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Ninety-Seven

last update Last Updated: 2024-12-13 15:03:43

Alex

I woke up to find Alexis curled up at the far edge of the bed, as if the mattress itself had offended her. She was clinging to the very edge, one leg practically dangling off. If she moved an inch further, she’d end up on the floor. I sighed and reached over, pulling her closer before she could complete her escape attempt. She stirred a little but didn’t wake, her face still etched with an uneasy expression even in sleep.

I adjusted the duvet over her and stared at her face. She looked so peaceful, yet haunted at the same time. Her brows furrowed slightly, as though she were battling something in her dreams. This past month had been a living nightmare for both of us, and I was relieved that, for now, we had a moment of calm. She deserved this break, even if her subconscious didn’t seem to agree.

Then she mumbled something incoherent, her lips barely moving. It made me smile, but when her eyes fluttered open and she yawned, my grin widened. I leaned over her, half-serious, half-te
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    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

  • My brother-in-law is my mate   Twenty-Three

    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

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    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

  • My brother-in-law is my mate   Twenty-One

    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

  • My brother-in-law is my mate   Twenty

    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

  • My brother-in-law is my mate   Nineteen

    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

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