KARLA Wedding gown, veil, flowers, makeup. It seemed I was staring at someone else in the mirror. It is my wedding day. I lowered my gaze as nervousness kicked in at the realization that this was really happening. I was getting married to Killian Cabello. The Almighty Alpha of Maryland. Fake or not, my life has changed forever. Even if we go our separate ways later, I will always be known as Alpha Killian's ex-wife or his baby mama. No one will see me beyond that, because beyond that, I was just an Omega who was hauled into a loveless marriage because of a debt. We remained silent as Jennifer did the finishing touches on my face. The door flung open, and Ana came in, looking all bright and ecstatic. "You look beautiful," she commented and wrapped her arms around me from behind. I managed a simple smile and was unable to meet her eyes in the mirror so that she would not discover the truth. "Thank you," I replied, turning away from the mirror, and faci
KARLA My heart pounded in my chest with each step Alpha Chase took. I have never seen him in person, but he was nothing less than what people said he was. He was intimidating and had this troublesome aura around him that could knock one’s breath away. His dark, brooding eyes were fixed on me, and I involuntarily clenched my bouquet, hoping the ground could open up so I could go in. Killian quickly pulled me to him possessively as if he was ready to fight whatever Alpha Chase brought to the table. I was not done paying Alpha Chase, and the worst place I would want him to make a show of me or Killian was in our fake wedding. Every eye watched Alpha Chase and his men until they entered the wedding ground. And to my and everyone else’s surprise, he took the row behind. I almost collapsed with relief as he sat. I also scanned the faces of the guests and did not see the faces of the people who would have made this wedding nonexistent. Killian turned to look at me, curiosit
KILLIAN I could not rest from seeing Chase at my wedding. I wanted to know why he was here. I do not remember inviting him, but since he is an Alpha, the bouncers would let him in if he wanted to come. I sent Karla away, once the wedding was over. I made sure she was in the helicopter going to The Cabellos vacation house, where we would be staying for our honeymoon. Jenny had insisted on going there with Karla, to make sure she was comfortable and settled in well and I appreciated it. I slowly made my way towards Chase who was carrying on like nothing was amiss. He was speaking and laughing with his goons while drinking my wine. Angelo, my best friend, was good for nothing. He was busy chatting with nicely dressed women to reckon my predicament. Once I got closer to Chase, he started leaving the room, pretending not to have seen me. I quickly followed, catching Jenny’s eyes as I exited the room. 'Do not let my wife out of your sight,' I told her through mind-link, and she nodded
KARLA My wedding day was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but I guess I was never meant to be happy. My not-so-real-husband left me in the care of his cousin to take me back to the villa where we would have our honeymoon, one I did not even plan for. It was as if we left in a hurry, and Killian would not tell me anything. He does not even regard me enough to go home with me and take care of whatever business he has later. But I was grateful that Jenny, Ana, and Chloe were with me. I would not have been comfortable in the midst of the two hefty men who might die if they smiled alone. Jenny held my hand and squeezed as the helicopter descended into the most extravagant villa I had ever laid eyes upon. "We are here. The Cabellos villa. You will love it here," Jenny said with a distant look in her eyes. "I will miss all these," she added. I narrowed my eyes at her. "Don't say that. You can come here whenever you want. You are a Cabello by birth." She flashed me a sad s
KARLA Jenny stood there staring in the mirror with a tear-stricken face. However, it was not her tears that made me crumble inwardly; it was the baldness of her head. Jenny was completely bald. My legs stayed glued to the ground; I could not go back nor come in further as uncontrollable tears streamed down my cheeks. Jenny sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her palm. “Well…will you stand there all day and look at me, or will you come in here and get what you want?” she asked, not turning to look at me. “Jenny,” I cried, walking towards her and enveloping her in a warm embrace. She held me back and let her emotions overcome her once more. We wept together for a while before she pulled away from me. I was not sure I had cried this bitterly in my life before. My chest was heavy, and she was not even my relative. Jenny was a strong woman. She helped me sit on her bed and consoled me until I got a grip on myself. I have wanted to cry this long
KARLA Dinner went awfully quiet. Sadness hovered over the table like ripe peaches. I was not happy because of what I had just learned about Jenny a few minutes ago. Chloe was moody when she was not playing, and it seemed Ana just flowed with the mood around the table. I was the first to leave the dinner table because I already lost my appetite and picked my food throughout dinner. If I had stayed there a little longer, Ana would undoubtedly have figured out what was going on with me. I told them a lie about having a strange headache, which Ana believed was from the wedding stress. She let me know that she would be leaving for college first thing the following day. When I got to our room, I cried some more before sleep stole me away. The next time I awoke was when Killian came back. I pretended not to notice and worried he would flare up when he sees me in his shirt. I slept off again, sometime when he was in the shower and was awoken again when the other part of the b
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. For the first time since Karla got to know Killian, he was speaking to her like his wife and not some crazy slut. She also noticed the slight change in his behaviour towards her and wondered if the meeting with Alpha Chase could be a factor. Alpha Chase was sad news, and she wondered what he said to Killian at the wedding. Now, Killian's eyes were trailed on her, and since he already assumed she slept with men for money, she knew what was going on in his head. She shrugged casually. "He is the Alpha of my pack," she replied cautiously. "And?" "I already told you; my father owed him before he died. That is the reason I am here in the first place." "There is no other contract between you two." He said it as a statement, but she knew he wanted an answer. He bit into his breakfast. "No. I do not even know him in person. The wedding was the first place I met him. Did... did he say something else?" He chewed his food but shook his
KILLIAN Colby sat quietly across from me in the bar, watching me gulp down one of the several bottles on the table. When he couldn't take seeing me wasted any longer, he grabbed the bottle from me. "Alpha Killian, what happened?" "I have called Angelo; he will be here in a moment," I said, waving him off and searching for another bottle to down. "I am sure if you wanted to speak to Angelo alone, you would never call me. The last time I saw you like this was—" "Stop." I knew what he wanted to say and was not ready to hear it. "What happened at home?" he asked, staring me straight in my eyes. I eyed him and looked away. Sometimes, I wondered how Colby was able to read me so well. It annoyed me, but he always offered me great solutions, especially when Angelo was too busy with his toys to attend to me. "It's Karla," I mumbled loud enough for Colby to hear. "What about her? Is she opting out of the contract? You only got married yesterday
KARLA "Let me get this straight. It was all fake?" Ana asked, staring steadily at me. I nodded, and the expression on her face deepened my guilt. I had been longing to share the complete truth with Ana for quite some time, but I hesitated, fearing she would cause trouble and what Killian might do. So, two days after Killian confessed his love for me and treated me like a princess, I scheduled an appointment with Ana, determined to reveal everything. Ana let out a sarcastic chuckle and averted her gaze. "I can't believe you kept this from me, Karlee." "Ana, I am truly sorry. I couldn't bring myself to tell you due to the seriousness of the situation." I reached across the table to grasp Ana's hand, but she withdrew it. "I am very disappointed in you. How could you hide something like this? I have been there for you since day one. How could you even think of doing that?" "Ana, please, I said I am sorry. It wasn't planned; besides, I know how impulsive you can be.
KARLA I stirred, yawned, and stretched those three to four seconds of morning grace before reality hit me. My eyes snapped open, and I glanced to the other side of the bed, finding it empty. Panic welled up as I recalled the events of the morning after our first night together. Killian was absent from the bed, meaning he was awake and waiting to yell at me for seducing him again. Slowly, I sat up, grateful he wasn't in the room. I threw off the blanket, ready to put on my slippers, when the door swung open, and Killian entered, carrying a tray. His smile stirred my heart, leaving me in awe. I watched, unsure if I was still asleep and dreaming or if I was fully awake. "You are awake, sleepyhead," he said, setting the tray on the nightstand. I was still in shock and merely stared at him. He smiled at me again, aware of my uncertainty. "I made you breakfast; you must be tired after taking care of me last night." I was too stunned to respond. I never thought a day when Ki
KARLA Killian did not return until Jenny woke up. She had gained some strength and insisted on going back to Cabello's house in the city, despite my pleas for her to stay at the villa in the country with me, but she wasn't ready to face Killian just yet and needed to be with Chloe. Jenny assured me she was fine and urged me not to worry about her. One of Killian's men escorted me back to our country house, where our honeymoon was meant to take place. Flora had prepared dinner upon my arrival, but I had lost my appetite due to the day's events, so I headed straight for the shower. As the water cascaded down my body, I recalled the events of the day, especially Killian's emotional breakdown, wondering if our relationship could ever be normal. I couldn't comprehend why he was so conflicted. But I would have to endure this emotional turmoil until our pup was born and had resolved not to expect anything from Killian until after the birth; then, I would move on with my life. I was gratef
KARLA I stood in the corner of the private ward where Jenny was put, watching Killian pace up and down the room, frustrated and furious. I could imagine his surprise finding out that his cousin, whom he loved so much, was dying soon and the hurt he felt that she kept it a secret from him. When he turned to face me, I could swear I saw his eyes glistening. I wanted to reach out, take his hand and comfort him, but I could not get the courage. I was still not sure of our stand after my outburst. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "I... I don't think it was in my place to tell. She wanted to keep it a secret, so—" "Until when?!" he barked, making me flinch. I could not blame him for breaking down like this. I had been shattered, too, when I found out about Jenny's sickness, and Killian had known her all his life. According to Jenny, they grew up together, and Killian saw her as nothing other than a sister. "Killian I am sorry that she kept it a se
KILLIAN "Fuck!" I cursed and bolted from my seat. "I will kill that bastard with my bare hands." "Is everything alright?" Colby inquired, coming after me. I felt like breaking down in the middle of the bar. What was Chase doing with Jenny and Karla? I knew he did not run into them. He followed them; he was stalking Karla and knew exactly what he was doing. "Alpha Killian, can you tell me what is going on?" "That bastard Chase is with my mate and cousin. He has them in his car. I swear, I will kill him if I ever lay my eyes on him. Get the car ready and take me to Graceland." "That is like one hour, fifteen minutes from here." "Do you think I don't know that?" "But you have Jayden following them." I had totally forgotten that I asked one of my men to follow them. Jayden was a strong warrior but couldn't defeat several of Chase's men. As I walked towards the car, Jayden sent me a message. He was updating me on their whereabouts. It turned
KILLIAN Colby sat quietly across from me in the bar, watching me gulp down one of the several bottles on the table. When he couldn't take seeing me wasted any longer, he grabbed the bottle from me. "Alpha Killian, what happened?" "I have called Angelo; he will be here in a moment," I said, waving him off and searching for another bottle to down. "I am sure if you wanted to speak to Angelo alone, you would never call me. The last time I saw you like this was—" "Stop." I knew what he wanted to say and was not ready to hear it. "What happened at home?" he asked, staring me straight in my eyes. I eyed him and looked away. Sometimes, I wondered how Colby was able to read me so well. It annoyed me, but he always offered me great solutions, especially when Angelo was too busy with his toys to attend to me. "It's Karla," I mumbled loud enough for Colby to hear. "What about her? Is she opting out of the contract? You only got married yesterday
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. For the first time since Karla got to know Killian, he was speaking to her like his wife and not some crazy slut. She also noticed the slight change in his behaviour towards her and wondered if the meeting with Alpha Chase could be a factor. Alpha Chase was sad news, and she wondered what he said to Killian at the wedding. Now, Killian's eyes were trailed on her, and since he already assumed she slept with men for money, she knew what was going on in his head. She shrugged casually. "He is the Alpha of my pack," she replied cautiously. "And?" "I already told you; my father owed him before he died. That is the reason I am here in the first place." "There is no other contract between you two." He said it as a statement, but she knew he wanted an answer. He bit into his breakfast. "No. I do not even know him in person. The wedding was the first place I met him. Did... did he say something else?" He chewed his food but shook his
KARLA Dinner went awfully quiet. Sadness hovered over the table like ripe peaches. I was not happy because of what I had just learned about Jenny a few minutes ago. Chloe was moody when she was not playing, and it seemed Ana just flowed with the mood around the table. I was the first to leave the dinner table because I already lost my appetite and picked my food throughout dinner. If I had stayed there a little longer, Ana would undoubtedly have figured out what was going on with me. I told them a lie about having a strange headache, which Ana believed was from the wedding stress. She let me know that she would be leaving for college first thing the following day. When I got to our room, I cried some more before sleep stole me away. The next time I awoke was when Killian came back. I pretended not to notice and worried he would flare up when he sees me in his shirt. I slept off again, sometime when he was in the shower and was awoken again when the other part of the b
KARLA Jenny stood there staring in the mirror with a tear-stricken face. However, it was not her tears that made me crumble inwardly; it was the baldness of her head. Jenny was completely bald. My legs stayed glued to the ground; I could not go back nor come in further as uncontrollable tears streamed down my cheeks. Jenny sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her palm. “Well…will you stand there all day and look at me, or will you come in here and get what you want?” she asked, not turning to look at me. “Jenny,” I cried, walking towards her and enveloping her in a warm embrace. She held me back and let her emotions overcome her once more. We wept together for a while before she pulled away from me. I was not sure I had cried this bitterly in my life before. My chest was heavy, and she was not even my relative. Jenny was a strong woman. She helped me sit on her bed and consoled me until I got a grip on myself. I have wanted to cry this long