VanessaThe strip of fabric scrubbed against the washboards. Where sounds were usually soothing, today they did nothing to quiet the storm inside me. My hands moved on their own, scrubbing and wringing my clothes, but my mind was miles away.All I kept thinking about was Alec and Maya—and the poison. My stomach twisted. I knew, with a certainty that chilled me to the bone, this was no accident. Someone had tried to harm Maya, and by extension, Alec’s child.It had to be Lucas. I knew Alga was lying to me. He was ruthless and ambitious. Perhaps he saw Maya as an obstacle—but an obstacle to what? He seemed loyal to Alec. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Or perhaps it was his wife Isabella? Or even Nina and Gary, though I knew how ridiculous that last thought was.But I couldn’t trust anyone—not even sweet Nina.And I hated how bothered I was, as if Maya were my sister or something. For someone who had smashed a pot on my head, why did I care so much? But deep down, I needed to k
Vanessa Word spread fast. By dawn, whispers had crawled through every hallway in the house—Maya was in the hospital. Some said she collapsed in her sleep. Others swore they saw blood on the sheets. A guard muttered that the baby might not survive.I stood frozen near the water pump, bucket in hand, my heart thudding so hard it shook my ribs. My fingers curled tighter around the handle. Had Olga done it? Had she gone ahead without me? Or was it just some cruel accident?The thought made my stomach twist. We had only talked. That was it. We vented, we dreamed. But what if that was enough? What if our words had teeth? I wasn’t a witch. I had no power. So why did it feel like I’d pulled the trigger?I dropped the bucket and stumbled back inside. My chest tightened with every step. I could barely breathe. This wasn’t part of the plan. None of it was real—or it wasn’t supposed to be. What if this came back on me? What if Olga turned and pointed straight at me?Alec’s face flashed in my min
Alec I sat stiffly at the mahogany table, watching as Isabella laughed loudly at something Maya had said across the table. My jaw tightened every time she smiled or spoke. My stomach churned. How could she act so normal and proud? The knowledge of her infidelities clung to me like smoke.My eyes drifted to Lucas, who was refilling his wine glass. The poor bastard didn’t even know his wife was cheating. My shoulders tensed involuntarily when she spoke to me. She had no shame, no regrets, only that same amused gleam she always wore. She wasn’t happy in her marriage. Why didn’t she just ask for a divorce? It would break Lucas, but it was better than breaking her vows and pretending to be righteous and innocent.I kept my gaze fixed on the mashed potatoes, moving them around my plate more than I ate. I was somehow relieved that I had found my mates, even though I was nowhere close to being in an upright boat. Maya knew I wasn’t in love with her. She forced herself on me and into my life,
Vanessa I remained in bed. I couldn't even remember the last time I had the luxury of staying in at this time of day instead of slaving away.I could hear voices going back and forth outside my room, but I made no move to rise. If the Alpha had ordered that I shouldn't lift a finger today, who was I to disobey? My shoulders, which had been sore the night before, felt completely fine now. I could picture the other servants' sneers without even seeing them. They would be angry. They had probably been scrubbing since dawn while I stayed tucked away, nursing nothing but a lack of command. The thought made me chuckle as I made some honey and chamomile tea for myself.I wondered if any of them had noticed me and Alec recently. Servants were always the ones who got the juicy gossip, and it was only a matter of time before someone caught us. If I, who usually minded my business, had caught Lucas's wife Isabella and the guard, then nosy people like Clara and Petra—who knew all the dirt about
Vanessa I woke up, the strange weight in my hand pulling me back to reality. There he was—Alec, his hand on my body like carved stone. I blinked against the morning light filtering through the window. My eyes shifted upward, catching sight of him beside me, peaceful in sleep. A smile crept across my lips, and warmth bloomed in my chest, despite the stiffness in my hand.There was a quiet beauty in this stolen moment, with our bodies tangled in the intimacy of shared space. Without thinking, I tilted my head back, letting my hand drift over his chest, my fingers tracing patterns on his skin. My breath caught as I inhaled deeply, pressing my nose gently to the curve of his collarbone.The scent was intoxicating—faint traces of his cologne mixed with the natural musk of his skin—and then the bond. It stirred a wave of delicious pleasure that radiated through my body. I loved the connection and reveled in it. I memorized every detail of the moment.My face nestled closer into the crook o
AlecMy feet dragged heavily across the floor, echoing my exhaustion. The weight of the day clung to my shoulders. Decisions had been made, duties fulfilled, and the constant pressure of living up to the Alpha’s name loomed large. I needed a bath.I reached the bathroom, turned on the taps, and filled the bathtub with steaming water. Already anticipating some relief, I sprinkled bath salts into the water, releasing a minty scent, and lowered myself into the tub. The hot water immediately wrapped around my tired muscles, pulling the tension from my knotted shoulders. A sigh escaped my lips as I leaned my head back against the edge.My eyes fluttered closed, and the world narrowed down to the sound of water lapping against the tub and the heat seeping deep into my aching bones. Then, a sharp trill broke the silence. My phone was ringing somewhere beyond the bathroom door. My eyes cracked open, irritation blooming in my chest. It wasn't worth the effort to drag myself to the bedroom just