Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed another chapter with our girl Arianna. She is definitely feeling the pressure of staying on top. Interested to see what she's going to do to stay relevant and keep Mila out of her world.
GABE - Ten years agoIt was just after the New Year and I was laying in my room, staring at the ceiling, lost in thoughts I couldn’t escape. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was Mila–her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she was excited, and the way she looked at me when she thought I was looking. Then the memory was darkened by the way she looked at me that day I broke up with her at school. The memory played on a loop in my head until it was impossible to think of anything else.We had just returned from the Mount Frita ski resort, a tradition I once enjoyed but now resented. Every year, the Moras joined us, and this year, I played my part–the perfect son, the ideal mate, the mask firmly in place. It was unbearable. The laughter, the family outings, the forced conversations, the constant pressure to look content when all I wanted to do was scream. I didn’t want to be there.A constant ache settled in my chest, a reminder of what I lost. I kept telling myself that ending thing
MILA“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”And there goes the tears. Gabe immediately moved to Noah’s side as I tried to comfort him as best as I could. “Hey, Noah, it’s okay,” I said gently, keeping my voice calm and reassuring. “It was just an accident.”Noah shook his head. “Mommy’s going to be mad. I’ll be in big trouble.”“I promise you won’t be,” Gabe said. “Everyone knows things can get a bit messy when eating spaghetti. Sometimes you can’t control where the sauce goes, right?”Noah blinked, tears falling down his face as he looked between all of us with uncertainty. “Your dad’s right,” I said, picking up the spaghetti on my lap, making a playful face when I let it plop onto my plate, sauce going everywhere. “See? Sometimes you can’t control where the sauce goes. No harm done, ok?”Noah’s lips twitched into a small, nervous smile before burying his face in Gabe’s shoulder. Gabe lifted Noah in his arms before turning to look at my dress.“I’m sorry about the dress,” Gabe started. “Please, let
MILAA loud noise from behind us caught our attention, breaking the charged moment between us. I was thankful, as I watched the workers apologize and move on to cleaning up the mess.“So, what do you say?” Gabe asked.“I… I can handle it,” I said aloud, trying to ignore Rayne’s constant remarks and focused on getting out of here. “It’s just a bit of sauce.” My voice didn’t sound nearly as convincing as I hoped, and Gabe’s amused smirk told me he knew it.“Mila,” he said, his voice low, almost teasing as he kept his hand firmly on the door, preventing me from opening it. His gaze locked on mine, sending a ripple of something down my spine. “It’s really no trouble. I insist.”"Let him insist," Rayne hummed again, not letting up for even a second. "Come on, Mila. Have some fun before you tear things apart. Listen to how he says your name. Imagine him whispering it when we—"Imagine it? Oh, I had already dreamed of many different ways to make him say my name and a few included bondage. But
MILAGabe immediately stepped in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking Arianna’s view, but I could still feel the weight of her glare. Though, Gabe’s attempt to shield me only seemed to pissed Arianna off even more.“Arianna, it’s not what you think,” Gabe said, his voice calm but edged with urgency.Arianna’s laugh was bitter, cutting through the air like glass. “Not what I think?” she hissed. “Don’t you dare try to spin this. I felt it!” She pointed an accusing finger at me, her voice shaking with pain and fury. “This… homewrecker planned all of this, didn’t you?”“Arianna, enough,” Gabe said, his voice a bit firmer than before. “You can talk to me, not herRayne stirred inside my mind, practically purring at the authoritative edge in Gabe’s voice. “Mmm, I like this side of him. Tell him to keep going,” she teased, her desire bubbling beneath my skin. I mentally pushed her aside, but it didn’t help much—her feelings bled into mine, making it harder to focus.“I am talking to you,
MILAThe sound of the fire alarm blared through the chaos, sending models, workers, and cameramen scrambling in every direction. I stood frozen in the middle of the madness, trying to make sense of it. People were rushing for cover, yelling, pushing–chaos all around me. None of this was supposed to be happening.Two weeks. That’s all I’d had to pull together a new location and a fresh concept after Tyler tipped me off about what Mirabella knew concerning Arianna’s “plan” to embarrass me. The classic–stealing someone else’s idea and showcasing it first–was basic and so Arianna. I expected that level of sabotage and was prepared for it. But this? This went beyond petty. How the hell did she know about this? My mind raced as I watched the scene unfold–fabrics were soaked, displays ruined, models in full panic mode as the sprinkler system continued to drown everything I’d worked on. The entire “Bring Me to Life” theme was perfectly ruined. “Well, this is… interesting,” a voice beside me
TYLERShe really needed another place to work. The thought hit me as I stepped into the cramped, suffocating space and bumped into a file cabinet. The air was thick with papers, books, and the faint scent of her perfume–something floral with a hint of warmth. But that wasn’t all. Beneath it, there was something else. A sweet, intoxicating undertone of… arousal. Declan stirred immediately, perking up with interest.I fought to ignore it, but it was hard not to notice how it clung to the air, wrapping around me like a magnetic pull I couldn’t shake. “She smells good,” Declan growled in my mind. “Shut up,” I snapped, trying to focus on why I was here.Mila sat behind a rickety desk, her sharp eyes flicking up to meet mine with irritation. Along with that frustration, her scent washed over me again, sweet and lingering, making Declan growl low. “This is not the time,” I said more to myself than him.“Welcome to my office,” she said with sarcasm, cutting off my thoughts. “Take another st
TYLERMila let out a harsh, almost dismissive laugh, but her lips curled into a smirk. “I’m trying to fix the problem you put us in and all you can focus on is a fucking vibrator?”“Among other things,” I shot back before I could stop myself. Smooth idiot. But the Alpha in me wouldn’t let it stop there. I pressed on. “This is not just about my ambition, okay? You need someone like me–obviously. I mean, look at you.” I gestured around the tiny room, its four walls feeling more like a cage at this point. “You’ve holed yourself in this micro-closet for an entire day, with no plan to show for it, not talking to anyone when we have no more than a day to fix this mess. You’re radiating so much aggression, I’m shocked you haven’t… I don’t know… fingered yourself to death. Though by the looks of what you just put in your purse, you were halfway there.”We stared at each other, the tension thick in the air, her eyes narrowing on mine. For a second, I thought I’d pushed too far, that maybe this
MILAI watched as Tyler licked his lips as his gaze moved back down to my vagina. I deliberately sat down on my chair spreading my legs to give him a full view. Rayne was going completely nuts inside my head. She had been waiting on a release since yesterday. Her frustrations only added to my own to the point I thought I was going to burst. A quick fuck would have cured that but this was so much better. Tyler at my mercy. I could already see him trying to break from my restraints, too bad they were werewolf proof. I reached out to unzip his pants, and by the way he took in a breath you would’ve thought I already had my hand around his dick. Hell if it wasn’t attached I was sure it would’ve jumped out the moment I released it. Tyler mumbled something I couldn’t make out but from the desperation on his face and his furrowed brow I knew it wasn’t sweet or romantic. The look in his eyes was needy and Rayne ate that shit up, urging me to let her out. “Not this time,” I said, knowing just
GABEOnly a bit of rain poured down on us. Just enough to soak through our clothes, but not subduing the heat between us. Each drop was a reminder that this moment–this reckless, inevitable moment–was real. That she was real.I wasted no time, removing my suit and tie and watched as Mila took a step back, letting the dress slip from her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Fuck, she was beautiful. The rain clung to her, tracing every curve, turning her rich, dark complexion into something luminous, like she was carved from the night itself. Her hair, wild and untamed, framed her face like a crown she never asked for, and yet, it was rightfully hers. Her lips, now swollen and soft from our kiss, looked as if they were made for nothing more than temptation. She was temptation, standing there with the storm raging around us, and I had never wanted anything more.I stepped forward, closing the distance, my hands cupping her face as I pulled her into a kiss that shattered whatever restraint I
MILA “Open your eyes!” Gabe opened his eyes and looked around the rooftop of the orphanage. The rain blurred the lights from the packhouse in the distance, casting a hazy glow over the rooftop, and for a second, it felt like we were kids again–hiding up here, pretending the world wasn’t as cruel as we knew it to be. “Wow, this place is really coming along,” Gabe said, walking through the rows of flowers. “She would’ve loved this, you know, if she was still here.” Great. Mood killer. I thought, trying to think of something soothing to say. I sighed, watching Gabe’s fingers trail over the petals, his touch softer than I’d ever seen. “She would’ve loved this,” he repeated, quieter this time, as if speaking more to himself than to me. I shifted on my feet. Even with the umbrella, the dampness of my clothes stuck uncomfortably to my skin. What was I supposed to say? That she was in a better place? That everything happens for a reason? Gabe would see through that in a second. Instead,
MILAI looked up at the sound of my name, my heart lurching at the unexpected voice.“Gabe?”He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, but his presence filled the room like a shadow creeping in.Why didn’t I notice him earlier? I wondered.He took a step forward, slow and deliberate, as if each movement was weighed down by something unseen. My pulse quickened.“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his voice low, suspicious.I straightened, stepping around the large oak desk to face him fully. I couldn’t let him see how rattled I was, how close I’d been to finding something–anything–that could help Laura’s case. Even though she couldn’t remember what had happened that night, she had told me she was trying to record everything. But her phone was missing, and I had a strong feeling it wasn’t just lost.I needed to find it before anyone else did.“I could ask you the same thing,” I said, stalling for time. I forced my voice to stay steady, to sound indifferent, but my fingers t
GABEThe sound of laughter and quiet chatter drifted from the other room, a cruel contrast to the weight pressing down on my chest. Hundreds of pack members from all over showed up for my father’s funeral, their hushed conversations and forced condolences mixing with the steady patter of rain against the windows.I knew he was a well-liked man, but damn—I hadn’t expected this many people. The sheer number made the already stifling atmosphere feel even more suffocating.Luckily, my mother had taken care of everything, handling the arrangements with her usual poised efficiency. She even managed to get Tyler temporarily released for the service, a feat that shouldn’t have surprised me, yet did.“Don’t worry, sweetie,” my mother said after speaking with one of the councilmen. “Everything is going to be cleared up soon.”I let the words wash over me, too numb to dissect their meaning. Instead, I focused on the business, temporarily handing Alpha Gregory control of the CEO position. He had
MILAIt was only a few minutes. That’s how long it took us to get from the orphanage to the packhouse. The grounds were eerily quiet despite the flurry of movement around us–guards murmuring orders, medical personnel working swiftly, and the distant wail of someone mourning. My stomach twisted as I took a step forward, my heart hammering against my ribs.We were stopped by the gates as Gabe spoke to the guards. I was too busy looking around, searching desperately for any sign of Laura. My heart was pounding, my breath ragged as I reached for my phone and dialed Camila.“Where’s Laura?” I asked as soon as she picked up.“Brian says her phone is still in Emily’s office,” Camila answered, her voice faltering. “Jenna and Alex are the way. They're bringing someone out on a stretcher, Mila.”Her voice broke and I nearly dropped my phone.No, no fucking way. “Gabe…” I said, barely a whisper.He looked at me, then followed my gaze. A stretcher was being wheeled out of the house with Arianna
LAURAI pressed my back against the cold stone wall of the packhouse, clutching the hacking device in my hand like it was the holy grail.Fuck. Why is this so scary?I took a moment to calm myself.No turning back, Laurie. You can do this.I wasn’t just a hacker. No, I was a field agent. A spy. A legend in the making. And… caught if I don’t stop talking to myself and get a move on. Just think like Mila.Crouching low, I scurried toward the back door, the one I personally disabled the security cameras for. Did it count as cheating if I was the one who helped Gabe set up most of these security measures in the first place? No. Absolutely not. It was called working smarter, not harder.I carefully turned the knob and slipped inside, holding my breath as I closed the door behind me. Step one: complete.Step two: don’t get caught.I tiptoed down the dimly lit hallway, dodging the occasional patrol or house worker. The packhouse wasn’t exactly Fort Knox, but Emily was paranoid enough to make
MILAMy hand was still pressed to Gabe’s chest. The fireworks still crackled overhead, but Gabe’s steady grip on my arms anchored me, his voice a distant hum cutting through the overwhelming noise.“You’re okay,” he murmured. “Focus on me.”I forced myself to nod, clinging to his presence. I hated this–feeling weak, feeling vulnerable–but the night had unraveled far beyond what I had prepared for. Francesca was probably dead. Amber was definitely dead. And Arianna…My gaze snapped to where I had seen Arianna last.“She’s gone,” Gabe said, following my gaze.Of course, she was. Just like with Randall, she always knew when to slip away before the damage fully settled. My stomach turned at everything that had happened. The system breach. Emily’s and Arianna’s coordinated attack leading to two deaths. What else could’ve gone wrong?Then I remembered what Amber said. They threatened my father if Gabe…I pushed off Gabe’s support, standing even as my knees wobbled. “I need to go. You can’t
GABEThe control room was of course locked. I had tried warning the others that Arianna and my mother were up to no good. I just wished I’d figured out what they were planning before it was too late. The moment Brian failed to hack the system and shut everything down, I didn’t hesitate. I ran straight here.With a swift, brutal kick, the door burst open.The room was empty.Whoever had played that video had already fled.Grinding my teeth, I rushed to the controls, shutting down the feed as fast as I could. Every screen. Every angle. But it was too late. The screams from the other room were evident. The damage was done. Fuck!“Alpha Gabe?”Camila ran into the room just as I wiped the last screen. My jaw was tight, my hands clenched around the console.“Is that all of them?” she asked.I did one final sweep before giving her a sharp nod.“Why didn’t you warn us earlier?” The anger rolling off her was palpable, and I didn’t blame her.“I knew something was going to happen–I just didn’t
MILAEverything started out great. Until it wasn’t. It all happened so fast. First, the speech. I stepped onto the stage, ignoring the confident look on Arianna’s face. “This collection isn’t just about fashion," I announced. "It’s about the celebration of freedom. The freedom to take up space, to embrace every curve, every edge, every part of yourself without apology. For too long, we’ve been told to hide–to shrink, to fit into boxes that were never meant for us. But not anymore.”I gestured toward the models as they stepped forward, their confidence radiating with every stride. "Summer is about feeling light, unburdened, alive. Not weighed down by expectations or secrets we’ve been too afraid to let go of. This collection is about owning your truth–wearing it boldly, beautifully, without fear."Second, the show. The crowd erupted in applause as the models strutted forward, showcasing designs tailored to flatter and empower. Camila queued up the video of men and women wearing my cl