I could barely contain the feelings that were racing around inside me. My stomach fluttered. My nerves were in a frenzy, rendering me motionless. Anxiety and fear gripped me, yet an inexplicable thrill coursed through my veins.
The very thought of leaning into him and basking in the warmth of his embrace overwhelmed me, even though I couldn't quite fathom my peculiar fascination for him. Attempting to dismiss these emotions proved futile, especially with his hot breath sending shivers down my spine.
In the meantime, the door swung open, introducing a tall figure—the same man who had accompanied Noel. The sudden intrusion prompted Noel to step back, and I hastily fled the room, my heart pounding in my chest.
Nervousness consumed me, causing my entire body to tremble as I hurried back to my desk, yearning to leave the scene behind. Fate, however, had alternate plans.
Upon reaching my desk, a surprise awaited me—a new file, challenging my assumption that the day's tasks were complete. Annoyance surged through me, and I quickly dialed Lara's number to voice my discontent.
“Hey, Adel, I have been looking for you." Lara’s voice came out of the phone. “Then I learned that the CEO had summoned you. Is everything okay?”
I didn’t know what to say. Nothing was okay between me and the CEO. I was not sure how long I would be able to work here. Despite my uneasiness, I maintained my cool.
“Yes, things are fine. Um, this file; can I check it tomorrow?” I asked, hoping she would agree. Unfortunately, Lara's response dashed my hopes.
“No, Adel, these documents need to be checked urgently, and I can only rely on you. Please finish checking it and send me a report.”
I sighed, looking at the file. I never said no to Lara, but today I wanted to leave early. But I couldn’t turn her down in the end. Despite my inner turmoil, I agreed to handle it. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you, Adel. You are a savior.” Her gratitude only intensified my irritation with the situation.
Slumping into my desk, I reluctantly opened the file, realizing that leaving early was not in the cards for me.
Several hours later...
The clock hands had inched their way into the late hours, and I found myself immersed in work until completion. The lights in the CEO’s office were still on. I quickly made my way out of the company, saying good night to my colleagues.
I was surprised to see Richard standing outside the gate, holding a bouquet of flowers. A pang of unease gripped my heart, suspecting he had come for Jennifer. My initial reaction was to ignore him and keep walking, but he called out to me, forcing me to pause.
"Adel, wait," he said, approaching me with a look of determination on his face. "I've been waiting for you."
His words astounded me, and confusion raced through my mind. Why would he be waiting for me? Didn't he have enough to betray me? I tried to compose myself and responded coldly, "What do you want, Richard?"
"I'm sorry, Adel," he said, his voice filled with remorse. "My apologies for what happened that night. Can you ever forgive me?"
My anger boiled over at his request. How dare he ask for my forgiveness after what he had done? I glared at him.
"Forgive you!" I scoffed. "You slept with my rival in my house, on my bed. I couldn't forget it. Richard, you are a scoundrel.”
He looked genuinely hurt by my words, but I didn't care. I couldn't believe he had the audacity to try to manipulate me again. I pushed his flowers away, not wanting any part of his fake apology.
"Get lost, Richard," I spat, turning my back on him. "Don't bother coming near me again."
"Please, Adel. I beg you," he implored, anxiety etched on his face.
His expression was shrouded in anxiety. I was unsure if he was really guilty or if it was his pretension. I hadn’t forgotten his conversation with Jennifer. There was no way I would fall for his ruse.
"Don't break up with me, please," he pleaded further. "I was drunk that night, and I didn't know what I was doing. I regret my actions. Please, Adel. I apologize. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I missed you so much."
My skepticism deepened. After betraying me, he claimed to miss me. I wasn't buying it.
"Is that so?" I sneered, unconvinced.
"Please, believe me, Adel," he continued, gripping my hands and placing the bouquet of red roses in them. "It was all Jennifer's doing. She manipulated me and seduced me. I was drunk. I regret my actions. I sincerely apologize to you."
I couldn’t believe how effortlessly Richard shifted the blame onto Jennifer. For a moment, I agreed that Jenniffer manipulated him. But the memory of his cruelty in attempting to make me infertile lingered in my mind. His words were a feeble attempt to regain my trust, but I remained unconvinced, sensing an ulterior motive.
"I heard your conversation with Jennifer," I stated, pushing his hands away. "You've been giving me pregnancy-preventing pills for the past four years. How cruel can you be?"
His expression wavered, clouded with sorrow, yet I found it challenging to believe his apparent remorse. The excuse he offered only fueled my skepticism.
"I was a moron," he began, attempting to explain himself. "I didn't want you to go through the pain of childbirth. That's why I did that. You are already thin. On top of that, you work until late at the office and barely have time to take care of yourself. I was afraid your health would deteriorate because of the childbirth."
"Really?" I scoffed, letting out a bitter laugh and rolling my eyes. "I can't believe this."
Insistent on proving his sincerity, Richard grabbed my hands once more. “I am telling the truth,” he asserted. “Please, Adel, I promise to make amends. As long as you are willing to get back to me, I’ll keep you happy. I’ll give you so much wealth that you will not have to work anymore. Your future will be prosperous. Your life will be filled with happiness. Please consider it.”
I’d never fall into his trap again. However, the questions in my mind prompted me to consider his words. "Okay," I said reluctantly. "I can give you a chance. But I have some questions. If you answer me honestly, I'll consider getting back to you."
A hint of hope crept into Richard's smile. "Yes, yes. Ask me anything."
"You mentioned something to Jennifer regarding your family's successor," I pressed on. "I remember you saying gamma successor or something. What does it mean?"
Silence enveloped Richard, his demeanor turning somber. After a contemplative pause, he spoke, "I'll explain it to you. Come with me."
My skepticism intensified as he led me to his car, prompting me to question, "Where are you taking me?"
"You want answers, right? I'll show you something," he replied. Reluctantly, I got into the car, and Richard drove off, leaving me unsure of what awaited at the end of this unexpected journey.
As we drove through the city, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Richard's words struck a chord within me, and I found myself wavering between belief and disbelief.
I glanced over at him, studying his profile as he focused on the road ahead. His jaw was set, and his brow furrowed in concentration. What was he hiding?
We arrived at a bar on the outskirts of the city.
"This is where the answers you seek lie," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "Come with me."
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should follow him. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I nodded, stepping out of the car.
Richard, wrapping his arm around me, drew me closer. In a hushed tone, he murmured in my ear, "This is not an ordinary bar. I mean, it's not for ordinary humans."
Perplexed, I inquired, "What do you mean?" The patrons in the bar appeared entirely human, making his statement all the more confusing.
"It's a werewolf bar," he revealed.
Meanwhile, Adelynn entered. “Noel!”“Come here.” I beckoned her. “Richard is… dying. Talk to him for the last time.”Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, darted between me and Richard. Hesitantly, she approached the bed.Richard stirred slightly as she neared. A weak smile, tinged with regret, flickered across his lips. “Adel, I am sorry,” he whispered and then coughed. “I-I wanted to reject you properly, to sever the mate bond completely.”“Don’t talk,” she said. “You will be fine. Noel… why are the doctors not treating him?” Her gaze flicked to me, a question brimming in her tear-filled eyes.“He was poisoned,” I replied. “It’s too late.”“What?”“You still feel bad for me even though I hurt you so badly,” Richard chimed in, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t deserve it, Adel… Now…” He coughed. “I, Richard Gray, reject you, Adelynn… Have a happy life… with Alpha Noel…”With that final declaration, a long sigh escaped his lips, his eyes fluttering closed. The faint rise
Upon arrival to the pack, we sent Richard for treatment. Adelynn materialized at my side. Her eyes were clouded with worry. Before I could say a word, she wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight.“I saw the news,” she murmured. “The attack was brutal. So many casualties. I was terrified… terrified the witch would hurt you."Holding her close, I inhaled the comforting scent of lavender that clung to her hair. "I'm alright, my love," I murmured, stroking her back gently.“Are you hurt?” She pulled back slightly, scrutinizing my face. Her concern intensified as her gaze lingered on the faint line of dried blood near my chest. Her fingers brushed the injury with a feather-light touch, sending a jolt of electricity sparking through me.“Are you seducing me?” I asked, grinning mischievously.She looked at me with her wide eyes and my heart thumped. At this moment, I could only think about pulling her into the bedroom and claiming her.“How mean?” She pushed me away, jolting me back to
Noel’s POV…Two days passed, and we were still looking for the pregnant human ladies who had been taken away. But we found no clue. We had been keeping tabs on the Black Hounds Pack also, but nothing suspicious was noted. Instead, Tina had been helping us in the investigation, which was a stark contrast to the suspicion in my mind.On the other hand, human representatives were happy with us for rescuing the abducted people. We also presented evidence of witches transforming those rogues to attack the humans. While they acknowledged the explanation, the growing public outcry demanded a formal clarification. To quell the rising anxiety, they conducted a press conference.I was invited to the press conference. With all the evidence, I was ready to face the inquisitive reporters.The conference hall buzzed with anticipation. The mayor, with a reassuring smile, took the stage. He began by welcoming the assembled crowd. He announced that the kidnapped people had been rescued. He reassured t
My initial apprehension morphed into a cautious scrutiny. She was a mess. A worn-out white gown, once elegant, now hung on her frame in tatters, revealing glimpses of dirt-smudged skin. Her face, pale and gaunt, reflected a hardship that went beyond simple neglect. The stench that hit me then confirmed that she had not taken a bath for a long time.I was shocked. How did someone end up like this within the pack? My gaze drifted to the exposed skin on her arms and neck, marred by livid bruises and angry red welts. It was clear that she was abused. Who could have done this to her?Taking a deep breath, I forced my voice into a neutral tone. "Who are you?" I demanded. “What were you doing there?”She dropped to her knees and cried. “Please don’t hurt me. I didn't mean to… I didn't mean to hurt anyone here."“Who are you?” I asked again.“Ava,” she replied, her voice trembling. “Please don’t hurt me.”The fear in her posture, the raw vulnerability in her plea, chipped away at my initial a
I confirmed with a nod."Are you serious?" he breathed, disbelief coloring his voice. "The baby… It's mine? I am the biological father of your baby!” A flicker of a smile, hesitant yet hopeful, played on his lips. “That means… my infertility issue… Why did you lie to me? How could you be so cruel?” He barked, glaring at me. The pain in his eyes ached my heart."I'm so sorry," I whispered, regret gnawing at me. "I… I thought you didn't love me. That you just needed a temporary wife to solve some pack issue." Shame burned in my cheeks. "I-I was afraid," I stammered, tears stinging my eyes. "Afraid you'd take the baby away from me if you knew the truth."“What?” Hurt flickered across his face, morphing into a grimace of frustration. "Take the baby? What are you even talking about?" He shook his head. "So, you planned on leaving me… with the baby? That's why you were so eager to break the contract. Why wouldn't you trust me, Adelynn? I promised to take care of you both. Didn't that mean a
Ivy’s words caught me off guard.Second chance mate? The revelation slammed into me with the force of a rogue wave. She'd already found her fated mate? So that was it. The realization dawned upon me. Ivy had returned because her mate had been kidnapped.Who could have done this and for why? Why did Ivy approach me? What did she want from me?Several questions rushed into my mind, increasing my confusion.“Tell me clearly,” I demanded.Her eyes, red-rimmed and pleading, met mine. "I'll tell you everything," she choked out. “When I met Jack abroad, I realized Mood goddess had blessed me with a second chance mate. I immediately fell in love with him despite him being a human. We thought we would have a happy life together.”She choked back a sob, her voice cracking. "Then everything changed. We learned that a werewolf had kidnapped his sister. We rushed back, hoping to find her, to help. But we were wrong. So wrong."Her eyes welled up with tears, and she chomped with emotion. She regain