I stood frozen, my feet rooted to the cold floor, as the man before me emanated a raw and untamed energy that made the air feel heavy. His presence was overwhelming—broad shoulders that seemed to carry the weight of worlds, a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, and eyes like two shards of ice, piercing straight through my soul. He was handsome in a way that felt dangerous, almost unearthly, and his every move radiated control.His hand came down hard on the rock-strewn table, the sound sharp and unyielding. "Where is Diane?" he demanded, his voice as cold and cutting as a winter storm.I opened my mouth, but no words came. Fear clawed at my throat, making it impossible to speak. His patience snapped, and his gaze darkened with fury."Will you talk?" he thundered, leaning closer. The intensity in his eyes was suffocating."I—I don't know," I stammered, the words tumbling out incoherently. "She...she ran away."He straightened, his expression hardening. "Diane ran away? Is that the best
The moment their lips collided, the world around them blurred into nothingness. Evelyn's resolve crumbled as Michael's commanding presence overwhelmed her. His hands, strong and sure, cupped her face, deepening the kiss. The tension between them was electric, a volatile mix of anger, desire, and something unspoken. Evelyn clung to him, her fingers fisting in his shirt as if afraid to let go.Michael broke the kiss, his breath hot against her flushed skin. "You don't know what you're asking for," he murmured, his voice a dangerous mix of warning and promise. But Evelyn, trembling yet resolute, met his gaze."Then show me," she whispered, her words trembling but unwavering.A growl rumbled from deep in his chest. In one fluid motion, he lifted her and pressed her against the cold wall, the contrast sending a shiver down her spine. His hands roamed over her body, skimming her curves with a deliberateness that made her gasp."Tell me to stop," Michael said, his voice rough almost like a p
The room was still, save for the sound of Evelyn's soft, steady breathing. Michael leaned against the edge of the bed, his chest heaving as he stared at her. Her hair was a tangled mess against the pillow, her lips slightly parted as she slept. The marks he had left on her neck and shoulders were a stark contrast against her pale skin. She looked peaceful now, almost angelic, but the weight of what had just transpired pressed heavily on his chest.He ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. Sweet. That word barely scratched the surface of how Evelyn had felt in his arms. Her touch had been hesitant at first, but her body had responded to him in a way that ignited something primal within him. She was intoxicating, utterly consuming. Better than anyone he had ever been with—and better than he deserved.But the truth was bitter. Evelyn hadn't done this out of love or desire. She had done it for her mother, to fulfill some unspoken obligation to the twisted arrangement Micha
Evelyn stirred, her body aching in unfamiliar ways. As consciousness returned, the events of the previous night replayed vividly in her mind. The soft sheets against her skin reminded her of how Michael's hands had roamed her body, his lips igniting sensations she had never thought possible. But the soreness wasn't just physical—it lingered in her thoughts, clawing at her confidence. This wasn't her first time. Evelyn swallowed hard, memories of Liam surfacing like an unwanted ghost. Her ex-boyfriend, her college love, had been her first. But it hadn't been like this. That night had been a blur of alcohol and betrayal. Liam had taken advantage of her drunken state, ignoring her protests, and afterward, she had convinced herself it had been her fault for drinking too much. She had given her body willingly, but the way he had used her left a bitter scar she couldn't erase. She pushed the thought aside, staring up at the ceiling, her mind clouded with new fears. What if Michael hadn't
Michael's POV:I lit a cigarette, leaning back in my chair as the smoke curled around me, trying to wash away the irritation from earlier. The silence didn't last long, though. Adam, my most trusted man—no introductions needed—stepped in, his face etched with urgency."Boss, there's an emergency," he said briskly.Without wasting a second, I stubbed out the cigarette and followed him downstairs. Adam didn't need to explain further; if he called it urgent, it meant it was serious.In the dimly lit room, he powered up the computer and started typing furiously. The sharp clacking of keys filled the space as I waited, arms crossed, watching him with a calm that hid my impatience. Whatever this was, it better be worth dragging me out of my thoughts.I exhaled a slow cloud of smoke, the cigarette hanging loosely between my fingers as Adam's words echoed through the room. The harsh light from the laptop screen lit up the dark circles under my eyes, sharpening my features and making me look a
The study was dimly lit, the heavy scent of leather and ink filling the air. Vedrick's trembling hands fumbled to close the door behind us, but I stopped him with a glance. Adam leaned casually against the wall, his presence a silent warning. "Sit," I commanded, my voice low, almost conversational. Vedrick obeyed, sinking into the chair behind his desk. He looked smaller now, a man once proud and defiant reduced to a shadow of himself. "Do you know why I’m here, Vedrick?" I asked, taking my time as I approached his desk. I didn’t need to rush; the tension in the room was already thick enough to choke on. "I... I can explain," he stammered, his voice shaking. "It was just a—" "A mistake?" I cut him off, leaning forward to rest my hands on the desk. "Let me guess—you thought you could cut corners. Save a few million here, a few million there. Maybe you thought I wouldn’t notice, or worse, that I wouldn’t care." He opened his mouth to respond, but I raised a hand, silencing him.
The room felt suffocatingly cold, a chill that seeped into her bones as she climbed the grand staircase to her quarters. Evelyn could still hear the faint echoes of the men’s heavy boots on the marble floors as they escorted the mysterious Vedrick upstairs. She didn’t dare ask who he was or why he was being brought into this vast, lonely mansion.The grand chandelier above her cast dancing shadows on the walls, but instead of comfort, it added to her unease. She gripped the banister tighter, her mind racing. The events of the day replayed like a broken record—Michael’s sudden reappearance, his whiskey-brown eyes piercing through her, his silence cutting deeper than words ever could.By the time she reached her room, her legs felt like they’d carry her no further. She opened the door, shut it behind her, and pressed her back against it, trying to steady her breathing. Her room, though lavish with its silk curtains and ornate furnishings, felt like a gilded cage.Evelyn paced the room,
Evelyn stared at the folder resting on her lap, her fingers trembling as they traced the leather edges. The weight of the contract felt heavier than the paper it was written on. She had been prepared for rules, of course—her life had always been governed by someone else’s terms—but seeing them spelled out so coldly made the situation all the more real.Her eyes hovered over the first page again: Contract of Matrimonial Agreement.The title itself made her stomach churn. She gritted her teeth and turned to the rules, her heartbeat quickening as she read.Rule 1: ConfidentialityThe words were sharp and unyielding. No one was to know the truth of their arrangement. Not her family, not the staff, not even strangers. Evelyn let out a bitter laugh.“What family would I even tell?” she muttered, her voice tinged with sarcasm. Her father had handed her over like a pawn, and her sister had run off without a care. She had no one.Still, the rule felt isolating. It was as though the contract wa
"You can't remove that yet! Not unless your doctor says it’s okay to do so." Michael’s voice was firm as he stood beside Evelyn, watching her with a gaze that allowed no room for argument.Before she could reply, the door swung open, and a woman in a white coat stepped in. Her sharp eyes landed on them, catching the tail end of Michael’s words."Actually… it’s perfectly fine for her to remove it," the doctor interjected with a calm smile. "Sir."Evelyn lifted a brow, shooting Michael a knowing look. Her eyes practically shouted, See?Michael let out a slow, heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if fighting an unseen battle. "Fine," he muttered. "But let the doctor do it." His voice was still firm, but he stepped back, allowing the doctor to proceed before he turned and exited the room.By the time everything was settled and Evelyn was ready to leave, she saw Michael speaking with the doctor, his tone low and controlled. When she shifted to stand on her own, he was there in an
Michael couldn’t relax. Even after Lorna had given her diagnosis, even after the room had settled into silence, his body remained taut with tension.His reaction earlier had been… unexpected. Shocking, even. He hadn’t anticipated it—not the panic, not the overwhelming force of emotion that had slammed into him the moment he saw her tears. Evelyn had done it again. She had shattered whatever semblance of control he thought he had over himself.It was infuriating.To think that just seeing her cry could shake him so deeply… that just the touch of her cold skin had sent something dangerously close to fear spiraling through him. Fuck. He was in too deep. This woman had thoroughly and utterly ruined him.Now, he didn’t know what to do.Didn’t know what to say.He could only hold her. Could only pull her into his arms, press her close, and hope that his warmth seeped into her body. Because anything else—any words, any action—felt like it would only make things worse.He didn’t want to see h
The moment Evelyn turned her back to him and walked away, the dam that had been holding strong all this time finally crumbled. Her tears, long restrained, gushed forth like a deluge of rain.It had been so long since she had allowed herself to cry outside the suffocating confines of her darkened room. She had trained herself to never shed tears in the presence of others. Crying made her feel exposed, fragile—something she had fought against for years. Especially in front of her father and Brandon Haze, she had refused to break. No matter how deep their words had cut, no matter how much pain they had inflicted upon her, she had never given them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. Silence had always been her weapon, a shield stronger than any steel. And she had wielded it perfectly.But with Michael… everything was different.She did not understand why, but around him, it was unbearably difficult to hold back. She had thought she could at least hold in her emotions until she reached
Evelyn fell silent. The lump in her throat tightened when he mentioned a condition. Her anger toward him hadn’t vanished—she had simply forced herself to swallow it down. But now, hearing that he was about to set another rule, another ridiculous demand, had her emotions surging once more.However, what Michael said next rendered her mute.Snow White?She hadn’t expected him to bring up the wolf, let alone sound so sour about it. Why did he seem irritated now? Hadn’t he helped her save the poor creature? So why was he suddenly acting like he despised Snow White?A quiet hesitation lingered in the air. But eventually, she nodded.If this was all he wanted, then fine. It wasn’t like he was asking for much—not letting Snow White sleep in their bed? That wasn’t so bad. It still meant she could cuddle the wolf anywhere else. Perhaps Michael just had an issue with wolf fur in his sheets.“Fine… I’ll keep him off the bed,” she relented, her voice clipped. “Now, talk. Explain.”She didn’t want
Micheal just stared at her in silence. The words she had spoken moments ago seemed to echo in the air between them, heavier than before. Evelyn had dropped her gaze, almost as if afraid to meet his eyes again, and now leaned her forehead against the wolf curled in her arms. It was as though she were trying to shield herself, wrapping around the creature like he was her only anchor.The sight of it made something dark and unfamiliar stir within him.Her small shoulders trembled faintly, her fiery hair spilling over the wolf’s thick white fur. The contrast was striking—like blood on snow, something pure being swallowed by something far too heavy, too painful. And yet, she clung to the animal with a quiet desperation, as if letting go would mean losing the only thing grounding her in this moment.Micheal pulled back slightly, his movements slow and measured. He didn’t want to startle her. Not when she already looked so fragile. Not when he could sense something in her that felt too close
Michael stood frozen at the threshold of the dimly lit bedroom, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the floor. His grey eyes, sharp as a blade’s edge, landed on the scene before him, and something inside him coiled tight—dangerously tight.Evelyn lay curled on the massive bed, her body wrapped around something—or rather, someone.Snow White.The large white wolf, with his thick fur and unsettlingly intelligent eyes, lay beside her, his breathing slow and steady. But Michael barely spared the animal more than a glance. His focus was on her. On the way her delicate fingers were buried in the wolf’s thick fur. On the way her body pressed so trustingly, so intimately, against the creature’s warmth. And worst of all, the way her face—so serene, so utterly content—was nestled against its back.Michael’s expression did not change at first. He was too stunned to react.Seconds passed. Then, his lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line.His jaw ticked once. Then twice.A slow, simmerin
As soon as Evelyn pulled open the cage door, she stepped back, her fingers gripping the doorknob tightly. Just in case Snow White decided to lunge at her, she wanted to be ready—ready to dart out and call for Rion and Raven to help put the wolf back inside its cage.Her heart pounded, echoing in her ears like a war drum. Snow White remained inside the cage, his pale eyes watching her with an unreadable expression. He wasn’t moving, wasn’t baring his fangs, wasn’t doing anything she had feared he might do.Evelyn swallowed, uncertainty gripping her. Had she made a mistake?Then, slowly, the wolf tilted his head. The movement was so small yet so deliberate that it almost seemed… questioning.Somehow, that made Evelyn feel guilty.She let out a soft breath and, instead of standing there frozen, crouched near the open door. She extended her hand, palm facing up, voice gentle as she coaxed him. “Come here, baby…”For a moment, the air hung still between them.Then, to her shock, Snow White
The wolf stilled at her touch.Evelyn had hesitated before finally gathering the courage to extend her hand and brush her fingers against its snowy white tail. The soft texture surprised her—it was thicker and woolier than she had expected, a mix of coarse and silky strands that seemed to shimmer under the dim lighting.Holding her breath, she waited for a reaction. She thought the wolf would jerk away, snarl, or even bare its teeth at her for daring to touch it. But none of that happened. It remained completely still, unbothered. Almost… indifferent.Cautiously, she stroked its fur again, this time moving her fingers in a slow, gentle rhythm. Still, there was no response.Her tense shoulders finally eased a little. If the wolf had been aggressive or hostile, it would have made that clear by now, wouldn’t it? Or was it just too exhausted to react? Was it still in pain from its injuries?“Hey… Snow White, baby?” Evelyn murmured, softening her voice, instinctively trying to comfort the
A distant howl broke through the silence of the night.Evelyn paused, her fingers tightening around the blanket draped over her lap. The sound echoed through the castle walls, low and mournful, stirring something deep inside her.Wolves.It shouldn’t have been surprising. The Reigns estate sat atop a forested hill, surrounded by sprawling wilderness. The occasional howl wasn’t uncommon. And yet… this was the first time she had truly heard one since she arrived.Her mind immediately flashed back to the snow-white wolf they had rescued.She had forgotten about it completely in the whirlwind of everything that had happened. The secrets. The lies. Michael locking her away like a prisoner. But now, hearing that call in the night, she couldn’t help but wonder.Where was the wolf now?It must still be healing, right?Michael had assigned a medical team to tend to it—an elite one, no doubt. They would have done their job well. The wolf had to be getting better by now. Right?A sudden urge gri