LOGINCHAPTER 76: I'M READY ELENA The air in the room was thick with the undeniable pull of our mating bond. When I looked up at Adrian, his chest was rising and falling in rhythm with mine, his dark eyes searching my face as if he were trying to read the secrets buried deep in my soul."Are you sure, Elena?" he whispered, his voice barely a rasp. "I don't want this to be about pressure. Kissing you, holding you—that’s enough for now. I’m willing to wait until you’re truly ready."I didn't hesitate. It has been more than a month since I arrived here as a bride. Yet Adrian hadn't touched me. At first, I was thankful that he didn't make the move to touch me. And that was because I hated him for killing Marcus. But now that I knew the whole truth, the thought of waiting any longer felt like an eternity. And my wolf was pacing, whining, demanding to be claimed by the man who had marked her. I reached up, my hand trembling slightly as I rested it against his bare chest, feeling the solid wall
CHAPTER 75: NO PROMISES ELENA:“Well, I hope you won't betray me by making Purity Luna.” Elena had said. I pulled back slowly, my hands still framing her face, my expression hardening instantly. I couldn't make promises I wasn't ready to keep, not when the entire foundation of this alliance was built on selfish ulterior motives."I can't make promises, Elena," I said, my voice dropping to a low, gravelly tone. "I gave you a ring and told you just a few hours ago that this was a fresh start. I intend to be honest and fair with you, but that’s a two-way street. How you play your part in this will determine the outcome. Your father is a snake, and for all I know, you could still be his fangs. If this alliance goes to hell—and it very well might—tell me the truth: would you be on my side, or your father’s?"Elena’s chest rose and fell in a sharp, shallow breath. She didn't look away. "I told you I'll be faithful to the very end. I even went to Alpha Silas this afternoon," she admitted,
CHAPTER 75: ALPHA…PLEASE!ADRIAN:I didn't leave the office after that phone call with Darius. I had a lot of work to do and spinning that web to fool Darius had taken a lot of my time. I’d survived on nothing but bitter black coffee for dinner, my eyes burning as I poured over the fake financial ledgers I was crafting to bait another trap. The clock on the wall was a constant, ticking reminder of how much I had to get done, and when the hands finally crept toward midnight, a sharp, rhythmic knock sounded at the door.I didn't look up immediately. I assumed it was Clement. He was probably coming to give me feedback on the surprise attack I’d ordered on Darius’s estate earlier this afternoon."Enter," I called out, not taking my eyes off the screen.When the door clicked open and the heavy thud of boots didn't follow, I finally glanced up—and froze. It wasn't Clement. It was Elena.My gaze instantly swept over her, and my breath hitched. She was wearing a silk nightdress that clung to
CHAPTER 74: TRICKING ELENA'S FATHER ADRIAN:I sat in the dim light of my study, Elena's new phone resting on my desk like a live grenade. The screen glowed, casting long, sharp shadows across my hands. When I first took the red dress from Elena's room some weeks ago, I kept it locked away in a secret room, with the intention that later, I will use it as evidence against Darius for breaching our peace alliance. But he could actually deny any wrongdoing, claiming he was only trying to keep in touch with his daughter. But this time, I wanted to do things differently.Darius thought he was the puppet master. He thought he could plant his daughter here, manipulate her, and tear my pack apart from the inside out. He thought he was playing chess with a novice.He had no idea he was playing with a ghost.I pulled out my laptop and began the work. I’d spent the last few hours recording every word out of Elena’s mouth—every laugh, every gasp, every sentence spoken in anger or exhaustion. I fed
CHAPTER 73: I HAVE MY PLANS ELENA:“Things will be different between us, if you stay faithful and loyal.”Those were Adrian's last words before he stood up and left the master suite. I stared at the ring in my finger, the weight of it feeling like a crown. It wasn't just gold and stone; it was a stake in the ground. Adrian had chosen to start over, and for the first time since I’d been dragged into this nightmare, the suffocating fog in my mind began to lift. I wasn't just a prisoner or a pawn; I was the Alpha's mate, and I was going to wear that title with everything I had.I didn't wait. As soon as the door clicked shut behind Adrian, I stood up and smoothed my dress. I had an appointment with fate. I headed straight for Alpha Silas’s chambers, my boots echoing with purpose through the grand hallway.I knocked once, hearing his steady voice invite me in. Silas was exactly where he always was—reclining on his sofa, his nose buried in a newspaper that seemed to be his only companion.
CHAPTER 72: A NEW START ELENA:My heart gave a violent lurch, skipping a beat as the accusation hung in the air. The look of pure, unadulterated fury on Adrian’s face was enough to make a weaker woman faint. But my survival instinct kicked in. Before he could move away with the device, I moved with a speed born of pure desperation, my hand lashing out and snatching the phone from his grip.I glanced down at the screen. My eyes scanned the text message, my pulse thrumming in my ears like a war drum. “I haven't heard from you in days. Hope you're okay. If you're reading this message, that means the phone has been delivered to you. Get in touch as soon as you can. Dad.”I heaved a sigh of relief, the tension in my chest loosening just a fraction, though I knew I wasn't out of the woods yet. I looked up at Adrian, his towering frame casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the room."Where in this text does it indicate that I’ve been spying on you?" I challenged, my voice sharper than I i
CHAPTER 36: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?ELENA:Early the next morning, I got out of bed early and prepared for my new task. I washed up, got dressed and went downstairs where Clement was already waiting for me in the garage. He drove me to the pack clinic and by the time he dropped me off and I
CHAPTER 35: I DIDN'T ASK TO BE HEREELENA:“And what if I say no?”When I dropped that question on him, Adrian didn't answer right away. He just sat there on the edge of my bed, completely silent for a long moment. His dark eyes locked onto mine, burning through the shadows as if he was carefully t
CHAPTER 34: AND WHAT IF I SAY NO?ELENA:To be completely honest, I wasn't really surprised when Adrian said they weren't going for the birthday dinner anymore. Not even a little bit. The second Anna had come screaming about the blood, I already knew what time it was. That had been the exact and on
CHAPTER 33: NO BIRTHDAY DINNER ADRIAN:Clement slammed his foot on the gas, the tires screeching against the gravel as we tore out of the pack complex. During the entire ten-minute drive, I kept talking to Purity, begging her to stay awake, but she was completely unresponsive, her breathing shallo







