The clanking of the chains synched with the deep, piercing cry of the man swinging from it. The room was pitch dark, with no trace of light. The man was stark naked, had brutal gashes running from his face down to his body, and his face was swollen beyond recognition. He was a horrid sight, and his cries were growing weaker with each fleeting second.Ghost sat a few inches across him, fiddling with the gun in his hands. His expression was darker than usual, and something about the continuous whimpering of the man irked him."You wanna know what you did wrong, Rasta?" He asked with a gruff, looking up at the man dangling from the chains."Ye–ye – yes," Rasta mumbled amidst his whimpering. He could barely form the words as his lips were badly swollen."Mehnn, I don't know either. You could say I was bored, needed a bit of entertainment, and you were the perfect choice," Ghost taunted with a chuckle — a hoarse, throaty chuckle."Please…" Rasta cried out, taking fast and shallow breaths.
34 With the speed of lighting, Ghost was up and had rounded the table, slamming Sergio's head on the table and keeping it down firmly with his hand, squashing it against the rough surface of the table. "If I say tread carefully, you should know it's about to get fucking dirty, asshole!" Ghost rasped, taking out a dagger and impaling it right into Sergio's thigh. He let out a thunderous yell, struggling with all his strength to break free from Ghost. But he could only try. He was no match for Ghost's steel-like hold, especially when he was in such a monstrous mood. "The only reason this dagger isn't cutting off your fucking cock is because you didn't fuck her. I made sure to ask before coming down here." "What the fuck is your problem, man?! She's just a slut!" Sergio cried out, still squirming. His leg was oozing blood. "Now, that's where you're wrong," Ghost breathed out rashly, grabbing a handful of Sergio's hair. "She's not a slut. Not 'your' slut. She's mine." "Yours? What t
35."I don't get it, man. Why did I have to come with you?" Scar asked as he stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut. "Because I need you. Ciara is a fucking, unstable werewolf and a pain in the arse. I need your help to keep her down and keep myself sane. Or she just might drive me nuts." Ghost retorted as he locked the car with his key.He slipped his hands into his pockets, taking coordinated steps on the path that led into the building. They got to the elevator and he pressed the button."I still don't get it." Scar shook his head, after a while of thinking. "What exactly will I be doing? I mean, if you're gonna be fucking her…" He paused, grinning sheepishly.Ghost frowned at the smirk on his face. "What?""I think I finally do get it." Scar chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows. "Get what?""You wanna do a threesome? Want me to join in your hot fuck session that might go down tonight?""Have you lost your goddamn mind?" Ghost seethed, clenching his fist."Dude, it was a joke.
36. Scar scoffed in disbelief, moving closer to Ghost. Surely, he must be kidding when he said those words."Dude, you can't push her that way. What if she does it?""Go wait outside, Scar." Ghost ordered, refusing to look at him. He needed some bit of privacy to handle her."You sure?" Scar was hesitant, and he glanced at Ciara who had the knife still aimed at her wrist. There was no telling if she was really gonna do it or not. But Ghost was certainly not handling the situation rightly either. They both seemed to have lost the better part of their senses and leaving them alone would be detrimental. Still, he could never defy Ghost's orders. No matter how unreasonable they were."Take it easy, man. Please." It was all Scar could say before leaving the apartment. "So what's it gonna be?" Ghost cleared his throat, strutting further into the room. He was keeping his distance from her, but he was alert. Just in case she tries to jump out the window or do one of her crazy, wolfy shit.
37The first few stirs from her sleep and Ciara was feeling the heavy rays from the sun beating on her face. With a tug, she pulled the duvet up to her chest. Her hair was tousled on her face, and she sleepily ran her fingers through them. Sitting up, she took a glance around the bedroom. Having a few seconds of relapse, she wondered where she was. But then she recalled and let out a mournful sigh.Dread rushed through her nerves as she checked her side. To her relief, he wasn't next to her. And she didn't feel like he had done anything to her last night. It was both relieving and unnerving. He'd boldly admitted that he was gonna make her his plaything. Didn't he mean sex, or was there another hidden meaning to it?The noisy water-flushing sound from the bathroom almost got her jumping off the bed. Just then, she sniffed up the intense scent of his cologne and almost went into a panic.He stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, and another raking through h
38"Not without my permission?" Ciara repeated. It sounded too good to be true. His boss did rape her and he seemed like he would too when he took the knife from her and viciously stated his intentions to her face.She had expected the worst from him last night. Till this moment, she still couldn't believe that he didn't touch her. "Yeah." Ghost nodded. His lips stretched into an almost smile. "Sounds unbelievable, right?""Yeah. You said you were gonna make me your plaything. You made that clear —""Yeah, I did. But I need your consent for that." He said.Ciara arched her brow. He chuckled briskly, brushing his fingers over her neck. She sucked in a harsh breath at his touch. "Let me rephrase that…you need to beg me to fuck you, for me to do it.""What?" It was funny and ridiculous. She never begged anyone in her life to fuck her. Except Ryder. Why the hell did he think she would? "I'll never do that…""Yes, you will. I'll make sure of that. And it's only at that point that I can t
39Standing on the driveway, Ryder watched the black car pull into the sparse compound of the Packhouse. Dressed in a loose shirt, shorts, and black sneakers, with dark shades over his eyes, he was almost in sync with the other warlords standing next to him. They were dressed just like him but in different colors. The car stopped and they waited patiently for whoever was inside to step out. And he did. Only then did Ryder let go of his taut look and broke into a full-blown smirk. Giveon alighted the car, with a duffel bag in his hand. With a grin, he approached them, hugging Ryder. The other warlords, Fred and Jay, patted his back and they were all in random chortles."Good to have you back, man." Ryder was grinning from ear to ear. He had been so worried. Seeing Giveon had just given him a bit of chill."It's good to be home." Giveon broke off the hug, smiling at the warlords. Jay took his bag away from him, offering to carry it."How did it go?" Fred asked, impatiently. "Did you
40The deafening silence was interrupted by footstrides. Hara and Tiffany had just excitedly joined them on the patio but immediately recognized the cold silence."Giveon. Good to have you back." Hara smiled, giving him a warm pat. Then she stepped over to Ryder and her brows arched. "What's wrong?""Nothing—" He was gonna lie about it, but at the same time, he didn't have enough balls to. With how crazy it sounded, he needed as many calm heads as possible to make sense of it. "Tell me, Ryder. What's wrong?" Hara hugged him, hoping to melt away his resolve. She did. Seconds later, he was clearing his throat. "Giveon has some news for us. Uh—" He looked over to the guys, hoping one of them would bail him out and say the words instead. But they didn't seem like they wanted to. So he continued. "Okay. Uh — he met Jason and Ciara. And, uh — Jason could hear Ciara's thoughts." "What?" Hara was shaken. Just like the others. "What does that mean?""There's just one explanation for that, i
“Did she sanitize this?” Ranya asked, wearing a puzzled look as he stretched the empty paper towards Valerie. She took it and brought the blank sheet to her nose.She coughed slightly, perceiving a deeper scent than expected. “It’s sanitized, sir. The card is too,” she replied, handing the sheet back to him.He accepted the blank sheet, bewildered by why she would send it along with his keys.“Sir, are there any threats of any kind? Should I inform the police?" Valerie asked, watching her boss intently. She couldn’t help but wonder what business he had with the lady in shades.She did not say anything when she arrived because Mr. Windsor had already informed her that a lady would be returning his card, and she was to take it.“I thought I gave her a week?” he asked, walking into his office, scanning through the sheet in his hands to see if she left any hidden message. Valerie watched her boss walk away with surprise overly written on her face. She had never seen that look on him before
“Mr. Ranya Windsor,” Damian said confidently as he walked towards Ranya, his face no longer masked with anger but replaced with a smile. Ranya looked up from the system as the well-dressed man in a blue suit approached his table.“You’re not kidding me, are you?” Ranya asked, gesturing towards the system on the table. “This is a cafe, not your office.”Ranya scoffed loudly, shaking Damian’s outstretched hand, and whispered, “The last time I checked, we were supposed to meet for work. I agreed to this cafe meeting because I know you brought him with you. I can only avoid unnecessary drama by choosing to meet in public.”Damian laughed and took a seat across from his friend. Damian Lillard was Ranya’s cousin, and he chose to work for him due to his political agenda. Being the Prime Minister’s personal assistant had many advantages for a politically minded person like Damian.“I see you’re avoiding questions about Vivian,” Damian remarked, staring intently at Ranya, whose expression turn
The beeping sound of the elevator distracted her thoughts yet again.She vividly remembered the first time she had come here. The elevator had opened, and she had walked out, feeling repulsive with each step she took towards the apartment.After entering the passcode, the one he had asked her to choose three months into the contract, he had wanted her to have access, warning her always to wear a nose mask whenever she visited. Those rules she had adhered to diligently over the years.The door beeped, and it opened. She pushed it open and as she stepped in, the familiar smell of him hit her sense of reasoning, and for some minutes, she felt like breaking down.He had made it clear that it was a contract. A contract with no strings attached. It was so unfair she had to feel this way, and with determination, she decided she was not coming back to his apartment again.The living room was extremely spacious and lively. It used to be gloomy and depressing until she couldn’t bear its emptine
“You’re not doing that, are you?” Emily asked, her voice a little high-pitched, as they were currently in one of the biggest lounges in Texas.She owned a lounge called ‘The Place.’When she decided to name it THE PLACE, Calista laughed out loud, wondering why she chose such a weird name for a bar. What she didn’t know was that her friend actually meant it; she wanted everything to stand out, including the name.Emily’s smartness caught her attention when she went to a friend’s party in college. She knew just how to attract the right person, and her friendly gestures towards everyone captured her attention.“How did your family take it?” Emily asked, nodding her head at the loud music. “I mean, it will be a lot, given the time frame.”“I didn’t give them enough time to process it, Emmy. We’re moving out the day after tomorrow, and that’s it.”“I kind of find you cruel,” Emily added, her voice sounding displeased. “You can’t snatch off a life because you’re afraid he might not come loo
Echoes of the Past“Ranya,” Vivian called impatiently. “I’m sorry, but I can’t refuse. Yang proposed to me, and you expect me to turn him down?”“Vivian, please,” Ranya begged, holding her wrist pleadingly. “I promised I would be so good to you. I would take over Father’s company if that would make you stay. You can’t leave me.”“And to think you thought I was leaving you because you were still struggling is annoying. I’m telling you this because I don’t want you to see it in the news. I love Yang, and I’m marrying him!”Her voice echoed in his head, especially the last word. Now she’s back, and he’s still hopelessly in love with her. The reason he couldn’t move on or open his heart to another was because of her. She had returned, making many promises never to leave.A slight knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. He turned slightly towards his secretary, who silently walked in and dropped a file on the table.“The prime minister booked an appointment, sir,” she announced, steppi
Bargaining with FateThree Years EarlierCalista stood before the imposing doors of the Windsor Law Firm, her hands trembling in the cold air of the waiting room. Her father’s future hung in the balance, and Ranya Windsor was her last hope. Lila, her father’s colleague, had assured her that he could help.The firm was one that loan sharks found quite intimidating. She desperately wanted to save her father from jail, not only because her family name and image would be tarnished but also because she couldn’t bear to watch them take him away. She knew he was not responsible for the allegations imposed on him by Lewiston Corporation.“Miss Calista MacQuoid, Mr. Windsor will see you now.” The receptionist’s voice jolted her back to the present. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, her eyes meeting the icy gaze of Ranya Windsor for the first time.“Don’t mind his cold demeanor when you meet him. He can help you.” Lila’s voice echoed in her head as she walked into the room, the recepti
Fading Echoes of DesireThe weather was nice and fair, especially after the heavy downpour the previous day. There was nothing to worry about as she made her way to the massive building belonging to one of the wealthiest bachelors in Texas, Ranya Windsor.Three years ago was the first time she had visited this place. She was in distress, desperately seeking a way to prevent her father from going to jail. She was troubled and extremely poor. But today, she held her head high, feeling a sense of belonging as her heels made resounding steps toward the receptionist. Despite being a law firm, the building felt more like a suite for people of high status.“Good morning, miss,” the blonde receptionist greeted, smiling sweetly at her. The last time she was here, the receptionist had a curt expression, unlike the friendly one now.“Good morning,” Calista replied, giving her a smile that lit up her face. “I have an appointment with Mr. Windsor.”The receptionist nodded and checked her system fo
EpilogueCiara crouched below and peered into those sad grey eyes. She pulled at his cheeks playfully, "Asher, don’t you just look dashing?"He tugged at his bow-tie and began to whine.Hara walked by carrying a huge cake that shielded her face, "See Asher, Aunt Ciara thinks you look handsome in that shirt. I agree with her."Ciara chuckled. It had been more than a year and a few months since she moved back to the pack, and it was more than she expected it to be. She had felt so much raw pain when Ghost was driven away in that car. She didn’t have a clue of what she was supposed to do. It was just like the first time she ran away from the pack, confused, exhausted. She had known the pack all her life, grown up here, made friends here. Suddenly she had to run from it, from her safe haven, from everyone she knew. Somehow she had managed to pick up the pieces of her life, find some sort of balance, and then Italy happened. She lost her freedom, lost the reins over her life, lost her happ
In a heartbeat, Ghost swung his arm towards Sergio and pressed the trigger. Sergio didn’t have time to react, his face was frozen in shock as the bullet sliced through the air and into his forehead. Before his men could react, Ghost pulled out another gun from inside his shirt and fired at them.Scar was firing from two guns from behind. Ryder leaped into the air and transformed into a wolf, tearing through the remaining men, ripping them apart. His paws with sharp claws sliced through the air as he sunk his teeth into the neck of one of the men, snuffing the life out of him instantly.Three other men emerged from behind the shadows, dragging Ciara, Hara, and Blair.Hara and Ciara exchanged a look, and on Hara’s cue, they elbowed the men in the groin. Ghost fired instantly, and Ryder jumped on the man holding Blair, knocking him off. He tossed him to the side, and Blair ran towards him, pulling him into a hug. He wiped her tear-stained cheeks with his nuzzle. Hara joined in on the gro