"Alpha, Jack, I never said that the meal I cooked was worth a hundred thousand dollars. You gave it to me because you thought it was worth it. I was short of money, so I accepted it. Why did I accept it, even though I knew it wasn't an equal exchange? Perhaps you've forgotten that I'm a woman who will do anything for money. I'm a company girl, not a socialite. I need money. I need a million dollars. It means the world to me. If I don't get this money by the deadline, I'm going to lose something very important," she said frankly.Jack was silent, his face expressionless. He didnโt care about anyone else, least of all her problems.He raised his hand, looking at his watch. "I've already wasted enough time. Miss Anthony, I've bothered you for too long. There's no need for us to meet again in the future.""I thought that too. That's why I accompanied you downstairs," Eloise replied thoughtfully. She paused, and added, "Alpha, Jack, thank you. Also, you were wrong about one thing. We're jus
Pa!The sound of a loud slap echoed through the quiet hallway, its sharpness breaking the stillness of the night.Eloise stood there, her hand still trembling after delivering the blow. Jackโs face turned to the side from the force of the slap. After a long pause, he slowly raised his hand to touch his cheek, his fingers tracing the spot where the sting still lingered."That was a good slap," Jack remarked, his voice surprisingly calm, though his eyes sparkled with something darker, something that looked like both anger and intrigue. Eloise could feel her own heart racing with a mix of adrenaline and satisfaction. There was a strange, twisted pleasure in delivering the slap, something that made her feel empowered.She stared at him, her eyes burning with a quiet fury. "Alpha. Jack, you so enjoy rubbing salt on other people's wounds. Now you know. It hurts," she said, her voice low and steady.Turning on her heel, she walked away, her back straight and her steps firm, as if nothing had
Jack stood up, turned his head to look at the watchful woman and asked, "Aren't you going to accompany me?""No, Alpha. Jack, close the door when you leave," Eloise said."Isn't it a basic requirement of your job to escort people? Or, Ms. Anthony, do you think I'm no longer a guest to you since you're off duty and in your dorm now? Ms. Anthony, perhaps I should go to Club Scarlet Heart, the place where you work, to see you tomorrow. What do you think?" Jack said casually.Eloise thought. Seriously? Are you threatening me again? How despicable!Eloise gritted her teeth. Every time, Jack always managed to make her gnash her teeth in hatred.She said, "Alpha. Jack, you are right. I should not neglect my guests, just because I am off duty. Alpha. Jack, let me accompany you."As she spoke, she walked forward, looking at the man beside her even more vigilantly.Who knows what's wrong with him? He likes to kiss my wound so much, and he has the nerve to claim that it's healing.Thinking about
Eloise stood frozen, her mind racing as Rachaelโs words hit her like a slap in the face. She could feel her pulse throb in her temples, and her stomach churned with confusion. She couldnโt believe what she was hearing."I haven't changed," Eloise muttered, her voice low and tight, though she wasnโt sure if she was trying to convince Rachael, or herself.โEloise, canโt you see?โ Rachaelโs voice softened. "Your face used to be so stiff. All I saw in it was emptiness, like it didnโt belong to a living person. But nowโฆ now, I see something different. I see a spark." Her words hung heavy in the air. "I think youโre starting to feel again."Eloise opened her mouth, but the words tangled in her throat. She had wanted to protest, to say something that would make Rachael stop looking at her like that. But Rachael wasnโt finished.โIs it Jack, Eloise?โ Rachaelโs eyes narrowed, her voice suddenly darkening with anger. โIs that whoโs making you change? Because if it isโฆ you should know better. He
Eloise felt hopeless as she thought about Ainsleyโs visit tomorrow. She had no idea where to get the rest of the money.As Jack left her dorm building, she couldnโt shake the emptiness he left behind. She could feel the weight of her situation crushing her, the uncertainty gnawing at her. I need that money. But where?As Jack drove away, his departure stole away all the hope she'd briefly managed to find. I thought I could change. I thought there was a way out. But now? Now Iโm stuck.The next day at Club Scarlet Heart, Eloise entered Rachaelโs office, her steps heavy with anxiety."Did you get the money?" Rachael asked, her voice laced with expectation.Eloise shook her head slowly, eyes cast down.Rachael raised an eyebrow. "You didnโt ask Jack?"Eloise stayed silent.Rachael sighed, her tone a mix of frustration and concern. "So, what now?"โI donโt know,โ Eloise muttered. โIโm stuck.โโEloise, you donโt have much time,โ Rachael said, her voice suddenly sharper. "Alpha Williams is
Eloise looked at Richard in disbelief, her mind trying to process the words that had just left his lips. The betrayal stung more than she thought it would. For a moment, her eyes fluttered, and she tried to make sense of what was happening. But all she could feel was the numbness creeping in. She forced herself to lower her gaze, her heart heavy and expressionless. "Alpha. Anthony, then I wonโt make things difficult for you," she said softly, the words feeling foreign as they left her mouth.Richardโs face twisted with guilt. "Eloise, donโt be like that. I have no choice. Donโt blame me." He reached into his wallet and pulled out a wad of cash, shoving it into her hand. "Take this. Buy food, clothes... just take it. Please."But Eloise didnโt budge. She just stood there, her body stiff, as if she couldnโt bear to touch the money. Her eyes remained unfocused, looking at nothing in particular. I donโt want your pity money, Richard. I donโt need it. Not from you. Not from anyone.Richard
Eloiseโs shoulders trembled, her fists clenched tight as Richardโs unexpected appearance sent a wave of shock through her body. The urge to scream, to lash out, clawed at her throat, but she forced it back. The anger boiled inside her, fierce and raw.How dare he? What could he possibly know about her struggles? He was the son of the Alpha of the Golden Moon Pack, born into privilege, surrounded by wealth and the packโs protection. He had everything he could want.And here she was.Alone.A few crumpled bills in her pocket. The thought of going anywhere but Club Scarlet Heart made her heart sink. The other packs in Metrocity wouldnโt take her in, not after everything. She wasnโt a wolf, not really. She was an ex-convict, a rogue without a pack, without purpose. She didnโt belong anywhere. The Forest of Shadows would chew her up and spit her out before she could even take a step inside.What choice do I have?Her hands trembled as she fumbled for her phone, trying to steady the shaking
"Alpha Alva, Iโll save you the trouble," Eloise murmured, the words tasting bitter as they left her lips. She pried his hand from her hair, trying to ignore the way her body trembled as she straightened herself. Slowly, deliberately, she walked into the room, forcing herself to appear strong, even though every step felt like an eternity. Her chest was tight, her throat dry, but she could not show weakness.Rachael, standing behind her, hesitated for a moment, before following Eloise in, her eyes filled with concern. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with tension. Eloise could feel the stares of the surrounding men, their gazes cold and judgmental. It was as if they were sizing her up, determining how far they could push her before she broke.George grinned, his eyes lighting up with malicious pleasure. "Gentlemen, meet Eloise," he said, motioning toward her like a prize. "This is the infamous daughter of the Golden Moon Pack."The words stung like a slap. Infamous. The woman wh
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.โAre you here yet?โ she asked sharply.From the other end, Ericโs voice came hurried, uneven, and heavy with movement. He was clearly in motion. โI canโt come,โ he said, no greeting, just urgency. โIโll leave Ainsley with you for now.โEloise shot upright. โWait a minute,โ she snapped. โLeave him with me for now? Isnโt Hank there?โShe heard the sigh in Ericโs throat before he spoke. โHank isnโt fre
Stepping aside, Eloise said in a formal tone, โLet me introduce you. This is Jack Ray, the representative of our partner.โMandy, blinking in confusion, stepped forward and extended her hand politely. "Helloโฆ.."โMandy, Iโll follow the project this time,โ Eloise cut in swiftly, not allowing her to finish.Mandy froze, utterly bewildered.Eloise leaned close and whispered in her ear, โIโll explain after we get back.โJack 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.โHave you met Jack before?โ Mandy asked curiously as they neared the Moonlight Garden. โI thought I was going to be in charge of the project?โEloise forced a smile. โDon'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.โMandy still looked unsure. โOkayโฆ but rest well after this problem is solved, okay?โA
The secretary suddenly stood up, her voice hurried and apologetic. โIโm sorry, Mandy." Our president said he wanted to meet with Ms. Anthony alone to seek cooperation this time.โEloise, 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. โTake the others out of the conference room,โ she instructed quietly, her voice calm but commanding.โButโฆโ Mandyโs brows furrowed in deep worry. She didnโt want to leave Eloise alone.Eloise looked at her steadily, her gaze unwavering, burning with determination. โMandy, you know how important this cooperation is to me.โIt wasnโt 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. โLetโs go,โ 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.โGet in the car,โ 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.โNo,โ he said firmly.โWhy?โ Eloise asked, frowning deeply, confused by his sudden refusal.โI donโt want to sit in the back seat, I want to sit there.โ He pointed insistently at the passenger seat beside her.Eloise blinked, momentarily stunned. She didnโt quite understand what difference it made, but for Ainsley, it clearly meant everything.โI want to sit next to you,โ he said seriously, his eyes locked onto hers, filled with an intensity that surprised h
โNo reward?โ Ainsleyโs mouth trembled, and he looked like he might burst into tears at any second.Eloise bit her lip hard. โOf course, you get a reward. Like I said, you did great.โ 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. โEverythingโs ready, we can send it now.โNo 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 โ in every memory, every thought. Now, the air inside the car felt stifling. Eloise turned her head sharply to the window, blinking hard. He couldnโt 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 Ainsleyโs 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 didnโt cry. She didnโt 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.โWonโt it hurt her if she doesnโt cry?โ Eric asked once, whispering in a low voice, watching her through the window.โIโve been through worse,โ Eloise heard it she croaked, her voice raw and
โI want shoes to match,โ she said softly.โYes, maโam. Right away,โ the shop assistant said, hurrying off.Mandy walked closer and touched Eloiseโs arm gently. โEloise... are you sure youโre ready for this?โEloise turned her eyes toward her. There was no hesitation in them. Only a fierce, burning determination.โI have to be,โ she said, her voice almost breaking. โI donโt have a choice.โMandyโs throat tightened. She wanted to hug her, to pull her back, to stop her from going, but she knew she couldnโt.Just then, Eloiseโs phone buzzed.Mandy immediately grabbed it from the counter and handed it to her. โItโs Jacob,โ she said quietly.Eloise answered on the second ring. โIโm ready.โโGood,โ Jacobโs voice came crisply through the speaker. โA car is waiting for you outside. Your passport and visa are in the car. Youโll be taken directly to a private jet. You need to leave within the next twenty minutes.โโUnderstood,โ Eloise said without hesitation.โAnd Miss Anthony... donโt be late,โ
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!โ Eloiseโs 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, โAinsley! I hate you!โAinsley's eyes were filled with unbearable pain, the kind that didnโt 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