Lahat ng Kabanata ng CONTRACT-BOUND DESIRE: A STRIPPER AND HER ALPHA: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

SAGE'S POV“What were you doing? Creep!!"My voice came out sharper than I meant it to, already rising with panic before I even fully processed what I was seeing. As soon as my eyes adjusted properly and I took in the gray sheets, the dark furniture, and the unfamiliar surroundings, I knew something was very wrong. Dante didn’t even react immediately; instead, he walked towards the side of the room, pulling on his shirt as if my confusion was nothing but background noise. Like I was the one disturbing something normal, and that alone made my chest tighten more because nothing about this felt normal. I pushed myself up quickly and instantly regretted it when my head spun slightly. Nausea hit me and I gripped his side drawer trying my best to focus. Taking in deep breaths, my eyes scanned the gray sheets, the walls, and the gloomy decor and it slowly sank in. This was not my room. It wasn't even close to my room“Okay no,” I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning everything ag

SAGE'S POVCrystal had been bent over my ankle for what felt like forever.Tugging at the stupid bandage like it had personally offended her, while I sat on the edge of the couch trying not to kick her in the face every time she pulled too hard.“Would you hold still?” she muttered, her purple hair falling slightly into her face as she tried again.“I am trying to get this off without you losing the whole leg in the process.”“I am holding still,” I said immediately, though my leg betrayed me by twitching the second she loosened it slightly, because the moment I felt the pressure start to come off my ankle I swear my entire body almost sighed in relief.Two days.Two long, boring, frustrating days of being stuck in the house like I had been grounded by life itself.Watching Crystal leave almost every morning while I stayed behind pretending I was fine with it, when really I was slowly losing my mind from doing absolutely nothing.I always wanted a vacation after dancing but this was n

SAGE'S POV“I said I'm fine, Crystal. If I can survive everything that has been happening in this house, then I can survive standing for a few more minutes,” I muttered, nudging the oven door shut with my foot and straightening up even though my ankle gave that small annoying pulse that reminded me it was still healing.For a wolf, I had the healing time of a snail.Crystal made a face from where she was perched on the counter, one leg swinging lazily while her fingers moved across her phone. “You said that yesterday and you almost fell down the stairs.”“I didn't fall,” I replied, grabbing the tray and sliding it onto the counter. The smell of slightly burnt cookies hit me immediately, making me whine and I pulled off the mitt, tossing it aside. “And don't even start. I know they're burnt. I got distracted.”“You mean you were staring into space like a tragic heroine,” she said, finally glancing up at me.I narrowed my eyes at her before reaching for one of the cookies anyway. I was

SAGE'S POVI sat on the edge of Crystal's bed, watching her get ready. She was humming softly to herself as she applied a pretty pink lip tint, spreading it carefully across her lips with her finger.Even though she kept insisting this wasn't a date, just "going out with Cade to have fun," I could see the extra effort she was putting in.The purple dress she chose matched her hair perfectly, it was practically the same shade and somehow, it went well with her brown roots.Making it look like it was intentional, rather than a growth.Cleaning the sides of her lips and blowing a kiss to the mirror she turned around giving me a big smile. "Sooo...how do I look?"Her hands trailed through the tweed fabric and my lips stretched into a fond smile."You look really pretty. That dress is perfect on you."Her face took on a pale pink colour, and she revealed the bun I had helped with.I had my doubts at first but from the looks of it, I needed an award or something. It tied the whole look toge

DANTE'S POVIn all the ways I imagined Sage meeting my dad, this was never one of them."Oh please, let's not act like you ever even imagined a way," my wolf growled, his voice dripping with an emotion I wasn't sure I liked.Whether or not his words were true wasn't my business. My main issue was how to survive this meeting without giving my father any odd clues.I had imagined a controlled introduction, something formal and distant, something I could manage.But she just had to walk straight into his room. She threw a glance at me, then at him, and I watched her put on a nervous smile."It's lovely to meet you, sir," she said in that overly elegant voice. The same one she used when my mother was present for dinner. "I'm sorry I'm a bit underdressed. I wasn't expecting to meet you so soon.""Oh please, I'm not a deity or something of that sort," my father joked, waving his hand as if trying to push away the idea. "There's no time like the present. Come close, let me take a look at you