Category: English

I pretended to be my sister and looked after her blind fiancé for a hefty sum of five hundred grand. When he finally regained his sight, I vanished without a word. Fate brought us together again at a press conference. I was just a nobody journalist, and he had risen to power in the wealthy Sinclair family. “We heard your fiancée took great care of you when you were sick. Can we expect a wedding soon?” He smirked and flashed his engagement ring on camera. “Real soon.” As he spoke, I was the only one who noticed his gaze drifting towards me every now and then…

“Yes. Yes. Fuck yes.” His deep voice echoed in the dimly lit bedroom, accompanied by heavy breathing.On the bedside table, his phone started to ring, but he ignored it. Cordelia was annoyed at herself for enjoying this, but his deep, powerful thrusts into her body were too pleasurable. Only once a month would they have sex. Tonight, Elijah was particularly passionate, almost pushing her to the brink of passing out. And in the dark, Cordelia could close her eyes so as not to see how coldly he looked at her, despite his desire. She sank into the feeling of him moving inside her, and came to an intense climax, her whole body shaking with pleasure. Elijah came at almost the exact same time, then immediately separated himself from her body and answered the ringing phone. His indifference pierced her heart, as it always did. They’d been married for three years, and ever since their wedding day, rumors of his affairs with other women had never ceased. She pretended not to know about it, even defending him in front of others. But she maintained the image of their “perfect” marriage on her own. “Don’t cry. I’ll be right there.” Elijah’s voice was soft as he spoke on the phone to his mistress. Cordelia had done some sleuthing and knew her name was Ava. Elijah never spoke to Cordelia so sweetly, and her heart ached to hear it. Then he hung up and quickly dressed. “I won’t be staying here tonight,” he said in a flat tone. Cordelia stared at him for a long time. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a thick head of hair. His muscles were well-defined, matching his chiseled, handsome face. Before they’d married, Elijah was the man that all the socialites in the city fantasized about. Just one look at his charming smile, and they were enchanted. It was a pity that Cordelia figured out he was a jerk only after they were wed. When Elijah reached the bedroom door, she finally spoke, her voice intentionally emotionless. “Elijah… I want a divorce.” Elijah paused, his cold eyes turning back to her. “Didn’t I satisfy you tonight? What else do you want?” “I’m tired of this sham marriage. What’s the point of staying together?” Elijah sneered, “Fine, but you better not change your mind.” “Don’t worry,” Cordelia said with certainty. “I won’t.” With just a shrug at this news, Elijah left. And as soon as he was gone, reality came crashing down on Cordelia. He didn’t even put up a fight! She clutched the quilt tightly as emotions flooded through her, her lips trembling. Her only consolation was that at least she made the right choice: to leave. *** Early the next morning, Elijah returned to their villa, dark circles under his eyes from exhaustion. He sat at the breakfast table, rubbing his temples. “Nora,” he said to their maid. “Get Cordelia. I need her to massage my shoulders.” But to his surprise, Nora replied, “Mr. Hansen, Mrs. Hansen left early this morning. She asked me to give these to you.” Elijah’s eyes widened as Nora handed him a set of house keys and a divorce agreement. “That damn woman!” he cried, suddenly furious. Had Cordelia been serious? Gritting his teeth, Elijah took out his phone and dialed Cordelia’s number. It went straight to voicemail. He tried again, and again. No answer. Furious, Elijah slammed the phone onto the dining table so hard it shattered the screen. He never thought she’d do it. He wasn’t going down without a fight.

Cordelia stood in the sunlight of her dance studio, clutching her phone to her ear.She gazed at the city outside, her eyes filled with determination as she spoke. “Mom, for the past three years, you and Kevin have gotten what you wanted from my marriage to the Hansen family. I’m done!” Janice Deleon’s voice was loud and sharp, even through the phone. “You can’t just divorce Elijah! You two should try harder! Is there something you need to apologize to him for?” “No, stop telling me I need to apologize to him! I haven’t done anything wrong!” She clenched her fists, but it did little to ease the heavy pain in her heart she felt when she thought of her marriage. “Cordelia, why are you being so stubborn?!” her mother berated her. “You need to take my advice! I’m your mother. If you were as sensible as your sister—” Cordelia hung up the phone. She couldn’t stand to listen to her mother drone on about how she could never measure up to her half-sister. Now she saw she had half a dozen missed calls from Elijah. Why is he calling? she thought. Is he unsatisfied with the terms of the divorce agreement? She wasn’t going to cater to whatever his demands were. She was too busy today. Cordelia had always believed that women could live without romantic relationships, but they needed to have their own careers. So years ago she’d started her own dance studio, and it was thriving. Cordelia was giving a tour to a businessman who was interested in a sponsorship opportunity.” Today, she wore a one-shoulder dress, exposing her smooth shoulders and delicate collarbone, a shining diamond necklace adorning her slender neck. The businessman couldn’t take his eyes off her, captivated by her beauty. “Did I come at a bad time?” a voice suddenly called out. Cordelia whipped around. “Elijah? What are you doing here?” He was leaning against the door, faintly smiling as he observed Cordelia and the businessman, who were standing very close to each other, looking at a contract. “Are you busy, darling?” he asked casually. She couldn’t read his expression. “Alright, let’s call it a day. We can finish discussing this tomorrow,” Cordelia said to the businessman, shaking his hand. As soon as the man left, Elijah stormed over to her. “Will you stop this divorce joke already?” He was angry and impatient. She smiled bitterly. “It’s not a joke. I want a divorce.” “It’s not?” He closed the short distance between them, his eyes never leaving hers. With each step he took, she could feel her anxiety growing, but she tried to remain composed. Suddenly, he placed his hands on her waist and drew her into him. His voice was low and playful as he asked, “Why won’t you be a good girl for me?” Then he kissed her cheek, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. Cordelia’s body stiffened. She asked, “What do you want, Elijah?” He chuckled, lifting her chin with his fingers so their eyes met. Then he said, “Let’s have a baby.”

“That’s crazy,” she said.“Is it?” And then he kissed her. She wanted to pull away, but something about his words had struck something deep inside her. Instead, she felt herself melting into his kiss, savoring the taste of his lips and his heady scent, a subtle blend of tea and bourbon. Elijah’s hands traveled down her body and slid under her skirt, and the memory of their lovemaking the night before made dizzy with sudden desire. But then Elijah’s phone rang, and in an instant Cordelia snapped back to reality. She knew who it was. His mistress. He didn’t want to have a baby with her. He was taunting her! She pushed herself out of his grasp. Impatiently, Elijah answered the phone call. “What? What’s the matter now?” he said into the phone. Standing so close to him, Cordelia could hear Ava’s sobs and whimpers from the other end of the call. “Elijah, it hurts so much,” Ava said. “Why haven’t you come yet?” Elijah glanced at Cordelia, and she took the opportunity to step farther away from him. She straightened her clothes. “I’ll be there soon,” Elijah said softly to Ava. He hung up and looked at Cordelia for a long beat. “We have dinner with my parents tomorrow night,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at six.” Cordelia’s mouth dropped open. “Didn’t you tell them we’re getting a divorce?” “Let’s put that conversation on hold for now.” Elijah suddenly looked worried. It wasn’t an expression she often saw on him. “My father’s been having some heart problems lately, and I don’t want to give him unneeded stress.” She sighed. “Elijah, I’ve already made arrangements for the divorce. I have no obligation to play along with your charade.” “Fifty thousand dollars for one dinner with my parents,” he countered. She paused and thought it over. She didn’t like to compromise her principles. But that was a lot of money. “Okay,” Cordelia agreed. “But if you lay a finger on me during the ‘performance,’ there’ll be an additional charge.” “Deal.” Cordelia held up her phone. “Send me the payment now.” She wasn’t going to be played for a fool. Elijah’s eyes widened at her boldness. He stared at her for a moment, then he took out his phone and tapped on it. “Done. See you tomorrow.” Cordelia smiled with satisfaction, but once the door closed behind him, a deep sadness settled over her. “Let’s have a baby? How could I even think for a second he was serious?” she scolded herself. Her heart ached, and she hated herself for even agreeing to the dinner. A few seconds later, her phone rang. It was her best friend, Imogen. “Cordelia, I need your help!” Imogen cried. Cordelia furrowed her brows. “What’s wrong?” “I sprained my foot, and I have a performance next Friday. Can you stand in for me?” Imogen pleaded. Cordelia quickly checked her schedule, “I can, actually. I should have enough time to practice before then.” “Thank you so much!” Imogen said gratefully, and then she laughed. “This isn’t too terrible a request, because my dance partner is very attractive. You think you can handle the heat?” Imogen knew Cordelia was in a loveless marriage. “Haha. It’ll be fine.” She was about to be freed from her loveless marriage. She could finally return to her old, happier self. Maybe she would flirt with this sexy dance partner. Why shouldn’t she? Elijah had cheated on her many times throughout their marriage, and she never had. Cordelia thought it would be interesting to see how Elijah reacted to her being with another man. In fact, maybe she would mention it at dinner…

Cordelia spent the next whole day dancing and rehearsing.At exactly 6 p.m., Elijah called her. “Where are you? I’m at the house to pick you up.” “Shoot, I lost track of the time,” she said, out of breath. “Don’t you dare try to cheat me out of my money!” he said, instantly furious. “We made a deal!” Cordelia became angry, too. “The only cheater here is you,” she said, and hung up. Well, this was going to make for an interesting family dinner. Cordelia quickly showered, changed into nice clothes, and touched up her makeup. Elijah had come to pick her up. His breath hitched as he caught sight of Cordelia walking through the studio doors. She was dressed in a sleek black V-neck dress, accentuating her curvy figure. With her natural beauty and the added touch of makeup, she looked absolutely enchanting, a woman that any man would fall for. Her expression was light, too, as if she had a secret. Suddenly, a thought occurred to Elijah. “Why do you look so nice?” he demanded as she approached the car. Cordelia looked at him like he was insane. “I dressed up for dinner, like I always do.” “Is there someone else?” he asked. “Is that why you’re in such a hurry to divorce me? You’ve already found someone new?” Cordelia was amazed by Elijah’s reaction. Did he care for her, or not? It was so confusing. Cordelia glared at him, and she retorted, “Oh, so you’re suspicious of me? Isn’t that rich. The cheater’s worried he’s getting cheated on?” “Why else would you be breathing so heavily when you answered the phone earlier?” Elijah replied hotly, his gaze intense. “Who were you just with?” “No one. Not that it’s your business.” Elijah grabbed her by the waist. “Tell me the truth! Are you seeing someone new?” She glared at him icily. “I was practicing dance, you idiot. Now let go of me.” Instead, he kissed her. Then he let her go. She gaped at him, stunned. “What is up with you?!” Elijah said, “I’m reminding you that we’re still married.” *** When they arrived at his parents’ house an hour later, Cordelia was greeted by her in-laws, Edith and Gabe Hansen. Edith was cold, just like her son, but Gabe greeted her with his usual warm smile. Elijah kept his arm around her, pretending everything was peachy. She forced a smile as she looked at him, but her eyes were devoid of affection. “Cordelia, you look well. How is the studio?” Gabe asked. “Terrific, Gabe.” Cordelia smiled. “Business keeps growing. I’m very fortunate.” “So you’re still not pregnant?” Edith abruptly asked. Cordelia, caught off guard, swallowed and lowered her eyes. This was a sensitive subject for her. “You two should see the doctor about it. It’s time. Elijah?” “Oh, sure,” he said, smiling at Cordelia. “We definitely should.” He was really doing a command performance of being dedicated to her. She gave him a fake smile in return. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.” She could play this game, too. “Good!” Edith cried. “We have one of the best fertility doctors right here in town. You two will stay here tonight and see him first thing in the morning.” Cordelia’s mouth opened in surprise. Stay here, in the same bed as Elijah? “We’d love to, Mother,” Elijah said with a grin before she could respond.

Cordelia wasn’t sure what to say. On one hand, she didn’t want to spend the night in a bed next to the man she’d gladly decided to divorce. But she’d taken the fifty thousand, and she had to pretend everything was okay. Who knows how much she’d get in the divorce settlement… She needed to hang on to as much money as she could. Cordelia gritted her teeth and smiled at Edith. “Sounds great, thank you.” Elijah smirked at her across the table. Cordelia wanted to kick him hard in the shins, but resisted. The rest of the meal she was quiet. Once dinner was over and they were in the bedroom, Cordelia looked around for an alternative. “I can sleep on the floor,” she said. Elijah laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll both sleep in the bed.” In their three years of marriage, they’d rarely shared a bed. Yet now, he acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world for them to sleep together. Satisfied with her silence, he turned and headed into the bathroom. Before long, his phone began buzzing. At first, it was a few message notifications, but then the calls started pouring in, one after another. Cordelia knew who it was, of course. Ava was a demanding mistress. Elijah poked his head out of the bathroom. “Can you pass me the phone?” “It’s right on the bed. Get it yourself,” Cordelia spat. He grinned mischievously. “Sure.” Then he stepped out of the bathroom, completely naked and dripping wet. Cordelia held back a squeak and quickly turned her head to the window, silently cursing him. Elijah chuckled as he picked up the phone, standing right in front of her. At the sight, Cordelia rolled her eyes and said, “Perv!” He laughed again and went back into the bathroom, leaving a trail of water in his wake. When he emerged from the bathroom again, he wasn’t dressed for bed, but to go out. “Actually, you can have the bed to yourself,” he said, gathering his things. “You’re serious?” Cordelia asked, shocked. “You’re going to leave me at your parents’ house to go see your mistress?” Elijah shrugged. “You said you prefer to sleep alone. Win-win.” “No, I prefer to not have come here and performed this stupid charade all night, and then again tomorrow, just because you don’t have the backbone to be honest with your parents.” “You get your money either way,” Elijah retorted. “I don’t see what you’re so upset about. I’ll be back in the morning.” Cordelia’s eyes filled with hot tears. How could he be like this? How could anyone be so cold? She turned her back to him, and after a second, he left. She listened to him go downstairs, her ears waiting for the sound of the front door shutting and his car starting. They never came. A few minutes later, Elijah came back upstairs. Had he rethought leaving? Maybe he wasn’t a complete monster, after all. He came into the room looking annoyed, and stood awkwardly in the doorway. Cordelia wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of asking why he’d returned. Eventually, he cleared his throat and said, “My mother is downstairs.” Cordelia still didn’t turn around. “I said I was going for a drive, and she insisted I come back up here and take you with me.” Cordelia laughed to herself. Had Edith guessed what her son was up to? Or had she accidentally hit on the most awkward possible scenario? “So,” Elijah said to Cordelia’s back. “Will you come downstairs?” Cordelia wanted to do anything but go for a romantic drive with Elijah. But then she realized she could benefit herself. “I want ten thousand dollars more.” There was a moment of silence. Cordelia could hear the anger in Elijah’s voice when he responded. “Fine.” So she stood up and followed him downstairs. “Oh, good,” Edith said when they appeared. “It’s a nice night for a drive.” Then she added, “Cordelia, come here. I have something for you.” She beckoned her into the kitchen and Cordelia followed. There, Edith grabbed Cordelia by the wrist. “You can’t let him walk all over you.” “What are you talking about?” Cordelia asked, taken aback. “We both know where he was headed tonight. You need to grow a spine and stand up to him.” Cordelia nodded, her face burning. Had Edith known all along? She returned to the front door and followed Elijah to the car. Edith was right; she hadn’t ever put up a fight all these years with Elijah. In fact, slapping him with the divorce had been quite out of character for her. It felt good to finally demand some respect from him. Maybe he would finally get the message now. Cordelia had been so lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed where they were. “Where are we going?” she asked. “To Ava’s.” Cordelia’s mouth dropped open.

“We’re going to your mistress’s house?!” Cordelia exclaimed in shock.“I had already told her I’d come over,” Elijah said impatiently. “She was injured in a fire at the hospital where she works, and she needs my help.” Cordelia shook her head. Of all the unsympathetic things Elijah had done, this was surely the worst. She felt as if something heavy had taken up residence in her chest. “Besides,” he added, “if we’re getting divorced, it shouldn’t matter to you.” He cut a sidelong glance at her as he said this. Cordelia kept her expression stony. She was angry and sad, but she wasn’t going to let him see it. They arrived at a luxury high-rise apartment building. Elijah parked the car and entered the building, Cordelia following close behind. She noted that he had a key and opened the door as if it was his own place. Meanwhile, her heart was racing. She was about to meet her husband’s mistress, of all things! Her stomach began to ache, and she felt like a joke just being there. As Cordelia entered the apartment, a girl with a sweet face came rolling out of the bedroom in a wheelchair. Her face was tearstained, but she smiled up at Elijah sweet as sugar as he strode over to her. “You finally came,” Ava said breathlessly. Elijah took a tissue from the counter, knelt by her wheelchair, and gently wiped away her tears. “Of course, I came,” he said caringly. Cordelia suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her throat tightened. She felt like she was drowning, watching the two of them. “How is the burn healing?” Elijah asked softly. “Let me see.” Ava unbuttoned her shirt, revealing her wounded shoulder without any hesitation. The burn wounds ran all along her skin, leaking some fluid. They looked horrifying. Elijah’s face turned grim. “Ava, you need to go to the hospital and let a doctor see this again. I’ll take you tomorrow.” “Okay,” she said sweetly, smiling up at him with big, helpless eyes. “If you say so.” She reached out and took his hand. As Elijah stood up, holding her hand, Ava’s glance fell on the room behind him, and the woman in the doorway. “Elijah…” she said, her face going slack with shock. “Who is that?” “My wife,” Elijah said. Ava gasped, stunned and upset. “Why would you bring her here, Elijah?!” she cried. “I had to. Listen, I came to make sure you’re okay. Let me put you in bed.” For a few seconds, Ava just stared at Cordelia. Then her expression shifted from shock to sweetness. “Okay, my darling,” she said to Elijah, fluttering her lashes at him. “You always look out for me so well. I know I’m your number one.” Ava looked at Cordelia through her lashes with undisguised provocation. But Cordelia didn’t give her the satisfaction of reacting, keeping calm and cool as Elijah took hold of the wheelchair and pushed Ava into the bedroom. Cordelia was glad when they disappeared. It was so hard, pretending she didn’t care. That she wasn’t humiliated to have her husband caring for his mistress right in front of her face! She took a seat on the couch, wondering how long she’d have to wait for them to finish their business. In the meantime, she took out her phone and messaged someone to check whether Ava owned this luxury apartment herself. Her heart dropped when she got the response: Elijah was the owner. So Elijah owned an apartment she didn’t even know about, and he’d moved his mistress into it. As Cordelia pondered this, the bedroom door opened and Elijah walked out. “I’ll come back again tomorrow,” he said gently to Ava, as he pulled the door shut after him. He walked over to Cordelia. “Let’s go,” he said, and Cordelia rose from the couch. She’d slid off one of her shoes while she waited, and now stumbled a bit, putting it back on. Elijah caught her before she fell. “Oh,” she said, surprised, hanging onto his arm. “Thank you.” “Elijah!” Ava’s voice suddenly called urgently. “Elijah, I need you!” Elijah sighed, released Cordelia, and turned back to the bedroom. Cordelia, intrigued about Ava’s sharp call, looked around the room carefully. Then she saw it. Perched at the top of the bookcase was a camera. The red light was blinking. “Hmm,” Cordelia thought, a plan forming in her mind. When Elijah finally emerged again, she was sitting on the couch. He nodded toward the door, and she delicately held out her hand for him to help her up. As Elijah pulled her to her feet, she deliberately fell into his arms. He caught her, their bodies pressing against each other. With a smile, Cordelia slid her arms around his neck. “I was just thinking about how hot things got the other night,” she murmured to him, and then, with a quick glance at the camera, she leaned in and whispered seductively in his ear. “Let’s do it again. Now.”

Elijah smirked at her words. It was rare that Cordelia tried to seduce him, and when she did, he had never turned her down. Indeed, it was perhaps because it was so rare that he found it so exciting. Tonight was no exception. He slid one hand down her body, and the other into her hair. “You want it, don’t you?” He looked at her, a fire in his eyes. Cordelia was actually a little excited by how inflamed he was by her words. She pressed her body against his. “I do,” she said with a saucy grin. Elijah gave her ass a squeeze and then pulled her toward the door. For the briefest moment before the door closed behind them, Cordelia heard with satisfaction a scream of anger from Ava’s bedroom. When they got into the car, Elijah leaned in to pick up where they left off, but Cordelia held up a hand to stop him. She straightened her dress. “You know what?” she said. “I’ve reconsidered. You brought me here to humiliate me. You don’t deserve to have me.” As Elijah stared at her speechless, she buckled herself in and didn’t even glance his way the whole drive back. When they reached his parent’s house, she informed Elijah that he’d be sleeping on the living room couch unless he wanted her to wake his parents and tell them everything. Elijah was frustrated but seemed too surprised by her behavior to put up a fight. Edith had been right—it felt good to stand up for herself. Cordelia locked the bedroom door and fell into a deep, contented sleep. *** Cordelia kept herself busy over the following days, completely ignoring all of Elijah’s messages, of which there were many. He’d never been so eager for her attention before. Cordelia, though, wasn’t falling for it. His kindness and attention would be short-lived, she knew. He simply wanted to know she was his, and then he’d move on to someone else. Annoyed at her phone constantly buzzing, she finally replied to Elijah that he should only contact her once he’d signed the divorce papers. After she sent the message, his texts immediately stopped. The next day, Cordelia met her lawyer at Ava’s apartment building. She wanted his assessment about whether it should be included in the divorce. As they walked up the stairs to the apartment, Cordelia heard a familiar voice. Elijah. She realized the door to Ava’s apartment was open, and she and the lawyer ducked out of sight as they listened. “I’ll see you again soon, darling.” Elijah spoke with a gentle tone. “Elijah, promise me you aren’t sleeping with her!” Ava cried. “Tell me you aren’t going back to your wife right now.” Cordelia almost laughed out loud when she heard Ava’s words. She had actually managed to sow the seeds of doubt in Elijah’s mistress! “Of course not,” Elijah said reassuringly. “Cordelia and I are done.” “I couldn’t bear it, I couldn’t,” Ava sobbed. “Promise me.” “Ava, I promise you. I keep promising you.” Cordelia, having lived with Elijah for three years, recognized the hint of impatience creeping into his voice. “It’s just that the two of you seemed so close the other night—” “Enough, Ava. I have to go.” Elijah’s tone was firm. This was different from the gentle tone Cordelia had always heard him use with Ava. Satisfied, Cordelia gestured to the lawyer that they should quietly slip away. As they snuck away, Ava took out her phone and showed Elijah the screen. “Elijah, there’s a ballet performance tonight. Can you take me to it?” “I already told you, I have to work tonight.” “But, I really want you to come with me,” Ava whined. “Please, please, please… Or are you going to be with your wife?” Tears sprang to her eyes. Elijah sighed. “Fine. We’ll go.” Ava grinned inwardly, delighted at getting her way. *** Night fell, and Elijah fulfilled his promise to Eva. He brought her to a VIP box seat. On the ballet show’s poster, the male and female leads were wearing masks. It was said that they were ballet stars, and their identities would be revealed during the performance. The gimmick was hyped up enough to create anticipation, and it was clear that the crowd was eager to learn who the dancers were. Backstage, Cordelia was getting into her gorgeous costume, her lips painted fiery red. It had been a while since she’d performed, and she was admittedly a little nervous. Imogen came in, leaning on a crutch. “The theater is packed! This is going to be a legendary performance!” Cordelia took a peek out of the curtains. The theater was indeed packed, with no empty seats. She said a little mantra to herself to keep calm. She was just here, she reminded herself, to help out a friend. No pressure! She scanned the audience. And then she saw, in the VIP box, her husband and his mistress. “Oh no!” Cordelia cried.

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The day I found out I was dying, James broke up with me. I have been James 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. —— James Evans’s private jet landed at LAX international airport at 7:00 PM. By 7:30 P.M, Amelia Garcia 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. James was already working on his computer. When Amelia entered the room, he gave her a casual glance. “Come here,” he demanded. His voice was cold and emotionless, weighing heavily on Amelia’s heart. James was enigmatic, Ameilia 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. James 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 Amelia go easily tonight. As she had expected, he was rougher than usual. James didn’t stop his thrusts until she was too exhausted. … When Amelia 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. Amelia was surprised because James 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 James 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. James’ 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 Amelia was awake, he gave her a cold look and said, “You don’t need to come anymore.” Amelia was stunned. What did he mean by “No need to come anymore?” James 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 Amelia 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, Amelia always knew this day would come, but she didn’t expect it would end so abruptly—No reason or explanation. Suppressing the sharp pain in her heart, Amelia slowly raised her head and gazed at James, 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. James 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, Amelia had failed to thaw Jame’s frozen heart. She knew it was time for her to wake up from her illusion. Amelia 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!” Amelia added as if to convince herself. James paused as he adjusted his shirt sleeves, then lifted his cool gaze to size up Amelia. On her face, there was no sadness, only a hint of excitedness… or relief? James frowned and asked, “You’re glad it’s over?” Amelia 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 James, she had to leave with dignity and grace. She forced a smile and asked James, “Does that mean I can finally have a normal boyfriend once I leave here?” James’ 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, Amelia’s smile faded. James 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 James left, Andrew, his assistant, walked in with the pill. He handed the pill to Amelia and said respectfully, “Ms. Garcia, 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, Amelia’s heart started to hurt. She wasn’t sure if the pain was caused by heart failure or James’s cruelty, but regardless, it was so intense that she struggled to take a breath. “Ms. Garcia…” Seeing that Amelia didn’t take the pill, Andrew urged her with a nervous expression, afraid that she would cause trouble on the last night with James. Amelia 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 Amelia. “Ms. Garcia, this is Mr. Evans’ 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,” Amelia looked up at Andrew with a smile and said. Andrew was stunned and confused. “Do you think it’s not enough?” Hearing this, Amelia felt heartbroken. Even Andrew thought she was doing it for the money, let alone James. 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? Amelia 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 James 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. Garcia really never use any of Mr. Evans’ money in the past five years? Amelia 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 … Winter was cold in Arcadia. Amelia 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 Amelia’s heart. She sat on the sofa, stared blankly at the surroundings for a moment, then Amelia began to pack. This apartment was also given to her by James. Since he did not want her anymore, she would not take anything that he gave her. Amelia 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. Garcia not spend a penny from Mr. Evans, but she also didn’t want the apartment Mr. Evans gave her. She had packed her stuff promptly and efficiently, she was nothing like the girl from five years ago. The crying girl who begged Mr. Evans to purchase her virginity for a million dollars. Andrew returned to the company, handed the things back to James, and told him what Amelia said. With an indifferent gaze, James 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. Evans transferred to Amilea every month, there were another million dollars in it. Obviously, this was the money Amelia had returned to James for buying her that night. James 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 Amelia, but James 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.

Amelia took her suitcase to her friend Eva Miller’s residence. She gently knocked on the door and waited. She and Eva were both orphans who grew up together in the same orphanage. They were like sisters. “Amelia, if anything happens to you, come home.” Eva said when James took Amelia away five years ago. Because of Eva, Amelia was able to easily move out of the apartment James bought for her. She still had a home to return to. Eva soon opened the door. A wide smile appeared on her face when she saw Amelia. “Amelia, what are you doing here?” Amelia tightened her grip on the suitcase and said with somewhat embarrassment, “Eva, I need a place to crash.” Only then did Eva see the suitcase in her hand, and the smile on her face instantly froze. “What’s wrong?” Eva asked Amelia with a worried expression. “I just broke up with him.” Amelia forced a smile to hide her pain. Eva looked closely at Amelia and saw past her pretense in a matter of seconds. Her heart ached for her best friend. Amelia was thin and pale, her eyes sunken. Eva hugged her tightly. “Don’t worry. I’m here for you.” Amelia couldn’t help but tear up at Eva’s words.She hugged Eva and patted her gently on the back. “I’m fine, Eva. Don’t worry.” Eva knew that Amelia was just trying to comfort her. She knew how much Amelia liked James. In the past five years, Amelia had worked hard to earn a million dollars and return it to James. She was so naive and innocent to believe that as long as she returned the money back to him, his feelings for her would change. Maybe if she gave him back the money, they could… be something more than just “employer and employee.” But in the end, she couldn’t be more wrong. Eva remembered that rainy night five years ago… If it weren’t for Ryan Jones, she wouldn’t have met James. If that accident never happened, Amelia would have had a happy life. But the past is in the past, and there’s no time machine. Amelia didn’t want to burden Eva with her sorrow. After gently pulling back from the hug, she smiled and said, “Girlie, aren’t you going to let me in? It’s freezing out here!!” Eva was relieved to see Amelia still as strong and energetic as before. She believed that Amelia would soon recover from this breakup. For orphans like them who had no one to rely on, being abandoned is a walk in the park for them, right? Nothing would drag them down as long as they were still alive. With this in mind, Eva felt better. She took Amelia’s suitcase and led her into the house. “Amelia, don’t say things like you need a place to crash or anything like that. This is your home too. You can stay as long as you want!” After that, she turned around, fetched clean pajamas, and handed them to Amelia. “Go take a shower. I’ll make you something to eat, have a good sleep. Don’t think about anything else, okay?” “Okay.” Amelia took the pajamas and nodded. Eva had always been like this. She was unconditionally good to her, like a beam of light that sliced through the darkness in her life. It was a pity that Amelia suffered from terminal heart failure, and her life was soon coming to an end. If Eva found out that she was going to die, with such a kind and gentle heart, she would cry. Amelia didn’t want to make her cry. She looked at the busy figure in the kitchen and slowly walked over. “Eva, I want to quit my job.” Eva nodded in agreement and said, “Yeah, you should. You have been working hard for years. God, you must be exhausted. Quit your job and take a good rest at home. Don’t worry about the money anymore, I got your back.” “Okay,” Amelia responded and felt her heart warm. Then she turned around and went to the bathroom with tears in her eyes. Fate had never favored her. If she and Eva were meant to be apart from each other, she should use the last three months of her life to be with Eva, to keep her company. The next morning, Amelia put on some makeup to cover up her pale face and lips, and went to the company to quit her job. Just as she sat down and was about to turn on the computer to write her resignation letter, her colleague Bella came over. “Amelia, have you read the email?” Amelia shook her head. She spent the whole weekend in James’ penthouse, so she didn’t have time to read the email. “Lily sent a letter of appointment saying that the chairman’s daughter will come to take office as CEO today,” Bella explained. Amelia had no impression of the chairman’s daughter, so she was not interested. She was about to quit anyway, it didn’t matter to her who was going to take over the CEO position. Bella on the other hand was very intrigued, “I heard she had just returned from studying abroad, so she doesn’t have much work experience. Is she even qualified for the job?” Another colleague, Olivia, sneered and said, “Who would dare question her? She is the long lost love of Mr. Evans.” Hearing this, Amelia froze on the spot.

“Oh em gee, REALLY?” Bella’s jaw hung open in shock. She pulled Olivia close and whispered excitedly, “Didn’t you say that the CEO of the Evans Group wasn’t interested in women? Sounds like he might have a secret love! AND she’s the future CEO of our company!?” Olivia patted Bella’s hand with a smile. “You really should try to be more informed about these things, Bella. How can you work in the CEO’s office and not know all this hot gossip?” “Well c’mon, hurry up and tell me now, I’m all ears!” Bella said, quickly tugging on Olivia’s sleeve. Olivia lowered her voice. “Mr. Evans and the chairman’s daughter were childhood sweethearts. Rumor has it, Mr. Evans proposed to Ms. Moore five years ago. But she turned him down to focus on her studies, so they split up. They haven’t even contacted each other for the last five years. But as soon as Ms. Moore returned to the country, Mr. Evans personally went to the airport to pick her up. That’s enough to prove that Mr. Evans still has strong feelings for her.” Bella covered her mouth, widened her big round eyes, and almost exclaimed, “Oh my god! It’s like the perfect sweet romance!” Amelia’s heart ached in her chest, and gloom spread through her face. So the truth was… James terminated their contract early because his long lost love, his real love, had come back. But if he already had a childhood love, why did he buy her for one night five years ago? And after sleeping with her just once, he even forced her to sign a contract to continue their “relationship”. And whenever he touched her, he went so crazy that he couldn’t control himself and keep his hands off her, spending hours and hours in bed together. Amelia couldn’t believe it. Just as she was about to ask Olivia where she had heard this gossip, the elevator opened with a ding! The executive assistant of the chairman, Lily, and several department managers walked out first. Right after, a man in a luxurious suite with a cold aura followed. He had a face and body carved and chiseled by the gods, with the same aloof temperament. He seemed almost unreal, like he’d stepped out of an oil painting, a mix of elegance and coldness, always keeping a distance from others. Amelia would recognize that face anywhere. ‘James…’ Lily gestured to the people inside. “Mr. Evans, Ms. Moore, here is the president’s office. This way please.” ‘Why is he here?’ she thought, watching James turn and offer his hand to someone in the elevator. Then, a delicate, fair hand was placed in his, and a woman stepped out. The moment Amelia saw her face, she finally understood why James bought her for the night and made their contract, all those years ago. Except for a few minor differences, Amelia had almost the exact same face as James’ former lover. She used to think James would return her feelings one day and love her for who she was, but now she knew… she was just a temporary substitute. Her chest suddenly tightened, and pain swept through her body, turning her face pale. Bella immediately asked with concern, “Amelia? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” Amelia shook her head gently, and before Bella could say anything else, Lily led the two of them over. She quickly lowered her eyes and didn’t dare look them in the eyes. She couldn’t stop her hands from trembling on the keyboard as Lily introduced them one by one. “This is the president’s office. The assistants here are available to help you with anything you need, Ms. Moore.” Ms. Moore nodded, looked at everyone, and said softly, “Good morning, everyone. My name’s Emily Moore. Starting today, I’ll be your new CEO.” ‘Emily…’ Amelia couldn’t seem to get enough air into her lungs, and she felt lightheaded. Memories started flooding back of her and James, their bodies writhing and entwined in bed. Every time, he’d softly call out a name that she could never fully hear, and she always hoped it was hers—Amelia… Only now did she realize that he was not calling out to her, but to Emily… Amelia clenched her fists, and her long nails dug into her flesh, but she felt no pain. The suffocating feelings of humiliation and abandonment overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t fight her tears. She was so stupid to have fallen in love with James, a man who would never ever love her back.

After exchanging pleasantries, Emily took James’s arm and followed Lily to the CEO’s office. Bella craned her neck and looked at their backs with envy. “Mr. Evans personally picked her up and escorted her on her first day of work? That HAS to mean he still loves her!” Olivia patted her shoulder and said, “It’s not just that. She’s only just returned to the country and she’s already taking over as CEO, so the old shareholders may not be completely convinced she’s up to the task. By personally escorting her on her first day, Mr. Evans is warning everyone that she has the backing of the Evans Group!” “He’s so quick to show his love and support for her. Mr. Evans really is the perfect man.” Bella cupped her hand on her chin and sighed. Olivia’s eyes were also full of jealousy. “If she weren’t the chairman’s daughter, she wouldn’t have been chosen by the most powerful man inArcadia,” she said. Bella shook her head disapprovingly. “Don’t think so. Ms. Moore is accomplished too. She’s highly educated and classy, and obviously she also looks beautiful . Speaking of her looks…” Bella looked at Amelia and continued, “Amelia… don’t you think you look kind of similar to our new CEO?” Olivia also came over to take a close look. “Jesus… you do look a bit like her, Amelia. But honestly I think you’re way prettier!” “Don’t be ridiculous,” Amelia said abruptly, and then she got up and went to the bathroom. “What’s up with her?” Bella looked at Amelia’s thin back and asked worriedly. Olivia sneered and said, “Maybe she’s jealous because she thinks Emily is so much luckier than her, even though they practically have the same face!” Bella didn’t continue. Olivia had always been two-faced, so it was better not to talk to her too much. Amelia entered the bathroom and quickly took out some medicine to relieve the pain in her heart. She was so anxious that she swallowed it down without drinking any water. After calming down for a few long moments, she turned on the faucet, splashed her face with cold water, and looked up at her reflection. It was clear that Amelia’s illness was ravaging her body, her cheeks sunken and her skin dull. ‘But Emily…’ While she was in a daze, the bathroom door opened, and in came Emily, her high heels clicking with each step. Her face was soft and delicate, with a rosy glow, and she exuded an effortless elegance. It was like Bella said. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was educated, classy, successful… Everything that Amelia was not. When her eyes met Emily’s, she felt inferiority pierce through her chest. She quickly lowered her head, pulled out a tissue, and turned to leave. “Wait a minute.” Emily suddenly called out to her. Amelia froze on the spot. She felt a strange sense of shame flow through her, after spending so many years as this woman’s “substitute”. Emily walked up to her and smiled gently. ” You’re an assistant in the CEO’s office, right? Was it ‘Amelia?’” Amelia tried to calm her pounding heart, lowered her head, and nodded at Emily. “Yes that’s right, Ms. Moore.” “Nice to meet you again, Amelia.” Emily raised the watch on her wrist, looked at the time, and said to her, “I’m going to hold a board meeting in half an hour. Can you make me a coffee and send it to my office? I need a little ‘pick-me-up’.” Amelia was a little hesitant. James was still in the president’s office, after all. But she had not resigned yet, so she still had to do whatever Emily asked her to. Amelia had no choice but to nod, thinking she would ask Bella to bring the coffee in her place. “Thank you,” Emily said, and walked out with her head held high, the textbook image of a CEO. Her confidence and brilliance were a stark contrast to Amelia. She felt as though she was like a counterfeit Emily. Useless, something to be discarded. Just like James did to her Amelia stood there motionless for a while before she collected herself, exited the bathroom, and went straight to the break room. She made a simple coffee and went to ask one of the others to send it to the CEO’s office. However, they had already been called to perform other tasks, so she had to bring it herself. Amelia timidly knocked twice on the office door. “Come in please.” Emily’s gentle voice came from inside. After taking a deep breath, she summoned the courage to open the door and enter. When she opened the door, she saw Emily sitting on James’s lap. Although she was mentally prepared to see James, she hadn’t expected this sight. Her hands trembled, and she struggled not to spill the coffee all over the floor. Afraid that the two of them would notice her discomfort, she quickly lowered her eyes and pretended as if nothing was wrong. “Ms. Moore, here is your coffee.” Emily was a little embarrassed and said to Amelia, “Just leave it here, thank you.” Amelia nodded, put the coffee on Emily’s desk, and turned to walk out. She didn’t look at James once the whole time. After leaving the CEO’s office, Amelia’s legs buckled under her. She leaned against the wall to regain her balance. The way Emily sat so comfortably in his lap… It reminded Amelia of how James would position her in the same way, when they would have sex. Although the two didn’t do anything explicit, Amelia’s mind was flooded with images of them together before, moaning and grinding and loving each other. She imagined James’s hands touching Emily’s body while she sat in his lap, the same way that James had touched her first. But no… that wasn’t correct. It wasn’t her that James touched first. He had definitely made love to Emily in that position, and so many more, long before she ever came along. Because she… was just his substitute lover.

Amelia pressed down on her chest, trying to force her heartbeat to slow in fear that it would stop, and struggled to return to her desk. She wanted to quit as soon as possible. She couldn’t bear to see the two of them so happily in love in front of her every day, for her few remaining days on Earth. She was afraid she might even lose it, and walk right up to James in front of everyone at the office, weeping and asking him why he couldn’t love her like she loved him. After she finished writing her resignation letter, she went to ask Lily, who was in charge of the CEO’s office, to approve it. Lily never really liked her. She didn’t try that hard to convince Amelia to stay, and only said a few words before agreeing to approve her resignation. The whole process would take a month, and Amelia could not leave immediately, so she had to take half a month of annual leave first. She had worked at Elite International Corporation for five years, and the annual leave she had was 15 days. It would make sense for her to take a break before resigning. Seeing that Amelia was in such a hurry, Lily couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “I can approve your leave, but as soon as it’s over you’d better come back and finish your work before your last day.” “Okay,” Amelia replied. Then, she picked up her bag and left. As she hurried out of the company, she saw Kevin Harris, the president of the Harris Group. He was a well-known pervert in Arcadia, and he loved to play with women, regardless of whether they wanted to play too. Amelia was so scared when she saw him walking towards her, a snakelike smile on his face, that she quickly turned around. But Kevin was quicker. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. “Where are you going in such a rush, baby?” He lowered his head, leaned close to Amelia’s ear, and gently blew against her. His warm breath on her ear made her goosebumps rise, and she shivered in disgust. Amelia pushed Kevin away desperately, but he held her waist tight, unable to move. “You smell so good…” He pushed his nose into her hair and inhaled deeply, while his hands moved upward to touch her chest. Amelia pressed down on his hand and said coldly, “Mr. Harris, please behave yourself.” “Behave? Why should I?” Kevin said mischievously, nibbling on her earlobe. Kevin may have looked unassuming, but his words and actions repulsed Amelia to her core. She turned her head and showed disgust in her eyes. But Kevin didn’t care. In fact, it excited him even more. The more a woman resisted, the more he wanted to conquer her. Kevin lifted her chin with one hand and caressed her cheek with his fingers. “Mr. Harris, please. Have some dignity. We hardly know each other.” Amelia shook off his hand angrily . Kevin first targeted Amelia when she went to deliver documents to the Harris Group a month ago. Since then, he had often come to the company to harass her under the guise of business. Whenever he met her, he touched her inappropriately or harassed her with rude words. Amelia needed this job to earn money, so she couldn’t afford to offend Kevin, and so she always endured his harassment. But now that she was about to leave this company for good, she was no longer afraid of him. Unexpectedly, although she treated him coldly, Kevin was not fazed. He even pinched her face affectionately. “Maybe we aren’t close,” he hissed. “But if you accepted my offer to spend the night with me, we could get to know each other much better.” He was persistent, she gave him that. Amelia suppressed her disgust and pushed his body away. The more she resisted, the tighter his grip on her became. He kissed her hard on her cheek. The feel of his ice-cold lips on her skin almost made Amelia puke. Just as she was about to punch Kevin in the face, she suddenly heard a voice behind her. “James?”

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On the day before the wedding, I accidentally discovered his chat logs with his bros. “I’ve never seen such a gullible person.” “She is from a single-parent family, you know? She lacks love. ” “That’s why she will be always simping for me even for a little benefit.” …… I once really thought he was the one who saved me from the mire, but he was just making fool out of me. I thought it was love, but in fact all my sincerity did not get any repay.

The guy next to me was saying something. I didn’t know what he was saying, but I knew that he was talking to me. Drunk Ezra couldn’t understand English. Instead of paying attention to his words I payed attention to his lips. He had nice ones. As he talked to me I watched his lips imagining what it would be like to kiss him. Drunk Ezra was also reckless and I was feeling real reckless tonight. I had gotten into an argument with my ex-boyfriend. I know it was a cliche, but I couldn’t help myself. I was frustrated. Jaxon was… Insane, to say the least. He was insanely jealous and insanely selfish. He was materialistic and possesive and honestly I didn’t see how we’d lasted as long as we had. I turned to the guy, placing my arm on his shoulder. “You look hot, you want to take a walk?” I mumbled widening my eyes. I was told my eyes were my best feature. He smirked reaching over and pushing my hair out of my face. “Get your hands off of me, Lewis.” he said slowly, enunciating every syllable. I raised a brow. “I’ll take a walk with you.” The guy on the other side of me said and I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to take a walk with him. “How do you know my name?” I slurred blinking my eyes rapidly trying to clear my vision. He laughed. “God, you must be plowed. It’s barely nine o’clock.” I was convinced I didn’t know this stranger. But I wanted to get to know him. So I turned my flirt on. “Listen, buddy. Are we leaving or not?” He gave me an uninterested look. “Definitely not. I’m going to pass.” Weirdly, I didn’t even feel the sting of rejection. The alcohol was really doing it’s job. “Fine.” I mumbled turning sloppily in my seat to the other guy. “You interested?” I wasn’t normally this loose but I was in desperate need of some male companionship today. “I am very interested.” The man said looking me up and down. “Not happening buddy.” The guy on my right said sounding annoyed. The man looked him over, most likely trying to decide if he could take him. Deciding that he probably couldn’t, he mumbled something under his breath before rising from his seat and walking away from the bar. “Pretty stupid to get plastered and try to pickup random guys at a bar.” The guy mumbled swirling his drink in his hands. “You know my name. Obviously you’re not a stranger.” I mumbled. He tossed his drink back, placing a few bills on the bar. “I wasn’t talking about me. And you must be near death to admit to flirting with me.” I narrowed my eyes, staring at him. He did seem kind of familiar now that I thought about it. Then again my own right hand was a stranger to me at the moment. “Call your friend to pick you up, Ezra. Don’t be stupid.” “What friend?” I couldn’t think of one friend I had. The guy shrugged. “Red hair, Legs up to her ears. Scrawny thing. Sarah- Sadie? Who cares. Give her a call.” I smacked my lips, childishly. “Can’t Call Stella.” I said laughing hard. “She’s throwing a party tonight. I’m supposed to be entertainment but I dipped out.” I laughed again. The guy raised a brow with an annoyed expression on his face. “Entertainment?” I nodded seriously. “I’m supposed to converse and contain. It’s an Alpha Phi Nu thing. But Jax is a part of Alpha Phi Nu so no thanks.” I laughed pointing to myself. “Did I say Nu thanks?” The guy actually smirked now. “Your going to hate yourself in the morning Lewis.” I groaned. “I hate myself right now.” He frowned. It was true. I did hate myself at the moment. For some reason, I always pushed people away. I did it with my foster parents, with my friends growing up, and now I was doing it with Jax. “Stop saying stupid shit.” The guy growled, snatching the remainder of my double shot away from me. I pouted as he chugged that too. He probably was right. In hindsight this was a pretty stupid idea. Damn it, I needed to stop letting Jax make me do stupid things. It was really unhealthy. “Hey?” I was brought out of my thoughts by the guy snapping his fingers in my face. “I said let’s go.” I chuckled. “Nice try big guy. I’m not going home with you.” He rolled his eyes sliding out of his seat. “Sure you are. Don’t pretend this isn’t a dream come true for you Lewis. You can sleep off your drunk on my couch.” I pushed his hand away when he reached for me. “I don’t even know you.” True. But that hadn’t mattered to me mere minutes ago. He grabbed my arm, pulling me off of my stool. “In the morning you’re going to wish I was a stranger. Let’s go, or I’ll call your pretty boy ex to come scoop you. I’m assuming you don’t want that.” He had me there. I didn’t want that. “Don’t blackmail me.” I mumbled following him out of the bar. “It’s not blackmail. Obviously I couldn’t leave you in there. And you said I was a terrible person.” He laughed to himself. “Look at me, doing nice things.” When had I said that? He was having a full conversation with himself now. “Not only am I being super responsible, and a gentleman, but to a girl I don’t even like. I’m a fucking saint.” I smirked as a Lyft pulled up in front of us, the driver a middle aged man with an awesome beard. The guy pushed me into the car before sitting next to me and slamming the door. When his leg brushed mine I felt heat travel straight to the center of my body. Not thinking I placed my hand on his knee. “Hey, stop that.” He complained, grabbing my hand and placing it in my lap. I laughed. “Such a gentleman.” I slurred allowing my head to fall onto his shoulder when it became heavy. “Don’t fall asleep in this car Ezra, or you’ll be waking up in it.” I didn’t listen. I fell asleep. *********************** My head was on fire. No, actually it was currently sitting in a vat of acid just sizzling away and there was nothing I could do about it. I was paralyzed. My throat was dry, I was ready to kill for a cool drink of water. I rolled onto my side, taking a deep breath before opening my eyes. The room was dark. There was a large TV on the wall that was shut off and what looked like a miniature basketball court sitting right next to it. I groaned. Great, my one night stand was with some man child. I couldn’t remember the night clearly. I remembered talking to some guy and getting into a car with him but after that… nada. I sat up in the surprisingly comfortable bed. Hmm… I didn’t feel better. The whole reason for my one night stand idea was to get over Jax. But my mind was still on him, even while I was in another man’s bed. Pushing myself out of the bed, I grabbed my purse off of the floor. I had planned for this, and I had come prepared. Walking a few steps to the closet, I realized I was still in my sleek black dress. Damn it. Did I even have sex last night? With a groan I walked into the adjoining bathroom and pulled my toothbrush out of my purse. I brushed my teeth before splashing water onto my face. Surprisingly, I looked good. My face was free of makeup, my skin was a little pale but it just made my catlike green eyes stand out more. My stupid hair was stick straight as usual. It never got tangled or curly or anything other than limp straight hair. Sometimes I hated it but at the moment it was working for me. My dress was still tight against me and after adjusting it a little bit, I looked like I was ready to go out all over again. I smiled to myself mentally preparing for the conversation I was going to have with the stranger who I definitely did not sleep with. When I walked back into the bedroom he was sitting on the bed and I almost threw up. “Oh my god.” I groaned pushing myself against the wall so that I was out of his vision. I hid my face in my hands. “Morning sweetheart.” He said with what I could tell was a cocky smirk. “How’d you sleep?” He said in a song song voice. Kody fucking Vincent. I hit my fist against my head a couple of times cursing myself. How could I be so stupid? How could I come home with Kody out of all the guys in that bar. “I’m going to kill myself.” I mumbled. Kody laughed. “You know Lewis, I had originally thought that all of your animosity towards me was just sexual frustration but I put that thought away months ago. I guess I was right all along.” This was just something I was going to have to deal with. I made bad decisions and I was going to have to pay for them. Sucking in a deep breath I walked the rest of the way into the room. Kody looked me over quickly, rolling his eyes and mumbling something to himself. He looked good. His blonde hair was covered in a bandanna and his grey wife beater was soaked in sweat. He had on Adidas track pants and he was barefoot. I chewed on my lip. He wasn’t entirely wrong about the sexual frustration thing. “Don’t start with me Vincent. I have a headache the size of your Ego.” He didn’t miss a beat. “You were trying to get a good look at my ‘ego’ last night Lewis. Wanna see it now?” I snorted looking around the side of his bed for my shoes, I had to get out of here. “Not if it was filled with morphine.” That was obviously the wrong thing to say. “It’s filled with something that will make you feel much better babe.” He said walking up to his window and snatching the curtains opened. When the light filled the room, my eyes widened. His face was marked. There was an angry red bruise sitting under his left eye. I raised a brow. Kody didn’t look like the type to get beat up. And the whole sweaty bruised combination was doing strange things to my sexual frustration. “Get caught with somebody’s girlfriend?” I asked nodding my head towards his face. He rolled his eyes. “You really don’t remember do you? Lewis, you couldn’t keep your hands off of me last night. You decked me when I calmly told you I wasn’t going to put out.” My face burned as I turned my attention away from him. Now that he mentioned it, flashes from the previous night were starting to invade my brain. “Don’t flatter yourself” was my weak comeback. Even I could hear the heat in my voice. I knew he could. Kody chuckled walking up to me, his eyes swirling with an emotion that made me uneasy. “You wanted me Lewis. The only thing keeping me from taking you, was the fact that you were drunk.” I definitely didn’t take him for the gentleman type. I pushed his shoulder back. “Back off from me Vincent. You missed your chance to ride this ride.” He didn’t move. “You’re not drunk right now, Ezra.” I swear, my name sounded so sexy coming off of his lips. I needed to leave asap. “In your dreams.” I mumbled attempting to walk past him when it became clear that he wasn’t going to move. He didn’t say anything as I walked past him clutching my heels in my hands. I looked around the room. The bed was messy and the floor was covered in discarded clothes. for some reason, that was turning me on. My sexual frustration was at an all time high. “Okay.” I said squishing my eyes shut and turning on my heels. “Okay Vincent. Let’s do this.” I quickly opened my eyes. I had ripped the bandaid off, now it was simply a waiting game. He didn’t even seem surprised by my outburst. He simply stood were he was, waiting for me to make the first move. “One time only. No strings attached. No one finds out.” I said when he stayed quiet. Our friends kind of ran in the same circles. “Who am I going to tell?” He said casually, still playing it cool. I knew he wanted me. He’d always wanted me, he just couldn’t stand that I had my own mind and didn’t bend to his every whim. And I couldn’t stand that he was a cocky little shit who had a perfect life. But yeah… I’d wanted him. Nodding my head, I walked up to him, deciding to dive right in. “So, are you a take charge kind of guy or are you secretely a sub?” He smirked as his eyes turned a shade darker.”You talk to much, Lewis.” He said before bending down to meet my lips.

Five Weeks Later Macy was a perfect roommate most of the time. She was easy going and very funny and she never took anything too seriously. That was the problem at the moment. She wasn’t taking this seriously. She laughed leaning back on her bed, her heavily conditioned hair staining her ivory sheets. “You said it was the best sex you’d ever had.” She said in between laughs. I pursed my lips waiting for her to finish. “You said…” she broke out in another laugh. “You said it was the best decision you’d ever made.” Tears were actually coming out of her eyes now. “Oh my god. It’s killing me.” She clutched her stomach pounding her fist against the bed. I simply stared at her. I kind of wanted to fight her. “Are you done?” I asked after the chuckles died down a bit. She nodded her head, still chuckling. I walked over to her bed sitting down next to her and laying my head on her shoulder. “What am I going to do, Mace?” I groaned. She smacked her lips together. “Let me see it, you probably didn’t even read it right.” She said holding a hand out.” I groaned. “It’s one line or two lines Mace. I’m not blind.” Still, I handed her the stick closing my eyes and praying for her to tell me that there was actually only one line and I was just delusional. “Damn, bitch you pregnant.” She mumbled ending on a chuckle. I quickly snatched the stick back from her looking at it again, as if I hadn’t been staring at it for the past hour. “I can’t do this.” I said after a while, my hand subconsciously trailing to my stomach. Macy flicked me. “You can do anything girl. I know you. Strongest bitch I’ve ever met.” Tears welled in my eyes. “No, I really can’t do this. I can’t-” my breath caught and suddenly my lungs began to burn. I couldn’t breath. I sat up in the bed placing my hand over my heart. Was I dying? Was the baby killing me? It would make sense considering who it’s dad was. “Breathe, girl.” Macy said rubbing my back. “And be quiet unless you want Stella coming in here and yelling at us. If she finds out you’re carrying, you’re out of the house.” That was the least of my concerns. “I can’t have a baby, Macy.” I hissed. “I definitely can’t have Kody Vincent’s baby.” She smirked. “Looks like you can sis.” I stood up. “Dammit, we used a condom. I’m going to go over there and kill that son of a bitch.” When I headed for the door, Macy grabbed my arm. “I wouldn’t do that. We should go to the doctor and have you checked out. That’s usually the first thing they do in the movies.” “Before they tell the guy? I don’t think so. I’m going to go beat Kody into a pulp and then we’ll both go to the doctor. ” I said. “Me for a checkup and him to have my foot removed from his small intestine.” Macy laughed. “I can’t believe you have Kody Vincent’s child in your belly right now.” I closed my eyes taking a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s go to the doctors. There’s a chance that the only thing I have in my stomach is your chipotle.” She widened her eyes. “I knew that was you.” She growled. **************************** “Okay, Mrs Lewis every thing looks fine at the moment. I agree with you on the date of conception. That puts you at a little over four weeks. I’m going to prescribe you some prenatal vitamins and schedule you a follow up but other than that everything looks healthy.” I simply stared at her. She raised a brow before continuing. “Both mommy and baby are doing fine sweetheart.” She said slowly, probably thinking I wasn’t understanding her. “I can’t be mommy.” I didn’t mean to say it out loud but somehow my thoughts materialized into actual words. The doctors face fell and sadness filled her eyes. “Hey, have you talked about options with anyone yet?” I shook my head. I didn’t want options. I wanted to not be in this situation. “Okay, well we have a person right in the building you can talk to. I can send you to her.” I shook my head studying the doctor. She was really pretty with blonde hair that stopped just above her shoulders and sparkly green eyes. She looked young and happy, like she had everything going for her. “What would you do?” I asked. She widened her eyes at my question before nodding her head. She put her clipboard down, walking towards the bed and sitting me before sending me a smile. “Does the dad know?” I shook my head. She nodded, not seeming surprised. “What about your parents?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m a foster kid. I don’t have anyone.” I recognized the pity in her expression. “So it’ll just be you and this little person you created against the world?” She asked lightly. I didn’t respond. She stood back up clearing her throat. “I don’t know what I would do in your situation Mrs Lewis. I’d like to think I would make a decision I could live with and not regret.” She scribbled something down in a notebook. “Here.” She handed me the paper with the prescription. Her number was scrawled underneath it. “If you have any questions or you just want to talk, give me a call. I wanted to cry again because of how nice she was being. Instead I studied her name tag. Ana Miller. “Thank you.” I mumbled sliding off of the bed. “Thank you so much.” I wiped at my face as I headed for the door. “Your welcome. Don’t forget the follow up.” I nodded exiting to the waiting room were Macy was sitting smugly. “How’d it go?” She asked when she saw me. I grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.” I didn’t want to talk in front of anybody that went to our school. She nodded understanding. When we made it to her car, I burst into tears for what felt like the millionth time that day. “I’m going to be a college drop out, Mace.” I said. Macy tugged at my hair. “No you are not. I’m not going to let you. We can move out together and get an off campus apartment. We’ll get jobs and you can get a babysitter. And you can bet your ass Kody is going to be financially responsible even if he doesn’t want to be in this child’s life.” That just made me cry harder. I knew how important a father was in a child’s life. I had loved mine with all my heart. “Hey, don’t stress too much. It’s bad for our child.” That made me laugh a little and I took a deep breath wiping my face. I needed to get my shit together. Crying was not going to get me out of this situation. “Shut up Macy.” I said lightly. This girl didn’t take anything seriously. She shrugged. “I’m serious. We can get married, but you’ll have to take my last name.” I rolled my eyes. “How’s Jamie going to take the news.” Macy raised a brow. “Obviously we’ll be a throuple Ezzie.” I groaned at the nickname. “I’m going to do it, Mace.” I placed my hand over my stomach. A wave of protectiveness washed over me and I looked down at my flat stomach. “We’ll be fine.” And I wasn’t talking to Macy when I said that.

Now that I had accepted that I was going to have a child, the next hardest part was telling Kody. I didn’t want to. I wanted to pretend I had gotten knocked up by some other one nightstand and raise my child on my own, but Macy had guilted me into spilling my guts. I woke up early Saturday morning, sneaking out of the house before Stella could guilt me into running an errand for her. The sun was out which was rare. It was warm so I wore a white T-shirt with my favorite denim shorts. I tied my hair into a high ponytail allowing my fringe to escape. I looked cute but relaxed. The outfit was the only part of me that was relaxed. My hands shook as I walked across campus to take the shuttle. I didn’t have a car yet and I thought about how crazy it was that I was about to have a baby before I got a car. Or a career. Or a fucking clue. Don’t get me wrong, babies were always in the plan. The ten year plan. After college and marriage. I didn’t want my kids to go through what I had went through. But that was in the clouds now and this was real life. As I walked to Kody’s house I plotted. The measly tips I made working as a waitress at the local diner wasn’t going to cut it. I couldn’t drop out of school. I just needed a better job. I needed a plan. I had eight months to get it together. Taking a seat on the shuttle, I pulled out my phone and began to jot things down in my notes app. Things I needed in the next six months: An Apartment A better job To tell Kody that he had gotten me pregnant I tapped my finger on the screen as I tried to come up with more stuff that absolutely needed to be on the list. I was pulled out of my thoughts by the bell ringing on the shuttle. Collecting my bag, I made my way off of the bus and proceeded to walk the three blocks to Kody’s apartment. Everyone on campus knew where Kody lived considering he was wildly popular. It wasn’t a shock as to why. For one thing he was insanely good looking with pale blonde hair and a sharp jawline. His eyes were a cool blue and his eyelashes were thick, just one look had girls dropping their panties. If that wasn’t enough, he was rich. Not insanely rich or anything but he had more money than the average student at Winterbrook U. Surprisingly enough, he wasn’t much of a snob and you could barely tell he was loaded. But his apartment was one of the things he had splurged on. I trudged up the steps leading to his one bedroom that was located on the third floor. I had never been inside his apartment before our one night stand and I wasn’t excited to be going back. I didn’t want to look like a groupie. Making my way to his door, I raised my fist, briefly knocking before I could lose my nerve. The door was almost immediately pulled open, a stranger standing in the doorway. I took a small step back, thinking that I had knocked on the wrong door. The guy looked confused, reaching a hand out and scratching the back of his neck. “You’re not Pizza Hut.” he said with a smirk. I looked him over. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy Kody would hang out with. He was tall and kind of wiry with lean muscles. His hair was shaggy and his lips were baby pink. He was kind of adorable. “Uh, I’m looking for Kody.” I said, clearing my throat. The guy smirked, leaning against the door. “Is that right?” He looked me over, seeming to have an internal debate in his head. I clenched my teeth. “It is right.” I snapped. “And instead of ogling me like some sort of creep, maybe you could just let him know that I am here.” The guy tilted his head to the side. “Calm down, midget.” He said with a smirk. “If you must know, I was deciding if it was worth hearing Kody’s mouth to see some girl drama. I’ve decided it is. Come on in.” He stepped to the side while I scowled at him. Midget? I was actually pretty tall. I stood at five feet seven inches and I normally towered over all of my girl friends. Who was he to call me a midget? I stepped past him, rolling my eyes. I froze when I focused on Kody’s living room. It was filled with guys. It smelled like weed and I noticed a couple of blunts being passed around. Kody was sat on his couch, a blunt behind his ear. He had his eyes closed. He seemed relaxed. I wanted to smack him. When the occupants of the living room noticed me, the room began to quiet down. I opened my mouth to say something but I found myself speechless. I suddenly regretted my choice of outfit. “Kody, you have a guest.” The guy who had opened the door said with a smirk. Kody slowly opened his eyes. When they made contact with me he narrowed them before looking around the room. “Beast, clear it out.” He said quickly pulling the blunt from behind his ear and throwing it onto the table. “You heard the Cap.” A guy with dark olive skin said standing quickly. Now he looked like the kind of guy Kody would have out with and I didn’t miss the side look over he gave me. All of a sudden the living room began to clear out. I didn’t miss the stares I was getting or the mumbles. I chose to ignore them as I glared at Kody. This was going to be the father of my kid? “King, wipe that smirk off of your face and beat it.” Kody said rolling his eyes. The guy who opened the door stayed where he was. “Alright, but this is really my last job Cap. I mean it.” Kody glared. “Whatever. ” King sent me an amused look before walking out of the apartment leaving me and Kody alone. “Lewis. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Kody asked standing up now and walking over to me. I ignored his question. “What did he mean, ‘one more job?” Kody rolled his eyes, opening his fridge and pulling out a water bottle. “That’s none of your concern. Why are you even here?” I folded my hands nervously. “I actually needed to talk to you but-” “We decided that was going to be a one time thing, Lewis.” Kody mumbled taking a long swig from the bottle. God, did he have to make every action so damn attractive. “That’s not why I’m here.” I said. Kody smirked. “Sure. You came to my house in those short shorts because you wanted to talk about what, the history final?” He laughed. “Don’t be so transparent.” I raised a brow. “Are you high?” I asked because now that I thought about it, he was acting high. He walked closer to me, stopping with just an inch of space between us. I had backed up into the counter. He was definitely high. “I’m not high, Lewis. I’m just stating the facts. And if you want another round in my bed, your going to have to do much better than shorts and an unexpected visit. That’s such a cliche.” I pushed him away from me, stepping neatly around him. “Get your shit together Kody. I don’t want another round in your bed. Do you even hear how much of an asshole you sound like?” He shrugged taking another drink from his bottle. This was a mistake. I couldn’t believe I had let Macy talk me into doing this. “You know what Kody, ” I said tightening my bag on my arm. “Have a nice life. Good luck ending up like every single other smoked out teen in this town. ” I wasn’t going to let my child be around that. Not to mention whatever gang related activities were going on around here. He glared at me as I walked towards his door. “Screw you, Ezra.” He said. I ignored the expression on his face because it seemed like his feelings were hurt. But I couldn’t care about Kody’s feelings. “You already did.” I tossed back, slamming the door.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397501”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #Playboy #rich #Obsession #Pregnancy #HatetoLove #OneNightStand #Romance

Lila’s POV Today I had my first kiss. It wasn’t planned. It was also with a complete stranger. I’ve always had my first kiss envisioned from the moment I learned what real love was. I imagined the sparks we would feel as we share that passionate moment. I imagined what my wolf would feel like when she recognizes him as our mate. Going to a large college, I thought I would at least find one person that would make me want to give him everything my heart had to offer. But I never felt what my mother felt for my father. I’ve had a boyfriend for a couple of months, but it still never felt right. I keep thinking that when I turn 18 and get my wolf, maybe she would recognize him as our mate. Maybe he’s the one I’m supposed to be with for the rest of my life, even if I don’t see it yet. But the moon goddess thought otherwise. As I walked through the halls of my school, Higala Shifter Academy, I paused when a familiar sense washed over me. My boyfriend, Scott, was nearby, and he wasn’t alone. The halls were growing quiet as students went to class. It was only the sounds my heartbeat left as I made my way around the corner, only pausing when I heard a familiar giggle of a she-wolf, Sarah, and the husky growls of Scott. “You are so naughty, Scott,” Sarah chuckled. “Only for you, babe,” he replied, muffled as her lips closed around his. At that moment, I felt sick to my stomach. My next class, ceramics, was with Scott. I didn’t even want to take that class, but he thought it would be fun to take a class together. I was an art student, so I agreed. As I stepped away, I paused as I saw a tall and broad gentleman across the hall, staring in my direction. Our eyes met only briefly and I had to admit that he was strikingly handsome. “Oh, Scott. Stop it. You know we can’t be seen together. What if your girlfriend finds us?” “She’s in class. She’s never late. You don’t need to worry.” My heart was heavy in my chest, but also a wave of fury and resentment crossed me. A crease formed between the gentlemen’s brows. I realized tears had escaped my eyes. They weren’t so much as tears of heartbreak, more like tears of disappointment. I wiped my face with the back of my hand and was about to walk past him. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. Just as Scott came around the corner, I felt him freezing as he saw me. Sarah stood beside him, and I heard her gasp. I met her beautiful blue eyes. “Lila?” Scott breathed, staring at me in shock “What are you—” Before he could get the entire question out, I turned to the gentleman beside me, placing my hands on his shoulders and pulling him toward me. He went easily, though his eyes showed nothing but confusion. I closed my eyes tightly so I wouldn’t have to see his expression any longer. Then, our lips touched. His lips were soft, and they tasted so sweet, almost like marshmallows. However, his lips remained unmoving. His hands rested lazily by his sides, though mine moved comfortably around his neck. My heart was beating rapidly in my chest. I had no idea what I was doing. I’m not sure why I did it; maybe to hurt Scott. Maybe because I was sick of holding out for something that might never be good enough in comparison to the role models I grew up with. Either way, I seized the moment. Though, I had no idea who this man was. I pulled away from him, breathlessly gazing up at his grey eyes. They were growing darker as he stared into me. I wasn’t sure what lingered in his gaze, but he didn’t pull away from me. My hands continued to rest behind his neck, and I realized I was pressing my body into him. My face grew warm as I stepped away, touching my fingers to my lips. That was my first-ever kiss. What. Did. I. Do? “I need to get to class,” he said, his tone was low and almost husky. That was the first thing he’s ever said to me. I was too stunned at my own actions to even ask him what his name was. But I nodded, brushing my dark hair out of my face with my fingers. Scott and Sarah had already gone to class. I turned away from him, without saying anything and went in the direction of the main office. All I could think about at that moment was getting out of my next class. I couldn’t face Scott again after that. Even as I walked away, I could feel the gentlemen’s eyes on the back of my head, watching me. … “Unfortunately, there’s only one class available. All other seats are filled,” the receptionist, at the main office, said, glancing at her computer. “And what class would that be?” I asked, trying to keep the tears from resurfacing in my eyes. “Shifting and Combat,” she answered, staring up at me. “Would that be all right?” Shifting? I had yet to obtain my wolf; so, that class might be difficult. However, I was skilled in combat. “Anything but ceramics,” I said to her in return. She frowned for a moment. “Is everything all right, Lila? You aren’t being bullied in that class, are you?” She asked. “I can give your father—” “No!” I said quickly; the last thing I wanted was for my father to find anything out about what had happened. He was the head of the Alpha Committee and worked closely with Scott’s dad, another Alpha. “It’s nothing like that,” I assured her. She looked unconvinced, but she nodded just the same as she looked back at her computer, typing away. She soon printed out a new schedule, handing it to me. “You are now in Shifting and Combat 101 with Professor Enzo. It’s in the school arena. You can head there right now.” The arena was on the opposite end of the school; I’ve only been there a few times to practice my combatting. But how was I going to get through a semester of shifting classes when I couldn’t even shift? My 18(th) birthday was only a few days away; I was supposed to be heading home for the weekend to celebrate with my family. I thought I would have obtained my wolf by now, but I was mistaken. I was the youngest wolf to get accepted into the Higala Shifting Academy; one of the largest schools for werewolf and bear shifters. I was also the only one who didn’t have a wolf yet. But that didn’t mean I was incapable. Like my mother, I am a Volana wolf. Volanas are more powerful than regular wolves. The moon goddess had gifted us with many different abilities. Although, I haven’t received these abilities just yet. However, I’ve studied and practiced my entire life, with some of the greatest gamma warriors and my father, on how to fight and defend myself. I reached the arena and stood outside the doors; I could already hear the growling of wolves as they practiced their combat with one another. Stepping inside, my eyes scanned the area briefly. Not one wolf was paying me any attention, they were fixated on each other. They were large and ferocious looking; it reminded me of the gamma training I used to watch growing up. Stepping further into the arena, I allowed the door to shut firmly behind me. The biggest wolf stood on the far side of the arena, overlooking the combat unfolding before him. That had to have been the professor. He was a beautiful dark wolf that almost looked blue from the crystal lighting that danced off his thick fur. His dark eyes scanned the arena briefly before they landed on mine. He looked oddly familiar; it wasn’t until he shifted back into his human form that I realized who he was. It was him… The man I kissed only moments ago in the hallway. The man I had given my first kiss to, was my professor.

Lila’s POV I couldn’t believe that the man I had shared my first kiss with was my professor. Suddenly, it felt like the arena wasn’t big enough. Professor Enzo was extremely handsome and incredibly muscular. I ran my eyes from his gorgeous grey eyes down to his incredible 8 pack abs. His arms were large, and I could see small veins appearing around his biceps. His dark, wavy hair was kind of shaggy, dancing around his broad and manly features. He had sweat beading on his forehead and dripping down the side of his face, and some more sweat on his chest, dripping down his torso. My face instantly began to redden as he walked toward me. “Can I help you with something?” He asked, raising his brows, and meeting my eyes. “Sorry; I just transferred to this class,” I say to him, showing him my printed schedule. “I’m Lila…” He looked at the schedule briefly; silence growing thick between us as he pulled his eyes from the schedule and back onto my face. “You can join the other students,” he said, turning away from me. My eyes widened as I glanced at the others who were still fighting in their wolf forms. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. “Actually, I can’t shift,” I say quickly before he’s able to walk away. He freezes; for a moment, I thought I heard a low growl in the dept of his throat. “What?” He asked in a disbelieving and slightly annoyed, tone. He turned back and I saw that his grey eyes were now dark and threatening. “What do you mean you can’t shift?” “I mean… I haven’t gotten my wolf yet,” I tell him, biting my lip hard. He glanced down at my mouth, staring as I chewed my bottom lip nervously. I could feel heat circulating my features. My heart was pounding so quickly and loudly against my chest, I thought he would be able to hear it. “Why are you in a shifting and combat class if you can’t shift?” “I’m good at combat,” I answer. “Just because I don’t have a wolf doesn’t mean I’m not capable. I’ve been practicing my entire life. Let me show you what I can do.” “I don’t have time to babysit,” he muttered, sounding incredibly annoyed. “Besides,” he added. “I don’t have a partner for you. All my students fight in their wolf forms.” “I can train with her,” a she-wolf said as she shifted back into her human form. She had a kind face; her hair was short and dark. Her eyes were big and brown, with long lashes. She was looking at me fondly with a sweet smile. “I don’t mind,” she said again, pulling her eyes from me to look at Professor Enzo. “Fine,” he said. He walked away without another word. “I’m Becca,” she said, holding her hand out for me to shake. I took it, returning her smile. “It’s nice to meet you,” I say in return. “I’m Lila.” “Oh, trust me, I know exactly who you are. I also hear you are one of the best fighters in this school. Professor E. would have been stupid to turn you away.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her words; this was my first year at this school and I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that word travels fast. I’m known around Elysium for my combat and clever mind, but we weren’t in Elysium. We were in Higala. The largest city outside of Elysium. “I appreciate your kind words,” I say in return, and I meant that. She went to say something else, but her words fell short when we heard another, more familiar, voice. “Well, look who it is,” Sarah scoffed. “If it isn’t the little slut; coming to play with the big dogs?” I rose my brows; she was calling me a slut? After I just caught her making out with my boyfriend? “Though I shouldn’t be surprised,” she said, her tone growing icy as she glanced behind her shoulder at Professor Enzo who was staring in our direction with a crease forming between his brows and his frown deepening. “Considering how much you like Professor Enzo; it’s a no-brainer that you’d transfer to his class.” “I’m here to practice my combat skills, like everyone else.” This made her laugh. “Please; the only skills you are practicing are the skills with your lips.” “She’s actually a very capable fighter,” Becca chimed in. “That’s rich coming from a lowly Omega,” Sarah sneered, causing Becca to flinch. “Your kind shouldn’t even be allowed at this school.” Becca looked genuinely hurt by her words. “Ew Sarah, why are you even talking to that Omega?” Another girl said, stepping beside her. Both girls laughed and I saw Becca’s face reddening as she lowered her gaze. “Omegas are nothing but trash,” Sarah agreed. “But what’s worse than an Omega is someone who can’t even shift into their wolf. It’s no wonder your boyfriend wanted my lips instead of yours.” I stepped in front of Becca, blocking her out of sight of the other wolves. “What gives you the right to decide if an Omega is capable or not? I happened to have seen her fight only moments ago and she seemed quite capable to me. It’s my understanding that we are at this school to learn. So, let’s not cause issues for one another,” I said, staring around at their faces. “As for my boyfriend goes…” I say, meeting Sarah’s eyes. “He’s clearly not man enough to be able to handle me. So, he’s all yours.” Without another word, I grab Becca’s wrist and pull her along with me to a different part of the arena and away from the nasty she-wolves. I got another glimpse of Professor Enzo as we passed, and I thought I saw a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Thank you for standing up for me,” Becca said in a low tone once we were a distance away. “I’m used to being bullied though. Omegas aren’t typically liked around here…” I rose my brows at her, confused. “Why?” I asked. “Some of the best wolves I know are Omegas. They are incredibly kind and genuine. Don’t let bullies like that make you think otherwise.” She beamed a wide smile at me; I could tell she felt a lot better. “It’s obvious some people here don’t recognize you as Alpha Bastien’s daughter. Let’s show them what you can do!” I smiled at her words; that sounded like a perfect idea. I couldn’t shift into my wolf form, which meant, I needed to wow them in other ways. I faced Becca, getting into the stance I was most comfortable in. Soon, we were both fighting. She managed to dodge most of my attacks. However, I was holding back a lot. I didn’t want to hurt her. I dodged her attacks with ease; she couldn’t even come close to me. I could feel the eyes of the other students on me, their mouths gaping as I did an acrobatic move. Something I’m sure none of them were expecting. I did a front flip, kicking my legs out and purposely missing Becca by a hair. Though, it frightened her enough to stumble backward and lose her footing. I grabbed a sphere off the wall of weapons, twirling it in my hands quickly, doing a somersault and twirl move. She dodged the first attack thinking I was aiming for her head when I was actually aiming for her feet. So, she tried to dodge but instead tripped, falling to the ground again. I stepped, lightly, on her chest, pinning her to the ground with the sphere pointed directly at her. She stared up at me with awe; everybody gasped. I looked around, almost forgetting that there was an audience. None of them spoke for a long while until a couple of them clapped. Then, almost everyone started cheering. Everyone except Sarah and her friend. I smiled pleased, taking my foot off Becca, and helping her to her feet. “That was incredible!” She breathed, staring at me with wide eyes. “It was nothing,” I shrugged, putting the sphere back on the rack. I turned to see Professor Enzo staring at me; his arms folded across his chest and his face expressionless. Before I could approach him and ask him what he thought, I heard beeping going across the arena. I frowned as I realized it was everybody’s phone. As they all went to check their phones, I heard the gasps and saw the shocked expressions. Becca covered her mouth with her hand as she stared at her own phone. “What’s going on?” I asked, glancing over her shoulder. As soon as I saw what they were all looking at, my heart plummeted into my stomach. It was a picture of me… kissing… Professor Enzo.

Lila’s POV “Everybody needs to get off their phones!” Professor Enzo’s voice was deep and boomed across the arena. I couldn’t even move; my entire body felt frozen as I stared at the picture on Becca’s phone. I glanced around the arena only to be met with a bunch of curious and shocked expressions. Everybody was staring at me. Sarah and her friend were chuckling as they were glaring at me. “That’s one way to get ahead…” I heard her muttering. Professor Enzo grabbed Becca’s phone to look at the photo; I hadn’t even realized he was approaching us. His jaw twitched as he took in the photo. “This is terrible photoshop skills,” he said, shaking his head as he gave Becca her phone back. “You can clearly see the outlining around my body. Someone is really trying hard to spread nasty rumors.” Everybody pulled their eyes from me to look back at the picture, assessing it. “He’s right… this is terrible photoshop,” someone murmured. “How pathetic. Why go to that many lengths to spread this kind of rumor?” another said, shaking their head. Sarah’s mouth was nothing more than a thin line as her obvious plan was unraveling. I couldn’t help the smile that twitched at the corner of my mouth. “I almost thought for a minute that you actually kissed Professor Enzo,” Becca laughed from beside me, averting my attention from Sarah to her. “Although, I wouldn’t have been surprised. He’s so handsome. Anyone would be lucky to be able to kiss him. A lot of women around here want to.” “Really?” I asked, raising my brows. “Because of how handsome he is?” “That and because he’s very young; he’s only 23,” Becca explains. My eyes widened; I knew he looked young, but I didn’t think he was that young. “He’s also the strongest and toughest professor at this school. Which is to be expected considering he is an Alpha.” “He’s an Alpha?” I asked in surprise; I had no idea. He must know my father then. I couldn’t help but look back at Professor Enzo who was busy showing some students new moves. “Yes,” Becca answered. “I believe he’s the Alpha of the Calypso Pack.” The Calypso Pack. That was the pack my mother was born in; her parents were from the Calypso Pack. I remembered, from when I was young, that their former Alpha was Blaise, the most powerful shifter in the universe. I wondered how Enzo became their Alpha. The thought was quickly brushed from my mind as class concluded. “I’m starving…” Becca said as she gathered her belongings. “We should get some lunch.” “I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell her, glancing over my shoulder at Enzo who was typing something on his phone. He had a stern expression; his eyebrow twitching only slightly. “I need to talk to the professor about something.” “Okay,” Becca said giving me a half-wave. “Then I’ll see you in a bit.” She turned and left the arena with the others, leaving me alone with Professor Enzo. “Professor?” I say, stepping closer to him. He glanced up at his phone to look at me, narrowing his eyes. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for this mess…” “It’s been dealt with,” he muttered, showing me his phone. “I got the picture taken down.” I rose my brows in shock; that was so quick. When he saw my shocked expression, a smirk appeared on his lips. “I know the guy who runs this platform,” he explained. “He took it down without question.” “Thank you,” I said to him, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief. I went to turn away, but his voice stopped me. “I was trying to figure out why you looked so familiar to me and then when I saw you fighting, I realized who you were,” he said. I could feel his eyes on the back of my head and knew how intently he was staring at me even before I turned around to face him. “You are Alpha Bastien’s daughter.” It wasn’t a question. I nodded my head once. “You know my father?” “He’s one of the strongest and fiercest Alphas,” Enzo said; his expression was hard to read. “I can tell that you’ve trained under him.” “For my entire life,” I say, staring down at the ground almost sheepishly. I wasn’t sure why I was feeling embarrassed suddenly. “My father is my role model… as is my mother.” He said nothing to that; he just stared at me for another short while. Soon, he turned away to clean up his belongings. I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. “I’m actually having a birthday party this weekend,” I tell him before I could grasp what I was saying. His body tensed for a moment, and he looked over his shoulder to glance at me. “A lot of Alphas will be there. I’m turning 18, so it’ll be a big bash in Elysium. You’re invited, of course. All Alphas are.” “Is that so?” Another smirk appeared on his lips, causing my heart to somersault. “Yes,” I answer, pleased that my voice didn’t sound strained. “Of course, you don’t have to. But I figured I’d offer the invite.” When he didn’t say anything in response, I took that as my cue to leave. I turned away, feeling awkward, and started to walk toward the exit. “Should I bring anything?” He asked before I could leave. I paused; my breathing got caught in my throat. “Just yourself,” I say, instantly regretting how lame I sounded. I left without another word. … “I can’t believe my daughter is turning 18,” my mother breathed as she wrapped me in her arms. I smiled into her embrace. It felt good to be home after a few weeks of living at the academy. Higala Shifter Academy was about an hour’s drive from Elysium, so I had to live in a dorm room. I tried to come home most weekends though. “How do you feel? Any changes?” My father asked, eyeing my features carefully. I thought about it for a moment before answering; typically, when a wolf was about to make an appearance, it could be felt. I shook my head, sighing in defeat. “I feel the same,” I answer. “Maybe I won’t get a wolf.” “Don’t say that,” my mother said with a frown. “You’ll get your wolf and you’ll be stronger than ever.” “Your mother is right, Lila bean,” my father chimed in. “It’s in your DNA.” I knew they were right; I was just being impatient. I wanted my wolf so badly that it was driving me insane. I was hoping that once I got my wolf, I would be able to sense my mate and get Scott’s betrayal out of my mind. I looked between my parents who loved one another so much; it pulled at my heart. Even after everything they’ve been through in their entire lives, they always stood by each other. My father said that a mate bond is the strongest form of companionship. He’s proved that repeatedly; even when my mother pulled away, he always went after her. He never gave up. He’s loved her unconditionally and I admired that so much. I aspired to have that more than anything. But without a wolf, I felt like that was impossible. “Guests will be arriving soon, Lila bean,” my mother said, giving me a fond smile. I stared myself over in the mirror one last time; I was wearing a silky pink and black dress that flowed evenly around my knees. My father had already gone to greet some of the Alphas that already arrived. My mother stood behind me, staring at me fondly with tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m so proud of you, you know,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around me, and giving me a tight hug. The two of us looked a lot alike; I had her dark hair and fair features. Most importantly, I had her Volana eyes. One violet and the other blue. She released me and draped an arm through mine, pulling me along with her toward my bedroom door. I could already hear the guests piling into the foyer of the packhouse. “Oh, I forgot to mention. I invited my professor as well,” I tell her. She paused for a moment and glanced at me. “Actually, he’s the Alpha of the Calypso Pack. Enzo.” She rose her brows. “Alpha Enzo is your professor?” She asked; she didn’t sound displeased, just surprised. “I never took him as the kind to be a professor.” “Do you know him well?” I asked, peering up at her. She thought about it for a moment before answering. “As well as I can I suppose. He’s the son of the former Alpha of the Calypso Pack, Blaise.

Lila’s POV My mother took one look at my face and started laughing. “Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” She asked. “Enzo is Blaise’s son?” I asked; I was completely and utterly shocked. “I had no idea he had kids.” My mother nodded. “I don’t think Enzo was ever close to his father,” she explained. “I believe he lived with his mother in a different pack. When his father died, he went back to Calypso. Being Blaise’s only living relative and all.” “If I had known he was Blaise’s son, I wouldn’t have invited him. I’m so sorry…” “Sorry? Why are you sorry? I’m glad you invited him. Your father will be pleased. He rather likes Enzo. Said he has a good head on his shoulder. He’s nothing like his father, that’s for sure.” “So, we trust him?” I asked, raising my brows. “Lila bean, we can’t fault Enzo for something his father did. You should know that better than anyone.” She gave me a small smile, staring around my concerned face. She placed a hand on my shoulder, causing me to meet her eyes. “I promise, if there’s something you need to be concerned with, I will tell you,” she said gently. “But for right now, there isn’t. Enzo is not a villain. Those days are behind us.” I felt better knowing she wasn’t worried. I trusted my mother more than anyone. “So, when were you going to tell me about Scott?” My mother asked as we made our way out of the apartment. I paused and turned to her. “How did you know about that?” I asked. One of her eyebrows went straight up as she looked me over. “I’m your mother; you can’t hide things from me,” she replies. I wanted to laugh; she always knew when something was going on. “Does dad know?” I asked. “Do you not want him to know?” “I just don’t want to make the Alpha committee weird is all,” I tell her. “Because Scott’s dad is a member…” “Your father is extremely professional. He would let something like that intervene with his work,” she said in return. “But I won’t say anything if you don’t want me to. I’m assuming we won’t be expecting Scott tonight then.” It wasn’t a question. I turned away and walked down the stairs to greet the guests that have arrived. The first person I saw wasn’t surprising. Brianna. My best friend. She ran to me, wrapping her arms around me, and nearly knocked me off my feet. I laughed at her excitement. “Oh my goddess, Lila!” She cooed happily, twirling me around. “You look stunning! How do you feel? Do you feel 18?” I sighed, shaking my head. “I feel the same as I always had,” I tell her. “I was hoping I was going to get my wolf today…” “You still might,” she assured me, giving me a broad smile. “The day is still young. Regardless, you are going to get your wolf and it’s going to be glorious when you do!” Brianna had gotten her wolf a couple of months ago and she hasn’t stopped talking about it. She describes it as having a real genuine best friend who knows you from the inside and out. Then, she paused when she saw my face and added, “no offense. It’s just different… you know.” I assured her that I didn’t take offense to that, and I knew what she meant. My mother told me about a time she thought she lost her wolf for good. It was like losing a part of herself. Her mind was so quiet, and she felt so lonely. “Your father made me feel less lonely,” she added. That was exactly the kind of love I wanted; I wanted someone to make me feel less lonely even if I didn’t have a wolf. But I also really wanted to meet my wolf. I wondered what she would look like. What she would sound like. I wondered what her name would be. Soon, the packhouse was filled with those I love; my mother brought out a huge cake. It was red velvet with chocolate frosting; my absolute favorite flavor. When everyone sang happy birthday, I grew teary-eyed. For a moment, I forgot all about Scott’s betrayal. I forgot all about my wasted first kiss. Until he walked in. At first, it was just the strong scent of marshmallows, but then I saw him standing at the doorway of our packhouse. He wore a dark button-down blazer and dress pants. His hair was still shaggy, but he wasn’t covered in sweat this time. He was greeted by a few Alphas, including my father. I watched as the two shook hands; my father had said something to him that I couldn’t hear. My mother stood by my side instantly. “Enzo’s looking rather nice tonight,” she said from beside me. “Yeah, he is,” I admitted to her. “I wasn’t really thinking he was going to show up.” “Your Alpha Bastien’s daughter; of course, he’s going to show up when invited. Almost every Alpha is here.” I thought about our shared kiss a couple of days ago and my face grew warm at the memory. But then I remembered that Enzo was Blaise’s son. I don’t think he knew what had gone down with his father and my parents. I don’t even know if Enzo knew that I was a Volana wolf. We aren’t that common, and most don’t know what we look like at first glance. I wondered if that would even matter to him. I always had this strong idea of what true love would look like. My parents have true love; that was always the vision I had for myself. I wanted someone who loved me just as much as I loved them. Who would do anything for me. Someone that would die for me. But I don’t envision Enzo being that person. And I wasn’t even sure why. I guess I never really envisioned Scott being that person either. Enzo’s eyes scanned the room briefly as the Alphas continued talking to him. It was like he was looking for something. As soon as his eyes landed on me, it was like he found it. His eyes darkened only slightly. I gave him a polite smile, hoping that my face didn’t reveal my thoughts. His face remained expressionless though; he eventually pulled his eyes away from me to speak to the other Alphas. The nerve of that guy. It was my birthday, and he couldn’t even come over to greet me? “Happy birthday, kiddo,” my uncle Aiden, the beta of the pack, said as he approached. He gave me a quick hug. “Thanks,” I say to him with a broad smile. “How did you manage to get Alpha Enzo to show up?” He asked, following my gaze to Enzo who still paid me no attention. “That guy hates parties.” “How do you hate parties?” I asked, raising my brows. “He’s always been odd like that. Ever since he was a kid. He’s always only had one focus and that was to get to the top. I admire his ambitions honestly, but it would be nice to see him smile once in a while.” “He doesn’t smile?” “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile,” Aiden answered. The only type of smile I’ve seen him do was smirking. I thought he’s come close to a real smile when I told Sarah off in the middle of his class, but I was probably mistaken. As I looked back over at Enzo, he was looking directly at me. … Third Person POV “She completely embarrassed me in the class,” Sarah cried to her new boy-toy Scott. She doesn’t think of Scott as her boyfriend, she just wanted to see if she could steal him away from Lila. Which she did. Ever since Lila started going to the academy, everyone’s attention has always been on Lila. Sarah used to be the best student and now it was Lila. Sarah used to be the center of attention, but now all anyone ever talks about is Lila. She doesn’t care that Lila is Alpha Bastien’s daughter; she doesn’t have a wolf so that makes her a nobody in Sarah’s eyes. She’s worse than an Omega. “You should have heard what she said to me, Scott,” Sarah continued to huff. “She also said that you weren’t man enough to handle her.” “Says someone who wouldn’t put out,” Scott said with an eye roll. “Just forget about her. Who needs her.” “You’re right…” Sarah agreed. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stand for it.” “What does that mean? What are you planning on doing? “I overheard her talking to Professor Enzo after class today. She invited him to her birthday party.” “Okay?” Scott urged. “I think it’s time we crash a party.”

Enzo’s POV 12 year earlier “Enzo…?” My mother woke me up during the night, tears filling her big brown eyes, and dripping delicately off her long and dark lashes. I groggily woke, to find her standing over me. “Mom?” I asked, peering at her through the dark of the night. It was cold; we didn’t have much heat in our small home. We didn’t have much money to afford heat, but my mother never made it seem like we were poor. “What’s wrong?” I whispered to her, not wanting to wake the others that resided in the house. “Your father is dead…” she said softly, her voice quivering. She was frightened. But of what? “He’s gone, sweetheart,” she said again. From what I had heard of my father, he wasn’t a good man. He left my mother pregnant, rejecting her, and forcing her to live in another pack. She would often refer to him as a monster. “You are the only living relative left…” She continued. “His Beta is coming to collect you. You must go with him…” “What?” I asked, sitting up quickly in bed; she shushed me, wrapping her arms around me. “I know this is sudden. But you must be the Alpha of Calypso. I never wanted this for you so soon, my baby.” I had no idea what it meant to run a pack and be an Alpha. I was at a loss for words, and I had to admit, I was terrified. It was only yesterday that I was running around with my friends and being a kid. Now this time tomorrow, I would be in a whole different pack and acting as a leader. None of this was making sense to me. “You’ll be coming with me, won’t you?” I asked, my words trembling. She cried harder and shook her head, holding me tighter. “I’m afraid I can’t,” she told me hoarsely. “My place is here. And yours is there. You are going to be an incredible Alpha, Enzo. Way better than your father ever was. You are going to do amazing things with your life…” “I can’t just leave you,” I whispered, tears filling my own eyes. I didn’t often cry, even at a young age. But the thought of leaving my mother behind in this hell hole tied my stomach into a large knot. “I need you to listen to me,” she whispered, taking my face into her hands. “Your father had done a lot of wrong in his life. He hurt a lot of people. You’ll probably hear a lot about him once you get to Calypso. He’s the reason wolves like us live like this… because he wanted so much that he took everything from everyone. But you, my darling Enzo, can restore things and make things better for all of us…” “But how? I’m only 9…” I said, I couldn’t keep the worry out of my tone. “What can I do to help? Why can’t you come with me?” “Your father has made it too dangerous. There are those who still wish to do us harm. His followers are now scrambled, still lurking in the shadows. But you can make things better. You can bring them to light. You can work hard and become more powerful than your father ever was. You can protect those who live like us… You can use your powers for good.” “I promise,” I whispered, hugging my mother tightly. “I won’t let you down. When I get to the top, and I will get to the top, I will come back for you. I will punish those who did us wrong and I won’t stop until this kingdom is safe again. I will undo what father did.” … “Alpha Enzo? Did you hear me?” The voice of Bastien interrupted my train of thought. I glanced around at the conference table that the other Alphas on the committee were gathered around. They were discussing the Shifting and Combat course at the Higala Shifting Academy and how the original professor had died during a rogue attack. Bastien, the head of the committee, was about to appoint a new professor. I already knew he was going to appoint me; he would have been stupid not to. I was one of the strongest and best Alphas for the job. Besides Bastien, I was the toughest and fiercest Alpha to walk our lands. But I still had a long way to go before I outranked my estranged father who died when I was 9. “You need me to take over as the professor,” I said, leaning back in my seat. It wasn’t a question, nor was it an offer. Bastien looked at the others who had fallen silent long ago. “Yes,” Bastien answered. “Would you be willing to do that?” I didn’t have a choice; I was the youngest Alpha on the committee. And the newest. I was still technically on the probationary period, and I couldn’t refuse them if I wanted to climb my way to the top. However, the thought of teaching annoyed me. It was impossible to teach students to do what I do. Surely, their amateur combat will get to me. But just the same, I nodded my head. “Yes, sir,” I finally said after a long pause. “The student council will want to speak with you. I’ll let them know to expect you.” The meeting concluded and I could already hear the others speaking about going to the local pub later that evening. “Alpha Enzo, you going to join us for once?” One of the Alphas asked, hitting me on the back of my shoulder. “Or are you going to come up with some lame excuse?” “Yeah, Enzo. Come on! It’s Friday. Let’s have some fun. You are still young. Live while you can!” The last thing I wanted to do was go to the pub with a bunch of drunk Alphas. What I really wanted to do was return home and read a book and rest for the evening. I was exhausted from training and meetings all day. I don’t usually have time for myself and when I do, I don’t like spending it with those I spend all day with. “I’ll pass,” I say to them as I finish packing my stuff in my briefcase. “Maybe next time.” I always say, “maybe next time” knowing I don’t mean those words. They don’t argue though; they look at one another with a frown before leaving the conference room. “Hey Enzo, wake up,” I hear Bastien behind me, following me out of the door. I slow my pace so he can catch up. “I really appreciate you taking one for the team. I know teaching isn’t your thing, but I think this might be good for you.” “I appreciate the opportunity,” I say to him, and in a way, I meant that. I could prove myself to him and to others. I could practice my skills and better myself. “Honestly, maybe it won’t be that bad,” I smirked. Bastien laughed, clapping me on the back. “You might even have fun,” he told me with a grin. “I couldn’t think of a better Alpha for the job. I can already tell; you’re going to do great things. I’m glad to finally have you on the committee. Enjoy your weekend. The student council will be expecting you at the academy on Monday, bright and early!” … I took Bastien’s words to heart; he believed that I could do great things in my future. Just as my mother believed. I didn’t want to let either of them down. But still, there was a part of me that worried if I was going to do any better than my father. My mother was right; as soon as I became the Alpha of the Calypso Pack, I started hearing rumors about my father. Things I never heard before; things I don’t even think my mother knew. Like the fact that my father died because of his love for a Volana wolf. I never even heard of a Volana wolf before and there was a part of me that didn’t believe they existed. As far as I knew, it was only a myth. But I’ve heard the story from different sources. My father had fallen in love with a Volana and because of that, he lost his life. It was love that made the most powerful shifter in the universe weak. I wasn’t sure if it was because Volanas were the most powerful type of wolves in the world, or because of love itself. But either way, I swore to never allow what happened to my father to happen to me. Which meant I vowed to never fall in love. It complicated things when I stepped into the house of Alpha Bastien, on the night of his daughter, Lila’s, 18(th) birthday, and my wolf was in awe of her beauty. His husky whisper made my entire body freeze and my skin crawl. “I can feel her… our mate…” Shit.

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It’s a good thing my grandfather’s dead; he’d die if he saw me now. “Keep walking, mutt.” The prison guard shoves me from behind and I stumble forward into the sunlight. Outside the gates are two alphas. One was my love. One was my best friend. They’re both the reason I was left here to rot. __________   “Stop!” I tell the guard. “I don’t want to go out this way.” “Yeah, yeah.” He shoves me. “All you females get attached. I got no time for trash like you. Get a move on!” He shoves me again and I stumble to my knees. The snow bites through my clothes, chilling me to the bone. It’s been three years. Three years in this hell-hole, fending off daily assaults, and constrained to a cage with no warmth. They’d bound me in silver for so long I was severed from my wolf. I still mourn that loss. Our regeneration powers. The ferocity she gave me to fight. The freedom I felt in my true form, when I could run and be free…If I had my wolf, I’d attack this lowly guard. But without her, I’m just another weak human. The guard kicks me in the ribs. Not hard enough to break them; just enough to remind he holds the power here. “Move it,” he growls at me. I push to my feet and walk along the barbed-wire fence. Funny, I’ve dreamed of this day from the moment I was imprisoned. But now, seeing the two Alphas who wait for me, everything tells me to run back and hide. “Grace!” Jacob yells. I turn away from Alpha Jacob who leans against his Maybach, his dark hair styled and his clothes impeccable despite the snow and sleet. Jacob was my best friend. We grew up in the same pack. I’d known him all my life. He eventually became an alpha and an attorney. The same lawyer who prosecuted me. Then… there was Alpha Sean. I hate Sean even more—if that’s possible. His eyes are bright and focused on me, his expression cold. The wind musses his hair in the most perfect way. He’s tall, strong, and so handsome it hurts. Sean was my first and only love. My mate. Father of my baby… I swipe away my tears and keep walking. “Grace!” he calls, no doubt he’s furious that I’m ignoring him. But I keep walking. “Wait.” This time it’s Jacob. “Grace!” Sean calls again, putting the force of his Alpha strength behind the command. “Come here.” But his powers hold no influence on me now. Not since he severed our bond. I stick to the edge of the barbed-wire fence and avoid these Alphas. I have no phone. No money aside from a few odd bills. I’m broken and disfigured. A shell of the woman I’d once been. My grandfather… It’s a good thing he’s dead because he’d be gutted to see me now. Shame bubbles up inside me, flooding my body. Sean gets in his car, intent on intercepting me. I panic. I run, sneakers slipping on icy ground and arms flailing as I try not to faceplant on the concrete. A bus is rounding the corner. I run and block out the muffled curses behind me. I don’t stop or look over my shoulder. They’d ordered the inmates at this prison to ‘take good care of me’. The beatings I endured almost daily for these long years tell me that either of these men might personally finish what they’d started. As Alphas, they’d be within their rights. After the accident, I’d been rejected and named a rogue. If they wanted to, they could put a bounty on my head or strike me down for trespassing on their territory. But it’s not my fault I was imprisoned here! I wave for the driver to see me as I rush across the street. I need to get out of this town—away from these two packs! The driver takes pity on me and waits. I race the last few feet and grip the rail to haul myself inside. I fish into my pocket for what money I have and hand it over. The driver’s dark eyes rake over me with resigned sympathy. He’s an older man, with wrinkles on his forehead and the corners of his eyes. “That’s too much money,” he says quietly. But I’m shaking too hard to count it and I’m terrified at any moment that Sean or Jacob will grab me and drag me away. “It’s okay,” I say, shoving it into his hand and hurrying to the first vacant seat. The woman across from me sniffs and turns away, like the sight of me is repulsive. She tugs her scarf closer to her neck. I don’t have a coat—just the clothes they arrested me in, a t-shirt and jeans. My hair is shorter and cut unevenly. My bruises aren’t too bad this week. My lip is mostly healed and my eye has healed from deep purple to a dull, yellowish-green. The bus quickly lurches away from the curb. I breathe deep, but it doesn’t taste like freedom. Panic boils up swiftly. It’s okay. You’re okay. Today is a new day. But I’m not okay. Not even close. The last time I was in a moving vehicle, it ended in a horrific crash. One that set this whole horrible chain of events into motion. One that cost me my pack, my mate. My everything. The last time I was in a car, I lost my baby…

  Three Months Later   I never minded winter before. My wolf loved to run in the snow . But since losing Ava and the damage to my body, the cold makes my bones ache and the pain in my fingers almost unbearable. In prison, they ripped out my fingernails and broke my bones. The doctors reset my fingers, but with no actual surgery the damage to the nerves and joints was permanent. And without my wolf, I can’t regenerate. My fingers always throb now. There’s nothing to be done for it, so I try to think of other things, to keep my mind off the pain. I shove my tools back into my locker and zip my coat. There are only a handful of employees working at this hour and most of them flit around pretending to work. This sanitation center is in neutral territory, not controlled by any pack. The lowest of wolves from the four reigning packs in the area can still find work here. There are other rogues, humans that don’t realize what we are, and poor wolves that aren’t wanted elsewhere. It isn’t bad, I suppose. The work is hard and the hours are long. But it’s a legitimate job, and it pays the bills. “Did you hear? Sean Stevens got engaged to Lily Atkinson!” I stop dead in my tracks. It’s one of my coworkers, sitting behind the reception desk with her feet up and watching entertainment news. Sean Stevens. My Alpha… Sean, whose cold eyes still haunt me even after all these years. ‘So… he’s moving on and marrying Lily?’ Bile rises in my throat. It’s because of Lily that my life went to trash. She always wanted to be Luna, and hated me because I didn’t come from a wealthy family like she does. And also because… she wanted Sean for herself. Wolves are known to be ruthless, but Lily is more ruthless than most. I should know… She killed my grandfather. Lily’s smiling face on the tv screen mocks me. Her long hair is swept back. Her face glowing flawlessly. And she’s looking up at Sean like he’s the only man in the world. My stomach pitches when I think of all I’ve lost—all they’ve taken from me. I open the door outside into the cold night, my breath fogging up the air. I had been that girl. Gorgeous clothes. Fancy cars. A life of luxury. The envy of she-wolves throughout the region. Lily Atkinson was living my life. Now, I’m a no-name who cleans streets for a living. I shove my hands into my pockets and start the long walk home. The studio apartment I rent is three miles away. It’s still in the neutral zone within the city, so I’m lucky that I don’t have to commute from far. I’ve thought about moving far away and petitioning another pack for clemency. I could be a servant or maybe put my degrees to use somehow. But such a move would take money. And that’s if the new pack wanted to risk Sean’s wrath. Because I’ve discovered since getting out of prison that Sean had made it his personal mission to keep me in the gutter. Before the accident, I’d gone to school and graduated at the top of my class. I was an attorney! But my education and title meant nothing now, as a convicted felon. Even human companies had been warned against me. I’ll sweep the streets and pick up trash along the side of the road and save what money I can. Then, when I have enough, I’ll leave this place. Forever. I don’t mind the work. It’s honest. With my wolf gone, my senses aren’t as acute, so the stink doesn’t bother me much. And the night shift I work is quiet, so I don’t have to interact with anyone if I don’t want to. I tug my coat tighter and keep walking. The businesses in this area closed hours ago, making the streets eerily quiet. Headlights flash as a car speeds past me in the opposite direction. The engine slows. I cast a quick glance over my shoulder and watch the car pull a U-turn. There’s no cause for a car to be creeping along around here,especially not a luxury SUV like this one. A trickle of dread rolls down my spine. I keep walking, but every instinct I have tells me to run.

The SUV swerves in front, cutting me off. The doors open and four people get out. Three males. One female. “Told you it was her!” The man’s voice is deep and slurred. Clearly drunk. A few years ago, a situation like this wouldn’t have been more than an annoyance. But I’m not as strong or fast or capable of defending myself. And four against one are not good odds. I call to Ava, hoping maybe this time, I feel something. But there’s nothing… Unable to shift, I keep walking, stretching the distance between us. The second male, a twenty-something guy in a gray suit, blocks me. “It’s her alright. Sean’s ex.” “Where you going, sweetheart?” it’s the first male again. He’s on my right, but moving behind me. They’re boxing me in. “Surprised they let you out of prison.” The guy in the suit smiles. “Bet you were lonely in there.” He smells like whiskey and malice. I don’t need my wolf to see the dark desire in his eyes. The female is laughing. Her eyes sparkle with something malicious too. The male on my right side, I remember now. Chris Peterson, a businessman that Sean’s pack had dealings with. I met him at some business dinners. He’s sleazy and I never liked him. The four of them are wolves. Low-level, but still dangerous… Chris steps closer to me. He brushes my cheek, and I jerk away from his touch. “There’s gotta be better ways for you to make money, Grace. Come with me,” he says. “I’ll pay you for the night. Beats sweeping the streets.” The woman laughs again. “You were a lawyer, and now you’re…what? Janitor?!” I can take the humiliation. But what Chris is proposing… “Leave me alone.” I duck under the gray suit’s arm, but the third guy grabs me. “Maybe you didn’t hear my friend,” he says. He’s stocky, his fingers crushing my arms. I feel the bite of his grip through my coat. Chris grabs my hair and I’m dragged backwards. “Stop!” I scream. But there’s no one to hear me. The men snicker and turn back to the she-wolf. Two of them crowd her and then shove her into the back seat of the Range Rover. She’s laughing again, and I’m horrified at what’s happening. “Chris, you can’t—“ He slams my head into the building. My back’s against the wall. I can’t escape. He knocks my head back again and my vision dims. “S-stop!” His hand tightens around my throat and I claw at his wrist “L-Let me go…” Chris jerks at his belt and his eyes flash. I start kicking. He blocks me and then curses when I land my knee in his groin. “You b*tch!” He backhands me so hard my ears ring. I have no doubt this wolf can and will overpower me. But I can’t give up. “You wanna run, Grace?” His eyes light up again, his wolf close to the surface. There’s no contest. In his true form he’d run me down, and I wouldn’t survive. “N-No,” I whimper. “I’ll even give you a head start…” He draws back and I’m frozen with indecision. If I stay, he’ll hurt me. If I run, he’ll chase me down and hurt me more. “One…two…three…” he’s counting. I can’t just stand here. I shove off the wall and run as fast as I can. I cut down a deserted side street but he follows. Chris isn’t rushing at all. He’s toying with me. “Six…seven…” I run for all I’m worth, and at the count of ‘ten’ I hear the low growl. Not of a human. A wolf. I race for the nearest main street, thinking if I can get somewhere more populated, I’ll be able to escape. Chris can’t fully shift within city limits. But I never get the chance. His snarling form gains on me and in the next heartbeat, I’m slammed to the concrete. I roll and scrape across the ground. I try to get up but can’t. Chris pins me down. His eyes glow with his wolf. Running only excited his beast more. “You thought I forgot the way you insulted me, b*tch? You told Sean to stop working with me. It cost my family millions!” His teeth elongate. “But he isn’t here to protect you now.” Is he going to kill me? As a rogue, I won’t be missed. “Fight all you like, but I’m going to f*ck you like the b*tch you are, right here on the street.” I fight hard, shoving and scratching at his arms and face. But he’s so much stronger than I am. Ava! Please! Desperately, I call to my wolf. But there’s only silence. She’s retreated to some deep part of my soul or the long exposure to the silver has permanently severed my bond to her. Chris catches my wrists and slams my arms above my head. Then he fumbles with my clothes. “That’s right,” he mutters. “Fight me. Scream if you want. Nobody’s coming.” He tears my coat, my pants. “Please! Stop!” I scream, tears leaking from my eyes. His claws cut into the skin on my arm where he holds me. “Stop it! Get off me! Stop!!!” “I think you should listen to the lady.” A cold voice sounds behind me.

I cower and scramble away as a man grabs Christopher and throws him a dozen feet away. Chris growls. The newcomer tilts his head. Then he charges at Chris and they tumble to the ground. The man comes out on top. Then he rains punches on Chris that echo loudly in the air. Chris is wheezing, his face bleeding. The stranger doesn’t relent. He slams his fists over and over again. It’s brutally violent. Part of me revels in it—the justice—because I know if not for him, Chris would’ve assaulted me, and despite open violence in our true forms being forbidden, his wolf undoubtedly would have torn me apart if given the chance. A shuddering breath escapes me. The stranger’s head turns sharply as if he’s attuned to me. I see it then, the flash of gold. He’s a wolf.A strong one. In the next instant, he turns and resumes hitting the unconscious body beneath him. “S-Stop,” I whisper. “You’ll kill him.” “So?” the stranger growls. “It’s not worth violating pack laws for him.” It’s true. This man saved me. But Chris is a wolf of rank and status. If he died there’d be repercussions, and I don’t think they’d care that this man was defending me. They might even punish him more. Chris’s head thumps as he’s unceremoniously dropped to the ground. I wince. The male stalks over to me. I blink as I’m finally able to see the man clearly. He’s tall. Well over six feet. And handsome. Dark eyes and a strong jaw. Full lips and a strong body. His hair is longer on top and stylishly messy. My thoughts are interrupted as the SUV comes careening around the corner. I tense. This could be bad. But instead of fighting, they take in this stranger, standing with his hands shifted so his claws are ready to strike. They must see the same thing I do—this wolf is fearless. Rather than challenge him or attack me, they gather Chris and pull him into the SUV. He stirs and starts swearing. “You b*tch! I’ll kill you both!” The man who saved me bristles, stalking toward the car. “Don’t.” I catch his arm. “He isn’t worth it.” His dark eyes remind me of the depths of the forest I ran as a child. Woods so dark and dense that you could hardly see the Goddess’ moonlight from above. This man though… He looks deadly—like people’s lives mean nothing to him at all. Perhaps they don’t. Most wolves don’t think humans are equal. And within packs, fights for dominance are common. But… “It is not worth being imprisoned over someone like him.” The man doesn’t react, but I sense him relaxing. The she-wolf sticks her head out the car. “Holy sh*t! Is that Jason Reed!?” The other two men look back and forth between her and the stranger. “What, are you drunk?” one of them says. They climb into the front seats. The stocky one peers out the window, “Jason Reed, the richest man in the city? No f*cking way!” I blink, confused. Jason Reed is the Alpha. The wealthiest, most powerful werewolf to emerge in a century. He wouldn’t be in this part of the city, wearing rags and sporting bruised knuckles. He wouldn’t waste his time on humans. Or a rogue wolf. On me. This is no billionaire. His jacket is threadbare, and his face is haunted. This man—my savior—is in old clothes. He looks… as broken as I do. This man is big and strong, and he might have alpha tendencies. But he’s probably a rogue too. Why else would he even be here? I watch the car tear up the street. When the road is quiet again, I look back at the man. “Thank you… for saving me.” He grunts, but says nothing more. He walks to the edge of the road—the same spot where Chris pinned me, and sits down on the curb.His hands have morphed back, no claws or fur visible. This man appears in perfect control. But what if that should slip? What if Chris were to come back here, with more men? I don’t think this wolf would back down. And he’d either end up in jail, or worse… at the mercy of pack enforcers should his wolf break free. I walk over to him. “Um… Aren’t you going home now?” No response. I lower my voice. “You should go back to your pack. Or take a run to cool off, maybe. Do you want me to call your family?” He slowly raises his head, and what I see leaves me speechless. Death. Darkness so absolute that the only thing comparable is…death. I’ve seen the same darkness in my own eyes many times. When my grandfather died. When Ava was stripped from me. When I lost my baby. I swallow past the memories rising up to haunt me. ”If you have nowhere to go… you can stay with me.”

I’m not sure why I invited the strange wolf to my home. I’m obviously grateful. He saved me from what would’ve been rape or death or worse. But I usually don’t involve myself with other wolves these days. Since my release, I’ve stuck to myself. So why did I welcome him? Gratitude, sure. More likely… because I’m lonely. So lonely it’s hard to imagine what I’m living for. But in those brief seconds this stranger risked his life for mine…it was like someone saw something in me. Something worth saving. He glances at me sharply while I fumble with the lock. I open the door and hold it open for him to enter. They call it a ‘studio apartment,’ but it feels more like a box. A cramped space with just the essentials—a bed, table, kitchen and bathroom. I watch him carefully, his expression giving nothing away. I gesture to his still bloody hands. “If you want to wash up…” He wordlessly moves to the bathroom and closes the door behind him. Chris is a monster. The wolves that were with him…they’re no better. If I was still an attorney, I would’ve put them all in prison for their crimes or have them punished by pack law. But life had taught me that the innocent rarely prevailed. I repeat my mantra in my head. It’s okay. You’re okay. Today is a new day. The man steps out of the bathroom. His brows furrow as he looks at me. I can only imagine what he sees. My clothes are torn. I’m dirty and bruised. My hair’s a mess and I’m sure my face is too. The back of my hair is caked and I’m pretty sure I’ve got a gash from when Chris smashed my head into a wall. He sniffs deeply. “You’re not human.” It’s a statement, not a question. “No. But I’m not like you,” I tell him the truth. “My wolf is gone.” His eyes widen, the most emotion I’ve seen from him. His gaze travels over me, probably cataloging all my injuries. If I could shift, my body could heal instantly. But without my wolf… I am weak. Fragile. Human. “I’m fine,” I say. “I’ll heal.” Eventually… “Are you hungry?” I ask. “I don’t have much, but I have dry rice and pasta—“ “I’m not hungry.” “Let me get you a drink.” “I’m not thirsty.” I’ve been on my own for so long, I am not up to casual conversation. If I’m being honest, I don’t think he’s too good at that either. He crosses the small room until he’s directly in front of me. I lift my head, tilting it back, until I meet his eyes. I twist my hands together anxiously, and they ache. Just one more pain in my scarred body. But even that pales to the discomfort of not knowing what to say or do or how to act around this strong wolf. He touches my face and a soft sigh escapes me. He tilts my head, side to side. I feel awkward, and strangely lacking, beneath his gaze. “What’s your name?” he asks. “Grace… You?” He remains silent for a long time, then finally answers: “Jay.” “Jay,” I repeat his name. It’s a common one, could even be an initial or nickname, so I don’t think much about it. “Where do you live? What about your pack?” He scoffs. “I don’t have one.” That’s heartbreaking. He’s a good man. One who thought nothing of saving a total stranger. It didn’t seem fair that he was rogue or exiled. He’s watching me closely, his senses sharper than mine. I wonder what he’s learning about me. I squirm uncomfortably. I take a step backward, but he follows. This man… Jay… is powerful. He’s big and strong and he has alpha genes. A body and will made for war. I wonder briefly if he ever fought in the great pack wars, like my grandfather did This man has the body of a warrior and the face of a model. One of his dark brows arches up and I realize I’ve been staring… A lot. I blush, embarrassment staining my face and warming my ears. “You, uh, really should shift,” I stutter, latching onto the distraction. He isn’t injured. But the fight would’ve stirred his animal instincts. Better to let the wolf takeover than keep it caged up. “Why is that, Grace?” The way he says my name makes my breath hitch in my chest. He lifts my chin with his large hand, forcing me to look him in the eye. “What is it you’re hoping will happen…?” Then he bends down to me, his face inches away, his lips so, so close to mine. His hot breath sends shivers through my body. And I feel something stirring within me that I haven’t felt in years. Something like desire… It would only take one swift move to lean in, and…

I’m speechless. I think he’s talking about… no. I already told him I have no wolf. And we aren’t packmates—or any kind of mates!—so the normal way our beasts would connect and interact with one another… that won’t apply here. The thought saddens me. “I, uh, just thought you’d be more comfortable…” I’m blushing again. And I feel awkward. These are emotions I haven’t experienced in so long they feel foreign to me. Jay steps back a few feet. He rolls down his sleeves and undoes a few buttons. Then he peels his shirt over his head. His abs ripple. His chest is … dense with muscle. His skin is bronzed like he spends a lot of time in the sun. His pants hang low on his hips and he doesn’t wear a belt. When he undoes the top button and slides down the zipper, I clamp my eyes shut. He makes some sound. It isn’t a laugh, I don’t think. Or if it is, it is a very rusty one. I wish I could see his eyes. His body. To see that magical moment when space and time seem to glimmer and the body contorts, morphing into something else. I don’t move. I don’t think I breathe. It’s several seconds before something cold nudges my hand. I open my eyes and look down. It’s his snout. This wolf is huge. He’s dark, not quite black throughout, but with an undercoat of grey and brown that shows through when he moves. He sits on his haunches, his head near to my hand. And I can’t resist. I reach out and rub along his head and shoulders. He leans into my touch. His fur is so soft and I wish I had my own wolf. That Ava could rub against him, learning his personality and smell. Our beasts communicate so much better than we do. Everything is instinctual. None of the guessing or pretense or wondering at motives. Wolves are primal that way, and stronger because of it. I grab a heavy blanket and set it on the floor beside my bed. I move to set my pillow on the ground and he growls at me. All right. It’s not like I would’ve minded sleeping on the floor. The mattress at the prison wasn’t more than an inch thick. He nudges my hand then swings his head toward the bathroom. It’s obvious he wants me to go in. And, of course, I intend to. I’m sure I smell of sweat and Christopher, and I can’t wait to wash this night off of me. I cross the small room and he stays there near the bed, waiting. I grab my nightclothes and gasp when I enter the bathroom. I’m a mess. Blood on my face, a busted, swollen lip. Bruises on my throat and jaw. A moment later, he’s there. His wolf eyes assessing me, a low growl emanating. “I’m okay,” I whisper. “I, uh, didn’t realize what a mess I am.” There’s a cut on my arm and when I rub the back of my head my hand comes away red. Jay growls viciously. “It’s not deep. It’s just a scape. Head wounds always bleed a lot.” How sad is it, that I should know that so intimately? This wolf cocks his head like he thinks what I said is sad too. I turn on the shower and he swings back into the main room. I quietly close the door, strip and step under the water. I want it to be hot. But the plumbing in this building is old, so instead the shower alternates between lukewarm and cold. I’m shivering by the time I finish and my hands are cramping painfully. I towel dry the best I can and dress quickly. When I step out, Jay is in his human form again. “You look disappointed,” he says. I guess I sort of am. It’s been years since I’ve been connected to my wolf, and maybe seeing his satisfies some of the loneliness. Like I might be alone, but I’m still part of something. Our species lives on. Even if not through me. Not my baby. I cross the room and climb into bed. I’m sad and unsettled, but then Jay surprises me and sits down on the mattress beside me, and I suck in a breath as he leans over me. His hand lifts my face from side to side. I’m not sure what I expected. Or what I’m feeling. “I, uh, I’m fine. Just a few bruises.” He makes some sound. Then he’s bringing me forward so my head is against his bare chest. His hands are in my hair. As he bends my head more so he can see the back of it, my lips graze his skin. He freezes. “I didn’t mean to do that.” My breath fans against his skin as I speak and his muscles tense. Up this close, I can smell him. And it’s clean and strong. A scent that’s layered and not quite describable—at least not for my human senses—and I breathe him in. “You should see a doctor,” he tells me. With what money? I can barely afford my rent and enough food to eat. He moves off the bed and onto the floor. He stretches out his long body and crosses his ankles. The space he left feels cold and empty. It’s…odd. ”I usually sleep with the lights on,” I tell him. “I hope you don’t mind.” Ever since I was released from prison, I had gotten into the habit. “That’s fine.” It should feel weird having a man alone beside me where I sleep. But it doesn’t. If Jay wanted to hurt me, he wouldn’t have defended me on the street. I lay down on the bed, he stays positioned on the floor. The room is silent save for the soft hum of the heater. If I listen hard enough, I can hear him breathe. I stay motionless, waiting. After a few minutes, I roll over onto my elbow. “Jay, if you don’t have anywhere to go, you can also live here.” I’m not even sure he understood me, I say it so fast. But his head tilts as he sits up slowly. We’re so close I can see the flickers of brown and gold in his dark eyes. “If you don’t want to, just pretend I didn’t say anything,” I add. His mouth finally opens and he asks quietly, “Do you want me?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397460”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #Werewolf #Murder #OrganizedCrime #HiddenIdentity #LoveTriangle #College #Secrets #Boss #Alpha

On my wedding day, my fiance’s childhood friend, Cecilia, brought a group of people to “surprise” us by throwing confetti and cream at us, sticky filth ruining everything. Not only did my fiance, Leon, not stop them, but he advised me to be tolerant. I gave him a tight slap on the spot and told him to find another bride if he insisted so. In the end, I unexpectedly learned something that shattered my world.

In the middle of the night, I saw a message on my boyfriend’s phone. “If you don’t have a girlfriend, will you like me?” He replied with one word. “Yes.” I handed him the conversation. After a long silence, he put out his cigarette. “I told you she’s just a colleague. Plus, I also promised that nothing would happen between her and me in the future. Isn’t that enough?” When he said this, there was no expression on his face. However, he did not even hide the disappointment and blame in his voice. At that moment, I realized I didn’t seem to know this man anymore.

Prelude Shay I was seven when I fell in love with Easton Connor. He was four years older than me and best friends with my brother Carter, but that didn’t matter to me. I never thought of him as too old back then. Never thought of him as off-limits. When I fell off my bike while racing down the street after my brothers, it was Easton who circled back to help me. Easton who took me inside, helped me clean the bits of gravel out of my knee, and then dabbed it with hydrogen peroxide. Easton who turned my tears into laughter by telling me about Carter’s inability to speak every time he saw his crush in class. I decided right then that I was going to marry Easton. Because I was seven and didn’t understand the realities of romantic love. Because Easton hadn’t yet become the Easton Connor. Because I hadn’t hit puberty and become chubby Shay. Because I still believed in fairytales, I believed I would marry this boy with the light brown hair and blue-green eyes. It was my secret. One I vowed to keep to myself until the time was right. Easton didn’t know my plans. And I had no idea he’d break my heart. *** Shay April 27th, draft night, thirteen years ago “Shay!” Easton hoists a shot glass in the air and wriggles it in offering. “Tequila? What do you say?” Carter spins on him and frowns. “What the fuck, man? Don’t give my little sister alcohol.” “Shit, sorry,” Easton says, but his mischievous eyes are on me as he says, “I always forget she’s so young.” The tequila must be going to his head, because there’s no other explanation for the way he’s looking at me. His eyes drop to my mouth, and warmth spreads through me. If I didn’t know better, I might think that . . . No. That doesn’t make sense. This is Easton. My friend now, sure, but East is everything. Girls everywhere are crazy about him—a football star on the brink of NFL fame, he could have any woman he wanted. Carter grabs a beer and leaves the kitchen and pushes out the back door to join the party. And then it’s just me and Easton. Alone with a bottle of tequila and the full shot glass that’s still in his hand. He flashes a glance over his shoulder toward the back door. “Does Carter have any idea that you’re not a little girl anymore?” he asks, closing the distance between us. I bite my bottom lip. My skin flushes hot when he’s this close, and I swear he’s looking at my lips again. Do I have something on my face? Spaghetti sauce from dinner or something? I discreetly wipe my mouth with the cuff of my sweatshirt—or as discreetly as I can when he’s so close. Easton grins, as if he knows he’s making me uncomfortable and likes it. “Have you ever done this before?” A thousand possibilities fly through my mind at that question—most of them involving the hands and mouth of the man asking. “Done what?” He lifts the shot glass and sniffs the tequila. “A snakebite. Salt, tequila, lime.” I shrug. I’ve had alcohol before. My family isn’t exactly puritanical when it comes to alcohol. But I’ve never done a shot, and certainly never a snakebite. Whatever that is. “How do you do it?” Grinning, he hands me the shot glass then grabs the salt shaker from the counter. He lifts my free hand to his mouth and licks the inside of my wrist. My breath whooshes out of me at the sensation of his hot tongue on my skin. I want to close my eyes, but he’s watching me, and I’m afraid he’ll laugh if he has any idea what affect he has on me. Grinning, he sprinkles salt on the wet patch of skin before putting the shaker down and grabbing a wedge of lime from the counter behind me. “Lick the salt. Take the shot. Suck on the lime.” “Lick, shoot, suck.” I nod. “I can do that.” His nostrils flare and his pupils dilate, turning those blue-green eyes dark. “I think I’d like to see you try.” I swallow hard. Is Easton Connor coming on to me? I don’t want to be the idiot who believes that could be true. I don’t want to be the dumb fat girl who fell for the practical joke because she believed a guy like Easton could be attracted to her. I don’t know how long I stand there trying to decide, but my skin tingles where he licked, and my mouth has gone dry. “Want me to go first?” he asks, his voice a little husky. I nod. He takes my wrist and brings it to his mouth, licking off the salt. Shocks of pleasure roll down my spine and settle into a riot of butterflies in my stomach. He doesn’t even take the shot glass from me, just wraps his hand around mine and leads the glass to his mouth so he can shoot it back. Then he pops the lime in his mouth and makes a goofy face at me as he sucks the juice. “Got it?” he asks, still squinting from the sourness. “I think I can do that.” He refills the tequila then looks over his shoulder again. “Why are you so worried about Carter seeing?” I ask. “He knows I’ve had alcohol before. He’s just being a prude about the shot.” “I don’t want him pissed at me,” he says, shrugging. “God knows he did worse than take a couple of shots when he was sixteen, but—” “I’m seventeen. Eighteen in a few months.” He slowly turns his attention away from the back door and back to me. “My timing is shit.” “Timing for what?” His eyes are so intense on mine, but it’s a good kind of intensity. Like he sees me. Has anyone ever looked at me before? Really looked? “Nothing.” He lets out a puff of air and shakes his head. “Then Carter really would kill me.” I laugh. “You’re ridiculous.” “What? Why do you say that?” “You just got drafted into the NFL, and you’re acting like you’re attracted to me.” His gaze skims over me, from my hair all the way down to my bare feet and the bright pink polish on my toes. “What does one have to do with the other?” I don’t understand what’s happening here. Am I dreaming? Has he had more to drink than I realized? I throw the shot back before I can lose my nerve, totally forgetting the salt. I shudder. “That’s awful!” He laughs. “You did it wrong. Are you always this terrible with directions?” Only when you’re here. Only when you’re looking at me like this and making me think I can have things I can’t. But as awful as the taste was, warmth blooms in my chest. It’s more intense than the effects of the glass of wine I drank with Easter dinner, and I do like that. “Now I risk getting you drunk if I make you do it the right way.” “I’m not drunk.” I shake my head. “I don’t feel anything.” He grunts. “Give it a minute.” He steps around me and stands at the counter, pouring himself another shot. I guess he’s not going to drink it from my glass this time. It’s dumb to be disappointed. He doesn’t bother with the salt or lime, just throws it back. Doesn’t even grimace. Then he braces his arms on the counter and hangs his head. I’d have to be emotionally stunted not to feel the change in his mood. He just went from playful flirt to morose jock in the span of a blink. “What’s wrong?” He shrugs. “Nothing.” “Liar.” He drags a hand through his hair and finally turns to me. He leans back against the counter. “Can you keep a secret?” “Of course.” He hesitates a beat, and I see the emotions playing across his face—he’s trying to decide if he can trust me with this, or if he even wants to own up to whatever it is. “I never told anyone when I caught you with that dirty magazine when you were thirteen.” His eyes widen and he grins. “Oh, fuck. I’d completely forgotten about that. Jesus.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “Okay, fair enough. That kind of discretion so young is definitely meaningful.” “Meaningful? Are you kidding me? That’s preteen blackmail gold, and I never used it. Not even when you wouldn’t dump that girl you took to senior prom.” His forehead wrinkles, and I can tell he’s trying to remember his date. “Hilary,” I remind him. “I didn’t know you wanted me to dump her.” “I didn’t realize I needed to spell it out for you. I told you she was a bitch and you deserved better.” “Honestly, I was eighteen, and she was hot and willing. I probably didn’t care that she was a bitch.” “She called me a fat tagalong.” “What?” The tops of his ears turn pink—a tell I learned long ago means he’s angry. “You never told me that.” I shrug. When Easton was with Hilary, I was fourteen. I’d foolishly believed that he wouldn’t notice I was fat if no one ever told him. Not the dumbest thing I’ve let myself believe in the name of loving him, but not a delusion I’m particularly proud of either. “You’re not fat,” he says. I fold my arms and arch a brow. “Come on, Easton. I might be naive and shamefully inexperienced for a girl my age, but my eyes work just fine.” He holds up a finger. “One, so do mine, and you’re not fat. You’re not skinny. You have a nice body.” A nice body. The words are both the balm and the blade. On the one hand, I’m intelligent and rational enough to know I should be glad he thinks of my body in better terms than I do. Intellectually, I know nice is as good as it’s going to get for a girl like me. On the other hand, part of me wanted to believe I saw heat in his eyes earlier. As irrational as it is, I want to believe he might think I’m beautiful, even while I know I’d never believe it if he used those words. Emotions are dumb. He holds up another finger. “And two, I’m going to need you to tell me what you mean by shamefully inexperienced.” “Absolutely not.” “Please?” My face is on fire. Why did I say that? I would be fine if no one ever knew the extent of my innocence, but Easton is the last person I want to admit it to. “Forget I said anything.” He steps closer. “I’ll tell you my secret if you tell me yours.” “You go first,” I blurt. Because who am I kidding? Anyone who had to guess would know I’ve never kissed anyone. It’s not like I’ve ever had a boyfriend. His eyes soften and something like pain flashes over his features for a beat. “I wish the Demons hadn’t drafted me.” I don’t know what I expected him to say, but that came out of left field. Easton’s dreamed of the NFL his whole life, and tonight we’re celebrating him being selected in the first freaking round of the draft. Now he’s telling me that achieving this lifelong dream is what has him down. “Why’d you enter the draft if you didn’t want to be picked up? Carter said you could’ve waited until next year and finished school.” “I wanted to be drafted. I suck at school and I . . .” He chews on the inside of his cheek. “I wanted to be drafted, but I was hoping Chicago or Detroit would draft me. I’m scared to move so far from home. Which I realize is dumb, but . . .” “It’s not dumb.” Easton had his pick of colleges, and he went to Starling College in Grand Rapids. They have a good football team, but he could have gone to Florida or LSU—teams whose football programs are practically NFL breeding grounds. I figured it was because he wanted to stay close to home, but it never occurred to me that those preferences would hold true three years later. Only, this time the choice is out of his hands. “You can visit, though, right? A contract that big means you can fly home as often as you want.” His gaze locks on his feet. “Right. Of course. It’s stupid, I know.” “It’s really not.” “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want to come across like the ungrateful rookie or like I’m too immature to handle the move.” “I promise.” I squeeze his wrist, but I’m suddenly all too aware of the fact that I’m touching him. His skin is warm under my fingertips. I can feel his strength and the power of his big hands. How many times have I imagined those hands on me? I jerk away, but he grabs my hand before I can get far. “It’s your turn,” he says, threading his fingers through mine. What is he doing? “Why do you think you’re shamefully inexperienced, Shayleigh? Your friends aren’t pressuring you to have sex, are they?” Sex. Oh my God. He thought I meant sex. Now my dumb secret feels even more mortifying, but he’s still holding my hand, and even as embarrassment warms my cheeks, I don’t want him to let go. “No one’s pressuring me.” The back door clangs closed as Carter pushes into the kitchen. Easton jumps back and drops my hand. “What are you two talking about in here?” my brother asks. He crosses the kitchen between us and opens the fridge. “Don’t you know the party’s outside?” Easton’s throat bobs and he tucks his hands in his pockets. “We’re just catching up.” Carter pulls out another beer and uses the opener on the wall to pull off the cap. “Well, I hope you’re finished, because people are starting to wonder if you already moved to L.A. or something.” “Relax, Carter,” I tell him. “The night is young.” He frowns as he looks back and forth between me and Easton. “I don’t like you two being alone in here together.” I snort and for the millionth time in my life wonder what it would be like to not have five overly protective brothers. “Why not?” Carter stares at Easton for a long beat. Easton gives a subtle shake of his head and Carter sighs. “Because you’re my little sister, and this punk breaks hearts in his sleep.” “My heart is fine.” Liar, liar. Does Carter know how I feel about Easton? I’ve never told anyone. “We’re just talking.” Carter taps Easton’s arm with the neck of his beer. “You. Outside. We’re celebrating your news, after all. And anyway, that redhead Tri-Delt showed up and is looking for you.” Easton heads toward the back with my brother. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?” He opens the door and turns back to wink at me before heading toward the lakeside bonfire with my brother. I guess Easton doesn’t want to know my secret after all. I dodged a bullet. So why do I feel so disappointed?

Easton “You have to fucking stop.” Carter stomps away from the house and toward the bonfire blazing on the beach. “Stop what?” “I already told you she’s off-limits.” The Jackson brothers have been telling me for years that their sister is off-limits. It just didn’t matter until last summer. I’d been busy with school and hadn’t seen Shayleigh in months when I came out to the Jackson family cabin with Carter. Shay was here and suddenly she was . . . more. It’s not like I didn’t know she was pretty before. She’s always been pretty. She’s also always been really fucking special to me. Something about Shay brings me peace when I need it the most. She’s the only person I’ve ever met who can chill my anxiety just by sitting next to me. But sometime between when I’d seen her at Christmas and when I came out here last summer, she went from the pretty-but-quiet little sister of my best friend to the kind of beautiful it’s hard to look away from. Or maybe it happened long before last summer, and the swimsuit brought it to my attention. Because Shayleigh Jackson in a swimsuit, with her long legs, soft thighs, and full breasts—no idea when that happened. She wasn’t simply the Jackson sister anymore. She was a fucking siren, and I was going to drown trying to resist her. With her dark hair falling around her shoulders and that wide smile and easy laugh, how could I not notice? And I noticed a few too many times, because Carter caught me staring and tore into me. Carter looks to the house then to me, and I can practically see him calculating the pros and cons of locking his sister away to protect her virtue. “I told you I wouldn’t hurt her,” I say. Carter grunts. “Somehow, that’s not comforting.” He sighs. “She’s seventeen.” “I know.” “And you’re moving to California next month.” “I know.” “She’s so smart, East. She’s only a junior, and she’s already got colleges chasing her. Did you know she’s fluent in French?” Did you know she’s incredibly fucking insecure and has no idea what her value is? I don’t ask. I know I shouldn’t be the man to show her just how beautiful she is, but I want to be anyway. “Does she . . . does she have a boyfriend?” I ask. Carter’s glare would melt a lesser man, but I turn up my palms. “I’m not asking your permission to take her virginity. I’m asking if she has a boyfriend. This is normal conversation.” “I can’t believe you just said that,” he growls. “What?” “I don’t even want you thinking about my sister’s virginity.” “Again, I’m asking about a boyfriend.” “No. She doesn’t. She’s too focused on school to date, I think.” Or she’s too convinced that she’s . . . What did Hilary call her? A fat tagalong? Jesus. If I’d known, I never would have let that fly. Carter studies me. “Why?” One word, hundreds of warnings. I shrug. “Just curious how much she tells you.” Carter frowns. “Wait. What’s that supposed to mean? Do you know something? Does she have a boyfriend?” “You really are the protective big brother cliché.” I press my palm between his shoulder blades and give him a good shove toward the beach. “The party is waiting.” As I suspected, it’s less than fifteen minutes until Carter is completely distracted and I can head back to the house without him noticing. I used the time to circulate and listen to everyone’s congrats. Carter’s right. I should be out there. This is my celebration. Lifelong dream accomplished. But there’s only one person I want to celebrate with. One person with killer soft curves and a beautiful smile who owes me a secret. Shay’s not in the kitchen where we left her. Did she go down to the bonfire and I missed her? I check the basement. Nothing. I head back to the kitchen and grab a beer from the fridge, ready to give up. Then I hear the screech of old pipes and realize a shower is shutting off. Grinning, I stride toward the stairs and climb to the second floor. By the time Shay pushes out of the bathroom in a puff of steam, I’m leaning against the opposite wall, arms folded. She jumps. “Jesus, Easton. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” I don’t answer. My own heart is having some issues. Mainly, it’s racing like it’s trying to force me forward with its momentum—toward her. I did not think this through. She’s in a fluffy light blue robe. It’s tied at the waist but gapes open at her chest, giving me a view of the swell of her cleavage. Her wet hair is combed out of her face and falls in light waves down her back. It would be so easy to tug on the waistband of her robe, to pull her to me and slide my hands inside, to cup her breasts and lower my mouth to hers. Easy, but a fucking death sentence. “Easton!” She tugs the top of her robe tighter. “Ohmygod. Were you just looking at my breasts?” I take a deep breath and drag my gaze back up to meet hers. “I love that you call them breasts.” “What else am I supposed to call them?” I shrug. “Most girls your age would dodge calling them anything at all. Or maybe vaguely refer to their chest.” “I think you’re wrong. I’m not twelve anymore.” I hope my arched brow conveys the obviously I’m not allowed to say. She swallows. “And, well . . . I guess I’m not afraid of words.” What are you afraid of? It’s a question I won’t ask. Not when it would invite her to turn it back on me. I don’t want to talk about my fears any further than I did in the kitchen. Not tonight. Not when she’s so close and soon she’ll be so damn far away. I didn’t anticipate it would bother me so much, but the realization eats away at my gut. “That’s good,” I say. “Because you owe me a few.” She blinks. “What do I owe you?” “Words.” “Must you speak in riddles?” “Your secret. I told you mine, so now it’s your turn.” Her face pales, and I wonder just how innocent she is that she doesn’t want to talk about it. “You already guessed it. I’m gonna go get dressed.” She turns toward her room, and I grab her wrist to stop her. “We can do this one of two ways,” I say, and she slowly turns back to face me. “You can just tell me, which would be fair, since that was our deal. Or”—I lift the beer I grabbed from the fridge—“we can play a game.” She studies the bottle. “What kind of game?” “Never Have I Ever.” She snorts and folds her arms. “Seriously? As I mentioned a minute ago, I’m not twelve anymore.” I turn up the palm of my free hand, moving it up and down opposite the beer in the other hand, as if I’m weighing them against each other. “Your choice.” “Fine, the game, but I’m getting dressed first.” “If you must,” I say. I can’t stop grinning. Damn it. She does that to me. I wait in the hall while she disappears into her bedroom, my eyes fixed on the door the whole time. Carter would definitely kick my ass if he knew I was about to play a drinking game with his little sister. But it’s not like we’re playing with tequila. One beer split between the two of us can’t get me in too much trouble. That said, if she’s as innocent as she claims, I’ll be the one doing most of the drinking. A minute later, and the door swings open. Shay’s gotten dressed, but she’s not in her normal clothes. She’s wearing pajamas. These aren’t the kind of pajamas that are meant to seduce—they’re gray cotton. A long-sleeved T-shirt with a lace cutout down each arm, and matching shorts that show just enough leg to remind me there’s more that I want to see. She catches me looking and scowls. “My clothes smelled like smoke from the bonfire, and the only other outfit I have with me is my work uniform for tomorrow.” “I wasn’t complaining.” “I know.” She frowns. “You’re weird tonight.” “Nah, I’m weird every night. You’ve just forgotten because you barely ever see me anymore.” “True.” She motions me to follow her, and when I freeze, she says, “I’m not going to jump you if you come into my room, weirdo.” Damn shame. I swallow hard and step inside “her” bedroom. This isn’t the Jacksons’ full-time home, but their vacation place. They rent out this cabin to tourists—a ten-year plan to get it paid off sooner, Carter told me—so it’s definitely not as personal as her room at home, but it is hers. As the only girl, she’s the one Jackson sibling to get a room of her own, and there are little decorative touches in here that show this room is truly Shay’s. The bookshelf overflowing with well-loved paperbacks, the map of Paris that hangs over the queen-sized bed, and the glasses that sit on the bedside table—no doubt for reading after she takes her contacts out. I remember when she got glasses for the first time. She was so excited. But then some jerk at school teased her about them, and she came home with them tucked into her backpack and told her mom she wouldn’t wear them anymore. She lost that fight, of course, and wore glasses until her mom relented and let her get contacts when she started middle school. “I can’t keep much here,” she says as I look around. “We still rent it out sometimes. Less now, though.” “Carter used to be jealous that you got your own room.” She shrugs. “Well, I used to be jealous that my brothers had each other and I didn’t have a single sister.” “And now?” She sweeps her hair over one shoulder and starts braiding the wet locks. “Now I’m grateful to be the only girl. I get along better with boys than I do with girls anyway.” Her fingers work efficiently, and she ties off the braid at the end. “Maybe that would be different if you had sisters.” “Maybe, but I think my family is perfect just the way it is.” She makes a face and seems to rethink her words. “No, not perfect at all. Just perfect for me, I guess.” A pang slices through my chest. Jealousy. Their family is incredible, and somehow they all know it. I don’t have any siblings—none that I know of, at least, though there’s no telling how many kids my father has brought into this world and walked away from. I don’t even have a dad who gives a shit. Just Mom, and I’m grateful for her every day. Mom and I are partners; the Jacksons are a team. When life feels like a constant blitz from the defense, it’s hard not to be jealous of the people who are making plays with a solid O-line—even when your partner is the best in the game. “What are you thinking about?” Shay asks. I shake my head. “Just how lucky you all are.” I let out a breath. “And how much I hate my father.” Shay’s expression turns sad. “Have you talked to him?” “Oh, yeah. He was watching the draft and called right away.” Anger flashes in her eyes. “Of course he did.” “‘Congratulations, son,’” I say in my mocking impression of my father’s voice. “‘I knew you could do it. Aren’t you glad you got my athleticism and not your mother’s? Now let me talk out my ass about NFL contracts like I know anything at all.’” “Fucker.” Shay’s uncharacteristic curse makes me smile. “Exactly.” “Did he ask for money?” “Not yet. I’m sure he will. But I’ve trained my whole life to tell him no, just like he told Mom no when she asked for help.” Her fingers brush mine, and I look down to see her taking the beer from my hand. She takes a long drink from it, her throat bobbing as she swallows, then hands the bottle to me. “To knowing when to say no.” I take a sip and nod before holding up the bottle. It’s nearly half drained. “We don’t have much to work with here.” She shrugs. “You’d better make good use of your turns, then.” “So we’re playing that we take turns saying something and drink if we’ve done it?” She nods. “Which is why I had to drink so much to start. That beer is pretty much all yours.” “We’ll see about that.” I smile and lift it to my lips. I imagined us sitting on the floor, face to face as we took turns, but this is better. Standing, I can be closer to her. “Never have I ever celebrated Father’s Day with my dad.” She snags the beer from my hand. “That’s cheap.” She takes a sip then studies me for a long beat before saying, “Never have I ever had sex.” Cutting right to the chase. “There’s no rush, Shay. Seriously. Don’t let anyone make you feel like—” She clears her throat and presses the cold bottle into my hand. “Drink.” “Right.” I take a sip, mindful of keeping it small so we can keep this going. “Never have I ever had a crush on a brother’s friend.” “You don’t have any brothers!” I shrug. “I don’t make the rules.” She takes a drink. She has five brothers, four of them older than her. The possibilities are endless, but there’s only one possibility I’m interested in hearing her confess to. “Who?” She laughs. “That is not how this game is played, cheater.” She taps a finger to her lips. “Never have I ever gone skinny-dipping.” “Seriously? Your family owns a house on a lake, and you haven’t even once?” She makes a face. “With my brothers? Hard pass.” She hands the beer back to me. “Fine.” I watch her over the bottle as I tilt it to my lips and swallow. “Never have I ever gotten Shay off with my hand.” She folds her arms, all smugness, until the logic of my statement sinks in and red blossoms in her cheeks. “Are you seriously asking me if I have masturbated?” My cock has been half hard since she stepped out of the shower, but at that, it goes the rest of the way. “Again with the precise word choice.” I shrug. “And in all fairness, you could turn around and do the same to me.” She rolls her eyes and takes the beer. “I’m not wasting a turn like that.” She drinks. I thought I knew what I was doing when I said it, but the image of her in bed flashes through my mind as clear as a photo—her hand between her legs, pleasure on her face, all that dark hair splayed across the pillow as she arches into her own touch. So fucking hot. My cock strains against the fly of my jeans. I’m playing with fire right now, but I can’t muster any motivation to back down. “Not all girls do, you know,” I say. “Some are afraid to touch themselves.” “Yeah, well, I was raised around five boys who talk about masturbation as if it’s a sport half the time and as if it’s as essential as water the other half. I didn’t exactly have to go up against some massive stigma the first time I tried it.” “And how was it?” I swallow. “When you . . .” She snorts. “You are twenty-one years old, and you can’t say the word masturbated?” “Why would I when it sounds so much hotter when you say it?” I grin at her immediate and vivid blush, then nod to the bottle. “It’s your turn.” She lifts her chin and holds my gaze as she says, “Never have I ever had someone other than myself get me off.” “Why not?” She shoves the bottle into my hand. “Quit cheating with your unsanctioned questions and drink.” Just how innocent is she? I look at the bottle. There’s hardly a full drink left. Mindful of this, I take a sip and then push all my chips in. “Never have I ever kissed anyone.” “You filthy liar.” Grinning, I tilt the beer to my lips, taking the drink I owe for speaking a never that I have done. I arch a brow. Waiting. Because surely this beautiful, smart, funny girl has been kissed before. Surely, some guy saw her for what she was and won her over so he could taste those pink lips. But when I offer her the beer, she shakes her head. “Never,” she whispers. “Pretty lame, huh?” “It’s not lame. Just . . . surprising.” She scoffs. “What’s so surprising about it?” I open my mouth, but before I can find the words, I’m interrupted by the sound of doors closing, footsteps, and laughter booming from downstairs. The party’s moved inside. That means Shay’s five brothers are downstairs while I’m standing here so close to her, thinking about what it would be like to be the first man to kiss those lips. “Do you . . .” I swallow. Her lips part, and I swear there’s some invisible cord between us that goes taut, draws me forward. “Do you want to?” Her brow wrinkles as she cranes her neck to look into my eyes. “Want to what?” I dip my head, lean my forehead against hers. “Be kissed.” She presses her hand to my chest, and my breath catches as I wait for her to close the distance—those final inches between our lips. Instead, she shoves me hard. “Out!” I stumble before catching my balance. “What the hell?” “I don’t want your pity kiss, East.” She’s avoiding my eyes, but I don’t miss the hurt that flashes across her face. “It wouldn’t be—” She squeezes her eyes shut. “Just go.” “Easton? You up here?” Jake’s voice. Fuuuuuck. Not now. Shay steps around me and opens the door. “What’s he doing up there?” Carter calls from the stairs. “Shay? That rich asshole with you?” Jake pokes his head around the doorframe. “You two decent?” Shay rolls her eyes. “Come in, Jake.” Jake’s all smiles with a side of drunken stumble as he comes into the room. “There’s the guest of honor. What are you two doing up here?” “Telling secrets and braiding each other’s hair.” Shay’s smile is tight. “What else?” Jake chuckles. Unlike Carter, he’s completely clueless about my attraction to Shay. He grabs the empty beer from my hand. “You need more!” Carter rushes into the room. “What’s going on in here?” “I found him,” Jake says, slinging his arm around my shoulders and leading me out of the room. I look back at Shay, but she’s busy scanning the books on her bookshelf. Could she truly not feel this thing between us? Pity kiss? The fuck? How could she even think that was what I was offering? “You okay?” Carter asks her. “What were you two doing?” Jake and I are already at the stairs when I hear her say, “We were fucking, Carter. Doing the dirty with the door open and my brothers downstairs. Can’t you tell? I’m going to turn up pregnant with Easton’s love child any day now.” “You’re not funny,” Carter says, but I can hear the tension leave his voice. The typical Shay smartass response was possibly the only one that would put his mind at ease. When I turn back to them, she’s pushed Carter out of her room and is closing the door after him. Never been kissed. I can hardly wrap my brain around it.

Shay I can’t focus on my book, but I can’t sleep either. Who could with the party roaring downstairs? I roll over and bury my face in a pillow, muffling my frustrated scream. I can’t believe I told Easton I’ve never been kissed. I could’ve lied. He never would’ve known. But the worst part is that I also admitted to having a crush on one of my brothers’ friends. I won’t make the same mistake if he asks about that again. Sometimes we have to lie to protect ourselves, and I know better than to leave my heart unguarded against Easton Connor. I clutch a second pillow to my chest, my skin all tingly with memories of him in my room—standing so close and passing the beer to me while we traded secrets. His body so close as he touched his forehead to mine and asked if I wanted him to kiss me. Could it hurt to close my eyes and let myself imagine what it would’ve been like? I’m totally unworthy, and he’s a fucking football star—now a first-round NFL draft pick—but it would hardly be the first time I’ve indulged such a fantasy. In an alternate reality, I could have accepted that kiss. I imagine myself as the tall, thin beauty my mom was at my age, and I imagine him as just Easton—the boy who patched up my knee when I fell off my bike and who told me jokes when I was sad. In that alternate reality, it wouldn’t have been a pity kiss at all but something he wanted as much as I did. He wouldn’t have asked with words. He would’ve asked with the slow descent of his mouth to mine, and I wouldn’t have pulled away. He would’ve tasted like beer and been gentle, and I would’ve been a naturally good kisser. So good, he would’ve groaned into my mouth like the heroes in romance novels do. I flip over in bed again, whimpering in frustration. My bedroom door clicks, and I stare at it in the darkness. Is Carter checking on me? I don’t know why he’s suddenly so worried about me and Easton being alone together. Probably because I got boobs. Finally. “Shay? You awake?” The husky whisper is a tripwire in my stomach, causing all my internal organs to detonate before clumsily righting themselves. I roll to my side, watching the door as I hold the pillow to my chest. “Yeah. Everything okay?” The sliver of hallway light grows as East steps into the room. “Could I sit in here with you?” Oh, shit. I know that tone in his voice—the subtle tremor of anxiety that sometimes hits East so hard he can’t function. I would do anything to make it better, but luckily, it doesn’t take much. I scoot to the opposite side of the mattress and pat the bed beside me. Easton releases a long breath, and the light shrinks again to nothing as he shuts the door behind him. He lies down on his back on top of the covers. “Sorry,” he whispers. I put my hand on his chest, right on top of his racing heart. “I’m here. It’s fine.” He places a hand on top of mine. “Thank you.” Gone are the days of self-deprecation for these spells of anxiety. The first time I witnessed one of his attacks, he was a junior in high school and it was the night before he was supposed to take the SATs. I found him in the corner of our basement, shivering and sweating. It freaked me out to see him so panicked. He couldn’t catch his breath and his skin was so hot that I thought he had a fever. I had no idea what to do, so I just sat down beside him and held his hand. Eventually, he calmed enough to tell me it was an anxiety attack, and not his first. School was always a trigger for him—especially anything that made him feel like he might lose a chance to play football. After that night, it wasn’t uncommon for him to seek me out during the tough moments. For whatever reason, I’ve always been able to calm him. He told me he was comforted to have me beside him whenever he had to suffer through a full-blown attack. “Just breathe.” I scoot closer, keeping my hand on his chest under his. I hear him fighting to control his breathing, and his heartbeat slows incrementally. “Thank you.” “Try to sleep, East. Everything seems worse in the middle of the night.” I stay close, willing my calm to seep into him until the steady, even beat under my hand lulls me to sleep. I fade in and out of consciousness, dreaming of our drinking game, of our conversation from earlier, my brain replaying and rewriting the words as his grip on my hand loosens. And when the words I needed earlier tonight register in my brain, I don’t know if they’re from this Easton or from my dream. “It wouldn’t have been a pity kiss.” ***Easton: Thank you for last night. You are the literal chill to my crazy. I clutch my phone in my hand as I read and reread the text. I fell asleep next to Easton, but when I woke, the morning sun slanting through the curtains, he was gone. I thought I’d find him downstairs with the rest of the hungover crew, but apparently he had to drive back to Jackson Harbor before anyone was up. I didn’t expect to hear anything from him until the next time he came home but . . . he texted. I try not to let it mean more than it does. Me: You’re not crazy. You have a lot on your shoulders. It’s understandable that your anxiety would flare up. Easton: It’s easier to manage it when you’re there. I squeeze my eyes shut. Does he have any idea what words like this do to me? The hope they give? Easton: Do you think your parents would let you finish high school in L.A.? I’d give you room and board in exchange for your chilling effect in my life. Me: Oh, absolutely. Let me just go tell Dad. He’ll be totally cool with his only daughter moving to L.A. to live with and serve a pro football player. Easton: Serve? Please don’t say it that way to your dad. I like my face as it is. Me: Say it like what? Easton: Like I’m buying sexual favors. Me: I think we’ve established I’m not the girl for THAT job. Easton: I’m saying I wouldn’t want to pay you. Me: If you did, you’d demand a refund. Because, if you recall our conversation, I’m CLUELESS. Easton: No. I don’t want to pay for your sexual favors for the same reason you don’t want a pity kiss. My cheeks are on fire. Luckily, I’m alone in my bedroom and no one can see my awkward nerves at having this conversation with Easton. Is this a conversation, or is it . . . flirting? I stare at the screen while trying to decide how to reply. His next text comes through before I can. Easton: Will you come see my new place when I get settled? Yes! Yes! Yes! I don’t trust myself to reply. I’m trying to be cool, but my insides have zero chill when Easton is pouring on the attention like this. Easton: I’m not sure how I’m supposed to start this new life without my rock to ground me when my crazy comes out. Me: Talking to your doctor about a prescription might be a start. And you know I’m not joking. Easton: I know. I just don’t want to need it. Me: There’s no shame in it. Easton: Thank you. For that. For everything. I reread those words over and over, my heart swelling so big there’s no room for me to draw breath into my lungs. Maybe I’ll never have Easton the way I wish I could, but at least I have this. Whatever it is. My brothers are lounging in the family room, barely awake and worshipping their coffee mugs, and the kitchen is clean, the counters sparkling. There’s no sign of the dirty cups and beer bottles I expected to find littering the main floor. Instead, the only evidence of last night’s celebration is the three black trash bags piled by the garage door. “You all got to work early,” I say to the boys. Jake rubs his eyes. “Not us. East felt bad about leaving us with the mess, so he cleaned before he left.” “Nice.” “Is it just me, or has he been acting weird since the draft?” Jake asks. Carter squeezes his eyes shut. “He’s acting like he doesn’t want to go. Which is ridiculous.” “It’s just a lot. I think he’s still processing,” I say. Carter frowns at me. “Since when are you two besties?” “We’re not besties. I’m just a good listener.” Carter grunts and mumbles something about how I’d better be “listening and nothing more,” and my cheeks heat. I don’t want to pay for your sexual favors for the same reason you don’t want a pity kiss. Maybe that just means he doesn’t want to pay for sex. Maybe I’m being a naive girl with a crush to think it means he wants me.

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