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. “What is this? Some kind of fantasy of yours? A little girl on girl action?” I moved to block the door when I saw her eyeing it. “Not quite,” I smiled. “But it will be.”Before 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.“What the fuck!”“That’s for Jenna.”Julia distanced herself from me as I slowly approached. Surprisingly, she stood her ground when she noticed I wasn’t 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.“Jenna? How is little ol’ Jenna doing?” she asked with a bloody grin. “Heard she lost a piece of herself. Maybe I should send her a ‘Get Well’ card.”I 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. “Guess the party’s over.”I closed my laptop, taking a look at the redesign I did for Mila’s 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.“We should tell her who she is to us,” Spencer urged.He’s been bugging me to tell ever since he found out. Wolves were so one-track minded. Let’s not worry about the fact that we were still mated to Arianna, right? None of this made sense.“Do you remember what she said to us the first time we saw her?” I reminded him. “I broke her heart, Spencer. I can’t just expect her to forgive us because there’s a possibility she’s our mate.”Even 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 won’t lie and say the personal touches were amazing, but the fact that Gabe was the one who did it made everything a bit complicated. What’s so complicated? He’s 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 must’ve 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.“Hey, I think it’s time to leak some information?”“Already ahead of you,” Laura answered happily. “Looks 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 women’s 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.“Oh,” she said, her lips curving into a smile that made my stomach churn. “Luna Arianna. Fancy seeing you here.”“Really?” I asked coolly, stepping fully into the room. “I would think out of the two of us, I would make more sense. What are you doing here?”She leaned against the desk with her arms crossed. “Not that it’s any of your business, but this is my office now. This is what happens when you’re a success, ya know.”This girl was starting to become a real headache. “You can’t be serious? Gabe wouldn’t just give you his office.”“More 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 women’s torn attire, and the red streaks on the floor. Mila.She’s hurt. The realization hit hard, the pull to her undeniable. She must’ve seen it in my face because she shook her head slowly, her eyes a silent plea. I couldn’t move to her anyway as Arianna practically flung herself into my arms.“That beast attacked me,” 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 Arianna’s arms off of me. That didn’t stop her from clinging on as her hands gripped my arm. She continued. “She has to be banned from this pack immediately.”“Banned?” That word felt heavy in my mouth. “Really, Ari?” 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 felt… 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.“Rayne, you could’ve healed us.”Hey, I’m good but I’m not that good,” Rayne protested, her voice low and amusing. “Alpha’s and Luna’s attacks are much more difficult to heal. You know that. Besides, I don’t protest this. Let him lick our wounds.”“You have no control,” I snapped, even as my body betrayed me, leaning into his touch.“Said the woman who decided to get into two fights,” Rayne retorted. “Now this is more my lane.”When he finished, Gabe looked up at me, and my heart raced. There, in his light brown eyes that were flashing gold, was desire–no, an animalistic hunger–and 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 wasn’t here. I didn’t care what he’d 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 kiss–it was everything. The heat radiating off her skin seemed to burn through me, leaving me aching in ways I didn’t unde
MILAI woke up to a sharp ache that radiated through my body. I was surprised it was still there. I tried to sit up when I noticed the weight on my mid-section. Tyler was fast asleep, arms wrapped around my waist and drool pooling from his mouth. It took me a minute to get him off of me and to the other side of the bed. His features were relaxed and I envied his peace, the way he seemed untouched by the weight bearing down on me. Hours ago had been a blur of heat and desperation, a reckless attempt to drown out the pain. I thought Tyler’s touch, his closeness, would be enough to numb what Gabe had created.But it wasn’t.The ache lingered, sharper now, like a knife twisting deeper with every beat of my heart.We had to do it.“It was sudden, but we had no choice,” Rayne said softly, but I could feel the sorrow in her voice as she paced, restless and wounded in my mind.I swallowed hard, my throat tight. No choice. I hated those words. They made me feel like a puppet, dancing on string
GABEOnly a bit of rain poured down on us. Just enough to soak through our clothes, but not subduing the heat between us. Each drop was a reminder that this moment–this reckless, inevitable moment–was real. That she was real.I wasted no time, removing my suit and tie and watched as Mila took a step back, letting the dress slip from her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Fuck, she was beautiful. The rain clung to her, tracing every curve, turning her rich, dark complexion into something luminous, like she was carved from the night itself. Her hair, wild and untamed, framed her face like a crown she never asked for, and yet, it was rightfully hers. Her lips, now swollen and soft from our kiss, looked as if they were made for nothing more than temptation. She was temptation, standing there with the storm raging around us, and I had never wanted anything more.I stepped forward, closing the distance, my hands cupping her face as I pulled her into a kiss that shattered whatever restraint I
MILA “Open your eyes!” Gabe opened his eyes and looked around the rooftop of the orphanage. The rain blurred the lights from the packhouse in the distance, casting a hazy glow over the rooftop, and for a second, it felt like we were kids again–hiding up here, pretending the world wasn’t as cruel as we knew it to be. “Wow, this place is really coming along,” Gabe said, walking through the rows of flowers. “She would’ve loved this, you know, if she was still here.” Great. Mood killer. I thought, trying to think of something soothing to say. I sighed, watching Gabe’s fingers trail over the petals, his touch softer than I’d ever seen. “She would’ve loved this,” he repeated, quieter this time, as if speaking more to himself than to me. I shifted on my feet. Even with the umbrella, the dampness of my clothes stuck uncomfortably to my skin. What was I supposed to say? That she was in a better place? That everything happens for a reason? Gabe would see through that in a second. Instead,
MILAI looked up at the sound of my name, my heart lurching at the unexpected voice.“Gabe?”He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, but his presence filled the room like a shadow creeping in.Why didn’t I notice him earlier? I wondered.He took a step forward, slow and deliberate, as if each movement was weighed down by something unseen. My pulse quickened.“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his voice low, suspicious.I straightened, stepping around the large oak desk to face him fully. I couldn’t let him see how rattled I was, how close I’d been to finding something–anything–that could help Laura’s case. Even though she couldn’t remember what had happened that night, she had told me she was trying to record everything. But her phone was missing, and I had a strong feeling it wasn’t just lost.I needed to find it before anyone else did.“I could ask you the same thing,” I said, stalling for time. I forced my voice to stay steady, to sound indifferent, but my fingers t
GABEThe sound of laughter and quiet chatter drifted from the other room, a cruel contrast to the weight pressing down on my chest. Hundreds of pack members from all over showed up for my father’s funeral, their hushed conversations and forced condolences mixing with the steady patter of rain against the windows.I knew he was a well-liked man, but damn—I hadn’t expected this many people. The sheer number made the already stifling atmosphere feel even more suffocating.Luckily, my mother had taken care of everything, handling the arrangements with her usual poised efficiency. She even managed to get Tyler temporarily released for the service, a feat that shouldn’t have surprised me, yet did.“Don’t worry, sweetie,” my mother said after speaking with one of the councilmen. “Everything is going to be cleared up soon.”I let the words wash over me, too numb to dissect their meaning. Instead, I focused on the business, temporarily handing Alpha Gregory control of the CEO position. He had
MILAIt was only a few minutes. That’s how long it took us to get from the orphanage to the packhouse. The grounds were eerily quiet despite the flurry of movement around us–guards murmuring orders, medical personnel working swiftly, and the distant wail of someone mourning. My stomach twisted as I took a step forward, my heart hammering against my ribs.We were stopped by the gates as Gabe spoke to the guards. I was too busy looking around, searching desperately for any sign of Laura. My heart was pounding, my breath ragged as I reached for my phone and dialed Camila.“Where’s Laura?” I asked as soon as she picked up.“Brian says her phone is still in Emily’s office,” Camila answered, her voice faltering. “Jenna and Alex are the way. They're bringing someone out on a stretcher, Mila.”Her voice broke and I nearly dropped my phone.No, no fucking way. “Gabe…” I said, barely a whisper.He looked at me, then followed my gaze. A stretcher was being wheeled out of the house with Arianna
LAURAI pressed my back against the cold stone wall of the packhouse, clutching the hacking device in my hand like it was the holy grail.Fuck. Why is this so scary?I took a moment to calm myself.No turning back, Laurie. You can do this.I wasn’t just a hacker. No, I was a field agent. A spy. A legend in the making. And… caught if I don’t stop talking to myself and get a move on. Just think like Mila.Crouching low, I scurried toward the back door, the one I personally disabled the security cameras for. Did it count as cheating if I was the one who helped Gabe set up most of these security measures in the first place? No. Absolutely not. It was called working smarter, not harder.I carefully turned the knob and slipped inside, holding my breath as I closed the door behind me. Step one: complete.Step two: don’t get caught.I tiptoed down the dimly lit hallway, dodging the occasional patrol or house worker. The packhouse wasn’t exactly Fort Knox, but Emily was paranoid enough to make
MILAMy hand was still pressed to Gabe’s chest. The fireworks still crackled overhead, but Gabe’s steady grip on my arms anchored me, his voice a distant hum cutting through the overwhelming noise.“You’re okay,” he murmured. “Focus on me.”I forced myself to nod, clinging to his presence. I hated this–feeling weak, feeling vulnerable–but the night had unraveled far beyond what I had prepared for. Francesca was probably dead. Amber was definitely dead. And Arianna…My gaze snapped to where I had seen Arianna last.“She’s gone,” Gabe said, following my gaze.Of course, she was. Just like with Randall, she always knew when to slip away before the damage fully settled. My stomach turned at everything that had happened. The system breach. Emily’s and Arianna’s coordinated attack leading to two deaths. What else could’ve gone wrong?Then I remembered what Amber said. They threatened my father if Gabe…I pushed off Gabe’s support, standing even as my knees wobbled. “I need to go. You can’t
GABEThe control room was of course locked. I had tried warning the others that Arianna and my mother were up to no good. I just wished I’d figured out what they were planning before it was too late. The moment Brian failed to hack the system and shut everything down, I didn’t hesitate. I ran straight here.With a swift, brutal kick, the door burst open.The room was empty.Whoever had played that video had already fled.Grinding my teeth, I rushed to the controls, shutting down the feed as fast as I could. Every screen. Every angle. But it was too late. The screams from the other room were evident. The damage was done. Fuck!“Alpha Gabe?”Camila ran into the room just as I wiped the last screen. My jaw was tight, my hands clenched around the console.“Is that all of them?” she asked.I did one final sweep before giving her a sharp nod.“Why didn’t you warn us earlier?” The anger rolling off her was palpable, and I didn’t blame her.“I knew something was going to happen–I just didn’t
MILAEverything started out great. Until it wasn’t. It all happened so fast. First, the speech. I stepped onto the stage, ignoring the confident look on Arianna’s face. “This collection isn’t just about fashion," I announced. "It’s about the celebration of freedom. The freedom to take up space, to embrace every curve, every edge, every part of yourself without apology. For too long, we’ve been told to hide–to shrink, to fit into boxes that were never meant for us. But not anymore.”I gestured toward the models as they stepped forward, their confidence radiating with every stride. "Summer is about feeling light, unburdened, alive. Not weighed down by expectations or secrets we’ve been too afraid to let go of. This collection is about owning your truth–wearing it boldly, beautifully, without fear."Second, the show. The crowd erupted in applause as the models strutted forward, showcasing designs tailored to flatter and empower. Camila queued up the video of men and women wearing my cl