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Chapter 5: The Assassin’s Reflex

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last update ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-03-18 02:41:29

Everything moved in slow motion.

The playground was filled with laughter, the distant hum of children’s voices mixing with the warm afternoon air. The scent of fresh grass, chalk dust, and sun-heated wood drifted lazily across the schoolyard.

Harley's tiny giggle rang out as she clutched her stuffed bunny, her small feet kicking idly beneath the low swings. Her teacher stood nearby, chatting with another staff member, unaware of the shadow slipping through the fence.

Eric was watching from a distance, arms crossed, his presence always lingering at the edge of his daughter’s world. Protective. Watchful.

Then—

A dark figure lunged.

The glint of a knife flashed under the sun.

Aimed straight for Harley.

Eric's vision tunneled. His wolf roared, every instinct in him snapping to attention, adrenaline crashing through his veins. His muscles tensed, his body already moving—

But Annie was faster.

Before Harley could even gasp, before the attacker could make contact, Annie was there.

Her body blurred, cutting through the space between them with unnatural speed. Her hand snatched the attacker’s wrist mid-strike, her grip steel-like.

CRACK.

A sharp, wet sound filled the air. The sickening snap of bone.

The man barely had time to scream before Annie's knee drove into his ribs. He choked on the impact, his body folding, the knife clattering to the pavement.

But she wasn’t done.

Her foot swept out. A blur of motion—then impact.

The attacker went flying.

He crashed against the playground’s low fence, knocking over a row of potted plants before crumpling into a heap. The schoolyard erupted. Teachers gasped. Children screamed. The air filled with the scent of panic.

Eric's breath hitched, his heart hammering.

He had seen plenty of fights before. Had trained with the best warriors in his pack. But this?

This was different.

Harley stumbled, wide-eyed, her small hands clinging to Eric's pants. Her little fingers trembled, but she wasn’t crying—just staring at Annie in shock.

The attacker groaned, writhing in pain, his broken wrist hanging limply at his side.

Annie exhaled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked calm. Like she hadn’t just taken down a grown man with the ease of someone swatting away a fly.

Eric's throat was dry.

“How did you do that?” His voice was low, rough.

Annie simply adjusted her sleeve. “Self-defense classes.”

A beat of silence.

Eric's wolf huffed, ears pricked, watching her through his eyes. She’s lying.

But was she?

Her expression was unreadable. Not a flicker of fear. Not a trace of hesitation.

And yet…

She had just saved his daughter.

That should have been all that mattered.

Eric swallowed, dragging his gaze away. His instincts screamed at him to ask more, to demand answers, but—

Harley was safe.

Safe, because of her.

A strange, tight feeling curled in his chest.

His wolf rumbled, watching Annie with new eyes. She protected our pup. Like she was hers.

Eric exhaled sharply. His hands flexed at his sides before he yanked his phone out of his pocket.

“Eric?” Annie's voice was steady.

“I’m calling security,” he muttered, pressing the call button. His jaw clenched. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting this happen again.”

As soon as the call connected, his voice turned cold. “I want bodyguards at the school. Now.”

The response was immediate. “Understood, Alpha.”

Eric hung up. His mind was still racing, but something else was simmering beneath it all.

He turned back to Annie, ready to say something—but stopped.

She was watching him.

There was no shock in her eyes.

No surprise at his Alpha status. He knew he never told her that part.

Because she already knew.

Of course, she did. Smart Woman.

>>>>>>>>

Stonehenge Pack – CIA Office

Jamie tapped his fingers against the desk, his eyes scanning the old file in front of him. The first Lady Lilly case. Fourteen years ago.

He had read this report a hundred times, but something about being here, in the very pack where it all started, made it feel different. More real.

A low sigh came from across the room. The man sitting in front of him—grizzled, with a patchy beard and tired eyes—shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“You sure you wanna dig this up again?” The old wolf scratched his chin. “People don’t like talking about Lady Lilly around here.”

Jamie leaned forward, leveling him with a look. “I don’t care what people like. You told my contact you saw something that night. I want details.”

The man exhaled, his fingers tapping against the side of his coffee cup. “Didn’t see much. But I remember the smell. Blood. Like… a lot of it.” His voice dipped lower. “And I saw her. Just for a second.”

Jamie’s fingers tightened around his pen. “Describe her.”

The man hesitated. “I… I don’t know. It was dark. But she was small. Young.”

Jamie’s brows furrowed. “Young?”

The man nodded. “Yeah. Like a teenager.”

Jamie went still.

Then he shook his head. “That’s not possible.”

“I know what I saw.” The man’s voice was firm. “She wasn’t an adult. No curves, no woman’s figure—too lean. Too quick. She moved like a shadow, but I caught a glimpse. She was just a kid.”

Jamie frowned. His mind fought against the idea. “No parents would allow their child to be an assassin. And no child could be one.”

The old wolf shrugged. “Maybe. But whoever she was, she killed that man like it was nothing. And then? She disappeared.”

A cold shiver ran down Jamie’s spine.

Lady Lilly had always been a mystery. No one knew who she was, where she came from. But this…

A teenager?

Jamie clenched his jaw.

That didn’t make sense.

And yet, the man in front of him looked certain.

Jamie sat back, exhaling slowly. His fingers hovered over his phone.

He should call Annie.

He should tell her what he just heard.

But instead, he just stared at the screen, hesitating.

Because she still thought he was an archaeologist.

And that was the problem.

Jamie wanted to tell her the truth.

Annie was sharp. She could help him, see things in ways he couldn’t. But his work—this work—was sworn to secrecy.

And worse… he knew Annie.

She wouldn’t approve.

Wouldn’t accept the things he had to do.

So instead of dialing her number, he slid his phone back into his pocket and rubbed a hand down his face.

He missed talking to her.

But that was just one more thing he’d have to bury.

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  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    CHAPTER 6: SASHA VIRELL

    Rain slicked the roads leading out of the Stonehenge Pack, soft drizzles tapering into mist as evening sank its teeth into the land. Inside the dim-lit office of the makeshift CIA outpost, Jaime Macaulay sat hunched over an old dossier, a half-drunk cup of coffee cooling beside his elbow. The window beside him was cracked open, letting in the scent of wet earth and pine needles. It was the kind of stillness that bred focus. And obsession. The file in front of him bore a single name: Lady Lilly. He rubbed his temples, staring at the black-and-white photo clipped to the corner. Grainy, almost useless, but he couldn’t stop looking at it. A shadow frozen mid-leap. Legs extended. Knife in hand. The only picture that had ever surfaced, snapped from a hidden surveillance cam fourteen years ago during her first known appearance. "A teenager," Jaime muttered under his breath, the words bitter in his mouth. The informant's voice echoed in his mind, calm but convinced. “She wasn’t an adult.

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-18
  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 7: Shadows Beneath the Surface

    The morning after the kindergarten incident arrived with the scent of rain on dry earth. It hadn't rained, but the clouds were low, and the air felt damp—like the world was holding its breath. Inside the Bleu estate, everything looked normal. Too normal. Annie moved around the kitchen in her usual rhythm. Whisk, pour, flip. Harley sat on the marble counter beside her, chattering about drawings and snack time, completely oblivious to the danger that had brushed so close to her small frame just yesterday. Eric stood by the doorway, his arms crossed, his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing toned forearms dusted with the barest hint of hair. He wasn’t saying anything. Just watching. Annie could feel his gaze on her like a weight. A heartbeat louder than usual. She could hear it. Hear him inhale when she bent slightly to reach for the strawberries. Smell the faint shift in his scent—curiosity, interest, maybe something else too. Something heavier. “Coffee?” she asked ligh

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-19
  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 8: Wild things in the kitchen

    The house was too quiet.Outside, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a soft amber glow over the landscape. A faint breeze slipped through the open windows of Eric's estate, carrying the scent of night jasmine and pine, but Annie barely noticed. She stood at the kitchen sink, staring out over the yard where Harley's toys were still scattered from earlier that afternoon. Her fingers were damp with soapy water, but her mind wasn't on the dishes.Her heartbeat had yet to settle. Hours had passed since she'd slipped into Eric's dungeon and erased the man who had dared to threaten Harley. The scent of blood still lingered in her mind. She’d cleaned herself thoroughly, masked every trace, but her wolf remained restless, pacing behind her eyes."We did what had to be done," she reminded herself under her breath."You did it too clean," her wolf murmured back. "No scent. No print. You’re getting sloppy—you're getting emotional."The sound of footsteps down the hall made her stiffen.

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-04-21
  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife     Chapter 1: A Deal with the Billionaire Alpha

    The scent of warm bread and melting chocolate curled through the air, thick and comforting. The quiet hum of the oven, the faint hiss of the espresso machine—it all blended into a rhythmic background, lulling customers into soft murmurs and content sighs. Eric Bleu barely noticed. His sharp gaze swept across the bakery, not in appreciation of its cozy charm, but with the focus of a man on a mission. He needed someone to play Harley’s mother. And fast. Not just for the kindergarten event—though that was the immediate problem. No, this was about something deeper. Harley had never voiced it before, but he saw it now, written in the way she held herself, the quiet longing in her gaze when she saw other children with their mothers. She was too much like him. Too strong for her own good. And that terrified him. “Papa, I want that one.” Eric followed her gaze. His body tensed. The woman behind the counter moved with quiet efficiency, fingers working swiftly as she sea

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-18
  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 2: The Fake Wife Agreement

    The bakery stil smelled like warm sugar and cinnamon, the air thick with the scent of fresh bread. Annie still stood behind the counter, arms folded, her lips pressed into a tight line. Across from her, Eric Bleu remained still, his presence impossible to ignore. The dim lighting cast sharp shadows on his chiseled face, but his eyes—intense and unwavering—never left hers. He didn't care if he was holding up the line of customers behind him. Eric Bleu isn't someone to give up easily. He steady his feet while maintaining eye contact with his prey. Harley, oblivious to the tension between them, sat on the counter with her small feet swinging, completely absorbed in the bag of cookies Yumi had given her. She hummed softly as she took another bite, crumbs dusting her tiny fingers. Annie exhaled slowly. This is insane. But she had already made up her mind. “I’ll do it,” she said, her voice steady. “But I have rules.” Eric raised a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Rules?”

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-18
  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 3: A Taste of Deception

    Annie stood at the entrance of Eric’s mansion—if she could even call it that. The place was ridiculous. Gated entrance, a long, winding driveway, and the kind of architectural perfection that only billionaires could afford. The moment she stepped inside, the air changed. The scent of expensive leather, polished wood, and faint cologne wrapped around her. A chandelier big enough to drown her in diamonds hung from the high ceiling. The floors gleamed under the warm lighting, and everything—from the minimalist furniture to the enormous windows overlooking the estate—screamed wealth. She didn’t belong here. This was too much. Harley, however, seemed completely at home. The little girl ran down the hallway, already chattering about showing Annie her room. Annie adjusted the strap of her bag and sighed. Only a few days. Play the role and get out. Eric watched her closely, leaning against the staircase railing. His wolf instincts hummed beneath his skin. She was tense, stiff, too awa

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-18
  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 4: The Kindergarten Trap

    The kindergarten parking lot buzzed with activity. Luxury cars gleamed under the sun, their polished surfaces reflecting the swarm of well-dressed parents making their way inside. But none commanded attention like Eric Bleu and Annie Macaulay. Eric exuded effortless power in a tailored black suit, his broad shoulders cutting a commanding figure. His sharp golden eyes scanned the area, instinctively assessing threats. But the real distraction wasn’t potential danger. It was her. Annie stepped out of the car in a scarlet dress that hugged her curves like a second skin. The deep neckline barely contained the soft swell of her breasts, and when she moved, the slit in her dress gave a sinful glimpse of toned thighs. A low growl rumbled in Eric's chest before he could stop it. His wolf stirred. Mine. Eric forced his jaw to unclench. No. Not mine. Harley tugged at Annie's hand excitedly. “Come on, Mommy! We gotta go!” Mommy. Annie felt a pang in her chest. She wasn’t used to that

    ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2025-03-18

บทล่าสุด

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 8: Wild things in the kitchen

    The house was too quiet.Outside, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a soft amber glow over the landscape. A faint breeze slipped through the open windows of Eric's estate, carrying the scent of night jasmine and pine, but Annie barely noticed. She stood at the kitchen sink, staring out over the yard where Harley's toys were still scattered from earlier that afternoon. Her fingers were damp with soapy water, but her mind wasn't on the dishes.Her heartbeat had yet to settle. Hours had passed since she'd slipped into Eric's dungeon and erased the man who had dared to threaten Harley. The scent of blood still lingered in her mind. She’d cleaned herself thoroughly, masked every trace, but her wolf remained restless, pacing behind her eyes."We did what had to be done," she reminded herself under her breath."You did it too clean," her wolf murmured back. "No scent. No print. You’re getting sloppy—you're getting emotional."The sound of footsteps down the hall made her stiffen.

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 7: Shadows Beneath the Surface

    The morning after the kindergarten incident arrived with the scent of rain on dry earth. It hadn't rained, but the clouds were low, and the air felt damp—like the world was holding its breath. Inside the Bleu estate, everything looked normal. Too normal. Annie moved around the kitchen in her usual rhythm. Whisk, pour, flip. Harley sat on the marble counter beside her, chattering about drawings and snack time, completely oblivious to the danger that had brushed so close to her small frame just yesterday. Eric stood by the doorway, his arms crossed, his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing toned forearms dusted with the barest hint of hair. He wasn’t saying anything. Just watching. Annie could feel his gaze on her like a weight. A heartbeat louder than usual. She could hear it. Hear him inhale when she bent slightly to reach for the strawberries. Smell the faint shift in his scent—curiosity, interest, maybe something else too. Something heavier. “Coffee?” she asked ligh

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    CHAPTER 6: SASHA VIRELL

    Rain slicked the roads leading out of the Stonehenge Pack, soft drizzles tapering into mist as evening sank its teeth into the land. Inside the dim-lit office of the makeshift CIA outpost, Jaime Macaulay sat hunched over an old dossier, a half-drunk cup of coffee cooling beside his elbow. The window beside him was cracked open, letting in the scent of wet earth and pine needles. It was the kind of stillness that bred focus. And obsession. The file in front of him bore a single name: Lady Lilly. He rubbed his temples, staring at the black-and-white photo clipped to the corner. Grainy, almost useless, but he couldn’t stop looking at it. A shadow frozen mid-leap. Legs extended. Knife in hand. The only picture that had ever surfaced, snapped from a hidden surveillance cam fourteen years ago during her first known appearance. "A teenager," Jaime muttered under his breath, the words bitter in his mouth. The informant's voice echoed in his mind, calm but convinced. “She wasn’t an adult.

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 5: The Assassin’s Reflex

    Everything moved in slow motion. The playground was filled with laughter, the distant hum of children’s voices mixing with the warm afternoon air. The scent of fresh grass, chalk dust, and sun-heated wood drifted lazily across the schoolyard. Harley's tiny giggle rang out as she clutched her stuffed bunny, her small feet kicking idly beneath the low swings. Her teacher stood nearby, chatting with another staff member, unaware of the shadow slipping through the fence. Eric was watching from a distance, arms crossed, his presence always lingering at the edge of his daughter’s world. Protective. Watchful. Then— A dark figure lunged. The glint of a knife flashed under the sun. Aimed straight for Harley. Eric's vision tunneled. His wolf roared, every instinct in him snapping to attention, adrenaline crashing through his veins. His muscles tensed, his body already moving— But Annie was faster. Before Harley could even gasp, before the attacker could make contact, Annie was there.

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 4: The Kindergarten Trap

    The kindergarten parking lot buzzed with activity. Luxury cars gleamed under the sun, their polished surfaces reflecting the swarm of well-dressed parents making their way inside. But none commanded attention like Eric Bleu and Annie Macaulay. Eric exuded effortless power in a tailored black suit, his broad shoulders cutting a commanding figure. His sharp golden eyes scanned the area, instinctively assessing threats. But the real distraction wasn’t potential danger. It was her. Annie stepped out of the car in a scarlet dress that hugged her curves like a second skin. The deep neckline barely contained the soft swell of her breasts, and when she moved, the slit in her dress gave a sinful glimpse of toned thighs. A low growl rumbled in Eric's chest before he could stop it. His wolf stirred. Mine. Eric forced his jaw to unclench. No. Not mine. Harley tugged at Annie's hand excitedly. “Come on, Mommy! We gotta go!” Mommy. Annie felt a pang in her chest. She wasn’t used to that

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 3: A Taste of Deception

    Annie stood at the entrance of Eric’s mansion—if she could even call it that. The place was ridiculous. Gated entrance, a long, winding driveway, and the kind of architectural perfection that only billionaires could afford. The moment she stepped inside, the air changed. The scent of expensive leather, polished wood, and faint cologne wrapped around her. A chandelier big enough to drown her in diamonds hung from the high ceiling. The floors gleamed under the warm lighting, and everything—from the minimalist furniture to the enormous windows overlooking the estate—screamed wealth. She didn’t belong here. This was too much. Harley, however, seemed completely at home. The little girl ran down the hallway, already chattering about showing Annie her room. Annie adjusted the strap of her bag and sighed. Only a few days. Play the role and get out. Eric watched her closely, leaning against the staircase railing. His wolf instincts hummed beneath his skin. She was tense, stiff, too awa

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife    Chapter 2: The Fake Wife Agreement

    The bakery stil smelled like warm sugar and cinnamon, the air thick with the scent of fresh bread. Annie still stood behind the counter, arms folded, her lips pressed into a tight line. Across from her, Eric Bleu remained still, his presence impossible to ignore. The dim lighting cast sharp shadows on his chiseled face, but his eyes—intense and unwavering—never left hers. He didn't care if he was holding up the line of customers behind him. Eric Bleu isn't someone to give up easily. He steady his feet while maintaining eye contact with his prey. Harley, oblivious to the tension between them, sat on the counter with her small feet swinging, completely absorbed in the bag of cookies Yumi had given her. She hummed softly as she took another bite, crumbs dusting her tiny fingers. Annie exhaled slowly. This is insane. But she had already made up her mind. “I’ll do it,” she said, her voice steady. “But I have rules.” Eric raised a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Rules?”

  • The Billionaire Undercover Wife     Chapter 1: A Deal with the Billionaire Alpha

    The scent of warm bread and melting chocolate curled through the air, thick and comforting. The quiet hum of the oven, the faint hiss of the espresso machine—it all blended into a rhythmic background, lulling customers into soft murmurs and content sighs. Eric Bleu barely noticed. His sharp gaze swept across the bakery, not in appreciation of its cozy charm, but with the focus of a man on a mission. He needed someone to play Harley’s mother. And fast. Not just for the kindergarten event—though that was the immediate problem. No, this was about something deeper. Harley had never voiced it before, but he saw it now, written in the way she held herself, the quiet longing in her gaze when she saw other children with their mothers. She was too much like him. Too strong for her own good. And that terrified him. “Papa, I want that one.” Eric followed her gaze. His body tensed. The woman behind the counter moved with quiet efficiency, fingers working swiftly as she sea

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