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 closeness was stifling. The proximity of our bodies, the heat radiating from Logan, the intensity of his gaze—it was all too much.The moment we stepped away from each other, a fresh wave of cool air seemed to sweep through the dimly lit stairwell. I could feel the flush on my cheeks, a stinging reminder of just how close we had been.I swiftly adjusted my blazer, using the action as a pretext to collect my thoughts. Glancing at Logan, I shot him a dirty look.“Logan, if you ever get that close to me again, trying to use your body to intimidate me or whatever it was you were doing, I swear, I’ll rip our contract to shreds and refuse to work with you again.”He raised a brow, his features sculpted, his piercing eyes still locked onto mine. “Intimidate you? Ella, I wasn’t trying to intimidate you.”I scoffed. “Oh, please! What would you call it then?”He took a deep breath, his jaw clenching as he searched for words. “I can’t help it, Ella. I’m an Alpha. It’s... it’s instinctua