Norman's POV The city lights blurred outside the window, their vibrant glow a stark contrast to the chilling update I was receiving from my private investigator. Kaneโs accident. It hadn't been an accident at all.โThe plate number, sir,โ the private investigator said, his voice low and professional, โcame back registered to a certain Peter Jones.โ He slid a file across the desk, the crisp paper a jarring sound in the quiet room. Inside, a photograph. A man, mid-twenties, sharp features, a smirk playing on his lips. The smirk felt familiar, yet I couldn't quite place it.โI donโt recognize him,โ I admitted, my brow furrowed in concentration. I scanned the photograph again, my eyes lingering on the man's confident posture and knowing smirk. I had a strange feeling that I knew him from somewhere.โI traced him to a bar across town,โ the investigator continued, โThe Green Dragon. He was there the night of the accident.โThe Green Dragon. The name sparked a memory, a flicker of recogniti
Riley's POV The silence in the mansion was heavy, a suffocating blanket woven from Normanโs icy anger and my own gnawing guilt. Days had passed since his eruption, since the confession of my confusing attraction to Kirk. I had tried, repeatedly, to seek his forgiveness, to explain the turmoil within me, the involuntary nature of my wolfโs response to Kirkโs presence. But he refused to listen, refused to acknowledge me, refused to see anything beyond his own wounded pride and sense of betrayal. He shut me out completely, his cold silence a more potent punishment than any physical one.His anger, I realized, wasn't just about the wolf. It was about Kirk. About the fact that my wolf, against my will, had responded so strongly to another man, a man he considered to be lesser than him. The very idea seemed to enrage him more than the fact that I'd hidden the existence of my wolf. It was an assault on his ego, a disregard of his authority and control.The thought stung. It was true that I
Norman's POV The mahogany desk felt cool beneath my fingertips, a familiar comfort in the chaos brewing within me. Natural daylight streamed through the glass of my office window, a stark contrast to the storm gathering inside. Damon stood before me seething with fury that would have sent a chill across any other person, but not me. I knew him to be a dangerous man, even when calm, and now, unleashed, maybe he was a force to reckon with.โYou think youโre so clever, Norman,โ he spat, his voice sounding venomous. โSo cunning. Manipulating Riley, making Walker induce her to awaken her wolf, ensuring it only recognizes you as her mate.โMy brow furrowed. Damonโs accusations were absurd, and felt almost comical. But the rage in his eyes was genuine, undeniable. He wasnโt throwing a joke; he was genuinely enraged. This wasโฆ unexpected.โDamon,โ I began, my voice calm, controlled, a stark contrast to his outburst. โWhat are you talking about?โ I tried to keep my tone even, to maintain the
Riley's POV The car ride was a blur. My mind was still reeling from the encounter with Kirk, from the unexpected intrusion of Karl, from the suffocating weight of unspoken emotions and dangerous desires. I tried to question Karl about our destination, but he simply chuckled, his hand resting lightly on the steering wheel, and told me to relax and enjoy the ride. He knew me too well. He knew I needed a moment to gather my thoughts, to process before speaking, and he wouldnโt push me. His silence, however, felt reassuring, a sharp contrast to the storm raging within me.We pulled up to a building that initially surprised me. It wasnโt the tranquil garden Iโd envisioned, nor the quiet corner of the mansion. It was a modern, sleek building, all glass and steel, with the word "Gallery" discreetly etched above the entrance. An art gallery."Karl," I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion. "Why are we at an art gallery?" I felt a knot tightening in my stomach. Was he leading me here as a dist
Riley's POV I didn't expect Kirk to show up to my study, at least not this early. Despite how much I tried to maintain a nonchalant attitude, it seems my wolf was all eager to meet him. I didn't know the kind of game he was trying to play by being suddenly nice. But, if there's one thing I know, I know I wouldn't give him the chance to just get into my head. I seized the moment of his hesitation. I turned my attention away from him, back to the canvas, hoping the physical gesture of dismissal would make him leave. I just needed him to go. I needed to be alone. I needed to breathe.But then, I felt it. A sudden warmth against my back, the familiar scent of pine and something uniquely him, surrounded me. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me tightly against his chest. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.No. He wouldnโt dare.My wolf, however, let out a delighted sigh. Oh, the traitorous thing. For a moment, just a blissful moment, I relaxed in his embrace. It was an invol
Kirk's POV The sun was barely up, a pale light filtering through the trees, when I pulled my beat-up truck into the long, winding driveway of Normanโs mansion. A few domestic staff were already moving about, hushed and efficient. A stern-faced butler, perfectly uniformed, spotted me immediately. He probably knew who I was, Normanโs wild card brother, the one who caused trouble. He gave me a stiff nod, no warmth in his gaze, just a cold, practiced deference."Prince Kirk," he said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. "Prince Norman is currently at the office.""Figures," I muttered, a small, wry smile playing on my lips. "Iโm here to see Riley. For her final healing dose. Where is she?"The butler hesitated for a split second, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, before giving a precise instruction. "She is in her personal study, Prince. The third door on the left, down the west corridor." He sounded like he was reciting a well-rehearsed line.Her study? That was a surprise.