RavenI stood in front of the mirror, my reflection staring back at me. Today was the day I would return to Black Stone Group, not as the dutiful wife Emerson expected, but as a woman with a plan. My hair was neatly styled, and my makeup was flawless, every detail carefully crafted to present myself as the perfect, composed wife of the Alpha. But beneath this polished exterior, a storm brewed. This wasn’t just about showing up for work. It was about plotting my revenge, learning Emerson’s secrets, and slowly tearing down the world he thought he controlled.I fastened the delicate gold necklace around my neck, its cool weight a reminder of the role I was playing. I needed to play this smart—act the part of the high-profile wife while moving silently, unnoticed, as I dismantled the foundation Emerson had built.There was a knock at the door, and I turned to see Emerson standing in the doorway, coffee in hand. He gave me a soft smile, the kind of smile that once would have melted me, but
RavenThe buzz of conversation and the clatter of footsteps slowly faded into the background. My mind raced with thoughts of what I had just learned, the threads of my plan slowly knitting together. But before I could fully settle into my thoughts, Marcus cleared his throat beside me. There was a certain seriousness in his expression that immediately caught my attention.“Raven,” he said, his voice lowering slightly as we walked down the long hallway. “There’s something I need to discuss with you. Something important.”I raised an eyebrow, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. Marcus had always been the voice of reason, the mentor who guided me through the toughest moments. If he was bringing something up now, it meant he thought it was critical. I nodded, indicating for him to go on.“Emerson spoke to me,” Marcus began, his voice careful and deliberate. “He mentioned that he’s noticed a change in you, something that’s been bothering him for a while. He’s concerned, Raven, and as
RavenThe tension was suffocating from the moment the car pulled into the driveway. Clark had driven me home in silence, his face betraying nothing, while I was lost in my own storm of thoughts. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I saw Emerson and Lila arriving at the same time. Great. I barely had time to prepare myself for another exhausting interaction with Emerson.I barely made it two steps toward the door when Emerson rushed to me, grabbing my arm more forcefully than I would’ve liked. His eyes were pleading, yet there was a desperation beneath them that I couldn’t quite place.“Raven,” he said, his voice low and strained, “we need to talk. Privately. We barely had time to speak at the office, and—”I yanked my arm from his grasp, glaring at him. “I don’t want to talk, Emerson.”Before I could walk away, Clark stepped in between us. His broad frame blocked Emerson from reaching me again, and his voice was calm yet firm. “If she doesn’t want to talk to you, Emerson, then you sh
Raven The cold night air still clung to my skin as I made my way back toward the house, each step heavier than the last. My thoughts were tangled, my emotions raw from everything that had happened. The moonlight illuminated the path before me, but it didn’t soothe the storm brewing inside my chest.As I approached the house, I saw a figure standing just outside the door. Clark. He was waiting for me, a heavy blanket draped over his arm, and a bottle of water in his other hand. I stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding with a mixture of irritation and confusion. Why was he here?“You’re freezing,” Clark said softly, stepping closer and offering the blanket. “Take this.”Without a word, I accepted it, wrapping the thick fabric around my shoulders. The warmth was immediate, but it didn’t thaw the coldness lingering in my heart. I took the bottle of water from him, my throat parched after the run. As I drank, my eyes unconsciously drifted upward, landing on Emerson’s window.There he sto
RavenThe next morning felt like a dull blur. The early rays of sunlight barely managed to seep through the thick curtains in my room, casting a soft glow across the floor. It was supposed to be a new day, a fresh start. But everything felt bland, muted, like the vibrant colors of life had drained away, leaving only shades of grey.Clark had left for work without a word. No lingering gazes, no witty remarks, no attempts to provoke me like he usually did. He had simply walked out of the house, leaving an unsettling emptiness in his wake. Strangely, it hurt. The silence, his absence… it shouldn’t have, but it did. At the same time, it made me feel better—relieved, even. Perhaps this was what I needed—a little distance from him, from the tangled mess of emotions he stirred within me.As I got ready, I tried to shake off the unease clinging to me. I couldn’t afford to dwell on Clark, not when my mind needed to stay sharp, focused on the real goal. Emerson. Lila. My revenge.Downstairs, I
Clark What was I thinking?The question kept circling in my mind, gnawing at me, replaying in an endless loop since the moment I’d made that stupid attempt to kiss Raven yesterday. I rubbed my jaw, the faint sting from her slap still echoing like a bitter reminder. What the hell was I even doing? I was supposed to be focused on my plan—on why I had come back in the first place. But one look at Raven’s sharp beauty, her captivating presence, and I’d lost my head, completely thrown off course.Her words still echoed in my mind, a stern warning to stay away from her, to respect her space. It wasn’t just her voice—it was the look in her eyes, that cold, hardened gaze that sent a chill through me. She meant every word.And what did I do? I made it worse. I made advances at her like an idiot, knowing full well she wasn’t in the right headspace for it. Hell, I wasn’t in the right headspace for it. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how reckless and impulsive I’d become around
ClarkI packed my files into my briefcase, my mind still replaying the earlier events of the day. The lingering feeling of Raven’s slap, the tension between us, and the way I couldn’t shake her from my thoughts weighed heavily on me. I needed to focus, needed to remember why I had come back in the first place. But it was hard, especially when every time I closed my eyes, her image flickered back into my mind.The door creaked open behind me, pulling me from my thoughts. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Marcus Greer. The man’s presence was like a shadow that never left, always hovering in the background, always watching.“Clark,” he greeted in that calm, measured voice of his. The kind of voice that made people listen, made them respect him. But not me. I didn’t respect Marcus Greer, not one bit.I turned to face him, forcing a neutral expression. “Marcus. Something on your mind?”Marcus closed the door behind him, his gaze sharp as he walked further into the room. He w
ClarkBy the time I got home, exhaustion had taken its toll. The day had been long and filled with tension, and I could feel the weight of it bearing down on me. I headed straight for the dining room, the faint clatter of dishes and silverware guiding me.As I approached, the scene before me felt like something out of a bad drama. Emerson sat at the head of the table, staring blankly at his plate, while Raven, across from him, toyed with her food in silence. Lila, of course, was seated nearby, her presence a constant thorn in my side. The quiet was heavy, and I could feel the tension the moment I stepped into the room.“Clark,” Emerson acknowledged without looking up, his voice tired. Raven didn’t even glance in my direction.I took a seat, feeling the need to break the ice. “I owe you an apology,” I said, looking directly at Emerson.That got his attention. He set his fork down and raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for me to continue. Raven’s eyes flickered to me, though she remaine
RavenAfter the long day, my head was buzzing with everything Marcus had said. His words lingered, echoing in my mind as I drove to Ava’s apartment. He was right—this wasn’t just about the business anymore. It had turned into a game of power, and I had to decide whether I was going to play or be swept aside. But that wasn’t all that weighed on my mind. Clark. Luca. Emerson. My life had become a tangle of lies, betrayal, and secrets. And I was right in the middle of it all.When I arrived at Ava’s, she greeted me with her usual sharp smile. There was something about her that had changed since we first started working together—she was no longer just my confidante. She had become a formidable partner, a woman who could handle any situation thrown her way. She was fierce, and I needed her now more than ever.“Long day?” Ava asked as she poured me a glass of wine, her eyes flicking over me with a knowing look.“You could say that,” I replied, sinking into the plush chair by the window. “Ma
RavenI woke up to the soft rise and fall of Clark’s chest beneath my head, the warmth of his arms wrapped tightly around me. For a fleeting moment, everything felt right—like this was where I was meant to be. I stretched slightly, careful not to disturb him, but even with the softest of movements, his eyes fluttered open, a sleepy smile spreading across his face.“Morning,” he murmured, his voice deep and husky.“Morning,” I replied, my heart fluttering at the sight of him so relaxed, so… perfect. But I couldn’t let myself get lost in this. Clark was dangerous. Not in the obvious ways like Emerson or even Lila, but in the way he made me feel. He had a way of breaking down every wall I built around myself, every bit of resolve that I held onto.Still, I couldn’t regret what happened last night. It had been a release, something I desperately needed. But I also knew it couldn’t happen again. Not like this.Clark seemed to sense my thoughts, his arms tightening around me as he whispered,
Raven**WARNING—STEAMY SCENES AHEAD**The moment Clark kissed me again, deeper and more passionate than before, I felt my heart race in my chest. This time, there was no hesitation, no lingering doubt. Just raw emotion and need, swirling between us, pushing us toward something inevitable.Before I knew it, his strong arms were around me, lifting me effortlessly off the ground. My breath caught in my throat as he carried me toward his room, the hallway blurring in my peripheral vision. My heart pounded with anticipation, excitement, and maybe a little fear. But none of it was enough to stop me.As soon as we were inside, Clark set me down gently on the edge of the bed, his eyes dark with desire as he looked at me. My chest rose and fell with each shallow breath, my pulse racing beneath my skin. Neither of us spoke; words weren’t necessary. Instead, he began to undress me, his fingers brushing against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.I was trembling, not from fear, but from the i
RavenPeace. That’s all I felt as I sat by the window, watching the sunset fade into the horizon. With Emerson and Lila gone on their business trip, the house was finally quiet, devoid of the tension that always seemed to fill the air when they were around. It was almost like a burden had lifted from my shoulders, one I hadn’t even fully realized I was carrying.I knew they were together, probably continuing their affair without any concern for discretion, and surprisingly, I didn’t care. In fact, I welcomed the distance. Let them do whatever they wanted—I had my own plans. This break from their constant presence gave me time to think, to strategize. My goal was clear: expose them. And not just in some quiet, behind-the-scenes way. I wanted everyone to know exactly who they were, and I was going to do it publicly.But that would come in time. For now, I had the house to myself. I had dinner, a quiet affair for once, and slipped into bed early, my mind still running through different s
LilaThe plane engines hummed steadily as we took off, lifting into the sky, and I glanced over at Emerson. He sat beside me, eyes closed, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest, exuding his usual calm but distant demeanor. I’d spent the past few days meticulously preparing for this trip, knowing this was my chance to execute my plan, and here I was, sitting next to him, the moment finally arriving.“Excited for the trip?” I asked, keeping my tone light and conversational.He opened one eye and looked at me for a moment before responding. “It’s work, Lila. I wouldn’t exactly call that exciting.”I smiled, leaning back in my seat. “Well, it’s an important deal for the company. I’m sure we’ll make a good team.”He gave a noncommittal grunt and turned his attention to the file in front of him, signaling the end of the conversation. Typical Emerson—cold, detached, always focused on business. I’d expected this, of course. It was why I had to play this trip so carefully. If I pushed too ha
Lila The morning sun filtered through the curtains as I slipped out of bed, my stomach tight with nerves and anticipation. Today had to go well. I couldn’t afford any more setbacks. Emerson had been avoiding me like the plague lately, and Raven… she was more distant than ever, even though she was in our faces every day. I could feel something shifting, something dangerous in the air, but I had to stay focused. One wrong move, and everything I had been working toward could collapse.As I stepped into the kitchen, I put on my best smile. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, and Raven sat at the table, scrolling through her phone, while Emerson sat across from her, staring into his mug like it held all the answers to his problems. The tension in the air was palpable, but I wasn’t going to let it get to me. Not today.“Good morning!” I chirped, forcing a cheerful tone as I pulled out a chair.Neither of them looked up. Raven continued to tap away on her phone, and Emerson,
LilaThe rest of the day was nothing short of miserable. I couldn’t stop thinking about Raven’s cold dismissal during lunch, the way she barely looked at me before walking out. Something about her attitude had shifted drastically, and it left me feeling uneasy. But I wasn’t going to let her keep throwing me off balance.I needed a way to calm myself, to take control again. And I knew exactly how to do that.Emerson.He was my anchor, my source of pleasure and comfort. Whenever things felt like they were spiraling, he was there to ground me. And tonight, I needed him more than ever. If I could just feel his arms around me, remind him of what we had, I’d be able to shove this growing anxiety out of my mind. With Raven acting like she didn’t care about him, I had to be the one to soothe his frustrations.I spent a few minutes freshening up in the bathroom, smoothing my hair and reapplying some lipstick. By the time I was finished, I felt a new surge of determination. Emerson was mine, an
LilaI couldn’t stop pacing. My feet moved across the room, over and over again, as my mind spun in circles. What had gotten into Raven? Every time I tried to talk to her, she looked at me like she didn’t even know me. And the worst part? I didn’t know if she knew.If she knew about Emerson and me.The thought sent a chill down my spine, my nerves fraying at the edges. She had to know something, didn’t she? The way she looked at me now, with that cold, distant gaze, so unlike the warm friendship we once had. Every time I saw her, I felt like I was walking on thin ice, as if one wrong move would crack the surface, and everything I had been trying to build with Emerson would collapse.I gritted my teeth, my fists clenching at my sides. No, I couldn’t think like that. I’d worked too hard, too carefully to let my plans fall apart now. Emerson and I… we were meant to be together. He just didn’t realize it yet.At first, it had seemed so simple. I would stay close to Emerson, comfort him wh
RavenI returned home exhausted, my limbs heavy from the long hours spent with Ava. My mind was buzzing with everything we had discussed, the plans we had set into motion, and the secrets she hinted at but didn’t fully reveal. A deep exhaustion sat in my bones, but it wasn’t just physical. The weight of it was more than that—it was emotional, a weariness from the constant double lives I had to live, playing the role of the dutiful wife while secretly plotting the downfall of my husband.As I stepped into the house, I noticed the unusual stillness. It was quiet, too quiet. No sounds of conversation, no clatter of dishes from the kitchen. I figured dinner had already ended, and I’d missed it. Not that I minded. The last thing I wanted was to sit at the table with Emerson, pretending that everything was fine, while Lila hovered nearby, playing the part of the innocent best friend. Just the thought of it twisted my stomach.I slipped out of my shoes and made my way to the kitchen, hoping