Hey Readers, Hope you enjoy me peeling back the layers of Arianna's psyche and exploring the inner conflicts she faces as her world starts to unravel. But she's ready to play the game. Let's see what trouble she can cause.
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
GABEBoth Alex and I froze, our eyes locking in alarm as two of my warriors were dragging another one to a room. I followed Alex as he administered care. “What happened? Was it a rogue attack?”I didn’t smell any blood but I could feel his pain.“No Alpha,” one of the warriors said. “He was training one of the recruits and just fell, screaming in agony.”I recognized the man in pain–Ken,one of my warriors, a strong and reliable man who trained the younger recruits. He was a formidable man, so seeing him like this was a surprise. His tears mirrored the agony etched on his face, triggering a painful memory of my own past struggles. I remembered my dad, berating me about my weight, making me feel small and worthless. I shook my head to rid myself of the memory and turned to Alex. Before I could speak, Ken’s agonized cries intensified, sending a shiver down my spine.After a few minutes, Alex was able to calm him down but the whimpers continued. I stood there feeling helpless but the pain
ARII stepped into the Main street storefront, the door chiming softly as it closed behind me. I took a moment to take in the elegant space filled with a scent of fresh flowers. This place was the epitome of luxury and sophistication, located in the city’s most prestigious shopping district. The exterior was an architectural marvel–sleek, modern glass panels framed by polished stone, with intricate detailing that hinted at the heritage of the building. Every detail screamed exclusivity, the kind of place that whispered power and status. And somehow, it felt right for me–like I belonged here. But then, the thought of Mila showcasing here made my stomach twist with frustration. She didn’t belong in this space, yet here she was, intertwined in my life like a stubborn weed I couldn’t get rid of.I spotted my father standing near a display of luxury jewelry. His broad shoulders were tense, and his stern expression deepened the lines on his face. Beside him stood Mister Deveaux, his presenc
MILAGame face on. Play the damsel but don’t overdo it. I stormed into Tyler’s office, ignoring his poor secretary’s desperate attempts to stop me. Tyler was seated behind his desk, casually leaning back in his chair, looking every bit the after-hours CEO–his tie loosened, shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms, and a few buttons undone just enough to hint at the hard lines of his chest. His short locs slightly tousled, added to the irresistible, just-finished-a-long-day charm that could make anyone’s knees weak. And, of course, that stupid smirk was plastered across his face, as if he had been expecting me.“I’m sorry, Alpha Tyler, she’s strong,” his assistant said, massaging his arm clearly embarrassed“It’s okay, Henry. I got this,” Tyler said, waving him off, his eyes never leaving mine.“Alpha Tyler, what the hell is going on?” I demanded, my frustration evident. “I just came from the storefront to see Arianna’s crew pulling things to the other side. What kind of joke
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