Twilight turned and headed toward the small building, but before she could reach it, the door creaked open, revealing her father stepping out.Twilight froze, locking eyes with the man. He looked slightly disheveled, and the stench of alcohol surrounded him."You’re back early," he said, eyeing her with a questioning look."I..." Twilight hesitated. "I lost my job."The confession hung in the air for a moment before Manson, her father, barked out a small laugh."You’re joking, right?" His voice was edged with venom. When Twilight didn’t reply, he stepped down from the threshold, approaching her with menace, while she kept her gaze lowered."How could you lose your job at a time like this? You have to be serious! The monthly pay is due soon. I’ve got budgets on the line, and now you’re telling me this?""Well, I can’t work there anymore. I’ll find another job.""Another job?" Manson scoffed. "Let me guess. That rich friend of yours, Bella—is she finally going to tell her father to give
“Because he's mine!”___The world around Mason literally froze. His breath seized as the echo of his own voice rang in his head. Realization hit him like a cold shock, his nerves turning ice-cold, eyes widening to their limit.He is mine.Oh, Mother of Christ! He did not just say that… How the fuck did those words spill out?Bella’s shocked expression said it all. He had said it. It wasn’t just in his head. In fact, he had yelled it."What the hell?" Bella muttered, her face paled.Mason staggered back and immediately bolted from the place, moving in a hurry until he found an empty corner. Finally, spotting one, he leaned against the wall, eyes still wide in disbelief as he slowly slid down into a crouch, his face pale."He is mine?" he mumbled, his brows furrowing in disbelief. How in the motherfucking world had those words slipped out all of a sudden?Even the anger he had felt when Bella spoke about Mason baffled him. And the worst part? He had actually meant every word when he bl
Tears burned in Twilight’s eyes, but she lowered her gaze, unwilling to let him see her cry. “This won’t work,” she shook her head lightly. “I never thought I'd be given a mate. I don’t even know much about the werewolf world, but they are cruel.”Seth’s sharp gaze softened.Twilight inhaled deeply, staring at the floor as she spoke. “We are exiled wolves… rogues, forced to hide among humans. Entering any pack means death. I’ve been an outcast since the day I was born—banished alongside my parents for something that wasn’t even their fault.”Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to continue. “My mother was a healer. A gifted one. She dedicated her life to saving others. But one day, the Alpha’s son fell ill—some strange sickness no one had seen before. She did everything she could to save him, but in the end… he died.”Seth remained silent, his intense gaze fixed on her.“The pack turned on her instantly. They blamed her, called her a murderer, a disgrace. And since she was pregn
Seth’s expression softened, the worry in his eyes giving way to amusement. “You had a rut?”Mason lowered his gaze, embarrassed. “That’s not funny, Seth… I had to use the restroom to… you know.” Heat crept up his face.“Relax. Wow, I never thought a human would actually experience that.”“Well, it happened, and I need to know what the hell it means.”Seth exhaled, then leaned forward. “Alright, listen carefully. A rut is something Lycans and werewolves go through—it’s an intense, primal need for their mate. Usually, it only happens to us, but since you’re bonded to Ste-phen, your body is reacting to him, even though you’re human.”Mason’s face twisted in disbelief. “I can’t believe this.”“Me neither. But, Mason…” Seth’s voice turned serious. “Maybe you should consider accepting things as they are.”Mason blinked in confusion. “What do you mean? Like… accept Ste-phen? Be with him forever?”Seth pressed his lips together. “I know this is probably too much to ask, but… the bond cannot b
Seth snorted on the other end. “I guess that means you’re already falling for me.”Twilight pressed her lips together at his words, but his voice soon turned serious.“Remember what I told you about Professor Ste-phen?”“Yeah, I do. He scares me. I knew what he was the moment he stepped into the class, but I stayed quiet since my scent is low enough for him to mistake me for a human,” Twilight muttered.“He’s not a bad person. Soon, I’ll introduce you to him,” Seth assured.“Do you have to? I think we should fix us first before letting anyone else know,” Twilight suggested.Seth stayed quiet for a moment before speaking again.“Courting like a human. Alright, Sparkles, I’ll give you time. We’ll take things slow.”A warm smile spread across her lips, but it quickly faded when she saw Bella stepping into the classroom.“Thanks… I have to go,” she said and immediately ended the call before Bella reached her.Bella folded her arms, her expression one of pure frustration.“You bitch,” she
********Ste-phenWith another issue unsettling his pack affairs, all Ste-phen wanted to do was travel over there and kill them all—every last one of them.His absence from the pack was attracting enemies, ones slowly clawing their way in, searching for any hint of weakness.First, it was the business issue. Now, they were using something far more dangerous—betrayal from within.His Beta had been keeping him informed about the situation back home, but it was worse than he expected. There were whispers of discontent among the ranks, with some of his trusted warriors beginning to doubt his rule. A select few—foolish, power-hungry, and blind—were already making moves against him, emboldened by the belief that his focus on the human world made him weak.Ste-phen scoffed. Weak?Oh, they would see just how weak he was when he fished them out and ripped their still-beating hearts from their chests.A knock sounded on his door, but before he could give permission, the person opened the office
“Stop!”Mason's voice pierced the incredibly suffocating silence of the room. He hadn't realized how hard he was already breathing.The rage was slowly clutching at his nerves. A weird weight blossomed on his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.Ste-phen glanced over Bella's shoulder, meeting Mason’s gaze.“What?” he asked, his voice devoid of emotion.“Don't do it,” Mason quickly said, and Ste-phen’s smirk widened.“Why, Mason?” Ste-phen asked, still holding Bella's chin. “Would you like to replace her then?”Mason froze, even Bella, who was in between his legs, frowned with a questioning look.“What are…?”“Shh,” Ste-phen whispered to her, running his thumb over her lower lip and silencing her with those dark, charming eyes. “Let him talk.”Mason's nerves were on fire.In between Ste-phen’s legs… I should be there. Not her! Fucking damn it!“Let her leave first,” Mason demanded, his voice almost a whisper.“No. She wants it so badly,” Ste-phen didn’t shift his gaze away from he
____Twilight sat nervously, fidgeting with her fingers as she waited.Soon, the door opened, and a cop led her father into the space opposite her, separated by the transparent glass barrier between them.Christopher sat down, placing his cuffed hands on the table and leaning forward slightly. A scoff tore from his throat."Who was that Alpha?" he asked."I didn’t come here for that...""Answer my fucking question!" he snapped, and Twilight’s jaw clenched. "He came out of nowhere, beat me up, and threw me into this jail. Since when did you start involving yourself in the werewolf world without my knowledge?"Twilight's lips parted in disbelief. "I can't believe you," her voice was low, dripping with anger. "For years, I did nothing but try to please you, to win back the love you showed me before everything... went wrong. But now, I... I'm starting to wonder if you're truly my father."Christopher scoffed. "Maybe you're right. I might not be your father. Your mother was just a bitchy w
•••••••“Mason.” Yara’s voice snapped Mason back to earth.Mason, whose lips were parted in shock, shifted his gaze from Ste-phen to her.“Hey, Ma,” he chuckled awkwardly, glancing back at Ste-phen just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. But the male was right there, lounging on the chair beside his mother with his arms folded across his chest.Again, he questioned himself.What in the world was Ste-phen doing here?“Are you planning to stay there and watch? Come on, sweetie.” Yara smiled so brightly it warmed Mason's heart.Mason stepped inside with the lunch he had bought for himself and his mother. Now it felt awkward. He wondered if Ste-phen might be hungry.Ah, right—Ste-phen doesn't like to eat outside.While Mason set the food before his mother, his heart raced in his chest as he could feel Ste-phen’s gaze on him the entire time.Ste-phen hadn't spoken a word.“Finally, Mason! I got to meet the one taking care of you—your boss. The one behind the sudden brightness in your ey
____“You seriously think this will work?” Xander asked as they both sat in the café having lunch.“I don't know, Xander. We can only hope,” Dexter replied, unsure of his words as well.“Yo! What's up, guys?” Jericho and the other boys came over to join them. Lately, Dexter and Xander hadn’t been too active, and the others were getting worried.They had even canceled their upcoming show, and knowing how much these two loved dancing, the rest couldn’t help but try to figure out what was going on—until they got the gist. Mr. Luther was in town.Settling down with them, Jericho who didn't hesitate like the others, broke the silence."I heard your father’s in town, Dexter."Cole, on the other hand, simply stared at Dexter with an unreadable expression.“Don’t worry about it,” Dexter mumbled curtly.“Why did you cancel the dance show then? Is he still against it?”“I said don’t worry about it!” Dexter snapped, making Jericho’s mouth snap shut. Dexter stood up abruptly, the others' eyes foll
“Pens up.”Mrs. Katherine’s voice resonated through the classroom. Most of the students groaned under their breath. It was the last exam, and it had been pretty tough for them.Very few were able to complete their work, including Mason and Twilight.Bella sulked throughout. She no longer sat or spoke with Twilight and minded her own business.Dexter, on the other hand, had changed seats and was awfully quiet the whole time. He and Mason hadn’t exchanged a single word—not even once. But Mason was still curious. Dexter had mentioned him being in danger, and then the shooting incident happened.Even though Ste-phen refused to tell them who was behind it, Mason couldn’t stop wondering.“Dexter?” Mason called in a whisper, careful not to let Katherine hear so she wouldn’t mistake it for cheating.Dexter’s movement paused, and without a word or even a glance, he rose from his chair and walked over to Mrs. Katherine to submit his work.Mason sighed. Dexter must be really mad at him. Perhaps
Moore clenched his phone tightly, his heart racing nonstop, lips quivering.“Mr. Black, let’s talk about—”Three beeps echoed in his ear, indicating the call had just been disconnected. Sweat beaded on Moore’s face, his eyes darted around the room as though searching for somewhere to hide… but there was nowhere.He was alone.And now, sooner or later, his heart was going to be ripped out of his chest. The thought made his knees buckle. He felt stupid for ever playing with Ste-phen’s words.His son was dead. He couldn’t even grieve—he was next.His trembling fingers slid across his phone screen, dialing a number. When the person on the other end picked up, he yelled:“Fuck! Thank God you’re not dead. Prepare any possible way for me to leave this country right away. I don’t care how you do it, I need to leave now! I’ll pay you anything—just find me a way immediately!”The voice on the other end responded, “Sir, you could follow the goods you're about to ship to Korea. If it’s urgent.”R
••••••••Twilight let out a cry as she climbed to her peak, Seth's fingers thrusting in and out of her wet core while his tongue flicked over her sensitive nub.The heat coiled in her stomach, her mouth parting in a silent moan before the sensation exploded within her, making her collapse back onto the bed.Her breathing came in heavy bursts, chest heaving as she struggled to steady herself. Her eyes were shut, a hint of tears pricking the corners.Her heartbeat pounded so loudly she could’ve sworn Seth heard it.She felt a kiss on her jaw, prompting her eyes to flutter open and meet Seth’s dreamy gaze. He brought his fingers to his lips and licked them clean. The sight was so sensual, Twilight had to bite her lip to suppress a moan.“First time?” he asked softly, his eyes gentle—Twilight could see stars in them.“Mhm,” she nodded, and his brows arched.“Really?” He clearly hadn’t expected that answer. She nodded again, and something primal flickered in his eyes.Twilight might’ve gon
Twilight was drying her hair when Seth stepped in as well. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him, and she immediately dropped the towel and approached.“Seth, how did it—”Seth grabbed her waist, slamming his lips against hers, shoving her words back into her throat with a hard, passionate kiss. Twilight melted in his arms, letting his warm tongue slide into her mouth.Her sweet moan echoed through the room, her hand sliding onto his neck, threading her fingers through his hair.He grabbed her by the waist, lifting her as though she weighed nothing. Her back met the wall with a soft thud, her breath catching in her throat as her towel slipped down, pooling at her feet like a whisper.“Seth…” she breathed, her voice trembling with need, but he didn’t let her speak.His mouth was on hers again, harder this time—desperate. As if he needed to remind himself she was real. As if he’d lose his mind if he didn’t taste her right then and there.Her legs wrapped around his waist, locking him in.
The sky roared outside in the night, thunder cracking against the clouds, its roar echoing in the large room. On the king-sized bed was Mason, curled on the soft mattress.His eyes opened, staring into space. He couldn't sleep. Not a single hint of darkness wanted to slip into his senses.He stayed awake, but he was barely aware of his surroundings. The heavy thunder sounded distant, and the rain splattering against the window was quiet.His mind was disoriented. There was a heavy weight pressing against his chest, puncturing his heart. He was breathing, yet it felt as though he was not.Mason rolled onto the other side, restless with only one name on his mind—Ste-phen.He hadn't been this worried and unsettled about a man before. Hell, he didn't know he was this attached to still be awake for this long. He couldn't even eat the dinner the hotel service had brought for him.The meal was on his table. Untouched.Why was he shot?Who was after him?Is Ste-phen alright?That question—he
**********Seth’S APARTMENT Ste-phen instantly ripped off his clothes, revealing his hard-toned chest as he stepped into the cold cell. His breath came in ragged gasps. Fangs bared, his right hand bled from how tightly he had clenched his fist throughout the ride.Seth prepared the chains, immediately beginning to bind him.“Faster, Seth,” Ste-phen rasped.“Just keep your eyes open,” Seth said, hastening his movements.Ste-phen suddenly surged, his free hand almost slashing Seth’s face. Thanks to Seth’s speed and Ste-phen’s restraint, the blow missed—otherwise, it would have caused a deep wound.Seth grabbed the second hand and chained it as well before stepping back to lock Ste-phen inside. He took a deep breath, watching Ste-phen’s head slump forward, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm...Silence settled over the cell, and Seth’s heart shattered, wondering when this would finally end.He was about to hear the roars of pain, the struggles, and the writhing of his friend
Before the gunshot sounded, Mason suddenly felt a hard surface slam into him—no, it was a chest. The impact made the ice cream in his hand slip and sprawl onto the floor.It all happened so fast. Before Mason could even process it, the gunshot rang out, making him jerk violently, his eyes squeezing shut. But strong arms wrapped around him protectively, shielding him from the danger.With his heart racing, Mason slowly regained his senses. Screams erupted from the onlookers, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps as chaos filled the air.“Hey,” a deep, familiar, soothing voice broke through Mason's panic. “Are you alright?”Mason looked up slowly, meeting Ste-phen’s intense, worried gaze—a look he had never seen before.After winning that plush toy, Ste-phen had received a message from Seth. Twilight had mentioned that Zeno Luther was in town—and after Mason’s life.Ste-phen hadn’t wasted a second. He dashed out of the building. Upon spotting Mason, he noticed a red laser dot on hi