KEAGAN'S POV ~Emma's face drained of all color, her mouth agape in shock as she stood before the restroom door. My eyes moved to the right and I saw that she wasn't alone—Hector stood beside her, equally stunned, followed by a group of guests, both familiar and unfamiliar. Their eyes darted back and forth between the bloody scene and Sylvia, who was slipping in and out of consciousness.Speaking of the devil.Sylvia groaned and raised her head. Her eyes were closed, brows creased as she moved her hands blindly. Was she looking for me? Gritting my teeth, I inched a bit closer and emitted some pheromones so she could know how close I was. And immediately her hands moved to circle my neck. I stiffened as she pulled me closer, whining softly."Don't go Keagan," She whimpered in a slur, her face was so close to mine that her sweet breath fanned across my nose. "I'm so scared. Hold me."My eyes widened in surprise.I stared at her face, trying to discern if she was intentionally pulling me
Keagan 's P.O.V "How long are you going to be gone for?" A voice that managed to grate on my last nerves every single time reached my ears as I packed the last of my shirt into my suitcase. Taking my time, I pulled up the sides of the suitcase's zipper. Then without looking at her, I moved back to the closet to change out of my towel. Just as I threw the towel wrapped around my waist to the floor, I felt soft hands around my waist. "Emma, what the fuck are you doing?" I gritted through my teeth, spiders crawling down my spine at the feel of her hands. I couldn't believe that eight years ago, I'd been so desperate for an heir and desperate to hurt Jessica that I'd slept with someone like Emma. "Communicating with you the only way I know how to." Her voice broke and I felt something wet plop onto the skin of my back. "Don't push me away, Keagan. Please. Let me show you how it can be." Her hands lightly danced up my sides before moving to grip my soft cock. "Please, I'm so
KEAGAN'S POV ~Fuck! I had no idea how many times I had cursed, but I was certain it surpassed a million. I glared at the reports scattered around me."Got it?" I growled at Hector, who kept wiping sweat from his forehead. I had no fucking idea why he was sweating."Yes, Alpha. This is the Reynold's family's address," he said, still looking hesitant. I didn't bother to ask him why he was giving me such a look. I was already marching out of the hospital's front door when something—or was it someone?—bumped into me.I looked down to see a young nurse, her face partially hidden by a nose mask, her features twisted in pain."I'm... sorry," I muttered quickly, frowning at her. Her brows furrowed, but she didn't speak. She dusted herself off and scurried away before I could even try to help her up. I had no idea what it was, but something felt off.Those eyes... They were familiar.Dusting off my suit and staring at the area where the strange nurse had disappeared, I gritted my teeth in fru
Jessica's P.O.V“Someone came to see you.” The nurse said as she fixed a new I.V into my almost translucent wrist and my heart skipped a beat.“Who?” I licked my dry lips as my heart rate began palpitating. I was worried because there was this odd feeling in my chest since I regained consciousness but the doctor had promised me I was as healthy as can be and that feeling might just be a side effect of the stupid plague.She turned to look at me and a blush painted her cheekbones. “Miss, I'm sorry to say this but goddess, he's the sexiest man I've ever seen.” She sighed dreaming and giggled. “But seeing how beautiful you are, Ms. Reynolds, in addition to your career. I'm sure you work closely with many handsome men.”I bit back the urge to roll my eyes. “How does he look like? Other than sexy?” The nurse didn't understand what was at stake. I could only hope to the goddess it wasn't HIM. Because he would know the truth by then.She flushed beet red. “Of course. He has shoulder length b
Jessica's P.O.VI've been to this office over the last month i started working with Keagan but it had never felt this…terrifying.The vast space made the blood rush into my head and Keagan’s deliberate absence tightened my chest.He was trying to ruffle my feathers and he was winning, all very easily.Fuck.I wanted to rip him to shreds for doing this to me.So I yelled, “What now? Hiding after you commit a crime? You can't face your nemesis?” My voice bounced off the walls, informing me that the office was soundproofed.I didn't know how to feel about that information. Would I need to scream for help?“No, no, no, dear dead wife,” A booming voice echoed in the room, sending shivers down my spine and I gasped, darting my eyes everywhere. But Keagan was still nowhere to be found.“You've gotten it all twisted.” He continued in that chilling voice that made my stomach flood with nausea. “You are the one who hid after committing a crime. Actually you hid for eight wonderful years.”“I di
KEAGAN'S POV ~ At the shock on her face, I felt satisfaction course through my veins. There, I fucking had her where I wanted. I knew the mate bond would be a shackle binding her to me.But just as quickly, she parted her lips and spat. “Then I fucking reject you before the moon goddess, Keahhh, lehh miah go!”I slammed my palm over her mouth before she could complete the statement, muffling her words and thereby ruining and voiding the rejection. Jessica was insane.“Don't reject our bond and I won't snap your neck in this instant.” I whispered as deadly as I could and soon the fight drained out of Jessica.When I was sure she wouldn't yell out a rejection, I stepped away from her, my eyes wide in disbelief. The air seemed to have abandoned my lungs, my brain sputtering like a faulty engine.She? Jessica? My fists clenched so hard that my nails bit into my palms. The truth, it was like a slap in the face, even though I already knew it. What was crazier was…Jessica would have rejecte
JESSICA'S POV ~My mind went blank for a moment, like someone had pulled the plug on my thoughts.All I could do was stare at Keagan, my mouth tightly pressed into a thin line, while my mind whirled with confusion and disbelief.Disgust and disdain followed next and my shocked filled expression turned into a scathing glare.Keagan was indeed an epitome of Shamelessness."Over my fucking dead body! A fucking No!" I snarled at him, and saw his jaw tightened but I didn't give a shit about him nor his emotions."So what about your kids? What about Emma who you left me for? Does she now bore you? Where is she? Has she now been tossed aside like how I was?" I threw him a sardonic smile and saw his expression keep darkening, and it brought nothing but joy in my sorrowful life."Jessica!" He growled in warning, but I cackled, clapping my hands."What?" It was just a harmless question, why the expression? Am I right?”"You fucking talk too much." He snapped back at me and I raised a brow."It'
KEAGAN'S POV ~Rage churned in my stomach, the sudden emptiness I felt from her departure like a bitter taste in my mouth.My eyes narrowed and my jaw clenched tightly as my wolf howled in protest inside me, displeased at how his mate had left us angrily. I ignored his frustrated plea, snarling inwardly at my inability to subdue Jessica like I had in the past.The fury at her disobedience boiled over, my body tensing with the need to punish her. My hand twitched, itching to grasp her arm, to pull her back and remind her of the consequences of turning her back on her Alpha.I clenched my teeth, watching the form of Jessica recede into the distance. A hole seemed to open in my chest, threatening to swallow me whole.With a furious grunt, I took aim and hurled a crystal vase against the wall, and watched it shatter into a million pieces.The sound of breaking glass did nothing to soothe the rage inside me, and I turned to the bar, grabbing a bottle of liquor and sending it crashing to th
Hi guys! I'm so sorry! I was checking the book file on G****e doc and realized I skipped a chapter between chapter ninety seven and ninety eight! ༼;´༎ຶ ༎ຶ༽ Because of how crazy the deletion would be, I decided to upload the missing chapter in this note (I.e for free.) It would mean the world if you could go back to read chapter ninety seven for a quick refresh and then read the original chapter ninety eight in this note so the progression of events won't be confusing. I'm so sorry!ಥ_ಥ MISSED CHAPTER Jessica’s P.O.V –I am leaving Rosario for a week. Sry for making you wait last night. I read that text for what seemed to be hundredth time, the familiar knot in my stomach tightening. That same one that had been there since he stood me up at dinner three nights ago. It made zero sense. How he just up and left. Ryder hadn’t even shown up for his shoots, according to his manager. But in the grand scheme of things, I probably shouldn’t be worried. Ryder was fine or he wou
Keagan’s P.O.VA mistake but a necessary one. I gave you want in return for you to find Ryder. So you will find him for me…The words would be stuck in my head for days and I really wasn’t concerned about it. What bugged me was how they coiled tight around my heart, choking me of my next breath until it hurt to take in oxygen. Of course, she thought I was a mistake. It was expected. I’ve only caused her hurt. I knew all of this yet those words rattled in my chest like poison. Fuck, today just like the night of my children’s party was one of the times I should have kept my mouth shut. But when she fucking taunted me like that…saying that I wasn’t a nice guy…and I never did anything nice for anyone except it benefitted me. She wasn’t wrong…nor was she fucking right. It’s just…I hated that tone…and it fed the dark monster in me until I gave in to that hunger that had been clawing under my skin since she parked in front of my gate. Besides, she’d smelt of that fucker. His fucking scent
Jessica’s P.O.VI whimpered at the implications of his words. “No,” I said, but my hands were pulling Keagan closer, tighter against my neck. He’d just asked to fuck me and then seal it with a mating mark. Even if we no longer had a bond… sex that ended with a mating mark was just as potent.The world was spinning, and my mind, and my inhibitions were quickly draining away. No. no. no. my body shivered with pleasure. Fuck, Keagan’s stubble felt heavenly against my neck.The alpha sucked hard on the mark on my neck, soaking me deep in his own scent so that not even a single whiff of Ryder was left on me. “Push me away.” Keagan gritted against me. “Push me away, damn you Jess. I want to be a better man. I promised. I wanna fucking stay away from you!”But I didn’t….couldn’t. My hands moved down to fumble with Keagan’s zipper and the next thing I knew, I had hard, hot flesh in my hand. Keagan’s cock. My husband’s cock. Fuck. a voice in my head screamed at me to stop, but I couldn’t.I st
Jessica’s P.O.VI stepped into the dark study, my eyes struggling to adjust to the odd dim light. I wanted to ask why it was so black in here but I was a stranger in Keagan’s space. After everything that had happened between us, I’d best not push it.As my vision adjusted to the darkness, I finally saw Keagan. He was sprawled in his chair behind the massive mahogany desk, a cigarette dangling from his lips as his eyes closed in concentration. Keagan looked absolutely delicious in his black shirt and tailored pants, his tanned throat bobbing sexily as he inhaled. But I couldn’t shake the feeling of irritation that he didn’t even stir when I entered the room. I knew he fucking knew I was here. After the way he’d shamelessly chased after me, well I didn’t expect to be on the receiving end of his icy attitude.I stopped in front of him and the asshole didn’t even move. He only continued smoking, his thick honey-blonde lashes slowly lifting and fixing stunning obsidian eyes on me. They we
Jessica’s P.O.VThere was only one explanation but I refused to believe it, to even consider it for a moment. Yet as another day went by with a few posts from Ryder, his signature mystery mask worn in a luxurious room, location undecipherable, I started to consider it.Ryder stole. Ryder was a thief. He absconded with the money from Elsa and her boyfriend John, whom I met this morning. John was…very plain-looking and pretty unremarkable. He had a face I could come across on a run and never remember. Not that it was bad…it was just my observation. Usually, I wouldn’t have given him a second glance, but for one, he was my boyfriend’s agent. Secondly, Elsa really seemed to love him. She kept clinging to him and bursting into tears until he left her alone with me in my hotel suite, saying he had a few errands to run.I felt awful and incredibly sorry for her. She didn’t deserve this.‘And neither do you.’ a voice whispered in my head, making me shiver. It was crazy how disconnected I felt
Jessica’s P.O.V I woke up to the warm rays of sunlight peeking through the curtains, stretching my arms above my head. A soft yawn escaped my lips as I arched my back, biting back a smile when I felt a slight soreness between my legs. Wow. I did it. I allowed Sylvia to consummate her mating bond with Ryder. It was like their bodies were made for each other…and last night I had felt like a third party, having an out-of-body experience as I watched Sylvia sleep with her mate. I really feel like I did the right thing so what is this odd feeling of wrongness that won’t stop clinging to me? As I sat up, the sheets slid off, and I felt a gentle breeze caress my bare skin. I shivered instantly, pulling the sheets back up. Where did I put my clothes? I wondered. Then realized that the space next to me was empty. Where was Ryder? Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I planted my feet firmly on the ground. Could he be in the kitchen? Well, there was only one way to find out. I stood
Keagan’s P.O.VMy blood ran cold and I gripped the steering wheel so tightly, my knuckles turning white. Shit. oh fuck. I almost swerved off the road, the car fishtailing dangerously as I fought to regain control.“Is…is she okay?” I demanded as my voice grew strained, cold sweat appearing on my brows.“She’s being treated by the school’s nurse, but we think she might need stitches. The bleeding just won’t stop. We’ve already called an ambulance and it’s best if you meet us at the hospital.”Then she hung up.I slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching against the pavement. My heart pounded in my ears as I turned the car around, ignoring the swears and curses from the drivers I almost collided head-on into. I had to get to her now. Jessica, my half-assed plan —all of it faded into insignificance, Mina was my fucking priority now.When I arrived at the hospital, I was met by Mina’s class teacher. She looked pale and fearful, making the knots in my stomach tighten even harder. I grabb
Keagan’s P.O.VThe sun cast long, dancing shadows across the manicured lawn as my children chased each other, their laughter echoing through the air. A pang of hurt shot through me, that familiar ache in my chest that I’d grown accustomed to over. I yearned to join my children, rebond with them after I’d abruptly yelled at them over dinner last night. But they might request me to shift so I could play chase with them where the beast in my wolf form would chase them around. They were very attached to my wolf and whilst most men shook in fear at its sight, Mina always giggled and poked at his fur, saying he looked like a big puppy. That was the only reason Mina and Liam didn’t ask for a pet while growing up. I, in my wolf form, was their pet.A sad smile curled my lips downward as I continued to watch them. This was all my fault.My gaze soon drifted to the sprawling gardens and the sparkling pool at the back that was currently covered with an automatic pool lid to make it kid-safe. I d
Jessica’s P.O.VThe knock on the door shattered the cozy atmosphere, making me pause my show with my brows pulling into a slight knot. Glancing up at the door, I tossed the remote in my hand away and called out, “Ryder, did you order something?”Ryder’s voice floated from the bathroom. “No, I didn’t?”A sigh rose to my lips and I stood up, wrapping myself in a robe to cover my thin nightgown. As I approached the door, the knock sounded again, more insistent this time. I peered through the keyhole, but the fish-eye lens revealed only an empty hallway. What the…?I turned to leave but the knock echoed again.My irritation grew and I yanked the door open, ready to rip into the pesky room service person.But it wasn’t a uniformed hotel attendant by my door.Keagan stood in the doorway, his ruggedly handsome face scowling at me, like it had since morning. I swallowed hard, my heart skipping a beat when our eyes locked.“What are you doing here?” I forced out through suddenly dried lips. I