LOGINThird Person's POV
As soon as Eugenia's footsteps faded, Esmond's voice dropped, thick with disapproval. "She's always trying to get between us, Camellia. Always clawing at my authority. You need to stop seeing her."
Camellia's brow furrowed, her eyes cutting through him like glass. "She's my friend. Whatever she says, a traitor like you doesn't get to judge her. Besides," she added, her voice dropping to a lethal chill, "she's just stating the facts, isn't she?"
Esmond f
Third Person's POVWhen Esmond led Camellia into the living room, Lionel was already there, reclined on the sofa and deep in conversation with the elders.Watching the rare smiles on his grandparents' faces, Esmond's expression clouded.No matter how hard he played the part of the perfect heir, they always treated him with a measured coldness—nothing like the genuine warmth they radiated toward Lionel."Grandfather. Grandmother."Chelsea looked up and gave a small, elegant nod. "Esmond, Camellia. Sit. Miss Romero will be here any minute."Camellia offered a polite greeting and took her spot next to Esmond, though she instinctively shifted outward, leaving a tell-tale gap between them.Chelsea didn't blink at the gesture. Tonight, the two of them were just background noise."Lionel, did you hear a word I said?" Chelsea turned her focus back to her son. "Be a gentleman. Drop that 'stay away or die' look, or I swear, I'll ma
Third Person's POVAs soon as Eugenia's footsteps faded, Esmond's voice dropped, thick with disapproval. "She's always trying to get between us, Camellia. Always clawing at my authority. You need to stop seeing her."Camellia's brow furrowed, her eyes cutting through him like glass. "She's my friend. Whatever she says, a traitor like you doesn't get to judge her. Besides," she added, her voice dropping to a lethal chill, "she's just stating the facts, isn't she?"Esmond felt a surge of irritation.His Alpha instincts demanded a mate who fell in line, yet here was Camellia, clearly trusting an outsider more than him.He felt a warning growl bubbling in his throat, but he choked it back, remembering his own infidelity. He forced his tone to soften.Seeing that Camellia had already turned her back to keep packing—completely icing him out—he hesitated, then stepped up behind her."Camellia, I'm sorry. I snapped. I shouldn't ha
Third Person's POVEsmond didn't hesitate. The second the words left Camellia's lips, he snapped them up.His dark Alpha eyes constricted, a flicker of gold dancing in his pupils—pure, unadulterated hype.To him, nothing mattered more than dragging his stray mate back to his side. The snapped mating bond? The jagged cracks between them? He figured time would stitch all that back together."Camellia, don't worry," Esmond said, stepping closer. He reined in his scent—that heavy pine-needle pressure—until it was almost non-existent, replaced by a desperate, borderline pathetic need to please. "I won't touch you. I won't force anything. I promise."It was a hollow promise. Esmond had recycled that line a dozen times during their years together.Camellia stood there, face like stone. Even her wolf didn't stir.She didn't buy a single word of it.If she was stepping back into that villa—a place that reeked of
Third Person's POV"It's normal for Esmond and me to dine together. We're mates," Camellia said, forcing calm, her wolf eyes blazing at Lionel."But you, as his uncle—" She was cut off as he suddenly loomed closer.Lionel's cedar aura flared hot, his wolf-tooth choker clinking coldly against his collarbone. "Pushy? Wasn't it you who first tempted me?"His finger traced her neck, where the cedar lingered from their hotel encounter. "The full moon night, your red dress, and your plea to 'mark me.'"Camellia's wolf ears burned crimson, her temporary mark searing with shame."The hotel was an accident!" she retorted. Suddenly, Lionel unleashed his full Starlight Pack Alpha aura. Glasses in the private box shattered."Accident or not," his voice grazed her earlobe, fangs nearly piercing her gland, "your wolf has claimed me."In the dark, she felt his claws lightly scrape her wrist's secondary gland—the wolf's ture mate m
Third Person's POVHalf an hour later, the car pulled up in front of a French restaurant.As the two got out, a snowstorm-like cedar aura swept toward them—Lionel.His brows furrowed. His emerald beast pupils locked onto Camellia. Didn't the doctor say she should be hospitalized?Why was she out with Esmond?The Alpha aura of the Starlight Pack spilled out, chilling the air.Esmond, sensing Lionel's gaze, flared his pine pheromones into a defensive stance. His wolf claws fully shifted, steel-like nails tearing his suit sleeves. "What a coincidence, you're also dining here?"He deliberately stepped in front of Camellia, radiating provocation.Lionel, expressionless, watched him. His wolf-tooth choker clicked against his collarbone, sending a chilling sound. "Yes, here for business."As he spoke, his peripheral vision caught the mark on Camellia's neck—a clash of his cedar and Esmond's pine.Esmond laughed, a forced growl in his voice. "We won't disturb you then. Cam, let's go in."His
Third Person's POVHe likely had someone tail her to know she was at the hospital and showed up just in time, probably fearing she'd tell her parents about this morning.Camellia took a deep breath, looked up at him, and smiled. "I didn't tell you because I thought you were busy."Seeing her smile, Esmond faltered.Since his affair was exposed, Camellia hadn't smiled at him once—only disdain or irritation.He'd forgotten how her eyes used to soften when she looked at him, how her smiles used to be warm.Unconsciously, his gaze gentled too."I can always make time to visit your dad with you."Camellia nodded. "I'll tell you next time, and we'll come together.""Sounds good."Esmond chatted with Ernest for a few minutes, but Ernest wasn't as warm as before.Once, he'd liked Esmond because he thought Esmond treated Camellia well. But after Esmond's last visit when he complained about Camellia moving out, Ernest's eyes were opened.If Esmond truly cared, why would Camellia leave?Thinking
Third Person's POVEsmond instinctively defended himself, "I didn't..."Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, his wolf eyes contracted sharply into vertical gold-red lines, and his pine pheromones turned chaotic. "How did you know I was with Hazel?"Camellia stared at him, her
Third Person's POVAfter Konstantin left with his men, Lionel drove Camellia to the hospital.During the ride, Camellia cast several glances at Lionel, hesitating to speak.Lionel turned to her and asked, "What's on your mind?"She pursed her lips and said, "Mr. Dalton
Third Person's POVLionel had just stepped out of the car when he spotted a figure plummeting from the hotel's upper floors.An Alpha's signature frost instantly blanketed his features, the intimidating aura between his brows thick enough to curdle the air.His fingers, hanging by his sides, twitch
Lionel's POVI was reviewing lab surveillance footage when my suit pocket vibrated with an incoming satellite call.I answered, and Konstantin's urgent breathing filled my ear. "Alpha Lionel, Miss Sanders has gone missing!"My knuckles crushed a pen, splintering wood into sha







