Se connecterJELENAAs I finally slip into sleep, the endless stream of scattered thoughts filling my head slowly fades into the background. One by one, they dissolve into nothingness, making room for the comforting darkness that pulls me under.Just before unconsciousness completely claims me, I hear my phone ping from somewhere on the bedside table.The sound barely registers.I'm far too exhausted to even lift a finger, let alone check who it is. Whatever it is can wait until morning. With that thought, I surrender to sleep.Knock. Knock. Knock.The persistent sound cuts through my sleep.At first, I ignore it, hoping whoever is at the door gets the message and leaves. Instead, the knocking continues, each rap louder and more insistent than the last. It feels strangely close, almost as though someone is knocking directly beside my bed.With a groan, I force my eyes open.Pretending to still be asleep clearly isn't working.Dragging myself out of bed, I rub at my heavy eyes and stretch my stiff
JELENA“Who were you expecting? You look like you were waiting for someone,” the warm wall finally says.Oh.It's Calhoun.I almost have a mini heart attack because I don't even sense his presence. Go, Jelena, you just had to get drunk.“I'm guessing you're drunk,” he says as he walks away from me. “How much did you drink to end up like this?”“I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't realize drinking was prohibited,” I reply sarcastically before I can stop myself.He turns around to face me, looking almost shocked by my response, but I don't dwell on it, instead, I turn and begin walking toward the stairs. My vision is getting clearer now that I've calmed down a little, even though my heart is still racing at an alarming pace.“Where do you think you're going?” he asks.I stop mid-step, I am already halfway toward the corridor leading to my quarters.“To my quarters, Is that going to be a problem?” I ask.Well, I've already started this, so I might as well finish it the same way, if things
JELENAIt has been over a week since I stepped back into my world, and the experience has been both relieving and exhausting.Every day comes with another responsibility, there are meetings with the pack, discussions about future plans, and endless conversations regarding the charities I am expected to oversee as the Alpha's bride. Apparently, choosing a charity that reflects my values is just as important as attending official pack functions.Meeting after meeting fills my schedule.Thankfully, Daniel keeps his promise, I clock out by four o'clock every afternoon, just like everyone else, never treats me differently because of my position, and I appreciate that more than he probably realizes.The office has finally been cleared of Jelena’s belongings or rather, most of them, I had insisted on keeping nearly everything.The memory makes me smile."I understand why you want to keep those things, but everything in this world is meant to depreciate, it happens even faster when something
JELENA"I shouldn't expect anything less, but what gave me away?" I ask, leaning back against the chair.I know it might seem strange how comfortably I speak to him, but Gregory is the closest thing I've ever had to a father. Life never gave me someone I could truly call Dad, so I cling to the one person who has quietly filled that role without ever asking for the title."I knew from the moment you returned," he replies calmly.The words make my brows knit together."You mean you already know why I'm calling?" I ask.A loud laugh echoes through the receiver, the familiar sound tugs at memories I haven't touched in a long time, it is rare to ear him laugh and I didn't realise how much I missed hearing it"How are you doing, kid?" he asks between chuckles. "It's been a while since you last called."I roll my eyes despite the small smile threatening to form, only Gregory can dodge a question so effortless
JELENAThe memory returns with startling clarity.I am barely twelve, the moon hangs low above the playground, washing the empty grounds in silver light, swings creak gently in the breeze, though no one sits on them.My stomach aches bu not from illness instead from hunger.Alice had accused me of breaking her mother's prized painting and I hadn't even touched it but the punishment comes anyway.Dinner, the one thing I had looked forward to all day, is taken away before I can have a single bite and I am ordered out of the house until "Mother cools down."It isn't the first time and it probably won't be the last and most nights, I tell myself I don't care anymore but some nights, I miss my mother so much that pretending becomes impossible.I curl my knees to my chest on one of the old benches, pressing my forehead against them as tears slip down my face.The night is quiet.Then...A faint sound almost swallowed by the wind and I lift my head and another sound follows, low groan of som
JELENA“I guess you can handle things from here. The cleaning lady, Mrs. Rachel, will be here later, so you can just set aside anything you won't be needing for her to clean up,” Elena says.“Okay,” I murmur.She gives me one last glance before stepping outside and the soft click of the door echoes through the office, leaving me alone in a silence that feels strangely familiar.I stand still for a long moment.This room was once my world.People never truly understand the worth of something until it is gone, you don't realize how much a place, a routine, or even an ordinary object means until you're forced to live without it. Only then do you understand the struggles hidden inside everyday life.If I had known...Maybe I would have cherished this place more, I would have made different choices and I wouldn't be carrying so many regrets.My gaze drifts across the office.The sturdy oak desk sits exactly where I left it, my rolling chair is tucked neatly underneath, almost as if someone
JELENAMy heart still hurts even though it has been a whole week since I caught Alice and Aaron tangled together at his house and the tears have not stopped since that day.You would think catching them cheating would make it easier to let go, easier to hate him, easier to move on, but somehow the
JELENA“Open it,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intend, but I don’t take it back.“Miss Jelena,” he says carefully, stepping forward as if to intercept me. “Master Aaron is currently unavailable.”Unavailable, the word grates.“I didn’t ask,” I reply, already pushing past him.His hand comes up n
JELENAWith my mind made up to spend the day with Aaron, I head straight to my closet, already scanning through my dresses as I try to decide what to wear.I don’t know where this excitement is coming from.Maybe it’s because it has been so long since I last saw him or maybe it’s because he has bee
JELENA“Ma, you sent for me?” I say as I step into the room and come face to face with my stepmother, Vanessa.Her room or should I say their room has always been large, almost unnecessarily so. It carries a kind of quiet luxury that feels cold rather than comforting, the heavy curtains are drawn h







