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ARI“That fucking low-class bitch!” I seethed, trying to hold on to my composure as I replayed the hallway showdown between Luna Emily, Mila, Gabe and Tyler in my mind. Seeing Gabe, my mate, protect Mila was a travesty. I had to cover my mouth to keep from growling out loud. Serena was just as pissed, but there was nothing we could do right now. I had to find a way to get rid of Mila for good. Gabe would completely see me with her out of the way, and he was mine. Hell, I was feeling selfish; I wouldn’t mind having Tyler too.For now, I had to watch Gabe hovering around Mila like a moth to a flame. I wondered if he knew how painful it was to watch him with her. To feel pain whenever he touched her in an intimate way. I knew the moment they were together I was in the worst pain. It felt like there were knives twisting in my heart. Even the thought of it had me subconsciously touching the mark on my neck.The only thing keeping me from going insane were the inhibitor pills I had stolen fr
TYLERI stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the green and gold ceremonial attire that has been passed down generations. The Alpha markings on the sleeves represented our pack’s heritage. The Alpha’s Ceremony came faster than I thought, and I could only think of what Ari told me. I couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty for her. She was my brother’s mate but he wanted Mila, who was intended for me but all I could think of was Mila. Rejecting Mila had been the hardest thing I’d ever done. Just thinking about the pain I woke up to the day after gave me chills. Yet, the bond between us refused to let go, making it impossible to stay away from her too long. Seeing her with Gabe was like a punch to the stomach every time. Now knowing Ari felt the same thing, I knew she had her sights on making things worse for Mila.When Ari brought up Mila being my mate, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course, she would figure it out, but now I was wondering who else could see it. If my mom found out,
ARII stood in front of the full-length mirror while my makeup artist put on the finishing touches. Yesterday was a celebration for Tyler finally becoming the Alpha. The ceremony was huge and, quite frankly, very boring and formal. Luna Emily suggested a party just for the “young folks” today. I couldn’t wait to get away from my parents and actually have a good time. “Now, make sure a lot of your friends see what you’re wearing,” my stepmom said, moving around me. “The more exposure for your brand, the more exposure…“...for my father’s line,” I finished for her, rolling my eyes. “Your line,” she corrected, her voice dripping with forced sweetness. Bullshit. My father always used me to promote his brand, disguising it as mine. I heard the music blasting from the party outside and I was ready to go.“Come on, Francesca. I know the deal. I can sell this in my sleep.”My stepmom floated around me, making sure everything was in place, while I noticed Amber sulking in the corner. Jealousy
MILAIt was amazing how people were crammed into this house. I figured it would be like this after witnessing a parade of fancy cars dropping people off. I could barely get through the halls without bumping into someone. Halfway through the night, I felt eyes on me, heard whispers and saw people pointing at me. My stomach twisted with unease until I caught a scent of him. Tyler. Rayne moved through me every time I felt him near. She kept urging me to find him to be near his presence, but I had other plans. I pulled out my phone and sent Gabe another text, wishing he was here.Gabe: Getting the ole “responsibility of a Beta” talk. I’d rather be with you.I sighed, longing for his presence to drown out the judgemental stares from everyone at the party.Mila: At least you get to travel. How’s the White Fangs Pack? Any cute boys looking for a mate?Gabe: As a matter of fact, there’s one and he can’t stop thinking of you. Mila: Oh really? Well tell him I’m taken, but he can be my second
MILA“Jenna…” I stammered, my voice trailing off in confusion.What the hell was she saying? Was that even possible? My heart pounded as the noise from outside briefly drew our attention. Jenna pulled something out of her purse and handed it to me. It was a torn picture of my mom holding a man’s hand. She didn’t look happy but I could clearly see a wedding ring on her finger–different from the one I wore around my neck. I examined it and noticed the year written on the back.“I found this picture in my mom’s things when she used to work at the Mora’s residence,” Jenna said with a mixture of curiosity and concern. “I don’t know why it was there, but if you asked me, that seems pretty weird, right?”Fuck yeah, it did, but what could we do about it? It was just a picture dated a year before I was born. Not something that said my parents were actually murdered. The official story was that they died in an electrical fire on a boat, a fire so bad that nothing was salvageable.“Jenna, it’s ju
TYLERAri was the most conniving, manipulative person I knew, and I loved it. I’ve never known someone who could always find a way to get people to do what she wanted. Her ability to twist situations to her will was mesmerizing. The moment I saw Mila walking over, I knew this was what Ari was planning for. A part of me just hoped it wasn’t crazy. “You’ve been working so hard,” Ari said, placing her hands on Mila’s shoulders, while glancing at me. The mischievous look on her eyes was a clear signal of her intentions. “So, how about you take a break and play a game with us?”“What kind of game?” Mila asked, her gaze drifting from Ari’s to me, uncertainty plain on her face.Declan perked his ass up like he won a prize or something. Simping mutt. Not that I was any better. Even after rejecting her and taking it back, the bond between us felt even stronger. She was only inches away, and I sat there spellbound by the way her lips moved when she spoke, wishing I could capture her words with
TYLER Mila laughed nervously. “Maybe we could play the version with Truth instead? I can start–” “Dare or drink?” Ari asked again, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and her hands under her chin. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, clearly relishing the moment. “I think she’s had enough to drink,” I felt myself say, trying to defuse the situation. Mila looked so uncomfortable, and Declan was pacing inside my head. “Come on, now, Tyler,” Ari said, standing up and facing me. “The girl joined the game just like everyone else. It’s time for her to play by the rules.” “It’s no fun when the girl is sloppy drunk,” I argued. “And she’s about as sloppy as a girl can get.” I didn’t expect people to laugh at something as stupid as that statement, but they did, and Mila looked even more embarrassed than before. I was making things worse. “You’re fucking this up,” Declan grumbled. “Just shut up. I know,” I said back. “That’s okay,” Ari said, picking up the empty tray. “We’re out of
MILAThe entire party was so quiet I could hear a pin drop. I wiped my mouth and took a step away from Ari, who was wiping vomit from her face. She heaved a few times before glaring at me, her eyes blazing with a mix of shock and fury.I am officially dead. I can’t believe I just did that. Not once but twice. What the hell, Mila!“You mean, fuck yeah, Mila!” Rayne exclaimed with glee. “She did this on purpose. She put something in your drink.”She what! I felt anger rising in me. No wonder I felt sicker than usual, my body felt like it was on fire while the others around me looked completely fine. I closed my eyes, wishing I could just disappear. Then I saw her– a flash of white fur before it disappeared. “Rayne?” I called out, my voice barely a whisper.“Keep going, MIla,” Rayne urged, her voice sounding stronger as it resonated in my mind. “I am almost there.”I didn’t understand what she meant about ‘keep going.’ Keep going at what? I could feel her moving inside me like she was it
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
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
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
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.
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
MILA“Alpha Tyler! I’ve been trying to get your attention all night.” Mirabella practically squeezed between us, making a point to size me up, which I didn’t mind. I had to keep Tyler at a distance for Rayne’s horny sake.“As you can see, I’m a bit preoccupied,” Tyler began. “So…”“Yeah, I can tell,” Mirabella interrupted, her voice carrying the kind of sweetness that could make my teeth ache. “Someone’s been monopolizing all your time.”She shot a glance in my direction.“It’s not monopolizing when they’re here willingly,” I said, matching her fake sweetness. “But I can understand why that concept might be… unfamiliar to you.”Mirabella faked a laugh before grabbing onto Tyler’s arm. “Ty, would you give me a moment please? Girl talk and all. Maybe a few drinks?”Tyler looked at me as if he wanted confirmation. I didn’t 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
MILAOne thing I could say about the rich: they knew how to throw a party. If this was a typical night, I might have been content sipping champagne, nibbling on canapes, and pretending not to eavesdrop on the secretive whispers of the elites.But tonight wasn’t about enjoying myself. At least not in the normal way. I had too much to do and people to fuck with. The moment I saw Arianna and her entourage, I pushed the button in my purse and just waited.And waited.I started to excuse myself, but Tyler had other plans. He practically dragged me around the party introducing me to people in the industry, his charm on full display. Every conversation turned into some wild story about him that, without fail, ended with him in his boxers–or less.“I can’t help that fact that I have a natural affinity for being naked,” he laughed, drawing a few chuckles from the crowd. Then he leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Want me to prove it?”I narrowed my eyes at him, fighting the smil
MILAI walked down the stairs at the orphanage, impressed by the progress of the construction team. This place was finally coming together, feeling like the sanctuary I remembered. All except for the garden on the roof. I made a mental note to hire a professional to breathe some life into it.“Well, hot damn,” Camila said the moment I walked into the living room. “You and red are made for each other.”Laura glanced up from her laptop, her eyebrows shooting up. “Whoa, Mila. That’s… different. In a good way,” she quickly added, as if I’d take it the wrong way.I smoothed the fabric of my gown, glancing down at the deep crimson silk. The dress hugged my curves, the high slit exposing just enough leg to make me feel… powerful, daring anyone to challenge me. “Well, I wanted to be sure to wear something in case it gets bloody tonight,” I smiled. “You don’t think I’ll stand out too much, do you?”Camila snorted. “Girl, you’ll be the talk of the night. Not because of blood–hopefully–but beca
MILACamila was not lying about the line of people waiting to get their clothes. Some had already pushed past the receptionist area, arguing loudly with the store attendants, some glaring at the empty racks, while others had their phones out, no doubt taking pictures.I looked down at my phones at the numerous calls I made to Tyler and Gabe. Of course, now they didn’t pick up their phone.“There she is!” someone yelled as all eyes fell on me the moment I stepped out from the back room. A swarm of disgruntled customers rush toward me. Zeke and Tom immediately intercepted the mob.“Let’s keep it civil here, folks,” Zeke stated, raising his hands like a traffic cop. “No need to turn this into a Black Friday stampede.”“Or a mosh pit,” Tom muttered.“Civil?” A woman’s voice rose above the chaos. “I pre-ordered one of Emilia’s signature cocktail dresses weeks ago, and was told it will be here today.”Another customer waved her phone in the air. “Same here! I have an event tonight, and I’m