Knight In Shining Armor"You don't have to be sorry," I murmured. My mind flashed back to the first time he kissed me in his car, where he said it didn't mean a thing because it usually happens with adults. We'd been having more moments after that one, and it just kept on getting better. Were they the same as the first one, which didn't mean a thing? I sought to ask him but waved off the thoughts. It's an embarrassing topic anyway.The room turned silent for a while with Arthur scrolling down his phone while I fidgeted with my fingers, swinging my feet, and staring closely at him, my eyes almost boring holes if they could."Do you have something to say? I can feel your eyes on me," he said without losing focus on his phone."Why did you ever agree to help me with my father's case?" I asked."Me?" he asked as he withdrew his attention from the phone, an almost confused look on his face, "When did I ever agree to help you?" He denied."You didn't help me directly, but you went through t
*Warning*Arthur's POV:As soon as I left, I jumped into my car, reversing aggressively before driving out of Elara's home. I knew I had to end this threat now because there was no telling what would happen after I left the country.I recognized the handwriting on the paper; it wasn't hard to figure out who it belonged to. My fist clenched on the steering wheel as I hit the accelerator, wasting no time to reach the Graham estate.I stopped by my parents' house, and luckily Caitlin was at home. I barged into the dining room and went to Caitlin's side immediately. Startled to see me, my mother called, "Arthur, you're here?""I want to speak with Caitlin for a moment," I said."You came at the right time; have dinner with the family before you leave." My father offered, but I didn't bother to respond to them, just led Caitlin out of the room down to the patio."What are you doing?" I asked her, and for a moment, she seemed confused with furrowed brows. "Huh? What am I doing? I was about
*The Guilt Within*Harden's POV:I stormed into Caitlin's room, forcing the door knob open and entered. My anger still boiling beneath the surface, the image of my mother lying unconscious in the hospital bed haunted me, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of what she had done to Mother."Baby, you came here; I was about to come," Caitlin said as soon as she met my eyes."What the hell were you thinking, Caitlin?" I attacked her with words, not letting her finish, my voice laced with fury.Caitlin looked up, startled by my sudden change of tone. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she seemed taken aback by my intensity. "H-Harden, I..." she stammered, clearly at a loss for words."Caitlin, what did you do to Mother?" I asked, trying to be as subtle as I could this time. This is the Dawn pack, and I shouldn't make a huge fuss here, and I shouldn't completely disregard Caitlin's role in our pack. Losing her support would only weaken us further, and I couldn't afford that, especially no
*Towards the Sun*Harden's POV:The morning sun crept through the windows, casting a soft glow across my office lounge as I woke up from my slumber. Memories of last night flooded back, but they felt distant and hazy, clouded by the fog of alcohol and desire. As I slowly regained my senses, I realized I was not alone in bed.Turning my head to the side, I saw Melissa, the office secretary, lying beside me stark naked, her features softened in the gentle morning light. Guilt gnawed at the edges of my conscience as I remembered asking her to spend the night with me. I also recalled calling out Elara's name, and then the ecstasy that followed, but it wasn't her. I felt bad for using this woman as a stand-in for the night. I wiped my face with my hand, frustrated.Careful not to disturb her, I slipped out of bed with the sheet hanging loosely on my waist and went to the bathroom. I filled the bathtub and ran a quick bubble bath.The events of the previous night weighed heavily on my mind.
*By Your Side*Elara's POV:I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out my dress and trying to calm my nerves. I had a few moments to spare before heading out for the interview at the club. Just as I was about to grab my purse, my phone rang. It was Jaxson again. I rolled my eyes, knowing what he was going to say."Hey, Elara.""I'm about to leave for an interview. Can I call you later?" I asked."I'll be quick," he replied, his voice laced with concern. "I still can't shake off the feeling that I need to do something.""Jaxson, we just talked about this. I appreciate your willingness to help, but I can handle it," I replied, trying to sound convincing."But Harden's being unreasonable. If I can just talk to him, I'm sure he'll come around," Jaxson persisted.I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude towards my friend. "Jaxson, you can't just go against Harden like that. He's still the leader of the pack. If you challenge him, you might end up turning rogue. Your family c
*Lost and Alone*Harden's POV:I stood in our favorite spot, the same place where we had shared countless memories. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. I could feel my heart racing with anticipation as I waited for Elara to arrive. I just wanted to know if Melissa's words were true and if she had moved on completely, because I haven't, even after rejecting her.Although I wasn't the one who made her lose her job, there was nothing I could do to convince her. I could only turn the situation in my favor. When she finally showed up, I was taken aback by her confidence and poise. She held a strong, stoic face, staring nonchalantly at me. I quickly threw out the cigarette in my hand because my conscious mind reminded me that she never liked it."Elara," I said, my voice low and husky. "You look beautiful."She raised an eyebrow, her expression unyielding. "Am I supposed to say thank you? Cut that, Harden. Tell me what you want, and why you called me here?"
*A Mother’s Betrayal-1**Elara's POV:*I couldn't stop trembling as I made my way to meet with Jaxson at the pack.Jaxson had called me again, his voice strained with worry as he spoke. He assured me that the news wasn't entirely true. My father was stabbed and then locked in the confinement room, but he survived. By the time they arrived, they had found him soaked in a pool of blood, but he wasn't dead.My father had been sent to the hospital, and though he was stable for the time being, his condition was critical. My mind raced with fear and anger, and I felt like I was being torn apart inside. How much more could I endure?When I finally arrived, I rushed into the hospital, my heart pounding. I found Jaxson pacing in the hallway, his expression grim."Jaxson," I called out, my voice shaking. "How is he?"He stopped and looked at me with weary eyes. "He's stable for now, Elara, but the doctors say his condition is touch and go. They had to perform emergency surgery to stop the bleed
*A Mother's Betrayal-2*Elara's POV:"Why did you do that?!" I yelled at her. She shoved me off, staring at me with bloodlust in her eyes."Stay away from me!""What is wrong with you?!" I barked. I saw it now; she didn't look like she had any remorse for her actions. This woman was ready to end the last reputation our family still held."I've been left to fend for myself ever since my foolish daughter and husband landed in trouble, taking them out of my life.""Mom...!""You know how hard I struggle with my addiction. I need money to get the substance. You're not here to give me money."I've sold as much as I can from that rotten apartment. There’s nothing left to sell."She paused, her eyes searching mine for any sign of sympathy. "The Alpha offered to lend me some money. When I couldn’t pay back, he refused to give me any more, despite my pleas. I told him I just needed more time." Her grip on my hand tightened, desperation evident in her touch. "You can talk to him, right? Tell hi