Alaric The brooch was more expensive than I had anticipated. The bidding war had started innocently enough, some woman across the room casually tossing her paddle up in the air after I’d already made a couple of bids, but she hadn’t backed down since. I adjusted the cuff of my tuxedo sleeve,
some reason, Elara not being here yet made me a little nervous. I frowned slightly, turning and scanning the room. Elara wasn’t anywhere in sight. “Did she say where she was going?” Zoe shook her head, wiping cookie crumbs on the front of her dress before I gently grabbed her hand to stop he
Elara The first thing I felt was cold. It felt like someone had dumped ice water all over me, the cold seeping into my bones. My joints ached, my head throbbed, and my throat felt cracked and dry. For a moment, I almost wondered if I had somehow been hit by a bus. But then my eyelids slowl
I slumped back against the cushions, dazed and shaking. “Why are you doing this?” I whispered, barely able to form the words. He said nothing—not a single word—and instead grabbed my leash with one hand, his other closing around my upper arm. I tried to resist, but my limbs refused to listen.
Elara The world around me swam as the man carried me out of the buzzing auction room and into another private room. Before I could say or do anything, he practically tossed me down like a sack of potatoes, and I collapsed onto a large, unfamiliar bed. A moment later, he reached down and roug
Elara Thankfully, when we exited the basement where the illegal auction had been going on, the main floor of the venue was in such chaos that no one noticed Alaric carrying me. Officers ran back and forth, escorting auction patrons out and leading criminals away in handcuffs. The illegal auc
from mine. “Elara,” he finally said, his voice low and rough. “What are you…?” “You,” I mumbled, my words tumbling out before I could stop them. “I want you, Alaric. I’ve wanted you since the moment I met you.” His breath hitched, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the bathroom. “E
Elara The sharp pain of Alaric’s fangs sinking into the buttery skin of my throat suddenly brought me crashing back to reality. My eyes flew open, and the feeling of Alaric—his lips brushing against my neck, his teeth sinking into my skin, his manhood slowly filling me—hit me like a tidal wa
“She’s a wonderful girl. It’s been a joy to finally be a part of my biological daughter’s life. I’m sure you feel the same about Zoe.” Sarah stared at me for a moment, something unreadable in her gaze. Whatever it was, it had me stiffening ever so slightly. But the moment passed just as quickly as
Elara Alaric’s announcement landed like a punch to the gut. “She’s been through so much, Elara,” he said softly, his hand brushing my shoulder and giving it a squeeze that I barely felt. “It’s temporary, just until we figure everything out.” I blinked up at him, unsure whether I had just mishe
But I forced myself to stay still. To not react. It wasn’t Sarah’s fault that her death had been faked and she’d been held captive for years. And it wasn’t Alaric’s fault that his emotions were running high. The wife he’d thought was dead had suddenly returned out of nowhere. Maybe I won’t get my
Elara The sound of all the shocked murmurs and the sight of the stunned faces quickly faded behind the heavy door as it closed behind us, leaving just the three of us in the quiet, private room. I sank down nervously onto the edge of the nearby bench, still too stunned to speak or even begin to
My heart tugged a little. I brushed my fingers over the necklace Alaric had given me the night before—a simple pendant, but the meaning behind it far outweighed the sparkle of the diamonds inlaid along its edges. “Maybe,” I whispered, the thought of Alaric standing at the altar enough to send a fl
Elara Somehow, a few months of bliss passed after that fateful night that Alaric proposed. Eventually we began to encroach upon the original six month span of our arrangement, but we barely even noticed. In fact, our arrangement had quickly become a thing of the past. We weren’t constrained by
Elara The door slammed harder than I meant it to, but I didn’t care. Let them hear it echo down the damn hall, for all I cared. Fated mate? Either Asher had lost his mind, or he really thought he could manipulate me into believing him.. I stormed down the corridor, my hands curled into fists a
“I can handle him,” I replied, my jaw tightening. Elara didn’t even flinch. “He’ll talk to me.” I let out a slow breath, running my hand over my face. This was the last thing I wanted—to have them in the same room, breathing the same air. But if Asher was the key to unraveling the rest of this, th
Alaric The cold metal of the watch glinted under the harsh lights of the interrogation room. I held it between my fingers, thumb brushing over the engraved initials for what felt like the millionth time that morning. A.S.D. Asher Samuel Donovan. The watchmaker had confirmed the watch’s owner wit