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Vanilla and Vows

Aвтор: Kristen Hernandez
last update Последнее обновление: 2025-07-01 15:01:49

The sweetness of Sunday had long since faded. The memory of Derek’s warm smile beneath the tree, the kiss that made her forget where she was—all of it had become a flicker of warmth Ryleigh clung to as the cold routine of the manor returned.

She rose before the sun each morning, slipping into her plain dress and lacing up worn shoes that pinched her toes. Breakfasts were served, tables cleaned, linens washed. The same halls she had come to resent echoed her every footstep. Monday and Tuesday bled together in a haze of dusting, folding, and scrubbing. Her arms ached and her back throbbed, but worse than the pain was the monotony. The endless repetition made the days feel hollow.

By Wednesday, her eyes burned from lack of sleep. She found herself sweeping near Alpha Damien’s office, careful to avoid attracting attention. The last thing she needed was to be reminded that she was only a servant in his house, no matter what his smirk or lingering glances might suggest.

She was bending to p
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  • Claimed By The Alpha   Bloodlines and Betrayal

    Derek laced his fingers through Ryleigh’s as they stepped into the quiet dining room. The morning sun poured through the tall windows, casting golden rays across the long table and polished floors. Ryleigh’s heart beat a little faster, not just from the warmth of Derek’s hand but from the strangeness of it all—being here like this, not as a servant, but as… something else.They approached the buffet, a beautiful spread of brunch favorites. Silver trays gleamed with scrambled eggs, thick-cut bacon, golden waffles dusted with powdered sugar, and a steaming pot of creamy herb potatoes. A smaller tray held fresh-cut fruit—berries, sliced peaches, and ripe melon—and beside it, a platter of pastries drizzled with honey.Ryleigh hesitated, fingers tightening slightly around the plate in her hand.“You okay?” Derek asked gently, his thumb brushing against hers.She nodded slowly. “It’s just… weird. I’m usually the one serving this food, not eating it.”Derek gave her a soft smile. “You’re not

  • Claimed By The Alpha   Bound By Something More

    The morning sunlight filtered gently through the thin curtains, bathing Ryleigh’s room in a golden haze. Sunday. Her second day off. She lay still for a few minutes, watching the way the dust danced in the light. The pack house was unusually quiet—no clattering in the kitchen yet, no voices in the hallway. Maybe even time had slowed down in anticipation of what the day might bring.Derek was coming. He had said they’d tell his mother about them.Ryleigh turned onto her side and stared at the far wall. Her stomach twisted in knots. What exactly were they supposed to say?Hi, Margaret. I know I’m not allowed to even speak to you, but I’m dating your son now. Surprise!She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head.What if Margaret forbade it? What if she punished Ryleigh—or worse, Derek—for getting involved with someone beneath his station? She couldn’t even imagine what Alpha Damien would say if he found out. Not that he had a right to say anything. He was engaged. Publicly committed.

  • Claimed By The Alpha   Something Like Fate

    The sun was warm on Ryleigh’s skin as she walked beside Derek, their hands clasped between them like it was the most natural thing in the world. The town buzzed with quiet life around them—shopkeepers sweeping their stoops, children chasing each other past flower carts, the distant clang of a bell from the blacksmith’s forge—but none of it mattered. Not really. All she could focus on was how perfect this moment felt.They took their time walking toward the sandwich shop, neither in any rush to reach their destination. Derek would occasionally point something out—a mural painted on the side of a bakery, a wooden bench where he'd once fallen asleep after a long shift at the clinic—and Ryleigh found herself leaning her head against his shoulder, laughing softly at his stories. He tightened his hold on her, rubbing his thumb gently over her knuckles.Her heart ached with every step.Everything felt too perfect, like something borrowed from someone else's life. Her brain kept warning her:

  • Claimed By The Alpha   Fractures and Fading Hope

    The morning sunlight crept through the curtains, painting golden streaks across Ryleigh’s floor. She blinked against the light, her body heavy, her mind even heavier. Last night had been a blur of emotions—bright, sharp, and clinging like thorns to her thoughts.She sat up slowly, her heart already pounding as her mind replayed every moment she wished she could forget. The way Damien’s hand had brushed her arm so deliberately in front of Celeste. The cruel twist of Celeste’s lips just before she tripped her. The sting of red wine spilling on the floor. The silent, burning judgment in Margaret’s eyes.But worst of all—no, most confusing of all—was the kiss with Derek.It had been warm and real. His hands, his voice, the way he whispered her name like it mattered. And yet… the image that burned deepest in her memory was that redheaded woman standing too close to him, laughing softly, her fingers brushing his arm as if she belonged there. As if Ryleigh didn’t.The heat of jealousy still

  • Claimed By The Alpha   Cracks Beneath the Surface

    Derek was already moving toward her.Ryleigh’s heart kicked in her chest like a trapped bird, and she instinctively took a step back, turning as if she could disappear into the hedges behind her. But before she could escape, he was there—close enough to make the rest of the world blur at the edges.“Ryleigh,” he said softly, stopping her retreat. “Hey.”She hesitated, trying to smile, but her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.“How’s your week been?” he asked, his warm brown eyes watching her with quiet concern.She shrugged. “Same old stuff. Chores. Schedules. More chores.”He smiled, a soft curve of his lips that made her stomach flutter. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by the pack house. I’ve been in the city, doing some work for the hospital.”Just as Ryleigh opened her mouth to respond, Natalia appeared from behind a nearby table with the grace of someone born to manage chaos. Her tone was firm, but not unkind. “We’re working, Ryleigh. Drinks need to be refilled.”Ryleigh fli

  • Claimed By The Alpha   Two Packs, One Night

    The morning sun rose lazily over the treetops, casting a soft golden light on the clearing that was now almost unrecognizable. What had once been a humble garden used for quiet meals and afternoon chores had been transformed overnight into something out of a fairytale. Twinkling lights were strung from the tall pines and draped along the hedges like glowing vines. Tables covered in cream and gold linens stretched out in perfect rows beneath a canopy of flowering branches, their surfaces adorned with crystal glasses and polished silver. At the center of the clearing, an open space had been cleared—large enough for dancing, with a wooden floor newly installed and still carrying the faint scent of fresh-cut timber.Ryleigh stood at the edge of the space, her hands clutching a tray of goblets as she took it all in. It was breathtaking, almost enough to distract her from the nerves simmering in her chest. Almost.“Doesn’t even look like the same place,” Natalia whispered beside her. Her us

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