LOGINAmber’s POV I swallowed hard and forced the words out, my voice shaky but determined. “I-I do have it,” I stuttered, holding the wallet up so Logan could see it clearly. “But I didn’t steal it, I swear on everything. Let him check it right now to see if any money is missing. If something’s gone, you can search me… or his girlfriend. She would—” “Enough!” Logan cut in sharply, his voice slicing through the air like a whip. The room blurred. Tears flooded my eyes, hot and stinging. I had thought I was strong enough for the real world, ready to stand on my own two feet. Daniel had been right, I wasn’t ready. The world was cruel, and it didn’t care how hard I tried. My gaze flicked to the woman. Her right hand trembled as she covered her mouth, staring at me like she wanted to confess but couldn’t bring herself to do it. I had never felt so humiliated in my life. I had tried to help someone, and it had all blown up in my face. “You should have just minded your own business,” Rav
Amber’s POV I narrowed my eyes at the wallet half-hidden under the edge of the table. Definitely a man’s, thick leather, worn edges, probably his. Was she actually trying to rob him? This nice guy who had been polite to me? No way… she couldn’t be that bold. I shoved the thought aside, snatched my pen from the floor, and started to stand, only for the woman to lean down right then, her manicured hand sweeping across the tiles as if she was searching for something she had dropped. Without thinking, I grabbed the wallet first. Not just because of the nasty way she had spoken to me earlier, but because the guy seemed genuinely kind. If it was his, he deserved it back. A grin tugged at my lips as I straightened up and held the wallet out to her. "Looking for this?” I asked sweetly. Her eyes went wide, pupils blown, like she had been caught on camera. Instead of taking it, she snatched her purse up to her face like a shield, cheeks flaming red. I swear she was trying t
Amber's POV The annoying blare of my alarm clock jolted me awake, pounding in my head like someone was beating a drum inside my skull. I instantly regretted setting it. I slapped it off with more force than necessary, the silence that followed almost deafening. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes, and my hand brushed across the empty side of the bed. That’s when it hit me, Bella wasn’t here anymore. No more human alarm clock shaking me awake with her endless energy and teasing. Goddess, I had gotten so used to her presence that the quiet felt wrong, like a missing heartbeat. I forced my eyes open wider and checked the time. Shit. 6:30 a.m. I still had to get ready and head to my new job. University didn’t start until next week, alongside Bella, thank the Moon Goddess but right now, I had chicken to deliver and tables to wait on. I jumped out of bed, nearly tripping over my own suitcase, and ran into the bathroom. A quick shower later, hot water barely touching the exhaustio
Amber's POV The office door whooshed open, cutting off my spiraling thoughts as a beautiful older Black woman sashayed inside. Her long black hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights, her presence commanding yet graceful, she looked like she could have walked straight off a magazine cover or a runway. She settled into the revolving chair behind the wide wooden desk, crossed her legs, and flashed a smile that lit up the entire room. That smile, it was one of those rare, one-in-a-million smiles that actually reached her eyes and made you feel seen. Before I knew it, I was smiling back, the knot in my chest loosening just a fraction. “You must be Daniel,” she said warmly, leaning forward slightly. “It’s been a while since I last saw you… goodness, look at you. You have grown into such a fine young man. I almost didn’t recognize you without that teenage scowl.” My gaze drifted to Daniel, who was blushing, actually blushing like a fanboy meeting his celebrity crush. My jaw
Amber's POV The taxi ride to the university passed in a blur, streets, trees, and the occasional honk fading into background noise. When the car finally pulled up to the massive iron gates, I couldn’t stop staring out the window. This was the school I would have attended if I hadn’t earned that scholarship to King’s University in Everbite… and if my family hadn’t been branded outlaws years ago because Dad trusted the wrong people and got labeled a traitor by the Alpha. I wondered how different everything might have been if I had never set foot in that cursed pack. Maybe the Moon Goddess would have given me a mate with the same skin tone as mine. Maybe I wouldn’t have ended up with two mates. Maybe my life wouldn’t feel like one long, exhausting nightmare that kept restarting every time I thought I’d hit rock bottom. A heavy sigh slipped out as I turned from the window. My gaze caught on the back of a she-wolf standing at the gate in the warm afternoon sun, wavy hair catching t
Amber’s POV I had to stop thinking about him. I couldn’t keep spiraling down that rabbit hole, but goddess, I missed my ex-fiancé. His gorgeous face, those sharp cheekbones, the way his green eyes softened when he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered, the warmth of his arms… I shoved the thoughts away hard, like slamming a door on them, and stuffed the green-and-white maid uniform into my handbag until the zipper strained. Then I walked out of the tiny office, chin up, pretending my heart wasn’t cracking open all over again. Just as I reached the restaurant door, my phone started ringing inside the bag, muffled but insistent. I froze for a second, then dug through the mess of fabric until I pulled it out. My breath caught when I saw the name flashing on the screen. Mason. Saved under “Fiancé ❤️.” My thumb hovered over the answer button. Why was he calling? Why now? We were done. Over. I knew if I picked up, I wouldn’t be able to stop talking to
Author’s POV Amber opened her bag and pulled out her phone, but it was completely soaked. The cotton bag had absorbed every drop of rain, leaving nothing dry. “What about your phone?” Amber inquired, fear rushing through her voice. “I need to call Xavier and tell him where I am.” “My phone, my
Amber’s POV "I think you are right, bro, but that doesn’t mean I’m going back to that university. I need a break from those racist cunts." I sighed, turning to walk to my room when Daniel tugged me back with an iron grip that caught me off guard. "I’m not done talking to you. You gave them th
Alpha Xavier’s POVI stared straight into Amber’s eyes, anger bubbling under my skin, my wolf simmering. “Are you sure you lost it…or just didn’t want to use it?” I questioned, holding her gaze. She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? You have got a terrible memory. Nate stole it, remember?” Amber protes
Author’s POVThe library air was still and tense, and Amber’s voice carried the exhaustion she was trying so hard to hide. “W-Why would he say such cruel things to me?” Amber mumbled, staring at Xavier from across the desk. “Just because I stole his phone once, he knew I had no choice. Alpha Maso







