LOGIN[Astoria’s POV]The ride back to Blackstone Estate felt impossibly longer than the journey into the city that morning.My hands remained clasped tightly in my lap while Viktor’s attention remained fixed on the road. After all the information and practically making me doubt my mother’s affection, he seemed nonchalant, as if the information was just another weather update.As the gilded gates opened up to let the car in, my heartbeat sped up. The thought of suddenly meeting Viktor’s mother, whom I would now no doubt see in a new light, made my palms feel clammy.“Don’t behave like you know and are terrified, because whoever this woman posing as my mother is, she isn’t a kind creature,” Viktor said as if reading my mind while he maneuvered the car down the driveway.When we entered, the house itself seemed quieter than usual. For some reason, I felt the hair at the back of my neck rise.“Is it colder than usual?” I muttered.“No,” Viktor answered.I was about to say more when Matthew wal
[Astoria’s POV]“Your mother is a dormant fae,” he said. His eyes carried no amusement, his voice didn’t carry any underlying humor, and his expression didn’t flicker even once.Even then, I let out a disbelieving laugh. “What the heck? You are yet again going to tell me about supernatural creatures.”Viktor’s eyes remained grim and entirely fixed on my face. The proximity didn’t help the case. His arm was still around my waist as if he was afraid I would slip away and out of the office the moment he would let me go.I probably would. It felt like I was once again back to the Black Estate and Viktor was talking about werewolves.“There’s more in the world than werewolves,” he stated as if reading my mind.I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it.“Where is my mother?” I asked because Viktor hadn’t answered me yet.Viktor remained silent before murmuring. “I…am looking into it.”I struggled in his hold, angry and scared. But Viktor held me firmly.“Her identity could be the r
[Astoria’s POV]“What…will you do if I go and let Vladimir touch me?” I asked, my voice breathless. I didn’t know where this boldness was coming from. I didn’t know what the heck I was doing, but I just wanted his answer.The warmth of his body seeped in through the clothes, making my stomach coil in anticipation. His darkened gaze fixed on my lips. He leaned closer until our lips were barely inches apart.“Do you really want to know? What can your brother do?” His grip tightened slightly as he uttered the word ‘brother’.I felt my breath hitch.“Well, you’re certainly not holding me like a brother would,” I retorted, trying to keep calm, although I was sure he could feel my heart pounding.His lips quirked up. This time, he let his lips brush against mine. “I would ensure that you forgot his name completely, that the only thing you would remember was my name, my smell, and only have my mark all over your body.”The blatant implication made me tremble. I didn’t even know if saying tha
[Astoria’s POV]The first day had left me jittery and exhausted. Everything felt overwhelming, not because I was bad at my job or that I couldn’t understand a task, but because of the sheer weight of eyes that seemed to follow me everywhere.These were the eyes of many employees who looked at me, judged me, and probably even envied me. I had very quickly realized that my relation to the Romero brothers wasn’t clear to them. I didn’t want to think in what light they were seeing me in, but on the first day itself, I’d come very close to yelling at them and telling them that I was just their unfortunate half-sister.A week into the job, and apart from the thought of the salary that I would get, I dreaded going there. My colleagues had subtly but firmly made it clear that they didn’t want to be friendly. They helped, sure, but that was the end of it.I sighed softly as I worked silently, forced to keep my thoughts to myself even though I heard laughter and jokes around me.Deciding to tak
[Viktor’s POV]The drive back to our estate was a silent one. Vladimir sat beside me in the SUV, staring out the window while I reviewed some documents on my phone.For years, Moira had hidden behind her title as an Elder and her blood relation to the Romero line. She had questioned my authority more times than I could count, always carefully, never outright, to warrant her eviction.This wasn’t the case during my father's time, but she didn’t hold back from the moment I stepped into the role of the Alpha.However, this time her telling off my father had crossed the boundary."You look like you're planning a murder," Vladimir remarked dryly, breaking the silence.“I want to,” I muttered."That bad?” He knew the situation, but Vlad’s thought process was different.I didn’t reply as my jaw tightened.Twenty minutes later, our car rolled inside the Black Estate.Moira's house sat near the northern edge of Pack territory. It was an older mansion surrounded by trees and enough security to
[Astoria’s POV]I was glad that he hadn’t glanced at me yet or he would have seen the faint blush on my face.“Sit,” he said, finally looking up, so I sat stiffly across from him.“I see you’ve still haven’t run away,” he murmured, his gaze laced with mild amusement.“Why would I? It’s literally my first day,” I countered back.That earned me the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth as well.“I heard you basically made the HR hire me,” I said nonchalantly.“Did someone bother you for that?” He asked, the amusement dimming slightly.I let out a small sigh. “That’s not…exactly I want, as in…you cannot do that—”“I can, and you are part of the family, hence it is your right to be part of this company,” he interjected, sounding serious.Silence stretched briefly between us before he leaned back slightly in his chair.“What about my earlier company?” I asked tentatively. I had heard from them since morning.“My team has notified them. Don’t worry about it,” he said smoothly.I let ou
[Astoria’s POV]The hallway outside thrummed with laughter and vibrance.Below were guests whom I didn’t know at all, but for some reason, I did not feel nervous.My gaze darted to the man beside me and I was struck by the effortless way our strides matched. We weren't touching, but that necklace h
Astoria’s POV]The morning of my mother’s wedding arrived with bright sun rays and a gentle breeze.After waking up, I simply lay there listening to the distant hum of preparation, guests talking and laughing, their voices muted and distant, and the muted footsteps in hallways.I rolled onto my sid
[Astoria’s POV]It was ironic and slightly comical how my mother, who was used to dictating and making people work for her, was having to explain things to someone.The realization made me happy rather than making me feel affronted.
[Astoria’s POV]Unable to endure the weight of his gaze, I excused myself and made my way upstairs, maintaining composure until I reached my room. Only after closing the door did I allow myself to exhale a shaky breath.What the F was that all about? Why was he looking at me like…like I was some ki







