"Lucian, you said I lied to you. "That I hid my past from you," Eloise’s voice wavered, rough from unshed tears. "I’ll say it one last time; I never meant to hurt Aura. I never asked anyone to ra*e her. Her death was self-inflicted, it wasn’t my fault."Her throat burned, her chest tightened, but she held his gaze, she had to.Lucian stood like a statue, the dim lighting of the café casting jagged shadows over his sharp features. His expression was unreadable, but the storm in his eyes told her everything: rage, disbelief, betrayal.Eloise swallowed back the lump in her throat. "Believe it or not, that’s the truth. And now…" her voice steadied, cold and final, "I don’t owe you anything."She didn’t wait for a reaction. She shoved him, her hands trembling against his solid chest.Lucian barely staggered, but it wasn’t the force of her push that knocked the air out of him, it was her words.No. She rejected me.The thought struck like lightning, searing through his veins. She’s okay with
Eloise spoke very slowly. Then, she turned firmly and walked toward Ainsley.She looked at Ainsley standing in front of her. From the moment she knew he was her mate, they were destined to be entangled for life.No one else could interfere in what was going on between her and Ainsley."Alpha Williams, let’s go to the Moonlight Group," Eloise lowered her head and whispered.She felt a hand on her shoulder, and the next second, the world turned upside down. By the time she could see her surroundings again, she found herself being carried by Ainsley. Bowing her head, she didn’t resist and let him pull her out without a fight.Lucian stood there stiffly. After Ainsley and Eloise disappeared, he suddenly staggered and leaned against the wall behind him.He couldn't stop thinking about Eloise’s words. What did she mean? Why didn’t she fight back after I insulted her? Why doesn’t she hate me?“She said I was her light! How ridiculous!” Lucian said to himself, his voice choking. Tears spilled
Ainsley’s eyes were filled with pride. Seeing Eloise like this made his heart beat faster. It was as if he was seeing the Eloise from three years ago, the strong & confident woman who never backed down. He had never realized how much he missed that version of her until now.Nightfall Rachael’s Office at Club Scarlet Heart.Rachael had just finished giving a report to Ainsley when a knock on the door interrupted them.Ainsley barely looked up as he said, “Come in.”The door swung open, and Elijah stepped inside, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. "Alpha Ainsley, you want to see me?"Ainsley leaned back in his chair and studied Elijah for a moment before speaking. "I want you to find out if there’s anything we missed about what happened three years ago."Elijah’s brows furrowed in confusion. "You mean about Aura?" His voice wavered slightly as if he wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. "Alpha, I thought that matter was resolved already. Why reopen old wounds?"Ainsley’s gaz
Alex walked into his room and locked the door behind him. His hands were clenched into fists, and his mind raced with unease. Elijah searching the warehouse and taking Aura’s address book wasn’t just unusual, it was suspicious. Something was happening behind the scenes, and he had no intention of sitting back and waiting to find out secondhand.After a moment’s hesitation, Alex pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. His thumb hovered over a name he hadn’t called in years. With a deep breath, he pressed dial. The line rang twice before a voice dripping with sarcasm answered. “Well, well, Beta Alex. It’s been a long time since we last spoke.”Alex’s frown deepened, but he ignored the other man’s mocking tone. He didn’t have time for games. “Elijah just searched the warehouse and took Aura’s address book. That was strange. Do me a favor and find out what he’s up to.”A low chuckle echoed through the phone. “Beta Alex, you know better than anyone who Elijah works for. He’s
Ellison smirked and thought, Ainsley, it turns out you can't say no to the Moon Goddess' arrangements either. If you had known this was going to happen, would you have been so cruel?Ellison was very shrewd. He had deduced from Elijah's behavior that Ainsley had changed his attitude toward Eloise. He muttered to himself, “I was wrong to think that Aura was Ainsley’s weak point. Behind her angelic face, she was actually an evil woman. No wonder Ainsley didn’t do anything about Aura’s terrible death." His eyes were shining with excitement, and he was eager for the next challenge.Ellison dialed a number immediately. With a sly grin on his face, he told Alex, “Got it, Ainsley has already accepted Eloise as his mate.”As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of something falling to the ground through the phone. Alex, who was on the other end of the line, lost his grip on his phone, and it fell to the ground.After a while, he trembled, bent down to pick up his phone, and said, “
Ainsley yanked the car door open, slid into the driver’s seat, and sped off without a second glance.“Fuck” Hank cursed under his breath, jumping into another car to follow.But Ainsley was driving like a madman, his rage fueling his speed. Hank could barely keep up.Then, suddenly… screech!Ainsley slammed on the brakes in front of a building, tires screeching against the pavement.Hank watched as he stormed inside.“Miss Anthony, here is your new driver’s license.”“Thank you…”Before Eloise could finish speaking, a strong hand snatched the license away. She turned sharply, ready to protest… then froze.Ainsley Williams!Her lips turned deathly pale.“Why are you here?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.His icy gaze locked onto hers. “Are you trying to run away from me?”“No, I’m not,” she denied, but her voice wavered.“No?”Ainsley lifted the license between his fingers, his smirk razor-sharp. “Then tell me, Eloise… what’s this for?”Eloise’s stomach dropped. He wasn’t stupi
Their lips fused together. Eloise couldn't move her jaw at all, so she could only let saliva drip from the corner of her mouth. This wasn’t a kiss. It was punishment.Torture.Eloise shut her eyes, forcing herself not to shed a single tear. She had long since realized her pain meant nothing to the man in front of her. Or rather, the beast in front of her.Inside Ainsley, Adrian stirred. She’s trembling! She’s afraid of us.Ainsley could feel his wolf’s anguish twist through his mind like a blade. Adrian ached for Eloise in a way that Ainsley didn’t fully understand.Why does she always flinch away? Adrian’s voice was pained. Why does she fear us when all we want is to protect her?Ainsley’s grip on Eloise tightened. His lips pressed against hers, not just with punishment, but desperation, possession, obsession.Eloise, don’t do this. Don’t make us villains.Adrian’s pain merged with Ainsley’s fury. He had gone mad the moment he found out that she had gotten a new driver’s license. She
The car drove toward the Iron Gate, and the Alpha’s villa of the Litha Night Walker Pack stood as organized and pristine as Eloise remembered it. She couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder. Through the back window, she watched the black Iron Gate slowly close behind her.From today on, I'm just a caged bird. She closed her eyes, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. When she opened them again, she was obedient Eloise once more.Ainsley caught every flicker of emotion on her face, and for a fleeting moment, guilt flashed through his eyes.I'm sorry, Eloise, but I just don't know how to keep you around. I want you to love me like you did three years ago.“Our mate is suffering. Why can’t you make her happy?” Adrian's voice thundered in Ainsley’s mind.Ainsley clenched his jaw. Because I love her. I'll never let her go.His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles whitening. He felt himself slipping; drowning in an obsession he could no longer control.“Alpha Ain
Eloise collapsed to the ground, her heart racing. Ainsley knelt beside her, panting.“You’re such a bad girl,” he groaned with a crooked grin.She blinked, then laughed. The sound surprised even her.They leaned on each other as they walked home. Eloise winced with every step.Inside, she locked the door behind them and turned to Ainsley. “Why were you there?” She asked with a frown.He looked sheepish. “From the balcony… I watched you leave for work. And I wait for your return. I always have.”Eloise froze. That… she hadn’t expected.“I’m not stalking you,” he added quickly. “I just… feel safer knowing you made it home.”Her throat closed. She didn’t speak.Later that evening, after cleaning Ainsley’s wounds, Eloise sat in her office, the silence pressing on her.Jacob had just finished a quick check-in. Mandy arrived, knocking gently.“Find the leak yet?” Eloise asked.Mandy sighed. “No. It’s like they vanished.”“Stop the investigation.”Mandy blinked rapidly. “What, why? Shouldn’t
When she arrived at the Anthony Group, Mandy’s jaw dropped and her eyes were wide open.“Miss Anthony? You’re here early.”“Give me the proposal for the Jack Ray partnership. "I need to reconsider several details to make it profitable,” Eloise said.“But… are you sure you want to review that again?” Mandy asked hesitantly."I think they'll be delighted to see a revised proposal, especially one that could bring more profit for both sides. Mandy, in this world, no one walks away from money."Mandy blinked. That wasn’t the Eloise she knew.“O-okay,” she stammered, retreating. She wanted to pull Eloise out of her emotional spiral, but hearing her talk business with such coldness was unnerving.In the office, Eloise sat across from Jack Ray.“I’ve outlined the additional terms for the partnership. These revisions will double our projected profits. Mr. Jack, you should reconsider before dismissing the offer,” she said.Jack frowned, visibly disappointed. Can’t we just talk like two people,
The bedroom door creaked open. Eloise looked up from her book, startled. Ainsley stood there, his face unreadable, a folded blanket in his arms. Without a word, he stepped in, laid the blanket on the floor beside the bed, and began unrolling it with deliberate care.“What are you doing?” Eloise asked, her brow furrowing.Ainsley lay down on the makeshift bed, turning his back to her.“You're not allowed to sleep here,” she said in a cold and dispassionate voice. “Ainsley, go away!” she shouted, frustration bubbling over.However, Ainsley sat up abruptly, glaring at her. “Just send me away tomorrow! I don’t care! But don’t think you can kick me out tonight!”Eloise was taken aback. It was the first time eight-year-old Ainsley had raised his voice at her.“You want to kick me out. You're sick, and no one will take care of you. You're unreasonable!” he shouted again.She stared at him, speechless. The room fell into a tense silence, the only light coming from a dim night lamp.Suddenly,
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