Okay, okay. I know you all want me to go back to Mila and don't I will, but I wanted to explore the relationship with Tyler, Gabe and their dad.
ARII felt a surge of excitement as I stepped out of the sleek black car with Gabe following closely behind. The velvet-roped pathway illuminated by soft, ambient lighting led to the entrance of the exclusive, private fashion show, adorned with subtle, elegant signage. We made our way through as the slew of paparazzi bunched up behind the guarded velvet ropes threw questions at us. Notably, did we know who the designer was? Why were we picked to get an invitation?I didn’t know the answers to either of these but it made the evening even more special. We moved inside where the security checked the special invitations with precision, their demeanor professional yet courteous. Gabe handed over two intricately designed invitations, embossed with gold leaf detailing, and received a warm nod of approval.The pathway leading to the reception area was lined with luminescent strips that changed colors as we walked by, creating a vibrant, ever-shifting mosaic of light. The reception area was a s
MILATheir faces were delicious. I could almost jump on their table and punch each of them in the face, but alas, this was my very first debut. There’d be time for drama at a later time. The after-party buzzed with excitement. The lights, music, and the hum of conversation created an intoxicating atmosphere. My manager, Camila, outdone herself with this debut. The room was filled with journalists, fashion editors, buyers, and influencers, all eager to interview me. Everyone wanted to know the same thing. Why were you hiding? Why did you come out? Are you really the designer? Where did the tech idea come from?“Darling, this experience was out of this world,” a famous editor gushed, her eyes wide admiration.“You just gave us a glimpse into the future of haute couture,” a buyer continued, his voice full with excitement. “I would love for my store to host your line.”I barely had to speak, with Camila answering the bulk of the questions. I was glad she was here. It took two weeks to con
TYLERMila fucking Davis. There she was commanding the attention of a small group of buyers and fashion editors. I couldn’t deny that her presence was magnetic, her confidence undeniable as she talked with them. I couldn’t believe this was the same girl, who would try to use her hair to hide herself in class.Now, she was on full display. Her hair was an artful halo of tightly coiled curls, voluminous and free, framing her face like a regal lioness’s mane. Her deep brown eyes were framed by thick, dark lashes that made them look larger and more expressive. And when she smiled, it was with her whole face–her eyes crinkled at the corners, and her full, perfectly shaped lips parted to reveal perfectly white teeth.What are you doing? I scolded myself. Why was I fonding over someone like her? I’ve had hotter girls before. Though, none of them made me feel the way she did back in the cave. A feeling I could never forget, even if I tried. Now, I was staring at her like a stalker. The fitted
MILA“Gabe.”My heart raced as he looked at me and I saw the semblance of the boy I once loved. He looked just as he always did–confident, handsome, and utterly oblivious to the turmoil he’d left in his wake. I steeled myself, forcing a calm expression as he turned to Tyler.“We’re having a conversation here, Gruggs,” Tyler said, stepping in between us. I rolled my eyes at his antics. Grew up my ass. I thought as I walked around him.“Actually, we were finished, Alpha Tyler,” I said, hoping he could hear the finality in my voice. “If you have any other queries you can direct them to my manager, Camila.”“But…”“Gabe, may we have a moment?” I asked before turning to Tyler. “Alone.”Tyler looked shocked before recovering and clearing his throat. “Maybe you could point the way to your manager.”I pointed to a crowded area where Camila was surrounded by editors, reporters, and other admirers. Tyler looked between us again before turning on his heels. I waited a few minutes before turning t
I didn’t waste time, leaving the party with Jenna as Camila stayed back and answered questions about my sudden disappearance. The run there felt like a blur, my thoughts racing as fast as Rayne ran. My hands trembled as I placed my dad’s ring into the keyhole. A series of mechanical clicks followed, and the sound of metal shifting made me step back. The slabs moved, revealing a hidden house. I turned to see that Jenna had finally caught up, and Alex tagged along.“What in the Transformers is this?” Alex muttered, wide-eyed.“I don’t know, but that was cool,” I replied.Drawn to the front door, I cautiously grabbed the handle, half-expecting some kind of booby trap. What the heck was in the house? Why were my parents’ rings the key? Who wrote on my mom’s grave? The handle felt cool in my hand, and as it glowed softly, the door swung open on its own. Stepping into the dark interior, the house seemed to come alive. Lights flickered on, illuminating a spacious living area. The open floor p
ARII stood in the middle of my fashion studio, surrounded by fabric and sketches of my latest designs. It’s been a week since Mila’s fashion show and it was all people were talking about. Even at MoonCrest, a pack notoriously behind the times, word of her stupid show had spread. So I had to focus, bring myself back into the conversation before my father noticed. I was going over the final details of my new collection when the sound of the door opening grabbed my attention. I assumed it was my assistant with the coffee I’d ordered.“Mirabella, I ordered that coffee five minutes ago,” I said. “Why are you late?” “Sorry Luna Arianna,” Mirabella said, placing the coffee on my desk. “Amber requested a few things as well.”I groaned internally. I hated the fact that my sister was working alongside me. My father had essentially decreed it the moment Amber got her idiotic followers to buy my stepmother’s health supplements. Whatever she made from that sale skyrocketed my father’s company up
TYLERThe dining room was buzzing with chatter of pack members, the clinking of silverware, and the rich aroma of a feast. We were celebrating the success of the January Release. Though it was successful, we still had a long way to go to get back on the right foot. I sat at the head of the table, Gabe, Ari, and Noah on my right, and my parents on the left. Gabe, as always, wore a calm expression, while I was sitting there anxious. Dinners like these often came with a side of high expectations and pointed conversations.Halfway through the dinner, an Omega delivered a neatly folded newspaper to my dad, Alpha Troy. He took it, opening it with curiosity. As he scanned the pages, a smile crept across his face.“Well, well,” Alpha Troy said, his voice filled with interest. “It seems like Mila’s fashion show was a huge success. It’s all anyone is talking about.”My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mila. Reuniting with her had been a shock and something I actually enjoyed. It had been a
MILA“Mila, this place looks amazing,” Laura gushed as I walked into the new headquarters of our operation. It had only taken three hours to bring everything over from the orphanage to the house in the woods. The transformation was astonishing: the once-empty space was now buzzing with energy and purpose. I gathered everyone around the table in the living room that was covered with fashion sketches, mood boards, and other things in case someone came looking. I placed the board that mapped out the plan we had for everyone.“Alright,” I said, my voice steady with determination. “Let’s go over what everyone is doing.”Laura placed the touchscreen laptop in the middle of the table and projections displayed in front of us. “This is an outline of both MoonCrest and Grand Mountain packhouses and offices,” Laura said, pointing to the different areas of the outline. “We have the tech to eavesdrop if necessary but we have to get inside.”“I’m sure I can get a meeting with both,” I said, glanci
MILAWater cascaded down my body like icy needles, doing little to calm the raging fire within me. I wasn’t sure how long I was in this shower. Or how or when I got there. All I knew was that it wasn’t working. My body was riddled with heat the moment Gabe touched me yesterday–a spark that ignited like a train on fire, consuming every nerve and refusing to let up. I barely made it back here, shedding my clothes in the car and the rest on the way to the shower.No matter how much I scrubbed and cleaned, I couldn’t wash away Gabe’s scent–that woodsy, chocolate spice that had wrapped around me when he helped me through my panic attack. “Why the hell did he touch me like that?” I muttered to no one in particular.“Because deep down you want him to,” Rayne answered. “Rayne,” I warned, not in the mood for her commentary.“Mila, you know I’m down with whatever choice you make,” Rayne continued. “But girl you have to make up your mind. This affects me too, you know.”“I know!” I screamed, g
GABEThe door to my office swung open, hitting the stack of boxes I’d neatly lined up along the wall. A couple toppled over, spilling the contents onto the floor.“What’s with all these boxes?” Arianna complained as she stepped inside. She didn’t so much as glance at the mess she’d just created. “Are you moving to a bigger office or something?”“Why hello to you too, babe,” I said, not bothering to look up from the paperwork spread across my desk.Noah, sitting in his play area, looked up at the sound of her voice. His face lit up, and he scrambled to his feet, his toy truck clutched in his hand as he ran toward her.“Mommy!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms wide to hug her. But Arianna took a graceful step back, halting him mid-stride. Her perfectly manicured hands smoothed the front of her designer dress as if his touch would leave a permanent mark.“Noah, sweetie,” she cooed. “What did Mommy say about touching her clothes, huh?”“Don’t get Mommy’s clothes dirty,” Noah answered obedi
MILAI felt his presence before I could fully register Tyler standing next to Leo. He gripped the wrist that held the knife with an iron grip. The tension in his muscles was visible, flexing beneath the tight fabric of his black button-down shirt. The sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal forearms corded with strength, and the shirt hugged his broad chest. His black pants and suede shoes completed the ensemble, along with a suit jacket draped casually over the other arm.The look was casual, but there was something very dominant about it. His jawline was shadowed with a light stubble, and the sharp cut of his golden eyes sent a shiver down my spine as they flicked to me for just a moment before returning to Leo. My legs seemed to wobble from the weight of his commanding presence.“Hot, holy hell,” Rayne purred her approval. I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep from vocalizing a similar sentiment, but damn, she was right.“Control yourself, Rayne.”“You first,” she retorted.Tyler
MILABack at the hideout, we poured over all the data we had on everyone.“I still don’t get why Gregory would have Arianna send someone to attack Jenna if he wanted to abortion from the start,” I wondered out loud.“Maybe he didn’t believe her,” Camila guessed. “Or he wanted to get rid of her too?”“This is all too frustrating,” Laura complained. “Can we just take them down already?!”Alex exited one of the rooms where Jenna was resting. We decided to move her here to keep her safe and keep any eye on her.“I’m with crazy eyes over here. What’s the move?” Camila asked, staring at the screen on the table.“I want to hit them from all sides,” I said, holding
MILAMy stomach twisted in knots as I stood at the foot of the bed, watching Jenna’s chest rising and falling in a shallow rhythm. I tried to heal her bruises, but they wouldn’t. Alex told me we had to wait until the blood transfusion pumps out all the Wolfsbane in her system before I could heal her.A whimpering sound caught my attention as I turned to see Laura fighting sleep. Poor thing was the first one to get to Jenna. Even I couldn’t forget the scene I came upon when I got that night from our mystery hacker.***Unknown: Jenna. Orphanage. Hurt.I raced back, dodging Gabe and the security tail. By the time I arrived, Laura and Camila were already there, holding an almost unconscious Jenna.“Mila, please,” Laura cried. “Heal her, please!”Blood was pooling beneath her from cuts too deep to be accidental. She blacked out with a ring falling from her hand. At the moment I didn’t know if it was important but I picked it up anyway. Maybe there was a reason she was safeguarding it. **
GABEI froze mid-jab, my eyes locking with Mila’s smiling face. Sparring with Mila was… complicated, and far from stress-relieving. Trading blows, getting in close would stir something I’d rather keep buried. Though Spencer didn’t seem to mind the offer.“We could test if she feels the bond too,” Spencer suggested, a little too eager.I chuckled, taking a step back from her. “You sure you’re up for that?”Mila tilted her head, smirked. “I’m the one offering. Unless you’re worried I’ll knock you on your ass.”Challenge accepted. I stripped off my gloves, gesturing to the open mat. “You asked for it.”“Just remember, Gabe,” she teased, her stance loose but ready. ”I don't pull punches for anyone.”Mila moved first–a quick jab to test me. I deflected easily, stepping back to gauge her. Her eyes gleamed with the thrill of the fight.“Come on, Alpha Gabe,” she taunted, circling me. “You’re not just here to dance, are you?”“Dancing burns calories,” I shot back, feinting left and aiming for
GABEAlpha Gregory rose from the table, flanked by his Beta on one side and Alpha Frank on the other, their movements calculated as though this meeting were a choreographed play. When Beta Brian and I approached, Gregory gestured for us to take our seats, his smile wide but hollow.“Alpha Gabe,” he said smoothly, “thank you for coming on such short notice. I know this little meeting was impromptu, but the matter requires immediate attention.” He paused, a practiced grin spreading across his face. “But before we get into it–let’s eat. My father always said, ‘Never make decisions on an empty stomach.’.”The feast materialized as the waitstaff set plates of roasted meats, steaming veggies, and desserts before us. Conversation flowed, but my focus wasn’t on the meal–or the company. I glanced at my watch for the third time, debating an excuse to leave. The truth? I didn’t want to be here, playing nice with Gregory or Brian. One man held Arianna’s career in the palm of his hand, while the o
TYLERDammit! I couldn’t get her out of my head. Everytime I close my eyes, I think of her. Mila. Those sharp brown eyes cutting through me without a word, the way she moved around effortlessly like she owned the place, and the way she looked at me, even anger, like I was… nothing.Her silence after the debacle at her last fashion show was louder than anything she could have said to me. I had failed her, again, and she wasn’t letting me forget it. Not with her avoidance, her cold glances, and her deliberate absence from every meeting I’d arranged.Now, I was walking down the hall, heading towards her office to demand her attention, and froze. Voices carried from behind a partially open door.“...you thought you could keep this a secret, Troy,” said Alpha Gregory, his voice low, but seething with menace.I held my breath, moving closer to eavesdrop. My father’s response was even quieter. “I’ll say this one more time, Gregory,” my father said. “I didn’t tell anyone about your dealings.”
MILASuddenly, a crash could be heard from the front and Leo’s dad screamed to the back. “Leo! We’ve got a problem out here!”Leo stiffened, his hand freezing on the rack before turning around, placing the bags nearby and heading out to the front. I let out a slow breath, silently thanking Laura and her goofy antics. I didn’t have much time, so I moved quickly. I carefully unzipped one of the velvet bags again and pressed a small tracking.“Down with your communist agendas!” I hear Laura scream before slipping out the back door. This whole thing was turning into something bigger than I expected, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were deep in dangerous territory. My phone buzzed with a text.Laura: That was fun!Me: Communist agendas?Laura: I didn’t know what to say, but it worked. Told you I’m good.Me: I’m heading back to office. You both good?Camila: Yeah and by the way you have some sexy company.I looked up to see Zeke leaning on the front of the car, his arms crossed an