I drop my suitcase in my room, my heart heavy with dread as I realize what I must do next. As much as every fiber of my being rebels against the idea, I know I have no choice but to seek out Alice and ask about Alex' whereabouts. His brothers, even if I had their numbers, are unlikely to answer, and calling his parents would only raise alarm before I even know if he's truly missing or just taking a break from the world. That leaves Alice as my only remaining option.With leaden feet, I make my way to her door. I knock softly, the sound echoing in the stillness.  "Come in," she calls, her voice dripping with false sweetness.  I step inside, and the stark contrast between her room and mine is like a slap in the face. Hers is a haven of luxury, with a queen-sized bed draped in the most expensive bedsheets money can buy, all in her favorite shade of pink. The sight stirs a bittersweet memory of my own room, once adorned in similar hues until Alice's jealousy forced me t

The door creaks open, but I don't bother checking who it is, assuming it's just my brothers returning. Big mistake. The next thing I know, a shock of icy water hits me square in the face, jolting me out of my misery. "What the fuck!" I roar, leaping to my feet, ready to make the person regret, but then I see who's standing there, empty glass in hand, and my heart stops. "Hannah," I breathe. Water trickles down my face and chest, soaking my shirt, but I barely feel it. All I can focus on is her, here, in front of me. "Is it really you?" I reach out to cup her face, desperate to feel the silk of her skin beneath my fingers, to confirm she's not just a cruel mirage. But she steps back, holding up a hand to halt my advance. The rejection stings like a slap. "We need to talk," she says, her voice cool and businesslike. "There's a problem at the company that requires your attention." O

ALICEI watch Alex’s broad shoulders as he walks back to the pack house, my vision blurring with hot tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks. A suffocating tightness grips my chest - I can't believe Alex just spoke to me like that, with such cold finality in his deep voice. After our magical dates, I really thought I could convince him to be mine again, to rekindle the passionate love we once shared. But I was so wrong. The painful memory of him refusing to even take me to the hospital once the three days were up flashes through my mind, sending a fresh wave of anguish washing over me. Could Alex truly no longer be mine? The devastating thought finally unleashes the tears, sending them cascading down my face in salty rivers.I run past him, my feet carrying me blindly toward one of my mates' rooms as sobs wrack my body. Bursting through Lorenzo's door, I'm greeted by the warm, familiar smell of his scent. Soft light from the floor lamp in the corner casts a warm glow over the roo

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I channel my focus on the reassuring weight of Alex’s hand against my back, allowing his familiar scent to wash over me and calm my frayed nerves. The press conference didn't rattle me nearly as much as tonight's high-stakes event. Any misstep here could cost Alex his future as Alpha, a consequence I desperately want to avoid. While his accusations of cheating infuriated me, I never wished for him to be stripped of his rightful position in such a humiliating manner.As we step through the grand doors of the ballroom, every eye turns towards us, the weight of their scrutiny palpable. It's hardly surprising, given that we've become the subject of intense gossip in both the human and werewolf worlds. I plaster a polite smile on my face, nodding in recognition at the familiar faces from our engagement ceremony. Their reciprocated greetings are a promising sign - no one is

ALICE I've been holed up in this hotel room for days, ignoring the incessant calls and texts from Cameron and Lorenzo. I'm still too angry with them to face going home, where everything reminds me of that bitch Hannah and all she's stolen from me. It's bad enough she took Alex, but now the two people who were always on my side have turned against me, too. I feel like I have nowhere left to turn. Flipping on the TV, I hope to find something mind-numbing to watch, but instead, I'm confronted with images of Alex and Hannah, his eyes shining with sickening adoration for her. White-hot rage boils in my veins as I watch, my knuckles turning white from gripping the cigarette too tightly. It should be me by his side, not that conniving whore. "Fuck!" The scream tears from my throat, echoing off the walls.