“I swear, if I find out you're joking, I'm going to kill you. Like, really kill you,” Cecil said, swirling the reddish hangover liquid in the ceramic bowl, watching me with a suspicious eye.She’d woken up about eighteen minutes ago, demanding to know what had happened and how she ended up drunk with a very non-human alcohol. I had brought the bottle with us to show her when she woke up. I wanted her to see how careless she’d been.“I have to make lunch, Cecil. Stop keeping me here,” I groaned, uncrossing my legs and crossing them again.“Well, the story doesn’t line up,” she said, placing the bowl on the counter. “I got really, seriously drunk, and somehow you found me in the car of this insanely hot redhead who said he is my mate, right?”I nodded.She continued, “And then you took me away from him with a promise that you were going to set up a date for both of us to meet since you didn’t trust him that much. And you collected his number. Then he helped you take me into the Parkhous
I knew it wasn’t right to worry someone who was on a date, so I grabbed my bag and the rest of my essentials and bolted out of the house the moment I got a call from Victor. He told me to come to Hatty's Hospital immediately.A bloody fight had broken out between two women. The offender was found dead—or in this case, she was too weak to heal and died halfway to the hospital. The victim suffered traumatic brain shock, internal fatal trauma, and third-degree burns all over her body. The burns were caused by wolfsbane and may have been the main cause of death.**1 HOUR, 30 MINUTES AGO**Cecil twirled in her dress in front of the mirror, giggling while I packed all her makeup and put it back in the boxes. And people think a Luna gets more respect and rest. “Okay, seriously, you need to go. Haven't you heard of the saying; if you keep staring at your reflection, you're going to be ugly. You haven't heard of it?” I pushed the boxes under her shoe shelf since I wasn't tall enough to put
Damon still had that worried look on his face, and he looked so uneasy that I started to wonder why. He was usually a deranged asshole who didn’t need or appreciate the care I gave him. But if he was this worried, then I feared whatever it was about had a way of affecting me too.Victor and I approached Damon, Selene, and Zara where they stood at the front of the ward. Probably where the victim’s body was. Zara collected my bag and handed me a bunch of papers about the victim. It was too much to read, so I handed them back to her, telling her to brief me later as I was more interested in whatever discussion Victor was going to have with Damon.“Is he done running the tests?” Damon asked, his eyes darting from me to Victor.What tests?Victor nodded. “Yes, nothing. Not a witch.”I looked at Victor. “A witch?”“The doctor thinks it was a witch, since finding wolfsbane is normal for them. The defendant doesn’t remember what happened, and that is not normal.”“Her head was bandaged, thoug
As I walked back out into the hallway, I saw Victor leaning against the wall, speaking into the phone. He looked tense, his other hand in his pocket. I waited for him to end the call, and when he shoved the phone into his pocket, he asked, “How are you holding up?”I shrugged, not really knowing how to answer. “It’s a lot to take in. But I'll figure it out. I always do.”He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Yeah, you will.”I sighed. “I have to leave now. Cecil has a date, and I wouldn’t want her to be alone when she comes back.”“Sure,” he pointed to his ear, reminding me to call once I reach home.I nodded and left, heading towards the exit. Zara was in the front seat of the car with the driver. She tried to come down to open the door for me, but I shook my head, signaling her to stay put. I got into the car and grabbed my phone from my bag, which was already in the back seat.As we drove off, I texted Cecil to check on her date. ‘How’s it going with Mr. Perfect?’ I typed quickly
After Cecil fell asleep, I found myself wide awake, so I ended up spending the rest of the night chatting with Victor. It wasn’t just a casual conversation; it was intimate and personal, the kind of discussion that leaves you feeling both nervous and excited. We talked about everything and nothing, our future and fantasies, our hopes and fears and also nudes. Hehehe! He was naughty.The next morning, I watched Cecil drive away. We exchanged hugs, and I stood there until her car was just a dot in the distance. Once she was gone, I headed out for some grocery shopping. The store was its usual bustling self, filled with people pushing their carts and chatting in the aisles. I grabbed what I needed quickly, eager to get back home and avoid the crowd and to make lunch as early as possible. The aisles were crowded, and I had to navigate through the throngs of people, their chatter and laughter creating a lively background noise. I noticed a young couple arguing over which brand of cereal to
I woke up feeling groggy, the events of yesterday still clear and going round heavily on my mind. Damon had left early this morning for the trip to lunar with his secretary Selene, leaving me to get killed by whoever that burglar was.Of course , he was heartless like that. As I sat at the breakfast table, pushing cereal around in my bowl, my phone buzzed. I had a video call scheduled with Luxury to check in on the business. The call was pasted in a blur. I nodded and gave half-hearted responses as Elizabeth and Jennie updated me on the sales and upcoming events and also some VIP customer lately. My mind kept drifting back to what happened yesterday, making it hard to focus. Once the call was over, I tried to shake off the unease and decided to freshen up. I couldn't stay here alone any for another day.What if whoever has been stalking me, or the burglar broke in.I pulled on a ruffled skirt and a matching shirt, trying to put some effort into my appearance even though I felt anyt
The next morning, I heard the familiar sound of Victor's car pulling up downstairs. Panic set in, and I rushed to put everything back in its place. I moved the sofa and other things I had used to wedge the door shut. I didn't want Victor to think I was paranoid or, worse, losing my mind like Damon had hinted at when I lost my baby.He walked in and immediately noticed my sweaty, disheveled appearance. I should have done something about it sooner. Stupid me.He raised an eyebrow. “What were you up to? You look homeless,” he asked.I tried to sound as casual as I could. "Just tidying up a bit. How was work?""Tiring," he replied with a weary sigh. "I just want to squish my head into your boobs right now.”See, naughty.We chatted briefly about his day as he headed to the bathroom to freshen up. I took the opportunity to microwave the leftover spaghetti and set the table. When he came out, I served him dinner, and he seemed to relax a bit.After he finished eating, I offered to give him
I just came back from one of the numerous pack meeting one afternoon, so I decided to just stop by at Luxury, since it was a bit early to go home and I wanted to tire myself out so I'd just fall asleep once I reach home and not have time to think about my life. As I was browsing through racks of new designs to showcase , my phone buzzed with a notification. It was an email from one of the fashion bloggers I had been in touch with to help push Luxury out front. I tapped on the photo attached to the email, hoping for a distraction, but the words on the screen only made my heart skip a beat.“Ms Pierce, I thought you might want to know. I saw Victor at an event last night with a woman I've never seen before. They looked pretty close. Thought you'd want to know. Take care.”Marigold, the blogger, after seeing the photos of me and Victor at the red carpet event didn't stop pestering me to date him even though I told her that was a private matter and he was my father in-law.She was a blogg
Leo’s POVShock couldn’t even describe how I felt when Michael and Greg were in the same room as us. It was hard not to show my displeasure as I watched them sit eagerly, rubbing their palms at the delicacy presented to them. While Michael was just interested in whatever this was, Greg cast furtive glances at me, but I paid him no attention.The least he could have done was to have informed me beforehand that my best friend had offered him an invitation to have dinner at the house. I could have told him to decline. If he had, Michael would have done the same, and I wouldn’t have had to watch Lila so uncomfortable.She squirmed in her seat, not looking up from the table. Her plate was empty, as she had yet to take what she wanted. But she had already been accosted, so I doubted she was interested in whatever was in those dishes.“This is amazing,” Michael gushed like a child who had just been handed his favorite candy. “I’m sitting in the same room as Leo and Armani. I can’t wait to te
Ana stepped into the pharmacy on her way to Victor's, with a sense of urgency. She made her way to the counter, her eyes scanning the shelves until she found what she was looking for. Birth control pills. She grabbed a pack, paid for it quickly, and left the store, her mind already focused on the night ahead. Hoping no one's attention was in her.Once outside, she took a deep breath and fished the packet out of her bag. She popped a pill into her mouth and swallowed it dry, anticipating her arrival at the mansion. She could feel the excitement building, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she imagined what was to come.Arriving at the house, she let herself in with the spare key he had given her. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of voices coming from the dining room. She walked in and found him sitting at the dining table, engrossed in a live Zoom call. His laptop was open in front of him, and two businessmen were visible on the screen, discussing some important matte
After getting the things he needed at the store, Carlos' uncle, Frances decided not to drive straight home if maybe not. Instead, he took a detour to a dimly lit tea shop. He parked in front and walked on foot to a bar a bit farther away. It might be calculated move on his part, a way to throw off anyone who might be following him.Entering the bar, he found a secluded corner and settled in, ordering a few less alcoholic drinks. He knew he needed to stay awake, and nit get drunk. As he sipped his drink, he kept an eye on the door, waiting for his contact to show up. He was told this bar sold cookies, and despite the unusual setting, he couldn't resist ordering some.An hour passed, and there was still no sign of his contact. He ordered another drink, more out of a need to maintain his cover than a desire for alcohol. The bar was a typical dive, with dim lighting and the smell of stale beer hanging in the air. He tried to stay calm, but the wait was beginning to get to him.After wait
Ana spent the rest of her morning and early afternoon in blissful solitude. She played games on her phone, The hours slipped by unnoticed, and soon she felt the heavy pull of sleep. Without bothering to change, she curled up on her bed and napped.When she woke up, it was late afternoon. The house was quieter now, the bustle of the morning's chaos having subsided. She stretched and took a moment to reorient herself, then decided it was time to freshen up and shake off the remnants of sleep. She wanted to make the most of her remaining free time before the annual packs' meeting.She dressed up in a casual chiffon dress, applied a little makeup, grabbed her bag and left her room, moving quietly through the house. She tried her best to avoid any lingering annoying family members, not wanting to risk another confrontation or forced interaction, or even an insult regarding her choice not to get pregnant. As she stepped outside, the cool afternoon air greeted her. Smelt like summer was just
The girl jumped, her face paling as she stammered an apology and quickly scurried away. Ana watched her go, irritation still simmering. She put in her key, twisted until she heard a click and then shd pushed the door open, entering her sanctuary. She took a moment to breathe, willing herself to calm down. The last thing she needed was to let anyone down there see her rattled.She freshened up quickly, splashing cold water on her face and running a brush through her hair. She changed into something more presentable, even though the effort felt wasted. These breakfasts were always the same—forced smiles and shallow conversations, or just them plainly trying to piss her off Descending the stairs. Damon was seated at the head of the table, with Catherine by the left, there was someone else by the right and he gestured the lady to move when he saw me approaching.Well, let's just not start on the part where he just acted nice and weird, like he's been doing lately.Victor, predictably, wa
The next morning, Ana lounged in the living room, munching on popcorn while Zara massaged her feet. She watched as Catherine, always the attention-seeker, prepared an extravagant breakfast. As usual, Catherine had invited almost the entire Pierce family for a feast without bothering to inform anyone beforehand. It was such a Catherine thing to do—spontaneous, inconsiderate, and utterly exhausting for everyone else involved.The kitchen was a chaotic mess of clattering pots and pans, the smell of cooking food thick in the air. Selene and the other maids bustled around, trying to keep up with her relentless pace. Ana watched them with detached amusement, knowing full well that any call for help from Catherine would be met with thinly veiled disdain.Catherine, in her own world, directed the maids with sharp commands, her voice carrying over the noise. Ana knew better than to engage. She had learned long ago that nothing she did would ever be good enough for Catherine, and she had stoppe
In the dimly lit warehouse, the men lounged around, a sense of nonchalance hanging in the air. The men were taking a break from their gruesome duties, their faces reflecting a mix of boredom and tiredness and maybe a bit sleepines. The smell of sweat, smoke, and faint hints of blood filled the room."Hey, you got another one of those?" one of the men asked, nodding toward a cigarette as he sprawled on a worn-out couch."Sure," another replied, tossing him a pack. "We're gonna need something stronger if we have to go back to work soon.""Tell me about it," the first man muttered, lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drag. He exhaled slowly, the smoke curling up towards the ceiling. "I’m tired of babysitting that old woman. shouldn't we just clear her. I wonder why she's here.""Seriously man, but orders are orders," the second man shrugged, leaning back and closing his eyes. "Besides, we’ve got that other guy to keep things interesting."In the corner of the warehouse, their other
Ana woke up early the next morning, the soft morning light filtering through her bedroom window, she was driven home last night after dinner by Jules under Victor's order since he refused to let her hail a taxi. She stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Today was the day she would prepare for the annual packs' meeting, an event that required her to be both presentable and versatile. The meeting was a significant occasion, filled with formal discussions and various activities, and she needed to look her best, but to beat the gossips and also build her confidence.As she dressed after freshening up, her thoughts turned to her wardrobe. Many of her clothes seemed dull and uninspired, and so was the ones she bought earlier for the meeting. She decided it was time to update her collection. Grabbing her phone, she made a quick list of the essentials she needed: a few new dresses, some casual outfits, and accessories to match. She also noted that she might need a couple of versatile
Lucas stood up, pondering her words. He exchanged a glance with the leader of the men, who gave a slight nod."You did the right thing by telling us, Maria," Lucas said. "We'll make sure your grandchildren are safe. But you need to understand that if I find out you lied, your grandkids wouldn't be safe in my hands either"She nodded vehemently, tears streaming down her face. "I swear, everything I just told you is the truth. Please, just protect them. They’re all I have left."He gave her a small, almost pitying smile, that to a normal eye would look a bit forced. "Very well then. We'll do our best. Remember, Maria, trust is a fragile thing. Don't give us a reason to break it.""I promise, I'm not lying"As they left her alone in the warehouse, her heart sank into a deep pit of despair, her mind racing with thoughts of her grandchildren. Outside, Lucas walked briskly to his car, which was parked just outside the warehouse. He climbed into the driver's seat, leaving the door open for a