MILAโAlpha Tyler! Iโve been trying to get your attention all night.โ Mirabella practically squeezed between us, making a point to size me up, which I didnโt mind. I had to keep Tyler at a distance for Rayneโs horny sake.โAs you can see, Iโm a bit preoccupied,โ Tyler began. โSoโฆโโYeah, I can tell,โ Mirabella interrupted, her voice carrying the kind of sweetness that could make my teeth ache. โSomeoneโs been monopolizing all your time.โShe shot a glance in my direction.โItโs not monopolizing when theyโre here willingly,โ I said, matching her fake sweetness. โBut I can understand why that concept might beโฆ unfamiliar to you.โMirabella faked a laugh before grabbing onto Tylerโs arm. โTy, would you give me a moment please? Girl talk and all. Maybe a few drinks?โTyler looked at me as if he wanted confirmation. I didnโt want to waste my time with her but whatever. She was on my shit list anyway. I gave him a subtle nod and we both watched him disappear into the crowd before Mirabella
MILAJulia watched me with a confident look on her face, but I could smell the fear coming off her skin. She tried to laugh it off. โWhat is this? Some kind of fantasy of yours? A little girl on girl action?โ I moved to block the door when I saw her eyeing it. โNot quite,โ I smiled. โBut it will be.โBefore Julia could say another word, I lunged for her, grabbing her head and bringing it down into my knee. She stumbled back, holding her nose and looking at me with a shocked expression.โWhat the fuck!โโThatโs for Jenna.โJulia distanced herself from me as I slowly approached. Surprisingly, she stood her ground when she noticed I wasnโt going to let her escape.Good girl. Julia grabbed her broken nose, and popped it back in place, her hand trembling as she wiped the blood from her lip.โJenna? How is little olโ Jenna doing?โ she asked with a bloody grin. โHeard she lost a piece of herself. Maybe I should send her a โGet Wellโ card.โI stalked forward, the edge of my vision blurring
GABEI stepped away from the window in my old office after watching the flashing lights of the van taking Leo away. โGuess the partyโs over.โI closed my laptop, taking a look at the redesign I did for Milaโs office. I tried to make it as personable as I could. Granted she had changed much, so hopefully I remembered enough to get her going.โWe should tell her who she is to us,โ Spencer urged.Heโs been bugging me to tell ever since he found out. Wolves were so one-track minded. Letโs not worry about the fact that we were still mated to Arianna, right? None of this made sense.โDo you remember what she said to us the first time we saw her?โ I reminded him. โI broke her heart, Spencer. I canโt just expect her to forgive us because thereโs a possibility sheโs our mate.โEven saying it sounded strange. I continued to decorate the room, carefully placing pictures of her older designs and textiles on the wall. Suddenly the door opened and Tyler rushed in like he was running from someone.
MILAThe moment I kicked them out, I took a tour of my new office, feeling a sense of belonging. I wonโt lie and say the personal touches were amazing, but the fact that Gabe was the one who did it made everything a bit complicated. Whatโs so complicated? Heโs an asshole just like the rest of them. I thought, staring at the colored pencils on my desk and the treadmill tucked underneath it. Seriously, Camila mustโve had something to do with this. No one and I mean no one knew about the treadmill.I shook my head not wanting to delve into it deeper. I had to stay focused on the plan. The night was still young and there was still some damage I could do. I texted Camila to deliver the little gift I had for Luna Emily and Alpha Troy, while I tried to stir up some drama on the news. I pulled out my phone and called Laura.โHey, I think itโs time to leak some information?โโAlready ahead of you,โ Laura answered happily. โLooks like our little hacker already did it. The news should be reporti
ARIThe gala was dead, my parents left with no word, Julia was found beaten in the womenโs restroom, and Gabe was still a no-show. I called the packhouse and everyone kept saying he was in the office. So I decided to check myself. When I opened the door to his office, I was surprised to see so much had changed and Mila was standing near the desk. Of course it was her. That huge silhouette was unmistakable in the low light.โOh,โ she said, her lips curving into a smile that made my stomach churn. โLuna Arianna. Fancy seeing you here.โโReally?โ I asked coolly, stepping fully into the room. โI would think out of the two of us, I would make more sense. What are you doing here?โShe leaned against the desk with her arms crossed. โNot that itโs any of your business, but this is my office now. This is what happens when youโre a success, ya know.โThis girl was starting to become a real headache. โYou canโt be serious? Gabe wouldnโt just give you his office.โโMore like he decorated it himse
GABEThe scent of blood filled my nose as Spencer growled low, his presence pressing against my mind. We moved forward, eyes scanning the womenโs torn attire, and the red streaks on the floor. Mila.Sheโs hurt. The realization hit hard, the pull to her undeniable. She mustโve seen it in my face because she shook her head slowly, her eyes a silent plea. I couldnโt move to her anyway as Arianna practically flung herself into my arms.โThat beast attacked me,โ she cried, her arms wrapped around my neck, face buried into my chest. Even as she did this, my eyes were on Mila. The need to comfort so strong, I felt myself pulling Ariannaโs arms off of me. That didnโt stop her from clinging on as her hands gripped my arm. She continued. โShe has to be banned from this pack immediately.โโBanned?โ That word felt heavy in my mouth. โReally, Ari?โ I looked at Arianna as if she was crazy and she almost took a step back. She recovered and a hateful look spread across her face when she looked at M
MILAWhat the fuck was he doing? And why was I letting him?The moment his tongue touched my skin, I nearly fell to the floor, but his grip kept me planted. I wanted to pull away but it feltโฆ so good. I had half a mind to make another cut.No, focus you fool! I shook my head, deciding on placing my anger someplace else.โRayne, you couldโve healed us.โHey, Iโm good but Iโm not that good,โ Rayne protested, her voice low and amusing. โAlphaโs and Lunaโs attacks are much more difficult to heal. You know that. Besides, I donโt protest this. Let him lick our wounds.โโYou have no control,โ I snapped, even as my body betrayed me, leaning into his touch.โSaid the woman who decided to get into two fights,โ Rayne retorted. โNow this is more my lane.โWhen he finished, Gabe looked up at me, and my heart raced. There, in his light brown eyes that were flashing gold, was desireโno, an animalistic hungerโand my body responded. My panties could no longer keep the desire from sliding down my leg.
TYLERHoly shit! Fuck! What the hell was I thinking bringing her here? I rarely brought women to the packhouse. Hotel rooms were my domain for this kind of thing. A quick getaway if needed. But now? Now I was making an exception for her. Mila. Damn it, why was resisting her so damn impossible? Everything about her, from the way she looked at me to the way she moved, shredded whatever resolve I had left. And then there was Gabe. Something had happened back there, I could feel it. But the moment the elevator doors closed, and her lips crushed against mine with that fiery urgency, I knew. I knew exactly where this was going. Gabe? Fuck him. He had a mate already. He wasnโt here. I didnโt care what heโd do if he was. I cared about her.By the time we reached the front door, our clothes were practically gone. She pulled me in with a hunger that matched my own, and her kissโit was everything. The heat radiating off her skin seemed to burn through me, leaving me aching in ways I didnโt unde
MILAThe room stilled.โWhat is this?โ Gregory barked, looking around the room. I noticed how he subtly narrowed his eyes at Emily.Good. I wanted him to think it was her. For now. Murmurs filled the room as everyoneโs attention was glued to the screen. It flickered again. Then came the audioโhis voice. Clear. Calm. Cold.And damning.โThe boat needed to go. Collateral damage is part of the price when you want to clean house. And the girl? Sheโs just like her parentsโtoo dangerous to be left alive.โSilence swallowed the room. Then chaos.โThat doesnโt prove anything,โ Gregory shouted. โThat could be anybody.โBut the screen answered him. It split into two windows: one showed Gregory pacing in a private study, the second displayed spreadsheets, maps, and message logsโeach one marked with timestamps and code names.The proof was overwhelming.Someone screamed. A councilman stood. Ariannaโs mouth dropped open. Emily turned toward Gregory, the smile never leaving her face, even as she wi
MILAFrances and his assistant poured over the portfolio like it was a rare manuscript. I shifted in my seat, resisting the urge to glance at my watch again. There was too much riding on todayโtoo much to still do.Frances finally looked up, his eyes twinkling behind those sleek, gold-framed glasses. โThis is truly something special,โ he said, tapping the edge of the page. โAnd the technology?โI straightened a bit, proud. โSmart fabric. Reactive threads that shift color based on light exposure and body temperature. The effect is subtle, elegantโlike your vintage diamond collection. Sophisticated, but with presence.โAcross the table, Emilyโs jaw tensed. I caught the flicker of annoyance in her eyes and smiled, just a little.Frances chuckled. โIndeed, Mademoiselle. Youโve captured the season in a way that feels... alive.โ He flipped another page, his gaze sharp but admiring. โI must admit, Iโm surprised. After everything thatโs happened lately, I expected something more... reserved.โ
MILAThere was no gentle buildup this time. No teasing smile. No calculated flirtation. Gabe kissed me like he meant to ruin meโwith a hunger that stole the air from my lungs. One hand tangled in my hair, tugging just enough to make my body jolt with need. I gasped, but he swallowed the sound, deepening the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine in a battle I was already losing.He lifted me effortlessly from the chair, setting me down on the desk as if heโd been waiting to do it since the moment he walked in. His body pressed against mine, all muscle and heat and quiet dominance.โSee?โ he murmured against my lips, voice dark and full of promise. โYou like it when I take control. Donโt you?โAnd damn himโI did. My body answered before my mouth ever could, arching into him, fingers clawing at his shirt to pull him closer.โAnswer me, Mila.โโIโฆ do,โ I breathed, the words escaping like a confession.Those words cracked something open in him. He kissed me againโdeeper, rougherโhis hands
MILATyler was, somehow, unexpectedly my hero.Not only did he make sure the publication printed the correct draft of the Aliz magazineโthe one with my real Summer collection and not the tragic sabotage Lena tried to pass offโbut he also made sure Lena got demoted. Now she was stuck shooting staged waterfalls and hotel breakfast buffets for the travel catalogue division. Honestly? Served her right for trying to cross me.Apparently, I had Amira to thank for that little coup.I still didnโt know how I felt about her. The woman switched sides like it was Fashion Week and loyalty was just another trend. But one thing I did know? She was in love with Tyler. Hopelessly, painfully in love. That mightโve made her dangerousโbut it also gave me leverage. And I wasnโt above playing that card if I had to.โSoโฆ you think this will work?โ Camilaโs voice broke through my thoughts and I remembered what I was doingโฆ or trying to do.โI donโt know,โ I sighed, moving all the mockups for my fall collect
ARIThe diamond necklace with the crystal pendant glinted in the mirror, catching the light like it still mattered. Like it still meant something. Gabe had given it to me for a birthday present. Placed it around my neck himself. Told me I looked like someone no one would dare cross. It had to mean something, right? A gift that rare didnโt come without weight.So I wore it todayโnot for sentiment, but strategy.Let him see it. Let him remember. Let him regret.But he didnโt. He barely blinked. No hesitation, no flicker of guilt. Just another command over the phone and a condescending smirk on his lips.โNothing a blow dryer canโt fix,โ Gabe said, like I was already a mistake he was eager to forget.I couldโve slapped him. I shouldโve. But I wouldnโt give him that satisfaction. It wouldโve meant I still cared.Iโd lose a hundred battles before I let him see me lose the war.When I stormed into my fatherโs office, he didnโt even glance up from his damned ritualโalways washing his hands
GABEI barely heard the door open behind me before Ariannaโs scent hit the airโa soft, artificial sweetness that never sat right. I didnโt turn around. I was on the phone, my voice quiet.โJust put on a suit. I need you to go over there and fix this. She doesnโt need to deal with this right now. So please handle it.โArianna moved closer as I flushed the urinal and moved to the sink to wash my hands.โYou know the symbols on the outside of the door are there for a reason,โ I said, not glancing at her.โWere you talking about Mila just now?โ she asked, arms crossing as she leaned against the door. I ignored her and walked towards the office. It's been a busy couple of days with the move back to the Mora company. โYouโre really moving on that fast, huh?โ Arianna asked, following me. โThe ink on the divorce papers is still wet.โโNothing a blow dryer canโt fix,โ I smiled, hoping to get rid of her, but the look on her face told me otherwise. โArianna, donโt start.โHer lip curled. โDisg
MILAI stared between the both of them before Lena spoke.Lenaโs eyes widened. โYou. Whyโwhy are you here?โโOh, relax,โ I said, stepping inside and locking the door behind me. The click echoed louder than I expected. โHow convenient. Two traitors. One hotel room. The universe really said, โHere you go, babe.โโNeither of them had time to react before I walked straight to Lena, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and slammed her face into the wall. Hard enough to sting, soft enough to not get us arrested for homicide. Balance.She gasped, tried to say something. I yanked her back, then shoved her forward again.โDonโt speak,โ I hissed. โYouโve already said enough with those sabotage photos.โBehind me, I heard Amira shifting toward the door. I didnโt even turn around.โTake one more step and I will throw you out that window. Iโm not saying youโll die, but gravityโs a bitch and bones snap real easy from the ninth floor.โAmira froze.โSmart girl,โ I said.Honestly from this height, it would
MILAโโฆjust waiting for answers. Why did this have to happen? What could have prevented an incident that took two of the most important people in my life?โ Alpha Gregoryโs voice cracked just enough to sound human. He gripped the podium like it might run away if he let go, flashes from the cameras popping like fireworks behind a funeral. Arianna stepped up beside him, touched his armโperfectly timed, perfectly staged. A father-daughter moment, photogenic grief included.But I didnโt care about them. My eyes drifted past them to Gabe. He stood stiffly off to the side, holding Noah like the only anchor he had left. He looked like heโd rather be anywhere elseโexpression blank, shoulders tight. I hadnโt seen him since he left the orphanage a couple weeks ago. No calls. No updates. We were both busyโhim with God knows what, me trying to salvage my image from the dumpster fire of the fashion show. Oh, and also: still no sign of my dad. The meeting with Emily that was supposed to bring ans
MILAI stirred awake to the sound of birds and the sensation of warmth that had me feeling so good. A strong arm draped over my waist, the steady rise and fall of a familiar chest beneath my cheek. My heart stuttered as the scent of spice and dark chocolate filled my lungsโGabe. It was oddly comforting, dangerously so. A moment of peace I had no business indulging in.Something tickled my nose. I cracked one eye open to find yellow flowers brushing against my face. That was when the realization hit.We were lying in a flowerbed.Panic jolted through me. I shot up, sending Gabeโs arm tumbling off of me. My breath came fast as I scanned our surroundings. Shit. Jennaโs going to kill me. Gabe groaned, shifting onto his back, his hand searching for mine. โFive more minutes,โ he mumbled, his voice sleep-heavy, unbothered.I smacked his chest, ignoring the way my fingers tingle from the contact. โNo, no, no. Get up. We fell asleep in a flowerbed. Jennaโs going to be pissed we messed up her