EllaThe soft hum of my ceiling fan was the only sound accompanying my thoughts. As I lay in bed, the silky sheets enveloping me, a sense of strange relaxation washed over me. I should have felt agitated, furious even. But there was a tranquility I couldn’t understand.I let that jerk into my life, I chided myself.But even as I mentally berated myself, I couldn’t help the smile that crept onto my face. My phone vibrated on my nightstand, breaking my introspection. A glance revealed Moana’s name on the screen.“I heard you got your first case!” Moana’s chirpy voice rang through the phone. We might have been mother and daughter, but in moments like these, she was just like a giddy school friend.“Yeah,” I hesitated. The truth would be too much for her to handle. “It’s just a problem with a bad tenant. The client wanted to keep things confidential.”A laugh. “Always the mysterious ones, huh? Well, as long as you're safe and doing what you love.”I swallowed hard, guilt gnawing at me. If
EllaThe imposing structure of the law firm stood tall against the city skyline, its grandeur echoing the prestige and authority it held in the legal world. Its broad stone steps, worn by the footfalls of countless attorneys and clients, led up to tall, ornate double doors.Taking a deep breath, I hesitated at the foot of the stairs. The chatter of the city faded as dread pooled in my gut. Logan’s confident stride next to me seemed out of place at this moment, and the realization of what I was about to do hit me full force.Here I was, waltzing up to my old place of work after letting a mobster threaten my old boss. Not only that, but I was walking up to my old place of work with that very mobster. It was absurd! Brazen!Without warning, I yanked my hand away and spun around, my heels clicking against the pavement as I made a break for it.“I can’t, Logan,” I called out, my voice tinged with panic. “I can’t go back in there, not like this. I’ll find another city, another job. This...
EllaThe sunlight filtering through my office window bathed the mahogany desk in a soft golden hue. As I perused the documents in front of me, the weight of my current circumstances pressed on me like an unwelcome shroud.I could feel my wolf also getting alert to the situation.How did I get embroiled with the mafia, and more importantly, how could I extricate myself without causing further complications?“No way,” I said, shaking my head. “I won’t be going to a family event with you. Not so… soon.”Logan’s blue eyes narrowed. “It’s not really up for debate, unfortunately,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “Did you think that only you would benefit from the deal?”“Well, no, but—”“But nothing,” Logan interrupted. His voice was firm, but not angry. “Sorry, Ella, but you need to come. I’m not asking. I’m telling you that we have to go. Besides, I already agreed on your behalf.”I couldn’t help but frown. Attending a family dinner with Logan’s clan made me nervous, not only
EllaWe didn’t just stop at one store. No, Logan wouldn’t have it. The shopping center was enormous, and Logan clearly had a penchant for spending money. We spent hours in there, perusing each store.Normally, I didn’t enjoy shopping trips. My dad never really took me on them, maybe once or twice a year we would go out on a shopping day, but Moana was the type to instill in me that money wasn’t everything, and so we didn’t splurge too much. I didn’t mind, though. Her precautions made sure that I never got spoiled, despite the fact that my dad was one of the richest men in the world.However, I couldn’t deny the enjoyment of shopping with Logan. I hated to say it, but he was… fun. Maybe it was the mate bond surreptitiously slipping rose-colored glasses onto my face, but I liked seeing him smile as we perused the stores. I liked hearing his jokes about silly outfits, ridiculously high heels, and hats with all sorts of bizarre decorations on them.He made me laugh.At one point, we found
EllaThe weight of the billboard bore down, threatening to crash onto me. Just as I braced myself for impact and felt Ema’s strength surge through me, preparing to lunge out of the way or stiffen my body to repel the impact, Logan surged forward, knocking it away with his superhuman strength.It was an impressive feat, but as the dust settled, I noticed blood beginning to seep from a wound on his arm.I heard screams and panicked voices around me. Innocent shoppers who were just as shocked as I was. But I didn’t care about them.“Logan!” I shouted, rushing to his side.He brushed me off with a smirk. “I’ve had worse.” But his eyes betrayed the concern he was trying to hide.“His wound,” Ema said, drawing my attention back to his arm. “It’s… bad. It hurts me, too.”I had heard the stories before, about ghost pain, caused by a mate getting hurt. It was faint, but it was there. And I was worried, too.The dust still hung in the air, a misty remnant of the fallen billboard. Logan stood, h
EllaThe grandeur of Logan’s family estate was unmatched, the chandeliers glistening with thousands of crystals, reflecting the light in the room. I hesitated for a moment on the threshold, taking in the lavish spread of food and guests buzzing with conversation.My previous assumption had been sorely inaccurate. This was not a mere family dinner. It was a statement, a spectacle. And I was the trophy on his arm, the daughter of the CEO of WereCorp. An accessory.I put on a smile, though, if only to play my part—just as Logan had requested. It was part of our plan, after all. And after what happened with the billboard, Logan’s motives behind wanting to take down the Mafia were becoming more clear to me.Logan was ever the commanding presence. Every move he made, every word he uttered, seemed to draw attention. Tonight was no exception. His sharp gaze traveled the room, making sure to make contact with every important person in attendance.It was difficult to find any hint of the melanc
EllaWhen Logan’s brother questioned me about my mother, I felt a sudden heat rising in my cheeks.The audacity of the question, the way he said it, filled with a disdain I couldn’t understand, ignited my temper.“Teach this one a lesson,” Ema hissed. “Oh, how I’d love to gnash my teeth on his skull…”“Enough,” I said. “Not now.”“Interesting, considering Ella isn’t even the biological daughter of the Golden Wolf Moana, isn’t that right?” Logan’s brother taunted. “She’s the bastard child of her father and… Who is your mother, Ella?”I gritted my teeth, struggling to keep my anger at bay. My biological mother’s identity was none of his business, and the way he had thrown the question at me was downright offensive.As far as anyone was concerned, Moana was my real mother. It didn’t matter whether she was my biological mother or not.Before I could answer, Marina, dressed in her oh-so-extravagant red dress, chimed in, her voice dripping with condescension.“Oh, Ella, it must have been so
EllaMarina’s father’s words made me feel unexpectedly unsettled. I cocked my head, looking at him for a moment. Was that a threat, because I asked too many questions? Or a friendly warning out of concern?“Pardon?” I asked, clenching my drink a little tighter in my hand.“Miss Morgan, I’m sure you understand what I mean,” Marina’s father said, his eyes fixed on mine. His voice was kind, but there was a knowing look in his eyes that unsettled me.I gave him a reassuring smile, though I felt anything but reassured. “I appreciate your concern, but I assure you, I have things under control. There’s no need for you to worry about me.”He continued to look at me for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing slightly. It was as though he could see right through me, understanding that I was lying.Through my carefully constructed facade of a perfectly cool and calm young woman, there was a little girl screaming on the inside, begging to leave. And at that moment, I felt certain that he saw her.Bu