*Ares POV* It was almost nine pm. I had missed dinner,and I didn't even care. Noelle wasn't exactly the most jovial person these days and everything about her was beginning to annoy me again. I was going to the old Italian restaurant at the end of town to meet somebody and though my eyes were on the road,my mind was far away. Mostly on the results of my meeting tonight. While my mother was taking care of the situation with the Council,I had to keep things running smoothly with the pack,to settle them and their very valid fears by the way. There is a murderer in town and despite how crooked the victims were,they were a part of my clan and I couldn't protect them. It almost seemed like I couldn't do anything recently,if you wanted to really keep track of the dates I would say when Selene showed up,but I don't want to focus on that so I try to blame it on something else insteadโlike Dominic. But even if I did that,I didn't have evidence to back me up. I sigh loudly The onl
*Selene's POV* I was fuming. He was not picking my calls. And I feel like I'm about to choke my own neck out. I saw him and Noelle on tv this morning again,I think he is way too dedicated to this damn lie. When I told him to pretend,I didn't actually expect him to go on an interview and actually say that I was just a story used against his marriage and he literally doesn't understand why these rumours were being spread. It almost felt like he was disassociating,I do this often but never been at the receiving end of the treatment. Dominic came up to me with a small glass of water. โAre you okay?โhe asked,handing me the glass. โYou seem shaken.โ Then,suddenly it hit me. The thing that has been clouding my mind all day,messing up my lines,screwing with My senses,might beโฆno way. Was Iโjealous? Obviously not,that would be stupid,I asked him to get back with her,I couldn't be jealous if it was my own plan right?But yet and still,a sharp sting hit my chest like small
*Yolanda's POV* I was at my last wine tasting for my party before he informed me that Victor had gone to the main castle,and not only that,he stood before the ex luna and told her he was my friend and was looking for me. Suddenly the fruity taste that lingered on my tongue turned citrus sour. โWhat?โI asked the maid standing before me. โA friend of yours,Victor, is sitting in the living room with Lady Silvia.โ I felt air vanish from my lungs and the maid,seeing my reaction,offered the little comfort she could manage to provide. More information. โWe wanted to send him away,but he was adamant and the ex luna wanted to talk to himโฆoh and Noelle came too.โ That was way too much for me to bear,what if that rascal says something about my past,or about Noelle or straight up magically gained a conscience and wanted to confess. I rushed into the parlour,trying my best to reach there soon enough and also somehow not appear like a crazy woman in front of the maids on duty. I barged
*Selene's POV* โAre sure he is going to come?โCassie asked for the third time in an hour. I glanced at the clock and the wall and nodded. โOf course he would.โI say,trying to keep my mind positive,but even my own voice sounded doubtful. โWhy wouldn't he?โ Cassie did a wide eyed blink and I knew right then and there that I was going to regret asking that question for at least two days. โWell,lets start with the basics.โshe began,proudly laying the foundation to crush my heart and ego. โHe is ignoring your calls,spending more time with his supposed wife on live TV and he might already know that you are the spy thatโโ I tapped my fingers on the chair anxiously and Cassie stopped talking when she noticed she was the cause of the tapping. โHe's only two hours late and I am definitely sure he will have no problem coming to the most controversial brothel in town even though it might ruin him.โshe added,her sarcasm hitting me like a slap in the face. โI think that's enough external p
*Aresโs POV* I've been measuring how strong I am or in better words how deep this obsession was rootedโฆand I have come to a pretty confusing conclusion. I can bring myself to resist the urge to see her and confront her and yet at the same time,I can't get her damn face,voice,smell out of my brain. I have spent most of my time in my office since my little delightful โdiscoveryโ,What was I expecting anyway? I was chasing after a woman who glady branded herself as a man killer and I had somehow expected not to be killed. Maybeโjust maybe she is too far gone. Besides,all the time I had spent with her had done nothing but weigh upon the thread that she might be my Luna. If she was,she would say it by now and her hair seemed completely jet blackโฆit makes absolutely no sense to have someone so hell bent on destroying me so close to me. Anyway,I have come to realise that whenever I'm under stress,I become a workaholicโฆwhich by the way is just perfect for the situation. So far,I
*Selene's POV* Detachment. It has always been my strong suit, or at least I thought it was before I began loosing my prorities. Either way,what matters now are the important things, like the reason I fought so hard for that house in the first place and now how to properly manage matters involving it. I carefully installed a pair of hoop earrings and adjusted my hair off my face. Staring at myself in the mirror, I decided to give my lips another coat of lipstick. Greta came into the room with freshly washed towels, humming a carefree song as she waddled into the closet. โHas anything arrived in the mail?โ I asked absently. โNo,โ she yelled from the closet. โNothing yet.โ I was expecting the invitations by nowโYolanda's birthday was tonight, and I couldnโt miss it. I began to consider getting the tickets myself. โAre you expecting anything?โ Greta asked, attempting to make conversation. But I wasnโt really in the mood to talk; it had been hard to get in the mood for anyth
*Yolanda's POV* My eyes couldn't leave the two empty chairs opposite me,I had sent out those invitations exclusively to high status residents of the pack,this was a prestigious event and being late to my birthday dinnerโespecially when your seats were on my table was very very insulting. I know for sure that I wasn't going to invite them to anything ever again,in fact, just to teach them a lesson,I will ensure they never get invited to anything important again. I took a small sip to calm my fuming nerves. It was my birthday,and I was celebrating it in grand style. There was room for negativity or worries. โLadies and Gentlemen,โSilvia began,raising her glass in the air as she stood to her feet. โToday is a very special day for the Royal family,one of our very ownโShe turns to me ,her eyes glistening with unshed tears I know she didn't mean. โToday is our one and only Yolanda's fifty-second birthday,โshe beamed,bringing her hands to a clap,and as expected,the guests at th
*Aresโs POV* โWhat is going on?โNoelle whined beside me. โWhat are they talking about?โ I looked down at her annoyed,this was the second time she has asked those questions since Yolanda went to talk to Selene,as though I wasn't also here,several feet away,watching them whisper with gritted teeth. โI have no idea.โI obliged myself to tell her despite my obvious discontent. โFinally,โmy mother said,keeping her tone discreet. โSomeone to make the party alive.โ I ignored her and took my seat,fixing my tie and trying not to look her way. The guests murmurs were already beginning to annoy my ears โWho even invited her?โNoelle asked me again, and I can already feel a migraine spiralling in my head at this point. I shot her a glare, and she retreated her hand from me and looked away. Her eyes caught my mother, and She turned her questionnaire skills to her instead. โAre we just going to sit here and act like nothing is happening?โ โYour mother is a wise woman.โcame the reply,a
*Selene's POV* โWe might have to change rooms soon.โI said lazily,peeking out the curtains of the room,bemused by the sight of fans littered on the street,with balloons,flowers and all sorts of gifts I wouldn't even accept. The ones that reached here had already packed the room so much that one would think that I was admitted to a flower shop instead of a hospital. Either way,it was good to know that some things never change,I still had a strong enough hold on my fans. โI think it's adorable how loyal they are.โDominic said beside me and I almost jumped out of my skin. I didn't notice his approach,I don't notice him alot,(that might be highly because I don't even want to)he walks suspiciously tender for someone with that height. I was partially convinced he enjoyed jumping up on me like that. โThey are.โI replied,glancing at the diamond ring planted on my finger. โThe doctors said you might still feel dizzy,โhis hand rested on my waist. โI think it's wiser you stay in your bed
โSo you are saying you didn't push herโyour story here is,you met her in the pool and tried to save her.โ My frown remained. โShould I repeat myself?โ โDon't you think it's coincidental that you of all people were the only one near the premises.โ My eyes glanced at my watch for the hundredth time since this ordeal of an interview began. โI didn't do it.โ โBut the evidences suggestsโโ โThe evidence in question is an assumption.โ The investigator had a smug smirk. โIt's easier to just confess,maybe you could even get a plea deal.โโI said I didn't do it!โ My fist slams into the table before I can control my temper. The man before me stares from me at the dented table and gently scribbles something down in his notebook. I thought of yanking it out of his hands and slapping his damn face with it,but by some miracle thought better of it and pulled my hands to my sides. โSelene sent a note through Cassieโshe will confirm this,and so I went to the pool house to meet her and saw he
I ran down the hospital hall, my heart thundering violently in my chest. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be.My feet pounded against the white tiles, each step a reckless echo of my desperation. My legs threatened to give out beneath me, weak from exhaustion, malnourishment, and an unhealthy dose of grief. I had barely eaten the day before. I had survived on even less sleep. None of it mattered now.I stopped abruptly in front of the glass door. My breath caught in my throat. Inside, Yolanda was standing with her arms crossed, watching the doctor with unnerving intensity. Her face was unreadable, trapped in one of those poker-faced seasons where it was impossible to tell if she wanted to cry in joy or despair.I swallowed hard and pushed open the doorโgently, out of habit, as if politeness could soften the blow of whatever awaited me.Noelle sat in the corner, her hands folded in her lap, but when she saw me, her expression crumbled into something close to pity. I ignored it. I
โ*Dominic's POV*Iโm a hypocrite.Thatโs what I amโa lying, pretentious son of a bitch who hurt the only woman Iโve ever truly loved. But, itโs not my fault, you see... She provoked me. She screamed all those horrible things, looking me dead in the eyes as if I wouldnโt literally kill for her. As if she doesnโt know that I already have.The memory of her words stings, and my chest tightens. I shake it off, unwilling to dwell on what had come over me that made me push her. That impulseโwhatever the hell it wasโmust never be revived. Ever. But how am I going to handle this now? How can I fix something so broken?I check my watch for what feels like the hundredth time tonight. Itโs 2 AM, and still nothing from the doctors. The empty, eerie silence of the waiting room presses in on me. What a way to end an engagement party. For a split second, I almost chuckle at the absurdity of it all, but then I remember that I have company.Cassie walks into the room, her heels clicking against the co
Noelle's POVโHow do you know?โ Yolanda asked, panic heavy in her eyes. โHow long have you known?โHer breath hitched, and she frowned at me, turning serious as she grabbed my arm. โHave you told anyone?โโI've known for quite a while.โ I pull my hand away from her grip. โAnd no, I haven't told anyone.โYet.Victor posed the question this time.โHow did you find out?โโAfter asking several times for answers, I took my time to glare at Yolanda. โI got some maids to do a little snooping, and they came back with the news.โโSo you were spying on me?โ Yolanda asked, offended. โWe are sorry we kept it from you all this while.โ Victor apologised anyway. โI tried to tell you several times, butโฆ He sent an eye gesture Yolanda's way, and she scoffed.โYes, yes, make me your villain.โโThe least you can do is apologise.โ He mumbled under his breath.โWhat was that?โโI said.โ Victor began turning to face her. โThe least you can do in this situation is apologise!โโRight.โ She nodded. โAs thoug
*Ares POV*I walked to the pool house in a hurry, my heart beating frantically at the thought of talking to Selene in private, even if it meant acting like I was on some secret mission. After what I witnessed at the party, Iโll take what I can get. Honestly, a pool house meeting is far more than I expected.My footsteps echoed in the large swimming hall, but there was no sound. No, Seleneโฆ nothing. I groaned internally and clung to what Cassie told me for hope."She desperately wants to see you," she'd said. "All of it was pretend. I think somethingโs wrongโfar more than we thought."I looked around in disappointment, realising I couldnโt keep playing these games anymore. But as I took another step, I froze, a dark sensation settling over me. My skin prickled, a jolt of electricity rushing through meโjust like when she was in the room. But this was differentโฆ weak, fading."Selene?"I looked down, and my heart shattered when I saw the floating figure in the water, her dress billowing
Selene's POVI really need to talk to Ares alone.But in between the judgemental glares I'm getting and Ares refusing to at least look my way, I'm certain that it would be easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle than to get my wish.But what about our mindlink? Does that still work โ how does it even work?I find him busy in conversation in the crowd and smile faintly; his nonchalance at the whole situation is partly soothing but also concerning. The last thing we need is a scene, but I still feel so lonely being completely ignored by him.Dominic's hands tug at my waist, and I mentally jolt back my table.โI asked if you liked the escargot.โ Dominic grinned, a hint of annoyance still in his tone. I imagine he had asked me several times, but I was too busy to hear.โI'm enjoying myself.โ I replied softly, and the people around the table eased up.They looked like they were waiting on a suicide time bomb, and Dominic and I were holding the grenade. I leaned back and brought
Yolanda's POVโIs that the girl you saw bump into him?โ I asked my spy, narrowing my eyes as we both stared at the security footage on the screen in front of us.โYes,โ she nodded, leaning in as if to get a better look. โThe woman with the orange hair, beside the Alpha.โโJust as I suspected,โ I hissed, my fingers tightening around the glass in my hand. The burn of the whiskey as it slid down my throat did little to ease the rising frustration. โI'm sure Selene is on our tail about Victor. And that orange-haired brat is who she sent to do the job.โThe spy shifted beside me, eager to contribute, her excitement palpable. โSo, do you want us to release the story about Liam now?โโNo,โ I replied sharply, raising two fingers as I leaned back in my chair. โI think I'll handle this in an entirely different way.โ A wicked grin tugged at the corners of my lips as I squinted at the screen, watching Selene and Dominic in the center of the television below.I don't know what they were planning bu
*Selene's POV*There are three levels by which I rank evil: evil justified, evil triggering, and DominicโDominic being the highest on the scale. I knew Liam was crazy when he threatened to kill himself for me. At that moment, I truly believed no other man would cross that line of madness and emotional manipulation as he had.But then I met Dominic, and I realized my expectations of human foolery were far too low.I glanced down at the engagement ring on my finger. It was there the morning after sleeping in his bed. I hadnโt even said yes, for Christโs sake, but here I was, wearing it and getting dolled up to stand at his side. Some event was happening tonightโI didnโt even have the energy to ask what it was.I felt the hairdresser's fingers curling my hair into a high ponytail and instinctively withdrew.โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I snapped, more harshly than I intended. But with the world pulling at me in every direction, I needed to direct my anger somewhere, and she was, unf