The moment I enjoyed writing. Mila or Emilia now, power of transformation. I think I'm excited to dive into the fierce competition of fashion and the drama around it. Thank you reading, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Emilia's first debut.
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
MILAThis would have been the perfect time to have a decoy I thought as I smiled and waved at Tyler and his new woman. I have never seen someone clinged to another the way this woman was and Tyler’s face was definitely a cry for help. Help I didn’t want to give. The closer they got the more Tyler’s face changed from desperation to admiration. I wasn’t all that surprised. Camile picked out a cute ensemble today. She needed to be in charge of everything and it felt good being dressed since I do most of it when I’m working. Today she put me in a thin-knit turtleneck under an oversized boyfriend button-down, a leather miniskirt paired with tights, thigh-length boots. This was a season for layers and by the look on Tyler’s face, he was taking off each one with his eyes. This wasn’t good I thought looking down at the pills in my purse.“Emilia. Fancy seeing you here.”“Alpha Tyler, I would say it’s a pleasure but you know,” I replied, forcing a polite smile. There was a quiet moment as the
GABEI heard a crash from inside the office and instinctively stood in front of Noah. Mirabella scrambled out of the office, clothes and hair disheveled. I reached out to keep her from falling on the ground and she jumped away from me.“Mirabella, what’s going on?” I asked, helping her to a seat.She was about to say something when she looked behind me. I turned to see the concerned look on my son’s face and went to him.“Hey, it’s okay buddy,” I said, embracing him. He was never a fan of loud noises. “How about you stay out here with Mirabella? She can show you how to play those cool games on my phone, okay?”I ushered him towards Mirabella who gave me a sympathetic look. I knew that meant Arianna was in a “do not engage” mood, but I wasn’t that kind of partner. If she was in pain and I could help, I would always lend a hand. I cautiously opened the door and saw Arianna pacing near her desk, phone pressed to her ear.“I don’t care if she was more famous than the Kardashian sisters,” s
ARI“Arianna!” I blinked, noticing my stepmother looking at me with confusion. “Snap out of it. People are always watching us, and I can’t have both you and your sister looking like asylum escapees.”I looked around, briefly remembering where I was–another charity event for a cause she neither knew nor cared about.“That would be an upgrade,” Gregory scoffed, his glass of whiskey swirling with a slow, measured agitation. The man was just never happy. Even after I’ve done everything he asked me to, somehow he was still disappointed. I glanced over at Amber, who was sitting, staring blankly into the distance. She hadn’t been the same since Frank’s sudden departure. Even her husband, Harry, called it quits. Apparently someone leaked the photos of her affair and he had divorce papers wired to her the next day. Francesca had all but drugged Amber into compliance, upping her meds until she was little more than a shadow of herself. I watched as her fingers toyed with the edge of her napkin
ARIThe tires of my car crunched over the loose gravel as my driver pulled over to the desolate warehouse. My father’s voice over the phone echoed in my mind–cold, clipped, and commanding. Get here. Now.He offered no details, but he didn’t have to. I knew that tone. The same tone he used whenever I stepped out of line, but for the life of me, I couldn’t think of what I did this time. I absentmindedly touched the diamond necklace Gabe gifted me as an early birthday present, though it wasn’t until next month, but at least it was calming. At least I had him in my corner. I got out of the car and walked through the heavily guarded door. My stomach was in knots when I entered the open space and the echoing sound of fists meeting flesh guided my gaze.Father stood in the center of the warehouse, his knuckles stained red as he drove another blow into the face of a man bound to a chair. I stopped walking when I realized it was Alpha Frank. He was barely recognizable.Blood streamed from his
MILAI stepped inside the abandoned warehouse. The heavy thuds from my combat boots echoed against the bare walls purposefully. I wanted him to know I was coming. Frank, Mirabella’s father, sat shackled tightly to the steel chair. He corrected his posture when he heard me, but the once ‘not-so-powerful’ Alpha couldn’t intimidate me.The cut and bruises on his body were turned into scabs.I pulled another chair across from him, letting the legs screeched against the floor. He flinched at the sound, but quickly tried to compose himself, the tremor in his hands gave him away. Behind me, Camila stifled a laugh before walking over to a table to set up the projector with Jenna. I waited for their signal before sitting down.“Alpha Frank,” I started, my voice altered. “You seemed to have healed quite well over the past few days. We might need to change that.”“I don’t know who you think you are,” Frank spat. “But you’re making a big mistake.”I leaned back letting the silence stretch before
MILAI stepped into the dimly lit interrogation room where Leo, shackled at the wrists, leaned back in a chair, smirking as if he was expecting me. I took the seat across from him before he leaned forward.“Well this is a surprise,” Leo smiled. “Finally ready to admit you got the hots for me.”“Please.” I placed a hand over my lips. “ I just had lunch, Leo. Let me keep the contents in my stomach and not on this table.”Leo laughed. “So why are you here?”“I thought you might need the company,” I said smoothly. “Seeing as your visitor’s log is empty. Didn’t want people to think you were all alone.”His jaw tightened. “I don’t need you here!” Leo growled, yanking against the restraints as the guards stepped forward. I raised my hand. Stopping them. Leo was about as intimidating as a fly. “Fine, I just thought we could relate to each other.”Leo scoffed. “How’s that?”“Wow, you’re that dense, huh?” I shook my head, clicking my tongue. “All this time, and you still don’t see it.”“See wh
ARII heard a commotion outside my office door and barely had time to process it before my door opened. Amber stormed in with my temporary assistant stumbling in behind her with flushed cheeks and hair askew.“You jealous little bitch! How could you?!” Amber shrieked.I dodged the phone being thrown at my head before looking at Amber as if she lost her mind.“I’m so sorry, Luna Arianna,” my assistant whimpered. “She.. she hit me and…”I held up my hand, cutting her off. “I don’t care for your excuses, whatever your name is. Since you can’t seem to do a simple job like not letting crazy people in my office, why don’t you go home for the day?”She didn’t wait for me to change my mind, bolting from the room as if Amber’s rage might consume her next. Amber stormed up to my desk, her arms crossed so tight, I thought she might snap in half.Julia, sprawled lazily in the chair by the window, didn’t even flinch at the commotion. She was probably as high as I was. She sat up with a smirk.“Gee
GABEThe words cemented themselves in my brain as the thud of fists meeting leather echoed in the gym, accompanied by grunts and rhythmic feet on the mat.“I, Mila Davis, reject you, Alpha Gabe, as my mate.”No matter how many times I replayed them, the ache didn’t lessen. The rejection should have freed me, should have severed the bond. But Spencer still howled for her in the depths of my mind, clawing against the walls I built to keep him restrained. She wasn’t ours anymore. She made that clear.And yet, it changed nothing.With a roar, I unleashed a brutal combo–jab, hook, uppercut–forcing my sparring partner back until he staggered back, trying to regain his footing, but I couldn’t stop. If I did, I’d feel the emptiness settling in my chest, the gaping hole she left behind.“Alpha, please ease up!” I heard someone say, but I couldn’t ease up. The next hit connected squarely with the sparring partner’s jaw, sending him flying into the corner before he crumbled to the mat. Silence f
MILAThe sound of plates clinking woke me. I blinked against the sunlight coming through the windows, my body slow to stir after another restless night. “Morning,” Tyler’s voice broke through my haze. I sat up, the blanket slipping off my naked body. I internally groaned at the fact I allowed myself to stay here another day.“Though, this image of you is making this one of the best mornings I’ve ever had,” he added teasingly.I looked up at him holding a tray loaded with food–scrambled eggs, bacon, bread, jam, fruit, and a steaming cup of coffee. A soft and unassuming smile tugged at his lips.“Breakfast… in bed?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I bet all the women go crazy for this service.”He laughed, a deep, throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. Placing the tray on the nightstand beside the bed, he sat down next to me. “Only the ones that intrigue me.”“Oh,” I said coyly, leaning over him to pick up a piece of fruit from the tray. “And do I still intrigue you, Tyler?”Hi
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
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