First off, thanks for joining in another chapter. I think I love exploring Tyler's internal conflict here being that he was the first to reject Mila, yet he's the one lusting after her now. Will she return the emotions? We will see. Thanks for your continued support(especially those who have been here chapter by chapter)--it truly keeps me going. Happy Reading!
GABEI stood at the window, gazing out over the city, nursing a glass of bourbon as if it could wash away the chaos swirling in my mind. The only thing people could talk about, the day after the event, was Arianna’s speech and Mila’s little fashion stunt–both a PR dream and nightmare, all wrapped into one. My mom nearly had a heart-attack when she saw the tabloids. But that wasn’t the thing that kept me awake at night. No, there was something far more crazy lodged in my mindI took another sip of bourbon, the burn doing little to numb the memory. The moment replayed in my head with haunting clarity. It all started with the necklace.>>>>>Mila’s necklace, glittering on the floor like a beacon. I shouldn’t have picked it up but I did, and that’s when I caught her scent. Sweet. Alluring. It wrapped around me like a siren's call, tugging at something deep inside. I tried to shake it off, but it lingered, seeping into my senses, refusing to let go.“What is that, Spencer?” I asked, half-ho
GABETyler’s words cut through the tension in the room like a knife. My mom’s head whipped around, her eyes narrowing at him. “Excuse me?” she hissed.“No one is going to touch Mila,” Tyler repeated, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. He uncrossed his arms, pushing off the wall and stepping closer to the cent of the room. His casual demeanor was gone, replaced by something unreadable.My mom blinked, clearly taken aback. She wasn’t used to being challenged by anyone but my dad. “And why, exactly, do you think you have a say in this?” she demanded. “You’re the reason we’re in this predicament.”Tyler flinched but stayed his ground. “Because, as much as you think she’s a problem, she’s actually an asset.”My dad, who had been watching Tyler with a steely gaze, finally spoke up. “Explain yourself, Tyler. How can she be an asset?”“The whole event wasn’t a total bust. Because of her, we got a lucrative opportunity to work with Frances Deveaux. His partnership could possibly be
ARI“Gabe...”Hands explored the contours of my body, already void of clothes, which I was grateful for. I needed to feel every muscle of his body against mine. I could feel the heat radiating off of him, making me wet just from his touch. “...will you take care of my father for me?” I asked between moans as his kisses moved down my neck. “Keep him from trying to hurt me?”“I will protect you,” he said, his breath hot against my skin as he whispered those words. “I won’t let him hurt you.”He pressed my naked body up against the cool wall, a stark contrast to the fiery path his fingers left as they moved down my body. He pulled me into a passionate kiss and I could taste the bourbon he had right before we started this. I could feel his hard cock pressing against my thigh, and I reached down to stroke it. He moaned into my mouth and slid his hand up my thighs, spreading my lips for his invasion. His finger stroked my throbbing clit and I pretty much exploded with pleasure. “Fuck, I ne
MILAI walked into a sleek, modern conference room where Frances Deveaux sat, his assistant perched beside him with a tablet in hand. I forced a confident smile, though my stomach churned with nerves and determination. Amidst the revenge plot, this was a big deal and I’ve been studying him since living in France. He was the power player I needed to shake up both families.“Miss Emilia,” Frances greeted with a smooth voice, gesturing toward the chair across from him. “Thank you for coming.”“Oh, I should be thanking you for wanting to meet me,” I replied, taking my seat. “This is truly an honor.”His assistant, a sharp-looking woman with dark hair pulled into a tight bun, barely glanced up from her tablet.“I’ve been following your recent work,” Frances said, leaning back in his chair, “and I must say, you have a unique ability to create buzz. It’s not easy to stay relevant in this city, and to do it coming from across seas.”“Well, I try to make waves where I can,” I said, keeping my t
MILANot long after leaving Tyler, I found myself sitting in a hotel dining room, enjoying the cool breeze coming from an opened window. It was peaceful–until Laura stormed in, dressed head to toe in black tactical gear, dragging a bag that looked like it had bricks inside. “Excuse me. Sorry,” she muttered, navigating her way to my table with all the grace of a wrecking ball, knocking over chairs and bumping into patrons. I briefly considered pretending I didn’t know her, but she waved enthusiastically at me from halfway across the room.I sighed. “Dear Goddess.”She finally reached my table and dropped the bag with a thud so loud it could’ve woken the dead. Every head in the room turned to stare.“What the hell, Laura?” I hissed, trying to ignore the curious stares from the other patrons. “I told you not to come. And what are you wearing? Take that off before someone calls security.”Laura tugged at the straps of her night-vision goggles and yanked off her skull cap, her hair springi
MILAWithout hesitation, Rayne released her pheromones, a sweet scent floating in the air like a gentle breeze on a hot day. It was the kind of scent that could make even the meanest of men fall to their knees. Normally, we’d have better control over this little trick, but ever since we returned, things have been a bit… unpredictable.“Don’t worry. It was just enough to tease,” Rayne purred, completely unconcerned. “Look at him now.”The clerk’s nose twitched, sniffing the air as if he’d caught a whiff of the most intoxicating aroma. Suddenly his posture wasn’t as stiff, his gaze softened, his attention subtly drawn to me, as if an invisible force was pulling him close.“See, I served him up on a silver platter,” Rayne bragged, lounging in my mind like a cat basking in the sun. “You’re welcome.”The clerk blinked, his eyes widening as if he was seeing me for the first time. “Wow… Your eyes… They’re beautiful.”“Oh, thanks,” I smiled, knowing he was talking about Rayne’s white irises. “
MILAI stood near the end of the hall, looking at the identical doors before us. I tried sensing which room Arianna was in but the scent in the air was vaguely familiar. “I’m back.” Laura said, leaning against the wall.“That was fast.” I said, suspiciously. I made her take her bag of instruments to her car. Watching her trudge it out of the dining room made me think it was going to take her longer.“I didn’t want to miss the fun, so I stash it in one of those artsy bushes.” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Don’t worry, it’s inconspicuous.”“I’m just going to assume you know what that word means. And why did you bring the goggles, Laura?” I asked, eyeing the gear on her head.“You never know when you might need them,” she replied, unbothered.“We are werewolves, Laura,” I reminded her. “We can see in the dark.”“True, but it completes the outfit,” Laura said with a shrug.Before I could argue, one of the doors opened, and we instinctively ducked around the corner. A woman and a man stumb
GABEI walked through the halls of the packhouse infirmary, going over the notes Yesmen sent over for the talk I had with Frances Deveaux. Tyler’s meeting had left Arianna furious, and she had stormed off, declaring she needed a day of pampering. I rubbed my chest as a persistent ache settled in my muscles. This pain wasn’t new; it had been gnawing at me for months now, defying every home remedy I tried. I thought it might have been the coffee, but even after cutting it out for months, the ache lingered, a constant, unwelcome companion.Another cry echoed through the halls, snapping me out of my thoughts. Even the faint whimpers that followed were loud with my heightened werewolf senses. I moved towards the door, intending to investigate, when Alex’s office door opened.“I wouldn’t go in there if I was you, Alpha Gabriel,” Alex said, his voice calm as he gestured for me to come inside. “You want to take a seat?”“I told you it’s just Gabe for you,” I corrected, sitting down when the pa
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