MasukVioletI stood hidden behind the heavy velvet curtains near the grand ballroom entrance, holding my breath because I needed to see exactly how Ron was going to handle his side of our deal. My fingers gripped the smooth fabric tightly as the sound of footsteps echoed down the long hallway, and then I heard Ron’s deep voice speaking in a rushed, slightly stressed tone that sounded natural."I'm telling you, Alex, the seating charts for the northern pack elders are a disaster because apparently what's in the file don't match the actual floor space," Ron said as he walked into the room, gesturing wildly with a stack of blueprints in his hands. "I'm out of my depth with this venue setup.""You've been a bodyguard for years, Ron, so I find it very hard to believe that a few tables are throwing you off this badly," Alex said as she followed him into the ballroom, her arms crossed tightly over her chest while her sharp eyes scanned the empty space. "But fine, let me see the paperwork becau
VioletI stood in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom and adjusted the front of my shirt because the black V-neck top cut lower than what I usually wore around the pack house. I took a deep breath and smoothed down the fabric because I needed to make sure everything looked completely accidental when it was actually totally planned out. I looked down at the thick leather binder resting on my vanity table and picked it up with a firm grip because this paperwork was my golden ticket past Dante's heavy office doors. I checked my reflection one last time to make sure my hair fell perfectly over my shoulders and left the room with a confident stride because the time for crying like a pathetic little victim was officially over.I walked down the long carpeted hallway toward the Alpha wing of the estate and noticed that the pack house felt unusually quiet today. My boots made soft clicking sounds against the hardwood floor edges and my heart began to thud a little faster against m
VioletAfter leaving Ron by the training grounds, I turned around and headed back toward the pack house. My head was spinning with all the things I needed to do, but my chest felt a little lighter than before. I walked through the back entrance and started making my way upstairs to my separate bedroom. I just wanted to get to my space, close the door, and think about how to handle the next steps. But of course, the universe wasn't going to make things that easy for me.As I reached the top of the grand staircase, a sharp, familiar voice cut through the quiet hallway."There you are," Rose said, stepping out from the shadows near the library doors. "I have been looking all over this house for you."I stopped dead in my tracks, my muscles instantly tightening up. I took a slow breath to calm my racing heart and looked at her. She was holding a massive, thick leather binder in her arms, her manicured fingers gripping the edges tightly. Her face had that same old look of complete disgu
VioletI stood right at the edge of the balcony of my room, looking down at the dark, cold ground below. The wind was whipping my hair across my face, and my tears were blurring everything into a messy smear of shadows. I took one deep breath, closing my eyes, ready to just lean forward and let go. I wanted the pain to stop. I wanted the coldness from Dante and the hatred from Alex to disappear forever.But just as I took a step forward, two strong hands grabbed my waist and dragged me backward with a violent jerk.My feet slammed onto the concrete floor of the balcony as I was pulled tightly against a chest. I stumbled, my knees buckled, and I fell back against the person holding me. I was sobbing so hard I could barely catch my breath, the panic and exhaustion finally exploding out of me."Let me go!" I screamed, twisting around in the grip. "Just let me go!"I looked up through my tears and saw Simon's face looking down at me, his eyes wide and completely terrified. He didn't let
VioletI stood outside Dante's office door for what felt like forever. My hand was shaking so badly I had to squeeze it into a fist to make it stop. His words kept looping over and over in my head. He said he did not have much time left. What the hell was that supposed to mean?I did not even knock. I just grabbed the brass door handle, twisted it, and pushed the heavy oak door open. Dante was sitting behind his massive desk, staring down at a laptop screen. He did not look up when I walked in, even though he definitely smelled my scent the second the door opened. He was an Alpha, after all."Dante," I said, my voice sounding way weaker than I wanted it to.He still did not look up from his screen. He just kept typing, his fingers hitting the keys with a loud, rhythmic clicking sound. "I'm busy, Violet. Get out.""No, I am not leaving," I said, stepping further into the room and closing the door behind me. I needed answers, and I needed them right now. "I heard what you just said on
VioletDante moved so fast I didn't even see him cross the room. Before I could blink, he snatched the amber prescription bottle right out of my hand. His fingers brushed against mine, and they were freezing cold. He shoved the bottle deep into his pocket, hiding it from my sight instantly."What the hell do you think you are doing?" he hissed, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper."I was just looking for a tissue, Dante," I stammered, stepping backward until my calves hit the edge of the bed. "My nose was running and your drawer was slightly open. I didn't mean to spy."He glared down at me, his jaw clenching so hard a small muscle pulsed under his skin. "Why were you going through my things, Violet? Why the fuck are you even here in the first place? Answer me.""I just told you, I needed a tissue," I said, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. "And then I saw the bottle. What is that medicine for? Are you sick?""It is none of your fucking business," he said







