His magnificently beautiful eyes looked into mine with possessiveness. I exhaled out a shuddered breath, and he grabbed my jaw. “This is not who you are to me, Isabella. And I want more than what we have. Understood?” The dominance in his tone was obvious, while his words sounded like a fantasy I’ve always dreamt of. More than what we have. More than step-brother. ______________________________ I, a 19-year-old girl, had always had a secret crush on someone I shouldn’t have. That’s right—it was none other than Achilles Roman, my stepbrother, who was two years older than me. I had kept my feelings dumped in a Tupperware box for as long as I could remember. But how could I control myself when he himself started making moves on me? And what should I do when I realize that he was nowhere near the Achilles I thought I knew? Read to find out.
Lihat lebih banyakChapter 1
I wake before dawn, as always. The moment my eyes open, I know what the day holds: an endless amount of chores, insults, and exhaustion. I was already dreading the day as I stood up from the mat. The pack house was already stirring, the sounds of laughter and conversations filled the hall as I slipped out of the small cot I was given in the omega’s quarters. My body ached, and my hands were rough from years of scrubbing floors and serving meals. I tell myself that today will be different. Today, I turn eighteen. I lived in the Blood-moon pack, the tenth pack of the ten founding packs. It was a privilege to stay in a pack like this. At least that was what I was told every morning and night by the head maid and chef. My name is Emma, and I’m an orphan. My mother died the day I was born - at least that was what the pack members told me. Not like they ever let me forget. I was the girl who killed her mother. My father, on the other hand, has been nonexistent. My mother never mentioned him for the two days she stayed in the pack before she died. There were some theories. He was a rogue. A runt even, but all of them were baseless, and because of that, I was nothing. Just an omega, the lowest rank in the pack and the pack’s burden. It didn’t help that I looked absolutely different from the rest of them. I had bright blonde hair with white streaks, uneven colored eyes which only scared the pack members, and so I wasn’t allowed to look anyone in the eye or I had to cover my eyes. I swallow down the bitterness as I grab my ragged dress from the small wooden crate beside my mat. It is the only thing I own. The fabric is threadbare, barely holding together, but I smooth it out with care. It is all I have. As I slip it over my head, I hear the familiar sound of footsteps approaching the omega quarters. My stomach clenches. I already know what’s coming. “Emma!” a sharp voice barks. I freeze, then quickly step outside, lowering my head in submission. The head maid, Greta, glares at me, her lips curled in displeasure. “You were supposed to be in the kitchen ten minutes ago,” she snaps. “Do you think you’re special just because today is your birthday?” I say nothing. Greta’s nails dig into my arm as she yanks me forward. “Get moving before I make sure you don’t eat today.” Hunger claws at my stomach, but I nod and hurry past her. Breakfast for the ranked wolves is already being prepared, the scent of meat and fresh bread filling the air. I reach for a tray, my hands trembling as I balance the plates carefully. The last time I spilled something, I went to bed without food for two days. The dining hall is loud with chatter and laughter when I enter. The young alphas, Betas, and high-ranking wolves sit at the grand table, their plates already full. My hands shake slightly as I move toward them, placing fresh dishes in front of them. No one acknowledges me; I am invisible. Until I am not. I hear the sound of a boot scraping against the floor just before something hard slams into my ankle. Pain shoots up my leg, and I stumble, barely managing to catch myself before I fall. But the cup of juice I was holding tips forward, splashing onto the table. Dread pools in my stomach. “Are you serious?” a familiar, sharp voice sneers. I don’t need to look up to know who it is. Vivian. The Beta’s daughter. The future Beta female of this pack. Her sharp green eyes narrow at me as she dabs at the few drops of juice on her sleeve. She isn’t really angry. It’s all a show. An excuse to humiliate me. Of course, the maid can’t even handle serving drinks properly,” she says loudly, making sure everyone hears. Laughter coursed through the room. I lower my head, keeping my face neutral. I have learned that reacting only makes things worse. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “Pathetic,” she mutters before turning away. I quickly finish my task and retreat to the kitchen, my face burning. This is my life. This is how it has always been. But tonight… tonight, everything will change. Tonight, I will shift for the first time. Tonight, I will meet my mate. A part of me dares to hope. What if my mate takes me away from here? What if he sees me not as an omega, not as a servant but as someone worthy? I sighed and went straight to washing the pots the chef had used to cook. Minutes later once I was sure they would all be done eating. I slipped back into the dining hall. Unfortunately for me, they were all still gathered, talking and laughing at whatever they were telling each other. I moved as quietly as I could, collecting the dirty plates and cups. The door to the dining hall opens, and the air shifts. The laughter and conversation suddenly dimmed a little, almost like a person of power had stepped in. I don’t turn at first, focused on stacking the dishes, but then the room stills. My skin prickles uncomfortably, and my curiosity wins, and I finally look up. That’s when I see him. Aiden Blackwood. The future Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. My breath hitches, and for a second, I forget everything. The plates in my hands. The ache in my body. The fact that I shouldn’t be staring. I can’t look away. He’s standing just a few feet away, his tall frame blocking out the light from the doorway. Dark brown hair, slightly messy, as if he ran his hands through it one too many times. The moment our gazes lock, a jolt of something powerful rushes through me. Everything slows. The noise fades. The scent of warm cedar and spice wraps around me, stronger than anything I’ve ever smelled before. Then, in a low, stunned voice, he breathes out one word. “Mate.”Achilles’ Point of View:I went back to my apartment as I made an anonymous tip to the police that somehow the rich billionaire had died. It was already over two hours, and Isabelle was probably waiting for me, so I didn’t want to waste any more time trying to clear up the mess at the mansion. My people had already managed the security tapes and the fingerprints.As soon as I reached my place and went inside, Isabelle ran up to me and hugged me. “Achilles.”“Hey,” I smiled at her. “Everything’s gonna be fine now.”She was confused at my words. I didn’t really know how she would react to this. I mean, she knew I was no saint and I had killed hundreds while working as a mafia leader, but right now I had murdered my own father and without any Mafia influence.But I couldn’t hide it. No more secrets. I had to tell her if I wanted her to trust me.“I killed my father.” Those words rolled out of my tongue, leaving her stunned.Her eyes widened. “What?”“Yes.”She took a few minutes as she st
Achilles’ Point of View:“She didn’t cheat on you, Achilles!” Lucy shouted and my eyes snapped in her direction.“What are you saying?” I asked, my mind fogged by the words she was speaking. I didn’t want to talk about her, or the topic she was speaking on—let alone made me question the reality.“She told me. She told me that Mr. Roman had forced her to say that to you. And I know that I wasn’t supposed to tell you this, but I couldn’t bear to know the truth and still go home to my husband while you didn’t get to go home to your wife. She told me that she had to do it because your father said that if she didn’t, he’d kill you.” She said in one breath as she looked at me.
Isabelle’s Point of View:I looked up and found Lucy standing. She gave me a hand, and helped me stand up. I slowly managed to stand on my feet, still lunging forward like a junkie.“Who—who was the highest bidder? Do you know?” I asked as I was dying to know who I was supposed to be a slave for.She smiled. “No one told me who it was, but whoever it was gave the highest money to the main mafia bank and set you free.”“What?” I thought she was kidding.“Yes,” She smiled again, this time wider. “There was an anonymous message on the table just after the bidding. It was to me, and it said that I should let you know that the highest bidder had
Isabelle’s Point of View:“She gets one wish before fulfilling her punishment, boss,” One of the men pointed out as the guards were dragging me away from the main room, and I saw that it was Romero.I looked over at Achilles who was staring right at me, his face stone cold. “What do you want?” He asked me across the room and I took a deep breath. I didn’t want anything but one thing—and this was probably the last chance I’d get.“I want to talk to Lucy once. In private.”He was confused at my request, but didn’t think about it much. “Let her. I will give you one hour. Her punishment will continue after that,” he looked at his men mid-conversation and then walked out of the room
Isabelle’s Point of View:I was on the ground, barely able to breathe. I didn’t know that hurting him would hurt me so much, I was out of my mind. My heart was shattering with every passing second thinking of the pain I had caused, my tears falling relentlessly.Mr. Roman wouldn’t have asked me to do this without making sure it could be supported by proof. I was sure he did something for that too. Achilles was going to hate me all over again. This time it was going to be even worse. And I… I wouldn’t be able to tell him how much I actually love him and would die for him, and would have to just stand there to take it.God, I had never felt this low in my entire life.It took him three hours—three hours before he knocke
Isabelle’s Point of View:“What’s wrong, Isabelle?” I heard mom say as she came out of the room and caught up with me. I was still in a daze from the conversation with Mr. Roman, cursing his name to the highest degree and replaying the conversation I was supposed to have with Achilles now.“Isabelle?” She called out again, finally getting my attention.“Oh, mom!” I said as my trail of thoughts ended. She looked at me, confused.“Where are you lost? I thought after your talk with Achilles, things would be better, no?” she asked, her voice laced with obvious concern.“Uh…” I exhaled. There was no use telling her what was happenin
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