Ophelia's POV Arthur sneered and regarded Leo as if he were something revolting that had stuck to the bottom of his shoe. I shared that sentiment entirely. "This isn't about romantic conquest," he replied in a carefully controlled tone, his hand curling into a fist underneath the table. "If Leo had brought her flowers and written her a love poem, we wouldn't be having this conversation." "So what's it about then?" Catherine asked, gesturing to her cousin theatrically, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What is so terrible about Leo? Why break his leg if you don't care whether or not he's interested in your sweet Ophelia?" I cast a nervous glance around the room. The other diners were staring in fascination at the tableau before them. I suppressed the urge to wave at one man, whose stare was of such an intensity that he looked as if his eyes were ready to bulge right out of their sockets. "What is wrong with you?" Arthur growled, finally losing some of his famous compo
Arthur's POV As I headed back toward my pack my mind whirled in confusion. And on the subject of Ophelia: what did I feel for her? I tried to tell myself that she was my breeder and nothing more. It was strictly an employer-employee relationship. If I felt protective of her it was because she was my responsibility, nothing more. And besides, she obviously cared for and got along well with, Taylor. So what was wrong with ensuring that she remained healthy and safe? Absolutely nothing was wrong with that, I assured myself as I made a left turn, straining to see the road in the darkness. I needed to focus on work. There was a reason I didn't have a Luna. It was a distraction I could ill afford. Allowing myself to worry over Ophelia was just as bad as if I had a true Luna, I admitted ruefully. I was being ridiculous. As I rounded the corner, I noticed a car creeping up behind mine. It was late, and I immediately became suspicious. It was unusual for another car to be out in
Ophelia's POVJessica brought my breakfast the next morning at one o'clock in the afternoon. I had slept in after the events of the previous evening and had been utterly exhausted. When I finally woke up, I felt much better and was famished. I gratefully accepted the heaping platter of bacon, scrambled eggs, toast and coffee with a grin. The heavenly aroma of freshly cooked bacon made my stomach growl loudly, and we both laughed upon hearing it. "That's wonderful that you have a good appetite," Jessica said with a smile. "It's a sign of health, and it seems that yours has dramatically improved over the past few weeks." It was true. I had never felt more relaxed and happy in my entire life. I dug into my eggs with a delighted sigh, thinking how even the food here was so much better than anything I had ever experienced before. I wondered how I had gotten so lucky. And then there was Arthur. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but it seemed as if he might care for me. I had no id
Ophelia's POV To my utter dismay, it was Catherine who stood before me. It was as if I had somehow accidentally summoned her by thinking about her. The way one might conjure a demon from the depths of hell. Given what she was putting me through, it seemed an apt comparison. If that was the case, that I was somehow indirectly responsible for her presence, then I desperately wished I could take it back. There was no one on earth who I wanted to encounter less than Catherine. "Ophelia, I knew I would find you here," Catherine sneered, looking down at me in utter distaste as if I were a cockroach she happened to spy scurrying across her floor. "We need to talk." "That won't be necessary. I was just leaving," I assured her, grabbing my coat hastily and heading for the door. "I'm sure you and Taylor have many important things to discuss, and I have no desire to intrude." I also have no desire to see you, I thought, perhaps unkindly, but the woman was driving me insane. She even
Arthur’s POV"Good,” I said as I looked at the office door. “Let’s get this taken care of, then.”Opening the door, Alpha Romero sat at his desk, wearing a smiling face as he spoke to me.I glanced around the Alpha's office at the rest of the attendees. Sitting in front of and beside his desk was Romero's daughter Catherine and his beta. Initially, the talk was casual, pleasant even. “I’ve been thinking about taking up some cooking classes,” said Catherine to the Beta. “Oh, really? You’re a fine cook as it is,” the Beta remarked. “Well, I have more responsibilities ahead of me. I want to make sure I’m making my husband happy.”“True,” Romero responded. “You’ll pick it up easily. You’re a fast learner with whatever you’ve chosen to do.” Was Catherine pretending I wasn’t in the room? Obviously, she wanted me to hear just how “good of a wife” she was going to be. I mentally sighed in annoyance. “Arthur, you appreciate good food, don’t you?” Beta asked. Before I could
It occurred to me that my illness may be making me feel naughtier as I willfully pulled him closer to me.Despite the murkiness of my judgment, I had no choice but to throw caution to the wind. I gave into his bold kiss and pressed my soft lips to his. He cradled my head in his left hand as his mouth melded with mine. I whimpered as he petted me. Though I was losing myself in the moment, I held tightly onto the thought that I refused to be another man's plaything. It was imperative that I not risk disappointingly falling in love with Arthur simply because we'd crossed boundaries. Compromising wasn't an option.The life inside me was enough to keep me steadfast, I hoped. I'd have to refrain from allowing my heart to be completely swept up in my hopes for love and happiness. My pup was more important than trying to figure out my and Arthur's convoluted arrangement.Plus, I refused to cause problems for someone else in a relationship, no matter how much I didn't want it to happen. T
Ophelia’s POVArthur hadn't come to visit me in a long time. I couldn't help but wonder if he was preparing for his engagement to Catherine. It haunted me each day he wasn't here. I didn't want to mope, but I couldn't bring myself to put a smile on my face.As I imagined him making plans for a life with her, I felt empty. It wasn't like I was entertaining the thought of interjecting myself into his plans or anything disrespectful. I was just so confused. It wasn't any wonder that Jessica would notice.While I was shuffling down the hallway drooping my head in melancholy, I ran into her on her way up to visit me. Per usual, she had a heaping plate of food to share with me. When she saw me from afar, she flashed her warm smile but once she neared, her face fell."Hey, Ophelia. Are you okay?" she asked, touching my shoulder.At first, I shrugged at her, at a loss for words. She wrinkled her forehead, appearing sympathetic. My heart felt like it was cracking it hurt so much. Not
"Let's start sneaking around behind his back if he shows up," Kingston said with a tone of ambiguity. I forced myself not to reveal how shocked I was. As Kingston's suggestive proposal hung in the air, I couldn't stop shaking which was accompanied by the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach."Sneaking around behind his back? Please be careful about what you're saying," I retorted. "Whatever feud you have with Alpha Arthur is none of my concern. I'm merely an outsider who has never provoked anyone. Please don't make things difficult for me."Though I feigned indignation, my mind raced with apprehension, hoping Kingston would dismiss such a dreadful idea and above all... hoping Arthur wouldn't come. If he didn't then that would mean Kingston had to leave me alone from here on out. Not only that, but I didn't want to see his face when he saw me in the company of his evil stepbrother.My stomach rolled over and I was reminded of the feeling I experienced when Catherine had made me s