Chapter: CHAPTER EIGHT: THE LIEElena POV "Do you have a child, Elena?" The question hung in the air between us like a blade about to fall, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, feel it in my throat, taste it on my tongue. He was staring at me with those dark eyes, waiting, watching every breath I took. I should tell him the truth, I knew I should, the words were right there on my tongue, yes, I have a daughter, yes, she's yours, yes, I've been raising her alone for five years. But then I remembered that night, the altar, the white dress I'd worn, the way he'd looked at me with such hatred. Your father murdered my family; your bloodline is poison. The words he'd said in front of everyone, the way the pack had watched me bleed and done nothing, the way he'd walked away without looking back. That man didn't deserve to know about Maya, didn't deserve to touch her, be near her, breathe the same air as her. "Why would you think that?" My voice came out steady, carefully controlled
Última actualización: 2026-02-12
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVEN: THE CONTRACT SIGNINGELENA POV"Miss Hartwood, Mr. Vandenberg is ready for you now."The assistant's voice was too cheerful for what I was about to do, signing my life away for a year to the man who destroyed me this morning.I followed her down a hallway that smelled like expensive cologne and power, my heels clicking against marble that probably cost more than my entire sanctuary.Cassian was already in the conference room when I walked in.He looked awful, with dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his jaw, his shirt wrinkled as he'd slept in it."Elena," he said."Cassian,"I sat across from him, the table between us felt miles wide, two lawyers in expensive suits flanked us like referees at a boxing match."Shall we begin?" the older lawyer asked, sliding a thick contract toward me.I picked it up, started reading it, even though my hands wanted to shake.One year pretending to be his mate, public appearances at pack functions, living in his mansion, playing the devoted partner.Six million dollars
Última actualización: 2026-02-11
Chapter: CHAPTER SIX: THE FROZEN SMILECASSIAN POV "What really happened the night my parents died?"Uncle Marcus's smile froze, his hand stopped mid-reach for his coffee cup."Why are you asking this now?"The question came out too smooth, too practiced, like he'd been waiting for me to ask it someday.I pulled the hospital bracelet from my pocket and dropped it on my desk between us.Marcus stared at the plastic band like I'd thrown a live grenade."What is this?""You tell me."He picked it up, his fingers trembling slightly as he read the words printed on the label.Patient name, Elena Hartwood, date, five years ago, reason for visit, prenatal care, first trimester."This could be anyone's," he said finally, setting it down carefully, "where did you find it?"I stayed silent, watched the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes darted to the door and back to me."Cassian, you look exhausted." Marcus moved closer, his voice shifting into that concerned uncle tone, "When was the last time you slept properly?""Don't.""I
Última actualización: 2026-02-09
Chapter: CHAPTER FIVE: THE PHOTOGRAPHCASSIAN POV My head felt like it was splitting by the time my driver pulled over two miles down the mountain road.I gripped the head rest of the seat in front of me until my knuckles turned white, trying to breathe through the pain."Sir, are you alright?" my driver asked from the front seat.Marcus Jr, my uncle's nephew, has been driving me for three years now. "I'm fine," I said, even though I wasn't, "just give me a minute." "Did you get what you came for?" he asked. "Yes," I said, "Elena agreed to the contract." "Did she seem different to you?" he asked. I thought about Elena standing at that gate, hatred burning in her eyes. "She's hiding something," I said. "What makes you say that?" "Just a feeling," I rubbed my temples, Marcus Jr was quiet for a moment."You know, you really should look at that photo again," he said, "the one you took last week when you drove up here." My blood went cold. "I wasn't here last week," I said. "Yes, you were," Marcus Jr insisted, "Th
Última actualización: 2026-01-22
Chapter: CHAPTER FOUR: THE PROPOSALELENA POV "Keep Maya inside, no matter what happens, don't let her come out here." Sophie stared at me like I'd lost my mind."Elena, you can't go out there alone," she said. "I have to," I said, already moving toward the door, "just keep her inside, please."I walked out before either of them could argue, my legs shaking with every step toward the front gate.Five years since I'd seen Cassian Vandenberg's face, five years since he had destroyed me in front of everyone. I reached the intercom and pressed the button."What are you doing here?" I said, "How did you find me?""That doesn't matter," Cassian's voice came through the speaker, "I need to talk to you.""We have nothing to talk about." "Please," he said, "five minutes, that's all I'm asking."I walked down the long driveway to the gate, keeping the metal bars between us like a barrier. Up close, he looked terrible, with dark circles under his eyes, skin too pale, and his scent was wrong.Muted, like something was dying i
Última actualización: 2026-01-22
Chapter: CHAPTER THREE: FIVE YEARS GONEELENA POV "We're three months behind on the mortgage, Elena, three months."Mateo stood in my tiny office at Silvermist Sanctuary, waving a stack of red-stamped envelopes like they were evidence in a trial.Five years had passed since I'd left the Obsidian Pack territory, five years of building this wildlife refuge from nothing, and now it was all falling apart."I know how far behind we are," I said, not looking up from the expense reports on my desk, "I'm the one who opens the bills.""Then you know we need to make a decision," Mateo said, his voice gentler now, "maybe it's time to sell, cut our losses before we lose everything."I looked up at him then, this man who had partnered with me three years ago when the sanctuary was just me and a falling-down barn.Mateo Santos, thirty years old, kind eyes, patient smile, completely in love with me, even though I had never given him any reason to hope."We're not selling," I said."Elena, be reasonable.""I am being reasonable," I stood
Última actualización: 2026-01-22
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