Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 61 - Chapitre 70

VanessaCaleb and I met near the kennels, just like we’d planned. He leaned against the wall, casual, until he saw me. He went completely still. A beat of silence hung in the air, and I felt my presence land harder, knowing he was seeing me for the first time like this.Then he pushed off the wall and whistled.“Damn.”I smirked, a little proud despite myself. “Are you going to say something or just stare?”He gave a mock bow, a deep, exaggerated flourish that emphasized how different I must look. “My dear, dear, gorgeous lady.”I laughed. “Get up. You look stupid.”His eyes held mine, gazing at me with adoration. “You’re a gorgeous queen.”Despite my resolve not to be swayed, I couldn't deny the spark of pleasure his compliment ignited within me. The warmth in his eyes made my skin prickle with awareness. It was nothing close to how Alec made me feel, but it was something.Together, we headed to the community center. Stepping into the main venue, I felt the green dress shift against

VanessaThe scent of lemon soap clung to my fingers as I pushed the mop across the tiled corridor. The morning sun came in through the stained-glass windows, casting red and gold patches along the floor. My palms ached from wringing the mop too hard. But I didn't mind. My head was somewhere else.Earlier, at midnight, the crowd started pouring out under the moonlight. It was a giddy chaos of voices and bodies. I could feel the pull of the bond tightening around my lungs, making it hard to breathe right.People were laughing, tugging at each other, shouting as they sprinted into the clearing beyond the courtyard. A few had already started shifting. I knew what this was. The mate pull always flared under the moon. If I stayed one more second, I was going to lose control.All around me, wolves had spilled out into the garden, running wild under the open sky. It was beautiful to see scents crossing and mates colliding. There were howls of joy, a few scuffles, one poor female who passed ou

VanessaMaya’s voice rang sharp against the walls. Her fingernails dug into my forearm before I could fully pull away.Her palm landed on my shoulder, then again across my neck, dragging me forward.“I said, where is it?!” she yelled at the top of her lungs.She hit me again. Her hand came down hard against the side of my face. I staggered, steadied myself on the mop sink, and braced for another one. Her open palm flew again and again until my cheek throbbed and my breath grew tight.“Stealing from me?” Maya said. “You’ve grown bold. Or maybe stupid.”“I didn't. I swear,” I trembled.It was a struggle not to hit her back. If I raised my hand, if I even moved too fast, there’d be no undoing it. She was pregnant. It didn’t matter that I was Alpha. Maya was the favored one. The moment I touched her, even in defense, the story would change.Alec wouldn’t ask what happened. Caleb would be furious. People would say I struck a pregnant woman. She would say I was jealous. Most people would be

AlecBack in the van, silence settled between us. The restaurant lights had faded behind us, and the evening air carried the scent of tar and cut grass through the cracks in the windows. Vanessa hadn’t spoken since we left. Her fingers pressed against the hem of her dress, moving only when the van turned.I reached over.“Talk to me, darling. What’s eating you up?”She didn't respond. Neither did she pull away.My hand brushed the inside of her arm where her sleeve had ridden up. Her skin was warm, silk-soft, but her body didn’t lean into mine the way it used to. Her face turned toward me, but her eyes didn’t follow.“Talk to me,” I repeated. “You’ve been unusually quiet.”She looked away.“I’m not much of a talker.”“That’s not true.”She turned her face fully now but didn’t answer.I shifted closer, one knee brushing hers. My palm settled gently on her thigh, fingers splaying with practiced ease. Still no movement.“I can’t read you today,” I said softly. “I hate that.”She looked a

MayaMy legs gave out, folding under me as if I’d been shot. I sank onto the edge of the couch. The air seemed to vanish from the room, leaving me suspended in a vacuum of disbelief. The silence that followed wasn't peaceful but painfully loud, buzzing with the echo of his cruel words.My voice came out as a hoarse whisper. "Do you know how small this makes me look?"He didn’t answer. His silence was a confirmation that he didn't care.I looked up, tears blurring his impassive form. My body collapsed as I cried into my thighs."What have I done?" I sobbed, the question tearing from my gut. "Why won’t you love me? What is so wrong with me?" The questions echoed in the room.Alec stood a few paces away, watching like I was a spectacle he was merely observing."I can’t—" I looked up, my face wet with tears. "Don’t just stand there. Say something!”He shifted slightly. When he spoke, his tone was gentle but distant. "Maya, you need to breathe." He was treating me like a hysterical child,