MADDISONRedrine looked like she’d seen a ghost immediately she stepped inside. She hesitated before moving closer, like she was being dragged forward by some invisible force. She stood in the middle of the room, her eyes wide, hands clutched together. Her gaze flicked from Mia to Levi… then to me. And when her eyes finally met mine, I knew she was scared. Good. She should be. Because I was scared too.“Redrine,” Levi said, holding up the ring. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough to grasp. “Have you ever seen this ring?” He questioned. Redrine shook her head quickly, like her life depended on it. “No, Alpha. I’ve never seen it before.”If Redrine hadn’t seen the ring, then who could’ve put it in the Storeroom? I know for sure I wasn’t the one. I didn’t go to the storeroom with the ring. Levi’s face darkened. He took one step closer to her and lowered his voice, but somehow made it feel even colder. “If you’re lying to me, Redrine… I will not hesitate to kill you. Is th
ALAN I didn’t understand it either.The ring… I saw Maddison wearing it just yesterday. It was on her finger the whole time. I remember because she kept fidgeting with it while we were talking. So how the hell did it end up inside the storeroom?I stood there for a moment, stunned. The pieces weren’t adding up. My heart was still pounding from everything. And Maddison? I turned slowly to her, already seeing the fire in her eyes.“You planned this?” she yelled, her voice shaking. “Did you plant it there? Did you do this to me on purpose?!”“What? No!” I said quickly, my hands up. “Maddison, I swear….I have no idea how that ring got there.”She was breathing hard now, her chest rising and falling like she was about to explode. “Don’t lie to me! Maybe this is your way of finally getting rid of me!”“For Goddess’ sake, listen to yourself….” “I am listening!” she shouted. “And everything sounds like a trap!”Her voice was too loud. Loud enough for anyone outside to hear.“Shut up,” I
GIA O'LEARY I was pacing the length of my room, my fists clenched, my jaw tight, the heat in my chest refusing to cool down, not even for a bit minutes. I wasn’t angry at Levi. Not really, it was Alan.How dare he? How dare he talk to me like that in front of everyone? How dare he talk to me like I was the one causing trouble?I let out a frustrated breath and threw the nearest pillow at the wall. It hit with a soft thud and dropped to the floor.The sound of it was followed by a gentle knock on the door. “Come in.” My voice was barely above a whisper. The door creaked open, and Maddison walked in like she owned the room, closing the door behind her as if that would trap me inside with her nonsense.“Not now,” I said sharply. “I’m not in the mood.”She didn’t move. She just stood with her arms folded, eyes fixed on me.“I won’t take long,” she said. “I just want to ask you something.”“Maddison, I said not now.” I rolled my eyes.“Respect yourself when I’m being respectful,” she
GIA O'LEARY I grabbed onto the shiny pole in the center of the curbed area in the strip club, just as every other night, this was supposed to be easy. My eyes scanned my audience through my mask, a habit to be certain no one in the crowd was familiar enough to recognize me even with the mask on. I was on display just as every other Friday night, the sickening gazes of these lustful men devoured me ravenously like cackling flames, their leering faces bore unmasked lust. Cheers erupted from the crowd, 'Black Swan' getting chanted from the dark corners of the bar, excited to finally have me on display for them. Wild display. The dim lights cast a golden glow on my skin, accentuating every curve in me as I twirled around the pole. I knew all of the regulars by heart, these boisterous lecherous men ogling at every move I made by the pole were regulars. But tonight, the sudden change of air at the bar stemmed from the unfamiliar face in the VIP area, his piercing green eyes dwelt on
GIA O'LEARYIt was almost morning light when I slipped into my bedroom. I closed the door and rested against it, releasing the trapped air from my lungs as I stood unnaturally still by the closed door. What just happened?The night had grown into something else, something fierce. I kissed a man. I kissed someone for the first time. And I liked it. A lot. No. This was wrong. My eyes screwed tight as though to fight the sizzling thoughts plaguing my mind, the electrifying feel of his rough palm trailing every inch of me, flooding my entire body with heat. What was absolutely wrong became the prickling sensation between my thighs as I conceived these thoughts. Forgive me, sweet goddess but this was a sin too great to resist. To shake off. Keegan didn't want me around his other five daughters because I was a runt. He feared this energy might rub off on them and worse, I was a constant reminder of how tragically his mate, my mom, died so he offered me the antiquated garage to stay In
GIA O'LEARY The tall and imposing doors of the grand hall went open and Keegan led the way in with Madeleine, his pride and joy, clinging to his side, looking more beautiful than ever."Here comes the High priest and his holy maidens!" Emory Rhode, a gregarious man plunged forward to welcome us. I instantly recognized him. The slightly balding man was a regular at the strip club. A pervert to the core. Although I performed every night with my face concealed, I still hid my face with my shawl, afraid of getting recognized. A few pack nobles came forward to welcome us, treating us like we were daughters of the moon goddess.Alpha Levi was a recluse, none of my sisters and I knew what the ruler looked like yet, my sisters were already wedded to him mentally. I chuckled. Just then, the babbles and cackles in the hall ebbed and this made my soft chuckles ring loudly. "Excuse me?" Emory asked, "Is something funny?"His condescending tone and cold eyes made it plain he already knew I
GIA O'LEARYThis certainly was the part where I'd get exposed and put to death for I was no holy maiden. I was an exotic dancer who kissed a man the previous night. His coat in my room a constant reminder that kissing this man who turned out to be the Alpha was never in my head. "I'm blessed with your appearance and that of your holy maidens."The way Alpha Levi said this must've been with a smirk, it was how I pictured his amused tone. My sisters didn't help things, they clustered to themselves as we were ushered to a seat leaving me as the odd one out. The ceremony began with Keegan taking control of the first ritual of the night. This gave me an opportunity to look in Alpha Levi's direction. He looked nothing like he did the previous night. He looked more pale and a bit frail than he was when we first met. Something was wrong. I looked across my sisters and thought of which to pry into a gossip mode with. Sadly, there was none. The first daughter, Beth had been married so she
GIA O'LEARY Keegan tried to persuade Alpha Levi into reevaluating his options but whatever this was about, Levi had already made up his mind. Nothing in Alpha Levi's perceptible mild exterior suggested he recognized me from the previous night. Wth the embroidered loose gown flowing to my ankles and hair covered with the shawl, it was hard to tell I was the same girl twirling around the pole last night. But what were those twinkles at the corners of his eyes whenever they regarded me? "What are you waiting for?" Keegan chided me, his displeasure plain in his manner and tone. I left the chair, towards Levi's outstretched hand. But chose to ignore his hand, I couldn't bear to know what they felt like another time. I couldn't risk his touch exposing me before the scrutinizing gazes of these men. I went straight ahead towards the inner room where the final rituals were to take place. Amusement seemed to twitch at the corners of his sensuous lips, his sweet patchouli tempting, almost
GIA O'LEARY I was pacing the length of my room, my fists clenched, my jaw tight, the heat in my chest refusing to cool down, not even for a bit minutes. I wasn’t angry at Levi. Not really, it was Alan.How dare he? How dare he talk to me like that in front of everyone? How dare he talk to me like I was the one causing trouble?I let out a frustrated breath and threw the nearest pillow at the wall. It hit with a soft thud and dropped to the floor.The sound of it was followed by a gentle knock on the door. “Come in.” My voice was barely above a whisper. The door creaked open, and Maddison walked in like she owned the room, closing the door behind her as if that would trap me inside with her nonsense.“Not now,” I said sharply. “I’m not in the mood.”She didn’t move. She just stood with her arms folded, eyes fixed on me.“I won’t take long,” she said. “I just want to ask you something.”“Maddison, I said not now.” I rolled my eyes.“Respect yourself when I’m being respectful,” she
ALAN I didn’t understand it either.The ring… I saw Maddison wearing it just yesterday. It was on her finger the whole time. I remember because she kept fidgeting with it while we were talking. So how the hell did it end up inside the storeroom?I stood there for a moment, stunned. The pieces weren’t adding up. My heart was still pounding from everything. And Maddison? I turned slowly to her, already seeing the fire in her eyes.“You planned this?” she yelled, her voice shaking. “Did you plant it there? Did you do this to me on purpose?!”“What? No!” I said quickly, my hands up. “Maddison, I swear….I have no idea how that ring got there.”She was breathing hard now, her chest rising and falling like she was about to explode. “Don’t lie to me! Maybe this is your way of finally getting rid of me!”“For Goddess’ sake, listen to yourself….” “I am listening!” she shouted. “And everything sounds like a trap!”Her voice was too loud. Loud enough for anyone outside to hear.“Shut up,” I
MADDISONRedrine looked like she’d seen a ghost immediately she stepped inside. She hesitated before moving closer, like she was being dragged forward by some invisible force. She stood in the middle of the room, her eyes wide, hands clutched together. Her gaze flicked from Mia to Levi… then to me. And when her eyes finally met mine, I knew she was scared. Good. She should be. Because I was scared too.“Redrine,” Levi said, holding up the ring. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough to grasp. “Have you ever seen this ring?” He questioned. Redrine shook her head quickly, like her life depended on it. “No, Alpha. I’ve never seen it before.”If Redrine hadn’t seen the ring, then who could’ve put it in the Storeroom? I know for sure I wasn’t the one. I didn’t go to the storeroom with the ring. Levi’s face darkened. He took one step closer to her and lowered his voice, but somehow made it feel even colder. “If you’re lying to me, Redrine… I will not hesitate to kill you. Is th
GIA O'LEARY“Why are you asking such a question? I just told you I clearly don’t know what you’re talking about!” Maddison denies again. “I’m asking because this ring… It’s yours?” Levi’s voice was calm, but I could feel the tension in his shoulders. He was trying not to jump to conclusions, but even he looked like he already had one.Maddison didn’t answer. She just stared at the ring in his hand, frozen like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.I stepped forward. “Don’t waste your breath, Levi,” I snapped, not even bothering to hide the heat in my voice. “She’s the one who stole the herbs. That ring is proof.”“Gia, calm down. Let her speak.” He frowned at me, his voice soft but firm. I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to breathe through the anger rising in my chest. Maddison had played us all for fools. I knew it in my gut. She stood there, pretending like she didn’t understand anything. Pretending like the ring wasn’t hers.“Let me see the ring clearly,” Maddison final
Gia O'LEARY My eyes stayed on Maddison as Mia spoke, and I watched the change in Maddison’s face. She was shocked, I could see it clearly in her eyes, and that shock snapped something in me.“Don’t utter rubbish, Mia,” Maddison snapped, her voice sharper than it had been before. Her words felt like a slap, but Mia didn’t look scared of her, though her hands were trembling just a little, and she met Maddison’s glare head-on.“I’ve seen the ring on your finger multiple times, Lady Maddison,” Mia said. Her voice wasn’t loud, but I’m sure everyone could hear her. “I know it’s yours, that’s why I brought it for you in case you’re looking for it.” “No!” Maddison replied sharply. “I’m not looking for any rings. Have a problem with that?” Maddison raised an eyebrow for some seconds then turned back to leave, but Mia was fast enough to halt her in a spot by her word. “I think it's your favorite ring since you wore it more than four times in a week.” My heart skipped, and I found myself
LEVI EDELMAN“You don’t have to look at me like that,” I muttered, not looking up. My fingers drummed lightly on the edge of the plate in front of me.“I wasn’t.” Alan blinked, caught.“You were,” I said quietly. I finally looked at him. “I’m fine, alright? You don’t need to worry about me.”He held my gaze for a second longer than I expected, then he nodded, though I knew he didn’t believe me. And I couldn’t blame him.I shifted my eyes toward Gia. Her hand moved slowly with the fork, poking at the vegetables on her plate, barely eating. Her hair was still damp from earlier. I remembered the way the water ran down her skin. The way she avoided my eyes when I held her in the shower.Now, she wore my shirt so big it looked like a gown on her, and she looked smaller than usual. She looks tired too. In a way that made me feel guilty.I heard a foot step turning back to see Maddison striding it. What was I thinking before? She never plays with her stomach. “I see you all couldn’t wait fo
LEVI EDELMAN I held Gia in my arms, her body still warm against mine, her breath coming out in soft gasps. I could feel her heart beating fast, and I couldn’t help but pull her closer. My hand gently traced her skin as I whispered, “Are you sore?”She didn’t answer right away. She looked down, her cheeks flushed, and I could feel the hesitation in her body. She was too shy to speak, and I didn’t want to push her. Instead, I just tightened my hold on her. After a second, I gently scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom. I could tell she was feeling unsure, but I didn’t want her to worry. “We’ll take a shower,” I said quietly. “You don’t have to be shy.”“I don’t want to bathe with you…” Her voice was small.I stopped, holding her for a second, studying her face. “There’s nothing to be shy about,” I assured her. “It’s just us.”I could see the doubt in her eyes, but she didn’t argue. She trusted me. That was all I needed. I turned on the shower, letting the cold water run as
LEVI EDELMAN “Why did you keep ignoring me…” I whispered, my gaze flicking to her, lingering. “When you’re this worried about me?”I knew the moment she stepped inside, I had just kept quiet purposely. I heard every one of her words, and I couldn’t help but flutter my eyes, hurt by the fact that she kept ignoring me, but cried when she saw me sick. Her face was pale, her eyes wet and swollen, strands of hair sticking to her face from the sweat and tears. My gaze dropped, and the sight of her soaked-through blouse clinging to her skin, outlining every curve, sent a sharp ache through me.Her bra was visible through the thin fabric, the soft curve of her breasts rising and falling with every desperate breath she took. My throat tightened, not from pain, but from the raw, quiet need building inside me.I tilted my head slightly, my voice low and hoarse but steady. “Did you come in here looking like this on purpose?”She flinched, her cheeks flushing instantly, and she shook her head. “
GIA O'LEARY My hands lingered at the back of my bra, the hooks stubborn against my fingers. I paused, biting lightly on my lip, my thoughts still tangled up in everything that had happened today. My chest felt heavy. I was still trying to undress when the door burst open so fast it slammed against the wall. I jumped, pulling the fabric against my chest, startled by the sudden sound.Maddison stood at the door, the rage in her eyes shooting forward to me. She clenched her teeth as if she were trying to hold back his anger. “What did you do to him?” Was the only word she uttered, her eyes darting across the room. “What did you mean?” I raised an eyebrow clearly confused about his statements. “It’s your fault!” She yelled. “It’s because of you. Because of your incompetence… his condition got this bad.”My heart stopped and my body went rigid. I stared at her, her words repeating over and over in my head.“What do you mean?” My voice came out low, almost broken. “Maddison, what are