Damon piv Lucas shifted awkwardly beside me as I turned to face the newcomer. The man stood with a commanding presence, his arms crossed and a glint of authority in his eyes. A wave of tension surged through the air, thick enough to slice. “I'm Gino,” he said, his tone calm and condescending. “And I suggest you let her go. You have no business making claims on something you so casually tossed aside.” “What would you know?” I growled as Lucas stood between me and this guy with whom Harriet seemed to be smitten. Harriet snuggled into the man and smiled up at him, she looked so happy. I saw the way that her eyes twinkled when she looked at him but at me she looked empty. “I am happy with my life now. There is nothing for you here.” Her words stung me. I hated to see her so at ease with someone else that should be me. I felt my Wolf become restless but knew this was not the place to let him take over. Beta Lucas was determined to prevent anything from happening. He
Harriet’s POV I leaned back against the cool seat of the taxi, watching the cityscape blur past. Gino sat beside me, his excitement palpable as he discussed our travel plans. "The airport is only about twenty minutes away. We'll have plenty of time to grab our bags and make our flight," he said, his voice light and animated. I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere, grappling with a storm of emotions. The reality of my choices settled heavily on my shoulders as I recalled Damon’s fierce expression from earlier—the pain etched across his handsome face as I turned away from him. Seeing him again had broken open the walls I had been trying to build around my heart. Gino glanced at me, the concern deepening his features. “Hey, are you okay?” “Yeah, just… thinking,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. I felt guilty for the distraction swirling in my mind, but I couldn’t help it. Damon had been a constant in my thoughts, a haunting presence I couldn’t shake o
Harriet’s POV Gino had booked us in a hotel for the night with separate rooms so I could get some sleep before we headed back to the office the next morning. I still couldn’t get over the fact that Damon had turned up out of the blue with Lucas. He was crazy and it made me think about everything. Everything that had happened since I left that pack. He had chosen someone else over me and I couldn’t just forget the pain and hurt that had consumed me. And on the other hand, I had agreed to be Gino’s fake wife and yet here I was confused even more because I was longing for him. To be wrapped up safely in Gino’s arms. I sat on the bed and bit my lower lip. I rested my hands on my lap and wondered why Damon would think it was okay to try and win me back. He had chosen Aurora after all. "You're an omega, Harriet. You're meant to be loyal and obedient. You're not meant to be loved or cherished. You're just a tool for us to use and discard when we're done with you." I shook my head to try
Harriet’s POV I hesitated, staring at the screen as it vibrated on the bedspread. Sandra’s name lingered there, a reminder of the world outside this moment, a world filled with rules and expectations. Gino's steady gaze anchored me, even as uncertainty flickered in the back of my mind. “No,” I finally said, determination creeping into my voice. “I don’t want to.” “Good,” he replied, relief washing over him. He took another step closer until there was hardly any space left between us. “Harriet, stay with me right now. Let’s talk about this. About us.” I swallowed hard, my heart racing, feeling the weight of his words. This was a pivotal moment, one I had both longed for and dreaded. Could I truly let go of the fear that had burrowed itself into my bones? “Gino…” I started but he interjected, his voice firm yet tender. “Just listen for a second. I don’t want to pressure you, but I need you to understand how serious I am. This isn’t just about the contract anymore; it’s a
Harriet’s POV As I sank onto the bed beside Gino, the tension in the air began to dissolve, replaced by a fragile, yet comforting peace. The evening light filtered through my curtains, casting a soft glow around us. I could feel his presence like a steady heartbeat, grounding me as I grappled with the swirl of thoughts and emotions that had taken residence in my mind. “Do you—” I started, hesitating. “Do you really mean what you said? About not viewing me as just a contract?” His answer came swift and sure, “More than anything. You’re not just a piece of paper to me, Harriet. You’re a person—a wonderful, vibrant person. And I want to know all of you, not just the parts that fit neatly into a box.” There was something in his tone that melted the remaining doubt in my heart. He didn’t see my past as a shadow to be evaded; instead, he seemed to embrace it as part of who I was. It was a radical shift from the way I had been treated before, where my identity had been dictated
Harriets’s POV As I nestled deeper into Gino's embrace, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. His heartbeat thudded rhythmically—a steady reminder that I wasn't alone in this moment. It felt surreal, almost magical, as if I had stepped into a new reality where trust and hope could flourish. “You really mean that?” I asked, pulling back just enough to gaze into his eyes. I needed to see the sincerity in them, to solidify this newfound faith we were building between us. “Absolutely,” he replied, his voice firm yet gentle. “I’m not going anywhere. You can take your time, and we can figure this out together.” The sincerity in his expression tempered the last remnants of my anxiety. With each passing moment, I found myself shedding the layers of doubt that had become second nature. I wasn't just a liability or a burden; I was a partner, someone worth loving and experiencing life with. “What if I don’t know how to let go?” I asked, the question slipping from my lips before I cou
Damon’s POV I paced the hall and glanced at the big clock every few seconds. I noticed the concern etched on my Beta’s face. “Alpha, you need to think this over properly, you can’t just force Harriet back to the pack.” He sighed and his words echoed in my ears. I stopped and ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "You don’t understand, Lucas. Harriet isn’t just another pack member to me. She’s… everything." Lucas crossed his arms, his brow furrowing deeper. "I get that. But you can’t treat her like she’s a possession. She chose to leave for a reason. She looked happy with that Gino guy. We need to respect her decision." “Respect?” I scoffed, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “How am I supposed to respect the decision that ripped my heart out? I chose the pack, for our future, but now it feels like I’ve lost both women. They both deserved better than what I offered.” Lucas took a step closer, his voice lowering. “You need to face th
Damon's POV “What a sight, Damon,” she drawled, leaning against the door frame with an air of superiority. “You pacing like a caged animal, and for what? To win back your precious Harriet? How adorable.” I clenched my jaw, fighting against the rising tide of anger and frustration. “What do you want, Aurora?” “Oh, I think you know,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I just couldn’t help but overhear your little heart-to-heart with your Beta about how much you miss your omega. It’s like watching a soap opera unfold—the tragic hero pining after his lost love. But lo and behold, she’s with someone else now!” “Enough.” My voice came out harsher than intended, and I felt Lucas’s eyes dart back and forth between us, sensing the tension thickening like a stormcloud. “Enough?” Aurora laughed, the sound harsh and cutting. “It’s rich coming from you, Damon. After all, you’re the one who cast her aside for me. Look how that turned out. You thought you could juggle two live
Aurora’s POV The remnants of my conversation with Damon clung to the air like smoke that refused to dissipate. I paced the confines of my room, the walls feeling like they were closing in on me. How dare he think he could rekindle something with Harriet after everything that had happened? I had given him the world, and yet, he still pined for a woman he had already cast aside. It was infuriating. I had left him simmering in his own regrets after our last confrontation, and part of me reveled in his pain. Yet, the other part—the part that craved dominance and control—could not shake the feeling of annoyance that gnawed at me. It was one thing to hurt him, to see him broken and desperate, but the thought of Harriet standing in his way? That sent a surge of envy through me like molten steel. “What could she possibly have that I don’t?” I muttered, my reflection glaring back at me in the mirror. I was everything he ever desired—charming, beautiful, cunning. And yet, he chose to lame
Damon's POV “What a sight, Damon,” she drawled, leaning against the door frame with an air of superiority. “You pacing like a caged animal, and for what? To win back your precious Harriet? How adorable.” I clenched my jaw, fighting against the rising tide of anger and frustration. “What do you want, Aurora?” “Oh, I think you know,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I just couldn’t help but overhear your little heart-to-heart with your Beta about how much you miss your omega. It’s like watching a soap opera unfold—the tragic hero pining after his lost love. But lo and behold, she’s with someone else now!” “Enough.” My voice came out harsher than intended, and I felt Lucas’s eyes dart back and forth between us, sensing the tension thickening like a stormcloud. “Enough?” Aurora laughed, the sound harsh and cutting. “It’s rich coming from you, Damon. After all, you’re the one who cast her aside for me. Look how that turned out. You thought you could juggle two live
Damon’s POV I paced the hall and glanced at the big clock every few seconds. I noticed the concern etched on my Beta’s face. “Alpha, you need to think this over properly, you can’t just force Harriet back to the pack.” He sighed and his words echoed in my ears. I stopped and ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "You don’t understand, Lucas. Harriet isn’t just another pack member to me. She’s… everything." Lucas crossed his arms, his brow furrowing deeper. "I get that. But you can’t treat her like she’s a possession. She chose to leave for a reason. She looked happy with that Gino guy. We need to respect her decision." “Respect?” I scoffed, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “How am I supposed to respect the decision that ripped my heart out? I chose the pack, for our future, but now it feels like I’ve lost both women. They both deserved better than what I offered.” Lucas took a step closer, his voice lowering. “You need to face th
Harriets’s POV As I nestled deeper into Gino's embrace, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. His heartbeat thudded rhythmically—a steady reminder that I wasn't alone in this moment. It felt surreal, almost magical, as if I had stepped into a new reality where trust and hope could flourish. “You really mean that?” I asked, pulling back just enough to gaze into his eyes. I needed to see the sincerity in them, to solidify this newfound faith we were building between us. “Absolutely,” he replied, his voice firm yet gentle. “I’m not going anywhere. You can take your time, and we can figure this out together.” The sincerity in his expression tempered the last remnants of my anxiety. With each passing moment, I found myself shedding the layers of doubt that had become second nature. I wasn't just a liability or a burden; I was a partner, someone worth loving and experiencing life with. “What if I don’t know how to let go?” I asked, the question slipping from my lips before I cou
Harriet’s POV As I sank onto the bed beside Gino, the tension in the air began to dissolve, replaced by a fragile, yet comforting peace. The evening light filtered through my curtains, casting a soft glow around us. I could feel his presence like a steady heartbeat, grounding me as I grappled with the swirl of thoughts and emotions that had taken residence in my mind. “Do you—” I started, hesitating. “Do you really mean what you said? About not viewing me as just a contract?” His answer came swift and sure, “More than anything. You’re not just a piece of paper to me, Harriet. You’re a person—a wonderful, vibrant person. And I want to know all of you, not just the parts that fit neatly into a box.” There was something in his tone that melted the remaining doubt in my heart. He didn’t see my past as a shadow to be evaded; instead, he seemed to embrace it as part of who I was. It was a radical shift from the way I had been treated before, where my identity had been dictated
Harriet’s POV I hesitated, staring at the screen as it vibrated on the bedspread. Sandra’s name lingered there, a reminder of the world outside this moment, a world filled with rules and expectations. Gino's steady gaze anchored me, even as uncertainty flickered in the back of my mind. “No,” I finally said, determination creeping into my voice. “I don’t want to.” “Good,” he replied, relief washing over him. He took another step closer until there was hardly any space left between us. “Harriet, stay with me right now. Let’s talk about this. About us.” I swallowed hard, my heart racing, feeling the weight of his words. This was a pivotal moment, one I had both longed for and dreaded. Could I truly let go of the fear that had burrowed itself into my bones? “Gino…” I started but he interjected, his voice firm yet tender. “Just listen for a second. I don’t want to pressure you, but I need you to understand how serious I am. This isn’t just about the contract anymore; it’s a
Harriet’s POV Gino had booked us in a hotel for the night with separate rooms so I could get some sleep before we headed back to the office the next morning. I still couldn’t get over the fact that Damon had turned up out of the blue with Lucas. He was crazy and it made me think about everything. Everything that had happened since I left that pack. He had chosen someone else over me and I couldn’t just forget the pain and hurt that had consumed me. And on the other hand, I had agreed to be Gino’s fake wife and yet here I was confused even more because I was longing for him. To be wrapped up safely in Gino’s arms. I sat on the bed and bit my lower lip. I rested my hands on my lap and wondered why Damon would think it was okay to try and win me back. He had chosen Aurora after all. "You're an omega, Harriet. You're meant to be loyal and obedient. You're not meant to be loved or cherished. You're just a tool for us to use and discard when we're done with you." I shook my head to try
Harriet’s POV I leaned back against the cool seat of the taxi, watching the cityscape blur past. Gino sat beside me, his excitement palpable as he discussed our travel plans. "The airport is only about twenty minutes away. We'll have plenty of time to grab our bags and make our flight," he said, his voice light and animated. I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere, grappling with a storm of emotions. The reality of my choices settled heavily on my shoulders as I recalled Damon’s fierce expression from earlier—the pain etched across his handsome face as I turned away from him. Seeing him again had broken open the walls I had been trying to build around my heart. Gino glanced at me, the concern deepening his features. “Hey, are you okay?” “Yeah, just… thinking,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. I felt guilty for the distraction swirling in my mind, but I couldn’t help it. Damon had been a constant in my thoughts, a haunting presence I couldn’t shake o
Damon piv Lucas shifted awkwardly beside me as I turned to face the newcomer. The man stood with a commanding presence, his arms crossed and a glint of authority in his eyes. A wave of tension surged through the air, thick enough to slice. “I'm Gino,” he said, his tone calm and condescending. “And I suggest you let her go. You have no business making claims on something you so casually tossed aside.” “What would you know?” I growled as Lucas stood between me and this guy with whom Harriet seemed to be smitten. Harriet snuggled into the man and smiled up at him, she looked so happy. I saw the way that her eyes twinkled when she looked at him but at me she looked empty. “I am happy with my life now. There is nothing for you here.” Her words stung me. I hated to see her so at ease with someone else that should be me. I felt my Wolf become restless but knew this was not the place to let him take over. Beta Lucas was determined to prevent anything from happening. He