Scarlett. I froze in Keith's arms and stared at the bastard that ruined my life. He did not see me, but I was looking right at him where he was talking with guests and laughing. "What is the matter, darling," Keith whispered in my ear, and I felt my eyes well up with angry tears that I fought back with all my might. Gregory ruined my life. He put me in a situation where I had to flee my home and my mates. I was mad at them for not having my back, but everything was rosy until this bastard came along. I continued the dance in Keith's arms and rested my head against his chest. I always felt calm and protected that way. He held me tighter as we moved slowly to the music the quartet played. "What is the matter, Scarlett?" Keith asked me, and I held on tight. "Remember the bastard that set me up in the north? The merchant from the West that ruined my life and smeared my name?" I asked, and we continued to move. "Yes," he said. "Well, he is over there with his friends, in a blue su

Lucian "I am sorry, Maxwell. I swear I will do everything within my power to fix it," I said to him, and he looked at me with teary eyes. "You can't bring her back, Lucian. You can't fucking fix it." He said, and my heart reached out to him. "She has no money, nothing. We took it all. We stole it all. Nikolay was right to shield his daughter from us. He was right," he said and buried his head in his palms and began to weep. "Please let us work together on this, Maxwell. I felt the pull, and you did too. She is somewhere out there, and I know we will find her," I said with hope. "I have been praying, and I know the goddess will answer," I said, and he chuckled. "Praying?" he said, looking at me with rage. "When has a prayer ever solved anything, Lucian? Just leave me the fuck alone," he said, and I knew it would be best to respect his wishes and keep my mouth shut. I hoped Elsa had something to say to revive our hope, or the tunnel would have no light. Elsa finally walked in wi

Clay We left the apartment and went outside. The stench of the box's content was real, and I knew it was something rotten or dead. Maybe an animal. I wondered why Garland would send us a parcel with a letter. I also wondered why we did not get news of the attacks until the morning. Had they wiped out the settlements, or had the people there worked against us? Normally they should have reached us during the attack so we could send backup. The silence meant it was planned meticulously, and the people had actively chosen the Eastern Alpha over us. We were indeed a joke. Thinking of it, we were the only Valkin Alphas in history that bent to our people's will. Thanks to our parents, our authority was limited when they had the bright idea of sharing out responsibility with a biased narrow-minded council. The fact that war took our families from us, the three of us avoided it at all costs and always opted for a peaceful resolution even when it would cost us. It was this attitude that m

Scarlett My heat returned with a vengeance, and Keith placed me on my hands and knees and started ramming into me fast. He was doing all he could to satisfy me. I hoped our bond would form eventually because I did not want to lose something this beautiful. He was perfect for me. All my mates gave me was pain. They made me loathe myself and my heritage. Lucian made me feel ugly, and they quickly believed outsiders over me. Not once did they try to make it work at their expense. Everything they did was at my expense. There was no way I would keep my bond with them. I wanted Keith. He was good to me. He was good for me. He accepted my flaws and all and has loved me genuinely since we met. I could not leave him. We spent the whole day fucking. I wouldn't say making love, even though that was how Keith saw it, but my heat made it primal. My wolf and I enjoyed every bit of it, and Keith was up to the task. Neither of us was exhausted. We showered, played, and then fucked when the heat r

Scarlett It could not be; the three of them were in the mansion? I stared at Martha. "They forced you here?" I asked her, and she shook her head. "They begged me to plead with you for forgiveness and ask you to come home. I was the one that decided to see you privately while they discussed matters with Keith," she said, and I realised why Keith did not want me to leave the room. He did not trust that I could keep my senses with them around. "I am not returning to hell, Martha. I am sorry. I won't return to where I was treated like shit. A place where no one cared or respected me. Where my father was hated, and people plotted against me. Where my mates were the source of my pain, I cannot go back there, Martha." I said and stood up. I planned to face the three of them to let them know they had come to waste their time and they should leave. I no longer want to be their object of torment. "Please, Scarlett. The East is at war with us. They aren't focused at all. They are spending