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Hundred and Forty-Five
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Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Six
VALERIAWith my hands on my hips, I took a step back to look at the decorations. After a few seconds or so, I had to admit that the decorators had done a pretty good job. I had as well. Jayden had his superhero theme decorations all in blue, his favourite colour. Jane had her favourite Princess whatsername theme also in bright yellow.I grinned, reflecting on how very different children's birthday parties were from those of adults. The entire living room area was a clash of yellow and blue, and then there were the balloons also, covering large sections of the floor."And what are you grinning about?"I felt myself relaxing at the sound of Dimitri's voice, leaning back against him until his arms went around me. He repeated his question."I was just thinking that the whole place looks like a rainbow exploded in it," I murmured."Mmm. I think I rather like the look of the place. It's an improvement if you ask me."I snorted. "Having kids have made you soft. There was a time when you woul
Set me Free, Alpha One
Valeria's POV"You have to stop letting him use you like this, Val and you know it," Ivy said with a terse note in her voice. I blinked in fake surprise. "What-""-Am I talking about? You've glanced at your wristwatch for like a hundred times since we started talking, and I don't need a mind-reader to tell me that you're counting the minutes till you see him again. If only you knew..."I raised a brow. "Knew what?"My friend's face tightened, the way it usually did when she had bad news to import. Then she spoke with hardly a pause for breath. "Val, Dimitri just got engaged to Summer, the daughter of the CEO of Wood Group."She placed her hand on mine in sympathy. I just stared at her, my mouth agape, as I struggled to comprehend what she had just said. 'Dimitri, my boss and my lover was engaged, to be married to Summer,' I kept repeating, over and over in my head. I swallowed.That meant all these years I had spent loving him had all come to nothing. That meant that our contract wa
Set me Free, Alpha Two
Dimitri's POV"What is that?" I asked. "My resignation letter."I was so surprised that I could have gotten knocked down by a feather. I stared from Valeria to the letter she held out to me in utter disbelief. On her face was an expression that I had never seen before- stubborn determination. My mind whirled in a hundred different directions. Docile, obedient Valeria turned me down? That was a laugh. What I had said about money probably hadn't registered yet. Or maybe it had, and she was just playing hard to get so I could improve on my offer. "I told you that money is no object," I said slowly. "Name your price, and let's get this negotiation over with."She threw the paper on the bed. "And I told you that I'm not interested in your money. I don't care how much you want to offer. I'm done."I gave her a once over, taking in her skin tight jeans and close fitting shirt. The look was meant to be insulting, and I felt a savage sort of pleasure when she flushed under my steady gaze.
Set me Free, Alpha Three
Valeria's POVI took the morning off to see my grandmother in the hospital, like I usually did.I found her sitting up in bed, her nose nearly touching the magazine she was reading. As I watched, she stifled a yawn. I exhaled in relief, glad to see that she was in good form today. I loved this woman. She had raised me because my parents were not in the picture.I didn't know why they had abandoned me. Whenever I tried to ask her questions about my parents, my grandma would go awfully quiet, and she would tell me that my parents and I were not meant to be together or to know things about each other. But I knew she was not happy with the way things were because her greatest wish was for me to get married and start a family of my own before she died. She was always harping on that. She looked around, caught sight of me, and smiled. "Come in, pumpkin. Come in," she called in her high, tremulous voice, as she waved me inside. "Why are you standing over there?""Hi, grams." I walked over
Set me Free, Alpha Four
Dimitri's POVEven with Summer sitting right in front of me, I couldn't keep my thoughts on our dinner date. In my mind's eye, I kept seeing Valeria's green eyes. I just couldn't stop thinking about her. Valeria still wasn't backing down. She still reminded me that I had to get a replacement. Her attitude was beyond annoying. "...want?"With a start, I realized someone close to me had spoken. I turned to see Summer, and a waiter who I hadn't realized was there, staring at me curiously. I looked from the waiter to Summer, wondering who had spoken. "Er- I didn't quite catch that. What did you say?" Summer frowned worriedly, leaned forward and placed her hand on my cheek. "I was asking you what you wanted to order, but are you okay, love? You've been very absentminded. Is something bothering you?"While she talked, the waiter retreated and stood at a respectful distance. "No. Nothing is the matter." I caught her hand in mine and squeezed it reassuringly. "Some thoughts about business
Set me Free, Alpha Five
Valeria Dimitri's closeness in the small space the restroom afforded made my breathing quicken. My heart raced so fast that I almost felt faint. I felt his breath fan my cheek, and heard him breathe in deeply. I nervously licked my suddenly dry lips as he continued to stalk me. Though every cell in my body screamed at me to back away, I stood my ground. "What's it to you?" I asked defiantly. Dimitri's eyes flashed, narrowed. A growl came from deep within his chest. He tried to keep it in by clenching his teeth. It was as though he was struggling to keep a wild animal within him reined in. In spite of myself, I shivered and took a step back. I had never seen him so furious before. "Answer me," he urged in a soft, menacing tone. "I have nothing to say to you." I cleared my throat, hating how shaky my voice sounded. "Whatever is going on between Noah and I is none of your business. You lost the right to ask me any question of that sort when you broke the terms of our contract. We a
Set me Free, Alpha Six
Valeria'S POVOnce Noah and I were in the car, I let out a huge sigh of relief. I had fought the urge to look over my shoulder on the way here when Noah, hands on the small of my back, had ushered me out of the place. Dimitri's expression had been a sight. His face had contorted in rage. He had looked as though he wanted to rip Noah's arm from off his shoulders. I shuddered at the thought of handling that situation on my own, what with my hopeless attraction to Dimitri and his ability to still make me nervous. "Are you cold?" Noah said from beside me. He touched my shoulder lightly. "No. No I'm not." To assure him I was fine, I flashed him a smile. He gave one right back. "You'll be going home now, I expect.""Yes," I said a little too quickly. My tone had him raising a brow. But he nodded, gestured to his driver, whose eyes I met in the rearview mirror. "Tell him your address," Noah told me. I did. The car shot forward and we were on our way. I couldn't resist taking one last
Set me Free, Alpha Seven
Valeria'S POVIt took quite a while for me to regain my composure. Dimitri had done this on purpose. He knew that the appearance of Sasha would shake me up. The girl looked like she belonged on a runway as a model, instead of at an office. His eyes lit up with excitement the longer I remained silent. He shifted in his seat, leaning forward and keeping those grey eyes trained on me. He did not even have the decency to pretend that this was not another one of his manipulative moves. With some effort, I turned back to Sasha. She still held on to her smile, but it had gotten strained, and there was a puzzled frown on her face as she wondered why I wasn't responding. I didn't think I would ever get used to the sight of her. Now, I summoned up all my willpower, reminded myself of Ivy's counsel that I shouldn't let Dimitri affect me so much, and forced a smile for Sasha. She relaxed a little. I shook her hand, still held on to my strained smile which I could feel slipping every second. Sa
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Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Six
VALERIAWith my hands on my hips, I took a step back to look at the decorations. After a few seconds or so, I had to admit that the decorators had done a pretty good job. I had as well. Jayden had his superhero theme decorations all in blue, his favourite colour. Jane had her favourite Princess whatsername theme also in bright yellow.I grinned, reflecting on how very different children's birthday parties were from those of adults. The entire living room area was a clash of yellow and blue, and then there were the balloons also, covering large sections of the floor."And what are you grinning about?"I felt myself relaxing at the sound of Dimitri's voice, leaning back against him until his arms went around me. He repeated his question."I was just thinking that the whole place looks like a rainbow exploded in it," I murmured."Mmm. I think I rather like the look of the place. It's an improvement if you ask me."I snorted. "Having kids have made you soft. There was a time when you woul
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Five
VALERIAIt was bone-chilling to see Amelia's expression when she realized the game was over. It was like she had been wearing a mask which had suddenly come off. Now I could clearly see what lay beneath the facade she presented to the world. The sight made me shiver and I unconsciously shifted close to Dimitri who gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Amelia, teeth bared, kept looking around like a trapped animal searching for a means of escape."There's no way out now," Dimitri said, leaving the sofa to stand in front of her. "You can't escape so bury that thought.""Why?" I said, the question drawn from my lips before I even thought of it. Everyone turned to look at me but I had eyes only for Amelia, the woman who was my mother but had done things to hurt me more than anyone in this world. "Why do you hate me so much? Why... all this? How could you-""You know nothing!" she declared vehemently. "So don't you think you can sit there and judge me when you don't know half of what happ
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Four
DIMITRII let my suggestions about Amelia's and Alexis' eventual capture sink in. When I was sure it did, and that Valeria was in agreement with all I had said, I stood up to leave. Valeria's hand on my arm prevented me from doing so."Wait," she said. "There is something more."I slowly sat back down. "Tell me.""I want to be part of the capture."My response was instant. "Oh no. You can't.""Why not?"Funny she would ask. Even the thought of putting Valeria, especially in her condition, through any form of danger was so abhorrent to me it made me shudder inwardly."Valeria," I said in the most reasonable tone of voice I could muster. "There may be danger when they are caught. I have no way of knowing, true. But I can't take the risk of you getting hurt. Silas, Vance and I with all the others I will bring in to help can handle them. Trust me. It will be best if you stay completely out of it."Then I groaned inwardly when I still saw that stubborn look on her face, the look I knew so
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Three
VALERIAOne of Ivy's nurse friends from the hospital clapped her hand over her lips to keep in a giggle."Ssh!" said a friend of Vance who just had to be a bodyguard. His tall, muscled figure could be made for nothing else.The man was smiling himself."Sorry," the giggler apologized as she smiled up at him.I felt much like giggling myself, especially at the look I was already picturing on Ivy's face when she eventually realized Vance had brought a lot of his friends and her friends on their date."They are here," Dimitri whispered in my ear.Dimitri's words were whispered back and forth between everyone."Remember everyone. Don't make a sound when they come in," someone said.I looked straight ahead and saw Vance, lead Ivy by the hand into the private booth of the restaurant where we were all hiding."It's beautiful in here," Ivy said, looking around. "But it's rather dark, don't you think? Maybe a little more light will-"She made a move to touch the light switch. I stiffened, drew
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-Two
DIMITRISilas, who was to all appearances lounging on the verandah outside while making some calls, met my eyes. For the last few days, I had kept him in and around the house, ostensibly running a few errands for me, being extra security for Valeria, but really he was around to keep an eye on Amelia.We had all come to the conclusion that since she felt herself entirely free of suspicion, she would make a move to contact Alexis or to put her plans into action soon. I felt that she was about to do either or both of these things now.Just this morning, Amelia had been acting strangely. Although she had tried to hide it, Silas and I had noticed her acting ill at ease, although Valeria had of course remained oblivious. Amelia had started acting this way after Silas, as he told me, had overheard her yelling at someone over the phone.A few minutes later, with her handbag slung over her shoulder, she had said very casually, "I'm making a quick trip to the store to pick up some things we nee
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty-One
VALERIAAlthough it had seemed impossible at first, the endless hours after Grandma Reese passed became days. Days became weeks. The weeks eventually added up to a month, and then several months. Though I missed her terribly with each passing day, life went on. My pregnancy became advanced. The doctors told Dimitri and I to expect our child soon.That was the only happy thought that kept me going all through those months. That, and the fact that I had Dimitri at my side.The rest of the time, I was consumed by fear, fear that at least one archenemy was still out there. Dimitri had gently broken the news of Grace's death to me, but had confessed that he still had not found a trace of Alexis. I was terrified that he would one day make an appearance and attempt to harm my child and I. Whenever I voiced out my concerns, Dimitri was quick to assure me that he was still on the lookout for Alexis.And though I took a little comfort in his assurances, I never once forgot that Dimitri was not
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Forty
AMELIAThey were fools. The lot of them. Stupid, trusting fools, but their stupidity suited me just fine. It was how I had stayed hidden all this time, after all.It was a shame about Grace, but it had to be done. She had been becoming a wild card, a disappointment to me. This early in the plot, she had shown that her emotions overruled her thoughts, and anyone who thought with the heart rather than the head was a liability, was expendable. This was why I had taken Dimitri and Silas to the spot where she was to meet with me. Grace was dead now and a lot of the future complications I knew she would bring had died with her.I glanced at the locked door of my room and continued pacing.I had to get word across to Alexis. Just calling him on the phone wouldn't do. I had to see him face to face in order to assure him that our plan was still on, and that Grace's death changed nothing.The only problem now was Dimitri wouldn't want to let me, a supposedly grieving mother, out of his sight. T
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Thirty-Nine
DIMITRIThe place where Grace had chosen to meet with Amelia was very like the place where she had kept Valeria captive. It was on the grounds of a building, a deserted one by the looks of it. The building was in a scarcely frequented part of the city.Silas, Amelia and I got there a full hour before Amelia's appointment with Grace. We chose good hiding spots where we could see and not be seen. Then we settled down to wait for Grace to show up.Thirty minutes before the time of the appointment, we all clearly heard approaching footsteps. A woman came into view. She was wearing a scarf that obscured most of her face and huge sunglasses, but I knew it was Grace. My hands ached with the effort of keeping them still and not going for her right there and then. Grace gave a sweeping look around the area."Get down," I whispered to the persons with me.Though I was sure we couldn't be seen by her, we all went down and peered at her from between the thick foliage of overgrown shrubs we were h
Set me Free, Alpha Hundred and Thirty-Eight
DIMITRI"I can't remember."Amelia had said this more times than I could count in so many different ways, but it still boiled down to the same thing. She still clearly could not remember anything about what Valeria's grandmother had said about her and her past."Why can't I remember?" she said again, with tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes.She glanced over at Valeria. Whenever Amelia had declared that she didn't remember, Valeria, with her head resting on the sofa, nodded mechanically and simply kept staring at the blank wall before her.Seeing that Valeria was more or less unresponsive, Amelia turned to me. "What is wrong with me? Why can't I remember any of what happened?"I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring look, patted her hand. "It's okay. Don't worry. I promise you that I will do everything to find out how your memory was tampered with and if possible, you will get your memories back."Amelia nodded and then just sat there, crying and wringing her hands. I sat by
