HAZELAlpha’s body lay crumpled on the floor, mouth open, and blood trickling from the side of his temple where Zephyr had knocked him out cold.For one frozen second, I just stood there staring at the stillness of it all and how surreal it felt to see the Rossi Brothers come to my rescue when I least expected it. Then I looked from one man to the other, trying to digest it all.Zephyr. Cyrus. Xander; my saviors. All three Rossi brothers stared back at me with barely restrained rage radiating from them like heat from a fire place. But it wasn’t just their rage at how Alpha locked me up that made my breath catch. It was the way they looked at me—like I was theirs.Cyrus stepped forward, reaching deep into his pocket, “you should drink this, you’ll need your strength.”When he pulled out his hand, he was holding a pocket sized bottle of multivitamins, the kind I was familiar with because it always gave me the perfect energy boost after hours of going from one meeting to another. Even
HAZELI didn’t know how long I’d been in this hellhole.There were no windows, no drop of sunlight, and no clocks, just silence and a creepy dim light that flickered over my head. It was what I envisioned hell to be like; a dark, timeless, and hopeless prison.Pissed at my father for using me as a bargaining chip, I sat on the floor with my back against the wall, wondering how I could repay him in equal folds for ruining my life. But nothing came to mind. How could I even form a coherent thought when I hadn’t eaten since I’d been locked up? The first food tray they shoved through the door went untouched. And so would several others. I had no intention of ever eating anything he gave me. Besides, I didn’t need to eat to ruin that bastard. Just as I was imagining ways to ruin him, the door scrapped open to reveal the devil himself. Alpha stepped in like he wasn’t the reason I was in this hole. Like he was stopping by for a casual chat. Like he was anything but a warden of my destru
HAZELAs badly as I wanted to, I didn’t cry in the car.Not once.Not when my lips were quivering. Not when my eyes were stinging. Not when the driver kept glancing at me with subtle question in his eyes through the rearview mirror. Not when I caught the reflection of my pride crumbling.Not even when the guard at the gate asked if I was okay in that cautious tone that told me the news had spread already.I ignored him and the odd looks from all the starves and stormed in my main doors of my father’s house, stormed through the corridors like I wasn’t coming apart inside, and marched straight to my father’s study to demand answers.As I pushed the door open, I started my rant. “Have you seen the videos circulating? This is the reason why I didn’t want to marry an uncultured man like Alpha! Who humilaties their bethrothed in pub—”And then I stopped.Because Alpha was already there.He had a lazy and tight expression on his face where he was seated across from my father, legs crossed li
HAZELThe hall buzzed with expensive perfume, polished egos, and forced laughter. They were the kind of crowd that feasted on secrets and loved blood.Despite that, all I saw was Zephyr the moment I walked in.I didn’t expect him to be here, for as long as I’ve known him he always sent his personal assistant to represent his company in minor business events such as these, but not this time. This time he was present and leaning against the bar like he owned the place, dark suit tight around his wonderfully hot frame, and head tilted lazily as his eyes scanned the crowd—only stilling when they landed on me.The smile that curled his lips was faint—almost invisible, but the accompanying look in his eyes burned through the silk of my dress and down my spine.I had to force myself to look away before the scent of my arousal rose questions in a den of wolves.As much as I wanted to, I didn't approach him. This wasn’t personal, I was here for business, and Zephyr would simply distract me wi
HAZELCecily didn’t notice the shift in my mood. Her fingers just kept fluttering over her phone screen, eyes alight with gossip she hadn’t even said aloud yet.Usually, she was very observant, but maybe she was so distracted because she was talking to her actual beau; her husband’s son who doubles as the father of her child. I wasn’t about to judge her for any of it though, especially not while I was being stung with jealousy because one of the Rossi brothers that I’ve been fucking for weeks was on a date. I couldn’t stop staring at their end of the restaurant where Cyrus sat across from that she-wolf—the slender, princess pretty, and flawless Althea who had power, brilliance and beauty practically oozing from her pores.“Ugh, he’s almost home,” Cecily muttered suddenly, stuffing her phone into her purse, looking like her entire mood had been ruined.That told me exactly who she was referring to, but I asked anyway. “Your husband?”She nodded tightly, like she’d rather be anywhere
HAZELI let it slip.“Yours is worse than mine,” I said, picking at a piece of bread. “But mine is just as horrible because it’s two months to my wedding and I’m still screwing my side pieces.”Cecily dropped her napkin dramatically. “I beg your entire pardon? Girl, what?”I winced, slightly regretting that I’d overshared. “Forget I said anything.”“You said pieces, plural. Who, Hazel? Don’t make me pry it out of you,” she scooted closer, eyes wide with curiosity. “I’m not telling you,” I looked away from her, focusing on the waiter that was walking back with our meal. “You’re evil,” she whined. I laughed, “And you’re nosy, Cece.”The waiter served us and then we bantered back and forth for a bit until she stiffened slightly and leaned in like she had yet another secret to divulge.“Don’t look now, but isn’t that Cyrus Rossi?” she whispered like his presence alone was a scandal in itself. I turned before I could stop myself.Of course it was him.Cyrus. At the far end of the resta