AlexisGlow Baby was nothing short of luxurious. Sensual, with lighting that teased the senses. McKenzie's reviews promised a space focused on feminine pleasure, healing, and empowerment. A retreat for women recovering from battered relationships and marriages, a place where they could relax and reconnect with their inner selves. When we parked, I silently thanked whoever owned the place for creating something like this. It was more than a strip club.Outside gleamed with glass walls trimmed in gold. The name Glow Baby flashed in neon letters, inviting us in. We went to the door and sat in the cozy lounge on velvet chairs. The receptionist, after booking us in, handed us personalized welcome gifts. Hungry, I popped a chocolate into my mouth and flipped through a magazine while they prepared our treatments.The first stop was a sound bath. I had seen ASMR videos of these online but never experienced one in real life. The deep tissue massage, the manicure and pedicure, the facials—ever
AlexisThe moment the words left my mouth, it felt like a knife cut through my heart, slicing my breath short and leaving me unsteady. Calling my mate a murderer felt like I had committed a huge sin. But it was the truth—or at least, I needed to believe. Trusting Alex over Byron didn’t seem possible. Byron, despite being an asshole for most of our marriage, was still my husband and father of my child. Why would he lie about his brother killing someone?Alex stood there, quietly watching me. He didn’t react the way I expected. Instead, the silence stretched, leaving me feeling exposed. My gaze dropped to the floor, avoiding his eyes. I looked everywhere but at him. And then, he did the last thing I expected—burst into loud laughter that echoed around us, filling the space. It caught me so off guard I flinched. What the hell was he laughing at?He tucked his hands into his pockets, still chuckling. “Honestly, I would’ve been surprised if your husband hadn’t pulled that move. It’s exa
Alex I leaned back against the wall, watching Alexis walk away. Her words replayed in my head, like a broken record, hours after she'd left. She called me a murderer. The woman who was supposed to be my mate, my other half, stood by the man who was everything she should fear. Rage simmered beneath my skin, but beneath that, I pitied her. If she only knew the monster, she slept beside. Byron wasn’t just a bastard—he was dangerous, capable of horrors she couldn’t even imagine. If she knew, she'd run so fast that her shoes would wear out before she stopped. Yet, she played the doting wife and acted like her life was perfectly normal.It was pathetic. Alexis was blind, letting Byron pull her strings like a puppet.One day, she would see what Byron was—dangerous, vile, and manipulative. And when that day came, she'd realize how wrong she was. She'd run, and she'd need me. She'd have no choice but to rely on me. By hook or by crook, I’d pull her from Byron’s clutches. Byron was a tick
AlexI arrived at Byron’s house earlier than I intended. The driveway still looked empty, but at least Uncle Blake and his fiancée, Angela, were chatting in the garden. That would make things slightly less awkward.Byron greeted Uncle Blake first, but the moment his gaze landed on me, I saw the brief flash of heat before he masked it with that well-practiced smile."Brother," he said, stepping forward with open arms, voice dripping with fake sweetness. "So good to see you could make it."The bastard was already putting on a show."I didn’t invite myself," I shot back with a dry smile. "But I figured I’d show up so no one accuses me of being petty.”"Good, good, good," Byron said, clapping me on the shoulder, the grip just tight enough to make it clear he was trying to establish dominance. "I’m glad you’re here. The coronation rituals are starting soon. Father’s retiring, and it’s time for me to step up as Alpha and take the family business to the next level. I’m going to be a prime ex
Alexis Despite the evening chill in the garden, my body betrayed the cold. Beads of sweat clung to my forehead, gathering faster than I could wipe them away. My shimmery gown stuck uncomfortably to my body as I shifted from foot to foot. Sweat trickled down my temples, sliding along the curve of my jaw. I pressed my lips into a thin line, trying to make sense of the twisted thoughts swirling in my head. From across the room, I watched McKenzie laugh and act all buddy-buddy with Alex, as if they'd known each other for years. It grated on my nerves. What the hell did my sister see in him? Couldn't she at least believe me, her own blood?The party’s lively chatter buzzed around me, but all I could focus on was kicking McKenzie out. I wiped my brow again, only for more sweat to take its place.Money—what a disgusting motivator. Some females would do anything to get close to it. They would sell their souls for a designer bag or a pair of shoes with a red sole, stack their closet with Bi
AlexisByron had the nerve to think he could insult my intelligence and fool me into believing he'd turned over a new leaf. Ha! Deep down, I was numb to this betrayal because he’d been fucking Kiara the entire time we were married. Hell, our honeymoon? A complete joke—he didn’t even bother hiding that he spent the whole week with her. Our honeymoon was supposed to be a romantic getaway and a celebration of newlywed bliss. But Byron turned it into a slap in the face from day one. We arrived at the luxury resort I had only dreamed of visiting, and he lodged Kiara into the same building. The first night, after giving me the insult of my life, he left me alone in the honeymoon suite. By the second day, he wasn’t even pretending anymore. He didn't bother showing up for dinner, leaving me to stare at the fancy three-course meal meant for two.And then came the ultimate insult. While I lounged by the pool, I saw Byron and Kiara strolling along the beach. I remember sitting there, my hea
Alexis I drove for about fifteen minutes before reaching the border. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and I kept swiping the wipers to clear the blurry windshield, desperate to see better. The border was a fortress of thick brick walls stretching endlessly in either direction. The walls stood at least twenty feet high. There was no way to see outside the border unless you stood on higher ground, perched on one of the distant hills. Even though members of the pack had free entry and exit, my nerves buzzed with fear. I glanced in the rearview mirror, adjusting the black wig I had found in the car. It was an old one, probably from when McKenzie used to cosplay. She’d always been obsessed with anime. The wig, a black bun with bangs, barely fit over my head, but I added a scarf for good measure. The guards wouldn’t recognize me, not with this disguise. Even if they knew Byron’s wife, they wouldn’t recognize this version of her. One guard stopped my car and leaned in, flashing his lig
AlexI didn’t know if it was a gut feeling or something deeper, but I decided to join the hunters tonight. Then, the surveillance I had placed in Byron's house triggered my instincts that Alexis needed help. I almost left the house, ready to ditch my phone like I usually did when hunting, but a ping stopped me. A text from Igor, one of the few people I trusted on my team, flashed on the screen: Alexis seems up to something. Our source says she left with the boy. She's heading toward the border."Byron, you dumb bastard," I muttered, abandoning my plans for the night. I knew Byron well enough, and my gut told me something was about to go down. I left my car parked at a bar near the border and shifted into my wolf form, charging toward the scene at full speed. The guards at the border were notorious for their cruelty, especially toward women, and I couldn’t let them get their hands on Alexis. When I arrived, my blood boiled at the sight of her—terrified, crying—and Valen, wide-eyed w
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
Alexis Celebrations dragged into Day six as the women prepared for the bride's farewell. It was a union of my closest friends and the female members of the groom's family, symbolizing the merging of two lives and two households.It was a lot—the singing, clapping, laughter, and loud chatter. I just wanted it all to be over. Also, I was waiting for Gianna. She was my only real friend in this sea of acquaintances and had been noticeably absent since morning. Most of the other women were packmates, staff from the fashion house or social climbers I couldn’t care less about.I made my way to Gianna’s door, knocking, but there was no answer. I pushed the door open to find the room empty and walked away. She would show up eventually.Women lined up outside for the procession, clapping and singing traditional songs. I stood at the center with a smile playing on my face as they all led me to my home, carrying gifts and boxes filled with clothing, jewelry, and other items that had been piling
Peter I felt a little guilty for not checking on Lisa or my mom. But I chose to be with Gianna, the woman who hadn’t even bothered to tell me where we were going or spare me a single glance to make sure I was following.The drive was drenched in silence, so thick it felt like an extra passenger. I sat in the passenger seat, stealing glances at her like some lovesick fool. She was so damn beautiful, but her death grip on the steering wheel told me she’d rather wrestle an alligator than let me know what was on her mind. Her laser focus on the road was borderline comical—was she worried that even looking at me might result in a full-blown catastrophe?I wanted to say something to break the silence, but a small, self-preserving voice in the back of my mind screamed, Don’t poke the bear. One wrong word and I’d be walking home. When the car finally came to a stop, I looked out at the building in front of us. A large sign hanging above the entrance read Wisteria Psychiatric Hospital.My mi
Peter I lay on my side, watching Gianna. The soft rise and fall of her breathing was the only sound that mattered. Her face was turned slightly toward me, and I couldn't tear my gaze away. A content smile tugged at my lips as I took in every detail of her face as if committing her to memory. After all, I had no idea if this could ever happen again. Her dark red hair spread across the pillow. My fingers ghosted softly over a lock of her hair, careful not to wake her. It felt like silk between my fingertips—smooth and seductive, just like the rest of her body.How could someone be this beautiful?Her face, with the delicate freckles dotted across the bridge of her nose, seemed even softer as she slept. They were like tiny stars, unique and perfectly placed—different from the chaos she often stirred in me when she was awake. I tucked a strand of hair carefully behind her ear. I didn’t want to shatter this perfect moment—she looked like an angel. An angel with a sharp tongue and zero pa
Gianna My steps faltered. Peter, of all people, was standing right in front of my door, leaning casually against the wall. It made my heart do a strange somersault in my chest.I stopped a few feet away, trying to steady my voice and nerves.“Are you lost or something? Why are you standing in front of my door?”He lifted his head slightly, and a devilish half-smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.“More or less.”I frowned, though I was struggling to keep my expression neutral.“Please step aside. I'm exhausted, and I want to sleep.”Liar, my mind mocked me. Despite the firmness in my voice, my insides were turning to mush. The intoxicating scent of my mate was wild and clouding my thoughts, causing desire to crawl deep inside of me, even as the bond tugged mercilessly.“It’s a wonder how you sleep at night.”I blinked, taken aback by that statement. “I do sleep. Why would you even say that?”He took a small step forward, and I stepped back.“Because I don’t,” he said, his voice dro