All Chapters of Shadows of Desire: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The invitation had been embossed in gold and smelled faintly of expensive perfume when Victor slipped it into my hand earlier that week.“A gala?” I’d asked, half in disbelief. “You? Mr. Shadows-and-Silk?”He’d smirked, adjusting his cufflinks. “Even wolves put on tuxedos, Cassie.”Now, standing on the marble steps of the Kensington Hotel, I began to understand. This wasn’t just a party—it was a display. A chessboard of wealth, politics, and glittering eyes that missed nothing.Victor offered his arm, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored black tuxedo. “Nervous?” he murmured, his lips brushing my ear as though we were already sharing a secret.I swallowed. “A little. I’m used to… leather, not lace.”His smile was dangerous. “Don’t worry. I’ll remind you whose leash you’re on later.”Heat surged through me, scandalous under the surface of my sleek navy gown. “You can’t just say things like that when I’m about to walk into a ballroom full of senators and CEOs.”“I can,” he said,

The mood in Elysium had shifted again. What was once velvet and candlelight now carried an undertone of suspicion, like smoke clinging to silk. Even laughter in the lounge sounded cautious, eyes darting before every smile, as though betrayal might be hiding behind the next glass of champagne.I found Marco in the side corridor near the sound booth, his arms folded across his chest, staring at the control board like it had personally wronged him. His dark hair was tied back tonight, jaw tense in concentration.“Trying to will it into confessing?” I teased softly, stepping closer.His lips twitched, though the smile didn’t quite make it to his eyes. “You’d be surprised how often that works.”“Victor told me he gave you a task,” I said carefully.Marco’s gaze slid to mine, sharp and wary. “Did he now?”I nodded, lowering my voice. “He said you’re… monitoring. Watching communications. Looking for cracks in the walls.”Marco sighed, leaning against the booth. “That man tells you more than

The lounge smelled faintly of leather and warm spices that night, the kind of atmosphere that usually enveloped me like a blanket. But instead of laughter or the hum of casual conversation, there was a sharpness in the air. Voices cut through, too sharp, too loud.I slipped inside quietly and noticed Marco standing near the bar, his shoulders stiff, his expression controlled but tight. Across from him sat a man I didn’t recognize—silver-haired, sharp-suited, the kind of older Dominant who radiated entitlement instead of elegance. His drink was half-drained, and so was his patience.“I’ll say it plainly,” the man sneered, leaning forward. “A true Dominant doesn’t switch. The very idea cheapens the role. It’s indecisive at best, weak at worst.”Marco’s jaw flexed, his eyes flashing though his voice remained deceptively calm. “Respectfully, sir, a role doesn’t define the strength of the person. A switch understands both perspectives. That’s power, not weakness.”The man chuckled bitterly

The red envelope wouldn’t leave me alone. Even after I shoved it deep into my bag, even after Victor’s vow to protect me, its weight stayed lodged in my chest like an iron hook. The photos weren’t just evidence—they were pieces of me, stolen, stripped of context, stripped of safety.By the time I found myself standing outside Victor’s office later that night, my pulse was a runaway drum. I didn’t knock. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.He was there, as always, behind his desk. Shadows carved across his jawline, his sleeves rolled back, his tie discarded, as though he’d just come from a battlefield instead of a club.“Cassie.” His voice was low, commanding. But his eyes softened when they met mine.I closed the door behind me, my hand lingering on the knob. “We need to talk.”He leaned back slowly, steepling his fingers. “About the photos.”“Yes.” I crossed the room, my heels clicking against the floor, each step fueled by a mixture of fear and fury. “I can’t… pretend this is

I never thought signing my name could feel like surrender.The folder lay open on Victor’s desk, its pages neatly stacked, the contract we had read and dissected clause by clause. But tonight was different. Tonight, the words weren’t just lines on paper—they were a ritual.Victor stood beside me, dressed not in his usual tuxedo armor, but in black shirt and slacks, sleeves rolled, collar open. His power wasn’t hidden behind silk and polish tonight—it radiated from his bare presence.“Are you ready, little one?” His voice was low, intimate, but threaded with gravity.My hands trembled slightly as I touched the pen. “I’m nervous.”He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Nervous means you understand the weight of this. That’s good. I don’t want obedience born of ignorance—I want surrender born of choice.”I swallowed, my voice trembling. “Then yes. I’m ready.”He smiled faintly, not the cold smile he gave the world, but the one that belonged only to me. “Then let us begin.”H