Novel-novel oleh Cleopatra

EMILY’S POVI lay in the guest room, staring at the ceiling. My mind was racing with different thoughts that refused to let me rest. My fingers traced the edge of the blanket, but I wasn’t really holding onto anything. I wasn’t sure if it was the dream I’d had that left me restless or the disheartening truth that my food hadn’t touched Lucas at all. The meal had been cold, forgotten, without a second thought. My chest tightened every time I replayed the memory in my mind.A shiver ran down my spine, and my mind drifted back to that strange, lingering dream I had just before dawn. Joe, the Gamma was standing over me, his eyes dark and intent, his hand reaching out as though to claim me even in sleep. I could swear I felt the brush of his fingers against my arm, a phantom touch that made my skin crawl. I woke up gasping, my heart hammering hard against my ribs, and sweat clinging to my hair. The image haunted me, and I felt an almost instinctive pull to do something, anything, to secu

LUCAS’S POVThe day had dragged on longer than I expected. Negotiations, pack matters, and the endless parade of people who insisted on thinking they could dictate terms to me had left me drained. I needed a drink—something strong enough to burn away the tension crawling up my spine.I walked through the wide hallway toward the kitchen area, the echo of my boots on the polished floor filling the otherwise silent house. Everything was quiet and clean, exactly the way I liked it. That was my life—everything in its place, everyone knowing their role, and no one daring to step outside the lines.As I passed the dining area, a movement caught my eye.I stopped mid-step, frowning. My gut tightened. The dining area was supposed to be empty at this hour. My Beta had gone out after delivering the last of the pack’s messages. The maids were long gone to their quarters. And yet, there she was—someone out of place in my perfectly ordered world.Curiosity and a rare flash of concern nudged me back

EMILY’S POVSo much had happened in such a short time. But at least now, I had a lead. I sighed and brought my knees up to my chest, hugging them close. I had to think again, to really think. There had to be something that could get him to talk. Something that would make him look at me like a person, not just a task. I could ask about his past but was he going to answer? And what if he didn’t like being questioned? What if it just made things worse?I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. Every plan I thought of ended in the same place: nowhere.I was chasing smoke. Reaching for things that weren’t there.After a while, I stood up and began to pace. I needed to move. I needed help. And despite how dumb it was going back to meet her almost immediately after I'd just left, that was literally the only reasonable option I had. With that thought, I left my room and made my way back to the kitchen.Mrs. Higgins was standing near the fire, peeling what looked like apples now. She didn’t

EMILY’S POVThe silence in my room was killing me. I sat on the edge of the large bed, staring at nothing in particular. My fingers played with the frayed edge of the blanket, but my mind was miles away. It felt like the past twenty-four hours had cracked my entire world open and scattered it at my feet. I didn’t know how to pick up the pieces, or if I even had enough strength left to try.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing myself to push down the surge of emotions threatening to rise again. I couldn’t afford to drown in tears or self-pity anymore. I had a week. One week to make Alpha Lucas fall in love with me. If I failed, I’d be handed over to the Gamma, and just thinking about that man’s eyes scanning me like a piece of meat made my stomach twist with nausea.No. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I couldn’t.So I had to think. And think fast.What did a man like Lucas even like? He barely spoke. He barely looked at me. He didn’t want me here. That much was obvious.

EMILY'S POVFrom the moment our eyes met, I was instantly drawn to him - his tall muscular frame, his piercing silver eyes and slightly messy ink black hair. He looked perfect, without any blemishes but I was soon to find out that he had the temper of an uncultured brute.I ran upstairs to the guest room with tears in my eyes and I shut the door as soon as I was in. Never in my life had I felt so worthless. There was no turning back now. He was surely going to send me back to Royal High and from there, I was going to be sold to the Gamma.I lay down on the bed and shut my eyes, but an hour passed quickly and the sleep never came. I turned on the bed and just then, my eyes caught a quick blur of light flash by."Who is there?" I muttered.Except for the steady whirring of the fan hanging from the ceiling above, the room was dead silent.I tried to convince myself that it was just my mind playing games with me, but a few minutes later, I heard something hiss under the bed.I rose up fro

LUCAS'S POVI realized a little too late that my Beta had gone mad.Over the weeks, my best friend and Beta, Chris had come up with a strange theory that the reason for my recent outbursts was the fact that I didn't have sex often.At first, I thought it was a joke but a few weeks ago, he had invited the council of elders for a meeting to discuss the issue, and much to my surprise, he had gone ahead with the plan."Chris!" I snarled.I stormed down the steps and through the garden until I got to his car."What the fuck do you think you're doing, man?" I snapped at him."Getting my best friend a pretty lady to cool his nerves with," He replied and laughed. "For real, you need to relax.""You would take her back to wherever you brought her from at once!" I snapped.He stared at the gold plated watch on his wrist and he frowned."It's well past noon already, and guess who you sent to far away California, just to sign a peace treaty with Alpha Damon?"I sighed in frustration and he contin