I froze, utterly speechless, stunned by his bedraggled appearance and the malevolent aura he exuded.I quickly shifted my gaze over Brent's shoulder to survey the chaos he had caused in the office behind him. Evelyn was struggling to get up from the floor, clearly dazed and clutching her head as she staggered forward. A male colleague rushed to her side to steady her, and as she pointed toward my office, I could see the panic etched across her face.Refocusing on Brent, who stood panting furiously, I crossed my arms defensively and found myself unable to prevent a mocking smirk. "What on earth are you doing here?" I asked, maintaining an even tone."Who was it?" Brent growled, his lips pulled back in a menacing snarl.I snorted derisively. "Did you take a stupid pill for breakfast, or has all the time you spent fooling around with Eve finally eroded whatever intelligence you had left? If you want answers, you'll need to ask in complete sentences," I sneered.Brent lunged at me, his a
I chuckled softly. "I'm really proud of what you did, Evelyn. Do you know how many women would have just surrendered and done whatever he asked? The fact that you stood up to him speaks volumes about who you are."Evelyn's face brightened."Thank you, Anastasia. That means a lot," she replied happily before a look of realization crossed her face. "Oh! I nearly forgot, Alpha Calixto will be here shortly to pick you up.""What?!" I exclaimed loudly. "Why?! Damn it!"Evelyn looked at me, confused."I'm sorry, Maine told me to call him to come and collect you... Should I not have done that?"I was fuming. I couldn't believe Maine would reach out to him like that, making it seem as though I needed someone to bail me out. How was Xavier ever going to take me seriously if he constantly thought he had to rush in and rescue me every time things got tough?I sighed heavily, tilting my head back in frustration, feeling my shoulders slump."Do you want me to call him back and let him know it's
A shiver of anticipation coursed through my body, and I had to forcibly suppress a whimper as Maine purred with satisfaction inside me."Ooo, a punishment sounds like it would be fun..." she murmured excitedly."You're not helping, Maine!" I snapped internally, infuriated that not only was Xavier issuing orders, but I was also undeniably aroused by the thought of whatever punishment he had in mind."I know I'm not helping... I'm not trying to. I want him to punish us... I want him to—" Maine's voice trailed off with a smug smirk before I silenced her."THAT'S ENOUGH, MAINE!" I roared in my head, shutting her chatter out.Xavier chuckled beside me as he traced his lips gently along my cheek."I can smell you, you know... your arousal," he murmured huskily, causing my heart rate to spike. "You're making me want to sink into your slick wetness all over again.""Well, that's wonderful for you, but I don't have time for this, Xavier," I replied testily, stepping away as his intense gaze fo
Suddenly, he pulled back and growled, "F*ck, Anastasia, what are you doing to me?! I just want to stay inside you, forcing these moans from you every possible way, all the damn time."I whimpered helplessly as I felt myself unravel. Breathless, I moaned and stiffened slightly, while Xavier pounded into me with relentless ferocity. His body tensed, grunting as he pulled me hard against him, and my climax hit just as he emptied himself inside me. The walls of my core milked him of every last drop while he shuddered behind me, panting heavily.I couldn't believe I had just let him take me like this in my own office. Every time I sat at this desk, I'd be reminded of this moment.Pulling out, Xavier gave my bare ass a light pat, smirking as I turned to glare at him, cheeks flushed with heat.He teasingly slipped a finger around the waistband of my panties, flicking the elastic playfully against my skin."I'm going to need to take these," he said, pulling up his trousers and fixing me with a
"We were getting rammed not so long ago..." Maine chimed in, her tone laced with mischief. "Shut up, Maine," I hissed internally. "You're no fun," Maine whined glumly. "Hey! Tell Maine I said hi, but also to be quiet, will you? I hate repeating myself, and I need to inform Dad of your answer as soon as possible," Leah requested energetically. "Tell her to go blow goats," Maine responded sweetly. "I won't relay that, Leah," I said with a sigh. "Honestly, she was so much quieter before we moved here, and suddenly it's as if she's transformed into a perverted she-wolf in heat." "Excellent! It's about time you got laid!" Leah snorted in amusement. "See! I'm not the only one who thinks so!" Maine chimed in triumphantly. "Oh my god! Will the two of you please shut up?" I exploded, my frustration boiling over as I fumed silently. "I thought you were busy," I snapped, directing my irritation at Leah. "I am, but I've missed teasing you," Leah replied with a happy sigh. "Anyway, Dad me
The most effective way for me to assert my independence was by choosing not to don the typical reds and golds associated with the royal family. Instead, I opted for the traditional colors of royal blue and silver, which held prominence within Alpha Calixto's pack. After all, I was now Alpha Calixto's Luna. In the eyes of everyone gathered, I was regarded as his true mate, and against all odds, his second chance mate. "Ha! They know! Look how livid the WH*ORES look!" Maine shouted with gleeful delight. She was absolutely right. My stepmother, Nerissa, wore an expression that clearly conveyed her desire to commit murder right there on the staircase. Eve's face was painted with her all-too-familiar veneer of smiles, yet her jaw was tightly clenched, and her unyielding gaze was fixed on me as I approached. My father appeared bewildered by my choice of outfit, his eyes sweeping over me with a cursory glance that expressed his bewilderment. I beamed widely as I ascended the stairs, greet
A strong she-wolf stood resolutely on her own, relying solely on herself to confront her challenges. A competent Luna would ensure that her mate stayed on track for all scheduled appointments and necessary functions. Unfortunately, Eve was failing miserably at both, and the wolves in attendance were merciless in their critiques. Suddenly, I spotted Leah among the crowd of press members being processed for entry to the event, and a wide grin spread across my face. I excused myself, receiving a reluctant nod from my father, and made my way toward her. Eve watched my retreating figure as I hurried toward the doorway, a sneer etched on her face. "This is all her fault! I can't believe she moved on from Brent so damn quickly. I hope she gets what she deserves!" She hissed, her eyes narrowing dangerously as our mother, Nerissa, shot her a sharp look. "If you hadn't been so impatient and had simply gone along with our original plan, none of this would be a problem. I can't believe you wer
Leah grimaced and shrugged, focusing intently on the digital screen of the camera she'd brought along. "The agency wanted a journalist to report, so here I am. If they don't like it, well, they can deal with it," she snorted, frowning in concentration. I watched Leah wrestle with the camera as we made our way to a quieter corner of the ballroom. Spotting one of the passing waiters, I snagged a couple of drinks for us and we settled unobtrusively onto a small chaise lounge by the side. "Finally! I swear, I hate these things sometimes," Leah muttered as she turned her attention fully to me. "Alright, sorry about that, these cameras can be a real hassle. Now, Maine. Brent. Spill the details." I chuckled, uncertain how much I should divulge in such a setting. If the wrong person overheard, even whispers could spiral into a PR disaster. "You might need to read between the lines here, Leah. Remember, we've got pretty good hearing around us, so bear with me," I said, grinning. Leah nodded
Anastasia POV "Oh, what the heck!" I exclaimed, startled by the sudden intrusion. Leah raised an inquisitive eyebrow while Xavier gave me a benign smile."The perks of the mate bond, my love," Xavier murmured inside my head, as Maine rolled around gleefully. "Now I can hear all your thoughts, your deepest desires, your most intimate fantasies..." His voice echoed in my mind, and I blushed a deep shade of crimson.Leah quickly realized what was happening and feigned gagging noises by sticking her fingers into her mouth. "Please, if you two are going to have such intimate exchanges in each other's heads, can you not do it around me? You're such insatiable furballs..." she muttered in annoyance."You're one to talk," a sarcastic voice interrupted from behind, as Alvin casually entered and seated himself across from Leah, scowling in her direction.Leah looked flustered for a brief moment but swiftly regained her nonchalant demeanor. "Amazing, isn't it?" she retorted sarcastically. "Not
Xavier POVThe group of individuals who had access to the sensitive information necessary to successfully sabotage my business interests was remarkably small. Coupled with this was the fact that security measures within the pack were so meticulously controlled that the culprit could only have been someone on the inside, and alarmingly close to me. This growing suspicion made me increasingly wary of the man I once considered my closest friend.I scowled deeply at the scenery passing by the window as memories of that difficult period resurfaced. I never discovered who was responsible for those issues—they simply ceased without warning. Despite my efforts to provoke the culprits into revealing themselves, they never resurfaced.The cessation of these attacks did not coincide with any deaths or hospitalizations, nor were there any significant shifts in power within the boards of directors, leaving me to ponder over the mystery ever since.As we drove up the long driveway leading to the pa
Scowling, she turned around only to be met with a look of horror. She watched the demon beside Lord Thamuz shift from its faceless, genderless form to precisely replicate Xavier's image once more, teasing her with a wink and mockingly blowing her a kiss.Eve's face turned pale as realization set in, her mouth agape in disbelief. Moments later, a wail of disgust filled the corridors, her voice promising violence as the guards dragged her away.Leah snorted, watching Eve's forced exit, and waved casually at the mimic beside her father. "Franklyn isn't so bad, you know? He's one of the few who seem to have an intelligence that others of his kind lack," she whispered to Xavier and me, offering a light salute to the mimic.Alpha King Leo observed Eve's disgraceful exit with a mixture of sadness and fury, now painfully aware that everything he believed about Nerissa and Eve was a complete farce. Guilt surged within him as he felt the once-familiar stirrings of his wolf, a sensation absent f
Brent nodded silently, stealing a final longing glance toward where Xavier and I stood, then followed Lord Thamuz as he ascended the stairs.Xavier seemed to shake himself free from whatever had held him captive, lifting his hand to gently cup my face. His eyes searched mine while I mirrored his gesture. "Do you feel that?" I breathed in awe as my fingers trailed down his cheeks and across his lips."Mate..." Xavier growled in a rich, husky voice. He nodded as his wolf surged forward, its presence sitting boldly in his gaze.In all the time I had known him, I had never heard Xavier speak in such a tone, and it sent a delightful shiver of anticipation and longing down my spine as he looked at me."Finally... after all this time in darkness... my fated mate..." his wolf spoke hoarsely, disbelief coloring its voice as it almost cracked. "I found you... I am not... alone... anymore..."My heart leaped to my throat as Maine, my wolf, howled her sadness and grief at his past suffering, reso
Leah gently shook her head and let out a chilling chuckle. "No, don't worry. Your stepsister fuck with a low-level demon, and by the sounds of it, she has no idea that it isn't Xavier. From what I gather, they were still going at it when we managed to break in here," she snorted.A wave of relief washed over me as I turned to look sheepishly at Xavier. "I'm so sorry... I didn't want to believe it, but... I saw you... with my own eyes..."Xavier rushed toward me, enveloping me in his arms, holding me tightly as I buried my head against his chest. "I would never, princess. Not in a million years would I ever put us at risk in that manner," Xavier murmured, his fingers gently stroking my hair."As sickeningly sentimental as this is, where the hell is Nerissa?" Leah grimaced, cutting through the moment.A deep, ironic laugh echoed from the doorway to our right, accompanied by soft grunts, as we all turned in unison to face it. "She's in there," Brent intoned flatly. "I put her down for a
"I'm sorry. I didn't consider..." he stammered, clearly at a loss for how to act around me now."It's fine. Let's just get out of here, okay?" I murmured wearily, turning to exit the cell. However, my legs wobbled once again, and I had to lean against the door for support."Here, let me help you..." Brent offered softly, as I cursed myself under my breath."No, really... I... oh my goodness..." I stuttered as suddenly, my legs were lifted from the ground.Brent cradled me close to his chest, moving decisively forward. The warmth of his presence and the steady beating of his heart were, for the first time in what felt like ages, a familiar sound that brought me reassurance. I could sense his wolf rumbling in contentment at our proximity, and despite everything, I couldn't help but smile.'He misses us terribly, doesn't he?' I murmured quietly to Maine.'Well, he should have controlled his human better,' Maine scoffed in response.'Maine, think about the magic... if he was indeed under
'Oh, cry me a river, Anastasia. Your feelings are utterly irrelevant. You fell for a man to whom you signed a contract. You agreed to stand by his side as his Luna and partner. You didn't consent to anything beyond that, even with your counterfeit mating mark,' she responded calmly, before sighing and softening her tone.'Listen, I know it hurts, Anastasia, but we don't need a man to complete us. He may feel like home, but he isn't, not really. We are all we need. We are not the same as other females, Anastasia. I refuse to roll over and beg for affection or attention from an Alpha. If he wants me, he will pursue me, and if he stops, then I will let go. I will not fight to keep a male, as I know we are worth far more.'I couldn't help but snort softly despite myself; Maine was right, as always.'I'm sorry, Maine. I should have listened. I was being foolish.''No, you were just sheltered for the majority of your life. I have been kept from you for years while you lived in the palace. I
"Of course I do, you foolish little girl. Why else would I waste some of the best years of my life with a murderous fool like your father? I will destroy him and his family as utterly as he did mine. This isn't just personal; it has been a long time coming," Nerissa snarled."I don't understand..." I frowned, searching desperately for something, anything, to distract me from the sight of Eve trying to seduce Xavier on the screen. Even though we were only contracted mates, it still hurt like hell. He was the last person I ever thought would betray me, yet there he was... stabbing me in the back with none other than Eve.Even though I knew I wasn't truly related to her anymore, it still stung, considering Xavier knew all about our shared history. It just didn't make sense. He had stood by me through everything and agreed with each point regarding Eve. I couldn't wrap my head around why he would suddenly have a change of heart and rush after Eve so eagerly.Even if he was under some sort
I had lost track of time since they brought me to this place. Apart from Nerissa and Eve, there were no other signs of life in these depths. As much as I strained to hear anything beyond the closed door, only silence greeted me, amplifying my frustration. The quiet was overwhelming, and my arms had gone numb. Yet, the numbness was preferable to the burning sensation that had coursed through them before.Nerissa returned not long after she and Eve took Brent away to an unknown destination. She entered, humming to herself, pushing a cart with a television perched on top. On the cart's lower shelf, there was a tray with a few glasses and a jug filled with some kind of drink. Whatever it was, I had no intention of accepting it anytime soon. I suspected that a single sip might be lethal.I watched Nerissa with narrowed eyes, following her movements across the small room as she completely ignored me while attending to her tasks. Once finished, she exhaled with satisfaction, dusted her hands