ELIANA I clenched my fists, biting back a retort as Victoria's venomous words hung in the air. I knew that responding to her jabs would only lead to punishment from my father, so I forced myself to remain silent, swallowing my anger and resentment. The effort left me seething, but I kept my emotions in check, refusing to give Victoria the satisfaction of getting under my skin.I trailed behind Victoria, my curiosity piqued, and entered the sitting room. But it was my father's expression that truly caught me off guard.Was I seeing things? It looked almost like a smile on my father's face, but that couldn't be right.I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was hallucinating. No, it was definitely a smile - a small, subtle one, but a smile nonetheless. I was taken aback; my father didn't smile often, especially not at me.I approached my father, and to my surprise, the smile remained. For a moment, I felt a spark of happiness, which was strange, given our complicated relationship. I couldn't
ELIANA The next word I heard sealed my fate. “Herold, here is your new mate,” my father said. The sentence was hanging in the air like a challenge. It wasn't a revelation; I had suspected it all along. This man hated me, and now it seemed he was determined to ruin my life forever."But, Father..." I trailed off, my words lost on him. He didn't even flinch; he just pinned me with a gaze that was both unyielding and absolute. The finality in his eyes was unmistakable - there would be no argument, no negotiation, no escape. It was clear: his decision was made, and I was bound to it.I summoned a courage I hadn't felt in ages and blurted out: "Beta Harold, I...he's not my mate." I wouldn't normally speak to my father that way but desperation had taken over. I was grasping at anything, no matter how reckless, to alter the course of events that seemed inevitable.Beta Harold's face contorted into a deep frown. "Young lady, you should be grateful I'm willing to make you my chosen mate, nobo
ELIANA "I made dinner, let's go eat," Victoria announced, her piercing gaze settled on me, her eyes flashing with malice. I braced myself for the inevitable insult, and it came with biting precision: "This meal is for the fertile, but I suppose the barren can join us too." Vivian's annoying giggle echoed through the room, and I felt a sting from Victoria's venomous words.The sting I felt wasn't from Victoria's insult - I knew the truth about myself - but from the painful realization that the only family I had derived so much joy in seeing me hurt. Vivian's giggles and Victoria's venomous words hung in the air, a harsh reminder of the toxic dynamics that had become all too familiar.My father's words cut deep, a familiar sting that never seemed to lose its potency. “I wouldn't normally let you eat at the same table as me and my family,” he said, each word a reminder of my perpetual outsider status. I gulped dry air, the pain of years of maltreatment and rejection still fresh, still r
ELIANA Vivian's voice dripped with malice as she said, "Congratulations on finding a new mate." Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and I knew she was mocking me. I chose to ignore the jab, my silence a deliberate refusal to rise to her bait. Beta Harold's gaze narrowed, his eyes fixed on Victoria as she served him. "Is she barren?" he asked gruffly, his voice like a slap. "That wouldn't be good because I would want her to bear me children,” he added. The savory aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, but I felt a chill run down my spine as I waited for Victoria's response. My heart sank, heavy with the weight of Beta Harold's words. Bear him children? The thought was suffocating. I felt a desperate longing to escape, to flee back to the infuriating yet captivating Axel. His chiseled features and piercing gaze flashed in my mind, a tantalizing reminder. Victoria's eyes darted nervously between me and my father, her discomfort palpable. But before the silence could
AXELI had blown the plan. I wasn't supposed to mention Laura's name. It was a critical mistake, one I couldn't afford to make. She couldn't know my true identity, not now, not ever.The most agonizing part was that her memory still haunted me. The scent of her smooth cologne lingered, refusing to fade away.‘Oh, Moon Goddess, please, take this torment from me.’ No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the thought of her from my mind. It was as if I couldn't escape the memories that haunted me.Her slender legs and silky skin were etched in my mind, refusing to be forgotten. But I knew I had to try and shake off the image - it wasn't the right time, and seeing her again wasn't a necessity… not now. Yet, my emotions seemed to have a mind of their own, and they were getting the better of me.‘I need you in my study,’ I mind linked my beta, Tom.His response was instantaneous: ‘On my way, Alpha.’Within minutes, Tom appeared in my study. I couldn't help but appreciate his efficiency;
ELIANA I stood there, the sound of my ragged breathing filled my ears, a harsh reminder of the suffocating discomfort that gripped me. My life, my situation, everything seemed to be closing in on me. He came closer - a man old enough to be my father, shamelessly trying to make out with a girl young enough to be his daughter. The garden, once a beautiful sight, now seemed to be mocking me with its beauty.My throat was dry, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I bit back the emotion, refusing to let it consume me. But the harder I tried the more vulnerable I felt.He leaned in, his nose grazing my skin as he sniffed along my shoulder. “You know, your skin is like buttermilk,” he said, a foolish grin spreading across his face. The words were meant as a compliment, but they only deepened the crease of disgust on my face.“You should be grateful I'm here with you," he sneered, his hand sliding up my arm as his gaze locked onto mine. "Nobody else wants you and I don't think anybod
ELIANA As I spun around, my eyes met his, and my heart stumbled. It was a face I'd tried to forget yet somehow couldn't shake from my memory: AXEL.He looked breathtaking as always; his presence sent a shiver down my spine. "Calm down, Miss," he said, his voice low and smooth, flashing his hazel eyes at me with a hint of mischief on his emotionless face.I retracted, stopping myself from shifting, but it was too late. The force of the motion had torn the fabric of my shirt, leaving a gaping hole that exposed more than half of my left boobs. Axel's gaze flickered downward, his eyes lingering on the torn fabric; there was a slight shift in his emotionless face, a flicker of something that vanished before I could grasp it. This man was a fortress, his thoughts locked away behind walls of steel. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, and that secrecy only made him more intriguing."You didn't have to startle me like that," I said, wincing as I felt the crease on my forehead deep
AXEL She was proving stubborn, refusing to open up to me. Just like her father, secretive and tight-lipped. But that wasn't an issue, not for someone like me. A simple mind link would reveal what was bothering her. I was certain she hadn't sought out this spot just to breathe in some fresh air. I was sure she was just making up stories; it was so obvious she was terrible at lying for her not to want to spill it. It might be something that will facilitate my work here so I can return to the pressing issues.My people needed me.Something was off about her; I could sense it, feel it. Her unease was palpable, and yet, I couldn't help but notice the small smile that played on my lips within a few minutes I spent with her. It was a rare sight, one that I reserved for a few occasions. My father's words echoed in my mind: "We enjoy the prey a little before making them suffer.”I couldn't concentrate fully on my gaze, staring at secret glances at her naked chest. I desperately wanted to tear
ElianaI wasn't expecting it to happen so fast, but suddenly I was being called out of the maid's quarters and told my clothes were ready for me. I had felt a little bit of excitement when I was told about the event, but now? I didn’t even know what I was feeling. "Thanks," I said to the stranger who handed me the clothes. I didn't recognize his face, but his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners as he smiled faintly, a brief, enigmatic smile that vanished almost as soon as it appeared.The interaction left me with a sense of the intricate power dynamics at play within Axel's mansion; it was clear that information was tightly controlled, and I was only privy to what he deemed necessary for me to know, a subtle reminder of my place within the hierarchy.The realization dawned on me that I was merely scratching the surface, and there were countless unknowns waiting to be uncovered, like hidden chapters in a story I was still trying to understand.I only knew what I was allowed to.The
ElIANA I trudged back to the maid's quarters, my head bowed and heart heavy with thoughts that clouded my mind. “Eliana, I've been looking all over for you!” I heard the familiar voice and lifted my head to find Sarah standing there, her face beaming with a bright smile. Her charming smile was meant to reassure me, but the turmoil brewing inside me was too intense, all I could manage was a forced smile. I was sure she could see right through my fake smile, but who could blame me for trying? “Is everything alright, Sarah?” I asked, raising an eyebrow in slight confusion, since we'd just parted ways and now she was saying she'd been looking for me. “Oh, nothing's wrong,” she said with a gentle tone, I just thought I'd check in on you before heading out for my daily duties. But when I realized you weren't in your room, I started looking for you.” Her words were accompanied by a warm smile, still radiating kindness, as she stood there with an air of genuine concern. Despite the warm
ELIANAI felt heartbroken. The weight of unrequited feelings and unresolved emotions settled in, making it hard to breathe. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I struggled to process the depth of my sorrow. It wasn't just about the end of a role or a chapter in my life; it was about the connection I had felt with him, the longing for something more. The ache within me seemed to echo through every part of my being, a poignant reminder of what could never be.He wasn’t my lover, but it felt like a breakup. The emotions swirling inside me were a jumbled mix of grief, loss, and yearning. Though we'd never been romantically involved, the connection I'd felt with him had run deep. Now, it seemed like that connection was severed, leaving me feeling bereft and disoriented. The sense of emptiness was palpable, as if I'd lost something precious. I struggled to put into words the depth of my feelings, but the pain was undeniable.I couldn’t understand this. The emotions swirling inside me
ELIANA"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion. I dropped what I was holding immediately, my heart racing as I tried to think of an explanation. My hands instinctively went to my sides, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just, uh, just looking around," I stammered, hoping my response seemed innocent enough. Axel's eyes narrowed, his gaze darting to the object that had fallen from my hands. I held my breath, praying that he wouldn't notice anything out of the ordinary. But as his eyes met mine again, I couldn't shake the feeling that he saw right through me.My heart was beating fast, pounding in my chest like a drum. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, making my hands shake slightly. I tried to calm myself down, taking a deep breath and attempting to steady my nerves. But it was hard to relax when Axel's piercing gaze was fixed on me, his eyes seeming to bore into my very soul. I forced a smile, hoping to appear nonchalant, but I could feel the ten
ELIANAThere was a loud knock on the door, interrupting me from the sleep I almost had, and I felt a jolt of surprise and irritation. The knock was insistent, demanding attention, and it seemed to shatter the fragile peacefulness of the moment. I had been drifting off, my eyelids growing heavy, my mind slowly unraveling the threads of consciousness. But the knock came, abrupt and unannounced, like a sudden storm on a calm sea. I groggily got up, my movements slow and reluctant, and made my way to the door, wondering who could be visiting at this hour. The knock came again, louder and more insistent, and I quickened my pace, my heart beating slightly faster in anticipation. Who could it be? A friend, a stranger, or perhaps someone with news? The possibilities swirled in my mind as I reached the door and hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening it to face whatever lay on the other side. The uncertainty was palpable, and I steeled myself for what was to come, my hand r
ELIANA"Thank you very much," I said to her. She smiled and nodded, seeming to accept my gratitude. I felt a sense of appreciation for her willingness to share information with me, even if it was limited. The conversation had left me with more questions than answers, but I was determined to learn more. I stood up, and she followed suit, our eyes meeting in a brief moment of understanding. "I will go and freshen up now, I will meet you later," I said to her, and once again expressed my heartfelt gratitude for the delectable meal she had prepared, "and thank you for the extraordinary culinary experience, the flavors were sublime, the presentation was impeccable, and the warmth with which you served it was truly touching, I'm deeply appreciative of the effort and care you put into cooking such a wonderful meal, it's a pleasure to dine with someone as hospitable as yourself, and I look forward to reciprocating the kindness in the near future, thank you for the food, it was a treat for t
ELIANA"Hey, Emily," Sarah greeted Emily with a warm smile. Emily's eyes flicked to Sarah, and she returned the greeting, but her gaze quickly snapped back to me. I could sense a mix of emotions crossing her face - surprise, curiosity, and maybe a hint of wariness. It was clear that she hadn't expected to see me here, and I wondered what she was thinking. Sarah seemed oblivious to the tension, chatting with Emily about her day and what she'd missed. I stood there, feeling a bit like a spectator, as Emily's eyes continued to dart between Sarah and me, her expression a mask of polite interest. But I knew that beneath the surface, she was probably wondering the same thing I was - what was going on, and what did it mean for us to be roommates?Emily smiled at Sarah. "Hi," Emily said, her greeting warm and friendly. But when I greeted her, she didn't respond to me. Instead, she seemed to freeze, her smile faltering for a moment as her eyes met mine. It was as if she was choosing her respon
ELIANA"When is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as I leaned in slightly, eager to know the details of the alpha's annual ceremony and what it might entail, especially given the intrigue and importance surrounding such an event."Tonight," he replied, his voice low and smooth, the word hanging in the air like a promise or a warning, leaving me to wonder what the night would bring and what lay in store for me at the alpha's annual ceremony.Alphas and their Lunas were going to be present, I remembered always begging Gabriel to let me go along with him, to be a part of that world where power and prestige walked hand in hand. But he never agreed, always saying it wasn't important for me to be there, that my presence wouldn't add any value to the proceedings. The memory stung, a mixture of frustration and longing that I couldn't shake off. Why had he been so adamant about keeping me away? Was it truly because he thought I wouldn't be interested, or was there something more to it? The que
ELIANAConfusion clouded my mind as I struggled to piece together the fragments of what was happening. Everything seemed to be shifting, like sand slipping beneath my feet, leaving me unsteady and unsure of what came next.Axel was being extremely nice, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. His words were laced with kindness, and his smile seemed genuine, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his sudden change than met the eye.It wasn't as if he was the same person who looked at me with rage in his eyes just a few days ago. The memory of that intense glare still lingered, making his current niceness feel like a carefully crafted facade, one that could shatter at any moment.I was certain of what I saw in his eyes - a depth of emotion that seemed almost raw, a flicker of something intense and unspoken that left me wondering what lay beneath his tough exterior, and whether I'd ever get to see the real him.It was warmth, it was soft and kind - a gentle contrast to t