Chapter: Chapter 9: I'm Going To Be FineIris's POV "Iris."My father's voice came through the phone. "How are you?""Fine." I kept my voice flat. "How's the trip?""I'm wrapping up. Listen..." He paused. The kind that meant Sandra had put him up to something. "Your stepmother mentioned you haven't returned her calls. She's been asking about you.""I've seen her messages." I said."So?" He asked."So I've been busy, Dad." My voice came out strained."She's making an effort, Iris...""She's really not." I said, cutting him off.He went silent. "Maybe you should think about coming home for a few weeks," he said finally. "Give it a real chance.""I'm good where I am." I said."You've been at Rafael's for almost a month now.""Chloe invited me." I sat up, swung my legs off the bed. "It's not a big deal.""Iris...""When do you land?" I asked.He paused again, longer this time. "End of the month.""We'll do dinner," I said. "I'll call you.""Alright." He sighed. "Take care of yourself. Tell Rafael I said hello."The line went o
Last Updated: 2026-05-13
Chapter: Chapter 8: I Looked Away FirstIris's POV I woke up with the sun in my face and his hands in my memory.I lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling of the guest room, waiting for the shame to arrive. It came, right on schedule, a hot flush spreading up my chest and into my face the moment the full reel of last night played back. The pool. His hands under my dress. The sound he'd made when he found me soaking. My own voice saying Daddy like I'd been saying it my whole life.I pressed both palms over my face and held them there.My body still hummed. Even now with the morning light making everything look bright, I was still aching, I was still aching, a deep, unsatisfied throb between my thighs that the cold shower last night hadn't touched. My skin felt like it remembered every place his hands had been and was still waiting for them to come back.I showered, hot this time, as hot as I could stand, and stood under it until my shoulders loosened and I could think in straight lines again.It was a mistake.That
Last Updated: 2026-05-13
Chapter: Chapter 7: She Had A Rough NightIris's POV"Dad? Iris?"Her footsteps crossed the marble entrance hall, getting closer."Fuck," Rafael said under his breath, and he was already pulling himself out of the pool, water streaming off him, reaching for the towel on the lounger.I scrambled after him, grabbing the pool steps, hauling myself out. I grabbed my soaked shorts from the concrete, yanked them up my legs with hands that were shaking so badly I nearly fell over. My tank top was beside the lounger. I snatched it, pulled it over my head, the wet fabric plastering itself to my skin immediately.No bra. No underwear. Soaking wet from the pool and flushed from everything that wasn't the pool.Rafael had already wrapped the towel around his waist. He ran one hand through his wet hair, exhaled once through his nose, and his shoulders dropped into that easy, composed posture like he'd just flipped a switch. The composure came back so fast it was almost frightening, like watching a door close on a fire.I couldn't keep my
Last Updated: 2026-05-12
Chapter: Chapter 6: I Want ToIris's POV "But I want to be here," I said quietly and I kissed him.I didn't decide to. One moment I was looking at him and the next my hand was on his chest and my mouth was on his, my eyes were closed and I was kissing Rafael Blackridge at the edge of his pool at eleven at night.I expected him to stop it, expected his hands to come up and hold me back, his voice to come out calm and controlled telling me to go inside. The version I knew, the one that always kept the distance, but he kissed me back.His hands came up and cupped my face and he kissed me like he'd been waiting and was done pretending he hadn't, his thumbs were at my jaw tilting me up, and I made a sound against his mouth that I'd never made in my life.Then my brain caught up.I pulled back, stepped back, my hands flew up between us."I'm sorry." The words came out fast. "I shouldn't have... that was... I'm sorry, I don't know why I...""Iris...""I should go inside." I was already turning. "I'm drunk, I'm not thin
Last Updated: 2026-05-12
Chapter: Chapter 5: You Shouldn't Be HereIris's POV I ordered a whiskey sour.The bar was three blocks from campus that Chloe and I had been coming since we turned eighteen, I was steady enough to sit down without gripping the stool.I took a sip of my drink, the alcohol burning a path down my throat. I didn't cry, I was past crying about Tristan. The words came flooding through my mind.Corpse. Dead when I touch her.I set the glass down and looked at it and thought about the thirty seconds in his bedroom that had undone eight months of nothing. Thirty seconds of thinking about Rafael, his large hands, and my pussy tightened at the mere thought of him. I thought about the way I wanted him in ways I had never wanted anyone.I signaled for a third drink.I wasn't broken. I'd been telling myself that because it was easier than admitting that the reason Tristan had never once reached anything real in me was because something else had already taken up all the space, it had been taking up space since I was sixteen, waking up flu
Last Updated: 2026-05-01
Chapter: Chapter 4: Like A Dead CorpseIris's POV I dressed carefully.A simple black tank top that clung just enough to hint at the curves under, paired with high-waisted shorts. I even put on a little makeup just enough to look like I tried. I stood in front of the mirror before I left the mansion and looked at myself and thought, you can do this. We've been together for eight months, I knew his apartment, his smell, his hands. I knew how to be his girlfriend, I just had to remember how.He opened the door before I knocked."You're late," he said."The traffic was bad." I lied.He looked at me, then he stepped aside. "Come in."His apartment was arranged exactly the way he liked it, nothing out of place. I stood in the middle of it and waited for some version of warmth to find me, it didn't."You look good," he said, coming up behind me. His hands found my waist like it always did, his mouth brushed my cheek and I stood there and felt absolutely nothing."I've missed you," he murmured into my hair."I know." I said.He
Last Updated: 2026-05-01
Chapter: Chapter 9: Heel PracticeTyson's POV Wednesday, 4:47 PMThere'll be a change of plans. I'm coming to you, be ready.I sent it and kept my phone in my pocket before she could argue, she tried anyway.Are you serious? You can't just...I didn't read the rest. I already knew what it said. Roxanne Sinclair had exactly two modes when I made a decision she didn't like, immediate combative, or slow-burning furious, and right now she was somewhere in the middle of both, typing aggressively into her phone in whatever she was doing before I interrupted it.I'd been watching her for three days, she was sharper than most people gave her credit for. Whether she was limping at the end of the day, whether she was favouring one side, whether the left ankle that had been collapsing in the lecture hall corridor was getting better or was going to be a problem I had to manage on Saturday.The party was in less than three weeks. I didn't have room for problems.That was why I was doing this. That was the only reason.I knocked o
Last Updated: 2026-05-13
Chapter: Chapter 8: Scent Science ClassRoxanne's POV "You're in Scent Science Class?"I stopped walking and turned around.Tyson was behind me in the corridor, bag over one shoulder, looking like he hadn't just appeared out of nowhere to ruin the first thirty seconds of my morning."Apparently," I said, turning back forward."I didn't know that." He fell into step beside me like he'd been invited to, which he had not."You don't know my schedule." I said."I do now." He glanced sideways at me. "How are the heels coming?""They're fine." My voice was flat."Yeah?" He said an eyebrow. "Because I'm not walking into that party with someone who...""I've been practicing, every day." I looked at him flatly. "Like you told me to. Can we not do this in the corridor?"He looked at me for a moment then shrugged one shoulder and walked off toward the other side of the lecture hall without another word.I found a seat in the middle row, dropped my bag, and pulled out my notes. I did not look back to see where he sat, my wolf immediat
Last Updated: 2026-05-12
Chapter: Chapter 7: More Of Me To BalanceRoxanne's POV "Okay, what happened?"I dropped the entire armful onto my bed, dresses, skirts, crop tops, the heel box landing on the pile."Roxie." Charlotte got up from her bed, setting down her snack. "Talk.""He wants me to wear these." I gestured at the pile. "Like I'm some doll he can dress up and show off."Charlotte crossed the room and picked up the white bodycon dress, holding it out Infront of her with both hands."I mean..." She held the dress up against herself and turned to the mirror. "They're no that bad...""They're not that bad on you." I sat on the edge of my bed. "On me that's gonna be a whole different conversation."She lowered the dress and looked at me. "Roxie...""I'm not having self-pity, I'm being realistic. Those dresses on my body are going to be..." I searched for the word, "...a lot. I can already imagine the way they would cling to my curves, the way it would expose every inch of me that I'd spent years hiding."Charlotte was quiet for a moment, then s
Last Updated: 2026-05-12
Chapter: Chapter 6: Scent Doesn't LieRoxanne's POV "Oh my god... I'm so sorry." I spun around so fast I nearly knocked the chair over."I knocked, I swear I knocked..." My face was on fire, my whole body was on fire. "Nobody answered and Alice said to just come up so I... the door was right there and I pushed it and I didn't think...""Pumpkin." His voice came from behind me. "You need to chill.""I am chill." I said quickly."You're not." He said.I pressed both hands flat against my thighs and stared hard at the wall in front of me. Behind me I could hear him moving, unhurried and calm, the sound of a drawer sliding open and my wolf who had apparently lost her entire mind, was still awake and practically vibrating. She lifted her head, ears forward.Sit down, I told her.She turned in a slow circle and stayed exactly where she was.I heard the sound of him pulling something on while I kept my eyes on the wall."You can relax," he said. "It's not like you saw something you didn't like."My jaw dropped. "What do you mea
Last Updated: 2026-04-28
Chapter: Chapter 5: See What You Like?Roxanne's POV "Okay, this one actually looks really good.""It's too tight across the chest," I said. "I can feel it pulling everytime I breathe, Charlie.""You look hot...""I looked like I'm being held together by wishful thinking." I pulled at the dress, turned sideways in the mirror and immediately turned back. "No. Help me find the green one."Charlotte flopped backward onto my bed. "The green one is literally in the pile you said no to.""I changed my mind on the green one." I said."Roxie." She sat back up. "That's the third outfit. We've been at this for almost an hour.""So?""Well..." She tilted her head, a small smile tucked at the corner of her mouth. "Someone's trying really hard to look good for their boyfriend.""Fake boyfriend." I spun around. "He's my fake boyfriend, Charlie.""I just think it's interesting you're trying...""I just want to look presentable." I turned back to the mirror and grabbed the green top from the rejected pile. "I'm going to his suite, it's a
Last Updated: 2026-04-28
Chapter: Chapter 4: Terms and ConditionsRoxanne's POV "That's the smartest decision you've made," I pressed my lips together."Like you said, this is strictly professional," he said. "No catching of feelings, purely business.""Excuse me?" I snorted. "You think I'm at risk of catching feelings for you?""I wouldn't be surprised if you fall for me," he gave a small smile. "I mean who wouldn't?""You're the last person on the planet I would develop feelings for," I said. "I would rather be single than fall for you.""Let's proceed with the terms," he said. "You'll come to my games.""Your hockey games?" I asked."Yes." He replied. "Every home game, you sit and look like you want to be there. You'll be supportive."I took a deep breath. "I already hate this.""You'll attend the social events." His voice was steady. "Campus parties, pack parties, Alpha functions, anything important.""I hate parties." I said."It doesn't matter." He didn't even blink. "You'll also need to sort out how you dress."I went very still. "What do y
Last Updated: 2026-04-28
Chapter: Chapter 9: Getting Married In Two Days TimeKiera's POV "You have a son?"Zake asked again."I... I..." I couldn't find the words.Jayden looked up at Zake and his eyes lit up instantly. He let go of me, walked across the room and stopped directly in front of Zake and looked up at him for a long, serious moment.Then he threw both arms around his waist and held on."Daddy!" he said.My heart stopped. Zake went completely still."Jayden..." I crossed the room in three steps. "Baby, no...""He has my eyes, Mama." Jayden pulled back just enough to look up at Zake's face, pointing between their eyes with one finger, completely certain. "See? Same ones.""Jayt, sweetheart...""You said we might meet him here." He said."I said possibly..." My voice came out rough."Possibly means maybe yes." He turned back to Zake. "You're my daddy."The room was absolutely silent."Baby,listen to me." I crouched down and took Jayden's hands in mine. "This is Mr. Langston. He's not your..." I stopped.Because I didn't know how to finish that sent
Last Updated: 2026-05-13
Chapter: Chapter 8: You Have A SonZake's POV "Henry Carrington passed on the fourteenth. Peacefully, at home."Spencer Thompson opened the meeting. "Per his explicit instructions, no public announcement was made until the estate proceedings were underway." He looked around the table. "We're here today because those proceedings begin now."Across from me, Kiera sat with her hands folded on the table and her face was completely blank, unreadable. She hadn't looked at me since she sat down.I hadn't stopped looking at her. Thompson moved through the preliminary details: assets, holdings, the structure of the estate. Standard language. I'd read most of it already. Beside me, Derek was quiet, daphne had her pen uncapped, making notes."The whole of Henry Carrington's estate," Thompson said, "including his controlling shares in Thompson Financial Group, all associated properties, and all liquid assets, is willed solely to his daughter, Kiera Griffin."Daphne's pen stopped moving.She recovered in about two seconds, stra
Last Updated: 2026-05-13
Chapter: Chapter 7: Nice To Meet YouZake's POV "You've been quiet since you heard about Henry's estranged daughter."Derek didn't look up from his phone, his legs was on my coffee table, too comfortable in my office."That's either nothing or a disaster." He said. "With you it's always a disaster.""I'm always quiet." I said."You're always controlled, that's different." He looked up now. "What happened?"I picked up my coffee. "Henry's daughter is arriving today.""I know that. I also know you've looked at her file four times this week because Lily's assistant told me." He said. "So, what is it?"I said nothing and Derek waited as always. He was good at waiting, it was one of the things irritating about him."I've met her before," I said finally.He stared at me. "The estranged daughter that Henry hadn't spoken to in nearly a decade?""Yes." I said."You've met her?" He asked."Once, six years ago." I set my cup down. "It was one night. I didn't know who she was.""Zake." Derek's voice came out rough. "You're telling
Last Updated: 2026-05-12
Chapter: Chapter 6: An AdventureKiera's POV "Where are we going again?"Jayden asked for the third time."New York." I said."But why New York?" He asked again.I looked away from the window, the clouds, the flat grey Atlantic below them and down at Jayden with his coloring book open on the tray table."We're going on an adventure," I said."What kind of adventure?" He asked."The kind where we figure it out when we get there." I smiled."Will there be good food?" "Yes." I said."Okay." He went back to his coloring. "I want a burger when we land.""Sure." I said.He smiled, satisfied, and I turned back to the window.The clouds were thick below us, flat and white. We're been here for seven hours, seven hours of Jayden treating the flight like a personal gift from the universe, interrogating the flight attendant, discovering every button on the seat panel, announcing to no one in particular that the clouds looked like dogs. The woman ahead had turned around twice and both times Jayden had given such a bright smile
Last Updated: 2026-05-12
Chapter: Chapter 5: Five Years LaterKiera's POV "Jayden, shoes.""I can't find the left one...""It's where you left it last night which is where I told you not to leave it." I sighed."I don't remember where that is." He appeared in the hallway doorway, one shoe one, one shoe off, his hair not done, looking at me with those ice-blue eyes completely unbothered by the fact that we were already eleven minutes late.I pointed at the couch, he looked at the couch. The shoe was on the floor directly in front of the couch.He put it on without a word.I was already moving, bag over my shoulder, checking my phone, three emails since seven AM, the Sanderson Corp walkthrough was at ten and the florist for the Olivers wedding had texted at six in the morning. I had four missed calls from my venue coordinator and a reminder that the linen order needed final confirmation by noon.Jayden grabbed his backpack. "Mama, can we...""Jayden, we're late.""I know, I know." He followed me to the door. "I'm sorry.""It's fine, just...""I'm
Last Updated: 2026-04-27
Chapter: Chapter 4: Hello New LifeKiera's POV I was pregnant.I stared at the test on the bathroom counter for a long time without moving, just sat there on the cold edge of the sink, my back against the mirror, the white stick between my fingers like it was something that might change it answer if I waited long enough.It didn't. There were two lines, clear and permanent. I sat down, looked at it, picked it up again and set it back down.The apartment was quiet around me, my new apartment, the one I'd found after he kicked me out and I'd moved in and told myself it was a new beginning.I looked at the test and the question sat at the back of my head. Whose child was it?It could Denise, who two months ago had me pressed into the headboard of our bedroom at two in the morning, hands everywhere, whispering things in my ear that I'd been stupid enough to believe. We hadn't been good in months but the sex had still be there, the body doesn't care about the state of a marriage and I'd wanted, he'd taken and apparently so
Last Updated: 2026-04-27