Looks like this chapter deepens the tension, setting up for the larger conflict Mila will have to face, not just with Ari, but with Gregory and the secrets he holds.
GABEMila was amazing–for the company that is. I skimmed over the reports again, marveling at the publicity and revenue her spring show had generated. Not to mention how she was able to get her clothes to smell like the actual flowers without the overly use of perfumes. If she kept this up, we’d be out of the red and above ground by next quarter. It was a miracle, really. I should have been fully focused on the documents in front of me, but my mind kept wandering.From the corner of the room, I could hear Noah humming softly as he watched his shows and scribbled with crayons. His quiet presence was a constant reminder that life had shifted in ways I hadn’t quite prepared for. It was spring break for the kids, and while most of his classmates were probably out climbing jungle gyms or chasing each other around playgrounds, Noah had chosen to spend his time in my office. Part of me wanted to push him outside, tell him to go play, to run wild and be carefree like other kids his age. But a
MILA“Argh!!!”I threw the stack of sketches off my desk in frustration. I could barely focus on anything with my mind going over everything that has happened. I stood up, pacing, feeling my skin starting to heat up. I just wanted a moment of peace, a moment to forget it all.I closed my eyes and tried to pull myself together, but I couldn’t forget that my dad was alive. And yet, he looked at me like I was no one–a stranger. It hurted more than I realized, and Rayne’s simmering fury under my skin made it hard to keep it all contained.“I’m not angry,” Rayne protested. “I’m horny, and staying near HIM is not making this easy, Mila.”I scoffed at her, rolling my eyes. “I thought you were strong, Rayne.”Rayne huffed in frustration. “Strong? Oh, I’m plenty strong, Mila. But even the strongest of us have needs.” Her tone was edged with a dangerous hunger, a barely-contained desire that made my pulse quicken. “You keep holding back, pretending you can handle all this alone,” she continued,
MILAReaching down to free his cock from his boxers. I gripped Alex harder, feeling him press up against me, his breaths coming faster as I guided him in. The initial stretch brought me back into the moment, grounding me in the weight of his body beneath me, the way he filled me. I let out a shaky exhale, trying to lose myself in the heat building between us, desperate to drown out the memories clawing at the edges of my mind.“Touch me.”Alex's hand slid up my side, fingers tracing the curve of my waist. His mouth found my neck, nipping at my skin in a way that usually set me on fire, but tonight, the sensation felt muted, distant. I bit down on my lip, rolling my hips to match his rhythm, trying to force myself to feel more, to shut out the chaos spiraling inside me.But Gabe’s face wouldn’t leave me alone, haunting me. He’d looked at me that night with a mixture of frustration and longing that mirrored my own. And my father… how could he not know who I was? How could he just look th
MILA“I don’t trust her, Gabriel,” Emily was saying, her words cold and clipped. “And you shouldn’t either.”“I trust her more than I trust you right now, Mom,” Gabe’s voice came back, low and firm. “So you can drop the act.”I said I didn’t care but I did feel a small pang of relief at Gabe’s words. Still it was quickly overshadowed by the rising anger in my chest. Emily needed to go down for what she did.“Oh, spare me,” Emily sneered. “You’ve been under her spell since day one. You’re too blind to see it, but she’s playing you, Gabriel. Playing you and everyone else. And when she’s done? She’ll leave you with nothing.”I fought the urge to walk down the hall and slam my fist in her face. What did she know anyway? She has been the one playing all of us since the beginning. At that point I wanted to stop listening, but I wanted to know how Gabe would respond.“You don’t know anything about her, Mom,” Gabe shot back, his frustration palpable even through the static of the device. “Mil
MILA“You sneaky little bitch.”I unlocked the door, shaking my head at Camila’s stupid grin with Laura smiling behind her. They climbed into the back seat with Laura pulling out her laptop.“Laura, I told you…”“Let me explain,” she said. “I figured since we did so well last time, we can team up again and be out quicker.”“Especially with your reflexes so poor,” Camila laughed. “Can’t believe we were able to sneak up on you.”“I was a bit distracted,” I said, knowing it was a lousy excuse. “And Laura, you’re not going in. Camila can come with me. You stay in the car.”“I’m more than just this laptop, you know.”“Of course, but right now that’s all I need you to be. Your sister would be pissed if she knew you were here,” I reminded her. “But she’s not even here and she’ll never know,” Laura complained. “I’m bored!”“How about this,” I suggested. “While we peek inside, try to get in touch with our mystery guy and get me something on Julia and Randall. I’ve been stalling too long and i
ARITRIGGER: self harm ahead“What are you doing in here?”I froze mid-step, my voice trembling more than I wanted. My father didn’t even glance up. Instead, he continued flipping through my portfolio, each page tossed to the floor with deliberate disdain. His silence was louder than any insult, and I could feel the familiar lump rising in my throat.Francesca stood perfectly poised by the window, hands crossed in front of her, avoiding eye contact as if her presence here was merely incidental. And Amber lounged on the couch with a stupid smirk on her face.“Well,” I said, forcing my voice to be steady, “I didn’t ask for this little family reunion. So what can I do to get you all to leave?”My father finally looked up, his sharp eyes cutting into me. He didn’t respond right away but stood, holding several magazines. He dropped them one by one at my feet. I didn’t need to look to know what they were. The covers had become all too familiar—Mila’s glowing face and headlines touting her l
MILASuddenly, a crash could be heard from the front and Leo’s dad screamed to the back. “Leo! We’ve got a problem out here!”Leo stiffened, his hand freezing on the rack before turning around, placing the bags nearby and heading out to the front. I let out a slow breath, silently thanking Laura and her goofy antics. I didn’t have much time, so I moved quickly. I carefully unzipped one of the velvet bags again and pressed a small tracking.“Down with your communist agendas!” I hear Laura scream before slipping out the back door. This whole thing was turning into something bigger than I expected, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were deep in dangerous territory. My phone buzzed with a text.Laura: That was fun!Me: Communist agendas?Laura: I didn’t know what to say, but it worked. Told you I’m good.Me: I’m heading back to office. You both good?Camila: Yeah and by the way you have some sexy company.I looked up to see Zeke leaning on the front of the car, his arms crossed an
TYLER Dammit! I couldn’t get her out of my head. Everytime I close my eyes, I think of her. Mila. Those sharp brown eyes cutting through me without a word, the way she moved around effortlessly like she owned the place, and the way she looked at me, even angry, like I was… nothing. Her silence after the debacle at her last fashion show was louder than anything she could have said to me. I had failed her, again, and she wasn’t letting me forget it. Not with her avoidance, her cold glances, and her deliberate absence from every meeting I’d arranged. Now, I was walking down the hall, heading towards her office to demand her attention, and froze. Voices carried from behind a partially open door. “...you thought you could keep this a secret, Troy,” said Alpha Gregory, his voice low, but seething with menace. I held my breath, moving closer to eavesdrop. My father’s response was even quieter. “I’ll say this one more time, Gregory,” my father said. “I didn’t tell anyone about your dealin
GABEI stepped out into the quiet, keeping my eyes open for any activity. It was the last location on Brian’s list and farther away than the others–off the grid, no signal, no real road. Just trees and a trail barely wide enough for a single vehicle.Then came the rustle. A branch snapping. I stilled.A man stepped out from behind the cabin. Broad shoulders, silver streaking his beard, eyes like a wolf who’d seen too much and trusted too little.Frederick.I didn’t move.“You shouldn’t be here,” Frederick said, voice low and clipped.“I didn’t come to fight.”“Yet, you brought company.” Frederick nodded slightly. “I have friends too.”The shadows emerged from the woods–five, six, maybe more. Rogues. Brian and two of my warriors were pushed into the opening as they surrounded us. I raised my hands slowly.“It’s not what it looks like,” I said as calmly as possible. “I just want to talk.”“We have nothing to say to Gregory’s successor,” one of the rogues said, stepping towards me. One o
MILAWhat the hell was going on? “Tyler, are you serious?” I asked, standing up from my chair.“Well then, if I knew this would give you a rise I would’ve said this earlier.”I rounded the desk, hitting him on the shoulder. “I’m serious, Tyler. What…why?”Tyler ducked away from my assault. “Turns out my dear mom has her claws in a lot more than I realized.”I took a slow breath. “Explain. Now.”He tossed a small, leather-bound notebook onto my desk. “Found it in my dad’s things. Before my mother’s little henchmen ransacked it. Notes, receipts, and transfers. He was funding something.”I flipped the notebook open and scanned the scribbles. Chemical formulas. Shipment records. Personal names and codes.“My mother’s company,” he said quietly. “She ran a private testing site in Alpha Frank’s territory. It was shut down quietly years ago after several test subjects reported… losing their wolves. Not just muted bonds. Total severance from the Goddess. Like the soul inside them was gone.”“
MILAI burst into MoonCrest pack hospital, sniffing out Alex until I found him.“Stick me with whatever needles you have to,” I yelled the moment I walked into his office. “I need to find out if that monster is my dad or not?”“Um, Mila. I’m with a patient.”I froze, finally noticing the young man slumped over in the chair across from Alex. I stopped myself from making a face at his appearance. He looked pale, lips tinged blue, and sweat clung to his brow. His eyes were the worst–sullen and dull. I smelled his wolf but it was faint and nearly silent.“Oh,” I muttered, stepping back. “Sorry.”Alex stood, placing a firm hand on the man’s shoulder. “It’s okay. Kevin, I’ll be back in a few minutes. Try to breathe through it. The serum needs time to work.”Kevin didn’t answer. His eyes were vacant like whatever did this sucked the life from them. Alex led me into the hallway and into another room that was empty.“Mila,” he said, “you really know how to make an entrance.”“Can you blame me
ARII still heard the muffled chaos outside the bathroom door, but it was nothing compared to my heartbeat thudding wildly against my ribs.I gripped the sink, trying to steady my breathing. In. Out. Calm. Stay calm.But I couldn’t.My father had looked at me like I was the enemy. Like I betrayed him. Me, the only one who actually stood by him. He thought I set him up.And knowing him… he wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate a loose end. He’d done it before. He’ll do it again.“I didn’t do this,” I whispered to my reflection. “I didn’t. I didn’t.”But my reflection didn’t argue. It just stared. Wild-eyed. Mascara bleeding. Lipstick smudged at the corner like a smear of blood. That’s when it hit me.The video.That moment–his office, his voice, the clarity of it. There were no cameras in that room. So how the hell had they–I froze. My mind rewound. Frame by frame. Frank’s body. The warehouse. The perfect angle. The same angle. Places I had been. I was bugged. That was the only explanation,
MILAThe room stilled.“What is this?” Gregory barked, looking around the room. I noticed how he subtly narrowed his eyes at Emily.Good. I wanted him to think it was her. For now. Murmurs filled the room as everyone’s attention was glued to the screen. It flickered again. Then came the audio–his voice. Clear. Calm. Cold.And damning.“The boat needed to go. Collateral damage is part of the price when you want to clean house. And the girl? She’s just like her parents–too dangerous to be left alive.”Silence swallowed the room. Then chaos.“That doesn’t prove anything,” Gregory shouted. “That could be anybody.”But the screen answered him. It split into two windows: one showed Gregory pacing in a private study, the second displayed spreadsheets, maps, and message logs–each one marked with timestamps and code names.The proof was overwhelming.Someone screamed. A councilman stood. Arianna’s mouth dropped open. Emily turned toward Gregory, the smile never leaving her face, even as she wi
MILAFrances and his assistant poured over the portfolio like it was a rare manuscript. I shifted in my seat, resisting the urge to glance at my watch again. There was too much riding on today–too much to still do.Frances finally looked up, his eyes twinkling behind those sleek, gold-framed glasses. “This is truly something special,” he said, tapping the edge of the page. “And the technology?”I straightened a bit, proud. “Smart fabric. Reactive threads that shift color based on light exposure and body temperature. The effect is subtle, elegant—like your vintage diamond collection. Sophisticated, but with presence.”Across the table, Emily’s jaw tensed. I caught the flicker of annoyance in her eyes and smiled, just a little.Frances chuckled. “Indeed, Mademoiselle. You’ve captured the season in a way that feels... alive.” He flipped another page, his gaze sharp but admiring. “I must admit, I’m surprised. After everything that’s happened lately, I expected something more... reserved.”
MILAThere was no gentle buildup this time. No teasing smile. No calculated flirtation. Gabe kissed me like he meant to ruin me–with a hunger that stole the air from my lungs. One hand tangled in my hair, tugging just enough to make my body jolt with need. I gasped, but he swallowed the sound, deepening the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine in a battle I was already losing.He lifted me effortlessly from the chair, setting me down on the desk as if he’d been waiting to do it since the moment he walked in. His body pressed against mine, all muscle and heat and quiet dominance.“See?” he murmured against my lips, voice dark and full of promise. “You like it when I take control. Don’t you?”And damn him–I did. My body answered before my mouth ever could, arching into him, fingers clawing at his shirt to pull him closer.“Answer me, Mila.”“I… do,” I breathed, the words escaping like a confession.Those words cracked something open in him. He kissed me again–deeper, rougher–his hands
MILATyler was, somehow, unexpectedly my hero.Not only did he make sure the publication printed the correct draft of the Aliz magazine–the one with my real Summer collection and not the tragic sabotage Lena tried to pass off–but he also made sure Lena got demoted. Now she was stuck shooting staged waterfalls and hotel breakfast buffets for the travel catalogue division. Honestly? Served her right for trying to cross me.Apparently, I had Amira to thank for that little coup.I still didn’t know how I felt about her. The woman switched sides like it was Fashion Week and loyalty was just another trend. But one thing I did know? She was in love with Tyler. Hopelessly, painfully in love. That might’ve made her dangerous–but it also gave me leverage. And I wasn’t above playing that card if I had to.“So… you think this will work?” Camila’s voice broke through my thoughts and I remembered what I was doing… or trying to do.“I don’t know,” I sighed, moving all the mockups for my fall collect
ARIThe diamond necklace with the crystal pendant glinted in the mirror, catching the light like it still mattered. Like it still meant something. Gabe had given it to me for a birthday present. Placed it around my neck himself. Told me I looked like someone no one would dare cross. It had to mean something, right? A gift that rare didn’t come without weight.So I wore it today–not for sentiment, but strategy.Let him see it. Let him remember. Let him regret.But he didn’t. He barely blinked. No hesitation, no flicker of guilt. Just another command over the phone and a condescending smirk on his lips.“Nothing a blow dryer can’t fix,” Gabe said, like I was already a mistake he was eager to forget.I could’ve slapped him. I should’ve. But I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. It would’ve meant I still cared.I’d lose a hundred battles before I let him see me lose the war.When I stormed into my father’s office, he didn’t even glance up from his damned ritual–always washing his hands