Marissa A heavy silence settled in the room.Stunned, Brian sat frozen. His blank stare shifted as he realized what I was talking about. "I don’t understand.""That makes two of us," I muttered . "I found out at the festival. The moment I saw him, the bond slammed into me. I felt everything. But something is wrong."He leaned closer. "What do you mean?" "He refuses to acknowledge it," I sighed, frustrated. "He won't reject me either. It’s like the bond doesn't exist for him.”Brian’s fists crashed against the table, rattling the dishes. A glass nearly tipped over. He shoved back his chair, pacing like a caged wolf, barely keeping his anger contained."Why the hell didn’t you say something sooner?" he snapped."Because I needed to be sure!" I shot back. "And because I didn’t want to humiliate myself! Can you imagine if I confronted him and he dismissed me? That would be worse than rejection."He stopped pacing for a moment, exhaling sharply, as if forcing himself to think."But now
MarissaAt some point, I must have drifted off. But, as always, I slept lightly. The soft click of my door jolted me awake. My ears strained against the silence. Someone had stepped into my room.My fingers fumbled for the lamp switch. Light flooded the space, revealing my father standing in the doorway. Still foggy from sleep, I registered his presence. He grinned, bouncing on his heels like a child with the best news of his life.What the hell was wrong with this man, barging into my room and acting giddy in the middle of the damn night?A headache was pulsed at my temples. I shoved my tangled hair back and sat up, rubbing the ache from my skull."Do you not understand the concept of knocking?” He waved a hand. "Why would I knock? I’m the one who gave birth to you.""Pretty sure that was Mom," I deadpanned. "The one you disrespected every chance you got.” "Oh, come on, Rissa." He rushed forward , yanking me into an exaggerated hug. "My brilliant, beautiful daughter. My pride. My
Marissa I tossed on Brian’s bed, sleep refusing to come. He had spent the night in his mini-apartment with Sydney since my dad now openly opposed their relationship.Had I known things would spiral this way, I would have stayed at the Lycan lodging.The next morning, I stayed in bed. I had no interest in another argument with my dad after last night. But my stomach growled hungrily after I finished the bottle of nuts in Brian’s room.Avoiding the main areas of the house where I knew my stepmother would be lurking, I slipped down the hallway. But she was already downstairs, perched at the head of the dining table like a waiting vulture."Good morning, honey. Come sit and eat breakfast."For the love of everything holy.The table was arranged with an assortment of dishes, but none looked remotely appetizing. Lilith had never been a great cook—her food was either overcooked, underseasoned, or a mess of both.Ignoring her, I walked into the kitchen and poured myself a bowl of oats, addin
Marissa The drive back to Lycan territory dragged. While others grumbled about returning to work, I was stepping back into a world where my fate had already been decided.I rested my head against the window, watching the landscape shift as Brian and Sydney’s words echoed in my mind.Maybe something’s wrong with him.The thought refused to leave. If Justin truly couldn’t feel the bond, what was I supposed to do?Wait? Hope he somehow figured it out?I refused to believe a mate bond could be one-sided. He knew. He was choosing to ignore it.Even so, my stomach tightened with something I didn’t want to name. Excitement? No. That would be ridiculous. Curiosity, maybe. I shouldn’t be looking forward to seeing someone who flirted with me one moment and dismissed me the next.I was lying to myself.The bond pulled me back to Justin, no matter how much I fought it.---Monday morning, I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the executive floor. My palm felt damp. As the doors
Justin's POVWatching Marissa take a bite of the vanilla cake caused an unexplainable longing to well up within me. My eyes refused to leave her. There was nothing different about her. The same caramel-colored hair pulled into a bun, the same gray eyes. And yet, I couldn’t look away. She ate the cake with a slow, deliberate ease, her lips wrapping around the fork in a way that made my restraint slip. The urge to close the space between us, to take that plump lower lip between my teeth, nearly sent me out of my chair. I swallowed hard, forcing the thought away. Where the hell was this coming from?She finished the last bite. Her eyes met mine, and my pulse kicked up. The urge to kiss her again settled deep in my chest."You eat cake like it's a goddamn love affair," I said.Marissa froze mid-bite, her lashes flicking up. "Excuse me?"From her tone, I could tell she was suppressing something—desire, irritation—maybe both. It fueled me even more. I leaned in, watching her closely."Y
Marissa "Thanks," I muttered as Linda handed me a cup of coffee and a plate of toast and eggs. The dining hall buzzed with werewolf employees eating breakfast, conversations overlapping around us.Linda was becoming a friend, though I still kept my guard up after what Genevieve had done. Trust didn’t come easily, but since we were both unmarried, we had more in common than most. There was a quiet grace about her that I couldn’t help but notice.I blew on my coffee, sensing she had something on her mind."So… you and Hector?"I blinked, caught off guard. I set my coffee down. "What about me and Hector?"She took a bite of toast, choosing her next words carefully. "Are you two… seeing each other?"I hadn’t expected that. Her tone was casual, but there was something cautious in the way she asked, as if she were testing the waters."Why do you ask?""Just curious."I studied her, piecing it together. Her eyes gave her away."Not really," I said finally.The relief on her face was unmista
Marissa I recovered from the shock of the embrace and leaned into him, feeling his feverish warmth against my body. My concern grew, along with my desire to have my mate.He seemed weaker than usual, yet there was no denying the fact that Justin could never not be good-looking. The scent of the bond mixed with something chalky. Desire washed over me as I tightened my embrace, rubbing his back and feeling the contours of his frame beneath his shirt. His breath was warm on my neck, igniting a fire in my loins as my arousal grew."Are you going to be okay?" I whispered.He pulled away slightly, his eyes flickering up at me briefly before fluttering shut again."Yeah... just a little tired, that's all," he murmured.I wondered if his body reacted to my touch the way mine did."I need to lie down," he said. "Get the laptop to my bedroom."I nodded and picked up the bag. As we entered the room, he leaned against the wall. My gaze fell on his exposed chest, and I wondered where my self-con
Marissa The car rolled to a stop in front of the lodging. The night was quiet, carrying the kind of silence that made everything feel more intimate.I had barely taken two steps when I also heard Justin’s door open. I turned, and he leaned against the car. Without warning, he opened his arms and pulled me into a hug.My first instinct was to push him away—someone could be watching—but Justin didn’t seem to care. I could feel his heartbeat steady against my cheek, and his scent invaded my senses.When I tilted my head up, his lips were on mine. The kiss was slow and drugging, neither of us willing to admit just how much we had wanted this.Justin deepened it, his hands tightening on my waist, and I melted into him. The bond roared to life, making my toes curl. My fingers found the fabric of his shirt, gripping it as if I needed something to anchor me to the moment.But then my mind screamed at me—what if someone saw?I pulled away, pressing my palms against his chest. “People could be
Marissa I needed air. Space. A few minutes where I didn’t have to see Wendy’s smug face or listen to her voice claiming royalty over my life. So I slipped away from the banquet hall, heading toward the other wing of the estate—anywhere that would put me out of her line of sight.But halfway down the corridor, I stopped.My breath caught. The bond struck me like lightning—sharp, primal, and thick with longing. My body responded before my brain did. I sniffed the air, eyes wide, heart racing.Justin.I turned slowly, already knowing.He had just walked in. Fully dressed for the banquet, head turned slightly to the side like he had just caught the scent too. His face was tense, unreadable, but the second his eyes landed on me, everything changed.He froze.His eyes roamed over my body, from the top of my pinned-up hair to the curve of my waist to the heels I barely managed to stand in. First, his expression showed disbelief, then something deeper. Hunger. Wonder. Relief.Then we started
MarissaI woke up with a sharp tug in my chest and the burning need to see Justin.It had been a week since I left. A full week without his voice or touch. Just heavy silence.I already knew the results. I knew he was the father.The memory of that call with Justine still sat on my chest like a weight I couldn’t shake.“Marissa…”She’d called around 10 p.m., sounding hesitant. I’d expected it, but it still hit like a punch.“The results came in.”I couldn’t speak. My chest pulled tight.“It’s positive. Wendy wasn’t bluffing.”My heart clenched. I bit down hard, tasting blood, just to stop the tears.“How’s Justin taking it?”She hesitated. “He’s… not himself. He won’t talk to anyone. He barely sleeps. You know how he gets when things spiral. He’s blaming himself. And now that Wendy has free access to the family, it’s chaos.”That was five days ago.And now, I couldn’t take the distance anymore. I had to see him, not just because I missed him, but because if this silence dragged on any
MarissaBrian came down the stairs slowly, pale. His mouth set in a hard line.“Is that true?” he asked quietly. “You cheated on Mom while she was sick?”“Brian,” Dad said, reaching for him.“Don’t. Touch. Me” Brian stepped back, yelling. “You told me you loved her. That you did everything for her. You lied to me!”“Stop it! It's not what you think.”Brian turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”I swallowed hard. “How could I? You were just a kid. Mom made me promise not to poison you against him. She didn’t want you growing up with hate in your heart.”Brian’s eyes turned red and he stared at me. “I thought he moved on because we needed someone.”I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you so many times. But I couldn’t break that promise.”He looked like he was struggling to breathe like his entire world had flipped upside down.I reached for him. “Brian, I’m sorry.”He let me hug him, and I held him tight, my tears soaking through his shirt. Behind us, the shouting continued—m
Marissa I had made up my mind. I was going home.Not because I missed it, and definitely not because I wanted to see my father or his wife. I just needed a change of scenery.Brian said I could stay with him for a bit, or I’d get a temporary apartment if needed. But I also knew how that went at that crazy pack, how single women were bounced around when they didn’t have a man’s name tied to the lease. If I couldn’t get something decent, I’d check into a hotel and figure it out from there.I needed space. Distance. Time.I was in the middle of zipping up my second box when I heard a knock. Then came Justine’s voice before I could answer.“This is dramatic, don’t you think?”I opened the door to see her and Justin standing there. They both looked way too polished for a casual visit like they had somewhere else important to be, but they came anyway.Justine looked over my shoulder into the room. “You packed like you’re going to the moon.”“It’s just two boxes,” I said, trying to sound ca
JustinWhen I knocked on Marissa's door, I didn’t expect her to look happy. She stared at me like I was a piece of furniture.She wasn’t frowning. She didn’t slam the door in my face. But she wasn’t smiling either. Her expression was calm, like someone who’d already had the emotional breakdown and was now in full recovery mode.“Can I come in?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.She shrugged, stepped aside without saying a word.I hesitated before stepping in. Her room smelled of her shampoo, lemon-scented body mist and the bond. I held out the small shopping bag.She blinked. “What’s that?”I offered it again. “Just check it.”She gave me an unreadable look. Then she reached out and accepted it opened the bag and pulled out the velvet box, flipped it open, and rolled her eyes.Shit.“You don’t like it?” I asked quickly. “I can change it. There’s another set I saw, more silver—”She closed the box, dropped it back into the bag, and placed it down like it was a file she didn’t
JustinI paced the hallway outside the Queen’s study, heart racing like I’d just run a marathon. When my mother finally called me in, I didn’t waste time pretending I was calm.“She’s still ignoring me,” I said, not even bothering to sit.My mom looked up from the book she was reading, brows raised. “Who?”I stared at her. “Who else? She's acting like I committed a crime.”“Well…” she started, dragging out the word, “you did get another woman pregnant. No woman wants that, trust me.”I scowled. “Allegedly.”She shut her book and sighed. “Honey, I love you. But let’s not act like this isn’t complicated.”“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I muttered, walking to the window. “Wendy and I were barely even together. We hadn’t touched each other in months. The last few times, I used protection. Every time.”“Protection isn’t foolproof,” she said.I turned to face her. “I know that. But I also know Wendy. She’s not the type to sit quietly while being dumped. She’s petty. This whole thing feels ti
MarissaOnce I was inside my room, I locked the door, kicked off my shoes, and collapsed on the bed. I stared at the ceiling again. I could have called Brian. But I didn’t. What was I supposed to say?“Hey, Brian, remember that perfect mate the goddess gave me? Yeah, he might have knocked up his ex.”No. I couldn’t handle the pity in his voice.I made popcorn instead. Found a true crime series. Turned the volume high. And I got lost in cold cases. Somehow, it made mine feel smaller.Six hours later, I was still glued to the screen when my phone rang. Justin was calling.I stared at the screen for a few seconds before picking up.“Hello?”“Where are you?”“I went back to the lodge,” I replied, trying to sound casual.“Why?”“I needed space.”There was a pause. “Space from what?”“From the drama. Your ex announcing a pregnancy like it’s a royal decree.”He sighed. “I’m coming over.”“Don’t.”“Why not?”“Because I don’t know how to be around you right now. Everything hurts, and you being
Marissa Everything felt heavy. My heart, my thoughts, even my damn bones.The rules were simple, brutal, and old as time. The first woman to bear the future Alpha’s child, especially one destined to be Lycan King, had a permanent place in his life. It didn’t matter if they were mates. It didn’t matter if they were in love. It didn’t even matter if the woman was evil wrapped in silk.Rules were rules.And now Wendy had claimed she was pregnant with Justin’s child.I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to believe. My brain felt scrambled, like someone had cracked it open and stirred it with a knife.The Queen had tried to comfort me. She told me she was on my side. She said over her dead body would Justin marry Wendy.I appreciated her words but knew she was being overly positive. This kind of scandal could blow into a full-scale war.And in all of this, I was the outsider. The werewolf.Why couldn’t I just enjoy my mate for once? Why did it always have to come with some life
Marissa The court proceedings felt like I was the one on trial. I sat beside Justin, who strongly believed he'd win. He was calm, in control, and powerful.He didn’t speak much, but when he did, the courtroom paid attention. Every word came out confident and unapologetic. Sean, on the other hand, kept contradicting himself in every other sentence. His arrogance from the first day had completely crumbled. Even the judge looked tired of him.I felt so freaking proud. Not just because Justin was winning, but because he was doing it with so much grace and restraint.When court ended that first day, Justin turned to me with a boyish smile. “Are you hungry?”I laughed. “Starving.”He took me out. Just the two of us. We found a quiet rooftop restaurant and ordered way too much food.We didn't discuss court cases, politics, power or curses. We talked about stupid dares.That afternoon, I realized how much lighter he looked. Like someone had started peeling off the weight he’d been carrying