Chapter 81- Not Your Toy

Kaela’s POVI left the main room and walked fast toward the bathroom. I kept my face calm as I passed people, even though my chest felt tight. The mate-bond kept pulling at me, and I didn’t want anyone to notice. I didn’t stop to greet anyone. I didn’t look around for Taren. If I searched, people would read my face.The bathroom was bright and quiet. I went straight to the sink and held the edge with both hands. I looked down and took a few slow breaths. I splashed cold water on my wrists and stayed there until my pulse slowed. The bond still hurt, but I forced my shoulders down and kept my jaw loose. Tension shows, even when you try to hide it.The door opened behind me.I looked up into the mirror. Amélie stepped inside and shut the door. She didn’t act surprised to find me there. She leaned against the door like she came on purpose, like she was waiting for a private moment.“Running away?” she asked.I turned to face her. “Move,” I said. “I’m not here for you.”Amélie smiled, but

Last Updated : 2026-05-22

Chapter 82 — The Kiss He Used

Kaela’s POVI didn’t go far after I pushed Taren away. I walked down the darker hallway, but I could still hear the auction behind me, music, laughter, the host calling numbers, glasses clinking. It felt wrong, like the yacht was treating real problems like a party.My chest still hurt from the bond, so I kept my breathing slow and my face flat so no one could read me. I hated that I had to act calm while my wolf stayed tense inside me.Footsteps followed behind me, steady and controlled. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Mateo’s scent came first, clean and sharp, like he wanted me to notice him before he even spoke.“Kaela,” he said.I stopped and turned my head slightly. “What?”Mateo came closer, but he didn’t touch me. He watched my face like he was checking how much I could take before I snapped.“You’re making mistakes tonight,” he said.“Don’t talk like you own my choices,” I replied.He didn’t flinch. “I don’t. But I know what Eleanor is doing. I know what she plans ne

Last Updated : 2026-05-23

Chapter 83 - Three Minutes to Mark Him

Kaela’s POVMateo was still too close to the window when the door slammed open. I turned fast, and Taren stood in the doorway.His Alpha power filled the room right away. Mateo stayed still, but his eyes narrowed as he watched. Taren looked at Mateo first, then at me. He crossed the room fast and grabbed my hand.“You’re coming with me,” he said.His grip was firm. I opened my mouth to speak, but he already started pulling me toward the door. “Taren, wait,” I said, because I could feel how close he was to losing control. He didn’t slow down.We reached the doorway, and the hallway filled at once. Amélie appeared first. Two guards came with her, both blocking the space in front of Taren. Their hands were raised like they were ready to stop him by force. Amélie’s eyes went straight to my hand in his. Her smile was sharp.“So,” she said, “you really can’t control yourself.”Taren tried to step past her. A guard shifted in front of him. Another stepped to the side, closing the gap. Taren’

Last Updated : 2026-05-23

Chapter 84 — Three Minutes in the Dark

Kaela’s POVThe lights went out. One second I could see the deck and the crowd, and the next I couldn’t see my own hand in front of my face. The auction noise didn’t stop. It got louder, and people laughed like the dark gave them freedom.Bodies shifted fast around me. Shoes scraped. Dresses brushed past. Perfume hit my nose and it made breathing harder than it should have been. I held my shoulders stiff and kept my chin up, even though my chest still hurt from the bond.A hand settled on my waist. It was Mateo. His grip was firm. It wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t sexual either. It felt like he was keeping me from being pushed around while everyone moved in the dark. I stayed still because I didn’t want to stumble into strangers.Mateo l

Last Updated : 2026-05-24

Chapter 85- The Handprint on His Face

Kaela’s POVThe deck stayed dark, and I couldn’t see faces, only moving shapes. People laughed, moved fast, and bumped into each other like rules didn’t matter. Perfume and lipstick smells filled the air, mixed with the scent of many female wolves.Mateo stayed close behind me. His hand was on my waist, firm and steady, like he was keeping me from being shoved around. I didn’t want his touch, but the crowd was too close, and I didn’t want to fall or get grabbed by the wrong person. My bond with Taren kept pulling at my chest, sharp and constant.Astra was tense inside me. Her voice shook with panic. “I can hear them,” she said. “They are touching his neck.”I tried to breathe slowly. Wolves notice everything. If I pan