A warm spoon hovers near my mouth. My eyes watch the steam from the food curl lazily upward and thin out into nothingness.The food itself doesnât look appealing, but the serverâĶShitâĶwhen did Niklaus get this attractive? The last time I saw him, his features werenât this sharp. Even the mark on his cheek makes him look dangerously sexy rather than hideously scarred. The sharp contrast of his eyes gave him an almost mystical look. Worse of allâĶhe looks more manly, whereas IâĶWhat the hell happened to my muscles?The more I delve into that train of thought, the more my eyes linger on the Niklaus standing before me. Suddenly, sharp golden eyes, the vision of sweat dripping down his cheek, and arms so strong that they could pin down a grown beta flash in my mind.Fuck, am I crazy?Regardless of anything, I like women.âOpen.âNiklaus says, finally tired of holding up the spoon for me. "I can feed myself, you know. Itâs my ribs that are broken, not my arms."I grumble, yet still, my mou
Niklausâ question throws me.âNo, of course not. I just-âNiklaus cocks his head to the side as if to say he would not let this slide without an answer. With a sigh, I answer."Itâs not that. Itâs justâĶ you seem way too important to be sitting in a room with someone like me."I can feel the tips of my ears heat up, so I scratch my cheeks to ease the awkwardness between us.Niklaus stands from his position next to me and grabs my hand to stop my pointless scratching."Youâve lost whatâĶ nine years of memories? YouâĶ wouldnât even believe the worth you hold in my eyes if I were to tell you."As he said the words, his tone had softened such that his voice came off scratchy, yet even then, it still sounded soothing.IâĶdonât think I ever want to go on a group date with him; he would likely steal all the ladies. Then again, he seems fine with men. "Iâll bring you chicken for dinner."As if the soft tingle I felt from his words was a mirage, he pulls away after promising chicken.My hand care
The smell of fried chicken lingered in the air annoyingly as Niklaus balanced the takeout bag in his hand.He shifted it from one hand to the other, not because it was heavy but because it was oily, and he didnât like it.He couldnât understand why Lucien had suchâĶgreasy taste in favourites, but he didnât fight it either.Niklausâs phone, which had been on fire since the spread of the fake news of their engagement, buzzed again, causing him to stop before Lucienâs room.After taking a deep breath, he reached for his phone in his pocket and contrary to his fears, his fingers were not oily as he clicked the phone screen to life.[I will arrange a press conference; this engagement story is a sick joke, Niklaus] -Father.[Have you gone crazy?] -Stepbitch.As the number of unread messages increased to one hundred and fifty-seven, Niklaus turned off his phone and focused on Lucien on the other side of the door.By now, with his sleuth personality, Niklaus anticipated that Lucien would be pi
âWhat Beta standards? Donât change the subject, and since you would be my first man, from my memory, I qualify as at most bi! ButâĶI justâĶwhy? Why didnât you say anything to me? Why do I need to find out that sort of information from a TV station turned on by accident!â"Do you know how many times you told me you wanted a beta woman? Iâd need an accountant to do the math because that is how many times you rejected me."Niklaus answered as he bent to pick up the food on the floor.He hated the grease soaking his hands, but Lucien has a soft side for the pitiful. "Lucien...your memories have regressed by nine years. Do you know how long it took for you to look at me? to see me in the way I see you?"At his intentionally soft tone, Lucienâs brows furrowed.He lifted his body and deposited the spilt chicken back in its box before leaving it on the table next to Lucien, even though he couldnât eat it anymore. He could have thrown it in the bin, but the message âI did this for youâ rang cl
NiklausThe abandoned building reeked of mildew, and despite the lack of glass on the open windows to block the outside air, the atmosphere still held a certain staleness. The early morning sun streamed in warmly, but the cold was too sharp even for the rising sun to chase away.Niklaus shifted his long legs on the chair opposite Maya, who was bound in ropes.It was the third day of her kidnapping, but her cheeks still looked full and plump; the only evidence that she harboured a sign of resistance was her busted lip, which looked both healed and fresh based on the clotted skin and yet still, somehow, it had fresh blood glittering on the scarred surface as though she had picked it apart just a few hours ago."I said it once, and I will say it again: I donât want your money, Nikky."That name againâĶIt was the second time hearing it this week. He hated it coming from her lips, but today was a good day; Lucien was being discharged, so he didnât want anything to sully his mood."You haven
Trigger Warning: Threats Of Sexual Assault.Mayaâs lips trembled at Niklausâ thoughtless answer.âThen why...him? OhâĶ I get it nowâĶ because he was a beta? Hah! Haven't you been watching too many Disney movies? Are you about to say something clichÃĐ like, âLucien saw me for who I really am because he couldnât smell meâ?"Her mockery rang loud, but Niklaus remained unphased."Well, if I had to get technicalâĶâHe began, swaying his heel left and right on the ground as if the subject excited him."I justâĶ canât stop my mind from fucking him. I swear, every time I see him, I want to bend him over and slide my cock into himâĶGod, itâs even worse when he cries. He looks so cute. You donât have a dick, so you won't get it, but his throat is-""Youâre sick."Maya interrupted, her face twisted bitterly in disgust at his words before her gaze travelled to his pants, drawn by the upright member piercing through.A faint blush struck her face before she turned away.Niklaus adjusted his sitting postu
LucienThe afternoon sun warmed the path leading up to the large house before me. Wiggling my toes in the sun shining on my bare feet as Niklaus pushes my wheelchair feels good.The cool breeze rustles the trees in the front garden, but more than that, it carries the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers.Nine years ago, I was struggling in debt, butâĶnow, I am at the height of luxury.Itâs as if the place I dreamed of living since I joined the force blossomed right before my eyes. But even then, with my salaryâĶthis has to be Niklausâs doing.Fuck.Were we really in love? Did I permit him to fuck an omega during his heat? I donât want to believe that; the only way thatâs possible is if we had a contract or maybe because he wanted to piss off his âdaddyâ by bringing in a Beta as a goof. But if itâs a joke, isnât he taking things too far?My eyes, staring at the end of the stretched path to the front porch of the house, narrow at Mayaâs presence. She is dressed in a yellow sund
âDonât touch me!âI groan, but Niklaus pulls me deeper into his arms.I am a bulky guy, but in his arms, I feel no different from a petite man.âFuck.âI mutter inwardly as I turn my gaze to the side; I donât know how to look at him without feeling my cheeks heat up.âWhatâs wrong with helping my fiancÃĐ tie a bow tie?âNiklaus says the words right in my ear, just as a picture of him towering over my body flashes in my mind.âUghâĶ fuck off!â I groan, trying to push Niklaus off me, but he doesnât even flinch. In fact, his hold on me tightens as if to say, âStop struggling.ââDid you set up my room?â I ask, finally relaxing into his touch.I donât see the need to share a bedroom between us when there are over nine rooms in the house, all ensuites. I wouldnât even insist on my own room if every time I propped pillows between us, I didn't find them on the floor and wake up with him clinging to me for dear life.âWhy would an engaged couple need separate rooms?â He counters smoothly as h
My heart thunders loudly in my chest, the beastly sound serenading my earnest exit.Skipping the elevator, I rush straight for the stairs, taking two at a time until I reach the back door.The bag I left is still there, so I switch out my dark hoodie for a light one in case it's identifiable. As soon as I make the switch, I turn to the door and grab the knob, but unlike the freedom that I envisioned, my hand stings as soon as I hold the knob, causing me to groan and take several steps back."What the hell, why is it hot?"The door swings open with a heavy force before the answer can even form in my mind. Two men in full gear step in, their black rifles raised and aimed directly at me.My breath catches in my throat.Contrary to my instinct to stand still and raise my arms in submission, my legs turn back towards the steps.Niklaus looked up at me. But the angle, he couldnât have seen me, could he?No, no way, even if he did, I shot immediately, soâĶ fuck.How?My mind races as I calcul
I can feel my chest heave from the burning anger at his words, but fighting him like this when I have never won a physical fight with him is pointless."Don't touch me."I say as I slap his hand away from my hair."How long?"He asks as he steps away from me, pressing his hand to his nose as if inhaling it, but I don't have a scent, so maybe he is rubbing his nose."What?""How long until you make a move on me, Luci."By move, does he mean how long until I try to kill him?Hah...this lunatic."Don't worry, you won't have to wait too long."**âWhatâs this?âNiklaus asks, gesturing to the pillows I set up in the middle of the bed as he dries his dripping wet hair with a damp towel.As if tired, he tosses the towel aside and pulls the one on his waist off, exposing himself to me.WhyâĶwhy the fuck is he hard?I groan inwardly as I turn my gaze away from him.âTurn off the lights when you are done.âI say, before switching off the lamp by my side.After a bit of shuffling around, the pillo
"There, dinner."I say as I place a bowl of burnt pasta in front of Niklaus."You should be a chef...""I thought I wasn't allowed to work."I answer cooly as I walk to my seat."I was under the impression that spaghetti is prepared by boiling. How did you manage to burn it? That shows talent that shouldn't be ignored.""Oh, haha..."Without smelling or waiting for the steam to fade, Niklaus pokes his fork into the charred mess, spins the charred white strings covered in red sauce on his fork, and eats it.If it had poison, I'd be as good as done now...But something about what Anna said makes me doubtful of poison as a means to kill him.She mentioned being immune; is Niklaus the same?"So, where did you go?"Niklaus asks as he wipes his lips with the napkin, his lips obviously twisted in disgust."Out. Are you not going to finish your meal?""It's not poisoned, is it? Since it's not, there is no need for me to finish it. It's disgusting; hire a chef, honey."I groan at the word âhon
"Don't touch me."I growl the words when Niklausâs hands wrap around my waist as we leave the car.Of course, he doesn't listen, leading me to push his hand off my frame."I'm meeting Anna Stone tomorrow for coffee.""Coffee? That's funny. Why is my husband meeting another woman?ââWe arenât married yet.ââThree days isnât long, Lucien.ââYou are rushing this. I told you that for this to be believable, we need at least six months.âNiklaus shrugs.âI donât care about believability; I am not selling a story; I am tying you to me, permanently. And about meeting Anastasia tomorrowâĶhmm, it might not be possible.âHe adds casually.âWhy not?âTo my question, Niklaus places his hand on my waist and pushes me towards the house, but rather than the sight of the staff welcoming us back home most of them have suitcases.âWhatâs going on?ââWell, you are the new madam of the house, so you get to redesign this place, from the staff to the artwork.ââAre you- Did you fire them?ââYes, they were se
Revenge with a baby is messy.Dear God, am I really going down as someone who murdered my childâs father?Well, they donât have to know. I donât mind being a tragic widower as long as weâre rich. But what kind of life is that? HahâĶ I donât want to resemble this bastard.âThere is no need for the surgery.âI whisper the words, but the stillness in the room means they heard me.âPardon my interruption, but without pheromones-ââBeta women give birth fine.âI counter.âYes, beta women, not men. The male omega faculties are regulated by their ability to flow and receive pheromones. That is why morning sickness is worse without the childâs father and-â âFine, fine.âI say, waving my hands in the air.âItâs fine; I will just not keep it, so there is no need to continue with the explanations.âEven as I say the words, my hand still strokes my belly, as if I were talking about a situation that doesnât concern me.Deathly silence follows my confession.âBy âitâ, you meanâĶâThe doctor prods as
Niklaus rose abruptly from his seat. His force pushed my chair back slightly, making me realise he had never locked it in place."A recessive omega? I never said the type you were."His lips curl into a lethal smile."It- it was obvious from our agreement that you sleep with a dominant omega during your rut."The blood rushing in my veins at the word âpregnantâ warms my skin.I can feel my muscles tense as thoughts of running fill my head, but the bastard's large build blocks me.Is that why he stood?"Right...Right, our Luci sure is sharp. I bet your little head is racing right now.""Can w-we stay on topic?"Niklaus strides slowly towards me like a predator. His large hand cups my collarbone before he moves behind my chair.I half expect him to push it, but something clicks into place, jolting meâthe lock."Wha-"My words halt in my throat when his hand slides down my collar and lifts the hospital shirt, exposing my chest."What are you-"Before I can express my outrage, both of Nik
"Married?"I repeat the word as though it tastes bitter.Perhaps lying and saying that my last memory was the kiss at the ball made him too brazen because what kind of nonsense is this?âYes, Lucien, at the ball, we had a lengthy discussion, and you decided to honour our arrangement to get married.â...the audacity of this man.His warm hand caresses mine. I want to smack his hand away, but again, the roughness in his touch, as if he were desperate, is intoxicating.Don't worry, Niklaus; it gets worse. I will make sure of it."I'm sorry, I just...put yourself in my shoes; this is coming from nowhere."I lift my gaze to him, softening my eyes as if I donât know any better."Lucien... you saw the news; our wedding was incoming before the accident. Plus, is it really from out of nowhere when we are engaged?"Biting my lip draws his focus to the plump flesh; alphas are so easy to seduce; seriously, I donât even have pheromones, but I can smell the hunger off him.Still, I expected to be t
Niklausâs fingers tapped ferociously against his chair. It was an abrupt meeting that needed his attention, one that didn't seem to end, and one in which his father was in attendance, so if he skipped it, he could be punished by a poisoned meal.Nothing like familial love to bond people."Tell me about your wedding plans, son."The person giving the presentation froze at this question, which was clearly out of topic."I thought this was a very important meeting?"Niklaus asked, testing his father in the same way."Your mother is very worried about you.""You mean stepfather, and I'll get back to you on that during the next family dinner.""I have arranged a meeting between you and Anastasia Stone-""I appreciate it, but Anna and I-""The meeting will be at three pm. Dress in golf attire, I hear she takes after her father."His mouth pressed into a fine line.âMy engagement is real.ââTo a beta?âHis father spat out.âWe have an arrangement.ââWhatever arrangement, the Heinrichs only n
For some reason, the car ride home was tense. Even the hum of the engine couldnât soothe my mangled nerves.Despite the countless times I rubbed my lips, which still tingled from the unfamiliar kiss, the sensation of Niklausâs roughness on me neither faded nor fizzled.Why the hell did I moan when he flicked my nipples? I am a betaâĶ.Why did he even flick my nipple? I want to scream sexual assault because all this time, I thought of him as a kid brother instead of the panting beast from that time, but we are engagedâĶwe are engaged, right?Fuck.I curse inwardly; the buds on my chest, which I often refer to as dud, feel tender for some reason.My body curls further at the thoughts clouding my mind before I turn my gaze to Niklaus. He still looks furious.Yet despite the fury on his face being my faultâjust a gut feeling, each time the headlights of a passing car washes his frame, I am drawn to his mystical beauty.Whoever knew eyes could be that blue.My mouth dries as his gaze turns to