Soren – POVRaisel’s eyes burned with hatred as she glared at Alaric, the intensity of her rage like a firestorm.“You bastard,” Alaric hissed through gritted teeth, his voice sharp and venomous. “Let me go! You’re making a huge mistake, Soren.”His eyes darted to me, blazing with defiance.“You don’t even know who you’re messing with.”I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and smirked, my voice calm but dismissive.“I couldn’t care less.”Alaric’s lips curled into a snarl, his fury practically radiating off him.“You bastard! Unhand me, and I’ll show you what I’m capable of.”Before I could even respond, Raisel stepped forward and slapped him. Hard.The sound of her palm meeting his cheek echoed in the room, cutting through the tension like a knife. Alaric’s head snapped to the side, and when he turned back, his glare could’ve killed.I didn’t give him a chance to act. My fist collided with his stomach, and he doubled over, coughing and groaning in pain.“You don’t ever get to loo
Soren - POVAlaric’s fists came flying at me. I dodged, narrowly avoiding the blows, and retaliated with a sharp kick to his gut. He staggered back, gasping for air, but recovered quickly. The exchange between us was savage—punch after punch thrown with reckless fury. A few of mine connected with his face, snapping his head back, and a few of his landed on me, stinging my ribs. I was done playing games.With a calculated strike, I swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Before he could regain his footing, I lunged, wrapping my arm around his neck in a crushing chokehold. Alaric writhed beneath me, his breaths coming in sharp, desperate bursts. And yet, a part of me—a shadow lurking deep within—found satisfaction in his struggle.Something inside me twisted, dark and primal. I wanted to end him. My grip tightened, the thought whispering like a seductive promise: Kill him. With your hands. Make him disappear. But before I could succumb, Alaric slipped free
Soren – POVI couldn’t get enough of her. Her lips were soft, trembling slightly as if they carried the weight of the world. Raisel leaned into me, her body molding against mine as if she were trying to hide from her pain. When we finally pulled away, her forehead rested against mine, and our breaths mingled in the fragile space between us. Her eyes—deep pools of fear and longing—drew me in.“Distract me. Please,” she whispered, her voice a delicate thread, heavy with desperation. Her plea struck a chord so deep it ached.“Anything for you, Raisins,” I murmured, my lips curving into a soft smile. Without another word, I swept her into my arms and carried her to the bathroom.Steam rose around us as the shower came to life, but I was already burning. She helped me undress, her fingers brushing my skin in ways that left my heart hammering. When her clothes fell away, I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering over her. She was stunning—every curve, every line, a masterpiece I felt unworthy
Raisel’s POVThe first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the absence of Soren. He wasn’t home.Hazel walked into the room, already dressed for the day, but something about her posture was tense. Trouble followed her like a shadow. We sat down at the dining table in silence, the air between us thick and unspoken.“What’s with you?” Hazel finally asked, her voice clipped as she sipped her coffee.“Nothing. Just… work stress,” I lied, avoiding her gaze. I couldn’t bring myself to admit the nightmare I had. I didn’t want to relive it, let alone share it. “What about you?”Hazel scowled, her fingers tightening around the coffee mug. “I’m going to Paris. My mother and I had a massive fight,” she admitted, her words as sharp as broken glass. Just then, Nia brought breakfast to the table. Hazel didn’t even look at it. “She had the audacity to arrange my wedding. Some guy. Some stranger. She thought she could hide it from me.”“So… you figured it out?” I asked, trying to sound casual a
Raisel’s POVThe hidden door slid open, revealing the secret room next to Soren’s home. The faint sound of the shelf grinding against the floor made me shiver. “So, you moved all your things into a hidden office,” I murmured, my voice low as he flicked on the lights.The room illuminated, and my breath caught. My images—dozens of them—plastered the walls. Notes, details about my life, my habits, my wants, and my needs were laid bare like a living diary. My pulse quickened. How long had this been here? A year? Maybe more—ever since he’d left college.“I’ll confess,” Soren said, stepping closer, his presence suffocating in the small room. “I’ve been obsessed with you. Only you.”His words lingered, thick in the air, as if they dared me to respond.“Soren, this… all of this makes me uncomfortable,” I whispered, my voice trembling.“I know you don't,” he replied, his tone quiet but teasing, like he enjoyed my unease. “Your eyes—oh, Raisel—your eyes always sparkle when you realize how obse
Soren - POVThe VIP lounge reeked of expensive whiskey and bad decisions. I sat alone, nursing my glass, the burn of the alcohol doing little to dull my thoughts. Raisel had gone to Chicago, not Paris. Chicago—where Hazel used to work. It was like Raisel was chasing ghosts, running from me.I wanted to stop her. I wanted to hold her back, to make her stay. But deep down, I knew she needed space. Maybe it was for the best—for her to breathe, to get away from me. Yet, I couldn’t shake the gnawing thought: once she knows the truth, she might never come back. And I can’t let that happen. She will stay with me—no matter what it takes.The sound of footsteps interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Then, the voice I least wanted to hear.“Well, well… dear brother,” Joshua’s voice drawled, his tone sharp, his eyes mocking. He had that look in them—the one that always meant trouble.“Not in the mood,” I muttered, not bothering to glance at him.“Rough day, huh?” he taunted. “I heard your little lov
Raisel’s POVIt’s the last week of July, and summer is hitting all the right spots. Sun on my skin, the salty ocean breeze, cocktails, bikinis, and beach vibes—I’ve missed this.Hazel leans back in her rickety wooden chair at the shack on Oak Street Beach, her sunglasses perched low on her nose. “Oh, damn, girl. It’s been forever since we’ve taken a vacation together.”“I just tagged along,” I reply, swirling my cocktail. “It was your idea, and… you were right. We both needed this.”Hazel gives me that look. The one that says she’s onto me. “Yeah, but what really made you come? Rai, you don’t just drop work out of the blue. You texted me about tagging along to Paris, and next thing I knew, I was booking a flight to Chicago because you needed this trip.”I let out a heavy sigh, my gaze locked on the endless blue horizon. “Can we not talk about it?”Hazel groans but doesn’t push. “Fine. All I care about is that you’re here.""Though I do wonder why you canceled Paris business trip so fa
Author Note: Hey readers, This book delves into the darker side of romance, featuring explicit language, scenes, and a fast pace romance intertwined with a stalker trope. Please be aware that the content is intense and may not be suitable for everyone. If you enjoy dark romance novels and want to stay updated, follow me to my F******k group, Tracy Readrats, for more insights and discussions. Happy reading! TracyRaisel - POVMy eyes fixate on the phone screen, my fingers trembling above the display, waiting—desperately hoping—for a message from Alaric. But the screen remains hauntingly silent, the absence of his name like a knife twisting deeper with every passing second. Maybe he’s just busy at work, I tell myself, my chest tightening as dread curls around my ribs like a vise. The lie barely holds together.Needing a distraction, I turn to the charity event I’m dressing for, pulling a white, sleeveless dress from the wardrobe. The cream hue feels like a bitter joke—pure, simple, l
Raisel’s POVIt’s the last week of July, and summer is hitting all the right spots. Sun on my skin, the salty ocean breeze, cocktails, bikinis, and beach vibes—I’ve missed this.Hazel leans back in her rickety wooden chair at the shack on Oak Street Beach, her sunglasses perched low on her nose. “Oh, damn, girl. It’s been forever since we’ve taken a vacation together.”“I just tagged along,” I reply, swirling my cocktail. “It was your idea, and… you were right. We both needed this.”Hazel gives me that look. The one that says she’s onto me. “Yeah, but what really made you come? Rai, you don’t just drop work out of the blue. You texted me about tagging along to Paris, and next thing I knew, I was booking a flight to Chicago because you needed this trip.”I let out a heavy sigh, my gaze locked on the endless blue horizon. “Can we not talk about it?”Hazel groans but doesn’t push. “Fine. All I care about is that you’re here.""Though I do wonder why you canceled Paris business trip so fa
Soren - POVThe VIP lounge reeked of expensive whiskey and bad decisions. I sat alone, nursing my glass, the burn of the alcohol doing little to dull my thoughts. Raisel had gone to Chicago, not Paris. Chicago—where Hazel used to work. It was like Raisel was chasing ghosts, running from me.I wanted to stop her. I wanted to hold her back, to make her stay. But deep down, I knew she needed space. Maybe it was for the best—for her to breathe, to get away from me. Yet, I couldn’t shake the gnawing thought: once she knows the truth, she might never come back. And I can’t let that happen. She will stay with me—no matter what it takes.The sound of footsteps interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Then, the voice I least wanted to hear.“Well, well… dear brother,” Joshua’s voice drawled, his tone sharp, his eyes mocking. He had that look in them—the one that always meant trouble.“Not in the mood,” I muttered, not bothering to glance at him.“Rough day, huh?” he taunted. “I heard your little lov
Raisel’s POVThe hidden door slid open, revealing the secret room next to Soren’s home. The faint sound of the shelf grinding against the floor made me shiver. “So, you moved all your things into a hidden office,” I murmured, my voice low as he flicked on the lights.The room illuminated, and my breath caught. My images—dozens of them—plastered the walls. Notes, details about my life, my habits, my wants, and my needs were laid bare like a living diary. My pulse quickened. How long had this been here? A year? Maybe more—ever since he’d left college.“I’ll confess,” Soren said, stepping closer, his presence suffocating in the small room. “I’ve been obsessed with you. Only you.”His words lingered, thick in the air, as if they dared me to respond.“Soren, this… all of this makes me uncomfortable,” I whispered, my voice trembling.“I know you don't,” he replied, his tone quiet but teasing, like he enjoyed my unease. “Your eyes—oh, Raisel—your eyes always sparkle when you realize how obse
Raisel’s POVThe first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the absence of Soren. He wasn’t home.Hazel walked into the room, already dressed for the day, but something about her posture was tense. Trouble followed her like a shadow. We sat down at the dining table in silence, the air between us thick and unspoken.“What’s with you?” Hazel finally asked, her voice clipped as she sipped her coffee.“Nothing. Just… work stress,” I lied, avoiding her gaze. I couldn’t bring myself to admit the nightmare I had. I didn’t want to relive it, let alone share it. “What about you?”Hazel scowled, her fingers tightening around the coffee mug. “I’m going to Paris. My mother and I had a massive fight,” she admitted, her words as sharp as broken glass. Just then, Nia brought breakfast to the table. Hazel didn’t even look at it. “She had the audacity to arrange my wedding. Some guy. Some stranger. She thought she could hide it from me.”“So… you figured it out?” I asked, trying to sound casual a
Soren – POVI couldn’t get enough of her. Her lips were soft, trembling slightly as if they carried the weight of the world. Raisel leaned into me, her body molding against mine as if she were trying to hide from her pain. When we finally pulled away, her forehead rested against mine, and our breaths mingled in the fragile space between us. Her eyes—deep pools of fear and longing—drew me in.“Distract me. Please,” she whispered, her voice a delicate thread, heavy with desperation. Her plea struck a chord so deep it ached.“Anything for you, Raisins,” I murmured, my lips curving into a soft smile. Without another word, I swept her into my arms and carried her to the bathroom.Steam rose around us as the shower came to life, but I was already burning. She helped me undress, her fingers brushing my skin in ways that left my heart hammering. When her clothes fell away, I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering over her. She was stunning—every curve, every line, a masterpiece I felt unworthy
Soren - POVAlaric’s fists came flying at me. I dodged, narrowly avoiding the blows, and retaliated with a sharp kick to his gut. He staggered back, gasping for air, but recovered quickly. The exchange between us was savage—punch after punch thrown with reckless fury. A few of mine connected with his face, snapping his head back, and a few of his landed on me, stinging my ribs. I was done playing games.With a calculated strike, I swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Before he could regain his footing, I lunged, wrapping my arm around his neck in a crushing chokehold. Alaric writhed beneath me, his breaths coming in sharp, desperate bursts. And yet, a part of me—a shadow lurking deep within—found satisfaction in his struggle.Something inside me twisted, dark and primal. I wanted to end him. My grip tightened, the thought whispering like a seductive promise: Kill him. With your hands. Make him disappear. But before I could succumb, Alaric slipped free
Soren – POVRaisel’s eyes burned with hatred as she glared at Alaric, the intensity of her rage like a firestorm.“You bastard,” Alaric hissed through gritted teeth, his voice sharp and venomous. “Let me go! You’re making a huge mistake, Soren.”His eyes darted to me, blazing with defiance.“You don’t even know who you’re messing with.”I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and smirked, my voice calm but dismissive.“I couldn’t care less.”Alaric’s lips curled into a snarl, his fury practically radiating off him.“You bastard! Unhand me, and I’ll show you what I’m capable of.”Before I could even respond, Raisel stepped forward and slapped him. Hard.The sound of her palm meeting his cheek echoed in the room, cutting through the tension like a knife. Alaric’s head snapped to the side, and when he turned back, his glare could’ve killed.I didn’t give him a chance to act. My fist collided with his stomach, and he doubled over, coughing and groaning in pain.“You don’t ever get to loo
Raisel - POVI couldn’t focus on my work but managed to pull myself together and assign teams their tasks. I had to get a few signatures from Soren, so I knocked on his cabin door.“Come in.”I walked in. Soren looked at me with a blank stare.“I need your signatures on these papers,” I said, handing him the file. He read it, signed it, and gave it back to me.I stayed in his office, knowing full well that Soren had been stalking me. He claimed it was to protect me, but I hated his methods. We never talked about it, but I knew there was more to his story. I was aware of half the truth, but I felt Soren was hiding something deeper.“What?” he asked, noticing my stare.“You know, after tonight’s mission, we need to talk,” I said firmly.“About what?” he asked, still focused on his laptop.“You stalking me.”He looked up at me.“There’s nothing to say. I told you I did it to protect you,” he said flatly.“I’m not letting you off with that one-sentence explanation, Soren. You better talk
Soren - POVRaisel’s hesitation was almost imperceptible, but I saw it—how the room hit her like a storm she wasn’t ready for. “I told you to keep Raisins out of this,” I growled, my words razor-edged.“I wanted in.” Her response was quick, defiant.“Don’t you dare say another word, Raisins” My voice was low, threatening, but she didn’t flinch. Her stare was cold, unrelenting—a frigid standoff crackling between us. God, it was maddening how calm she stayed. Sexy as hell. No one else had ever looked me dead in the eye like that, not even the women I’d taken to bed.“Calm down.” Jace’s voice cut through the tension like a dull blade. I didn’t look away, but Raisel did, breaking the thread between us. She turned her eyes from mine, but I kept glaring—first at her, then at Jace. He averted his gaze, the coward.“What’s the plan?” Raisel asked, her voice sharp as a dagger. Her question was for Jace, but Grandpa’s eyes landed on me. I met his stare with a glare that screamed, Don’t even thi