Alexis The Campbells gathered at Grandma Alice's house, and Byron acted like he'd already been stripped of his power. He kept pulling at an earlobe and directing a burning stare at the ground while his father tried to assure him that everything would be fine and that he would speak to the High Priestess. The living room felt like a frozen battlefield. Every corner was charged with a silence that was both cold and suffocating. Byron’s face twisted in a sulk. His disqualification knocked his ego down a peg, and here I was, expected to sit loyally by his side like some well-trained puppy. Loyal wife, supportive spouse—right, I was ticking all the boxes. Only my body had other ideas, leaning ever so slightly away from him as if the air between us couldn’t handle his inflated self-importance. If I leaned further, I’d be sitting in another room. My hands rested on my lap as I stared at my chipped nails, indicating that I needed a manicure."Dad, you have to do something," Byron kept sayi
Gianna's hand clenched and unclenched. She had a desire for vengeance and wanted to hurt someone, to see blood. Her annoyed glare was fixed on Byron. He pleaded with his parents, desperate for them to take it easy with her. She shifted her weight to one leg as her eyes flickered from Byron to his parents. In her mind, she analyzed them. Byron was a fool for calling on his family to beg her.Her gaze landed on Alpha Jacob, the self-proclaimed puppet master who always strutted around as if he held the world by its strings. He wore that smug, all-knowing smile that said he was leagues above everyone else, a true “man of the people.”Gianna could practically hear the fake laughter he’d offered anyone he thought he could use, flashing that insincere charm while plotting how he could turn their lives into pawns for his gain. When he glanced at Gianna, it was with this high-and-mighty look as if she ought to be thanking the moon goddess for breathing the same air. Gianna had to bite her ton
Byron stepped into the tiny changing room, barely glancing at the neatly folded surgical gowns stacked on the counter. As he peeled off his clothes, his gaze landed on the mirror, where a brutal, unfiltered reflection of his own hesitation and humiliation stared back at him. He took one reluctant glance downward, and there it was his disfigured testicles. His worst nightmare and a reminder of the failure he couldn’t hide. Every fluorescent light overhead highlighted each flaw, and every bit of pride stripped away as he stood there exposed.“Damn you, Alex,” he said under his breath. “Damn you a million times.”A small locker on the side held his personal items, where he placed his folded clothes, wallet, and phone. He slipped into the surgical gown, hating its thin, scratchy texture. It made him feel exposed. The medical personnel moved in the hallway. His parents stood by, offering gentle smiles and words of encouragement. His father's hand reached for his shoulder, squeezing it ge
AlexisAlex thrust into me like a starving dog with all the ferocity of a man who had been starved for months on end, and it didn’t take long before I felt another orgasm coming as he ground himself deeper and harder into my wet heat. It was hot and rough all at once, but with it came something wild and free that made everything that followed blissfully beautiful.He tasted like honeyed whiskey, and his tongue was so wet and strong that I never wanted this moment to end—not even when his hard cock pushed out of me."Go on all fours. I love watching your ass bounce on my cock."The low command had an immediate and overwhelming effect in making me jump up off him immediately and do what I was told without hesitation or complaint, letting him lay his heavy weight on top of mine, pinning me down so my back was flush against the bed. His legs were on either side of my hips, locking me in place between them He grunted softly every now and then. I bit my lip hard and sucked in sharp gasps b
Alex The bass pounded so hard it felt like my heart had synced with the speakers. I could see Alexis wincing slightly at the chaos of the club. She was so clearly out of her element. The flashing neon lights didn’t help either, painting the discomfort on her face in waves of pink and blue. Her hand found mine in a grip so firm she was holding onto a lifeline.“Are you sure I won’t be spotted here? Imagine the scandal—a married woman sneaking out with her husband’s brother.”I smirked, enjoying the ridiculousness of the scenario. “You seem to forget that Byron and I look identical. If anyone sees us, they’ll think he finally grew a personality and took you out for once. But trust me, no one’s paying attention. It's too dark, and most people here are too drunk to notice.”Her lips twitched in amusement, but the tension in her posture didn’t ease as I led her through the crowd. The flashing lights danced across her face, making her hesitation almost endearing. We reached the bar, and I
Alexis My eyes fluttered open, squinting at the faint morning light seeping through the curtains like it was trying to blind me. My head pounded in relentless waves.Who the hell drinks and clubs on a weeknight?Oh, right—me. And Alex. The self-proclaimed king of bad ideas. If not for him dragging me into that pit of flashing lights and questionable beverages, I’d still be asleep like a responsible adult.I tried sitting up, but the pounding in my skull intensified, turning my simple movement into an act of pure self-sabotage. My fingers pressed against my temples as I groaned, and every breath was accompanied by a queasy roll in my stomach.“Never again,” I muttered with the conviction of a liar, swinging my legs out of bed. The world tilted slightly, and I grabbed the door handle like my life depended on it, bracing myself against the betrayal of my own body.Stumbling toward the kitchen, I used the walls as crutches, silently cursing Alex under my breath. I yanked the fridge door o
Alexis After that very uncomfortable encounter with Byron at the hospital, I was summoned to see the property manager where the fashion store was located. It was sad to use the word "was" for something I used to be very proud of. Thinking about it just made my muscles tense and a feeling of heaviness that wouldn’t leave. I entered the office, and the person in charge attended to me. The proxy manager sat behind a large desk and leaned forward after he had flipped through some paperwork. I sat with my hands clasped tightly in my lap, answering the questions quickly."No one was injured," I said when he asked. He wrote that down. "Do you know if someone might want to hurt you?" he asked.I shrugged, responding neutrally as I tried not to give away too much. My gaze darted to the clock on the wall. "Oh, shoot," I said, losing my balance as I calculated the time and distance. It was already past school hours, and I was pushing it.The manager dismissed me, promising to give us a call. O
Alex The bitterness burned in my chest, eating away at my restraint. Hearing my son speak about that bastard with such love and adoration felt like a knife twisting in my gut. A little boy’s innocent words shouldn’t have this much power to wreck me, but they did. It wasn’t Valen’s fault, though. It was Byron—the lying, manipulative prick who had stolen my life, my family and my place.I clenched my jaw. The muscles in my face were tightening until they ached. Showing my feelings wasn’t an option. I swallowed the bitterness, but it tasted foul, like bile clawing its way up. I turned my head away from Valen, pretending to focus on nothing in particular. If I didn’t, the raw pain in my eyes might betray me. The weight of Alexis's gaze on me didn’t help. She always knew, even without me saying a word.I wanted Valen to look at me the way he looked at Byron, to call me "Dad" with that same deep affection. I wanted to hear that title from him, not directed at the man who had no right to
Gianna Peter and I sat across from each other in the quiet room. The only sound between us was the rustle of tissue in my hands. I sniffed, wiping my nose and feeling the remnants of my earlier breakdown.Peter crouched in front of me with a smirk creeping onto his face.“Look at you,” he said softly. “I never pictured you to be so emotional.”“Oh, shut up,” I muttered playfully, tossing the crumpled tissue into a nearby trash can.“Come on, big girl, hug it out,” Peter said, spreading his arms wide. Unable to resist, I chuckled and closed the gap between us. His arms wrapped around me, warm and secure, pulling me into a hug that felt like home.I let myself melt into him, breathing his scent and relishing the quiet strength of his embrace. His hands cradled my face, and his lips were on mine before I could say anything.The kiss was soft and unhurried, carrying a passion that made my knees weak. His eyes were filled with sincerity when he pulled back.“I’m falling in love with you,
GiannaMy chest caved, and I couldn't maintain eye contact with Alexis and Alex after Peter had dropped that bombshell about us being mates.The tent felt suffocating, and his words kept ringing in my ears: Gianna and I are fated mates.The silence in the room was so thick, like the awkward cousin at a family reunion—uncomfortable and making everyone wonder who would break the silence first.My eyes darted to everyone's reactions. Alexis stood still, her eyes dimmed with shock. Alex looked utterly perplexed, his gaze bouncing between Peter and me as if waiting for someone to yell, Gotcha!Lisa's shock was the loudest. Her face paled, and her lips parted as though she were going to scream, but instead, she let out a low gasp followed by a horrified look. Peter's mom stared at her son, her face slack with shock.And then there was Peter. His eyes burned with the fire of someone ready to fight for what he believed was his, and he held my hand, ready to shield me from whatever backlash mi
Peter My nostrils flared with anger, and my heartbeat pounded. Lisa screamed trouble ever since the moment she stormed toward us. It was one thing for her to feel the silent talk of abandonment ever since I met Gianna, but this was an explosion I hadn't seen coming.Her voice, like nails on a chalkboard, grated on my ears. I'd never seen her like this—loud, volatile, and uncouth. She was a far cry from the sweet girlfriend I knew her to be—or maybe I hadn't known her as well as I thought.My anger wasn't from the embarrassment, for I didn't give two flying fucks about these people here except for Alexis. My rage was because Lisa made Gianna appalled. She looked away and rubbed her hands against her clothing as if trying to rid them of something. She would have done that if she had the power to melt into the shadows and disappear. Anger bubbled under my skin at how mortified she looked."Why would a high-class lady like her want anything to do with you?" Lisa asked. "What could you po
Gianna The reception hall buzzed with life. Laughter, cheers, and the over-enthusiastic guests filled the space. The older ones munched on their food while the younger ones danced on the floor, gyrating to some recent hit from the live band.Leaning against one of the columns, I sipped on a glass of sparkling water. Alexis didn’t need me anymore, and my legs almost gave way from standing in my ridiculous heels for hours. I had since changed into flats and let my poor toes breathe.A smile crept onto my lips when my gaze landed on Alex and Valen dancing together. The sight of father and son tugged at my heart, and I was genuinely happy for Alex. The little one had been giving him such a hard time for months.Watching them now, with pure and cheerful laughter ringing out and the pride on his father’s face, made me smile. Alexis had found her happiness, and she so deserved this perfect moment.“What’s a beautiful woman like you doing standing by herself?”I turned my head to find Louis,
AlexisThe morning of day seven arrived like a whirlwind, filled with nerves that hung heavy in every cell of my body. My room was a chaos of curling irons, foundation brushes, and bridesmaids humming around me like bees.Despite my usual nonchalant attitude, I couldn't deny how anxious I was. It tightened around my chest and shocked me. For someone who had always claimed she wouldn't be bothered by society's expectations, today felt different, and I wanted everything to go right.Already feeling cranky because I had been awake since 4:00 AM, I was mentally ticking off every item on my checklist while the hairdressers and makeup artists were doing their thing. Gianna was helping some of the maids steam the bridal gown and the bridesmaids' dresses.“You look like a queen already,” Gianna said as she walked past me. She perched on the edge of the bed with a grin, trying to distract me. Then she leaned closer and whispered, “What’s the first thing you’re doing after this whole circus is
Lying in Peter's arms felt like I had just entered heaven. His heartbeat thumped steadily beneath my ear, and I rested my head on his chest. His fingers traced lazy circles on my back, lulling me into a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years. For once, my worries seemed like distant shadows, temporarily banished by his warmth.“Is this what you were trying to give up? This bliss?” Peter teased, breaking the comfortable silence.I sighed and tilted my head to look up at him. His eyes sparkled with mischief, but I could see the sincerity beneath. He pleaded with me, silently asking me to see the world as he did.“As much as I enjoyed our little…session,” I began with a teasing lilt, “things aren’t as straightforward as you think. There are stakes we need to overcome.”“Like what?” he challenged, raising an eyebrow. “Because right now, I can’t think of a single thing worth ruining this for.”“For starters, your girlfriend,” I said, sitting up and pulling the blanket closer around me.Pete
GiannaPeter kissed me and lifted me into his arms when we entered my room. It was a kiss to end all kisses, a soft press of lips to lips. I melted instantly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing myself as close to him as possible. He held me tight against his body, and his lips moved gently against mine, tasting each dip and curve. A moan escaped my lips as his hands trailed down to rest at the waistband of my dress. His fingers slid under the hem and slipped along the smooth skin of my thigh, causing my knees to buckle."Fuck, Gianna. You're perfect. No wonder everyone wants to be in bed with you," he murmured, his breath hot as it brushed against my cheeks and neck before burying his head between my breasts.I ran my hands down his chest until I reached the buttons of his shirt and unbuttoned them before sliding the garment from his shoulders. The cool air hit my heated skin, causing goose bumps to rise. I wrapped my arms around Peter's waist and pressed my mouth eagerly
Gianna The party was in full swing, and I tried to blend into the background. The room was lively and filled with laughter, and I did my best to stay out of the spotlight. My eyes wandered to the far side of the room, where Oscar was talking animatedly to a girl. He was leaning far too close, flirting with her in his typical style. I rolled my eyes. The spoiled brat didn't deserve an ounce of my energy, and the only person I felt pity for was the girl who must be thinking she had hit the jackpot.Alex's boisterous voice cut through the crowd and pulled my attention. He was standing beside his bride and gesturing dramatically. "Seriously, look at her. She's the most beautiful woman in this room," he declared, earning a round of applause, chuckles, and whistles from his friends."Alex, you are super hyper and happy. Can't you see how Alexis is subtle because she knows your flattery is not a big deal to her?" one of the guys said, but Alex waved him off."You better not be fooled by tha
GiannaThe wildlife reserve stretched out in front of us. It was an endless expanse of greenery dotted with open fields and enclosures for animals. I loved the smell of fresh grass, but initially, when we got here, I was skeptical. Peter forced me to stay. I wasn’t much of a wildlife enthusiast, and the idea of spending my day surrounded by animals wasn’t exactly thrilling."Trust me, you will have fun," Peter had said, and I rolled my eyes.But as we ventured deeper into the reserve, his infectious excitement began to chip away at my reluctance. I gasped when I saw zebras lying lazily in the distance. A few giraffes towered over the bushes, stretching their necks gracefully to nibble on the leaves of acacia trees."Look at that one," Peter said, pointing at a particularly playful baby giraffe galloping awkwardly beside its mother. "Reminds me of how I was as a kid."I suppressed a small laugh. We moved to an enclosure where a family of meerkats stood upright, peering cautiously at us