LOGINRhiannon’s POV~I stood in front of the mirror and I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.The black dress clung to every curve of my body. It was cool against my skin. It was backless, the fabric dipping dangerously low, exposing my spine and my skin I usually kept hidden under high collars and modest blouses. It was sexy.Sinful even, if that was the best way to describe it.My hair, usually pulled back in a tight, severe bun to make me look older, more serious, more like a lawyer and less like a woman, was now down. It fell in loose, dark waves over my upper back. The makeup was darker than Marcus had ever allowed. He liked me natural, or so he said. He liked me pale and washed out. But tonight, my eyelids were heavy with smoky charcoal, and my lips were painted a deep red.I looked… alive.For the first time in months, the gray haze that usually clouded my vision was gone.I felt different. Very different. Ever since the mate bond with Marcus started draining me, su
Rhiannon’s POV~"And last night? After he left your little drama with Piper? Guess what? He came straight to me and fucked me on his desk hard and said it was the best release he’d had in years."Those words hit me like a bucket of ice water. My stomach lurched violently and it made my stomach burn. I didn't want to react. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction. But the image flashed in my mind anyway, Marcus, the man who had slapped me less than an 12 hours ago, fucking his mistress on the very desk where I used to help him with his filings. It was disgusting. Marcus was sick, an asshole, a monster."So here’s what I’m calling about," Emilia continued, her voice dropping the fake sweetness for something sharper. "When are you leaving? When are you leaving Marcus? Because he’s mine now! You’re the obstacle he’s too noble to remove himself."My jaw tightened so hard my molars ached. I gripped the phone, my knuckles turning white.Emilia didn’t wait for an answer. "He chose me, h
Rhiannon’s POV~The front door clicked shut behind us. Marcus set my bag down on the hardwood floor.Then he turned to me.The performance from outside was gone. The smiling, apologetic husband was dead. This was the real Marcus. His shoulders were set in a rigid line, and the air around him felt heavy.He gritted his teeth. "Let’s get this straight," he said. His voice was devoid of the warmth he’d used on the porch. "What you pulled today? Running to Piper? And making me chase you?"He took a step forward. I took a step back, my heels hitting the wall. There was nowhere to go.Marcus paused. He reached out and gripped my jaw. His fingers were cold. He squeezed, tilting my head up so I had to look at him. It wasn't hard enough to bruise, he knew exactly how much pressure to apply to hurt without leaving a mark that would show."Don’t ever do that again," he said, his eyes boring into mine. "You embarrassed me. You made me look weak in front of the pack.""But you threw me out—" I s
Rhiannon’s POV~Piper opened her mouth to speak, her chest heaving with the effort to hold back a yell, but I reached out and grabbed her arm. I squeezed gently.Piper snapped her mouth shut. The silence was heavy. Marcus’s eyes narrowed."It’s just Piper’s cousin," I said. The lie came so quickly I didn't even have to think about it. "He stopped by this morning and dropped off some things, but he’s already gone."Marcus’s eyes bored into mine. They were searching for the crack in my story. Then, slowly, he turned his head toward Piper."Your cousin?" he asked. Piper’s chin went up. She was shaking, I could feel it through my hand on her arm, but she locked eyes with him. "Yeah. My cousin. From out of state. You got any problem with that, Alpha Marcus?"Marcus turned back to me. The tension in his shoulders dropped. He smiled. "Fine."The smile returned to his face, and it made my skin crawl. He held out his hand. The flowers and the box of chocolates were still there. "Come home ba
Rhiannon’s POV~Piper was the first to move. She marched to the door and yanked it open before I could even scream for her to stop.And there he was.Marcus.He was standing on the porch, holding a massive bouquet of red roses in one arm and a heart-shaped box of chocolates in the other. He had a wide, dazzling smile plastered on his face, the type of smile that made him look like the golden boy, the perfect Alpha. It was a complete mask. If you didn't know better, you'd think he hadn't just thrown his wife out of the house and slapped her across the face less than twelve hours ago.My blood boiled. I felt heat rush up my neck, burning the bruise on my cheek, and a primal urge to lunge forward and scratch that smirk off his face engulfed me. My hands curled into fists at my sides. Seeing the expensive and favourite chocolates of mine in his hand, the ones he bought when he’d done something unforgivable, made my stomach cramp.And behind him, lining the driveway, were six of his p
Rhiannon’s POV~Kieran stepped closer, right into my space. He was so close I could smell the sandalwood on his coat. The heat radiating off him was very overwhelming."You’re supposed to start Monday," he said. This was a reminder of the contract, of the fact that I belonged to him now.I felt heat rush up my neck and flood my face. I couldn't believe he was talking to me like that, like we were alone, like he had the right to scold me, right in front of Piper. It was intimate and humiliating all at once.I immediately shot a fast glance at Piper. She was standing frozen, her mouth slightly open. Shock was radiating off her. She was extremely stunned."I… I know—" I stammered. The words caught in my throat. I started to cough.I made a dry, hacking sound that I used as an excuse to take a step back, to create distance between us.But Kieran saw right through the act. He didn't let me retreat. He moved with me, closing the gap instantly. He tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes







