MasukIsabella POV Lunch came before I realized how much time had passed.I'd spent the entire morning sketching variations of the detachable overskirt Luna Lisa had approved. Emerald hadn't been able to invent busywork for me. Every time she glanced in my direction, Luna Lisa's instructions stood as a barrier, and there wasn't much Emerald could do about that.She still found ways to make her displeasure obvious.By the time I set my pencil down, my shoulders ached."You'll go blind if you keep staring at that page."I looked up to find Iris, the only person in the office who extended a bit of kindness to me."It's lunchtime. Come on.""I'm almost done."She reached over, covered the sketchbook with a folder, and snapped her fingers."The design isn't going anywhere."I groaned."Fine."We headed downstairs to the general dining area, where the aroma of different foods filled the air and conversation blended into a steady hum that made the space feel relaxed. Iris and I went to the servin
Isabella POV I jerked awake, my heart pounding so hard I had to press a hand against my chest.My eyes flew to my son, and then to the bedroom door. I had locked it, but I still listened for footsteps or movement. There was no sound other than my uneven breathing.I reached for my phone on the nightstand. 6:07 a.m.The last time I checked the time, it was 4:35 a.m. I'd been lying awake, convinced Barbara wasn't done with me.An hour and a half of sleep felt like five minutes.I turned toward the other side of the bed. Maverick was still asleep, hugging his stuffed wolf beneath the blanket, oblivious to his crazy aunt's attempt to sneak up on us.A lock only worked against people who respected doors. Barbara didn't.The memory of her standing calmly at the foot of my bed made my stomach tighten all over again. She'd walked into a sleeping child's room just to threaten his mother.I didn't even want to imagine what she would have done to us if I were a deep sleeper. Barbara could be vi
Isabella POV I'd barely gotten to the staff wing when the sound of feet came pounding down the hallway."Mama!"Maverick launched himself at me so hard I nearly lost my balance. I laughed and caught him before he could knock us both over. His arms wrapped tightly around my waist while I buried my face in his hair for a moment, breathing in the familiar scent of soap."Someone missed me.""I did!" he declared proudly.I pulled back just enough to look him over. His shirt was covered in fresh oil stains, and there was something orange smeared near the collar that looked suspiciously like tomato sauce."What happened to you?"Before he could invent whatever explanation four-year-olds came up with when they were caught, Grandma Cassidy walked into the hallway with an amused smile."I could've changed him, but I couldn't go into your room without your permission.""I hope he didn't stress you," I said, reaching down to smooth his hair.Grandma Cassidy waved the concern away as though I'd
Wesley POVMy intercom buzzed, interrupting us. I pressed the button."Yes?""Alpha Cameron has asked everyone to proceed to the council conference room. The meeting is about to begin."I pushed myself to my feet and reached for my suit jacket. Barbara stood as well. She stepped closer and straightened my collar before smoothing the front of the jacket. Together, we left my office and headed toward the council floor.Long before we reached the conference room, I could already hear the voices filtering into the corridor.The meeting hadn't started yet. It was waiting for me. Meetings like this usually ended one way: with a headache, and today's felt determined to prove me right.The moment Barbara and I stepped into the conference room, the conversations softened before picking up again in quieter tones.That was what happened whenever the future Alpha walked into a room full of people who were busy deciding whether he deserved the title.I swept my gaze across the long oval table out
Wesley POVI walked to the cabinet and poured myself a glass of water to swallow a painkiller. The headache had started creeping in somewhere between Isabella bolting out of my office and Anita looking at her as though she'd just discovered the meaning of life.The scent of Isabella's cologne still lingered in the room.Grapes.It was cheap. The sort of thing you'd find in an ordinary supermarket. Yet the scent had settled into the office, refusing to leave, and it reminded me just how close I'd come to making a spectacularly stupid decision.If Anita had walked in thirty seconds later, she'd have caught us kissing.And then there was Barbara and I, who'd spent the last dinner with my family convincing them that we'd court and build toward marriage. Getting caught kissing another woman had nothing to do with guilt. Still, it wouldn't have looked good, considering Anita didn't know our relationship was fake.Anita was standing where Isabella had left her, her nose lifting slightly as s
"Anita," Barbara said, her voice carrying a hint of warning as she nudged Anita with her elbow.Anita didn't move. Barbara's gaze moved from me to Wesley, then back to me again. Wesley looked mildly annoyed by the interruption, though his expression barely changed."Perfect timing," he drawled. "Should I start charging admission to my office?"Barbara nudged Anita with her elbow."I came to see her," she said, sounding almost apologetic. "And then we stopped by to say hello."Anita walked straight toward me.She wore black combat boots covered in tiny silver studs, ripped jeans, and a fitted leather jacket over a dark top. Blue eyeliner framed her eyes, matching the streak of blue mascara on her lashes. It suited her.Her gaze stayed on me with a growing fascination.I knew what that look meant. I'd seen men look at me that way before.If she asked me out, I already knew my answer.She was gorgeous. I just wasn't interested in women. I'd spent too much of my life worrying about keepin
CameronI woke in the middle of the night in a hotel room drenched in sweat and painfully hard. My wolf snarled inside my head, pacing and demanding that I go to Lisa. Not Evangeline, not my mate waiting at home, but Lisa. The urge hit with such force it bordered on pain. I sat up in the dark grippi
Lisa POVThe dance floor was crowded. Cameron and Evangeline moved at the center of it, surrounded by other couples. I focused on Kade instead as he guided me into the waltz.His hand settled at my waist. I shifted to create space, but he drew me closer.“You look beautiful tonight.”“Thank you.”“I
Franklin POVCameron thought I had feelings for Lisa.The idea was almost funny. Not because Lisa wasn’t likable. She was beautiful, kind, and stronger than she gave herself credit for. Under different circumstances, maybe I could have developed feelings for her.But that wasn’t what was happening.
Cameron POVI hated social gatherings.The politics, the posturing, the endless performance. Making small talk with people who were only friendly because they wanted something, while the weight of everyone’s expectations pressed down on me. Hosting them at my own estate made it worse.The ball was i







