Third POVAnna looks at the earring in between his thumb and index finger, lost at first and ignorant to what he is talking about. Then, like a keyboard clacking the memory right back into her brain, she remembers Ellie's intimate story about how she had sex with a stranger in a hotel room.No way.Anna looks at the Alpha King the way a male patron will espy a hooker for the night.Ah, so you are that wonderful male who made her climax all night right?The truth comes out like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, and Anna is no fool to let it fly away without catching that which is real.She is about to tell him that the earring does not belong to her, when she stops herself. Austin has brought her here for one reason. To ascertain if she was the wearer of the earring. Telling him that she isn't the girl he had a one-night stand with will just make him look at her as insignificant once again. And for once, she means something to him.Plus, just look at the man. Handsome and good-lo
Ellie's POVDancing with Ethan is just for show, no feelings whatsoever for him do I feel. Once I notice that Austin has seen me dancing with someone else, I pull away from Ethan and move outside to the pool. I want the fresh air to clear my head.I sit on one of the reclining beach chairs, and as expected, Ethan joins me. He is holding two cups of something in both hands. Offers me one which I refuse."What's wrong, Ellie?" he asks, squatting to my height.I sigh, wondering why the hell I can't be left alone. "Can you do me a favor, Ethan?"His ears perk up when he hears the word 'favor'. Of course, the lover boy will do anything for me. Even if it means letting me tear his heart out and write my name on it."Whatever it is, Ellie," he says, dropping the cups on a nearby table and giving me his whole attention."I would very much like to get out of here.""I can take you someplace," he says quickly.I shake my head. I don't want to give this one any ideas. "Not just any place. I want
Austin's POVThey say the truth will set you free, but I know that, in this case, it is a lie.I can't tell Ellie that Anna was the woman I had sex with back at the hotel. With the way she is behaving now, once I pile the information on her, she'll probably go berserk.But another truth is that I don't feel anything for Anna. She's just a normal girl on the block. Dancing with her was just my way of telling her that our one-night stand must have been a mistake.She doesn't seem excited about remembering that night even. Like it's a memory she wants buried. She's more focused on me and what I have to offer.Why any lady would want to forget such an experience baffles the daylights out of me.Ellie and I don't talk anymore like we used to. Sometimes, it's just the usual greetings. Other times, it's the silence. When I ask how she is doing, her replies are terse and always to the point. She doesn't ask me back.I instruct my butler to talk to Ellie. He comes back to tell me that Ellie ha
Austin's POV"Ellie?" I call out.The clinging and rattling of bottles stop. It's her. She takes a step back, and straightens. Turns to look at me.I'm frightened at who I see in the kitchen light. Ellie's eyes are red and swollen. I move closer to her. The lines are as visible as the line of a pant underneath a tight skirt. Her face is all smeared with snail lines of tears. Running from her eyes down south like tyre tracks, are black eyeliner marks.I look her over. Notice the slight shaking of her body, which graduates into a dangle.I interpret that she's already drunk, and she's trying so hard to keep her composure in control so I don't notice.But I do.I don't even have the mind to ask her what's wrong anymore. I don't think it will matter even. What will she tell me? Some confounding story in her state of drunkenness?I close the distance between us and Ellie falls into my arms.Ellie struggles desperately to keep her eyes wide open but the effect of the booze in her system and
Third POVThe smoke rings form a circle in the air, and if it were not for the fact that she is swimming with booze, she would have thought that it was a picture of her pudenda.The thought infuriates her so much that she stabs the cigarette out in a tray.She had heard the news of Anna and Austin's engagement, as announced by that cunning snake, Devonshire. What the hell were they thinking going to the press with something like that? As far as she is concerned, it cannot be possible. She has tried so hard to get Austin back, all through the years, and what does she get?Nada.Nothing.She has beauty, she has class, she has soul, she has an accommodating pussy, everything a man like the Alpha King will want. But he doesn't want any of these from her. Instead, he leaves her and goes to pursue the ones who should be referred to as remnants. Bottom of the food chain. Or something much more preposterous.She wonders if Austin might be doing all of it just to make her jealous of him. Well,
Third POVA tall guy, who looks twice Ellie's size, stands up from a chair."Oh, welcome fellas, we have been waiting for you."Ellie's eyes roam around the welcoming committee. Counts six bloodsuckers. It's easy to identify them because of that smell of blood. Like metal. Like sucking on a coin. They are all dressed in dark clothing. And right on a table dripping with blood, is someone, who doesn't look part of the gang."That's our guy," Jaden clarifies, like he's reading her thoughts.Tall Guy crooks a finger at the body, pouts. "Oh, beauty goddess over here? Had to take care of him. Cover our tracks. Before people like you start finding things out.""What have you got to do with this?" Ellie demands.Another pout. Ellie takes a wild mental guess that he must be gay as well."What's this?""Anna's death.""Oh, Anna Devonshire's?" He scoffs. Looks at his men. "We had a good time with that one, did we not?"They chortle. Mumbles of agreement flood the Magnificent Six. Tall Guy wiggle
Third POVAustin gives Jaden a serious stare and walks out of the room. Gets in the backseat of the Range after Ellie and shuts the door."Cruel, right?" Austin asks again, like that was a mistake and he's expecting Ellie to correct herself.But she doesn't."That's what I said.""Don't be ridiculous, Ellie. How come you abscond to go stay with some guy in his house for two days?""I did not abscond to stay at Jaden's place for two days. It's not even two days. And I was helping him out."Beta comes in and starts the engine. Puts the car into drive."Helping him out with what?" Austin demands."None of your business," Ellie snaps."Beta, goddamn move this vehicle!"Dutifully, the driver adds pressure to the pedal. Austin decides that he won't say anything to Ellie during the drive. It's better they get home first. Though, he can't stop himself from stealing glances at her. But she doesn't return any. Just stares out the side of her window.The Alpha King wonders if Ellie is trying to
Third POVEllie knows that Austin is wrong about Jaden and her. He is always wrong about her personal life, but she doesn't even understand why he still tries so hard to get involved.Why come to the table if all you have to offer are condemning insinuations that make no sense nor convey any atom of truth?The look on Ellie's face is lost on the Alpha King. He watches as a tear crawls down her face like a gecko stalking an insect prey."Isn't that what you want?" he demands.When Ellie tries to vent her disapproval and disappointment, words choke in her throat like a knot has been tied around her voice box. She feels the hurt clench her throat, dissipates down and across her upper half that she begins to shake like a child whose brain has been taken over by jaundice.She sobs.And the quakes break her down. Piece by piece. When she cannot take it any longer, Ellie pushes forward and runs out of her room. She doesn't bother to shut the door this time."You can run all you like, but you