Eloise looked at Ainsley with a mixture of disbelief and cold amusement. "So, Alpha Williams, you want to sleep with me too?"Ainsley's expression faltered for a split second before his lips curled into a tight, mocking smile. "Oh, of course, Miss Anthony," he sneered, "Why not? After all, I can just add you to the list of ‘clients’ whom I pay for their services. Seems fair, right?"Eloise raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Money," she said, extending her hand towards him. "I’m just like any other business, Alpha. You want my time? You’ll have to pay for it."Ainsley blinked, taken aback. His gaze dropped on the hand she offered, and a strange wave of frustration washed over him. She was playing him, she was playing all of them. But, God, it stung more than he expected. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he just stood there, feeling like a fool.He shook his head, trying to laugh it off. "So now you’re a businesswoman? Miss Anthony, I’m impressed. You’ve really grown
Unlike Eloise, who was stiff with worry throughout the movie, Lucian was practically radiating cheer. His energy was infectious as he took Eloise’s hand, leading her to the parking lot. His grip was warm and reassuring, and he opened the door for her with a grin.Once Eloise had settled into the passenger seat, Lucian closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. He slid in, ready to hit the road, when Eloise suddenly spoke."Wait a minute," she said her voice a mix of hesitation and quiet concern.Lucian paused, looking over at her. "What’s up? Do you want to go shopping?" His mind immediately flicked to all sorts of potential shopping trips. Maybe a new dress, or some shoes? He felt like he might’ve just unlocked the door to a great opportunity.Eloise’s brow furrowed slightly as she met his gaze. "No," she said, almost too quickly. "Alpha Astra, we…"Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Do you have somewhere else you need to go?" He thought about it for a second, then quickly added
"If I had known you would put the Blood Moon Pack's safety at risk for a woman," Gray snapped, his eyes blazing, "I would never have let you become an Alpha! You're just as much of a disappointment as your brother!"Lucian’s spine stiffened, his fists clenching at his sides. His gaze shot up to meet Gray’s sharp, fiery, and full of a rage that made the air between them crackle. His eyes were bloodshot, but there was something darker brewing beneath them. "Gray," he growled, each word coming through gritted teeth, "my brother is dead."Gray faltered for just a second, but the venom in his words didn’t loosen. Very few knew about Lucian’s brother, and even fewer understood the depth of Lucian’s grief over his loss. That pain, that grief, was an open wound that never healed. And here was Gray, twisting it into something sharper.The butler, standing off to the side, shifted, his expression strained as he moved to intervene. "Alpha Astra," he said cautiously, ", calm down."Lucian’s fury
Lucian’s smile froze as the words left his mouth. There was a sharpness to his voice, and a slight bitterness beneath his usual calm. "Alpha Williams, you've been emphasizing that you no longer care for some things. But tell me, why do I feel like you're just jealous? Jealous because you never really owned those things to begin with?"Ainsley’s eyes narrowed, his expression turning as cold as a glacier. He looked at Lucian, the contempt rolling off him like an invisible wave. "It’s none of your business, Alpha Astra," Ainsley hissed, his words clipped. "You'd be better off worrying about your own mess instead of poking your nose into mine."Without another word, Ainsley brushed past Lucian and walked into the ballroom, his broad shoulders tense with restrained fury. The silence between them was palpable, but neither man raised their voices, they didn’t need to. The tension was enough to electrify the space around them.Lucian’s lips thinned as he watched Ainsley disappear into the cro
"I might be busy these days, Eloise. Take care of yourself. Don’t hurt yourself," Lucian said softly, his eyes filled with sincerity as they locked with hers.Eloise blinked, a little caught off guard by the tenderness in his voice. Okay, that’s way more concerned than I was expecting. But she couldn’t help it, his eyes, the way he spoke, it was so... raw. She felt a knot form in her stomach.Focus, Eloise. Don’t get distracted by the kind of kindness that’s going to make you do something stupid.“I... I should tell him the truth,” she thought. She swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Alpha Astra, my name is Eloise Anthony," she said, her voice a bit shaky as she started, unsure of how much to say. “I used to…”Lucian raised an eyebrow, interrupting her with a playful grin. “Miss Anthony, of course, I know what your name is.” He leaned forward and pressed a quick, soft kiss to her lips, catching her completely off guard. “In my eyes, you’ll always be Eloise. Yo
The words had barely left Eloise’s lips when Lucian opened the door.Lucian, eager to play the gracious host, chimed in, “Eloise, let me introduce you to my friends. We grew up together. They are the Alpha and Beta of the Sea Moon pack, Michael and Jack.”As the door swung open, the room seemed to freeze. The tension was palpable. Eloise blinked, her face paling as she looked at the two men. Her heart rate spiked, this was not what she had expected.The silence stretched out uncomfortably until Jack’s voice broke the stillness, dripping with sarcasm. “Ah, so it’s Miss Anthony,” he said, his words hanging in the air like a threat wrapped in a polite bow.Eloise’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t need to look at Michael to know he was just as surprised. His voice cut through the tension, his expression one of genuine confusion. “Eloise?”Lucian’s confusion mirrored hers. He looked between Jack and Michael, completely thrown. He hadn’t expected this. He didn’t like it. How do they
Jack stood there, frozen, as Eloise spoke so bluntly. Really? She just admits it like that? His mind scrambled to process what he had just heard.He couldn’t help but feel a bit thrown off, but that anger of his was rising quickly. “Don’t get carried away,” Jack shot back, his voice tight. “I’ll make sure Lucian knows exactly what kind of woman you are. You’re like cancer, Eloise. A disease that won’t get near my friend again.”Eloise didn’t respond immediately. She just stood there, her face unreadable. Jack shoved her arm away and stormed out of the room, his mind in turmoil.Back in the room, Lucian was watching Jack with an unamused expression as he walked in. His gaze was sharp, his lips barely twitching as he studied him.Jack sat down but couldn’t escape Lucian’s scrutiny. It was like Lucian had some radar for detecting lies and Jack suddenly felt like a small child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.Lucian broke the silence first, his voice calm and deceptively casual. “Y
"Eloise! Is that really you?" The voice was full of disbelief, yet unmistakable. It was Gloria Hill! Eloise froze. No. Not today. Not here. She looked up, and sure enough, there stood Gloria, her arms wide as if Eloise had been lost in a foreign land for years. A few other familiar faces appeared behind Gloria, faces that once shared laughter and stories with her. Faces she hadn’t expected to see again. “Oh my god! It’s really her!” one of the women gasped, eyes wide. "I thought you were just... a rumor!" Eloise forced a smile, but it felt heavy, like it didn’t belong to her anymore. Great. Just what I needed. "How did you end up like this, Eloise?" another woman asked, her voice practically dripping with curiosity. Before Eloise could reply, Gloria burst out laughing. "You just got out of werewolf prison, Eloise! What did you think? That it was a vacation?" The words stung, but Eloise kept her face neutral. Gloria leaned in, suddenly all seriousness. "Wait, when did you get
Time passed slowly.Eloise glanced at her wristwatch again, her brows knitting in frustration. The ticking felt like it echoed louder in the room than it had any right to, like each second was dragging its feet, deliberately mocking her patience. She shifted slightly in her seat, the silence becoming more stifling by the minute. Ainsley sat across from her, completely still, his small eyes trained on her face with an eerie calmness.The shrill ring of her phone startled her.Her body tensed instinctively. She snatched the phone from the table, her thumb sliding across the screen to answer.“Are you here yet?” she asked sharply.From the other end, Eric’s voice came hurried, uneven, and heavy with movement. He was clearly in motion. “I can’t come,” he said, no greeting, just urgency. “I’ll leave Ainsley with you for now.”Eloise shot upright. “Wait a minute,” she snapped. “Leave him with me for now? Isn’t Hank there?”She heard the sigh in Eric’s throat before he spoke. “Hank isn’t fre
Stepping aside, Eloise said in a formal tone, “Let me introduce you. This is Jack Ray, the representative of our partner.”Mandy, blinking in confusion, stepped forward and extended her hand politely. "Hello….."“Mandy, I’ll follow the project this time,” Eloise cut in swiftly, not allowing her to finish.Mandy froze, utterly bewildered.Eloise leaned close and whispered in her ear, “I’ll explain after we get back.”Jack personally walked them all the way to the car, his gaze never leaving Eloise until she disappeared from his sight.Inside the car, Eloise slumped back against the seat.“Have you met Jack before?” Mandy asked curiously as they neared the Moonlight Garden. “I thought I was going to be in charge of the project?”Eloise forced a smile. “Don't misunderstand. There are certain things about this project I need to handle personally. You've been working so hard, Mandy. You deserve a break.”Mandy still looked unsure. “Okay… but rest well after this problem is solved, okay?”A
The secretary suddenly stood up, her voice hurried and apologetic. “I’m sorry, Mandy." Our president said he wanted to meet with Ms. Anthony alone to seek cooperation this time.”Eloise, Mandy, and the other Anthony Group representatives exchanged confused glances, uncertainty flickering between them. What a strange request! Suspicion brewed silently in the air.Mandy parted her lips to protest, but Eloise reached out, stopping her with a firm hand. “Take the others out of the conference room,” she instructed quietly, her voice calm but commanding.“But…” Mandy’s brows furrowed in deep worry. She didn’t want to leave Eloise alone.Eloise looked at her steadily, her gaze unwavering, burning with determination. “Mandy, you know how important this cooperation is to me.”It wasn’t just important to her; it was crucial to the future of the Anthony Group. It was everything.Mandy hesitated a moment longer, then finally nodded. “Let’s go,” she said, her voice reluctant. She signaled the othe
Ainsley was in a pitiful state; his clothes soaked through, his shoes worn out beyond recognition. He must have been searching for her for a long, long time, wandering alone through the rain.“Get in the car,” Eloise said urgently, her voice cracking as she took his trembling hand.Leading him carefully, she guided him back to the car, shielding him as best she could from the relentless rain.She pulled open the back seat door and gestured for him to climb in. But Ainsley stubbornly shook his head, water flying from his wet hair.“No,” he said firmly.“Why?” Eloise asked, frowning deeply, confused by his sudden refusal.“I don’t want to sit in the back seat, I want to sit there.” He pointed insistently at the passenger seat beside her.Eloise blinked, momentarily stunned. She didn’t quite understand what difference it made, but for Ainsley, it clearly meant everything.“I want to sit next to you,” he said seriously, his eyes locked onto hers, filled with an intensity that surprised h
“No reward?” Ainsley’s mouth trembled, and he looked like he might burst into tears at any second.Eloise bit her lip hard. “Of course, you get a reward. Like I said, you did great.” She reached out and ruffled his hair. The next moment, she froze as Ainsley, clearly overjoyed, rested his head contentedly on her shoulder.Just then, Eric came up behind them, his voice low. “Everything’s ready, we can send it now.”No one spoke. The tension in the air was almost unbearable as they quietly got into the car. As the vehicle rolled down the dark road, Eloise stole a glance at Ainsley, who had already fallen asleep beside her.He used to occupy most of her life — in every memory, every thought. Now, the air inside the car felt stifling. Eloise turned her head sharply to the window, blinking hard. He couldn’t remember anything.All the entanglements they once shared ; love, hate and pain, now belonged to her alone.The car headed farther into the remote outskirts, taking a dark road lined wi
Eric hesitated, concern flickering across his face, but finally he nodded and stepped out, shutting the door behind him with a soft thud. Silence swallowed the room. Eloise stood motionless for a long, long time. The steady beeping of machines was the only sound, each one a harsh reminder of how fragile life was.Finally, she moved. Slow, heavy steps carried her to Ainsley’s bedside. She reached out with a trembling hand but stopped an inch from touching him.Instead, she sank into the chair beside him, folding her hands tightly in her lap to hide how badly they shook. She didn’t cry. She didn’t scream. She just sat there, hour after hour, her eyes never leaving his broken body.Five days and nights blurred into each other.Every time Eric or Jacob tried to pull her away, she stayed rooted there.“Won’t it hurt her if she doesn’t cry?” Eric asked once, whispering in a low voice, watching her through the window.“I’ve been through worse,” Eloise heard it she croaked, her voice raw and
“I want shoes to match,” she said softly.“Yes, ma’am. Right away,” the shop assistant said, hurrying off.Mandy walked closer and touched Eloise’s arm gently. “Eloise... are you sure you’re ready for this?”Eloise turned her eyes toward her. There was no hesitation in them. Only a fierce, burning determination.“I have to be,” she said, her voice almost breaking. “I don’t have a choice.”Mandy’s throat tightened. She wanted to hug her, to pull her back, to stop her from going, but she knew she couldn’t.Just then, Eloise’s phone buzzed.Mandy immediately grabbed it from the counter and handed it to her. “It’s Jacob,” she said quietly.Eloise answered on the second ring. “I’m ready.”“Good,” Jacob’s voice came crisply through the speaker. “A car is waiting for you outside. Your passport and visa are in the car. You’ll be taken directly to a private jet. You need to leave within the next twenty minutes.”“Understood,” Eloise said without hesitation.“And Miss Anthony... don’t be late,”
Mandy, who was driving, opened her mouth, only to realize she couldn't find a word to comfort Eloise. She knew Eloise too well, so she didn't feel the need for words to comfort her.The Anthony Group had many problems. Perhaps they had been overlooked, or perhaps Gary didn't think they were serious. Mandy was a little worried about Eloise, who was in the backseat. When Eloise was busy, she worked almost suicidly. Mandy thought she was supposed to hate Ainsley. After all, he was the one slowly forcing an extroverted woman into a corner. In all of Metrocity, Ainsley was the only person who could corner Eloise. But now, Mandy felt grateful to Ainsley. At least he would come on time to pick Eloise up for lunch and dinner, or Eloise would be too busy to eat.Mandy accompanied Eloise to work for several days, and Ainsley did not appear during this time.Eloise knew he was on a business trip.It wasn't the first time Ainsley had been on a business trip. Before, he'd call her no matter where
"Ainsley WIlliams! Damn you! "You promised me!” Eloise’s eyes blazed red with fury, veins visible on her temples as her body shook violently.Her scream echoed so loudly throughout the room that the light on the ceiling trembled from the force of her rage. She kicked at the bed frame, sending it crashing against the wall with a loud bang. The curtains flapped wildly in the air from the force of her movements, as if they too were disturbed by the storm erupting within her.The pain that flashed through Ainsley's eyes nearly froze him in place. His breath caught, but he focused hard on what he was doing, refusing to waver, even though guilt was clawing through his chest.Then her voice ripped through the room, raw and shattering, “Ainsley! I hate you!”Ainsley's eyes were filled with unbearable pain, the kind that didn’t show in blood but hurt worse than any wound. He clenched his jaw and abruptly lowered his head. Without a word, he pressed his lips to the scar on the back of her waist