ANMELDENTHE EDGE OF CONTROLKARIN’S POVThe moment Annie disappeared down the hallway, the last thread of my control snapped.I excused myself from the remaining guests with a short nod and walked straight toward the private restroom at the end of the corridor. My steps were steady, but inside, Kaelan was raging. The second the door closed behind me, I gripped the edge of the marble sink and exhaled hard through my nose.I had almost licked her neck.The realization hit me with full force.I had leaned in to tell her to go home, but her scent had wrapped around me so completely that I lost track of distance. I had been breathing her in without even realizing it. I was taking deep, slow breaths of that warm, addictive scent that had been haunting me since the day she walked into my office. If she hadn’t whispered my name in that small, shaky voice, I might have closed the remaining space and put my mouth on her skin.I lifted my head and stared at my reflection in the mirror.My eyes were dark
MEETING THE UNCLEANNIE’S POVThe older man’s words hung in the quiet hallway like a warning.“So… you’re the one.”I looked at him and instinctively took a step back. Something about the way he watched me made my skin crawl. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. Liera stirred uneasily inside me, her presence rising close to the surface.The man noticed my reaction and let out a low, amused chuckle.“Relax,” he said, raising both hands slightly. “I don’t bite.”His smile didn’t reach his eyes. There was something unsettling about it, something that made the hair on my arms stand up. He took another step closer, clearly intending to say more, when a deep, familiar voice cut through the air behind me.“Annie.”I turned quickly.Karin was walking toward us, his expression calm but cold. His geyes moved from me to the older man, and the temperature in the hallway seemed to drop. He stopped right beside me, close enough that his shoulder almost brushed mine.“I see you’ve met my uncle
THE INTRODUCTIONANNIE’S POVWhen I woke up, I heard the murmur of Karin’s voice from somewhere down the hall. For a few seconds I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to prepare myself for another day in this strange new life. Then there was a knock on my door.“Annie,” Karin’s deep voice came through. “Get ready. We’re attending an event this evening.”I sat up quickly. “An event?”“Yes. A private business dinner. Be ready by six.”Before I could ask anything else, I heard his footsteps move away. I stared at the closed door, my heart already beating faster. A private business dinner. With him. In front of other people.I got out of bed and walked to the closet where the new dresses hung in a neat row. My fingers brushed over the fabrics until they stopped on the deep red one. It was elegant without being too revealing, and it made me feel stronger somehow. I decided that was the one.The rest of the day passed in a blur of quiet tension. Mira helped me with small things,
THE WEIGHT OF SILENCEANNIE’S POVThe car ride back to the penthouse felt longer than the one going to the boutique.I sat in the back seat with several shopping bags beside me, staring out the window as the city moved past in a blur of glass and steel. My fingers kept brushing over the soft fabric of one of the dresses Karin had chosen. Everything about the morning still felt unreal.He had barely spoken during the entire trip.Yet every time I stepped out of the changing room, I could feel his eyes on me. Attentive and focused. Almost hungry. It made my skin pebble in a way I didn’t know how to handle. Liera had been restless the entire time, pushing against my chest whenever he looked at me for too long.He wants us, she kept whispering.I didn’t know if I believed her.When the car finally stopped in front of the penthouse. The driver helped me with the bags and escorted me up to the penthouse. The moment the elevator doors opened, Mira was already waiting in the hallway with a b
CONTROL AND TEMPTATIONKARIN’S POVThe elevator doors closed with a soft sound, sealing us inside the small space together.Annie stood beside me, her hands lightly holding the strap of her bag. She smelled clean and warm, with that same soft, addictive scent that had been driving my wolf insane since the first day she walked into my office. Kaelan was restless again, pushing hard against my control.Closer.I tightened my jaw and kept my eyes forward.I wanted to bury my face in her neck. I wanted to breathe her in until the restless ache in my chest finally settled. The urge was strong enough that I had to dig my fingers into my palm to stay still. Earlier that morning, before we left the penthouse, I had already excused myself to my room for a few minutes just to get myself under control. Even then, it had barely been enough.Now we were alone in the elevator, and the space felt too small.I cleared my throat.Annie glanced up at me and gave a small, polite smile. It was soft. Almo
BREAKFAST WITH THE ALPHAANNIE’S POVI sat up slowly and ran a hand through my hair. My wolf, Liera, was quiet but alert, as if she was already waiting for something. I got out of bed, showered, and changed into a simple cream blouse and dark pants. Nothing too formal, nothing too casual. I still didn’t know how to dress around him.When I stepped out of the room, the smell of coffee and warm bread reached me first.I followed it to the dining area.Karin was already seated at the long glass table with a newspaper open in front of him, but his eyes lifted the moment I entered.“You’re awake,” he said.“I couldn’t sleep much,” I admitted, walking closer.He gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit. We’re going out this morning.”I paused. “Out?”“Yes.” His tone left no room for argument. “There are a few things you need. Clothes. Essentials. Mira already prepared a list.”Before I could reply, Mira walked in from the kitchen carrying a tray. She was smiling more than usual, bright,







