Se connecterAveline POVI stood in front of the full-length mirror, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my coat for what had to be the tenth time.The white lace lingerie hidden beneath it clung perfectly to my skin, making me feel both beautiful and ridiculously nervous. It had been bought months ago for a future that no longer existed. A future with Ethan.Now...It was wrapped around my body for an entirely different man.I let out a slow breath before turning sideways, inspecting myself one last time.The coat concealed everything perfectly. From the outside, I looked completely innocent. No one would ever guess what I was wearing underneath.“Girl...” Lyla whistled dramatically from where she sat on my bed. “If the Lycan King doesn't lose his mind tonight, then maybe he's actually blind.”I covered my face, groaning.“Can you stop making me nervous?”“Oh no.” She jumped off the bed. “I'm doing the exact opposite. I'm hyping you up.”She walked over and adjusted the collar of my coat before tak
Darius POVThe estate was unusually quiet.The only sound disturbing the silence was the gentle ripple of water stretching across the infinity pool that overlooked the cliffs below my mansion.The evening danced over the surface.I swam another lap beneath the cool water, my movements slow and effortless.Swimming had always been one of the few things capable of silencing my mind.Not completely.But enough.Enough to make the endless responsibilities of ruling an empire disappear for a few minutes.I emerged from the water, slicking my wet hair back with one hand before making my way toward the marble edge.Immediately, one of my men stepped forward.Without a word, he lowered his head respectfully.“Alpha.”He held out a freshly folded black towel.I took it from him and draped it around my shoulders while another guard approached carrying a crystal glass already filled with whiskey over ice.I accepted it with a single nod.No unnecessary words.They knew better.The men surroundi
After less than an hour on the road, we pulled into the driveway of my house.The moment the car rolled to a stop, my smile faded.The memories came rushing back so suddenly it almost felt like I was standing in that exact moment again.The flashing patrol lights.The neighbors whispering outside.My mother's cries.The officers leading my father away in handcuffs.I slowly climbed out of the car, my gaze lingering on the front porch. It was the same house I'd grown up in, yet somehow it felt... different now.Quieter.Colder.Almost like the walls themselves were grieving.Lyla rounded the car and shut the passenger door with a soft thud before looking over at me.“You okay?”I forced a tiny smile.“Yeah... let's go.”She didn't look convinced.She simply reached over and intertwined her fingers with mine.We walked toward the front door together.The silence inside the house felt even heavier.Usually, Mom would have music playing while cooking, or the television
Aveline POVI hurried after Lyla before she could make it to her car.The last thing I needed was for her to actually hunt Ethan down.Trust me, she would.I still remembered the last time someone got on her bad side because of me.I'd told her about some random guy who had cornered me after class, saying a bunch of disgusting things and trying to put his hands on me. I barely knew the idiot. To me, it was just another creep I wanted to forget.To Lyla?It was a declaration of war.She somehow tracked the guy down before sunset, marched right up to him in broad daylight, and started a fight that had half the street watching. We later found out he was nothing more than some reckless drunk human who couldn't even remember what he'd done.Did that stop her?Absolutely not.She still gave him the beating of his life.So if Lyla was willing to throw hands with a complete stranger for simply making me uncomfortable...Moon Goddess help Ethan.I would've loved to see someone wipe that smug l
Aveline POVI already knew Lyla was going to eat this story up.Everyone needs that one person. The one you run to when your life is falling apart. The one you can cry to, laugh with, rant to, gossip with... someone who never gets tired of hearing every tiny little detail.Lyla was that person for me.She always had been.My own day one.I stared up at the ceiling for a moment, wondering where exactly to begin."So..." I dragged out."How do I even start this?"Lyla grabbed both of my hands immediately, practically bouncing where she sat."Girl, start anywhere!" she laughed. "Middle, beginning, end—I don't care. Just start talking before I explode."I laughed."Easy. You're squeezing my hands like you're trying to juice an orange."She immediately loosened her grip."Oh! Sorry."Then she grabbed them again."But hurry."I rolled my eyes playfully."You're impossible.""I've accepted that."I smiled to myself before taking a deep breath."So...""I met a stra
Aveline POV I stormed out of the restaurant, furious. Who did Ethan think he was? The audacity. How could he sit there and make me such a disgusting offer? Had something gone horribly wrong with his brain overnight, or had he always been this rotten, and I was just too stupid? “Aveline!” I froze. That same irritating voice. I slowly turned around, clenching my jaw so tightly it hurt. There he was. Still wearing that infuriating smug smile as if he hadn't just humiliated himself five minutes ago. “Nah," I said flatly. “Wipe that stupid smile off your face first.” To my surprise, he actually did. “Okay, okay.” He lifted both hands in playful surrender. “I'll be quick, Angry Bird.” He walked toward me with the same arrogance he'd always had. Two bodyguards followed a few steps behind him, both with identical blank expressions, while another man stood by the sleek black BMW parked at the curb. The driver, I figured. Ethan spread his arms







