GIA O'LEARY I stared at my image in the mirror almost unsurely. Back at the strip bar, I usually changed into my costumes at the janitor's closet. The fabrics were my boss's, so I couldn't take them home, and even though he allowed it, I dared not! I turned slightly, and my heart melted away when a visible reveal of my ass skin through the net layer lingerie hit my sight. I'd asked Redrine to get me lingerie and body stockings from a clothes store. Trying them all out now, I couldn't believe the sorts of pieces I was seeing. The current lingerie I had on seemed to be the most recent one of the others. Throwing on a thick, long, hairy overall coat, I drew a sharp intake of breath, fisted my knuckles, and headed out. I placed a weak knock on the wooden door as I approached, my heart somersaulting a thousand times in every single minute. “It's open.” Levi hollered from inside. I pushed the knob slowly, walking into the darkness that welcomed me. I stood nervously by the door and
ALAN WOODS I watched beside Levi, my hands tucked calmly in my pockets. Camela walked slowly to stand before Maddison, stopping her from moving any further. I liked the firm look on Maddison’s face. Unlike every other time she's had to deal with Camela, she didn't wither this time. Does it mean she was starting to give up on Levi? She wasn't trying to impress him or his mother's crazy friend, Camela, to earn any of their favors. Camela goes, “Why are you still in this mansion?’’ Maddison remained quiet. I didn't expect any reaction from Levi, and thankfully, he didn't move. Just another reason to urge Maddison into hating him. “I'm talking to you, stupid!’’ She snapped. “What do you suppose I say? You already know what my stay here is about, not like your dear son is directing me the attention you're always about.’’ Maddison said, though with a bit of softness in her eyes. I understood that she was trying to pass the message without being completely rude, which was fine. Sti
GIA O'LEARY“What is with you both?’’ Camela nudged my hand when she couldn't keep it in any longer.I knew exactly what she was talking about but of course, I couldn't admit it so quickly.“What do you mean?’’ I feigned oblivion, touching my hair lightly.“Did you guys have a fight?’’ She asked again.“Fight?’’ I sniggered, stuffing my mouth with food to allow only a mutter off my lips. “What do you mean fight?’’“So what is with this cold air be
GIA O'LEARYI clenched my fists hard, holding on to my firm resolve to stay against his warning. I couldn't think any deeper than my mind willed for.He moved away from me, but without attempting a step. My heart pounded in anticipation.What would he do next after my refusal to leave?‘‘Didn't you hear me?’’ He voiced.I didn't miss the unmistakable notion of awe hinted in his voice.“I did,’’ I answered. My nails dug deeply into the flesh of my palms as I tried to control my conduct.
GIA O'LEARY I bit my lip in embarrassment, lowering my eyes to his chest when no replies came from him. I must have bitten too much. I went too far, making such a senseless outburst without thinking. “Go wash up. That'd be all for today.’’ He finally said.Though it was no way in compliance with my outburst, I appreciated the fact that his countenance didn't switch. I climbed down the bed obediently once he released my frame, heading to the bathroom to wash myself up. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and my cheeks heated up badly as memories from minutes ago came replaying in my head. I splashed some more water on my face, knotting my towel properly before stepping out of the bathroom. “It's beautiful,’’ I uttered sincerely as I approached the bed.‘‘What is?’’ Levi asked, though with his eyes glued to his phone. “The bathroom designs.’’ I clarified, taking a seat on the bed. It was my first time going into his bathroom and that sure added to my heavy blush back there.
MADDISON SNOW Restless. Uneasy. Angstful and disturbed. I couldn't lie on the side for too long. I was choking to death. The constant swirling thoughts in my head were driving me crazy. “Ahhrrggh!!’’ I sat up from bed, ruffling my hair madly. “That damn bitch, Gia! She's the reason everything is turning out this badly, I don't blame Alan at all. If Levi hadn't been ignoring me because of her, I'd never have stooped to sleeping with Alan.’’I stormed out of my bedroom, heading for Levi's suite with no actual thought in my head. I drew a long, relaxing breath, calming my nerves a bit before placing a knock on the door. “It's open,’’ Levi called out casually from inside.He definitely didn't expect me to be the one behind the door. Well, too unfortunate for him then!I walked in. He relaxed over a book which, at one glance, I recognised to be one of the pack annuals. He swatted his gaze at me, and I could swear I saw disappointment flash through his features. “Hi.’’ I put up a smil
GIA O'LEARYI crumpled myself on the bed, forcing myself to catch some sleep. even though my eyes were spread wide open. No, I happened to find them open each time I closed them and tried to sleep.A vibration jolted my bed, and I turned over to see it was a message popping into my phone. Bringing the screen to my face, my heart skipped a beat when I noticed it was a message from Levi.My fingers tapped on the content immediately, and my eyes went wide as they scanned through the lines.Finally, he’s asking me to come over. Perhaps he wants me to spend the night in his suite? He didn't mention anything about stripping tonight and even his message simply asked me ov
GIA O'LEARYHis voice was nothing compared to what it was just seconds ago. It made me rethink my impending action, and I clipped my fingers into a fist.I loved to hear him use such a hard tone on Maddison. This would be my first time experiencing it, and I'd do anything to let it last long enough.“What do you mean by that, you'd choose this minor over me?’’ Maddison sprouted.That hurt my pride. I turned to her in anger, but Levi's warm palm squeezed my neck softly. A subtle gesture asking me not to react. I stayed back calm, my anger magically disappeared.“Yeah, I'd in fact choose a minor over you. It
LEVI EDELMANThe moment I saw her step outside, my breath stalled for a second.Gia walked down the steps with her chin held high, dressed so simple yet so beautiful it almost felt like the world slowed around her. The soft breeze caught strands of her hair, brushing them gently against her cheek, and for a second, I forgot about everything.All I could think about was how I’d let my temper get the best of me last night.I hadn’t meant to leave her room like that. I only wanted her to understand, but the more I tried to explain, the more it felt like I was losing her. I knew she didn’t trust Alan, and maybe I was a fool for believing she could see him the way I did.&n
GIA O’LEARYI stared at him for a moment, waiting for the joke to land. But it didn’t.When he told me he wanted Alan to be Alpha, I had laughed, not because I found it funny, but because I couldn’t believe it. The words sounded so strange coming out of his mouth, like they belonged in someone else’s world, not his.But Levi didn’t even crack a smile. His face stayed the same, calm, distant, and sure.That was when the laughter died in my throat.“You’re serious?” I asked, my voice low, searching for even the smallest hint that he was teasing.
LEVI EDELMAN I watched her face closely, the way her brows pulled together, the way her fingers twisted the loose thread of her sleeve like her thoughts were stuck in knots she couldn’t untangle.She had asked me if I thought the maid was the one behind it. If I believed the herbs had really been found just like that, without some deeper plan hiding underneath it all.I leaned back a little, stretching my legs out with a deep sigh. “It’s not the maid,” I said simply. “She was set up.”Gia’s head lifted slowly, her eyes finding mine. I could see the question in her face even before she opened her mouth.“If the maid was really the one who stole the herbs, like I have said,” I went on, “she wouldn’t have meddled with them. She would’ve left them alone and waited for someone else to find them naturally.”Her lips parted, but no words came right away. She was quiet for a while, almost like she was replaying everything in her head, fitting the pieces together, trying to make sense of it
GIA O’LEARYI couldn’t sit still.I paced back and forth across the room like a caged animal, my mind spinning faster with each step. No matter how many times I tried to make sense of it, I couldn’t. My thoughts kept chasing each other in circles.Mia found the herbs. That should’ve been good news. It should’ve been a relief. But all it did was make my stomach twist tighter. If she could find them, did that mean she wasn’t the one who took them in the first place? Or was she smart enough to return them without raising suspicion? Maybe that was her plan all along. Maybe showing them now was just her way of clearing her name.The more I thought about it, the more lost I felt. None of it added up.My chest ached from the weight of it all. Someone had to be lying. Someone had to have tampered with those herbs, which means the person’s main intention is either to tamper with Levi’s heart or trying to lay Levi’s suspicion on me. I stopped pacing for a second, standing in the middle of the
MADDISON SNOWThe moment I heard Mia’s voice say those words, my whole body jumped. My heart skipped so hard I thought it would burst through my chest.She found the herbs? How?I stood up without thinking, the chair screeching behind me, my legs moving on their own. My mind was racing too fast, trying to catch up with the shock. I clearly remembered what Alan told me before. He said the herbs were properly kept, hidden, and safe. No one should’ve found them. No one.But here we were, Mia testifying she had come across the herbs while cleaning.I turned my head slowly toward Alan, search
LEVI EDELMANI knew Alan was watching out for me. His eyes kept moving between me and Gia, but I didn’t care. Whether he was worried or not wasn’t my concern. The only thing I cared about was the way Gia sat beside me, looking like her mind wasn’t even here.Ever since we sat down for dinner, I’d noticed the way her hands kept shaking. It wasn’t much at first, just small, soft movements but the longer it went on, the more it started to bother me. I hated it. I hated the way she looked right now.I watched her pick up her fork, her fingers barely steady enough to hold it. She didn’t even lift the food to her mouth. She just stared at the plate, like she was too lost in her own thoughts to even remember where she was
GIA O'LEARY I stood there, frozen. My mind couldn’t understand what I just heard.For a moment, I couldn’t even speak. My lips parted, but no words came out. I looked at Levi, hoping maybe I had heard wrong. But his face was serious.“Is that… is that even possible?” My voice sounded small, almost like it wasn’t mine.Levi’s hand reached for mine, warm and steady. His thumb brushed lightly over my skin as he gave me a small shake of his head.“Yes, so don’t worry yourself about it,” he said. His voice was calm, but I could feel the tension under it.My stomach tightened. I lowered my eyes, feeling the guilt that had been sitting heavy on me from the start. I had caused too much trouble, more than I ever meant to. I didn’t even know how to fix it, or how things had gotten this messy. It felt like every time I tried to breathe, the weight on my chest only got heavier.“I’m sorry, Levi,” I whispered. My throat tightened as I spoke. “I really am. I didn’t want to cause any of this.”His
LEVI EDELMAN. The magazine in my hand had been stuck on the same page for what felt like hours. My eyes scanned the words, but nothing stayed long enough to make sense. Every line blurred together, every picture looked the same.And it’s because my mind wasn’t on the pages. It was on Gia. I leaned back against the chair, letting the magazine fall loosely onto my lap.I didn’t know why it kept replaying in my head, the way tears fall from her eyes without so much effort amazes me. And now, thinking about it, I didn’t even understand why it made me laugh.I let out a low, dry chuckle, shaking my head at myself.I rubbed a hand over my face, pressing the heel of my palm into my eyes until the sting faded.A soft knock tapped against the door, pulling me out of my thoughts.“Sir,” a voice called, I know it’s a maid so I didn’t bother to reply. “Dinner’s ready.”I didn’t answer right away. My hand dropped from my face, falling back onto the magazine, still open to the same page I had
LEVI EDELMAN I don’t know how long I sat in the room. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, pressing against my chest, making it hard to breathe. My mind had gone too quiet, too heavy, like even my own thoughts had given up on me.I stared at nothing but feeling everything.At some point, I pushed myself up and left the room. I didn’t know where I was going. I just needed to breathe, or maybe I just needed to move, to remind myself I still could.I’d been trying not to think too much about Alan. Trying not to focus on how he always found a way to push Maddison away whenever I tried to lash out at her.I couldn’t understand it. Alan never did anything without a reason, but this time, I couldn’t figure him out.The thought stayed in my head, even as I turned the corner, heading for the door. But before I could step outside, I slowed down when I heard Keegan’s voice.I frowned, wondering what he was doing here and why he hadn’t told me.I took a step forward, and then I saw Gi