As the meeting dragged on, I found myself zoning out, lost in thought. What was Gino really looking for in this fake marriage? Was it just a business arrangement, or was there something more? I glanced over at Gino, trying to catch his eye, but he was too engrossed in the meeting to notice. His eyes were fixed intently on the papers in front of him, his brow furrowed in concentration. The meeting finally came to a close, and we left the conference room together. Gino turned to me with a smile. "Well, that's done," he said. "The merger is set to close next week." I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. It was over, and now we could move on to the next step. But as we walked back to the office, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Gino seemed distant, preoccupied. And I couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those piercing blue eyes. We spent the rest of the day going over the details of our fake marriage, discussing everythin
As we entered the apartment, Gino's eyes never left mine, and I felt a flutter in my chest. He walked ahead of me, his long strides eating up the distance to the living room. I followed him, my heart pounding in my ears. He stopped before the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the city skyline. The silence was oppressive, and I felt I was waiting for something to happen. Finally, he turned to me, his eyes still burning with intensity. "I think it's time we talked about what's going on here," he said, his voice low and husky. My heart skipped a beat as I realised that this was it. This was the moment when everything would change. "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Gino walked closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine. "I think we've been playing this game too long," he said. "I think it's time we stopped pretending and started being honest with each other. I want real honesty, and we should get to know each other better since we will s
The morning sun poured into my room, casting a warm glow that chased away the remnants of the night’s uncertainties. I sat in bed, stretching and recalling the kiss that lingered on my lips like a dream I didn't want to forget. Today was the day of our shopping expedition, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement mixed with nervous energy. As I picked out an outfit, I considered how much had changed in such a short time. I slipped on a simple tailored dress that hugged my figure in all the right places and, after some deliberation, decided on a light jacket. I wanted to impress Gino, but more importantly, I wanted to feel confident. "Wow, you look stunning. I might have to keep you around as my fake wife a little longer," Gino teased. I laughed, feeling my cheeks blush. "Well, I'm glad to hear that because I'm still trying to find the perfect outfit to impress your family later." “Trust me, with you as my date, I'm pretty sure my parents will love you,” he said, ope
“I just started as a receptionist," I said, directing attention to Gino's mother. "I'm enjoying it so far. It's a great environment, and I’m learning a lot." Gino's father nodded appreciatively. "That's wonderful! A good receptionist is the backbone of any business. And don’t get me started on the importance of first impressions. You’re already off to a fantastic start with that dress,” he added, gesturing at my outfit. Gino chimed in with a playful glint in his eye. “Told you she would stun everyone, didn’t I? Harriet is also quite talented at organising events. We might need her for family gatherings!” I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks again at the compliments and the easy banter Gino shared with his family. They made me feel part of their joyful chaos. Just then, Gino’s mom stood up, heading toward the kitchen while calling back to us, “Who wants dessert? I made my famous tiramisu!” A chorus of excited responses followed, and I felt my nervousness dissipa
The next day, I woke up to find that Gino had already left. I wasn't sure where he had gone, but it was a hard pill for me to swallow as I sat in the silent apartment alone. I stood up and walked over to the window. It was a breathtaking view, and I knew I was lucky to be here, but my thoughts soon wandered to my past. How did they feel that I had left the pack? Had Damon even noticed? I wondered how Sandra must be feeling. I had promised to call her, and still, I hadn't. I hesitated as my eyes fell on the mobile on the kitchen side that Gino had bought for me. I hadn't even used it. Maybe I should call my best friend to tell her I was okay and still alive. As soon as I picked up the shiny phone, I felt the nerves kick in. My fingers trembled slightly as I turned it over, the sleek surface reflecting my uncertain expression. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that Sandra would be relieved to hear from me, but the weight of guilt hung heavy in my chest. M
The weight of his words hung heavily between us, a reassuring balm to the sting of Trudie’s outburst. I let out a shaky breath, trying to process both the chaos of the moment and Gino’s presence as my anchor. “Thank you for handling that,” I said, my voice steadier now. “I didn’t expect someone from your past to show up like that, let alone to accuse me of… replacing her.” I stepped back, creating a little distance; I still wasn’t sure how to navigate this new territory. Gino moved as if to close the gap again, but something in my demeanour made him pause. “You didn’t replace anyone, Harriet” His sincerity shone through his bright, unyielding eyes. “I just… I never thought I’d be stepping into someone else’s shoes, even if it’s unintentional,” I confessed, feeling a warmth creeping into my cheeks. “It’s hard not to feel like you’re just going to slip back into that old life with her.” “There’s no going back for me, not now. You make me want to be better. You’ve alr
Damon’s POV I paced up and down the hall, trying my hardest not to lose my shit. How could Harriet leave me like that? Was she crazy? My thoughts kept returning to Harriet, no matter what I was doing, whether it be pack business, in the shower, or out in my wolf form for a run. Why could I not stop thinking about her? I mean, yes, ok, Aurora was beautiful, stunning and had a body that drove me crazy, but yet I found myself thinking about Harriet and imagining it was her underneath me when I was fucking Aurora. She couldn't make me feel half as satisfied as Harriet always had. I clenched my fists into angry balls of fury. I needed to know where Harriet had gone. How could I not even notice she had left? Yet her best friend claimed to know nothing of her disappearance. I took a deep breath to rein in the storm of emotions. My fingers threaded through my hair as I paced, the walls closing on me. The memory of Harriet's eyes—those soft, stormy blues that always wrapped me around he
“Alpha Damon, may I speak with you for a moment? It’s about Harriet.” I turned abruptly at Sandra's voice, the anxious tremor in her fingers betraying the calm she was trying to project. A low growl rumbled deep within me, driven by instincts I couldn't suppress—the primal urge to protect and the insatiable need to uncover the truth. Something was buried beneath her calm facade and twisted like a knot in my stomach. "I will give you some space," Lucas suddenly announced and disappeared. “What do you know? What are you hiding from me?” My words cut through the air, harsher than I intended, but the desperation clawing at my insides demanded answers. I wanted to shake the truth from her like the beast I was. "Damon, please," she breathed, inching closer yet remaining cautious. "She called me. She's okay—she's alive." Relief flooded through me, only to twist into confusion and rage. “And? What else?” I pressed, my impatience boiling over. “She said she’s happy,” Sandra con