KNOXToday, we had a quarterly meeting with every department of Ares Enterprises, which means Nova was in attendance and Thalia had no business being at the exclusive meeting but Ryan insisted she tag along in case Alpha Ezra thinks I'm pulling side deals to screw him over.Thalia sat across from me and I swear I saw her yawn a few times and roll her eyes a noticeable amount during our meeting. As we leave the premises, my lawyers are sharing satisfaction and complaints to address with other department lawyers while Nova and Thalia walk ahead of everyone, if anything they were first to leave the premises.“You looked sleepy in there,” Nova tells her, making her sigh.Oh, good it's not just me that noticed it.“I'm so exhausted.” “You didn't sleep enough?”She snorts, moving closer to Nova. “Keir came over yesterday afternoon and overworked me.”“Attorney, Laurel!” Nova gasps.“Hey,” Thalia nudges her. “It was all innocent. You're becoming a bad girl Novie lovie.”“I like to think I'
“Shit.” “Is this the meeting that was so important?” I glare at her, watching as she wipes her mouth clean with the back of her hand. “This does not classify as a meeting.” “I know,” she swallows, making me wonder what else she's swallowed under the pretext of this meeting. “We just-” “When you're here, you work. You can fuck your boyfriend on your own time, damsel.” I warn, her nickname rolling off my tongue with vile ease. “I wasn't fucking him,” she shoots back, her gaze twinkling with irritation. “Not yet.” And there it is, she's acting smart because I interrupted her orgasm, one she wouldn't have gotten from simply fingering herself while this thing did absolutely nothing. “My building is a reputable place of work, not a brothel Thalia.” “Ms Laurel, to be professional of course.” I nod, falling right into her trap. “Because you've exhibited professional conduct?” “I'm sorry, it's my fault.” The knockoff jumps in, his face is so complacent I want to punch him u
AMARAThalia and I are getting our hair done in preparation for tomorrow's meeting, she went first and immediately buried her nose in a gossip magazine. I'm checking my hairstyle when a familiar face pops up behind me in the mirror.“Nova!” I call out, whirling around. My squeal alerts Thalia too.Nova smiles, waving at me while the little girls with her squeal. “Hi, Amara.”“Auntie Thalia Rose!” both girls scream, running to meet her.“hi, darlings,” Thalia matches their excitement. “I love your matching dresses.”“Thank you,” they say in unison, hugging Thalia. I turn my attention to the Thalia lookalike. “Hello.” she grins, looking even more like Thalia.“Amara, this is Mariella, Knox's finance, his kid. My kid.” Nova tells me, gesturing to each individual. My gaze gets stuck on the kids, one looks very much like Thalia.“Say hi to my friend.” Thalia prompts.Nova's daughter stares between us, scratching her head. “Are you a lawyer too?”“Yes.”“Cool.” They both swoon, “I'm Katie R
Mariella’s lip curls up with contempt, “You look lovely, princess.” she feigns a smile. “You did so good, Arabella.” Nova praises. “I'm sorry I made a fuss.” she pouts, looking up at Rose.” “It's okay, I know you were scared but you need to remember that even if it seems like a bad day, you'll be fine, smile and keep your chin up because when the sun comes up tomorrow, it'll be a new day.” Arabella nods vigorously, “Okay, auntie.” “Mommy, can we surprise Daddy with my hair?” Katie Rose asks Nova. “Yep, I'll call him when he's out of surgery.” Nova smiles, petting her head. “Is he okay?” I frown. “Yes, he's the surgeon.” Nova laughs, noting my confusion. “Er, so what are we doing next?” “Thalia and I were going to get our nails done.” I tell her, “We want to look deadly in court.” “That's great, Mariella you could use a new set.” Nova’s head tilts, looking at Mariella's nails. Mariella glares at her, “This is new.” “It's pretty. “ Rose smiles. Nova shrugs, her eyes twin
THALIA I walk into the boardroom with supreme urgency, I shouldn't be here but Alpha Ezra canceled because Luna Serenity got worse. Everyone from Flame Valley is in their seats when we arrive, but none of them expect to see me but Knox seems pissed at my presence and it's not because I'm nowhere dressed for the meeting. “Good afternoon, all.” Amara greets, settling down beside me. “Sorry, I'm late. Shall we start?” “Where's Alpha Ezra?” I don't look at him as I answer, “He had an emergency so I'll be substituting for him.” “An emergency?” he scoffs, “He should have communicated with me before resorting to—” “His wife is sick, you insensitive psycho.” I snap, my tone surprising even myself. He's not here because he didn't want to cancel yet again.” Ryan clears his throat, “I'll get the projector.” “Thank you, Ry.” I smile, my voice much softer and calmer as opposed to when I spoke to Knox. Ryan leaves, and Amara gets to work on connecting with the rest of our team
“Not particularly, I just meant that—” Ryan chuckles, winking at me, “I'm kidding.” “You know, the downside of this efficient work you've accomplished is you won't have anything to do for the next two months. Our schedule was cleared for at least seven months.” Amara reminds me, of a detail I missed when I was plotting to complete the project fast enough to get me away from Knox and my bitter-sweet memories attached to Flame Valley. “I guess I'm finally taking time off work.” I shrug, the idea itself sounds ludicrous. If I'm not in a courtroom or handling legal aspects of our pack negotiations, who am I? Amara laughs, ostensibly unconvinced. “Oh please, attorney T.R Laurel doesn't rest. You'd work in your sleep, let's face it, you're not normal.” “That's not true,” I frown. “I know how to be normal.” “Rose, you work on your off days.” she sighs, leaning back in her seat. “You're the prime definition of a workaholic. Pull up a dictionary and there you are, at the top, and
MARIELLA Alpha has been ignoring my calls, and Arabella is restless, awaking every half hour if not an hour at best to ask if her daddy is home yet. This has made it hard for me to fall asleep either because she comes looking for me to ask again and again. Nobody knows where he is, and this isn't the first time this has happened so I sit in the dimly lit kitchen, scrolling through my phone with a cup of coffee in hand to reward myself for putting Bella to sleep for over an hour now. It's nearly four in the morning, maybe I can go back to sleep, but I can't risk being awakened by loud sobbing at my bedside. My lips stretch into a wide grin, my cheeks undoubtedly flushed from the dirty thoughts I get looking at a picture of Alpha Knox, shirtless. The creaking sound of the kitchen door opening wipes my smile away, my hand grips my mug tighter, ready to swing at the intruder but when I see him, my nerves calm immediately. He doesn't notice me, I watch him stagger as he enters the
RyanThis might just be one of my core memories, I initially planned to seek Amara out at the game but sitting next to her? Premium experience.Tearing up my tickets was the best thing Arabella Venus and Katie Rose have ever done for me, it not only provided me with a reasonable excuse to give my buddies, but it put me in the best seat in the house, right next to Amara.This town is the primary Vulture fan club, so that puts Amara in the 0.8 percentile of people who hate the club. Still, that didn't make her shy away from yelling, screaming, and bullying the Vultures each time they scored. Nikolai, the star of today's match was her biggest victim, she nagged, called his tricks sheer luck, and booed at his every score and honestly it was so hot to watch. Much to her dismay, my team beat hers by a whopping six points but it didn't affect her mood, she has been invariably cheerful.“Do you want to go ?” I nudge her, watching the way she peeks at the queue to the locker rooms.“No,” she
Hey loves, There haven’t been any updates yet because I’ve noticed many of you prefer multiple chapters at once. So, I’m planning to upload at least five new chapters together this weekend. Thanks for your patience and support! Xo, Athena♡
“Really?!” I beam, unable to contain my excitement. I've waited for this moment for days on end but I've also been dreading it because I can't go to my apartment. “Yes, but you'll need to take it easy.” Dr. Avery warns, “I already spoke to Alpha Knox about everything, and you'll need that, as well as your follow-up appointments.” “Tell me what you told him.” Dr. Avery looks at Amara and then back at me. “Nothing to worry yourself about. I just told him you have to take your prenatal vitamins, and checkups, provide a diet plan, and what to avoid. " She trails off, refusing to speak on things in detail. I'm getting the feeling things aren't as alright as Knox wants me to believe, and if that's truly the case, I'd like to be prepared as well. I need to know these things, too. “Dr Avery, can you please explain the to me as well? Knox can't be around me 24/7, he has a pack to run and I don't want a nurse yet.” “Of course,” she grins warmly. “You have to take luprolene twice a day, sta
“Knox?” she groans, and I think she's dreaming because of how gently it comes out but I find her staring at me. “Hi,” I choke, unable to move my hand. “Hi,” she grins. “What are you doing here?” “I came to see how you're doing and take care of you.” “I don't need—” “Thalia,” I interrupt her. “It's been an eventful week, please shut up and let me take care of you and our baby.” I petition, my words stunning her. “I am not leaving you alone nor will you fool me into doing that again so save your breath.” “I didn't trick you,” she scowls. “Hm,” I nod. “So what do you call making me believe Amara would be with you and vice versa?” She bites on a smile, “A thoughtful white lie?” “Well, no more thoughtful white lies,” I warn, making her sigh in response. Even then, she looks weak, it tears at my insides because I contributed to this. “You have your hand on my belly,” she says, looking down at it. In response, I nod. “Nothing's happened has it?” “No, not yet, but it
“I am not tossing you to the side, you're a reasonable woman, Ella, you've been through several pregnancy scares.” “Not scares,” I argue, swallowing down the dread each miscarriage left me with. I always felt incompetent, and it ruined my plans. “Actual child loss, unlike her. But I sympathise with her, she used to be my best friend,” I trail off for dramatic effect, unable to say her name because of my current rage.“We were close but I can't deny what happened years ago, neither can you. Which brings me to the question of whether are you having a baby with her. Even after what she did to our Arabella Venus?” I whisper her name like some sacred lament. “she left that poor baby alone.” “I know,” Alpha Knox promptly agrees, nearly triggering my smile. “I know, and I hate her for it but—” There's a but. Fuck. “You're going to give Arabella back to her?” I finish it him. “My purpose will have been saved and I should move on but I don't want to, I can't,” I whimper softly. Pulli
Oh, she's good, she's got this conversation rehearsed and bagged. “Oh shut up, the gig is up. You're the worst friend ever,” I turn to Knox, gesturing to her. “Use your brain once, Knox. If she ever gave a fuck about Thalia why did she replace her so fast? Would a sad friend jump to fuck you while you grieved your mate leaving you?” “Nova, that's enough. You've had a long day, you should rest and revisit your logic in the morning, I know she's a saint to you but that woman cursed my daughter, she has bought your sympathy and is manipulating you.” “You're the one being manipulated by Mariella, she has got you caught in her web of lies and deceit.” I cry out, frustrated with the unfruitful back and forth. “That's enough, you should get some rest,” he orders, and I shake my head in response. I'm overstimulated today, and his thick head isn't helping with that. “Why won't you listen to me?” “I am listening to you, and I'm understanding that you're being misled by Thalia.” he c
“Novie? Are you okay?” Thalia repeats, her tone laced with concern. “Yes,” I nod, jumping off the bed. “I just remembered I have a proposal to submit at work, Knox might be here but he will still scold me.” “Okay, goodbye?” she calls out, but I'm already opening the door. My first instinct is to run to Knox, but I can't find him. The doctor says he went out to buy some special vitamins for Thalia. I book an Uber, my whole body shaking thanks to the information I just learned. The car couldn't go fast enough, in my opinion. My foot jitters the entire ride home, and when I'm finally dropped off, I nearly forget to pay the driver in my haste to find Mariella. “Mariella!” I scream, my voice bitter than it is most times I address her. This is someone Thalia trusted with her life, someone who betrayed her just so she can fuck Knox
The words hit me like a thousand bricks to the head. I sit there, frozen, her voice echoing in my head long after she’s turned her face away. She doesn't know, she thinks the baby—babies are gone. In her head, they couldn't have made it through the blood, screaming and chaos. I want to correct her, I ache to tell her. To see her eyes taken with something other than pain, to watch life crawl back into her bones but not only do I not deserve the satisfaction, but the way she’s looking at me right now as if I’m the ghost that haunts her dreams makes me stop. She hates me as much as I long to hate her or even more and right now? I hate myself too. I hate the way I hurt her, the way I didn’t protect her from herself—or from me. “Thalia,” I call out, in an attempt to tell her the truth but when she looks at me with her teary eyes and tear-stained cheeks, the words get stuck in my throat. “Everything is okay,” I tell her but it's more for me, to ease some of the guilt that comes
KNOX It's been six hours since Thalia was rushed to the hospital, and four since the doctor let us see her. Ryan, Nova, Amara and I surround her hospital room while she just lays in the bed which makes her look so small and frail. She's still unconscious but the doctors swear both she and the pup are fine, I even had my pack doctor Madison come here to aid the other doctors because I trust her work, and believe in her methods. The doctor said she bled due to stress, and knowing I've been the biggest inducer of her stress has done something to me. I have this pain in my chest that won't go away, it intensifies each time I hear her name or think of it. I feel like crap, but if the need had been there I would have chosen her over our pup, I would rather she walk out on he own than take the pup from her. My words must have hurt her, I put both her and the pup at risk and now I don't know what to do. Amara came to the hospital a few hours ago, she and Nova are closely watching Thalia
Hey wonderful readers, I hope you’re all doing amazing mentally, physically, and emotionally (because these characters sure aren’t helping with that, are they?). I am dying to know how you are feeling about the story so far. Who’s your favourite character? Who’s making you want to fling your phone across the room? Are Thalia and Knox making you scream too, or is it just me?? How’s the pacing—do you need more heartbreak, fights, or more kissing (or all)? Let me know in the comments and leave me a review, I’d love to know what’s got you hooked or raging. Thank you for reading, supporting, and choosing to fall into the chaos with me.♡ With love and just a dash of angst, XO, Athena.❦