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31. Beyond Lies
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2023-11-08 21:53:55
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The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 32. Crawl
BastienThe quiet hum of activity outside my office door contrasts sharply with the storm brewing within its confines. I sit behind my desk, the sprawling city skyline beyond acting as a silent witness to the thousands of thoughts racing through my mind.Anya is at the switchboard, her beguiling innocence and the shadow of guilt in her eyes are a jarring mixture. Her focus seems to be on the wires and lights, but I can tell her mind is miles away.I watch her, noting the furrow of her brow in concentration, the way she nibbles on her lip when sheโs focused. Thereโs an innate grace to her, present even in the mundane tasks, that has ensnared me completely. But that grace is laced with a secret, one she clings to with hands trembling under the weight of her guilt.Itโs been a week since weโve started this thing between us, but something feels โฆ off.I pick up my phone, the sleek device a lifeline to another who understands the burden of birthrightโNiko. When he answers, the gravel in hi
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-09The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 33. An Order
AnyaThe silence of the penthouse feels heavier than usual, the echo of Bastienโs absence palpable in every corner. I wander aimlessly from room to room, my steps quieter without his presence. The vibrancy of our sanctuary has dimmed, and Iโm left to navigate the shadowy hush on my own.I try to fill my time with books, with music, anything to drown out the stillness, but itโs no use. The melodies fall flat, the words blend into a meaningless blur. Restlessness takes hold, urging me back to the switchboard, back to some semblance of normalcy.As I settle into the familiar chair, the switchboard before me feels like a lifeline, a connection to the outside world, to life. I don the headset, the soft hum of the line a comforting sound. Calls trickle in, mundane inquiries and requests that I handle with practiced ease. Itโs during one of these calls that it happens.And then it happens.The line crackles, and then a voiceโdeep and unmistakableโspeaks in Russian. My blood runs cold, my bod
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-10The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 34. Step One
BastienI pull up to Nikoโs sprawling estate, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the grounds. As I step out of the car, my boots crunch on the gravel, and I take a deep breath, bracing myself for the night ahead. Thereโs work to be done, plans to be made, and a sense of urgency that has settled deep in my bones.I enter the house, the familiar scent of aged wood and history greeting me. Thereโs an undercurrent of tension in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the stakes at play. I make my way through the hallways, my steps measured, my senses alert.As soon as I get outside to the back garden, I see Nikoโs wife sitting with a few other women Iโm guessing are the Gamma brides. Iโm actually quite taken aback at how content they all look, given that theyโre all here because of arranged marriages. I walk out to greet them and see the surprise on their faces as they see me. Their eyes flit from me to behind me and when I turn around, I see my brother.โI was w
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-10The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 35. Welcome Home
AnyaI slowly open my eyes and the first thing I feel is a hard body pressed against my back, warm breath tickling the nape of my neck. A contented smile plays on my lips, and I canโt help but feel a surge of warmth.Bastienโs home.He stirs, and I feel the shift in his arm around my waist as he pulls me even closer. โMorning, baby,โ he mumbles, his voice a low, gravelly murmur that sends a delightful shiver down my spine.โMorning,โ I reply, my voice a soft whisper. I turn to face him, and the moment our eyes meet, a shared understanding passes between us. The events of the past few days, the unspoken questions, and the looming uncertainties are momentarily set aside. In this quiet morning, itโs just us.Bastien leans in, his lips brushing against mine in a sweet, lingering kiss. โSleep well?โ he asks, his fingers tracing absent patterns on my shoulder.โMm-hmm, like a baby,โ I reply, a playful twinkle in my eyes. He grins, and I canโt help but marvel at the way his green eyes light
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-11The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 36. Her Secrets
Bastien The air in the room thickens as Anyaโs admission hangs between us. She takes a deep breath, and her words cut through the silence with a weight I hadnโt anticipated. โIโve been hiding something from you,โ she confesses, her voice laced with a mixture of fear and regret. She meets my gaze, her eyes searching for a reaction. I raise an eyebrow, urging her to continue, though a part of me already senses the storm brewing beneath the surface. โMy full name is Anya Popov,โ she reveals, each syllable landing like a lead weight in the room. The name echoes in my mind, sending ripples of anger and betrayal through me. Popovโa name synonymous with pain, vengeance, and the twisted fate that led me to this point. Niko suspected this, I have to get her DNA to prove it, for fuckโs sake and here she isโฆ spilling her guts. โWhy didnโt you tell me this before?โ I demand, my voice a low, controlled growl. Anya takes a step back, her eyes wide with trepidation. โI... I kept it hidden beca
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-11The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 37. Step Two
BastienThe next day arrives with the heavy burden of betrayal clinging to the air. I awake to the cold realization that everything has changed. Anya, once someone who I came to love, now stands exposed as a pawn in a game I never wanted to play.As I step into my office, the residue of last nightโs anger still lingering, Anya approaches me tentatively. Her eyes, once brimming with affection, now hold a desperate plea for understanding.โBastien, please,โ she implores, her voice cracking with emotion. โI never wanted to hurt you, Iโฆ didnโt think this through, I never expected to fall in love with you.โHer words, once a soothing melody, now grate against the walls of my resolve. I meet her gaze with a stony expression, a wall built to shield my wounded heart.โSave your declarations for your father,โ I reply, my tone icy and devoid of the warmth she once reveled in. โIโm sure heโll be calling soon.โAnyaโs eyes widen with a mix of fear and desperation. โBastien, you canโt do this. I c
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-12The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 38. Master Puppeteer
Anya The aftermath of the call with my father leaves me feeling hollow, like a marionette with severed strings. Bastienโs cold detachment reverberates through the room, and the warmth we once shared seems like a distant memory. The man I thought I knew has become a stranger, a master puppeteer manipulating the threads of this intricate game. I stare at the closed door, the echo of his disdainful words lingering in the air. โGood girl, Anya. Youโve played your part well.โ The weight of those words settles in my chest, a heavy burden that threatens to suffocate me. As the minutes stretch into an eternity, I find myself alone in this luxurious but suffocating penthouse. The silence is deafening, broken only by the distant sounds of the city outside. A city that once held the promise of freedom and escape, now a labyrinth of betrayal and consequences. I move to the large window, gazing out at the glittering lights of Las Vegas. The city that never sleeps, much like the turmoil in m
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-14The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 39. Her Audacity
BastienโWhy donโt you just do to me what my father did to your wife? Since weโre all just different sides of the same fucked-up coin, Bastien. Why not call it even that way?โThe words linger in the air like a toxic residue. Her audacity stings, each syllable a sharp reminder of the twisted game weโre entangled in. Iโm not her father, Iโm not Ivan Popov, and the mere suggestion that I could stoop to the level of that monster sends a surge of anger through me.I pace the room, my fists clenched, cursing myself for allowing her into my life. How did I let it get to this fucked up point? How did I fall for the daughter of the man who tore apart everything I held dear? Itโs a cruel irony, a mockery of the justice I sought.The truth is, deep down, I understand why she lied. She was terrified of what would happen, and she came clean herself. Sheโs an unwilling pawn in her fatherโs game, given to me knowing I would save her from that auction. But she quickly switched on her father for me,
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2023-11-14
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The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย EPILOGUE TWO
BastienI look over the estate thatโs become more than just a piece of land to me. Itโs a symbol of everything Iโve fought for, everything Iโve won and lost. The airโs cool and crisp, the kind that reminds you youโre alive. Standing on the balcony, I watch the night settle over the estate. The transformation of this place, of my life, still catches me off guard sometimes. Itโs like the Goddess herself scripted this crazy turn of events.I canโt help but think about the twisted road that led us here. Losing my first mate, then finding Anya, itโs a hell of a story. Anya, brought onto that auction stage by her bastard of a father, in a place where she shouldโve never been. I didnโt even blink before stepping in to save her. It was like some primal part of me roared to life, demanding I protect her. And now, looking back, itโs clear as day โ she was meant to be in my life.Anyaโs decision to become a shifter hits me again as I stand here. Sheโs tough, doesnโt back down from anything. Th
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย EPILOGUE ONE
AnyaSeveral months have passed since the night Bastien proposed to me under the cherry tree, and our lives have been a whirlwind of change and growth. The estate has transformed into a haven of love and family. Today, as I stand on the balcony with Mia, my gaze is fixed on Bastien and Niko playing in the garden with their sons. Their laughter and joyous shouts fill the air, a testament to the new life weโve built here.Mia, standing beside me, watches her family with a smile. โTheyโre like two overprotective wolves with their cubs, arenโt they?โ she remarks, her tone light.I chuckle, nodding in agreement. โAbsolutely. Bastien can be so brooding, but with Nero, heโs just a big, soft-hearted Alpha.โWe fall into a comfortable silence, watching the idyllic scene, until a thought thatโs been nagging at me finds its way into the conversation.โMia, can I ask you something?โ I begin, hesitantly. โItโs about... becoming a shifter. Iโve been thinking about it a lot.โShe turns to face me,
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 53. New Beginning
BastienA week after the earth-shattering revelations about our familyโs past, my phone rings, and I see Nikoโs name on the screen. My heart tightens, anticipating more unsettling truths.As soon as I answer, Niko dives in. โIโve been digging, questioning Dmitryโs father.โ His use of โquestioningโ is laced with a dark undertone, implying an obvious ruthless interrogation.โWhat did you find?โ I ask, not sure I want to know the answer.Nikoโs breathing is heavy, his words coming out like a torrent. โThe bastard said that our mother... she was acting on her own fucking accord. All that sick shit she did, it was her, not someone else pulling her strings. She was a goddamn monster on her own, and some fucker just caught her in the act.โThe revelation hits me like a punch to the gut. โSo she was acting on her own? All those things she did, especially to you...โโYeah,โ Niko spits out, his voice boiling with anger. โShe was a predator in her own right. And some bastard used her actions aga
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 52. Niko's Pain
BastienAs I stride away from Anya, the weight of her revelations pressing down on me, I canโt help but feel a storm brewing inside. The information sheโs shared about my mother, about her connection to Anyaโs father, and the blackmail, itโs a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that are too dark and complex. I need to talk to Niko, to see if he can make sense of this twisted narrative.I reach for my phone, my mind racing with questions and possibilities. As I dial Nikoโs number, I can feel the familiar surge of adrenaline, the kind thatโs always accompanied our familyโs darkest moments. Niko picks up almost immediately. โBastien? Whatโs up?โI hesitate for a moment, trying to find the right words. โNiko, I just found out something about Mother. Itโs... itโs big.โThereโs a pause on the other end, and I can almost feel Niko bracing himself. Heโs just recently come face to face with her after what happened to him and he couldnโt even fight her back. His trauma was stronger than his resolve.โ
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 51. Pasts Overlapping
AnyaI wake up to the soft morning light filtering through the lavish curtains, painting the room in a golden hue. Stretching out, I canโt help but smile, still in awe of the reality that Bastien bought this magnificent estate for us. Itโs like waking up in a dream every day.I slip out of bed, wrapping myself in a plush robe, and make my way to the window. The view of the gardens is breathtaking, a sprawling landscape of manicured lawns, vibrant flowers, and elegant sculptures. I'm used to growing up around luxury, but this feels more like home, not superficial at all.Itโs hard to believe that all of this is ours, a sanctuary created by a man whoโs known more for his strength and power than for such grand, romantic gestures.Walking out of the room, I decide to explore the property. Every step I take through the grand halls of the mansion reveals another aspect of Bastienโs love and attention to detail. The artwork, the furniture, everything is chosen with such care, reflecting not
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 50. New Purpose?
BastienNiko and I step out into the cool evening, the manicured gardens of the mansion stretching out before us. The night air is crisp, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the house weโve just left behind.I break the silence first. โNiko, thereโs something I need to tell you about Dmitry,โ I say, my voice low. โHe was Islaโs stepbrother.โNiko stops in his tracks, turning to face me. โIslaโs stepbrother? Thatโs... complicated. How do you know itโs true?โโI don't, but I'll be digging into it,โ I admit. โHeโs been a useful ally, but his ties to Isla... I do feel like it was a way to get me to go along with the plan. So, I canโt fully trust him.โNiko nods, his face set in a stern line. โYou think he could be a problem?โโPossibly,โ I reply. โWe need to keep an eye on him.โโWe will,โ Niko assures me. โFamily complications or not, we canโt afford any loose ends.โAs we walk through the gardens, our conversation turns to the recent events. โWith Popov out of the picture, itโs gonna stir
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 49. Welcome Home
AnyaThe wheels of the jet touch down, the vast lights of Las Vegas sprawling before us, a sparkling beacon in the night. I gaze out the window, the cityโs shimmering allure a stark contrast against our recent turmoil. Once, Vegas symbolized a world of dazzling possibilities; now, itโs a much-needed haven.I glance at Bastien, his gaze fixed out the window, a look of determination etched on his features. Heโs been silent for most of the flight, lost in his thoughts, planning our future. I canโt help but wonder whatโs going through his mind.โWe wonโt be staying in the penthouse,โ he suddenly says as he turns to look at me. โI secured an estate where we can grow our family and pack; I think itโs about time we head out of the city.โThe revelation startles me. We had stayed in a penthouse before, a symbol of Bastienโs power within the cityโs heart. But a mansionโthis was a sign of permanence, a commitment to a future together.โI โฆ Iโd like that,โ I murmur, a smile tugging at my lips. โ
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 48. Vendetta Claimed
BastienThe room falls silent, the aftermath of the chaos settling like a heavy cloak around us. I stare at my hands, Ivan Popovโs blood a stark contrast against my skin, a vivid reminder of the violence that just unfolded. My breath comes out in ragged gasps, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.Anya comes to my side, her eyes wide. She reaches out, gently touching my arm, grounding me in the moment. โBastien, are you okay?โ Her voice is a soft whisper, almost lost in the magnitude of whatโs just occurred.I nod, unable to find my voice. The reality of what Iโve done, what weโve done, is overwhelming. Ivan Popov, the man who cast a dark shadow over my life, is gone, eliminated by my own hands.Iโve dreamt of this day since Isla was brought to me in pieces. I swore vengeance in her name, and yet even with him lying dead at my feet, I feel nothing. Just an emptiness, because he reduced me to what he is.Dmitry steps forward, his expression unreadable. โItโs done,โ he says, s
The Alpha Kingpin's Fixation: Auctioned To The Enemyย ย ย 47. Final Straw
AnyaAs I watch Bastien, his figure restrained yet defiant, a knot of anxiety tightens in my stomach. Heโs playing his part perfectly, but the sight of him bound, a pawn in this dangerous charade weโre orchestrating, sends waves of worry coursing through me.We lead him into the room where my father waits, his presence a suffocating force. My fatherโs eyes light up with malicious glee as he takes in the sight of Bastien, seemingly defeated and at our mercy.I force myself to remain composed, to play the part of the dutiful daughter, even as every fiber of my being screams in revolt. โFather,โ I begin, my voice steady. โWeโve brought him, as you wanted.โMy father looks at me, almost proud, then he pulls me into an embrace, leaving me startled. Then he pulls back, lets me go, and walks over to Bastien on his knees.โWell, well, look at the mighty lion, now just a harmless kitten,โ my father taunts, his voice a venomous hiss. โI must say, Dmitry, you have outdone yourself. Bringing me m
