Author: Momo Chan

I was married for a whole ten years, but my husband and I lived completely separate lives. He was head over heels for his secretary, while I had a bunch of younger guys on the side. I thought things would stay the same. Until I met a guy who didn’t care about my money but actually wanted my love and to marry me. It really hit me hard. So I told my husband I wanted a divorce. He lost it, wrecking the entire house and yelling at me, “How dare you take him seriously!?”

Felix saved my life and took me in when I was ten. So, when he asked me to go to jail for Yulia, I did. “I’ll marry you once you’re out,” he said. Three years later, I was released. He held a grand wedding for me. But I told him, “Sorry… but I don’t want to marry you anymore.” Right in front of everyone, I jumped off the tallest bridge.

Ella It was well past midnight, and I was still stuck in the office. The glare of my laptop screen was almost a comfort, a sign that I was working hard, that I was progressing. “Almost done,” I murmured to myself with a sigh as I rubbed my tired eyes. Such was life for me, though. At this point, I was getting used to spending all of my time here at the law firm. As a rookie lawyer, I never expected to be treated like a queen, but surely they could see me for more than their errand runner? “Could you get these photocopied for me, Ella?” James had asked earlier that day, handing over a stack of case files as if it was just assumed that I would be the one to do it. And so I did, along with a dozen other tasks that didn’t particularly scream ‘lawyer’. But I believed, perhaps foolishly, that perseverance would earn me respect and better opportunities. It was my first year out of law school, after all. What did I expect? The soft hum of the janitor’s vacuum cleaner interrupted my thoughts. It was already almost one o’clock, and my body was reminding me of its need for sleep with every aching muscle. I stretched and started packing up when my phone buzzed with an incoming call. The screen read Mom & Dad. Sighing, I picked up. “Hey, you two.” “Ella? Are you at home now?” my father Edrick’s voice came through, a mix of concern and mild frustration. “I’m still at work, Dad,” I replied, my voice laced with exhaustion. “Ella! It’s way past midnight!” my stepmother Moana chimed in, her voice a rich, melodic alto. “I know, Mom, but I’ve got a ton to do.” Moana. She was my stepmother. She used to be my nanny for a short time, but in a whirlwind romance, she and my dad got married and had my little sister. Moana was more of a real mother to me than my own biological mother could ever be. Hearing her voice on a night like tonight was a comfort, but I couldn’t deny the fact that I was a little annoyed at my parents’ overbearing tendencies. They meant well, but sometimes they forgot that I was an adult who was capable of taking care of myself. “Such a dangerous city to be out in so late,” my father murmured. “You remember the news from last week?” I sighed. “Yes, dad. I remember. That was all the way on the other side of town.” “It doesn’t matter, Ella,” my dad said, sounding exasperated. “That supermarket owner was held up at gunpoint. Gunpoint! I don’t need my little girl being in danger—” “Dad, I love you, but I’m not defenseless,” I protested. “I know.” My dad paused with a chuckle. I could imagine Moana standing beside him, her freckled hand touching his shoulder as she shot him a look as if to say ‘Enough, Edrick.’ “But you’re still my little girl,” he continued.

“I know, dad,” I replied, smiling slightly as I slipped my laptop into my bag. “You always make sure I don’t forget.” Moana’s voice chimed in then. “Just get an Uber, Ella. Don’t walk or take the subway. Okay?” “Alright, alright,” I relented, smiling. “I love you both.” “We love you too. Stay safe.” My stepmother’s voice held a warmth that always managed to seep into my heart. They hung up, and I shook my head. They would never change. I could have the life of luxury, protected and pampered in my dad’s penthouse. He was one of the most affluent Alphas in the world: the CEO of WereCorp, and the heir to the Morgan family fortune. I was his heir, and I had just as much claim to that company and fortune as he did. The offer was always there, on the table. At any moment, I was more than welcome to go home, walk in my father’s footsteps, and work toward being the next CEO while living a life of boundless luxury. But I chose this. I chose to stand on my own feet and make my mark. I chose to go to law school, move to this new city that desperately needed lawyers, and work my way up. I didn’t heed my father’s advice that night. After spending the past twelve hours sitting in a basement office with no window, the night air was refreshing. As I stepped out into the chilly night air, a gentle mist of rain dotted my skin. I opted to walk. The shadows and sounds of the city didn’t scare me. They were simply part of the pulse, the heartbeat of a world alive even in darkness. “You should listen to your parents, Ella,” my wolf, Ema, said, her voice echoing in my mind. She had been there ever since I could remember, a constant companion, a friend, a voice of reason. “It’s fine, Ema,” I replied. Talking to her in my mind was innate, just as it was for most werewolves. My lips never even twitched. Sometimes, when I was little, I accidentally talked to her out loud, but that was normal. Ema responded in a low growl. At first, I thought that she was growling at me, and I rolled my eyes and kept walking. But that shifted when I heard whispers, shadows converging around me. “Look what we’ve got here. A lone wolf out in the night,” a gritty voice mocked. The Rogues. I could sense their intentions, the greed in their eyes. I tightened my grip on my bag. “Stay back,” I warned, baring my fangs. A grin spread across the leader’s face. He was an ugly sort, with a big scar running across the diagonal of his face. “Make us, little girl.” They closed in on me. With lightning reflexes, I aimed a punch at the nearest one, who crumpled. “Shit!” one guy said, his eyes widening. “Looks like we’ve got an Alpha here, boys? Who would have thought? Today’s our lucky day!” My punch only spurred on the rest. They came at me from all sides, even more fervently now that they knew my status.

The realization hit me. They didn’t just see a girl. They saw a potential bounty. An Alpha beneath the guise of plain attire. Rogues in my home city were often confined to one district, which was typically guarded heavily by the police. Many of them were drug addicts and petty criminals. Here, they were still drug addicts and petty criminals—but there was no ‘district’ to keep them in. They roamed freely, and the local law enforcement had their plates too full to keep watch over every Rogue for thievery and muggings. More Rogues came out of the shadows. A whole gang of them. They were all sneering, chuckling, flashing their menacing teeth and scarred faces. “Back off!” I growled, feeling myself begin to shift as my instincts from years of Alpha training began to kick in. “I’ll take every last one of you down!” As my warning echoed throughout the dimly lit alley, a palpable tension settled. The leader just smirked. “Little girl thinks she can fight, huh?” He lunged for me. I dodged in a swift motion, using my elbow to strike him squarely in the jaw. He staggered back, pain flashing momentarily across his face. But I had no time to relish in the small victory, as another Rogue lunged at me from behind. Twisting around with grace and speed, I caught him by the wrist, flipping him over my shoulder. His body crashed into a nearby pile of cardboard boxes. But I was heavily outnumbered. My Alpha skills only drew more of them out of the shadows, intrigued by my prowess. To them, a long Alpha female was a walking goldmine. They thought I had money. I could feel them closing in from all sides, their sneers and mocking laughter fueling my anger. I launched a series of kicks and punches. Each movement was precise and targeted. I managed to land blows on two more Rogues, but fatigue was setting in, and there were just too many. One Rogue managed to grab my arm, pulling me off balance. I could feel the tide turning against me. I wrenched my arm free, but I was pressed up against the wall now with nowhere to go. “She put up a good fight,” the leader said, wiping a bit of blood away from his lip. “But not good enough.” Suddenly, the roar of engines pierced the night. Three black Bentleys emerged, surrounding us, throwing light over the alley. I raised my arm to shield my eyes, blinded by the light. And then from the light came a scent. It was so intoxicating that I felt my knees go weak. Strong arms wrapped themselves around me while I was still reeling. “Touch her, and it’ll be the last thing you do,” a deep voice growled. The Rogues dispersed like rats, disappearing into the shadows. I turned, meeting the gaze of my savior. Tall, with deep-set eyes and an air of command. There was no mistaking it. A force deep within me stirred. My wolf acknowledged the bond even before my brain could process it. “Mate,” Ema hissed. “You,” I whispered, lost for words. The stranger’s lips quirked into a smile. “Me.” Fate, it seemed, had a funny way of making introductions. And just like that, in the heart of the dangerous city, beneath the cloak of night, my journey as a lawyer intersected with the path of destiny itself.

Ella “It’s him,” my wolf, Ema, hissed inside my head. “Our mate.” “It can’t be,” I responded. “This stranger? You must be wrong.” And yet, as I stared up at the man, his piercing eyes bore into mine with an intensity I had never experienced. He was breathtakingly handsome. “My wolf senses you must be my mate,” he murmured, voice a husky whisper. So my wolf was right. His wolf sensed it, too. For a moment, everything around us faded. Our lips met, and the world seemed to catch fire. This wasn’t any ordinary kiss—it was fueled by the blessing of the mate bond, a once-in-a-lifetime connection in today’s overpopulated werewolf world. My parents, being fated mates themselves, had always told me about the overwhelming pull of the bond. I had never truly believed it until now. As our lips locked, electricity surged between us. Each touch sparked a fire that threatened to consume us both. It wasn’t just a melding of mouths. It was a collision of two souls recognizing each other across lifetimes. The sensation was overwhelming, intoxicating. The warmth of his lips, the slight catch of breath, and the gentle tug of desire left me reeling. Every fiber of my being focused on that one connection, the bond sealing with a fervor that whispered promises of forever. At the same time, I felt a sudden connection between us. It was his voice, his emotions, flooding into me. “My mate,” I heard his velvety voice echo in my ears. “How nice to finally meet you.” I had heard before that a first kiss with a fated mate established a Mindlink, a way for the mates to communicate and sense each other without uttering a single word. It was a strange feeling, to be suddenly connected like this. But at the same time, it felt euphoric. Breaking away, breathless, I took a moment to really look at him. He gazed down at me with a pair of cool blue eyes, like the ocean on a clear day. He sported a head of jet black hair, which stood in stark contrast to that blue. But the way he was dressed was equally intriguing. His sharp suit screamed luxury, distinct from the others around him dressed in black. The glint of an expensive watch caught my attention, something that my eye had been trained well to recognize having grown up with generational wealth. But what puzzled me more were the men surrounding us, dressed uniformly. Each of them pretended not to see us, but their very presence raised so many questions. Who was this man, and why did he have so many bodyguards? “Why are you out alone this late?” His low, almost husky voice pulled me back from my thoughts. “Overtime,” I responded, my voice a little shaky from the aftermath of our kiss. “New to the city?” he inquired, raising an eyebrow. “How’d you guess?” I smirked, but there was genuine curiosity in my tone. “No resident in their right mind would be out alone at this time,” he said, a shadow crossing his face. “Let me drive you home. We can get to know each other a bit more on the way.”

Despite the strangeness of hopping into a car with a man I had only just met, something told me to trust him, even if only for the drive home. He was my fated mate, after all. As we settled into the plush leather seats, he glanced over. “Are you an Omega or a Beta?” he asked abruptly. I frowned, taken aback. “Why isn’t Alpha an option?” He pointed to the tear in my sleeve, to the plainness of my clothing. “Even if you were, I could tell what you truly are.” “And what would that be?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. He scoffed. “A peasant, clearly.” His presumptuousness irked me. “Who are you to judge?” I retorted. Suddenly, he leaned toward me. He took hold of my chin, not roughly, but still forcing me to look at him. “Apart from my parents, no one speaks to me this way,” he said coldly. “Now answer. Omega or Beta?” I swatted his hand away, the heat of anger replacing the earlier warmth. “Why does it matter?” His eyes darkened. “If you’re an Omega, it’s worse than I thought.” “Worse?” My voice trembled with indignation. “Everyone, regardless of their rank, has value. Are you suggesting otherwise?” He leaned in. “You must know I’m an Alpha. If you were a Beta, it would be one thing, but not the end of the world. But an Alpha like me, if he chooses an Omega as a mate, it’s… complicated.” “But why?” My mind raced. “Everyone dreams of finding their fated mate regardless of rank unless they’ve already mated with someone else. Are you already engaged?” He laughed bitterly. “No,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension, “but I know who I’ll marry. She’s an Alpha, new here, like you.” I gaped at him. “And she’s just going to fall into your arms?” He shot me a confident smirk. “I always get what I want.” The audacity! My initial attraction to this man quickly turned to disgust. I averted my gaze, staring blankly out the window, the neon lights of the city blurring past. The silence in the car was palpable, a dense fog of tension that seemed to thicken as we passed by streetlamps and neon signs. The soft hum of the engine and the occasional distant honk outside were the only things to fill the silence. I could feel this man’s heavy gaze on me occasionally, but I kept my eyes fixed on the window. I only just met him, and he was my fated mate, but I already disliked him. It was possible to reject a fated mate. I could reject him, and it would break our bond so I would be free to find someone else. Whoever else I found wouldn’t be fated to me, but it would be better than… whatever this was. Hell, I would rather be alone than be with some arrogant jerk. “By the way,” he said, breaking both the silence and my train of thought. “What’s your name?”

I huffed and folded my arms across my chest. “I’m not telling you. Since it’s apparently so important and crushing that I’m just an Omega, then my name shouldn’t matter, should it?” “Come on now…” He leaned closer to me, his scent filling my mind once more. It was intoxicating, dizzying. “Don’t be like that.” I huffed again and leaned away, keeping my gaze fixed on the window. “Fine.” The man let out a low growl and leaned back in his seat. “Have it your way.” The rest of the ride was silent. When the car halted, I was in front of my apartment building. It was a small building within walking distance of the law firm, and I had chosen it precisely for that reason. There was nothing special about it, it was just a brick building, a few storeys tall, with an iron gate across the front door. When my parents saw it for the first time, I thought that my dad would have a heart attack. Moana, however, just laughed and took me out shopping for protective supplies: a big bat flashlight that could easily bash someone’s skull in (as well as provide light), a can of pepper spray, and a special mechanism that could go inside my door between the wall and the lock so that someone couldn’t open it from the outside, even if they had a key. I always appreciated her openness to my freedom to experience the city on my own, and I cherished those items that she bought for me in case they really would come in handy someday. “Well… Here you are, I guess.” The man leaned forward, peering out the window with an obvious look of disgust on his face. “This is the right place, right?” I nodded, swinging the door open. “Yep. Thanks.” Without another word, I got out, desperate to put distance between us. But a hand on my arm stopped me. “Wait.” His voice caught my attention. I froze, not turning just yet, but curious nonetheless to hear what he had to say. “I recognize that you’re my fated mate, and there’s no denying that. I can’t just let you walk away, so let me make you an offer that you can’t refuse.” I turned, ready to snap, but his next words caught me off guard. “I’ll give you a million dollars a year. To be with me. In private.” I stared at him in shock. The audacity! Did he just propose…? “Are you offering to make me your mistress?” He hesitated, then nodded. His cool blue eyes slowly looked up at my apartment building, which he viewed with an obvious look of disgust on his face. “With that kind of money, you could change your peasant life.” My blood instantly began to boil.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397429”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #BillionaireRomance #Werewolf #Mafia #Lawyer #AlphaFemale #Independent #Mate #Rogue #HeirHeiress

I was Dominick’s secretary for 7 years. Recently, he got engaged. Holding onto his arm, his fiancée glared at me, “Before we can get married, fire her.” He pushed her hand away, “Really? Let’s not get married then.” …How could I explain I was just his secretary?!

I was an Alpha’s daughter, sheltered and petted, and had just yesterday married my childhood friend. Joyce had always been sweet to me, so I thought he would be a good husband. Little did I know, he had a cruel streak that was going to destroy my whole world. Just after our wedding day. “You know, Evelyn,” he says, interrupting me and taking a step closer so that he’s glaring down at me. “I really thought a girl like you – you know, a pretty girl, a noble girl, would be trained to please her husband. I am so…disappointed. To find that you’re not.” My eyes instantly fill with tears. “Joyce,” I whisper “What did I –“ He comes close to me so that I can smell the whiskey on his breath. “making love to you,” he whispers, “is like a dead fish. You just lay there” he grits his teeth, “like a piece of meat. I wanted a wife to meet my needs, and now I’m tied to you, you pathetic, whiny little pup, forever.” Joyce turns away from me and walks to the window, shaking his head. “What a waste.” I am shocked and mortified. I stand in the middle of the room, wearing only my lacy thong and my stilettoes, trembling as tears stream down my face. “We’ve only had one night,” I whisper. Should I have known what to do? I was so scared – I’ve lived such a sheltered life and, of course, came to my wedding bed a virgin to honor my husband. Joyce laughs and won’t look at me. “Once was enough.” “I can,” I murmur, “I can…get better…” Joyce turns to me, snarling. Suddenly he’s in front of me, wrapping his hand against my throat, pushing me backwards until my back hits the wall. “You can’t get better,” he spits out, “because you don’t have it in you.” “You’re a fucking wolf, Evelyn” his teeth are fully bared now. “A wolf, and you fuck like a rabbit. I thought I would wake it up in you when I took you to bed, but you were…pathetic.” He snaps out the last word. I can feel his spittle drip down my cheek. “You’re no Alpha’s wife,” he says, releasing me to walk away. I drop to my knees, sobbing and gasping. I always knew Joyce was powerful and proud, but I have never seen him cruel. “Joyce,” I cry out, desperate. “Joyce, I’m sorry – I didn’t know! I’ll do anything you want – I’ll learn, I can change!” “Change?!” Joyce furiously grabs me by my hair and hauls me to my feet. “You can’t change what you are, you omega fucking bitch.” He drags me across the room and hurls me into the closet where I fall into a heap. He slams the doors shut and I’m suddenly in darkness, my only light coming from a crack between the two French doors. I hear the closet’s lock click. “You want to learn, Evelyn?” I hear Joyce’s words faintly – he’s across the room by the door to our suite now. “Then watch how a real woman pleases an Alpha. And if you make a fucking noise,” I hear the suite’s door creek as he begins to pull it open, “I’ll gut you like the prey you are.” I scramble for the door and press my eye to the crack. I hear a laugh – a woman’s laugh! – and the sound of footsteps. Two figures come into my line of sight – Joyce, and someone else in silky pink chiffon. Joyce growls and pulls the woman’s head back by her hair, exposing her throat. He runs his sharp teeth down the length of her neck and she laughs, running her hands down my husband’s chest, stomach, lower – until she – I gasp and slap my hands across my mouth. Her hand slips into Joyce’s pants and she groans. He growls and kisses her suddenly on the mouth, hard and slow. She pulls away and runs her hands through his hair, worshipping him. “I only exist to please you, Master,” she says, dropping to her knees and reaching up to unbuckle his belt. Joyce takes a step back so that he leans against the footboard of our bed and I finally see the face of my betrayer. Emma, my own sister, who stood next to me yesterday at my wedding. I fall back into the closet, unable to watch any further, and cry until my eyes are dry. Minutes or hours later – I’m really not sure – I wipe the tears off my face with the palms of my hands, trying to put my world back together. Was it a nightmare? It must have been, except…it was so far beyond anything my mind could have created, even in the darkest dream. My heart is completely shattered. My sister on her knees…my husband…the day after my wedding… Slowly, something awakens in me and I feel warmth spreading through my chest and my veins. Rage, anger, power. I have been embarrassed and betrayed – but damnit, I am my father’s daughter. I will not be humiliated like this. My lips pull back from my teeth in a snarl as I discover that what I want is not my husband’s back, but revenge. My Alpha husband wanted to teach me how to please him, but what he really awoke in me was something more powerful: my own Alpha nature. It has been sleeping inside me, but now it’s awake and hungry for vengeance. I rise to my feet and feel around the dark closet, stopping when my hands feel silk. I pull the dress off the hanger and slip it on. Dress is a generous term, I think, as lace cups my breasts and silk pools around my hips. This is more like lingerie, which I had intended to wear tonight when Joyce and I returned from the Alpha party. This morning I’d have been mortified to be seen in public wearing this. But now, everything has changed. I hunt around on the floor until I find a bobby pin and bend it into the right shape, working it into the lock and quickly turning the tumblers to release myself. I smirk as I walk steadily into the empty room. See, Joyce? I have some skills you wouldn’t expect from a nobleman’s daughter. I stride out of the room and walk boldly down the hallway, drawing eyes wherever I go, but I don’t give them any notice. I’m only looking for one thing. I enter the ballroom. Servants are just putting out their finishing touches on the annual Alpha party, which is a triumph of marble and gold. But that’s not what I came for. I scan the ranks of arriving guests, looking…there. At the top of the balcony stairs, Victor leans against the railing, swirling a Manhattan in his glass. Victor, heir to the Alpha throne, who outranks Joyce in every way and is two inches taller than him to boot. Perfect. I move towards him, keeping my eyes locked on his face, moving in a graceful prowl I didn’t know I had in me before tonight. As I move up the stairs he glances up once, and then twice, his lips falling open as I hold eye contact. “So, how have I never met you before?” He leans against the balcony. I close the gap between us and softly tug the half-full glass of whiskey from his hand.

I’ve been around, I say, my voice low and husky. “I thought I knew everyone in my kingdom,” he says, subtly scenting the air between us, trying to catch a whiff of my scent. “Not your kingdom yet,” I say, smirking, “and apparently, not everyone.” I take a cheeky sip from his glass. I lean in closer, turning my face up to him, bearing my neck. He can smell me now, I know, smell my unique scent as well as my desire. A growl rumbles in his chest. “Who are you,” he says, standing up to tower over me, closing the distance between us so that there is just a sliver of space. “Who is your sire.” “I’m single, and Alpha born,” I say, holding the space between us though every instinct in me tells me to quail. “Don’t worry. I’m no cheap piece of meat.” This time, he lets the growl slip between his teeth. “Come on,” I say, pulling Victor away to a dark corner alcove. “Let’s dance.” Inside, I stand close to Victor and begin to sway my hips to the music that the DJ just stared playing. I looking up into Victor’s face, breathing him in, relishing his smell, like winter air and pine. Starting to feel the music, I shake my head so that my hair cascades across my bare shoulders, but Victor takes my chin in his palm and makes me look up at him. “What’s your name,” he asks. “Evelyn Walsh,” I smile and then turn, pressing my back to his body, letting him feel me. Victor breathes out, a sharp breath, and then I feel him start to move with me. He runs a hand down my side, the other wrapping around my stomach, pressing me closer. As we dance, I feel that new thing rising within me, the wolf that’s never before had a reason to raise its head. But now I feel it racing, a wild thing finally freed. I laugh and reach my arms up, wrapping them around Victor’s neck. Victor turns my face and claims my mouth, as I wanted him to, unable to resist. He kisses me hard, his breath coming heavy against my lips. “Fuck,” he says, breaking away. “I can’t do this.” “No, it’s okay,” I say, closing the distance between us. “I want this. It can just be one night.” “One night,” he growls, clenching his teeth as I run my hand down his stomach, lower, as I saw my sister do earlier tonight. He grabs me by that hand and gives me a warning look as I smirk, knowing I’ve won. “Let’s go,” he says, tugging me towards the entrance, “and be discreet.” Victor takes me back to his room, checking around every corner to make sure we aren’t be seen. As soon as the door shuts, he is on me, running his hands across my body, down my back, grabbing my ass. I give into the impulses that claim my mind, telling me to get closer, to touch more. I hastily pull my dress up over my head, tossing it to the ground and stepping forward. But Victor steps back, away from me, and for a moment I hesitate. Then I see his eyes, hungry, devouring me as I stand before him naked except, again, for my thong and high heels. “God, Evelyn,” he says, his voice a low growl. “Evie,” I whisper, a little breathless. “Call me Evie.” Then, there’s no stopping us. We come together, Victor lifts me up, and I wrap my legs around him, kissing him, running my hands through his hair. He carries me over to the floor-to-ceiling window and presses me against it – I gasp as the cold glass touches my skin. I slip down against the window until I’m lower and I can Victor against me, his hard cock pulsing. I pull his shirt over his head. “How do you like it?” “Um,” I say, biting my lip, suddenly shy. “I don’t…I don’t know.” “Then I’ll show you,” he says, lowering me to the floor. I run my hands down his rippling abs and then slide his shorts off his body. “Fine,” I say taking in the sight of his full, magnificent body – his dick hard and thick. I can feel myself growing slick, ready. Victor turns me around, pressing himself hard against my ass. Then he puts a hand between my shoulder blades and presses gently. “Hands against the window,” he says. I comply. Victor slides my panties off and moves his foot between my heels, tapping against the inside of my shoes to demand, wordlessly, that I spread my legs. I do. I feel him slowly run his hand up the inside of my thigh, higher, higher, until – I inhale sharply, feeling him slowly trail a finger across my wetness, toying with me. I moan as he adds another finger, slipping inside me, and then dipping lower to touch me at my crest. I moan louder now, my knees going weak. Victor pulls his hand away. “More,” I moan, and the next thing I feel is something harder, thicker, pushing against my sex. “Fuck, Evie,” he says, pressing into me, “fuck it, I can’t wait.” Suddenly, he’s inside of me, sheathed to the hilt, and I press my hands against the glass, crying out as I feel every inch of him inside of me. Victor moves, hard, fast, holding my hips against him. I can feel him lean over me, his stomach touching my back, as he fucks me from behind. Suddenly, he pulls away from me, and turns me around, picking me up again and carrying me to the bed. “Please,” gasp as he puts me down on top of the clean, soft sheets. “Please,” I beg, pressing my mouth against him, climbing on top, needing more.

Victor holds me by the back of the neck, biting my shoulder as he reaches down and grabs his cock, and then, gloriously, he’s inside me again. I sit up and arch my back, writhing my hips against him. I look down into Victor’s eyes, my mouth open in awe. I never knew it could feel this good. I press my hands against his chest and close my eyes, moving my hips faster, faster, until – I hear Victor curse beneath me and open my eyes to see him gasp, and then clench his teeth as he comes. The sight of him – so powerful, so strong – sends me over the edge and I yell out, seeing stars and falling forward on top of his chest where I lay, panting and smiling. “God,” I say, after a few minutes have passed. “If I knew it felt like that…I’d have been doing this a long time ago.” Victor cups my ass and laughs softly. “Well get ready,” he says. “You’re about to do it again.” I smile and kiss him. “Yes, Alpha. Whatever pleases you.” In the morning, I wake tangled in the sheets. I blink the sleep away and sit up, looking around. “Victor?” There’s no answer. I move to get out of the bed and hear the crumple of a paper. Turning over, I pick it up. STAY HERE, EVELYN. I’LL STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT. DON’T LEAVE THE ROOM. My stomach drops and, on instinct, I reach for my phone before realizing – duh, of course – it’s not there. Frantically, I grab the remote and turn on the TV to the local news. Has there been some kind of disaster? Then I drop the remote, horrified, suddenly, to be confronted with pictures myself – my face ­– splashed across the screen. “These photos were taken just last night,” says the journalist voiceover, “of soon-to-be Alpha Victor Kensington cavorting with an unknown floozie. Citizens are outraged, as this goes directly against Kensington’s well-known stance on family values.” I gasp as more pictures scroll across the screen. Pictures of me, pictures of me and Victor, pictures of me and Victor dancing in what I thought was our secret alcove – walking down the hall…disappearing into this room. And – oh my God – pictures of us in this room, taken from outside the window – oh my god the window – My hands pressed up against the glass, with Victor behind me – I throw the remote across the room and pull the blankets over my head, sick at what I’ve seen. The fucking paparazzi – I should have known. Of course, I’ve never had a reason to even think about them before –my father has kept me safe at home, no one cares about what I do. The sound changes on tv and I peek out from beneath my blanket. There’s a podium set up on a stage now with reporters gathered before it. A blue box at the top of the screen reads “LIVE.” As I watch, a figure walks onto stage – a too familiar figure: green-eyed, well-muscled, a gaze that could stop a freight train. Victor. I cover my mouth with my hand and lean forward, rapt. “Ladies and gentlemen of the press,” he starts, flashing everyone his trademark smile. “Thank you for attending this early-morning press conference which I have called to stave off the rumors.” Lightbulbs start to flash in the crowd. “As I know many of you are aware,” he begins to smirk, “some rather…racy photographs were released last night, without my permission. “I want to begin by putting to rest the rumors that this was an illicit affair. As your future Alpha leader, I take my actions very seriously. While I wished to keep our new relationship personal for awhile, the press has forced my hand.” He glares at them. “The woman in the photos is not just a one-night-stand, but instead my new girlfriend – Alpha-born Evelyn Walsh, daughter of John Walsh, our nation’s Director of the Interior.” The reporters go mad, shouting out questions. Victor begins to respond, but suddenly a snarl rips out from the back of the room. The primary television camera pivots and turns its own attention to the wolf at the back of the hall, standing with his feet apart, his teeth bared, ready to kill. A shriek claws its way from my throat. Joyce. “Bullshit,” he growls, his chest heaving, his claws beginning to emerge from his fingertips. “Evelyn Walsh is my WIFE!” Joyce charges into the crowd, heading straight for Victor. The reporters scream and scatter and then – the feed cuts out to commercial. I pant and stare at the screen, unbelieving. I wanted revenge, yes, but this has spun out of control. Everything fell apart after that. I can’t say I regret ruining Joyce’s life, but Victor’s…I never meant for that to happen. His reputation was ruined after the press discovered that he lied at a live press conference and slept with another Alpha’s wife. Joyce sued me for infidelity and had me marked as rogue. I was expelled from the pack. After two months of scraping by on my own, I got an even bigger surprise in the form of a positive pregnancy test taken in the bathroom of a gas station. That’s where the world turned for me. I decided my child wasn’t going to suffer for my mistakes. I applied to a smaller, more progressive pack and enrolled in graduate school. It wasn’t easy at the start, trying to raise twin boys and study on the side, but I was determined. Six years later, I see the events of that night as a blessing. I am now a counselor who helps people every day make their relationships stronger. And best of all, I have Ian and Alvin – my twin boys, my stars, my lights in the darkness. Little did I know, my past was just about to return and put it all in jeopardy.

“I need to taste you right now, Evelyn.” Mark’s voice is thick with desire. “Get your ass up here.” I smirk at him, enjoying the view from my position kneeling down by his hips. Mark is all stretched out on my bed, six-foot-five inches of tanned, brawny lycanthrope handcuffed to my headboard. He’s all mine, for now. “I don’t know, baby,” I purr, hiking my silky blue nightgown up over my thighs and straddling him, writhing my hips against him in a way that makes him gasp. “I think I like you just like this.” Mark growls at me and bares his teeth to reveal his sharp incisors. “Come here,” he commands. I laugh softly and crawl up his body, running my hands over every inch of him as I go. “So impatient,” I whisper as I brush his lips with mine. “Uncuff me,” he pants. “I have to fuck you. Now.” I kiss him slowly and move my hand to the bowl on the bedside table where I keep the key, but my fingers slip against empty porcelain. I pull away from Mark in confusion. “Did you move the key, Mark?” I ask, sitting back and so I can look all around. Did it fall under the bed? “Baby,” he says, “please…don’t tease me like this.” “No, really,” I say, tucking a strand of my long brown hair behind my ear. “It’s gone.” The muffled sound of giggles erupts from the hallway. We have our answer. “Boys,” I call, glaring at the door. “You owe Mark an apology.” The door cracks open and two pairs of impish eyes peek around the corner. Ian, slightly braver than his twin Alvin, laughs and pushes the door open. “If he can’t get out on his own,” he says, bounding into the room, “he deserves to stay locked up!” His eyes are bright as he leaps onto the bed. “We know this is mommy’s favorite game – we added a twist!” He smiles wickedly as he begins to bounce around. “It’s no fun if there’s no challenge.” Alvin tiptoes softly into the room, characteristically cautious and shy. “We won’t do it again,” he says, making his way to the top of the bed and artfully unlocking the cuffs with a bent paper clip. “We hid the key!” Ian says, bouncing higher. “We don’t remember where we put it! But we don’t need it anyway.” I narrow my eyes at my boys – I didn’t raise them to be rude. I reach out a hand to snatch Ian by the waist and pull him down to me in a hug. “Enough jumping,” I say, placing a kiss precisely on his nose. “Too early for that, and I haven’t had my coffee. Plus, Mark is waiting for his apology.” “Sorry, Mark!” The boys chorus, Ian’s voice bright and insincere, Alvin’s soft and earnest. “Um…” I hear Mark say from beneath me, his voice unusually timid. I look down and am surprised to see that he’s bright red. “Can I…” he murmurs, “have my pants, please?” I laugh gently at him and reach forward to caress his face, enjoying the feeling of his rough stubble against my palm. “No need to be a prude, Mark, it’s nothing they haven’t seen before. We’re not shy about bodies in this house.” “Yeah!” Says Ian, smiling down at him. “It’s natural! Hey, are you our dad?” Alvin perks up at the question and turns wide, hopeful eyes towards Mark. I laugh at both of them and give Ian a nudge. “Okay, now you really are making him uncomfortable. You know he’s not your dad – the man who sired you is far, far away, and he’s not coming around anytime soon. Uncle Mark is just mommy’s friend,” I say, smiling. “Sometimes he sleeps over.” They’re so curious about their father’s identity, and I don’t mind. They’re just kids. But no way in hell will I ever tell them that secret. “Go on, babies, get ready for school and I’ll come make you breakfast,” I say, ruffling their hair and pushing them towards the door. Mark rubs his wrists and watches them go. “You have a…unique way of handling things, in this house,” he says. I don’t take it as criticism. “It’s true,” I shrug. “But there’s no reason they should grow up with outdated, old fashioned ideas about sex and relationships. I am an independent woman,” I say, leaning my body forward and stretching out against the length of him. “And I’m not going be ashamed of that, especially not in front of my boys.” I run my hand down the length of Mark’s obliques, and then lower, feeling him harden against me. “Now,” I murmur, wrapping my hand around his thick cock. “I still have time before the boys go to school. Where were we?” Our kitchen is a cheerful one, with bright sunshine flooding in through the windows and the smell of coffee in the air. Alvin reads the back of his cereal box while Ian tips toy army men into his mostly-empty bowl, watching them drown in the dregs of milk. I sip slowly from my mug, relishing the warmth that floods my body. I close my eyes for a moment and smile, remembering Mark’s performance this morning. A man of many talents, not least of which are in the bedroom. Now that he’s gone, though, I turn my focus to more important things. “Homework done?” I say, moving to the table to collect my boys’ empty bowls. “Yes!” They chorus. “We have good news, mama,” Alvin says, beaming up at me. I raise my eyebrows at him, inviting him to say more. “We’re going to be in a quiz competition!” Ian takes up the conversation seamlessly, something he’s been doing since the twins learned to talk. Alvin and Ian are so different, I think, looking them over as I put their bowls in the sink. But sometimes they seem like they’re two halves of one person, able to speak each other’s mind. “Oh really?” I ask, “a quiz competition? How did you enter that?” “They invited us,” Alvin says, stepping away from the table and neatly pushing in his chair. “After we played so much on the quiz website and did so well.” He shrugs slightly. “We always know all the answers.” I frown and lean against the counter. “Quiz website? When did you do that?” “At school,” Ian says, collecting his army men and putting them – still wet – in his pocket. “We get bored in kindergarten, and the teacher lets us use the computer. We found the quiz website all on our own, and we got all the answers right, and they want us to come compete!” I nod and smile at the boys, making a mental note to have a conversation with their teacher about how they spend their class time. “Okay,” I say, “Let me look at the details and we’ll see. In the meantime!” I clap my hands twice. “Get your backpacks! Time to go!” The walk to school is quick and I enjoy the crisp air as we walk. Ian scampers ahead, looking for frogs in the damp grass, but Alvin stays close to me, holding my hand. “Mama,” he says softly. “Do you think Daddy will see us in the quiz competition?” I am surprised by the question and look down into his big brown eyes. I run my hand over his hair and cup his cheek in my palm. “Why do you ask, Alvin? Why all these questions about your dad today?” He shrugs and looks away; I can tell he is a little disappointed. Ian is suddenly next to both of us, though I didn’t notice him listening or looking back. “We just want to make him proud,” Ian says, smiling wide and revealing the gap left by the loss of his front tooth just last week. “Don’t worry about that, boys,” I say. “I’m proud enough of you for two parents, all on my own. A thousand parents!” I wrinkle my nose at them, and we hear the school bell ring softly in the distance. “Oh no!” Alvin says, genuinely concerned. “We’re going to be late!” The walk home after I drop the boys off at school is some of the only me-time I get during the day. After this, it’s all work, work, work. As I walk, I pull my phone from my back pocket and open my favorite guilty pleasure app, CelebGoss. Unfortunately, the first thing pops up on the page is not an anonymous, vapid celebrity arrested for a DUI. Instead, it’s Victor. Victora and Amelia, Back Together, Hotter than Ever, the headline reads, followed by dozens of photos of our future Alpha King and his supermodel mate lounging on the beach, her sipping cocktails, him groping her ass. I feel my cheeks turn red and return my phone to my pocket. “Not interested,” I mutter. The last thing I need to see are pictures of Victor and his mate in the next chapter of their toxic relationship. What are the chances that today, of all days, my sons ask twice about their father and then his picture is the first thing I see when I open my phone? Is the universe trying to tell me something? I shake away the anxious thought and hurry home. I promised myself a long time ago that Victor would never know about our children. It’s a secret I plan to take to the grave.

I wave goodbye to Melissa, my client, as she wipes her eyes and walks to her car. She’s going to be all right – but wow, what an exhausting session. As she drives away I click my phone open and check my email, pleased to see that the confirmation I was looking for is there. “Boys!” I call, “get your shoes!” My children clatter around in the living room before spilling into the hallway, Ian hopping on one foot as he pulls on his sneaker. Alvin carries his shoes carefully and sits down to tie his laces. “What’s happening, mama?” I feign surprise, teasing them. “What, didn’t you want to go to the quiz show?” “Really, mama?!” Ian’s face lights up and he throws himself against me in a hug. “We can really go?!” I laugh and hug him back as Alvin joins us. “Well, you earned it, and I could use a break from my work. I contacted the show and it’s all real – you earned your place. Since you qualified together, though, you have to play as one. Are you okay with that?” “Yes!” they say together, two pairs of bright brown eyes smiling up at me. “Okay, into the car!” I say, smacking their bums as they pass. Off we go. “Alvin and Ian Ortega,” the receptionist says, her eyes wide. “This…this is them?” I nod, a hand on the shoulder of each boy. “Yes,” I say. “Is there a problem?” “No,” she says, shaking her head, surprise clear on her face. “They’re just so…young. You know,” she tears her eyes away from them and looks at me, “most of the contestants on this show are…adults. Doctors. Lawyers. Educated people.” “It’s not a mistake!” Alvin chimes in. “We qualified!” He slips his printed-out paper onto the desk. Ian gives the receptionist a gap-toothed grin. “Well,” the receptionist said, taking up the paper. “I guess…everything’s in order!” She laughs, “you’re the youngest contestants we’ve ever had! This will make for quite a show.” The receptionist waves a hand at the backstage door and the boys scamper off towards it. As I begin to follow, she stops me with a light hand on my arm. “You know, you really are lucky,” she breathes, “to have two such children, so handsome, so smart…” I smile warmly at her and gently pull my arm away. “Thanks,” I say. “I know. I count my blessings every day.” I catch up with my boys at the door and wrap each up in a hug, placing a kiss on the top of their heads. “Be good,” I said. “Try hard, of course, but overall you must remember to have fun, and be polite.” I narrow my eyes at Ian in particular. “No funny business.” “Okay, mama,” Alvin says, smiling his sweetest smile. “I wish dad were here,” Ian says, looking at me a little wistfully. “I want him to be proud.” My stomach turns with guilt, but I put on a smile anyway. “We’ve talked about this, boys. Your father is a great man, but he’s very busy – he’s out there doing big, big work, and helping people. He loves you,” I say, hoping, deep down, that it’s not a lie. “He just needs to be somewhere else. But he’s out there, thinking about you, and he’s proud.” The boys nod at the familiar story and a stagehand calls “Ortega?” from the backstage area. I gently push the boys forward and watch them run away to be prepared in hair in makeup, or whatever they do. I shrug and move to the craft services table, pouring myself a cup of coffee. The competition is very intense. I sit in the audience with my hands wrapped together in my lap, my legs bouncing with anticipation. I try to keep my face smooth so that if the boys look out into the audience they will find their mother placid and serene. Ha, what a lie. “Is the answer….magnesium?” Alvin ventures, his voice tremulous. The boys stand on stage behind a podium. Their answer appears in text on the front of the podium. A big pause, and then… “Yessssssssss!” The announcer shouts enthusiastically, and the crowd goes wild, me included. I am on my feet clapping for my boys, shouting their names. “You’ve done it!” The announcer says, “On to the final round! Congratulations, Ian and Alvin Ortega – you have the chance to be champions of Quizzzzz Nation! We’ll be back, after this commercial break!” A red light above the stage goes off and assistants rush around, blotting the host’s face with makeup, moving Alvin and Ian to a new set of podiums where they will face the previous champion, a scientist from LA. He generously shakes hands with the boys, who, I am pleased to see, greet him politely despite their excitement. “Thirty seconds,” an announcer says. Stagehands scatter and I take my seat. “Now before we get into the final level, let’s take a moment to get to know our newest contestants. Alvin and Ian,” the announcer says, leaning casually against their podium. “You are our youngest contestants ever and have, amazingly, made it to the final round on your first try. To what do you owe your amazing accomplishment?” “Our mom is real smart,” says Ian, and the crowd laughs. I blush and smile. The announcer smiles back at them, charmed. “And what will you do, if you win Quiz Nation? Spend your money on big prizes?” “We’re gonna find our dad!” Ian says, and the crowd hushes awkwardly. I huff out a breath of air and paste a smile on my face. What is with the dad stuff lately? “Yeah,” says Alvin. “Our dad is real busy, but we want him to know he can be proud.” “I am sure…he is very proud of you already,” the announcer says, a little stiffly, and then moves on the show. “Let’s play Quizzzzzzz Nation!” The competition continues, heating up as the twins fend off question after question. Behind the stage, an intern walks up to the title sponsor, carrying the trophy in her hand. “Um, sir?” she says, not daring to tug on his sleeve to get his attention. “What,” the man snarls, spinning to turn his angry attention to her instead of to the woman with whom he’s arguing. “Um, it’s almost time to present the trophy?” The intern whispers. The man grabs the trophy from her and she skitters away. He could care less about Quiz Nation, it’s just another media appearance to demonstrate to his people that he’s invested in arts and culture. Whatever. “It’s just not in the cards right now,” Amelia says to him, her arms elegantly folded across her chest. She leans back slightly, unphased by his rage. “I’m not having a baby.” “Deciding you’d rather defer having children for another time is different” he growls, “than getting pregnant and taking abortion pills to kill my child. Did you do it?!” His face grows red with rage. “Look, leave those stupid rumors aside, Victor,” she says, cool under pressure. “The fact is, I’m not into having a family right now. My career is on the rise – I’m scheduled to walk at Paris fashion week in the spring. I’m not giving that up to pop out a kid.” She narrows her eyes at him. “You never respected my career, my dreams. I don’t just exist to fulfill your demands and bear your pups. I have a life too, Victor,” she says, turning away in disgust. “I’m not playing your game.” Victor stands, clenching his teeth and rubbing his brow. His Beta comes forward to stand next to him, silent in black, but there if Victor needs him. “Maybe you’re right,” Victor says, rubbing his brows. “Maybe we do need to go to counseling.” “It can’t hurt, sir,” the Beta says, stoic. “In the meantime,” he gestures towards the trophy still gripped in Victor’s hand. “Right,” Victor says, “this stupid thing. What’s this show called, again?”

There’s a pop and confetti fills the air. “Ladies and gentlemen!” the announcer shouts, “for the first time ever, we have a tie for the win of Quiz Nation!” The twins jump in the air, shouting amongst the noise, while the two contestant podiums display the same final answer written across their fronts. The announcer presses his finger to his ear, listening to his tiny earphone. “I am told,” he says, “that according to the Quiz Nation handbook, that we are obliged,” he pauses, letting the crowd cool down to listen, “to award the Quiz Nation title to the returning champion!” Half of the crowd cheers while the other half boos, clearly rooting for Alvin and Ian. I boo along with them, disappointed for my boys. “The rules state that in the rare case of a tie, the team with the smaller number of players wins! As Alvin and Ian are a pair, and Jim played individually, he is our winner! All of this knowledge coming from one brain instead of two is just a more impressive feat.” The boys’ faces fall in disappointment. “But we worked so hard!” Ian shouts. “And we’re so young -” “But that’s not all!” he announcer says, interrupting him. “In recognition of their great accomplishment, today Alvin and Ian Ortega are being awarded the rare People’s Choice award, to honor them for winning our hearts! Congratulations, boys!” I laugh as the boys begin to jump and cheer again, their sadness easily wiped away. I guess any trophy is just as good to them. As the boys rush forward to wave to the audience, I slip out of the room, hoping to get a bathroom break before I meet the boys backstage. All that coffee was a mistake. On stage, Alvin and Ian shake hands with the winner and come forward to receive their prize. A tall man comes forward from the left stage wing, carrying two trophies. He hands one to the victor, shaking his hand, and moves forward to chat with the host. “Do you see him?” says Ian. “He’s so tall. He looks like me!” “He looks like us,” Alvin corrects, staring at the man with the trophy with wide eyes. “Wow. I wish he was our dad, that’s what I always imagined he looked like…” The man finishes his conversation and turns towards the boys, ready to present them with their prize. When he sees them, though, he stops dead, the blood draining from his face. He hunches his shoulders instinctually, a predator, and comes towards the boys, scenting the air between them. The boys stand stock still, not afraid, but cautious. When the man gets a whiff of them, he gasps and the trophy slips from his fingers to the ground, breaking into three pieces. The man stumbles back, staring at them, and then turns, storming towards the wing. The boys watch him go, not even caring about their lost prize. In their hearts, they know what they have found. Victor paces back stage, mind-linking to his Beta, demanding that he come heel immediately. The boys were his children – there was no denying it. But how – where – He runs his hands through his hair and grits his teeth. Where did they come from?! How did he not know?! His Beta arrives with a quick salute. “The boys, who won the competition,” Victor spits out, the Beta nodding, “find whoever brought them here. Bring her to me, immediately.” “Yes, sir.” The Beta is gone in a flash. There is a blur of motion from the stage area and suddenly Victor feels two small somethings crash into him. Looking down, he sees a little boy attached to each of his legs, their arms wrapped around him like tiny koala bears. One boy even slips to the ground, wrapping his legs around Victor’s ankle, determined never to let go. “It’s so nice to meet you!” That one says, beaming up at him. “We’ve waited our whole lives!” “We know you’ve been busy, we understand,” says the other, smiling up at him and revealing a missing front tooth. “We got our wish!” Says the other, his eyes shining with joy. “Because we worked so hard, and won the competition! We wished for our dad, and we got him!” “It’s our prize!” Says the other, burying his face in the side of Victor’s suit jacket and sniffing deeply, learning his scent. For a moment, Victor freezes, not knowing – for the first time in his life – precisely what to do next. But then, he feels a warmth in his stomach, an instinctual urge, and he places a hand on each child’s head, caressing them. “If you won a dad, then I won the better prize,” he says softly, “I’ve been waiting a lifetime to meet you.” Victor stares down at the boys, feeling both delighted and overwhelmed at once. They were such an utter surprise – so handsome, energetic, smart and – well, so much like him. He could smell it on them, and see it on their faces – they were of his body, he had no doubt. Exhaling a big breath he didn’t know he was holding, Victor shakes his head at the boys, marveling that a life’s dream could come true in such an unlikely fashion. He had been longing for a child – hoping to have one with Amelia, his beloved mate and the future Luna. But she had put him off year after year, wanting to accomplish other things first. His family, too, had begun giving him sidelong glances at holidays and making hints about grandchildren and heirs. The newspapers as well had to begun to make sneaky jibes about infertility and look elsewhere amongst the pack’s Alpha population for the heirs to the line. All of it had filled Victor with anxiety, with rage. But here, suddenly, were the solutions that put all of that to rest. And made his hopes a reality. Two boys, even – what a blessing. But where…who… The sound of frantically clicking stilettos fills the room as a woman turns the corner, anxiety in her voice as she calls “Boys!? Boys!” The Beta strides around the corner just after her, working to keep up. Evelyn stops mid-step, frozen, staring at the image of her boys wrapped around the legs of…of… “You,” rasps Victor. “Oh my god,” says Evelyn, at the same moment. “It’s you.”

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Anxiety gripped my heart, squeezing it until I thought I would puke or pass out. I glanced at the mirror in the break room. A tangled web of purple and black pulsated over my head as I held the phone to my ear. He’s not going to answer, Lily muttered, but I ignored her. When I was about to give up, Robert answered the phone with a gruff “Hello?” “Hi, honey. I’m so sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to remind you that the cruise is tomorrow. We have to be at the port by 5 PM,” I said cheerily, fighting past the lump in my throat. “Yeah, yeah. Tomorrow at 5. Listen, I have to go,” and before I could say anything else, he hung up, leaving me with the sound of a woman’s husky laugh ringing in my ear. Who the hell was that? Lily demanded, but I was just as much in the dark as she was. Probably just a customer at the bar, I told her. It had to be. I trusted Robert completely. Still, I put the phone back into my apron pocket with a sigh. “What did he do this time?” a voice asked from behind me. I jumped and turned to find Cathy glaring at me. I grimaced as I saw the swirling vortex of neon orange above her head. She was extremely annoyed. “He didn’t do anything. He was just busy at work,” I said softly, hoping to placate her. But Cathy was very protective of me and didn’t like Robert. “Right. If you can take double shifts for two weeks straight to buy these cruise tickets, the least he could do is give you some of his precious time, Almara” Cathy snapped and I winced. But what else could I have done? It was for his birthday and I had just graduated college. It’s not like I came from money either. “He didn’t make me do it. I wanted to. I like doing nice things for the people I care about,” I smiled at her, trying to convince her and myself that everything was fine. She rolled her eyes and clacked her Candy Apple Red nails at me. “Well, I’ll be here for you when you get your heart broken. I love you, sugar,” and with that she walked back into the restaurant. I slumped down into one of the chairs, putting my head into my hands. I was really hoping this cruise could turn things around for us. Robert had been distant lately and I wasn’t sure why. We’d known each other since we were cubs and had grown up together. It had turned into a romance when we got to high school and we’d always been super affectionate. But things had changed once we graduated. We both had our own jobs and couldn’t be together as often as we used to. If the separation was the only issue, then being together for seven days on a cruise would surely fix it. I shook my head and straightened my shoulders. Robert and I would get married like we always planned. We would be happy just like my parents. All of our dreams would come true. At least that’s what I told myself. * * * The cruise ship was more magnificent than I could have possibly imagined. It glowed a moonbeam white in the light of the dying sun.   I’d read somewhere in my research for this trip that the owner was the youngest billionaire and the most luxurious room on the ship was permanently reserved for him. Not that I could ever afford it. People like that basically lived on a different planet. Luxury like this was probably second nature to him, while I had almost worked myself to death just to experience this. But it didn’t matter. I had done it out of love. Robert and I were going to have a perfeect trip. The cool wind from the sea brushed my cinnamon brown hair away from my shoulders, revealing the heart-shaped neckline of my emerald green dress. The long sleeves would help fight off the ocean chill, but the linen made it breathable. It was the perfect dress for a cruise and I felt pretty for the first time in a long time. “Almara! There you are, sweetheart!” I turned with a big smile on my face, waiting in anticipation as Robert pushed his way through the crowd, his rolling suitcase running over a few toes in the process. I was happy to see a bright yellow over his head. He was actually excited about this trip. When he was finally in front of me, a flash of red jolted through the yellow and my smile turned stale. What could I have possibly done to have drawn out that color?

  “What are you wearing?” Robert asked, eyes roaming over my body, making my cheeks heat with embarrassment. He didn’t approve. I ran my hands down the dress self-consciously. “I bought it for the cruise. Don’t you like it?” “It’s fine, I guess. But look around. You stand out like a sore thumb.” He waved his hand to encompass the rest of the cruise guests. Most of the women were scantily clad. My cheeks burned hotter. “I’ll keep that in mind next time,” I smiled tightly at him, wrapping my arms around my waist. The momentary joy I had felt was disappearing. Robert grunted his agreement and pulled me along, cutting in front of people to get to the front of the line, ignoring all the angry grumbles that followed us. “Hi! Welcome aboard! We’re letting all of our passengers know that we’re having a Moonlight Promenade on the second floor of the deck in the ballroom around 9 o’clock tonight. We hope to see you there!” A member of the crew greeted us at the door, handing out pamphlets as we passed by. I inwardly cringed. Robert loved to dance and I had zero rhythm, but I knew we were going to be there. “You most definitely will!” Robert told her as we followed another crewmate to our room. •* * The ballroom was beautiful, but I couldn’t appreciate it. I was too focused on not spraining an ankle in the ridiculous heels that Robert had insisted I buy at the cruise’s boutique. He’d also made me buy a new lemon yellow halter dress with a plunging neckline. I could feel the lewd stares coming from the male passengers and tried my best to ignore it. I instead focused on Robert and the way that his face was lighting up as he looked around. “Isn’t this great, Almara? When’s the last time we went dancing?” He asked excitedly, making a beeline straight for the dance floor where couples already gyrated against each other to the music. I had thought they would play waltzes or something similar, but they were playing club music instead. “It’s been too long,” I agreed, but inside I was thinking it hadn’t been long enough. He pulled me against him, arms sliding around my waist as he led me into a sensual dance. I tried my best to keep up, swaying my hips to the beat, but I knew it wasn’t a fluid motion. It felt choppy and out of sync. But Robert didn’t seem to mind. His eyes were trained on my cleavage and a healthy dose of pink started spreading through the yellow cloud above his head. Lust. I hadn’t seen that color in awhile. Robert’s hands slid lower, giving my backside a healthy squeeze. I jumped and playfully slapped his hands away. Robert gave a low chuckle in my ear and put his hands right back where they had been. I squirmed out of his embrace, murmuring that I had to go to the bathroom. I wasn’t a virgin in any sense of the word, but PDA was not my thing and he knew that. I had to escape and cool down a bit. When my nerves were under control, I left the bathroom and was immediately greeted with a sight that set my blood boiling. Robert was dancing very intimately with a strange woman bedecked in jewels. The cloud above his head was a deep pink and so was the woman’s. What the hell? Lily growled, her anger mingling with mine. I took a deep breath. Robert just likes to dance, I tell her, knowing it would do nothing to placate her. Right, if that’s what you want to call it. Lying to yourself doesn’t make it go away. He’s not our mate. Leave him. That was all fine and well for her to say, but I had never been lucky in my life and I knew the chances of meeting my mate were slim. Besides, the wedding planning was already under way. And, most importantly, I loved Robert. Wanting to avoid conflict and ruining our trip before it even began, I decided to walk outside to get some fresh air. Resting my arms on the handrails, I looked out over the ocean, enjoying the spray of sea foam on my face. “Will you marry me?” a deep voice floated on the wind and I glanced over. A man with his back to me was down on one knee in front of a gorgeous woman.

He was wearing an expensive deep blue suit, the matching sapphire cufflinks glittering in the moonlight. “Arthur, I told you I’m not ready. How many times must I repeat myself?” she asked, red-orange swirling above her head. She walked away, heels slapping angrily against the deck The man’s cloud turned a deep blue. He was heartbroken and my own heart went out to him. “As many times as it takes,” he whispered before standing. When the moonlight illuminated the man’s face, I stared at him in stunned silence. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. I couldn’t help but stare at him. His midnight-black hair framed and an olive-tone faced. His forest-green eyes peered through thich eyelashes, gazing at the woman across from him. “Don’t start with me, Arthur,” Sofia snapped, flipping her honey-blonde hair behind her shoulders. A small carry-on was beside her. Did she mean to leave the ship? “We’ve been together for eight years, Sofia. On top of that, we’re fated. I don’t understand why you keep denying me.” Arthur’s voice came out strained, the heartbreak evident in every syllable. Despite his earlier attitude, my heart went out to him. “We’ve been over this. You only want to marry me so that I can provide you and your family with heirs. And you know as well as I do that being fated doesn’t equal love. You don’t actually love me,” Sofia said matter-of-factly. I wanted to tell her that that was a lie, but nobody knew about Lily’s ability to read emotions and we had to keep it that way. Arthur’s body stiffened. “I do love you.” Sofia scoffed and put both hands on her hips. “No. If you loved me, you would have waited until after the ballet tour. You would have waited for me to fulfill my dreams. Expecting me to drop everything isn’t love. It’s a cage.” She took a deep breath before continuing in a softer voice. “I know your grandmother wants grandchildren. But I can’t sacrifice everything I’ve ever wanted for my career just to make her happy. And pregnancies are definitely career killers.” Arthur moved closer to her, taking her hands in his. I really shouldn’t have stayed to witness this, but I couldn’t seem to make my body move or tear my eyes away from the scene in front of me. “My grandmother is sick, Sofia. She might not be here for much longer,” his voice was now pleading, asking her to understand. I honestly could not grasp her unwillingness to have a family with him. A family of my own was all I ever wanted. “What does that have to do with me? All I want right now is to be the best. And having children will keep me from that. I’m sorry, but your grandmother’s wishes do not trump mine,” Sofia said with a note of finality, throwing Arthur’s hands off. She side-stepped him and walked toward the railing. Where was she going? “Fine. You’ve made your point, Sofia. Just go.” Arthur still had his back to her and his voice was deceptively calm, but the storm brewing over his head told a different story. Alarming shades of blue and black twisted together. The poor man was in agony.   I went to step forward, feeling like I had to do something, anything, to help these people work it out, but without warning, Sofia picked up her carry-on and jumped over the side of the ship. A strangled cry left my lips and I threw myself into the railing, peering into the dark as if I could actually do something to save her. But my fear was unwarranted. There had been a speedboat waiting for her and it was already taking her away from the cruise ship. I could only stand there in shock, watching as Sofia disappeared from view. Well that was dramatic, Lily interjected, snapping me out of the daze. I shook my head to get rid of the rest of the fog. That’s a bit of an understatement, I agreed, putting a hand to my head. Maybe this had all been a fever dream. My skin felt clammy, but that was due to the ocean, not a fever. How’s the eye candy doing? Lily asked and this time I did roll my eyes. But she was right. I should check up on him. Arthur hadn’t moved from where Sofia had left him. I thought I heard a sniffle, but I couldn’t be sure. A second later he brought a hand up to his eyes, wiping away moisture that I couldn’t see. I think he’s crying. What should I do? I asked. I didn’t want to leave him to his own devices. Not in his current state. But he was also a stranger. Why don’t you go over there and comfort him? I’m sure there are plenty of things you can do to get his mind off his situation, Lily offered suggestively and my face burned. I’m with Robert, I reminded her firmly. You need to get your wolfy urges under control. Says the woman who needs a change of undies, Lily snarked and with that I shut down our mental link as well as I could. There wasn’t really a way to shut out Lily completely, but I could make it clear when I’d had enough of her meddling. While Lily and I had been having our little debate, Arthur had finally moved. He was closer to the railing and I could clearly see his red-rimmed eyes and the tears that were falling freely down his cheeks. The storm above his head had developed into a tempest. A jolt of fear passed through my body. From a very young age, I could see others’ true emotions floating above my head. I’ve kept it a secret. It’s not common for wolves to have extra powers, especially a nobody like me. I wanted to believe it was a gift from the Moon Goddess. But there was a chance not everyone would think that. So I kept it to myself. The vivid colors of people’s emotions are what had initially sparked an interest in painting. I had wanted to capture everything that I saw. And for the most part, the colors were calm and happy. But this…this was the worst emotional state I had ever seen before and I had no idea what to expect. Lily, you don’t think he’ll jump, do you? I asked, opening myself up once more to my wolf. Oh, now you want my advice? Lily quipped but I could still feel her concern as we both watched Arthur take another step toward the railing. But to answer your question, no, I don’t think he’ll jump. How can you be so sure? My breath hitched as he took another step. I can’t let that happen. He’s not going to jump, Lily said again, but I wasn’t listening. Arthur had reached the railing and was climbing up onto the first rung. My body moved before my mind could catch up to what was happening. I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around him from behind, using all the strength that came with being a wolf to keep him pressed against me. “No!”

“What do you think you’re doing, little wolf?” Arthur’s voice was all growl but it didn’t scare me. Given his current emotional state, I was surprised that he could speak at all. “Please don’t do this. Think about your poor grandmother. How would she feel if you were gone?” I pleaded, burying my head into his back. I tightened my arms around him, hoping that he could feel that at least one person was here for him tonight. Arthur firmly, but gently removed my hands from his body, his strength overpowering me. I felt like a child compared to him. He stepped down from the railing and turned, pushing me back with his hands on my shoulders. Arthur frowned down at me. “Did you really think I was going to jump into the sea?” I furrowed my brows. “Weren’t you? You were obviously upset…and crying…” My voice trailed off as he glared at me and I ducked my head to escape it. Arthur sighed. With his thumb and forefinger, he cupped my chin and lifted my face back to his. “I wasn’t crying. The sea breeze irritates my eyes. That’s all it was.” That’s a lie, Lily chimed in and I shushed her, even though I knew she was right. But if Arthur wanted to hide the truth, it wasn’t up to me to expose him. “Then why did you go up on the railing?” I pressed, not willing to let it go. He didn’t know that I could see his emotions swirling around over his head. I could see everything he was trying to hide. “Sofia isn’t the only one who’s dramatic,” he gave me a sad smile and dropped his hand, putting it into his pocket before opening it to show me a glittering diamond ring. “I was going to get rid of this.” My face was hot as I stared at the ring. This was so embarrassing. I told you he wasn’t going to do it. You should have listened to me, Lily said and I couldn’t even bring myself to argue with her. I one-hundred percent should have listened to her this time. “Here. I want you to have it,” Arthur said abruptly, placing the ring in my hand. He closed my hand into a fist around the ring. I just gaped at him. “I couldn’t possibly accept this,” I protested, trying and failing to give the ring back. He stepped away, clearly not wanting anything more to do with the ring. “You can and you will. Think of it as a reward for your kindness. Even if it wasn’t needed,” and with that he walked back toward the ballroom and presumably his room. I stood there, frozen. What the hell had just happened? I’d only come out here for some fresh air. I hadn’t expected to get wrapped in someone else’s drama. You have too much of a bleeding heart, Almara. You could have just stayed out of it. You know the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, Lily unhelpfully supplied and I had to admit that maybe she was right. I was too much of a bleeding heart. I opened my fist to look at the diamond ring again. It must have been worth a small fortune. Perhaps having a bleeding heart wasn’t such a bad thing after all.   I hurried into the ballroom, searching for Robert. I wanted to tell him about everything that had just happened. I wanted to tell him about the hail mary that we had been given. Neither of us had a lot of money. The jobs that we had barely paid for the bills and we didn’t have much in savings. Not to mention the wedding costs. This ring could change everything. However, I couldn’t find him. He wasn’t anywhere on the dance floor or at any of the tables. I was headed toward the bathrooms when a waiter suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Miss, are you looking for the gentleman you arrived with?” “Yes, I am. Do you know where he went?” The waiter grimaced and I knew that it wasn’t going to be good news. “He and the woman he was dancing with had a lot to drink. Too much actually. They were, um, very affectionate. We had to ask them to leave,” he informed me and I felt the blood leave my face. No. He had promised he would never do this again. Lily growled. I warned you this would happen again. He’s a gold-digging, two-faced ass. You know he wants more than the simple life you have planned. Tears filled my eyes and a lump formed in my throat. No. He wouldn’t do this to me. Not again. “Here. I think you need this,” the waiter said softly and handed me a glass of red wine. “Thank you,” I whispered and downed the entire thing in one go. The sweet wine burned on the way down and warmed my belly. The rush felt good and I greedily reached for another glass before the waiter left to continue his shift. I downed the second glass too and my body instantly felt hot. I set the wine down and brought my hands to my face. Yep. My skin was indeed on fire. Forget that you’re a lightweight? Lily asked and I giggled. I hadn’t thought that information was relevant. I deserved to have some fun, too. Get to bed before something happens. You’re burning up. We could shift by accident. There are quite a few human passengers on this cruise ship. I don’t think the humans would appreciate a drunk wolf running around, Lily griped and I pouted. I didn’t want to go to bed. Lily swiped a metaphysical paw across my middle. Not enough to hurt, but I knew she was closer to the surface than she should have been. I definitely didn’t want to shift in the middle of all these people.

  I took a few steps and knew that I wouldn’t make it too far in these heels. I kicked them off, leaving them where they landed. They weren’t my style anyway. I quickly stumbled away and tried to keep my eyes focused. But it was getting harder. The room had started to spin. Get to the room. Get to the room. Get to the room. I repeated it like a mantra. I could lay down once I got to the room. Things would be a lot better once I got to the room. When I reached the door, I leaned my head against the cool steel. I fumbled in my purse for the key card and slapped it against the pad. Nothing happened. I looked at the room number. It was definitely the right one so why wasn’t the door opening. Maybe I’d missed. I slapped the card against the pad again, turning the handle at the same time. The door opened. Thank the moon! I slipped in, closing the door behind me. Why was the room so hot? I couldn’t breathe. This dress that I hated was too tight. I allowed my hands to grow claws and ripped the dress off of me. In the process, I accidentally cut off my underwear as well, but I didn’t care. I was burning up.   I climbed into bed and moaned at how cool the sheets felt. They were like a soothing balm against my skin. The bundle of sheets on the other side moved and I realized I wasn’t alone. Robert was here and already asleep. He hadn’t abandoned me. The relief I felt was almost corporeal. I moved over and wrapped myself around him, burying my face into the nape of his neck, breathing him in. He smelled really good tonight. He does smell really good. That’s strange…but I didn’t hear the rest of what Lily was saying. Sleep pulled me under and I was dead to the world.   Sunlight streamed in from the window as I woke up. I groaned and brought my hand to my eyes to shut out the light. It was too bright and it definitely wasn’t helping the headache that was threatening to rip my head apart. What happened last night? Well, you threw back two glasses of wine like you had been stranded in the desert and they were the first water source that you found, Lily informed me and I groaned again. What had I been thinking? I slowly lowered my hand and looked beside me. Robert was gone. Maybe he had gone to get us both breakfast. Or, at the very least, some coffee. I desperately needed it. I slowly stood up and made my way to the bathroom. I’d freshen up some before he got back. I didn’t want him to see me like this. I splashed water on my face and reached for my toothbrush, but it wasn’t there. Confused, I looked around and, with growing horror, realized that none of the things in the bathroom were mine or Robert’s. The bathroom was extremely luxurious. The room had a soft and elegant fragrance, not like the generic scent in ours. The faucets were inlaid with gold, inlaid with blue gemstones, a far cry from the basic silver I had seen. Even the toilet was gold. Who had a gold toilet? Alarmed, I walked back into the room and finally noticed how nice it was. Much nicer than our room. Much nicer than we could ever afford. This far exceeded my imagination of luxury. This wasn’t the right room. I had spent the night in a stranger’s bed. And my memory was fuzzy. I remembered cuddling, but anything past that was gone. Had we done…stuff? I had to find Robert. But how was I going to explain this to him? My dress was in literal pieces on the floor. And I couldn’t exactly leave the room naked. I had no other choice but to raid the closet. There wasn’t much in the way of clothes so I settled for a long dress shirt. I buttoned it all the way to the top and it was long enough to cover all my bits. It would have to do for now. I bundled up my clothes from the floor and swiftly left the room. On my way out, I looked at the room number. It was 1100. Our room was 1200. I wasn’t even on the right floor. Not wanting to linger in case the stranger came back, I made my way down the hall and up the stairs. Thankfully, there weren’t any other guests to witness my potential walk of shame. After what seemed forever, I finally made it to the right room. I carefully touched the key card to the pad and was rewarded with a beep that let me know that this was indeed the right room. I breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door. I heard them before I saw them. “Harder…yes…like that…yes…yes…” Soft moans emanated from the bed and I watched in horror as Robert pumped in and out of the woman from last night.

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On our first wedding anniversary, my husband said he bought me my favorite flowers. I took the flowers and thanked the delivery guy with a smile. But I never liked the white roses. These were my sister Brenda’s favorite, not mine.

The day I found out I was dying, Byron broke up with me. I have been Byron Evan’s “contract lover” for five years, until his true love came back. He canceled our contract and told me to get lost. I thought that after five years, his frozen heart would thaw for me. How wrong I was. So I packed my things and left. Without telling him… I only had three months left to live. —— Byron Crawford’s private jet landed at LAX international airport at 7:00 PM. By 7:30 P.M, Athena Newton was taken to the Silver Tower Penthouse as requested. Per their contract, she had to be thoroughly cleaned “inside and out” without any traces of perfume or makeup. She strictly followed his preferences, thoroughly cleaned herself, changed into a silk pajama, and then went to the bedroom on the second floor. Byron was already working on his computer. When Athena entered the room, he gave her a casual glance. “Come here,” he demanded. His voice was cold and emotionless, weighing heavily on Athena’s heart. Byron was enigmatic, Athena didn’t dare to hesitate for a moment, worried that he might get angry with her, and quickly walked over to him. Before she could steady herself, he pulled her into his arms and lifted her chin with his long fingers. He lowered his head and kissed her ruby lips, the kiss was aggressive, without any traces of warmth. Byron might seem noble and restrained, but he showed no such thing when it came to sex. He was never tender with her. No sweet talk, no soft kisses. Just sex. He had been abroad on a business trip for three months, he probably wouldn’t let Athena go easily tonight. As she had expected, he was rougher than usual. Byron didn’t stop his thrusts until she was too exhausted. … When Athena woke up, she found herself alone in bed, but the sound of running water came from the bathroom. She looked in the direction of the water sound and saw a slender figure reflected on the frosted glass. Athena was surprised because Byron usually left without waiting for her to wake up after their encounters. But this time, he didn’t leave. She struggled to sit up from the bed and quietly waited for the man to come out. A few minutes later, the sound of running water stopped abruptly, and Byron came out wrapped in a bath towel. Water droplets from the tips of his hair fell onto his bronze skin, slowly sliding down his abs, the firm and strong lines carrying a deadly temptation.His face was finely chiseled, exquisitely handsome, with sharp, distinct features. His eyes, almond-shaped in hazel in color, were aloof and distant, deep and unreadable. Byron’ charm armed him from head to toe, and so did his cold aura. In one glance, you can tell this man was not easy to get along with. Seeing that Athena was awake, he gave her a cold look and said, “You don’t need to come anymore.” Athena was stunned. What did he mean by “No need to come anymore?” Byron withdrew his gaze from her, turned around, and handed her a document. “I’m canceling our contract, you’re fired.” He said fired. Not break up. Because that’s their relationship, the employer and the employee. Nonetheless, his words stung. As soon as Athena saw the document laid out before her, she understood. He didn’t leave early today because he didn’t want her to be his secret lover anymore. After being with him for five years, Athena always knew this day would come, but she didn’t expect it would end so abruptly—No reason or explanation. It was five years ago when the debt collector came knocking, and her grandma, Romy Lewis, fell seriously ill, desperately in need of money. Just when all hope seemed lost, Byron came in. Word had it that Athena bore a striking resemblance to his one true love, Freya Bates, , who went abroad and married a renowned European aristocrat after Byron’s accident left him in a coma. It was difficult for him to move on when he recovered and realized he had been cast aside. And then, Athena came into his life. He helped her settle her family’s debts and arranged for the best medical care for her grandmother. And so, she took on the role of Byron’s secretary, while secretly becoming his lover. Suppressing the sharp pain in her heart, Athena slowly raised her head and gazed at Byron, who was now fully dressed. “The contract will expire in six months. Can’t we wait for a little longer?” she asked, somewhat pleading. The doctor said she only had three months left and she wanted to stay with him until the end of her life. Byron didn’t respond, just looking at her with a cold gaze, showing no regret at all, as if he was kicking away a toy he had grown tired of playing with. His silence was all she needed, it meant, his decision was final. After five long years of trying, Athena had failed to thaw Byron’s frozen heart. She knew it was time for her to wake up from her illusion. Athena took the contract and put on a fake smile, attempting to feign indifference. “Don’t be so serious, I was just joking.” she teased. “I’m glad this is over, I get six months off, how perfect!” Athena added as if to convince herself. Byron paused as he adjusted his shirt sleeves, then lifted his cool gaze to size up Athena. On her face, there was no sadness, only a hint of excitedness… or relief? Byron frowned and asked, “You’re glad it’s over?” Athena nodded like she didn’t care. “Yes, I’m not young anymore. It’s time for me to get married and have children. I can’t always be with your contract lover, can I?” What a perfect lie. She laughed at herself in her mind, it was impossible for her to get married or have children, but in front of Byron, she had to leave with dignity and grace. She forced a smile and asked Byron, “Does that mean I can finally have a normal boyfriend once I leave here?” Byron’ eyes were filled with deep and unidentifiable emotions. After staring at her for a while, he put up his watch and turned to leave. “Do whatever you want.” Those were the last words he said before he left. Looking at his back, Athena’s smile faded. Byron hated it when other people touched his things, including his woman, but he didn’t react when he heard she wanted to have a boyfriend. Seems like… He really is sick of her.

After Byron left, his assistant walked in with the pill. He handed the pill to Athena and said respectfully, “Ms. Newton, please take it as usual.” This was a birth control pill. He didn’t love her, let alone allow her to get pregnant. After having sex, Andrew would always come with the pill and he would stand there watching to make sure she took it. Staring at the pill, Athena’s heart started to hurt. She wasn’t sure if the pain was caused by heart failure or Byron’s cruelty, but regardless, it was so intense that she struggled to take a breath. “Ms. Newton…” Seeing that Athena didn’t take the pill, Andrew urged her with a nervous expression, afraid that she would cause trouble on the last night with Byron. Athena glanced at him, took over the pill, and put it in her mouth. She didn’t even drink water with it and forced it down. Andrew let out a breath of relief, then he took an apartment deed and check from his briefcase and placed them in front of Athena. “Ms. Newton, this is Mr. Crawford’ compensation for you. In addition to real estate and luxury cars, he also gave you 5 million dollars. All yours.” How generous. Too bad, he never knew what she truly wanted. “I don’t want it,” Athena looked up at Andrew with a smile and said. Andrew was stunned and confused. “Do you think it’s not enough?” Hearing this, Athena felt heartbroken. Even Andrew thought she was doing it for the money, let alone Byron. He offered her such a high breakup fee. Was it because he was afraid she would pester him again for more money in the future? Athena picked up the bag beside her with a bitter smile, took out a debit card, and handed it to Andrew. “This is all the money Byron paid me over the years, I never spent a single penny. You can give it all back to him. Oh and the pin number for this card is his birthday.” Andrew was dumbfounded. Did Ms. Newton really never use any of Mr. Crawford’ money in the past five years? Athena didn’t care whether Andrew believed her or not. She placed the card on the pile of documents Andrew brought for her. Then she turned around and left the Silver Tower Penthouse At the same time, she submitted a letter of resignation to the company. … Winter was cold in the city. Athena walked alone on the empty street. Her thin figure was cast on the ground by the street light, looking gaunt and fragile. She tightened her beige coat, gritted her teeth, and walked back to her apartment in her high heels. She pushed the door open. It was huge inside, taking up an entire floor. Despite the luxurious decorations, the apartment couldn’t seem to dispel the chill that permeated Athena’s heart. She sat on the sofa, stared blankly at the surroundings for a moment, then Athena began to pack. This apartment was also given to her by Byron. Since he did not want her anymore, she would not take anything that he gave her. Athena took out her suitcase, opened the closet, and put all her clothes into the suitcase. She didn’t bring many things here, and after a quick pack, she left the apartment with her suitcase. After getting into the car, she sent a text message to Andrew. [Andrew, the password of Hudson Apartment is 0826.] Andrew was smart. He immediately understood when he saw the text message. Not only did Ms. Newton not spend a penny from Mr. Crawford, but she also didn’t want the apartment Mr. Crawford gave her. She had packed her stuff promptly and efficiently, she was nothing like the girl from five years ago. The crying girl who needed Mr. Crawford to save her grandma. Andrew returned to the company, handed the things back to Byron, and told him what Athena said. With an indifferent gaze, Byron glanced at the items on his desk. Then, his cold gaze was fixed on the debit card. “There is an added one million dollars in there?” he asked Andrew coldly. “Yes.” Andrew nodded. Before Andrew returned to the company, he went to the ATM to check the balance on the card. Other than the money that Mr. Crawford transferred to Amilea every month, there were another million dollars in it. Obviously, Athena paid him back the money he had spent on helping her with her grandma’s medical expenses. Byron frowned. After pondering for a while, he stretched out his hand, picked up the card, and snapped it in half He pushed the pile of deed certificates and other things towards Andrew and said in a cold voice, “Get rid of it then.” Andrew opened his mouth and wanted to say something nice for Athena, but Byron had already turned on his computer and started to work. Andrew sensibly shut his mouth, picked up the pile of documents, and left the office.

The other side,Athena decided to buy a plane ticket back to her hometown. Once she arrived in Greeli City, she purchased a bouquet of roses and purple daisies, along with two bottles of wine. She hailed a taxi and headed towards Colwi Cemetery. It started to drizzle as soon as she arrived. The security guard spotted Athena from a distance and hurried over with an umbrella. “Athena! I didn’t expect you today!” “I just wanted to pay a visit,” she explained. After a brief chat, she left a bottle of wine as a token of appreciation for the guard. With an umbrella in hand, she walked alone into the depths of the cemetery. The guard, holding his wine, gazed at her slender figure and sighed with sympathy. “What’s the matter? Do you know her?” a janitor leaned in and asked. The guard shook his head and sighed again, “Poor girl. She was just a little kid when she laid her mother to rest here. Then at the age of ten, she bid farewell to her grandfather, and just six months ago… her grandmother passed away. At her grandmother’s funeral, she stayed by her grave all day without eating a thing.” Athena quickly located the tombstone. Her grandparents lay side by side, with her mother nearby. The roses were for her grandma. When her grandfather was alive, he would bring a rose for her every single day. The purple daisy was for her mother, her favorite flower. Finally, Athena poured a glass of wine for her grandfather. “Grandma, Grandpa, and Mom. I have something to talk with you…” She was silent for a few moments. “I’m terminally ill and only three months to live.I’ll be with you soon.” In Girard City, the President’s Office at Imbe Group was abuzz with gossip today. News of Athena’s resignation had spread like wildfire. Everyone knew that only Athena could handle the difficult president. As suspicions grew, the new secretary arrived early this morning, led by Liam straight into Athena’s old office. The arrival of the new secretary, Ruby Holland, caused quite a stir in the company. She bore a striking resemblance to Athena. Rumors about the relationship between Byron and Athena had been circulating in the company. With Athena resigning and someone so similar to her appearing out of nowhere, wild speculations began to fly. Byron had a morning meeting with the overseas project department. By the time the meeting ended, it was already noon. Upon returning to the President’s Office, Ruby approached him, looking upset. “Byron! Is Miss Newton unhappy because I took her place? I didn’t see her at all today.” He furrowed his brows and glanced at Liam. “Where is Athena?” As soon as Liam heard Ruby’s words, he realized the game she was playing. “Mr. Crawford, Miss Newton had some personal issues and requested time off,” He quickly explained. “I apologize for forgetting to inform you. I was busy preparing for the meeting this morning.” “She has personal issues? Hmm, she left so abruptly without telling Byron. It must be serious,” she feigned concern for Athena and tried to approach Byron. He distanced himself immediately. “If she’s not here to train you, you can go now. Come back when she returns to work.” Ruby instantly sensed Byron’s foul mood. She was always good at reading people. So, after exchanging a few sweet words, she promptly left, shooting an annoyed glance at the secretary’s room on her way out. Athena must purposely be making things difficult for her. She didn’t buy the excuse that she had something urgent to attend to; she thought it was a deliberate attempt to teach her a lesson. “Just you wait! You started this. I’ll get back at you someday!” Liam began reporting Byron’s schedule. “Mr. Crawford, you have a golf game with Mr. Franco, the president of Colas Construction, at three o’clock this afternoon…” From the corner of his eye, he could see that Byron’s eyes were getting darker by the second. After taking a sip of his coffee, his expression grew even more grim. “Call Athena and tell her to come back immediately!” With her gone, the office staff couldn’t even make a decent cup of coffee anymore! “Yes sir!” Liam quickly grabbed his phone to make the call. Byron’s frustration intensified as he glanced at Liam. Since she had left so abruptly, Byron assumed her grandmother was unwell. Athena hadn’t visited her grandma for over six months. “Forget it.” Byron impatiently pushed away his coffee, grabbed a document, and stared at it with a brooding expression. Liam held his phone tightly, afraid to utter a word. He quietly stepped aside and sent Athena a WhatsApp message: [Athena, Mr. Crawford has been in a terrible mood all morning. Finish up and come back to save us!] After visiting the cemetery, Athena had nowhere else to go. When she received Liam’s message, she realized it would be best to complete the handover quickly and leave. The next morning, the people in the President’s Office were thrilled to see her. “Athena, why did you quit?! What are we going to do without you?” “That’s right! Mr. Crawford is terrifying when he’s angry. I was too scared to even breathe yesterday!” “Miss Newton, please don’t leave. We can’t handle Mr. Crawford without you!” As they chatted, the president’s elevator lit up. They immediately straightened up and stood neatly at the elevator entrance. A moment later, the doors opened. Byron, dressed in a black designer suit, stepped out with Ruby by his side. “Good morning, Mr. Crawford,” everyone greeted in unison, including Athena, who was standing at the back. She was still wearing her usual work attire, with her long hair cascading down her shoulders. She no longer looked timid and submissive, but indifferent. Byron led Ruby towards her. “This is my new secretary, Ruby Holland,” His voice was ice-cold, devoid of any emotion. “Show her the ropes and fill her in on all your responsibilities.”

Athena raised her gaze and locked eyes with Ruby. She couldn’t help but notice that Ruby resembled Freya, even more than herself. “I will,” Athena nodded in agreement. “Thank you, Athena. I’ll put in my best effort to learn quickly!” Ruby’s voice dripped with sweetness. “You’re welcome,” she replied politely, as she always did. Byron couldn’t detect any signs of displeasure or jealousy from her. “She doesn’t care because she’s not jealous…” These words echoed in Byron’s mind, irritating him. “I need coffee,” he grumbled, storming into his office . Later, in the break room, Ruby and Athena were finally alone… “Miss Holland, Mr. Crawford is quite particular about his coffee’s taste, so—” “Athena, I suggest you avoid being around Byron in the future. Whenever he sees you, it puts him in a bad mood. He is my man now, and I don’t want him to be unhappy,” Ruby interrupted, crossing her arms and staring at Athena with arrogance, as if she were Byron’s girlfriend, not his secretary. “Miss Holland, if you want me to leave quickly, you might want to stop talking and focus on learning,” Athena calmly responded, grinding the coffee beans. Ruby had said those words to provoke Athena, hoping to trigger her anger and make Byron hate her even more. But Athena didn’t take her words to heart at all. Ruby gnashed her teeth in frustration. The truth was, Ruby was sent to Byron’s side several months ago. Athena blocked Ruby’s path, capturing his attention first. She believed Athena must have used some underhanded tactics to gain his favor, even though Ruby resembled his love Freya more. So far, Byron hadn’t shown any interest in Ruby whatsoever. Aside from occasionally zoning out while staring at her, he rarely smiled. She glared at Athena with resentment. “You’re just a loser who got dumped by Byron. What are you so proud of?!” Ruby sneered. Athena looked at her with piercing eyes, as if she could see her inner thoughts. “Today is our first meeting, right? Why do you hate me so much?” Ruby was caught off guard and instinctively retorted, “I— I don’t!” “Is it because you haven’t slept with Byron yet?” Athena teased. “D-Don’t be ridiculous!” Ruby was clearly frustrated at being exposed. “On the desk in the secretary’s room, there are two sets of notes,” Athena plainly explained. “One is Byron’s secretary handbook, and the other is his lover’s handbook, which contains all his preferences.” “What do you mean?” Suspicion was evident in her voice. She couldn’t believe Athena was being so helpful. “I’m just handing over my work. What do you think I mean?” Athena added with a smile. “Miss Holland, I don’t care about Byron as much as you think. It’s just a job. I’ve always been professional when it comes to work, and I’ll teach you everything I know. But how much you can learn and whether you can please Byron… that’s up to you.” Ruby furrowed her brows and looked at her skeptically. She still couldn’t fully trust Athena. After a moment, Ruby finally said, “You better do as you say!” Athena brewed the coffee, pushed it towards Ruby, and flashed a gentle smile. ” Since you’ve been talkin’ so much, I’ll give you a heads up too. I’ll let it go this time. Just go on and do whatever pleases Byron, and steer clear of me. Don’t mess with me, or I can’t promise what might go down.” Under her piercing gaze, Ruby felt a shiver run down her spine. She never expected Athena to fire back, considering everyone always said she was forgiving and non-confrontational. But right now, she seemed completely different. Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Athena, the head of the sales team 1 is looking for you!” “Coming!” Athena lightly tapped the table and said, “Why are you still standing there? Take the coffee to Mr. Crawford.” With that, Athena left the break room. “Athena!” As soon as she left, the director of the sales department rushed in. “No wonder you screwed up so badly. Looks like you’re on the verge of quitting! If we hadn’t scheduled a meeting to go over the plan ahead of time, you would’ve bailed ages ago! I bet you took some cash from our rivals and deliberately sabotaged our agreement so we would lose this partnership!” Eric Lane, the sales department director and leader of the first team, was known for being blunt and hot-tempered. He had been working closely with Athena in the past few days. “Mr. Lane, can you please calm down? What’s going on?” Athena asked. “The contract data and the list from Maxwell Electronics were provided by you, right?” Eric replied angrily. “Yes,” she nodded. “I carefully checked all the data and handed them over to your sales department after making sure there were no issues.” “Nonsense!” Eric shouted. This order was crucial for his team. Losing this order meant losing out on significant commissions, and the company’s resource priority for the next quarter would be given to other teams! “Take a look at your massive screw-up! This order is worth billions. Do you even have a clue about the blood, sweat, and tears our team’s poured into this?” Eric slammed a stack of documents onto the table in front of her. She picked them up and examined them closely. The problematic sections were marked with a red pen. There were a total of six errors, all of which were difficult to spot, and two of them involved numbers. This wasn’t right… “This isn’t the one I gave you,” Athena stated firmly. “So what, you’re saying our sales department created this to set you up, at the cost of giving up our big commission?” Eric slammed his hand on the desk . “What’s all the commotion about?” Byron emerged from his office at that moment. “Mr. Crawford!” Eric rushed over and angrily explained the situation to him. Beside Byron, Ruby put on a surprised expression. She gave Athena a quick glance and said, “Mr. Lane, it seems like Athena’s got some family stuff going on lately. Maybe that’s why she’s not herself and messed up. You should go easy on her. You’ll get another order. It’s not worth getting yourself worked up!” Athena stared at her angrily. It seemed like Ruby wasn’t taking her warning seriously… “Miss Holland, I didn’t mess anything up. Are you accusing me without any proof?” she asked sternly. “Athena, you’ve got me all wrong! I’m just trying to lend you a hand… Byron, I’m just trying to clear things up for Athena! She’s being so rude!” He looked at Athena with narrowed eyes, and thought to himself. Athena had finally shown her true colors. “I see.” Byron said to Ruby. She quickly hid behind him, pretending to be terrified. Athena was at a loss for words. “If Ruby can’t blame you, then what about me?” His words felt like a sharp knife stabbing her heart. For a moment, she froze, her eyes slightly turning red. Byron didn’t believe her…

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397400”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #BillionaireRomance #B×G #BabyChildren #HeirHeiress

Margot“Daddy, please don’t do this.” My father ignores my pleas and shrugs off my hand, grimacing and brushing his sleeve as if my fingers have dirtied him. The one man in my life who is supposed to love and protect me no matter what has betrayed me. Again. My father pushes me out of the SUV’s open door. I fall to my knees on the dirt road in front of a huge warehouse. I glimpse the busted-out, cracked windows lined with brown paper bags. My heart pounds, and my vision swims. This can’t be happening. He yanks me to my feet. “Get the fuck up.” There’s nothing. No sign, no cars, no people. And no lights other than the full moon and a single red light above the door. His grip pushes the thin gold bracelet deep into my wrist. I’ve worn it for the past five years. Ever since I was thirteen—when I was supposed to get my dragon. It’s kept me from reaching her ever since. I don’t even know if I can, if I even have a dragon. I’ve read that some people born to dragon shifters never get their dragon because our genes aren’t strong enough anymore. “Please,” I whisper. “Why does it have to be me?” He grabs the back of my neck and pulls me close to speak into my ear. “Keep your mouth shut.” I already know the answer. It’s because I remind him too much of my mother. My stepmother and her daughters have taken any scraps of love my father might have had for me and used them all up. Just like they’ve used up all of his wealth. I’m not the one who’s put him in debt, but I’m the one he’s going to sell to get out of it. Dragons are supposed to be possessive, to protect and hoard their belongings. But it’s clear my father didn’t get that gene when it came to me. As soon as I turned eighteen, my father announced he was selling me. At the enormous metal door, he knocks. A small window slides open. “Name?” comes a male voice from inside. “Winston Brummel.” The window snaps shut, and the door opens toward us. My father yanks me in behind him. A skinny man with tattoos up his neck and slicked-back dark hair sits behind a podium. I catch of a glimpse of his dragon in his eyes as he looks me over and his pupils turn to vertical slits. He has a little black notebook in his hand and turns to my father. “Item number Fifty-Two,” my father says. The man eyes the bruises on my arm, makes a notation in his little black book, and motions my father to head down a long, dark hallway. It opens into a large room that takes my breath away. Sparkling crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and bottles of fancy-looking liquor line the mirrored back bar in the corner. Barely dressed women are making drinks for men in expensive tuxedos. Opposite us is a large stage in front of rows of plush loveseats, high-back chairs, and assorted couches. I’ve always known my father was rich—most dragons are—but this is more than I could have imagined. An older man walks up, leering at me as a server passes by with drinks on a black acrylic tray. The man reaches out and grabs her ass, but she doesn’t so much as glance our way, just continues walking as if his assault is expected. He has a thin black line of mustache and a balding head that shines under the lights. I shudder as he flicks his tongue out at me repeatedly like a snake trying to taste its prey. I haven’t been around humans much. This man looks…weak, is the only way I can describe him. But also like he’s used to getting whatever he wants. However he wants it. He’s wealthy, like my father, and the men he invites to our home. “I heard you were bringing a treat to the auction tonight, and you didn’t disappoint, Winston. This one looks delightful.” The man licks his thin lips and scans the bruises on my arms, souvenirs from my stepmother and half-sisters. “She even looks a little broken in, too. Just like I prefer them. How do you make the marks stay, though? She is of your kind, isn’t she?” I don’t want this man to like me, and I try to step behind my father even though I know he’ll offer no protection. The man reaches out to stroke a chilly finger along my arm. Not surprisingly, Father lets him. He grins. “She’s definitely of my kind.” He lifts my arm to show off my bracelet. “Hexed gold with a dragon slayer’s blood in the core. She’s powerless to access her dragon.” Klaus looks intrigued. “Can she remove it?” My father snorts. “Not a chance. It’s permanent, and I killed the witch who placed it to be doubly sure.” Klaus swipes his tongue over his lips. “Any restrictions on the merchandise?” “None. Once it’s sold, I never want to see or hear about it again. Do what you please. No returns, of course.” “Of course,” Klaus coos. “So, I can dispose of it in any means I desire. That’s promising.” The blood rushes out of my head, and the room starts spinning. I knew I was being auctioned off to become a rich man’s sex slave, but this is worse. Anyone who buys me can do whatever they want with me. Even kill me. For years, I’ve yearned to be free of my father’s rage and the abuse from his beloved second family…but not like this. “You never want to see it again? Did I hear you correctly, Brummel?” A new voice. Deep, dripping with chocolate and honey and savage, almost like a growl. Unexpected warmth rushes through me and stirs low in my belly. The gold bracelet burns me. I have practice holding back my cries when I’m being hurt, but I’ve never felt a pain like this. This man swivels to look at the sound of my tiny whimper. His blue eyes pierce mine. Another slow roll of sensation centers between my thighs. Fresh pain stings me, but this time, a pleasure echoes with it. I barely suppress a moan that I can’t tell is of fear…or something else. This man is more dangerous than Klaus.

MargotI can’t stop staring at him. Hair the color of black licorice brushes the cheekbones of his perfectly tanned face, and his suit looks stupidly expensive. His white button-up shirt shows a peek of a chiseled chest, and I’m angry with myself for not looking away. He intrigues me and disgusts me at the same time. I fight the butterflies swirling in my stomach as he looks me up and down, his eyes flashing amber with his dragon. As if he’s hungry. And…is that a hint of smoke coming from his nostrils? “Whoever wins her can do whatever they want with her.” Father gives the man a snide grin. “If you want her, you’ll have to pay big, Harrison. No returns or refunds on this one.” The sound of disgust in his voice sends wave after wave of shame boiling inside me. If my own father despises me enough to do this, to sell me, what are the chances anyone here will find enough value in me to buy me? And what will he do to me then, if I can’t even earn him the money he needs? Harrison steps toward me. He’s so close I can feel his body heat as he slides a finger down my cheek. A swirl of emotion twists around my spine before he pinches my chin between his fingers. His grip is hard, just shy of hurting me. A look I can’t interpret shines in his eyes. That hidden spot between my thighs tingles, and his nostrils flare—definitely a wisp of smoke this time. Almost imperceptible. Embarrassed heat floods me. He’s scenting me, and the sensation between my legs tells me exactly what he can smell. Again, my wrist burns. I don’t understand what’s happening to me—only that I want it to stop and also wish it will never go away. “I can’t imagine possessing something as exquisite as this and ever letting it go.” He squeezes my chin just a bit harder, until my lips part. He studies my open mouth with narrowed eyes. Assessing. Calculating. Roughly, he pushes my face away from his touch, and I almost stumble. Without a word, Harrison stalks toward the black leather couch near the center of the stage. He sits in the middle, his ankle over his knee and one arm draped across the back of the couch as he looks at his phone. “You might be worth more than I thought, Margot.” “Who was that?” “Shut up.” Father yanks me to a chair in front of the stage. “Bidding’s about to begin.” A man in a long, black, hooded robe steps up to a podium holding a black gavel. “First up, we have Item Thirty-Seven, a seventeen-year-old virgin. Human. Natural red hair and blue eyes. And yes, the carpet does indeed match the drapes.” There’s a smattering of chuckles, and my stomach rolls. They’re selling humans here, too, not just dragons? I look around at the men and women in their expensive clothes, laughing like this is some kind of party. I guess to them, it is. No more outrageous than buying a painting or a pony. “This item is lease-only for thirty days. Item must be returned to the owner without any permanent marks, tattoos, or scars of any kind. Item has a clean bill of health. As with all of our auction items tonight, our doctor can verify innocence for a small fee before leaving the premises if the winning bidder so desires.” No returns. Father’s words echo in my head. Terror dries my throat and freezes me solid. Wildly, I look around and spot Harrison on the black couch. He’s not looking at his phone now. His avid gaze, flashing amber, is pinned… On me. The ringing in my ears drowns out everything, and I can’t focus on anything happening around me. Girl after girl is paraded across the stage, the auctioneer listing their “attributes.” Virgin. Slightly broken-in. Experienced in extreme BDSM. Permanent marks permitted on torso only. Lease-to-own available. I don’t understand any of this. Who are these women? Some human, some dragons, all beautiful and terrified and broken. They can’t all belong to rich families down on their luck, can they? I hate the moment of hope that fills me at the thought—that I am not alone in my humiliation. “For our final auction, we present…Item Fifty-Two. Bidding starts at one hundred. Do I have one hundred thousand?” My legs are jelly as Father hands me off to the escort who leads me onstage. I don’t want to, but I look out into the crowd. I need to see what sort of people are out there and who will bid on me. Who might own me. Men and women of all ages stare back at me, assessing me, judging me, whispering to each other. One woman even holds a baby, and bile chokes me. Some prepare numbered signs to place a bid, including that man, Harrison. “Five hundred thousand!” Klaus yells, and I cringe. “Do I hear six hundred thousand?” The auctioneer pauses, and another sign pops up. “Do I see seven hundred thousand? Does anyone want to pay seven hundred thousand for this premium virgin? She’s yours to keep! No returns on this item.” “One million!” Klaus raises his number. My breath catches. Dear Goddess, please don’t let him win me. I close my eyes, to stop myself from fainting. “I am personally taking Item Fifty-Two as a Tribute,” Harrison’s dark honey and chocolate voice says. I open my eyes. Icy fire burns my wrist. My moan is lost as gasps scatter around the room, the whispers rising to a suffocating white noise. Tribute? What does that even mean?

Harrison What the fuck did I just do? Do I really intend to take this woman—the daughter of one of the most despicable pieces of shit I’ve ever met, as a Tribute? “Tribute? Harrison, be reasonable!” the dirtbag whines. “She’s worth a mill—” I take two steps toward him as my dragon rumbles, shining through my eyes, black scales rippling across the backs of my hands. I’m bigger than this prick. Stronger. Faster. I could lengthen my claws and tear him to shreds in seconds, and he knows it. I wouldn’t even need my fire against a pitiful shit like him. Incredibly, he whirls to face the auctioneer. “She had bids! There was money on the table!” “You know the rules, Brummel,” I say coldly. This asshole isn’t worth raising my voice for. “Yes, I know the rules, but—” “No buts. Hand the item over, or you know what happens.” The woman’s been silent this entire time. Her pale eyes are open wide. So’s her mouth. And fuck me to the darkest depths and back again, it’s that mouth that had me stepping up to declare that I was taking her. That and those lush curves, just aching for my hands on them. The moment I saw her, my dragon had surged, heating up and rising for her. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to taste that untouched treasure between her thighs. It’s too much. I’m suspicious of it. I came here tonight to keep an eye on things at Laurent’s request, but none of the items up for bids tonight caused such a reaction in me or my dragon. The fact she’s Brummel’s daughter is enough for me to assume there’s something wrong with her. Virgin? Not likely. The man’s a cheat, through and through. I could change my mind. Send her off with Klaus, that disgusting weasel. He’ll use her, abuse her, might even do worse than that, but at least with him she’ll have a chance at surviving. If I take her as a Tribute to compete in the Games, I can almost guarantee she’s not going to make it. Not with those slender limbs, that weak constitution. She’s trembling. Can’t even meet my gaze head-on. I’m surprised she’s still on her feet, based on the way she’s swaying. “It’s unorthodox but completely within the regulations, Mr. Brummel,” the auctioneer says apologetically. “Unless you wish, as the property owner, to purchase the item yourself at an approved increment beyond the last bid…” Brummel goes pale. Obviously, he doesn’t have the money, which is why he’s selling off his daughter in the first place. He can’t match the price, which means— “She’s mine.” The growl ripples up my throat. The woman flinches at the sound of it, her eyes closing. She sags, then tumbles to the ground in a slow, graceful spiral. I’m aware of all eyes on us as her father bends to slap her face over and over, until I catch his hand on the upswing. I haul him off of her and shove him back. “Enough!” I growl, a low warning that has anyone near me taking a step away. Brummel sprawls on the floor, staring up at me in surprise. He opens his mouth to say something, but I growl again, and he abruptly closes it. One of the item escorts rushes forward with a bucket of water and a cloth. It’s not the first time an item has fainted on the auction floor. The escort dabs her face with the cloth, and another comes to rub her arms. “Everyone, please adjourn to the reception room,” the auctioneer announces to get people moving. “Winners, please visit the desk to settle up your accounts. Enjoy the rest of the evening!” This crowd loves a good drama, but they love free booze and food more. And many are eager to make it home with their new prizes. They disperse, some to the reception hall, others to the office. I’m left standing over Brummel’s daughter, who sits up with a woozy expression. Brummel struggles to his feet. I hold myself back from punching him back to the ground and letting my dragon out to rip him apart. Instead, I reach for the Tribute’s wrist to haul her upright. “The fuck is this?” I hold her against me since she’s still clearly unable to stand on her own. I hold out her arm and the gold band encircling it. No wonder she’s so weak. Brummel gives me a greasy grin. “Hexed. Means you can do whatever you want to her, and she can’t—” “Defend herself,” I say through gritted jaws. “Protect herself.” It makes her a lovely little slave, especially for the humans who get off on using our kind, but it makes her basically useless as a Tribute. As she presses against me, her scent rises. Arousal. Terror. Confusion, too. But more than that. That bracelet means she can’t access her dragon, which means mine can’t reach her. I have no clue what this connection could be, but I fucking hate it. I shove her off me but keep a grip on her arm until I’m sure she’s not going to keel over again. I wait until she looks into my eyes, her own hazed with uncertainty. “Let’s go,” I order. “We’re leaving.” She doesn’t move. Her gaze flickers from me to her father and then back again. She has no idea what’s about to happen to her. “It’s time to begin your training.”

Margot “What’s your name?” “Margot.” I stutter it out as I manage to follow. His legs are twice as long as mine, and I almost have to run to keep up. I’m afraid of what will happen if I don’t. “Don’t know why I’m even asking. Should just call you Fifty-Two,” he mutters. My stomach twists. I don’t know what a Tribute is, but the way my father reacted, I have to wonder if it’s worse than being sold off to Klaus. “Mr. Blackstone!” a voice calls. He stops so fast I run into his back. He holds me at a distance. His eyes are full of disdain. I’m still woozy, but I manage to stand—if only so Harrison doesn’t have to hold me up. I send one last look over my shoulder at Father. I wish I could believe he’s shaking with grief at losing me, but I know it’s with anger that he’s not getting paid for selling me. I don’t want to go back home, but at least there, I know what I’m getting. I can put up with the beatings, the chores. But the unknown of what this man might do to me… I rush to my father, tears streaming down my face. “Please don’t let him take me!” Father shoves me away. I reach for his arm, but he pulls it away as if my touch will burn him. “You’re his now. His…” He pauses, and then says, as if choking on the word, “Tribute.” Tribute. There’s that word again. With that, Father turns and walks away. I cover my face with my hands as I sob. Rough fingers bite into my bruised flesh and pull me away. “Stop. You’re making a fool of yourself.” I start to respond but somehow know better and shut my mouth. My body moves as if on autopilot. Harrison leads me out of the building. A black stretch limo waits outside, and Harrison opens the door. He raises an eyebrow at me, but I hesitate for too long; he pushes me into the backseat before coming in behind me. Before I can sit, he smacks my ass. Hard. Like I’m being spanked. Punished. My stomach flutters. A pulse centers between my legs. “Faster next time. Never hesitate when I tell you to do something.” I crawl to the farthest corner away from him. His lip curls as if I amuse him. I maneuver my body into a ball, making myself as small as possible. Harrison’s unbothered. He settles in the leather seat and pours a whiskey from the bar. Bright-red neon lights the interior in strange ways that give me an even bigger headache. My bottom still throbs from the slap. He opens a small icebox and drops a couple of cubes into his drink, swirling it around while eyeing me, the ice tinkling loudly in the silence. “Are you a virgin?” I nod. “You know I’ll check?” I nod again, wondering how he’ll do that. “Have you ever kissed a boy?” I shake my head. “What about a man?” He takes a swig of whiskey and narrows his eyes when I shake my head again. Is he going to kiss me? I squeeze my arms tighter around my legs. His eyes flash amber, and I can tell he likes that I’m afraid of him, of everything. “When we arrive at the compound, you do what you’re told—and immediately—when you’re told. You are not to ask questions, and you keep your eyes down. Do not look anyone in the eyes unless they tell you to. If you disobey any single one command, your punishment will be swift and harsh. Disobedience will not be tolerated. Is that understood?” “What will I be asked to do?” Harrison’s knuckles whiten around the glass. “I just told you not to ask questions. I’ve claimed you, so you belong to me. You have no agency, no autonomy, and never forget, you’re just one of many. You can be easily discarded if you are more trouble than you are worth.” He pauses for a drink and then enunciates each word he speaks next. “Is. That. Clear?” I swallow and nod. “Yes, sir.” One of many, I think. At least I won’t be alone. Harrison is silent for the rest of the ride, ignoring me. He refills his glass several more times and chugs each one in such a distinctly powerful way I can’t keep my eyes off him. The windows are tinted so dark that I can’t see much except city lights in the distance. It’s hard to tell how long we’ve been driving. Every quiet minute with Harrison feels like an eternity, and I don’t know if it’s been ten minutes or ten hours. But it doesn’t matter. The longer we’re in the car, the longer I can put off whatever is about to happen when we get to the compound he mentioned. I’ve almost started to nod off when the limo stops. Harrison opens the back door, a fresh drink in his hand as he unfolds his tall, muscular frame and exits the vehicle. “Get out. Now.” I don’t hesitate. I inch from my corner, terrified to leave the limo and be…wherever we are. “I said out.” His voice is gruffer. “Now.” I almost fall back into the limo when I see I’m standing in front of a literal castle. With towers and everything. I can’t hold back my gasp. It’s beautiful. But what does that matter? I’ll probably have to sleep in the basement with the rats. Harrison begins walking toward the massive wooden double doors. One of them opens as he gets close, and he turns his head slightly to look back at me. “It’s time to get ready for Master. And he’s very…particular.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397399”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #BDSM #Dragons #Steamy #ForbiddenLove #Slave #Dominant #Alpha #Sex #Erotic #Spanking

Nina It was the night of my coming-of-age party. I was most of all excited for one thing: tonight, Justin would finally announce that he was my boyfriend. Justin and I had been seeing each other for a couple of months now, but we had kept things under wraps so far. Frankly, I would have preferred to make our relationship public right away — he was one of the most handsome and popular guys on campus, and was on the hockey team — but he insisted that we wait until the right time. “I want to save announcing our relationship for a special night, baby,” he had told me. I had been asking when he would make our relationship public for a while, but maybe he was right; it was best to wait until a special time. That meant that he really loved me, right? As I stood in front of the mirror and admired myself, I felt confident that Justin would announce our relationship tonight. I picked out special lingerie, which I wore under my outfit now, because I was certain that we would finally have sex for the first time. I was ready to lose my virginity. Aside from the lingerie, which was a sexy red set that I picked out at the mall a couple days before the party, I was wearing a short, tight skirt that showed off my thighs, a pink crop top, and heels. I wore red lipstick and black eyeliner, too. I felt a bit awkward wearing an outfit like this, as I usually dressed in jeans and hoodies; but my roommates, Jessica and Lori, insisted that I dress up for the party. The only thing that I kept the same about myself tonight was my hair, which was black with bangs and two long braids. I always wore my hair like this and never liked it any other way. Some people said it was childish, but I thought it was cute and practical. “You look so hot, Nina!” Jessica said as I came out of the room. “The guys are gonna be all over you!” I didn’t say anything about Justin. Even my own roommates didn’t know about our relationship. Lori looked at her phone and took another swig of her beer. “Everyone should be here any minute,” she said in her low, sultry voice. Lori was the quintessential “goth girl” on campus, which was a stark contrast from Jessica’s bubbly nature and my studious attitude. Somehow, though, we were all best friends. Just then, the door burst open with the first guests arriving. The group of guys and girls flooded in carrying cases of beers and whooping and hollering, excited for the party. With a grin, Jessica cranked up the music and started greeting people while I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Lori walked over to the couch and sat down, scrolling on her phone; she really only ever came to parties for the alcohol and the weed. Soon enough, the suite was full of people. The LED lights flashed red, green, and blue while the music played loudly, and the guests started getting drunk and playing games. The main attraction seemed to be the beer pong table, where the boys competed like their lives depended on it, but people also hung out around the seating area, played drinking games, and smoked on the balcony. A while into the party, Justin finally arrived. I got excited, but instead of coming over to me and greeting me, he simply made a beeline for the beer pong table and joined the game. During a lull in the game, I sent Justin a text: “Well? Are we gonna announce it?” I watched from the corner as he pulled out his phone, read the text, then pocketed his phone again. He looked at me and subtly shrugged, then returned to his game as though he didn’t even know me. “Are you okay?” Jessica said, coming over to me with an extra beer in her hand for me. I shrugged and finished off the last of my beer. “I’m just not much of a partier, that’s all,” I said. Jessica pursed her lips and handed me the other beer. “You just need a little liquid courage, that’s all!” she said, clinking her bottle with mine and taking a big swig. I looked down at my beer and frowned. Jessica was right, but beer wasn’t going to cut it — not with how Justin was treating me tonight. “How about vodka?” I said. Jessica’s eyes lit up and she turned around to face the group, cupping her hands around her mouth to shout. “Hey everyone!” she shouted. “The birthday girl wants shots!” By my seventh shot, however, I started to feel woozy and felt like I was going to throw up. I stumbled down the hall to the bathroom and made it to the toilet just in time. When I was done throwing up, I stood up and made my way over to the sink, where I splashed some cold water on my face and took some deep breaths to sober myself up. I looked at my smudged makeup and my messy hair in the mirror, trying not to cry as I thought about Justin. Why was he treating me like this? Just a few days ago, we were making out behind the hockey arena and now he was acting like he didn’t even know me. Was he just nervous about announcing our relationship, or was it something else? Taking another deep breath and wiping the tears off of my face, I straightened up and decided to go talk to Justin. When I left the bathroom, however, he wasn’t anywhere to be found. “Hey, have you seen Justin?” I asked a guest. She just shrugged her shoulders and pointed toward my bedroom. Maybe he just went inside to be alone for a minute, which would give us some time to talk. I made my way over to my room, weaving drunkenly through the crowd. When I opened the door, however, I wished that I had just stayed away. Justin was in my bed, but he wasn’t alone. He was with another girl. I recognized her immediately from her platinum blonde hair and thin body — it was Lisa, the cheerleading captain. They were tangled together in my bed, Justin’s pants pulled down and Lisa’s panties on the floor as they had sex in my bed. “What the fuck!” I screamed. The party went silent, aside from the music, which someone quickly shut off. Justin and Lisa sat up in my bed; Justin looked even more drunk and high than before, but immediately jumped up when he saw me and yanked his pants up. “Nina, it’s not what it looks like,” he said, stumbling toward me while Lisa simply stood up with a smirk and pulled her panties on, smoothing down her skirt. She strutted out of the room and bumped me with her shoulder on the way out as I continued to stare at Justin in shock and disbelief. Justin stammered as he tried to explain himself. “I’m so sorry, I-” “Justin…” I interrupted, my voice shaking. “We. Are. Done.” Without another word, I turned away and stormed out of the suite with Jessica and Lori calling after me. I walked out of the dorms into the cool spring air, turning this way and that for a bit before deciding to make my way toward town. I walked for a while, fuming the entire time and muttering to myself, until I finally made it to a local bar. I nodded gratefully as the bartender poured me a glass of rum and coke, and I sipped it miserably while he disappeared into the kitchen. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to see that I had several missed calls and “Where are you?!?” texts from Jessica and Lori, but I ignored them and tossed my phone down on the bar, taking a big swig of my drink and cursing to myself. “Yeah, I hate my phone, too,” a male voice said from beside me. I looked over to see a guy pulling up a barstool a couple seats down. He was wearing a red flannel shirt and had curly brown hair, and a sharp jawline. He was muscular, too. “I hate everything right now,” I said, swirling my drink around in my glass with my straw. “How come?” The boy looked at me, and just then, I came to a shocking realization: this was Enzo, Justin’s hockey captain, the star of the school, every girl’s dream boy. And he was sitting next to me, in this quiet dive bar, talking to me.

Nina Enzo must have noticed the expression on my face when I finally recognized him, because he smirked and held out a napkin for me. “Your makeup is smudged.” I blushed and grabbed the napkin from his hand, using it to wipe away my makeup while Enzo continued to stare at me. “Rough night?” he said once I finished cleaning up my makeup. “I guess you could say that,” I replied. “You know,” he said, his deep brown eyes studying my face, “you look better without makeup.” His words made me blush even more. What were the odds that the hockey captain would be hitting on me on the night of my birthday, right after my boyfriend had cheated on me? “Do you treat all the girls like this?” I said suddenly, surprised and embarrassed at my own question. It must have been the alcohol. Enzo simply smirked again and finished the last of his drink. He reached forward and brushed a bit of hair out of my face. “If you’re so intrigued by how I treat girls, why don’t you come see it for yourself? I live in Dorm B, fourth floor. Room 409.” His voice was low and sultry, and as we leaned closer together, I felt my breathing become slower and more aroused. I frowned then and pulled away. I needed comfort tonight, but not that sort of comfort. “No way,” I said, crossing my arms. “I know your reputation. You’re a player.” “So what if I am?” Enzo murmured. “It’s your decision, but my room is open to you all night. You can just walk right in. No need to knock.” With that, Enzo sat back up and tossed some money down on the bar. “I’ll pay for the lady’s drink,” he said to the bartender, then threw his jacket over his shoulder and sauntered out of the bar. I kept sipping my drink while I thought about the unexpected proposition of sex. Enzo was well-known as an adonis, a handsome player. Ever since Enzo and Lisa — the cheerleader who stole my boyfriend — broke up last semester, Enzo’s dorm had a constant stream of gorgeous girls going in at night and walking out the next morning, their lipstick smeared and their hair a mess. No girls ever went back; Enzo only participated in one night stands. I had never been interested in one night stands. In high school, I was nerdy and never had a chance with any of the boys. The one time I thought I had a chance, when the football quarterback asked me to prom, it turned out to be a prank. The whole school had laughed at me as I showed up in my blue dress, excited to dance with the quarterback, only for him to trip me and make me fall on the dance floor. “Why would I want you?” he had said, pointing and laughing. “Ugly Nina will never have a boyfriend!” After that, I swore that I would just focus on my studies. I eventually grew out of my ugly duckling phase once I started college, and lots of boys tried to get me to hook up with them, but I just wasn’t interested. If I was going to let a boy interrupt my studies, he would have to be perfect — someone who I would be willing to share my body with. I had thought that Justin would be the one. He seemed so sweet and kind, but I guess that wasn’t the case. After this, I felt like never falling in love again. “Sorry to say this, young lady, but the bar’s closing soon,” the bartender said, breaking me out of my deep thought. I nodded and finished off the last of my drink, then stood and left the bar. The thought of going home right now almost made me sick. Maybe I didn’t have to go home tonight. I showed up at Enzo’s place a little while later. Before I entered, I hesitated for a little while as I considered just keeping my dignity and going home. But I was all dressed up tonight with expensive lingerie, and besides… with Justin and Lisa’s double betrayal, what would be a better way to get back at them both? Taking a deep breath, I turned the knob and entered Enzo’s dorm. He was sitting on the couch when I entered, as though he had been waiting for me. “Changed your mind, eh?” he said, standing and crossing the room toward me. He was much taller than me, and muscular to boot. This close, I could smell his cologne. It made my panties wet, almost like a pheromone. “So,” he said, “what changed your mind? I thought my reputation scared you.” “I just… Could use a little comfort,” I said. Without saying anything, he leaned down and cupped my chin with his hand. He kissed me deeply, his tongue exploring my mouth in a way that Justin’s never had. After we kissed, he wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me to the bedroom. Our lips smacked together the whole way there. I bit his lower lip, which caused him to groan, and when we entered his dimly lit bedroom he slammed the door behind us and laid me down on the bed. I was trembling, but there was something surprisingly gentle about Enzo’s touch. I had expected a careless brute who only cared about getting himself off, but as he leaned over me and slid his fingers down my panties, I realized that my assumptions were wrong. Enzo kissed and licked my neck as he rubbed my clit, letting his fingers get wet with my juices as I moaned into his mouth. He pulled away briefly to remove his hand from my panties and let me taste myself off his fingers, then returned to touching me. Before he entered me with his fingers, however, I grabbed his wrist and stopped him. “I should tell you that I’m a virgin,” I whispered. Enzo was silent for a few moments. I was worried he wouldn’t want to continue after learning this about me, but then he merely smirked. “I figured,” he replied, leaning down to nibble my ear. “I’ll be gentle with you.” I let out a loud moan, arching my back as he let his long, thick fingers slide into me. He slid them back and forth, going faster and faster, until I was soaking wet and moaning loudly. I kissed and bit his neck as he fingered me, and moaned into his skin. When he was finished pleasuring me, he removed his hand from my panties and looked me deeply in the eyes while he unbuttoned my skirt. I was still trembling, partially from nerves and partially from the tingling in my body. “Lingerie, huh?” he whispered, sounding somewhat amused when he saw my lacy panties. I blushed. “Since you went to all that trouble, why don’t you give me a show?” Still blushing, I stood and began to nervously remove my clothes. I removed my top first to reveal my breasts, which practically spilled out of the top of my bra, then slipped off my skirt to reveal my waist and thighs. I could see Enzo’s erection straining in his gray sweatpants as he bit his lip. When I saw his huge erection, I knew that I wanted him. Saunter over to the bed, I pushed on his chest and pushed him down onto the mattress. I reached down and stroked his cock over his pants before sliding my hand inside and gripping it, feeling its warmth and girth in my small hand. He let out a groan as I stroked up and down his cock with my hand. I pulled my hand out and slid down his sweatpants so that I could see. Enzo must have seen the surprise on my face when I saw how big he was, because he chuckled and propped himself up on his elbows. “Scared?” he said. I shook my head, licking my lips. “Can I taste it?” I whispered, to which he nodded, his dark eyes fixed on mine. I opened my mouth and took his cock inside, slowly working my lips and tongue up and down the shaft. It was awkward at first — I had never done this before — but the sounds that Enzo was making told me that I was doing a good job. We laid naked together beneath the sheets, our limbs tangled together. Enzo spit on his hand and rubbed it along his shaft, pressing the head against me to go inside. I flinched at first, but Enzo reassured me that it was okay. “I’ll be gentle. I promise,” he whispered into my ear, his breath hot on my neck. …… When it was over, Enzo and I laid in bed for a minute before he got up and put on his underwear. I sat up, feeling both heavenly and ashamed of myself, and pulled my panties on. There was something different about Enzo now that we had had sex; his body language seemed more wild and dominant, and when he looked at me, his pupils were dilated. His eyes almost seemed like a different color. He smiled at me then and his teeth were sharp and glistening. My heart started to race as I felt like he was a wolf and I was his prey. Swallowing, I stood and put the rest of my clothes on. “See you around.” Before Enzo could reply, I rushed out of the bedroom and left the dorm. What was that look he gave me? Why did he look so… feral?

Nina It was almost four o’clock in the morning by the time I finally returned to my dorm. Jessica and Lori were already asleep in their rooms judging from how dark and quiet everything was. The suite was a mess from the party and we would no doubt be spending the next day cleaning, but I was too hungover and tired to care at the moment. It appeared as though Lori and Jessica must have changed my sheets for me though, which I would have to thank them for in the morning. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep on the same sheets that Justin and Lisa had sex on. As I laid in bed trying to sleep, I was kept awake by my regrets. Had I just given my virginity to a near-stranger? A playboy? All to get revenge against Justin and Lisa? I had never been so impulsive like this, especially when it came to love. Right now, I felt embarrassed and ashamed of this blunder. Enzo was incredibly attractive and the sex was wonderful, but right now, I just wanted to forget about it. When I woke the next morning, my head pounded and my stomach hurt from all of the alcohol from the night before. I groaned and rolled out of bed, ignoring my appearance as I stumbled into the kitchen in my oversized t-shirt and shorts. I just needed some coffee. “You know, you could’ve at least told us where you went last night,” Lori said from her usual spot at the kitchen island. She had a cup of coffee in front of her and was reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. “I’m sorry,” I replied, my face turning red as I remembered what happened after the party. “I just needed to get out.” “Why didn’t you tell us that you and Justin were a thing?” Jessica suddenly said, emerging from her room with a towel around her hair while she wore a fluffy pink robe and bunny slippers. She folded her arms and glared at me, pushing out her lower lip in a pout. I hung my head low as I poured myself a cup of coffee. I tried to hide it as the tears started to well up, but it was no use. Jessica rushed over to me and wrapped her arms around me while Lori watched with a sorry expression on her face. “I’m sorry,” I said between sobs. “H-He told me he just wanted to wait until the right time to make our relationship public. I t-thought he was just being a gentleman.” “Men are trash,” Lori replied. “Most of them, anyway. Don’t beat yourself up over it. You can do way better than Justin Thurlow.” Jessica nodded and rubbed my back, agreeing with Lori. “Yeah,” she said. “Screw boys. You’re smart and hot and you’re gonna be a doctor! Who needs boys? C’mon, let’s go get some breakfast.” Jessica and Lori were right. Boys were just a waste of time, and I had more important things to think about. I changed into my usual jeans and hoodie, brushed and braided my hair, and went with my roommates to the dining hall. “Oh my god!” Jessica exclaimed as we approached the dining hall. She squealed and pointed at none other than Enzo coming out the door. Jessica’s excitement garnered the attention of other nearby girls, who also squealed and waved as Enzo approached. I grabbed my hair and used it to shield my face. I just wanted to shrink down into myself. Why did I have to run into Enzo right now, the morning after we had a one night stand? To make matters worse, he approached us and stood in front of us. Even Lori seemed a bit excited at his presence. Did he even remember our night together, or was he confused by how strangely I was acting? “Hi, Enzo!” Jessica said, twirling a bit of her blonde hair around her finger. “Are you excited for the homecoming game today?” I kept my gaze fixed on the ground, letting my bangs fall into my face, but I could feel Enzo’s stern gaze on me. “Yeah,” he replied. “Although, it’s not as exciting when we always know we’re gonna crush the other team. I hope they put up a good fight.” Jessica giggled like a giddy schoolgirl. I took a chance and glanced up, hoping to see Enzo walking away, but was met instead by his strong gaze fixed on me. He looked far less animalistic now; maybe his appearance last night was just a trick of the light, or a result of the alcohol. Enzo had his arms folded across his muscular chest as he looked at me. He looked almost disapproving. Was he upset that I walked out on him last night? It hardly seemed likely, given his reputation, but my heart still ached a bit. “You ready for practice, Enzo?” another guy said, striding up to us. He looked Jessica up and down hungrily, then glanced at me before looking at Enzo. Enzo nodded and stuck his hands in his pockets, his brown eyes still on me. “Yeah. Let’s go.” Later that afternoon, after we had cleaned up the dorm, I was in my room studying for an upcoming biology exam when Jessica came into my room. She was wearing a pleated pink mini skirt, a fuzzy white sweater, and white sneakers with leg warmers. She had a full face of makeup on and her hair was curled perfectly. “Oh my god, you’re not ready yet?” she said, storming over to me and snapping my book shut unceremoniously. “Hey!” I said, throwing my pen down on my desk. “I was studying.” “Studying can wait,” Jessica replied. “Come on, let’s go to the hockey game! I heard some rumors that Enzo is planning on using some new moves.” My heart leapt up into my throat. “I’m not going,” I said, opening my book up to the page I was on. Jessica clearly didn’t like my response, because she stamped her foot on the ground angrily. “Aw, come on!” she whined. “You’re not really gonna make me go alone, are you?” I didn’t have the heart to tell my friend the truth about where I was last night. If she knew that I slept with Enzo, she would be heartbroken. Jessica had been pining away for Enzo since our first semester. He had never given her too much attention, but still she went to all of his games, cheered him on, and even watched all the livestreams of his tournaments online. She always talked about how he was a genius, how his physical abilities were godlike, how he easily won every game he competed in. “Come on,” Jessica whined again. “Please? For me?” She batted her eyelashes and stuck her lower lip out. I sighed and closed my book again, rubbing my tired eyes. “Alright,” I replied, although I really just wanted to hide in my room and never see the star hockey player again. “I’ll go. But you owe me.” Jessica grinned and pranced out of the room while I got ready. I wanted to blend in, so I just wore a hoodie with the university logo on it and jeans. Jessica seemed a bit disappointed in my outfit choice, but didn’t say anything as we made our way to the hockey arena. The whole way there, Jessica prattled on about Enzo. “His body is just so perfect,” she said. “All of those muscles just make me wanna bite him!” I hated to admit it, but hearing Jessica talk about Enzo made the memories of last night come flooding back; his muscular body, the way he touched and kissed me, how he felt inside of me… It made my body tingle. I tried to shake the thoughts out of my mind the best I could as we got in line to enter the arena, but I just couldn’t. The feeling of Enzo’s strong eyes on me as we laid in bed together, our limbs intertwined, was burned into my memory. I only hoped that I could leave this game without being seen by Enzo or Justin.

Nina We entered the arena, which was already packed full with excited students. Half of the arena was reserved for our university, while the other half was reserved for the other university. Our school colors were burgundy and gold — the other university was blue and black. “Let’s find a good seat,” Jessica said. I followed her up the stairs, then we shimmied between rows of seats toward a couple of empty spots. Once we had our seats, I could hear the conversation between other girls around me; their talking points mostly centered around Enzo. “Do you think he’ll make us win again?” “Of course! Enzo always plays perfectly.” “I feel so lucky just to be attending the same university as him!” I cringed a bit at the conversation and scrolled on my phone while I waited for the game to start. Beside me, Jessica pulled out a pair of binoculars and started scouring the ice rink. I can see the cheerleaders performing an energetic opening dance on ice skates before the game, with Lisa in the lead. She looked dazzling in her skimpy uniform, with her perfectly tanned legs and platinum blonde hair pulled up into a high ponytail with a bow. She waved her pom poms around to hype the crowd up. Looking at the girl who stole my boyfriend made me sick. I had never been much of a sports fan, but the way the crowd was getting excited made me excited, too. As the hockey players skated out onto the rink, some of them skated up to certain cheerleaders who were their girlfriends and kissed them publicly. I could see Justin and Lisa exchange glances. Justin had never brought me to his games, even though we had been dating for a couple of months. When I did go to his games, he never paid any attention to me until after. I thought that he was just shy at the time, but now I knew that he just didn’t want Lisa seeing us together. “Don’t pay any attention to Justin,” Jessica said, handing me the binoculars so I could see better. “He’s not worth your time.” I took the binoculars and peered through them. For some reason, I searched for Enzo. I didn’t know why I wanted to see him so badly, but I did. And he saw me. Somehow, despite the thousands of students in this massive arena, Enzo looked directly at me. It was as though he had a sixth sense, like he knew exactly where I was without even having to think. Even from here, I could see the hint of wildness in his eyes from the night before; like I was his prey. I quickly gave the binoculars back to Jessica as my face turned red. Enzo turned away and skated out to the middle of the rink, skating around in circles and pumping his hockey stick in the air while the crowd cheered. All around me, girls screamed and swooned while guys whooped and hollered. The game started. I lost sight of the puck quickly, but was able to follow the game by watching Enzo, who skated as fast as lightning and moved nimbly around the rink as though he was born with ice skates on his feet. He would perform quick moves with his hockey stick to fake out the opponents, hitting the puck between their legs to one of his teammates before zooming away. He moved so quickly that he was almost like a flash. For some reason, it seemed almost supernatural to me… but no one else seemed to notice, so I figured that it was just in my head. Soon, the opponents became frustrated and aggressive. One player in particular — I think he was the captain of the other team — started following Enzo closely and trying to trip him up. “C’mon, Enzo!” Jessica shouted. “I hope he doesn’t get hurt,” another girl said from beside me, sitting up in her seat to see over someone in front of us. Enzo scored a goal, and suddenly, the other team’s captain threw his stick and his helmet down on the ice and tackled Enzo. The crowd gasped as they tussled on the ice. The other player threw punches at Enzo while Enzo only blocked and dodged, clearly not wanting to hurt the other player. It was now that I finally realized how much pressure was on Enzo as the star hockey player. I held my breath as I watched the fight, images of us in bed flashing in my mind. For some reason, I cared enough about Enzo to not want him to get hurt. I didn’t care to look at Justin for even a second. The referee blew his whistle and broke up the fight. The crowd cheered as Enzo stood and put his helmet back on, covering his curly brown hair. The other player was put on the bench for his behavior and the game continued with a penalty for the other team. During halftime, the cheerleaders returned to the rink and began their halftime show. “You hungry?” I said to Jessica. She looked at me and shrugged, too involved in her conversation with another girl about how hot Enzo looked dodging the unsportsmanlike competitor during the fight. As long as I had known her, Jessica always had an easy time making friends. I didn’t mind it, because I was more introverted and appreciated the fact that she usually took control of all of the socializing at things like this. I stood and shimmied out of our row, then went down the bleachers toward the food stands. My stomach was growling and the smell of soft pretzels was making me even more hungry. “One soft pretzel, please,” I said to the vendor. “And a water, too.” I handed my money to the vendor and waited for my pretzel. Just then, I felt someone watching me and turned around to see none other than Enzo. He was standing with his teammates by the side of the rink as they rested and drank water, but he was staring right at me. His brown eyes almost glowed. My heart started to race as I found myself unable to break away from his strong gaze. Something about him made me want to walk over to him as if I was in a trance… “Miss? Hello?” The vendor broke me out of my trance. He was holding out my pretzel and my water. “Oh… Sorry,” I said. “Thank you.” I took my pretzel. When I turned back, Enzo was no longer looking at me and was instead entrenched in a conversation with a teammate as though he hadn’t just been staring into my soul. I considered going back to Jessica, but after the encounter with Enzo finding me in the massive crowd and staring at me just now, I only wanted to leave. I decided to make up an excuse later and just go home; Jessica had made some friends already and probably wouldn’t even notice my absence. She could fill me in on the results of the game later. I left the arena, tossing my uneaten pretzel in the trash on the way out as my stomach suddenly felt too sick to eat. The cool autumn air was a bit of a relief as I walked back to the dorms, although I still felt stifled like I was being watched… or hunted. How was Enzo able to spot me in the crowd like that? And why did he always look so animalistic and hungry when he looked at me? I had never heard any of his many other flings complain of such a thing, so maybe it was all in my head. It had to be. Why else would Enzo seem like such a predator?

Nina Just as I thought, Jessica came home an hour later with a frown on her face. “Where did you go?” she said. I looked up from my book as I sat on the couch. Thankfully, I had prepared an excuse beforehand. “My stomach started to hurt,” I replied. “Probably from all the alcohol last night. I couldn’t get through the crowd to make it back to you, so I just decided to come home.” Jessica let out a sigh and walked over to her door. “I hope you’re feeling better now at least, because there’s a party at the fire pit later since we won the game. And don’t even think about saying no! You have to put on a sexy outfit and show Justin what he’s missing.” With that, Jessica disappeared into her room — presumably to get ready for the party. I sent Lori a quick text. “Where u at? U going to that party later?” A few minutes later, Lori replied: “Yeah. I promised Jess.” I put my phone away with a sigh and closed my book. It was already seven o’clock, so the party would probably start in an hour or two. I decided to shower and change. For some reason, as I got ready, I found myself actually caring about looking good… But not to make Justin jealous. I wanted to look good for Enzo. Jessica, Lori and I made our way to the party around nine o’clock. It was located outside, about a mile into the woods behind the school. It was an old campground from the 1970s with several little cabins, which had been cleaned up and repurposed by the students here for generations to use for… Well, you know. At the center of the circle of cabins, there was a large fire pit, where a huge bonfire was already burning and loud music was playing. As we approached, I could see rambunctious boys whooping and throwing beer cans into the fire and flirting with girls. Alongside the fire, guys and girls danced and grinded on each other to the music. “Like a bunch of monkeys,” Lori grumbled. She had her hands stuffed into her pockets and had her hood pulled up. Almost as soon as we arrived, she pulled out a joint and wandered off to go sit and smoke by herself. Jessica and I had become used to this by now, and didn’t mind our strange friend’s loner nature. “You look good, by the way,” Jessica said, nudging me with her elbow. I had picked out a short black dress with tights and boots, and wore a leather jacket on top. I still had my hair in braids, but I put on a little eyeliner and lipstick. Hopefully I wouldn’t cry tonight. “Thanks,” I replied. “You too.” I walked over to a cooler nearby and grabbed a beer while Jessica stopped to flirt with a drunk guy. I took a sip and looked around as I tried to decide whether I wanted to join the dancing or sit by myself. As I stood there, trying to decide what to do, I overheard what sounded like angry voices coming from inside one of the cabins. I was nothing if not a bit nosy, and nonchalantly walked over to the cabin, pretending to look at my phone while I eavesdropped. “Listen, I think I made it pretty fucking clear that I was just having fun!” I recognized that voice immediately: it was Lisa. And with her was none other than… “I broke up with my girlfriend for you! You said we would get together!” Justin. I heard Lisa scoff. “I never said that,” she replied. “Besides, you knew what you were getting into. Why would I make things exclusive with you when I could pick any guy I wanted? Ugh, you’re pathetic.” “Oh yeah? Any guy, huh?” Justin said. “How about Enzo, then? Everyone knows you’re still pissed that he broke up with you. So why don’t you go out there and ask him to dance, since you’ve apparently got the pick of the litter?” I heard the sound of stomping across floorboards, and then the door swung open. Lisa looked down at me from the top of the steps with a smirk. “If you’re gonna eavesdrop, at least don’t make it so fucking obvious,” she said, then flipped her hair over her shoulder and jogged down the steps. I followed her with my gaze all the way to the fire pit, where Enzo was standing and drinking while a group of girls — Jessica included — fawned over him. “Hey Enzo,” Lisa said in a sing-song voice, her ponytail bobbing as she sauntered up to him. Most of the other girls at this university wouldn’t dare walk up to Enzo so nonchalantly with so many girls around him, but seeing as Enzo and Lisa used to date, it wasn’t entirely unexpected of her. “Hey,” Enzo replied. Much to my surprise, his eyes flickered to me briefly over Lisa’s shoulder. I felt like he was looking into my soul again, but it was over quickly when he looked back at Lisa. Lisa folded her arms across her chest — no doubt pushing her breasts together — and rocked back and forth from her heels to her toes. “Wanna dance?” she said. “I haven’t had a dance partner yet tonight.” Enzo frowned and took a swig of his beer, looking Lisa up and down. Around them, people began to watch the scene. “We broke up ages ago, Lisa,” Enzo said. Lisa dropped her hands to her sides and balled them up into fists. “Aw, come on!” she said. “You can’t tell me you don’t miss this.” She gestured to her body, which was still dressed in her tight cheerleader uniform. Enzo simply shrugged and returned to his conversation with the other girls as though Lisa wasn’t even there. With a huff, Lisa stormed off. When she was gone, however, his gaze traveled over to me once more and fixed on me. His eyes almost seemed to glow again, and I felt afraid all of a sudden. I involuntarily dropped my beer and quickly walked away, making for a spot behind one of the unoccupied cabins. I just needed a few minutes alone, and then I could return… Hopefully Enzo would have his eyes set on another girl by then. “Hi, Nina.” I practically jumped out of my skin at the sound of Enzo’s voice behind me. I whirled around to face him; blocking the light of the fire with his huge body, he looked somewhat menacing in the darkness. Something else occurred to me, though… When we met at the bar, we had never exchanged names. How did he know my name? Wordlessly, I tried to step around him to go back to the fire as this whole interaction made me feel uneasy. However, Enzo blocked my path and folded his arms. “Why are you avoiding me?” he said, sounding a little hurt. I stopped and bit my lip, peering around him to see Jessica dancing by the fire with a new boy. “I’m not avoiding you,” I said. Enzo sighed and unfolded his arms. “It sure seems like it,” he replied. “You left so abruptly last night.” “What do you want me to say?” I whispered so that no one could hear if they were eavesdropping. “You had your one night stand with me. You never see girls more than once. You should be thanking me, because I’m just making it easy for you.” “Is that what you really think of me?” Enzo asked. He didn’t try to hide his voice at all. For some reason, I felt more confident confronting him now. “Everyone knows you’re a playboy who only sleeps with girls once before moving on to the next,” I said, stepping around him. He didn’t block me this time, but turned and frowned. “Well, you’re different,” he replied. Was this some sort of prank? The hockey captain, the star of the school and a playboy, thought I was “different” enough to keep talking to me after we slept together? I wondered if Lisa or Justin put him up to this to rub it in that I would never find love. Enzo stepped closer to me and brushed a bit of hair out of my eyes, finally lowering his voice to a whisper. “I want to have a second time with you.”

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