I blink the water out of my eyes. Before I could even start to panic, Darren had saved me, and I’m taken aback by his speed. I mean…from that distance, is it even possible for him to move that fast?And the way he’s holding me, it’s like I weigh literally nothing to him. I know I am not the thinnest
I dry off and put them on, the overwhelming smell of them enveloping me. It reminds me of a campfire, almost. The clothes droop across my small frame, the size obviously much too big for me.I leave the bathroom, a bit self-conscious, and I’m greeted by the sight of Darren standing in his private of
“Oh, I just… bought this shampoo, randomly.” I say, trying to explain myself. Is the smell of his shampoo really that strong? “Maybe he has a similar brand?”“Really? What do you buy, then? I’ve been meaning to switch out.” I try to recall what the exact gel bottle looked like when I took a shower e
“It, well, it might’ve been a mistake.” He explains poorly.“Obviously.” Darren sighs before his back straightens. “The idea has merit. I’d like the department to focus on implementing Aria’s concept, fleshing out the logistics and details. I’d like this figured out by the end of the week.” Darren i
Darren POV“She’s certainly already made a splash here, hasn’t she?” My Beta remarks as he lounges in the chair across from my desk. I look up from my work to acknowledge what he’s said, and the topic does grab my attention.“Indeed,” I can’t help but agree. The rigid hierarchy of werewolf society h
“If you really missed me, you’d get divorced.” Aria spits out.“C’mon, don’t be like that.” The man says. “I don’t care about her as much as I care about you, you know.”“Were you ever going to tell me, Jackson? That you were married?”“I was going to leave her, Aria. I can still leave her! The only
Aria POVJackson’s at a loss for words, which is rare for him. Jacksin always has some stupid bullshit to say, and I’m impressed that Darren’s somehow managed to render him speechless. I lean into his touch, feeling confused but also slightly satisfied.“Whatever,” Jackson says as he begins to take
“No, absolutely not.” Darren said, his tone stern. “Whatever gave you that impression?”“I dunno if you noticed, but, if I could be candid…” I hesitate before letting out a sigh and staring at him head on. “Your employees don’t work. None of them have started the project I proposed, and they’re all
I glared at him. “I’m not planning on starting anything.” “Your wolf says otherwise,” he remarked. “I can practically feel the tension rolling off you.” I tore my gaze away from Aria and the panther shifter, focusing on the ice melting in my glass. Maybe he was right. “It’s none of my business.”
Darren I swirled the amber liquid in my glass, watching as the dim lights of the ballroom reflected off its surface. The masquerade was in full swing—lavish costumes, ornate masks, and the hum of meaningless chatter filled the air. These events were never my scene, but as the CEO of Lunar Labs, I
Bella put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Aria. We’ll figure something out.” “But—” Just then, a smooth voice interrupted. “Is there a problem here?” We turned to see a tall man approaching, his dark suit impeccably tailored. His mask was sleek and black, covering half of his face but revea
Aria We’d been at this for hours now, primping and prodding in preparation for the masquerade tonight. Bella was like my drill sergeant, commanding me to don this color eyeshadow, smear this lipstick shade across my lips, spray just the right amount of perfume. It felt like we were teens again, ba
“Sarah,” I greeted coolly. “What brings you here?” She eyed the bags in our hands, noticing the mask peeking out of mine. “Shopping for the masquerade, I see? How… quaint.” Bella arched an eyebrow. “And what’s wrong with that?” Sarah let out a mocking laugh and checked her nails. “Oh, nothing.
Aria “Come on, Aria! This one is perfect for you!” Bella exclaimed, holding up a floor-length emerald gown that shimmered under the thrift shop’s dim lighting. I laughed, shaking my head. “Bella, that dress would make me look like a sequined asparagus.” She burst into giggles. “Yeah, but you’d
Bella raised an eyebrow. “Are you?” “No!” I exclaimed. “Well, maybe. I don't know. Darren and I talked about it, and he admitted that he might have been a bit... lenient with me.” “Hmm,” she mused, swirling her wine. “Well, at least he acknowledged it.” “Yeah, but it’s more complicated than th
Aria I hesitated for a moment but then nodded, following Darren as he led me to a fallen log near the edge of the clearing. He sat down and gestured for me to join him. I sat, but kept a small distance between us. “Listen,” Darren began, “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said the other ni
Tracy frowned, genuine concern etched into her face. “Oh no, that wasn’t my intention at all. I just thought she was checking in on you, maybe worried about your workload.” I sighed, once again feeling at a loss for words. Tracy seemed genuinely apologetic, even if it was unprofessional of her to