Hollywood is fast, ruthless, and it chews up girls like Lara Bello before breakfast. So when broke, struggling Lara is offered a chance to fake-date Leonardo Knight — a dangerously charming, scandal-ridden A-list actor — she knows better than to say no. It’s a simple, transactional deal: she gets a hefty paycheck, and he gets to clean up his wrecked reputation. The rules are clear: No real feelings. No crossing the line. Smile for the cameras and pretend to be in love. But Hollywood isn’t the only thing with teeth. Because Leo is hiding a deadly secret... he's a werewolf. And by the time midnight comes, Lara won’t just be pretending to be his mate… she might actually be the one.
view moreLARA'S POV.
Fuck Hollywood. I hate it. The sun is always shining, but the people are ice-cold and fake like plastic. It's fast, hungry, and it chews poor girls like me up for breakfast. "Leave me alone, pervert! Or I'll call 911," I yell out, suddenly feeling cold. Someone is following me as I walk home. "You look like delicious food," his husky voice grunts, then barks like a dog. I walk faster, my breath growing heavier. I can’t see the man following me, but his terrifying presence is all around. "Don't come near me! I have pepper spray and a pocket knife in my purse. I'll cut off your dick," I threaten, squeezing my fists, but all that is actually in my purse is... 2 dollars. "I'm bigger than you, human girl. I'll eat you without blinking an eye," he growls. Out of the shadows, a scary creature steps out. He's almost 8 feet tall and covered in fur from head to toe. I don't know what he is. I don't know what to do. I can't outrun or fight him. Even if I had a pepper spray or pocket knife, it would barely make a scratch on this monstrous being. "Please, don't kill me. Please," I plead, getting on my knees, heart beating louder than a drum. "Aww. Look," he mused aloud, very pleased with himself. "The little human girl can cry." "Please," I whisper, fearful. "You could cry me a damn river of tears. It wouldn't change a fucking thing. You're prey. And I'm predator." The beast picks me up from the ground, and I'm dangling in his grasp as he opens his large mouth. Is this how I die? Crying while being eaten by an animal-like man. Then, my silver bracelet catches his eyes and it's almost like it blinds him. He drops me me as if I burnt his furry claws and runs off with the wind. I grunt in pain on the floor, rubbing where he had snatched me. What the fuck just happened? My eyes peer around hesitantly and he really is not here anymore. Did my silver bracelet just save my life? I push to my feet and run home in panic. Still looking back to see if he's following me, I finally reach the door of the apartment, bang it open, hurry in, close it shut, rest on the door, slide down to the floor, panting heavily. "Alyssa!" I scream for my roommate and best friend's attention. She pauses the TV she had been watching, and turns to me, worry evident in her eyes. "Lara, what the hell happened to you? You look scared to death," She asks, coming to kneel next to me. "Lyss, I think... I just saw a werewolf?" She stares at me. "You... what?" "It stood like a human.. but looked wolf-like. And it called me delicious food." Alyssa snickers in amusement and stands up, walking back to the TV. "Lara, come on. You had me so scared there." "I'm serious. I saw a werewolf," I say with more conviction, still seated in the floor. "No, you didn't. It was probably weird Tony down the street playing a prank. You know how creepy he is. He probably got costumes and everything. Lara, werewolves aren't real." I sigh, realizing that she was right. "Werewolves are stuff you see in books or movies, not in Hollywood. Maybe I was just imagining things because I'm so tired, working a million part-time jobs and still going to university. I'm just so fucking tired!" Alyssa pulls me into the tightest hug. And for the first time in a long time, I let myself melt in her embrace. "And it seems like the harder I work, the less money I have." I pour out my worries to her, and she soaks it all in. She has always been there for me. The very day I moved to Los Angeles, America, she was the first person I met. We became best friends almost immediately. Alyssa glances at the ticking clock and gasps. "Lara! You're about to be late for your waitress gig at the Oscars Ceremony!" I follow her eyes to the clock and jump to my feet. "Ah, shit. I forgot." "Hurry, hurry!" Alyssa claps urgently as I throw on my white and black waiter uniform. "By the way…" I say. "Thanks for giving up this gig and letting me take it. I know how bad you wanted to be at the Oscars." Only the crème de la crème get to wait tables for those pompous A-listers. Alyssa had landed the job and practically lost her mind over the chance to breathe the same air as her favorite actor, Leonardo Knight. Not like she’d actually talk to him — God forbid a waiter do more than serve food. Still, admiring from a distance? Totally allowed. But she gave the job to me, because... she knew I need the money. Desperately. "Now, go! Before I change my mind!" Alyssa laughs. I smile and mouth another, Thank you. * ** * As a waiter at the Oscars, you have one job: make sure the celebrities are happy. Smile, serve, and leave. Over and over again. Now, it's hour 7, and I'm fucking tired of this. So tired that I might bash my head in with an Oscar statuette. I try to look busy, so that nobody asks me to take the garbage out to the dumpster. Damn, I had done that twice already. I absentmindedly walk to the backstage bathroom when the sound of grunts, growls and groans fill my ears. Oh no, did I just walk in on two celebrities having sex? I quietly back away, but the sounds get louder and more aggressive. Too violent to be sex. Now, I'm worried. Someone's life might be in danger. "Hey, is everything okay?" I call out shakily. "Get lost!" the voice grunts out. I flinch at the rudeness. "No need to be rude. I just thought you needed some help." "You can't help me. Nobody can." This time, there is a quiet, and familiar sadness to his tone. A feeling of helplessness that I know about all too well. "You seem very familiar," I say — well, to the door, since I can’t even see him. "Have we met before? Are you a waiter too?" He scoffs. "I’m severely underqualified for that, lady." Ouch. I feel my ego being nicked with a sharp razor. This guy is definitely one of the pompous A-listers. According to the waiter rulebook, I'm to smile, serve and leave him. If I don’t, I could get blacklisted. But since this particular celebrity is stuck in a bathroom stall, unable to see my face or name tag, he can’t exactly report me to my boss… That gives me the courage to say this: "Okay, asshole. I’m sure you’re underqualified for anything that involves actual work." I angrily turn around to leave. Then he starts shouting and banging the door, bawling. The chaos stops me in my tracks again, and I roll my eyes. "You're not a child. Stop throwing tantrums." "I. Need. Help," is all he says when the stall door swings open. A man falls out to the floor. His eyes are blood red. His brown hair is scattered around his face. His jaw is bruised. But his handsome features are still recognizable. "Leonardo Knight," I whisper in horror.Leonardo's POVThe sex is never bad. One good thing about fucking an ex you know you should stay away from? That moment-of-weakness sex is cock-swelling amazing.As Lena takes off her last piece of clothing —her bra— the head of my cock hardens unbearably.I stop myself from imagining her face as Lara. Because... fuck Lara.Lara begins to play with... Shit, wrong face. Lena's fingers circle her pointed nipples delicately as she bites her lips, loaded with suggestion. "What the fuck are waiting for? Get in here," I tell her."I'm waiting for you to beg, Leenie," she moans."Then you'll be waiting a long time, doll. The only person getting on their knees to please is you."She chuckles, then runs to me on the bed. "Then, punish me. Punish me for betraying you.""Can't wait, you dirty little slut." I give her ass a loud spank, exciting her further.She mounts me quickly and uses her hand to slip me into her. She slowly rotates her hips, deep inside me. Fuck, this is mind-bursting. She
LARA's POVWarmth and chills runs through my entire body at the same time. I feel dangerous tingles in parts of me that should not tingle.His strong arms are tightly wrapped around my bust and I don't want them to ever leave."You're vibrating, Lara," he whispers.How can a girl not vibrate? Wrapped in your arms and in the breeze of the storm."I'm drenched," I muster the strength to say, my teeth grating on one another.Way to state the obvious, girl."Let's get you in the car," he replies, guiding me gently 'til we get to his Benz. He turns on the heat in the car, and warm air begins to fill the space, easing the cold that’s sunk deep into my bones."Is that better?" he asks slowly.I unclench my jaw and let out a shaky sigh. "At least you saved me from the rain."A humble smile touches his lips. "My pleasure, love."He pulls back onto the road, driving slow enough for my thoughts to wander."Aren't we going to address the elephant in the car?" I ask, my voice still thick from the
LARA's POVOne threat.One threat is all it takes to have a room of professors rambling and sweating.Long story short, I'm not getting expelled after all. Yay... I guess.This victory is bittersweet... because it proves how needless it was to make that selfish deal with Alaric Knight.Instead of agreeing to leave Leonardo forever, I should have just asked Professor David for help from the start."How are you feeling now, Lara?" he asks.We're back in the parking lot. Standing by his car."I'm feeling like a student again. Thank you, Professor."With an hardened jaw, he replies, "Don't thank me yet... I didn't help you for free."I frown, my heart thudding in warning. "What does that mean?""It means you owe me a favour now, Lara.""What kind of favour?"His cold, minty breath hits my skin as he whispers, "You'll find out soon enough, don't worry."How can I not worry? I hate the way his words wrap around me like a net. One favour, and now I'm his personal debt slave. "I hate surpris
LARA's POV."State your full name for the record," says Dean Smith.Fucking screwed. That's my new name."Lara Tiffany Bello," I whisper weakly."Exchanging SEX for grades. That is the allegation against you. Do you understand?""I do."He scribbles something down on the papers in front of him, not looking up."And did you, on March 28, spend the night at Professor Norman's house?""I had been assaulted by a strange man and I needed first aid so he—""It was a straightforward question. Answer yes or no?""Yes."Dean Smith nods slightly, like he’s mentally added another red X on my name."And during that time," he continues. "Did you or did you not receive answers to the midterm examination from Professor Norman?""No! Absolutely no! He helped me with my injuries. That’s all. I didn’t see any exam papers, and I never—""Enough." Dean Smith cuts me off, holding up a hand. "You’ve said your piece."This isn’t fair.Alaric promised. He fucking promised.Dean Smith folds his hands together
Lara's POVI know. I'm a terrible person. Call me all the names you can think of. Bitch, gold digger, heartless, bad girlfriend. I deserve it all. I'm on the plane leaving for Hollywood, where my life actually is. Being Leonardo Knight's girlfriend has been a daydream. But my reality still awaits me."What dessert would you like, Miss? Biscuits or fruit cake?" The flight attendant's warm voice breaks my self-loathing spiral. Her name badge says Mary."Oh... umm.. no, thanks. I'm not hungry." I force a smile.She reciprocates my smile with her own brighter smile. It's also fake. I can tell from the way it doesn't even reach her eyes. I give forced smiles like that too.When you're sick, frustrated and tired, but smiling is part of the job... the circus show never ends. Waiting tables, driving strangers, serving liquor. I had only one way out: getting my law degree.Then Professor Norman happened and my legal dreams caught fire. A blazing hot fire."Miss, you're crying?! D-did I say
Lena carefully brings herself closer to me, whispering urgently, "Leonardo, listen to me. You cannot wolf out in public. Hold it in."As I tremble uncontrollably, her fingers grab my face, gentle and steady. They trace over my lips. "If they see your fangs, there is no going back. You're a monster forever."Monster. The word cuts deeper than I expect.To pure humans, all werewolves are monsters. That's why they don't know about us. That's why we hide in the shadows. If they knew, we'd be tied up to tubes in a medical laboratory. Or worse, killed."Leonardo." Lena's voice is softer and desperate. "Look at me."I force my gaze to meet hers. Her eyes are wide, glistening and very blue. So beautiful that I almost forget everything she's done.After a few agonizing seconds, the trembling slows. My breath evens out. My fangs retract before fully surfacing.Lena exhales in relief. "Good. That’s it."I open my eyes, the world slowly sharpening around me again. But deep inside, I can still fee
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