I shoved backward, elbowing him hard in the ribs, and his hold loosened just as a low, guttural growl echoed from the far end of the corridor. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Alaric moved like a shadow, crossing the distance between us in seconds. His eyes glowed crimson beneath
Elara The room felt suffocating as I stood there on that stage with Alaric. Every eye was turned to us, every voice had gone silent, every mouth was now hanging open in shock. I didn’t know what Alaric was planning when he led me to that stage, but I wasn’t expecting him to pull my hair aside an
It was so much more and so much less at the same time. My love. I knew he didn’t mean those words. I knew, in the bottom of my heart, that he was just saying these things as a part of our act—that it was the only way for either of us to find some reprieve from the gossip and the backlash that wa
Elara Alaric’s lips were warm, firm, and tasted as dark and rich as spiced whiskey. For a moment, it felt like the world had shifted, tilting into something softer—something that made sense. I could feel his heartbeat through his shirt, the steady thrum pulling me closer. But then Alaric stiffen
“I know, I’m trying to handle it,” he muttered, pacing near the stove. “No, she doesn’t know yet. Alpha Alaric said he’d tell her when the time was right.” I crossed my arms. “Tell me what?” James spun around so fast he nearly dropped his phone. “Luna Elara. Good morning. I was just…” His gaze d
Elara I stared at the spot where Asher had just been sitting, my jaw working hard. For a moment, just a moment, I wondered if I should turn around and leave. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all. “A strip club, Asher?” I ground out. “Why here?” He simply shrugged one shoulder. “It’s low-key
“You don’t understand what it’s like living in his shadow,” he muttered, his tone just a touch lower now. “Alaric was always the golden son. The perfect Alpha. I was just the mistake. The unwanted second-born, cast aside and forgotten.” I froze. The raw bitterness in his voice caught me off guar
Alaric I’d been pacing relentlessly in my office for what felt like hours now, my mind whirling. But surprisingly, despite everything—despite the attempted arranged marriage to Emily, my mother’s false promises, the Harrington pulling out of several business ventures—my mind was elsewhere tonight.
“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