Novels by Emma's thoughts

DAMON.The walk from the grand iron gates of the upper-district estate to the paved driveways had always been a symbol of status, but today, it felt like a slow march of humiliation and pain. Damon walked the distance on foot, not in his usual sleek Sedan.He hadn't come back out of remorse. He had come back because reality had finally set in: freezing his accounts had crippled him. He convinced himself, with a desperate flick of his ego, that perhaps his father’s initial fury had cooled. After weeks of silent treatment, surely the old man’s heart would have softened toward his only son. Surely a family patriarch wouldn't let his own blood rot in the lower gutters over a broken engagement.He passed the security checkpoint but he wasn't accorded the usual respect.These fools, Damon said to himself. I will deal with them soon.The mahogany doors of his father's private study were cracked open. Damon pushed them wider and stepped inside.His father looked up from the leather desk, his

DAMONDamon walked into the usual meeting spot, pulled the collar of his damp leather jacket tight against his neck, standing in the shadows, waiting for the only person in the city who hated Eveline as much as he did Lucian Reed.A sleek, dark sedan pulled quietly to the curb at the mouth of the alley, its headlights clicking off instantly. The passenger door opened, and Maeve Cross stepped out.She was impeccably dressed in a tailored wool coat, her blonde hair pinned back in its usual pristine twist. The moment she locked eyes with Damon in the dim light, her face twisted in anger.“You are late, Damon,” Maeve hissed, marching right up to him and crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “I have been waiting in the car for a while now." “Traffic on the bridge from the lower district was hectic," Damon snapped back his jaw as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “What the hell did you call me out here for? My father has cut off my funds, my accounts are frozen, and I’m one step a

EVELINELucian carefully scooped Eveline up into his arms, carrying her out of the cramped bathroom and laying her down softly on her bed propped up against several pillows.He sat on the edge of the mattress, pouring a glass of water and holding it to her lips.“Drink slowly,” Lucian instructed, his tone softer now that the panic had subsided.Eveline took a small sip, avoiding his eyes as a flush of embarrassment hit her cheeks.For a moment, the only sound was the steady hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen and the soft rise and fall of Eveline’s breathing. She took a deep breath, still feeling a bit washed out, but the intense wave of nausea had faded out.Lucian remained seated, his large frame relaxed, watching her with a quiet, attentive gaze.Eveline cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “Thank you, Lucian. For... coming over so fast. And for not making a big deal out of it.”Lucian offered a soft, wry smile, shaking his head slightly. “You’re welcome, Eveline. Though it

EVELINE.The transition into their new reality was bumpy, marked by an ongoing tug-of-war between Eveline’s fierce independence and Lucian’s stubborn persistence.By Tuesday morning, the subtle footprint of Lucian’s presence was already woven into the small apartment. Eveline stepped into the kitchen in her oversized cotton sleep shirt just after six, and when she flicked on the light, she found a brown paper package neatly resting on the counter next to the kettle. Inside were fresh organic berries, a carton of iron-rich greens, and a small sealed bottle of prenatal vitamins accompanied by a note in Lucian's handwriting: Take these with breakfast. I will check in tonight.Eveline stared at the note, a mix of irritation and warmth fluttering in her chest. She wanted to prove she could handle everything on her own, but she couldn't deny the steady relief that washed over her. He was keeping his word, providing care without controlling her and she was gratefulBy mid-afternoon, however,

LUCIANThe digital tablet on Lucian’s desk glowed in the dark room, casting a cold, pale light across his face.Howard stood quietly by the door, holding a printed summary report. The private inquiry across the lower-district apothecary shops and independent pharmacies had taken less than twelve hours, but to Lucian, every minute had felt like forever.“Dr. Reed,” Howard said, his voice hesitant. “We found a match.”Lucian didn’t look up immediately. He locked his jaw, his hands flat against the dark wood of his desk. “Give me the details.”“It wasn’t logged under Eveline’s name,” Howard explained, glancing down at the paper. “Which explains why it didn’t show up initially. But the attendant at a small pharmacist two street away from Henderson books and brews remembered a young woman matching her description paying cash for two specific items two weeks ago: a standard home pregnancy test kit and a bottle of specialized prenatal vitamins.”The quiet in the room lingered on.Lucian clos

LUCIANThe executive office was dead quiet. The soft hum of the climate control system blended with the steady stream of city medical lights flickering through the floor-to-ceiling glass. Lucian sat behind his dark mahogany desk, his jaw set in a hard, unyielding line as he stared into the dark.The heavy oak door clicked open.Maeve walked into the room wearing her crisp white lab coat, a sleek leather tablet tucked neatly under her arm. Her blonde hair was pinned back in its usual immaculate twist. She paused a few feet inside the room, her eyes locking onto Lucian’s rigid posture behind the desk.“Lucian,” Maeve said smoothly, her voice carrying a practiced professional cadence. “If you’re looking over the evening surgery rosters, I need your sign-off on the trauma bay rotations before eight o'clock.”Lucian didn't reach for the tablet. He didn't even blink. Slowly, he stood up from his leather chair, his tall frame cutting a cold, imposing silhouette against the glittering backdr

Denderick's POVI had just finished the council meeting, but my mind was already at home. The moment I stepped out of the room, I felt the familiar pull toward Aria. It was always there, but today, it seemed stronger-almost like a force urging me to get back to her."Off in such a hurry, Denderick?" Alpha Kieran voice called from behind.I turned to see him standing with Alpha Callum and Alpha Harris. They were grinning, clearly amused by my haste. I chuckled, shaking my head."Yes, yes, I am," I said, grinning back. "I've got a beautiful wife waiting for me."Alpha Harris laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. "Lucky man. Go on, then. Don't keep her waiting.""Tell Aria we said hello," Alpha Callum added with a smirk.I waved them off and headed for the carriage waiting outside. The ride back to the pack house was peaceful, but I could feel the excitement building in my chest. The past one year had been everything I could have hoped for. I was ruling the largest territory in the ar

Aria's POV"You fetched a good price," he continued, then pointed at Denderick. "I remember selling you to him. And now look at you, all dressed up and proper. Must be nice to live in luxury after being sold like cattle, huh?"I stood up, my chair scraping against the wooden floor as I pushed it back. My pulse raced as I took a step closer to him. I could feel Denderick's presence at my back, but this moment wasn't about him. It was about me, and the man who had once stolen my freedom."Do you have any idea what I went through after what you did?"The slave master laughed. "Oh, don't play the victim card with me, girl. I've heard it all before. You're free now, aren't you? You got lucky. Some of the others... well, you know better than anyone how they end up.""Lucky?" I hissed. "You call what happened to me lucky? Do you think any of these people-" I gestured toward the chained slaves outside the room, "-are lucky? You don't care about any of them, do you?"The man merely leaned back

Aria's POVI wanted to charge forward, to confront the man who had sold me into slavery all those years ago. My feet itched to move. I wanted to storm the platform and make him look me in the eye. But just as I was about to step forward, Denderick caught my arm."Not yet, my love." he growled in my ear. "Patience."I swallowed my frustration, though every instinct screamed at me to move, to act. The longer we waited, the more I felt like the opportunity would slip through my fingers, like I would lose my chance to confront the man who had torn my life apart. But Denderick was right-this wasn't the time to rush. Not with so many eyes on us.So, we waited.The crowd slowly began to thin out, buyers leading their new slaves away like they were leading cattle to slaughter. One by one, the slaves were purchased and taken off the platform, until only the slave master remained, standing triumphantly on the raised wooden structure and counting his gold coins. His greedy eyes scanned the la

CHAPTER 109Aria's POVThe next morning found me standing in front of the pack house, waiting. The crisp air of dawn hung around me, and I shivered, though it wasn't from the cold. Today would be the beginning of something-something I had to face, no matter how much dread sat heavy in my chest. I had left Edward with one of the maids I trusted in the pack house. I couldn't take him along, not to where we were going. There were too many questions, too many ghosts that needed to be confronted without distraction.A gentle hand brushed my shoulder, and I turned to find Denderick standing beside me, his eyes warm and reassuring. The sunlight caught his blonde hair in such a way that it shimmered like gold, and for a fleeting moment, I thought about how lucky I was to be mated to someone so strikingly handsome. But it wasn't just his looks. It was the strength behind his kindness that always steadied me, especially when I felt on the verge of unraveling."Are you ready?" he asked.I nodde

Aria's POVThe room had emptied.However, I remained seated, my eyes fixed on the wooden table in front of me. The sound of footsteps and voices faded into the distance, and soon, it was just me and my thoughts. The Council meeting had ended, and with it, the reign of terror that had haunted my life. Logan was gone-forever. I had never thought I would feel this kind of... peace.Deep inside, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It was finally over. The nightmare that had tormented me for so long was now behind me, and for the first time in years, I could breathe freely. I could look at my son without the constant fear of Logan's shadow looming over us. I could love Denderick fully, without any hindrance.But as much as I felt relieved, there was still a part of me that couldn't relax completely. There were too many unanswered questions, too many loose threads that had to be tied up.I had to have answers.I was lost in these thoughts when I felt a pair of hands gently rest on my s

Aria's POVI sat among them in silence. The Alphas gathered around me in the meeting hall. Their murmurs were low, but I knew they were talking about me. Their eyes flickered toward me every other second, and when they thought I wasn't looking, they whispered behind their hands.I could feel their eyes on me-sizing me up, judging me, and silently wondering how I survived what I did. I didn't need to hear their words to know what they were thinking. After all, what happened at the treehouse wasn't something easily forgotten. Word had spread, carried on swift winds, and everyone in the room knew exactly what had transpired.Still, I sat up straight, clutching Edward tightly to my chest, my back rigid with confidence. I would not show them any weakness. Not today, not ever. They could stare all they wanted, but I didn't care for their gossip. I had endured far worse than their judgmental glances, and today, all I cared about was one thing: Denderick.He had left home that morning without