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14. Faking It
Last Updated:
2024-09-18 00:29:33
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Till Death Do Us Lie 15. A Midnight Visitor
~ QUADE ~“So, is it good enough?” her voice comes down the phone. I glance out of the hotel window where I’m staying, looking in the direction of her home.This hotel teeters on her pack borders. One that gives me access to her pack without having to pass the guards. With her guidance, of course, or so she thinks. I already knew about the entryway she had disclosed to me from long ago.“It’ll do, Miss Blackwell. Although I hoped I’d get an invitation into your home, or a late-night offer if you get my gist,” I reply.She laughs slightly. “Well, at least it’ll do. As for any kind of invitation, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Besides, I can’t magically invite you here. People wouldn’t trust that. Look, tomorrow at the dinner meeting with Logan, just make sure our stories correlate or-”“Relax, deception is an art I’ve mastered a long time ago. I’m more concerned that you might blow our cover.”I can just picture her expression of irritation. I’ve learned that about her. Her patience
Last Updated : 2024-09-21Till Death Do Us Lie 16. A Reward
~ LAYLA ~“Luna? I have brought you some turmeric milk. It’ll help you.” Nadia’s voice comes from outside the door.I pale as I scan the room. He’s closed the window too!He’s clearly finding this funny, which only annoys me further. I push my glasses up my nose as I try to push him back. “Hide!” I hiss.“Are you really telling me to hide?” he scoffs arrogantly. “You do know who I am, right?”An arrogant asshole, that’s who.“We can’t blow our cover, remember?” I reply with mock politeness, shoving him back.“It’s just a member of staff. Who cares?” he winks at me suggestively.I get to my feet, continuing to force him around to the other side of the bed and shove him to the ground with my full strength.I flinch as he hits the ground with a thud. I scramble to my feet as I hear the door handle turn, but my legs tangle with his and I tumble face forward onto him.“Luna! Are you alright!”I jerk upright, realising I’m straddling him, and I’m about to get up when I realise my shorts have
Last Updated : 2024-09-21Till Death Do Us Lie 17. Slipping In
~ LAYLA ~“Julian…” I say tensely.Both men simply stand there staring at one another. Something about the exchange makes me feel uneasy. I can practically smell the hostility between the two. I have half a mind to jump out of the window, but I doubt my landing will be anywhere near as smoothly as Quade’s was.“Julian, is it? Nice name,” Quade says almost mockingly.“The Lycan King? Not very king-like, jumping out of a window, now is it?” Julian counters icily.“Maybe if you were a better bodyguard, I wouldn’t have even been able to get to her. If I wanted, she could have been dead by now.” Quade’s voice is equally hostile.“I’d like to see you try. Hurt her and I won’t care who you are.”Quade’s aura suddenly bleeds through the air, getting heavier. I can feel it from up here.“Julian, please-”“You’re no threat to me. Kind of disappointing, actually.”“Don’t underestimate me. That’s how a person falls,” Julian answers. I try to glare at him warningly, but he doesn’t even glance my wa
Last Updated : 2024-09-25Till Death Do Us Lie 18. Fire
~ LAYLA ~I grab the files I can, shoving them into my bag as I look around through the haze of smoke. With the amount of paper in here, it’s spread fast. I look around frantically, hoping to find something that would assist me in attempting to run through the flames. There’s nothing but files upon files.I’m going to shift. I place my bag down, removing my glasses and shove them into my bag before I quickly kick off my shoes and reach under my blouse to unlatch my bra. I really dislike the way the fabric chafes when you shift wearing clothes. I focus, something that is hard to do when the smoke is getting worse.I feel that familiar pull from inside as my body pushes itself to shift, and then comes the searing pain as every bone in my body mutates, I let out a groan that turns into a growl midway as I fall forward on to all fours, watching the fur spring from my body. I feel my senses heightening, the smoke is becoming stronger, but it’s not suffocating me as much as it was before. I
Last Updated : 2024-09-27Till Death Do Us Lie 19. A Video
~ LAYLA ~“I might be a little late, but I will be there on time for our guest, don’t worry about that. I’ll meet you at the restaurant?” I hear the quiet whisper from behind him.Sadie.“Sure, that’s fine.” I hang up and stare at Logan’s number.Why am I not surprised?Idiot.I look in the mirror as I continue working on my makeup. I’m wearing a satin forest green dress that reaches just above my knees, with a slit at the back. Finishing with nude lipstick, I sit back and fix the thin straps, frowning deeply as I ponder over what happened earlier.Who is behind this?Julian will be here at any minute, and I’m hoping he’s found something.As if on cue, there’s a knock on the door. “Come in!” I call, as I begin taking the heat curlers out of my hair.The door opens and Julian steps inside. I grab my glasses, putting them on as I spin around and stand up quickly.“Anything?” I ask, as he looks me over but says nothing.“There’s nothing on the security footage at the building, but the fac
Last Updated : 2024-09-27Till Death Do Us Lie 20. The Dinner
~ LAYLA ~“Enjoy your meal,” the waitress says politely as she steps away.Logan was rendered speechless after Quade’s remark, and then the food I had pre-ordered arrived.“Thank you,” I say to her, clearing my throat. Even the soft music that plays in the background sounds extremely loud.“So, I see that you knew Alpha Drakon. Funny, I never knew there was a link between you,” Logan says, laughing awkwardly. His ears are red, and he’s pissed off. That much I can see, but at the same time, he’s smart enough not to get onto his wrong side. Especially after what happened at the ball.“I never knew you were ever considered as a potential partner for his daughter, either. I guess we really don’t know much about one another.” Quade counters as he picks up his glass, raising it to me before he takes a sip.Logan places a hand on my knee, his thumb digging in a little painfully. I glance at him, and he looks back at me with a forced expression. One that tells me I’m going to hear something la
Last Updated : 2024-09-30Till Death Do Us Lie 21. Rage
~ QUADE ~My eyes flash, the streetlights glittering as I follow Logan’s car at a distance. The urge to shift, rip him to shreds and make it painful only growing with each passing second.A storm is brewing inside of me, and only his demise can satiate it. He had done something to her, that I was sure of when I returned from taking my call. After they left, I asked for the CCTV footage of our table and told them Eddie would come collect it soon since I had no time to waste.I didn’t trust him, not after how I have seen him treat her countless times.We turn a bend just as my phone rings and I answer it.“I got the footage from the manager, Alpha. I’m going to take a look at it now. The Gamma’s coming in case you need backup.”“I don’t. Just tell him to be on standby. Check the video from the point I leave the table. If he put something in her food or drink, it’s got to be then. I would have checked the glass, but I had no time.”“No worries, that’s what I’m here for, Alpha.”I hang up,
Last Updated : 2024-10-03Till Death Do Us Lie 22. Bad News
~ QUADE ~Who’d have thought the day would come when I will work with him?When Layla told me she trusts Julian, I didn’t think it would be him. Heck, I was thinking he was dead just like everyone else.The problem is he knows things I don’t want anyone to know.“Quade…” Layla murmurs as she turns in her seat and places a hand on my thigh, running it up my leg. She has an effect on me, one I wish she didn’t – one she shouldn’t. When the truth comes to light, she’d despise me with every fucking fibre of her being.I smirk humourlessly at the thought as I take a sharp left.Then I best not let that truth come out, no matter what. As for Julian, he won’t say anything because he ain’t no saint either. So, we’ll both simply carry on. Even if not everything I say is the truth, I do care for her. He would know that.Besides, he only knows the tip of the iceberg of secrets and lies that I have hidden behind the shroud of darkness that surrounds me.Fate sure does throw us into one another’s pa
Last Updated : 2024-10-07
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Till Death Do Us Lie 71. A King's Weakness
~ LAYLA~He’s right… that time he hadn’t stayed in the room… but when I had that nightmare, he had stayed…“Ok, that’s a good idea, I’ll do my best. And then when it’s done, you will tell me the full truth?”He nods. “Of course, now you should really head back to your wedding before they realise the bride is missing.”“Yes.”“When we meet again, Quade will be dead.” It’s a statement, but I don’t argue, nodding instead.“Yes, he will be.”He motions me to go, but I turn slightly away from him first, glancing at the small blade before I reach down and, lifting my skirt, tuck it firmly into my thigh garter, the cold metal pressing painfully against my inner thigh.It should stay in place until I can hide it somewhere else.“Smart,” he remarks, amused, and I try to not to show my irritation as I turn and give him a nod before I make my way back around the marquee. I’m barely halfway around when I see Eddie hurrying around it, coming to an abrupt stop when he sees me.“Luna.”“Are you alri
Till Death Do Us Lie 70. A Favour Called Upon
~ LAYLA ~I glance around before I turn and look around to the left. No one is around. Relax, Layla.“Of course I know that. I haven’t forgotten. It’s not like you told me what you wanted.”I’m not sure, but it feels like he’s smiling under that mask. “Of course, I had to make sure you don’t go spilling the beans. We wouldn’t want Quade to have learned too much if you had.”I scoff, my lips curling in defiance. “I wouldn’t have, but if you keep wasting time, he’ll notice I’m missing.” My eyes dart over my shoulder towards the glow of the marquee.The laughter feels louder now, closer, as though it’s stalking me. I try to remain calm, but the quickening of my breath betrays me. My chest tightens, and I know he sees it. “You’ll get your favour in return for the truth.” The words are steady, but inside, doubt churns like a storm. Have I gotten in too deep? I don’t trust him, not enough to believe him blindly.“The favour first.”“And what exactly do you want?” My voice sharpens, the edge
Till Death Do Us Lie 69. Dangerous Moments
~ LAYLA ~I sense someone watching me, and my eyes skim across the throng of people, trying to keep my calm. When someone in grey brushes past me and I feel the feathery touch of paper brushing my palm, my hand instantly closes around it. I steal a glance at Quade, but he continues to talk to one of the elders.I look down at it, my heart plummeting when I see the words on it.‘Come alone. Garden. By the trees. Don’t make me come to you.’My heart races as I scan the crowd once again, trying to find the man in the grey suit who had brushed past me.I know who sent this. I doubt he was the one who gave me the note, but he must be close.Reagon.The laughter and clinking glasses in the marquee suddenly feel overwhelming. I glance at Quade before excusing myself, and trying to act as casually as possible slip away into the crowd. Being the bride, you can’t really do that, not when the trail of my dress forces everyone to part to allow me out.“I’ll be right back,” I tell someone who trie
Till Death Do Us Lie 68. My Sassy Bride
~ QUADE ~You can imagine how a person might look a thousand times, picture something again and again, and sometimes you’ll imagine it better or worse than it could be. But imagining Layla as a bride? Was a failure.There was no way my mind could conjure up how fucking beautiful she actually looks. There are not enough words to explain just how incredible and mesmerising the temptress before me is. She is a vision.Breathtaking, beyond beautiful, she is the epitome of perfection with the power to bring any man to his knees and I am not no exception.Goddess, Layla.She approaches me, but it feels far too slow, yet I’m unable to go to her, simply frozen in my spot.She’s mine. She’s marrying me.I fucking want her, and that is the problem. I want her, and if she ever fully gets to know me… she’ll fucking hate me. That’s not something I want to think about tonight.She reaches me and that’s when I realise it’s Julian who has walked her down the aisle, right to me.I smirk slightly at hi
Till Death Do Us Lie 67. The Wedding Day
~ LAYLA ~I’m getting married to Quade Steele, the Lycan King. A man who has more secrets than I can keep track of.It still doesn’t feel real.I take a deep, shaky breath as I stare at my reflection in the mirror.I had settled on the dress Quade had picked out. I don’t know why. I shouldn’t have, but it was gorgeous and he chose it just… Goddess, no.I exhale in frustration, making the woman working on adjusting my veil pause.“I’m fine, carry on.” I smile the best I can as I look at the shimmering smoky eye makeup, the soft blush, the bold red lips. I wanted that.I’m wearing contacts today and my hair is curled and put up in an elegant updo. Diamonds hang in my ears, and I had debated on a necklace but then decided against it. The veil is long and detailed and makes me look extremely elegant.The dress itself is made of net in the palest shade of champagne, its low cut fitts to the knees before it flows out with an extravagant trail, beads and embroidered flowers cover the entire d
Till Death Do Us Lie 66. Dresses
~ LAYLA ~I did something I know I shouldn’t have.My heart is racing, and I feel nervous just thinking about the consequences if he finds out it was my doing. And when he finds out, will he suspect me?My stomach twists and I feel nauseous. A few hours ago, whilst Quade had been out, I had managed to go visit Nikita, only to find her nearly dead with a dagger in her stomach, bleeding out onto the floor down there.Although my every instinct was telling me to leave her, I couldn’t. Unable to leave the woman who is about to die down there. So, I moved her. She was light and easier to carry than I thought, and I managed to sneak her to one of the unused corners of this castle.I had applied some healing balm and wrapped up her wound. There was too much damage for me to stitch her up and now it all depends on her, if she’ll be able to heal or not. But I just couldn’t let anyone find her.I had then sprayed some scent disguiser along the hall and in the room before I had left her to clean
Till Death Do Us Lie 65. A Sapphire
~ QUADE ~I look at Nikita from the chair I’m sitting in, drinking some bourbon, a frown on my face. The smell of blood is slick in the air, mixing well with the strong smell of the alcohol in my hand.“I’m growing tired, Nikita. Truly. You may be my sister, but that doesn’t really stand for much. I’m sure you know that by now. You’re only alive because I don’t have that crystal in my hand,” I remark quietly.She simply glares at me. “I don’t care. I will die before I tell you where that Sapphire is,” she sneers.“What are you going to do with it? You don’t have blood from that pack in you for it to work,” I remark.She frowns. She knows I’m right, even though I don’t know how exactly the power of it can be reached, but she definitely wouldn’t be able to. Yet she’s adamant to keep it from me.“What do you want, Nikita?”She’s quiet for a moment, and I stand up and now walk over to her, crouching down in front of her. I take hold of her chin, forcing her face up. There’s defiance in her
Till Death Do Us Lie 64. Confusion
~ JULIAN ~The rain patters down on my car as I drive towards Quade’s home. His words swirling in my mind. The final moments before I left that car replaying in my mind. He looked almost… hurt.Almost.I shake my head, parking up in the shadows and slip through the trees and over the wall. I don’t think Quade is back yet. Good.I then take out my phone and call Nadia.“Hello, dear,” her voice comes.“Hey, I’m outside. Think you can let me in? I wanted to have a word with Layla.”“Oh of course, but you are welcome here, aren’t you? You could use the door.”“I don’t want to run into Quade.” It’s the truth.She pauses for a moment before she speaks. “Very well then, come on around to the back. I’ll let you inside.”I smile. Nadia is the best.Once I’m let inside, I make my way up to Layla’s room before I take my phone out and message her.JULIAN: Hey.I glance down the hall as I wait for a reply, hoping no one comes up.LAYLA: What is it, Julian?I pause at the reply, scrolling up, a remi
Till Death Do Us Lie 63. In The Rain
~ QUADE ~The rain pours down outside, causing the windscreen to be a blur of water. The door opens, and a man gets in, soaking wet in the few seconds it took for him to get from his car to mine.“You better have a good reason for calling me here,” he growls, shutting the door.“She knows,” I say looking over at Julian.He cocks a brow at me, a frown furrowing his brow. We’re both sitting in my car, which is parked down a dark alleyway.“That’s impossible.” He shakes his head.“It isn’t. We knew it could be a possibility. When I first brought up the Sapphire Pack to her and her useless ex-fiancé, she had said she had never heard of the Sapphire Pack. Yet last night, she probably thought she was being smart and witty when she said her father told her some things about it. But, in the process, she just gave herself away.” I scoff coldly, remembering her words.“Are you sure?” He sounds tense.“Yeah, she knew far too much. Even if she recalled a rare mention of what she was coming out wit
