the periphery of the yacht, the cool breeze gently teased my hair, whispering secrets of the sea into my ears.The yacht itself was magnificent, a true testament to wealth and extravagance. Every inch sparkled, reflecting the soft glow of the moonlight.Pulling my jacket tighter around me, I inhaled deeply, allowing the salty air to soothe my frazzled nerves. The party below deck had long since gone quiet, but the lavish bedroom I shared with Logan was no respite, either. I needed a break, some time alone to collect my thoughts.The sky was painted with the inky blue of dusk, and the horizon seemed to stretch endlessly before me. I walked to the edge of the yacht, leaning on the railing, and felt the coolness seep through the metal into my palms. Below, the ocean waves kissed the side of the boat, whispering its secrets to anyone who would be willing to listen.As I looked into
EllaThe dark alcove where the stranger had pulled me offered a deceptive sense of security, but every fiber of my being screamed danger.Before I could make sense of how I knew this man, his fingers tightened around my wrist, and his other hand came up to rest on my lips, silencing any potential scream. The soft glow from a distant chandelier created a play of light and shadow across his face, emphasizing his intense gaze.My wolf growled inside of me, a low rumble of warning that vibrated through my core. “Fight,” she whispered, urging me to attack the stranger and make a break for it. I could feel my muscles tensing in preparation, every instinct primed to obey the primal voice inside my head.But just as I was about to make my move, a hauntingly familiar voice echoed down the corridor, freezing me in my tracks. Harry and his men. They were headed our way.“...don’t know why you trusted him in the first place,” one of the men sneered.“That’s why he’s dead now,” came Harry’s voice,
Ella“Yes, Logan,” I said with a heavy sigh, “it’s the same guy. The man from the park.”Logan's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. “This isn’t good, Ella.”Logan’s response left me somewhat taken aback. “What do you mean?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “He helped me, maybe even saved my life, twice. Shouldn’t that be a good thing?”However, Logan was silent for a moment, shaking his head. I watched as he sank down onto the edge of the bed, holding his head in his hands for a few moments.“What is it, Logan?” I asked, taking a tentative step forward.Logan finally looked up at me. When he did, his face was serious. “Ella… It’s one thing for a stranger to step in and help you once, but twice? Especially in these circumstances?”“So?” I asked. “I mean, sure, I’m also a bit wary of his connections here… but it does feel like it’s just a coincidence. And a beneficial one, at that. Surely not everyone at this party was part of the mafia—”“No, they’re not,” he said
LoganThe morning light filtering through the porthole was far too harsh for the tenderness of the moment.I was drawn from my slumber not only by the bright sun peeking in through the window, but also by the sensation of movement beside me. Blinking against the invading light, I saw Ella pull away from our embrace. She was already up and looking for her clothes.As the morning sun painted the room in soft golds, I pretended to be still lost in sleep, though my attention was entirely on Ella. I watched her silently move about the room, engrossed in her thoughts.The oversized t-shirt she wore—one of mine—hung loosely on her, reaching mid-thigh and billowing gently as she moved. The contrast between the starkness of the shirt and her delicate frame was strangely endearing. Stray strands of her almost white hair cascaded over her shoulders, adding a touch of unruly elegance to her appearance.It was a side of Ella I rarely saw—vulnerable, natural, utterly beautiful. The corners of my mo
EllaThe familiar scent of mahogany and fresh ink greeted me as I walked into the firm, but something felt different that day.It wasn’t a physical change in the surroundings, but a shift in the atmosphere—the type of shift that instantly lets you know you’ve become the topic of whispered conversations.Conversations halted mid-sentence, eyes diverted, and the atmosphere grew noticeably cooler. Jane from the legal research team was suddenly very interested in her coffee cup, while Peter from corporate had suddenly taken an intense interest in his shoe laces.My inner wolf, always keen and alert, sensed the discomfort instantly.“It’s because of Logan”, she growled softly in the back of my mind. “It’s because of him and your association with him.”I gave a forced smile to Diane, the receptionist, trying to brush off the internal chatter of my wolf and the external coldness of my colleagues. “Morning, Diane,” I greeted cheerfully, though I could feel the strain.“Ella,” she replied, her
Ella“Your mother?” I asked, shooting Logan a quizzical look. “What does your mother have to do with this case?”The weight of Logan’s gaze was palpable as he began to speak. “The land... it’s more than just an asset, Ella.”His voice was soft, yet there was an undeniable intensity lurking beneath. I leaned forward, genuinely intrigued. His usually unreadable face hinted at vulnerability, a side of him I had yet to see.“My mother used to own a shop there,” he started, pausing as if gathering his thoughts. “It was her pride and joy—a little sanctuary away from the chaos of the world. It was the last piece of independence she had.”I watched him closely, the atmosphere thickening with every word. “Your mother? But I thought she was always... well, with your father.”“She was,” he replied, hesitating slightly. “But before the overwhelming demands of our family took over, she had that little shop. My father made her leave it behind. She missed it every day.” Logan’s fingers tightened on
EllaThe early morning mist hung low in the air as I approached the courthouse. Its grand stone steps and impressive facade were familiar to me now, having spent countless hours within its halls.However, today was different. Today, the weight of the impending trial pressed heavily upon me, making each step feel just a bit heavier.It had been a month since Logan told me about his second case. A month of hard work, of stone walls and questionable morals. No matter how much I tried to convince him to reconsider his stance on the case, he wouldn’t budge.And eventually, I gave up.Before I reached the grand entrance, a figure leaning against one of the building’s pillars caught my eye. Logan.Even from a distance, the tailored fit of his suit accentuated his stature, and I had to admit, he looked especially handsome. His posture was relaxed, hands buried deep in his pockets, but there was a tightness in the set of his shoulders, a hint of unease that I hadn’t seen before.Over the last
EllaThe familiar rap of the gavel echoed through the room, announcing a brief and sorely-needed break.“We will resume in fifteen minutes,” the judge declared, eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of objection.Logan and I quickly retreated from the central floor, seeking a quieter corner of the bustling courthouse.The weight of the recent testimonies bore down on me. My head was full of images of the struggling tenants, their tales of hardship, and most of all, the young boy with Leukemia and his resilient mother.But it was the mask of indifference Logan wore that disturbed me the most.The courthouse buzzed with activity as people got up to take their breaks, but in the midst of the chaos, I found a small, secluded alcove in the stairwell. The hushed voices and distant murmur of conversations created a curtain of white noise, but it was quiet enough for what needed to be said.I motioned for Logan to follow me, and although there was reluctance in his stride, he didn’t resist. A
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—”