I adjusted my mask, the velvet soft against my skin. Chase stood beside me, his eyes hidden behind his own mask. The tension between us was palpable."Ready?" he asked, his voice detached.I nodded, my heart heavy.As we descended into the night, I slid my hand into his. It was a facade, a show for the other Alphas.Chase's fingers didn't intertwine with mine, but he didn't pull away either.The grand ballroom was a sea of masked faces. I recognized some of the Alphas, but their mates were unknown.We mingled, Chase conversing with ease. I kept my responses curt and polite.Alpha Ryder's mate, a tall blonde, approached me."You're quite... fragile for an Alpha's partner," she said scornfully, her voice dripping with condescension.I smiled sweetly."Thank you for noticing. I've been working on my delicate features."Chase's lips twitched, but he said nothing.Another Alpha's mate, a petite brunette, tried to intimidate me."I see you're human. How quaint.""My humanity is what makes m
I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess clouding my mind. Chase's face hovered above me, concern etched on his features."Elodie, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice soft.As our gazes met, his expression shifted. The concern melted away, replaced by indifference.I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me. Chase's hands grasped my shoulders, steadying me.I also noticed in was in a fresh pair of clothes, but that was the least of my problems at that moment."Easy," he said, his voice detached.My mind began to clear, memories of the previous night trickling back.The masquerade ball, Vivian's venom, the mysterious power surge... and that voice.I shook my head, dispelling the thoughts."Chase, what happened?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper."You fainted," he replied, his expression neutral."Alexander brought you back here."I tried to swing my legs over the side of the bed, but Chase's grip tightened."Where are you going?" he asked."I need to thank Alexander
Three weeks had passed since our return from Greece, and the silence between Chase and me had become a living, breathing entity. It wrapped around my heart, squeezing the life out of me. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of loneliness, with no lifeline in sight.Chase was rarely home, and when he was, he didn't speak to me. His absence was a palpable weight, crushing me beneath its oppressive force. I wandered the empty halls of the mansion, searching for a glimpse of the man I once knew. But he was gone, replaced by a stranger who treated me like a ghost.The maids and staff attended to my every need, but they kept their distance, walking on eggshells around me. I couldn’t tell if it got worse, or if I just hadn’t noticed just how bad it was because I had Chase.Their hushed whispers and nervous glances made me feel like a fragile, broken thing. I longed for human connection, for someone to talk to, but even their kindness felt forced.My days blurred together in an endless cycle o
_Chase’s POV_As I stood under the scorching shower, the water pounded against my skin. I had purposely set the heat too high, hoping it would burn the guilt away, but it failed to wash away the anguish that had been festering inside me for weeks. My eyes burned, my chest ached, and my mind raced with thoughts of Elodie and our fractured relationship.The memories of our laughter, our adventures, and our quiet moments together now seemed like a distant dream. Our love had been a flame that burned bright, but now it was reduced to smoldering embers, threatening to extinguish completely.I couldn't shake off the feeling of desperation that gripped me. Elodie's words still lingered in my mind: "You look tired." A simple phrase, yet it cut deep. I felt exhausted, drained by the weight of our unspoken words, unresolved issues, and the darkness within me.As I dried off and crawled into bed, Elodie's presence taunted me. Her proximity was a double-edged sword. I yearned for her touch, yet k
The darkness outside seemed to seep into my soul, casting a shadow over my thoughts. Sleep eluded me, despite the late hour. A sense of restlessness had taken hold, refusing to release its grip.I paced through the empty halls, my bare feet making barely a sound on the marble floor. The silence of the mansion seemed oppressive, weighing me down. I felt trapped, suffocated by the stillness.My mind wandered, searching for the source of this unease. Was it Chase's distant behavior? The tension between us? Or something more?I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. A nagging sense of unease lingered, like a whispered warning in the wind.As I walked, my feet carried me toward the windows, where the moonlight cast eerie shadows on the floor, and I wrapped my hands around my robe, pulling it closer to my body.The clock on the wall ticked away, each passing moment amplifying my anxiety. My heart raced, my thoughts swirling in a maelstrom of emotions.Fear, anxiety, and unce
I woke up to the warmth of Chase's body beside me, his hand wrapped snugly around my torso. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to face him, expecting to see an empty space, a familiar absence. But he was still there, his chest rising and falling with slow, deep breaths.For a moment, I forgot to breathe. Forgot to think. Forgot everything except the man lying beside me.His face, even bruised and battered, was breathtaking. The morning light streaming through the windows highlighted the sharp angles of his jaw that now housed light stubbles, the curve of his lips. I reached out, my fingers tracing the contours of his face, lightly touching the wounds that marred his skin.He was beautiful, even in pain.My fingers lingered on his cheekbone, feeling the warmth of his skin. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him, who could have inflicted such harm.As I studied his face, I felt a flutter in my chest. It was a feeling I'd grown accustomed to ignoring, but in this moment, it
I lay in bed, my gaze fixed on the door Elodie had stormed out of, my mind reeling from the intensity of our encounter. The air still vibrated with tension, her scent lingering like a warm embrace, calming the beast within me.My wolf, who now remained dormant except when Elodie is in sight, now stirred. The primal energy coursed through my veins, urging me to claim what was mine.Elodie's proximity had brought back all the feelings I thought I could suppress. Desire. Longing. Love.The emotions swirled, a maelstrom of conflicting needs.I wanted her.Needed her.But she was slipping away, and I didn't know how to stop it.Why did she look after me?Why did she still care?I had wronged her, and if she had decided to look the other way while I was in pains, I honesty wouldn’t have blamed her.And why couldn't I let her go?The questions haunted me, taunting me with their ambiguity.Just as I thought I'd lost control, my phone shattered the silence.Gideon’s name flashed on the screen.
_Chase’s POV_I stood frozen, my gaze locked onto the unthinkable scene before me. Vivian was entwined with another werewolf, their half-naked bodies pressed together in a scandalous position, and I knew it would only be a few seconds before he would be sticking his rock hard shaft inside of her.Surprise slammed into me like a freight train, followed closely by anger. How could she?But as I processed the image, relief seeped in, cooling my heated emotions. I wasn't tied to her anymore.I cleared my throat, announcing my presence.The two sprang apart, their eyes wide like deer caught in headlights.The low-ranking werewolf bowed hastily and scurried away, abandoning Vivian to face me alone.Vivian's expression transformed from shock to pleading, her eyes welling up with tears."Chase, please understand—""Understand?" I repeated, my voice low and menacing. "You're asking me to understand?"Vivian's hands reached out, grasping for me, but I stepped back, evading her touch like she wo