All Chapters of The Alpha's Contract Mistress: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“What ball?” I questioned as she stepped out of the car.“The mating ball,” she said, clearly surprised I wasn’t aware.“Uhm…I really don’t think Cassian would want me there,” I said truthfully. “I’ll worry about Cassian. You just… pick a dress.” What she didn’t realize was that a ‘crowded’ event like the mating ball was the very place I’d want to be. *Rosalia hadn’t lied when she said the store offered the very best. I couldn’t hold back my gasp as I walked past the dresses on display. They were simply breath-taking.“Beautiful, right?”“Yes,” I agreed, “They truly are.”“If you love that one so much, you can have it.” Once, I’d give anything to own a dress like that. Each dress on display was uniquely different from the next and yet, all artistically beautiful. One particular blue dress, which cascaded down the mannequin in layers, reminded me of sea waves. I had no doubt that had been the designer's inspiration.‘You’re a mistress, nothing more. Never forget your place.’ Th

ALPHA CASSIAN’S POV.A FEW HOURS EARLIER…“Alpha, you have a visitor.” my secretary, Jacinta informed me.“I don’t remember scheduling any meeting for the afternoon.” “You didn’t.”“Then tell whoever it is, I’m occupied.”The files before me would take days to sort. Plus, I needed to review the pack financial reports, then go ahead to read every complaint that had been forwarded from the sections to us.“I did. But he believes you’d want to see him.” I looked away from the files. “Who is he?” Whoever it was, he sure had guts.“Mr. Adolphus.”Figures.“Let him through.” It’s not every day one gets a visit from the Bishopp.Adolphus walked in, looking just as gray as I remembered him to be. “Welcome, welcome.” I said, offering him a seat. “I have to say, I never thought of you as one who gave surprise visits.”“I’m not. And I tell you, it’s truly a pain that I had to travel all this way,” he said gruffly. I took out a bottle of our finest whiskey, and two glasses. I poured him o

ELOISE (RUBY)He’d seen me at my most vulnerable. He knew my fears, my hopes—he knew everything, and it scared me more than I’d ever like to admit. And as he watched me with those enchanting eyes, I wondered what was going through his mind. I wondered if he was going to keep true to his words, or if this was all just a game to him.“Don’t give me hope only to snatch it away.”I’d had everything taken from me, and I’d believed there was nothing more to be taken, but I realized I was wrong. He cupped my cheeks gently, “I won’t.”There was a sincerity to those words, and for the first time in years, I wanted to believe. I wanted to trust someone other than myself. Because unlike Jefferson, Cassian never led me into believing he was actually a good person. From the first day I’d met him, he’d told me exactly the kind of monster he was and he never tried concealing that nature.My gaze fell to his tattoo. It was a tulip flower, occupying the left half of his body. I lifted my fingers, sl

ELOISE (RUBY)I woke up to an empty bed—not that I expected him to stay.On the drawer beside me was a glass of water and some after pills. I sat up, swallowed the pills, before heading to the bathroom.I stepped into the shower closure, then turned on the shower. The hot liquid scared my skin, and yet the pain was exactly what I needed.It all came back. Every word he’d said to me, then the kiss… then… I broke into tears. No matter how many times the water washed away my tears, it didn’t stop flowing.Cassian hadn’t asked for sex last night but I’d willingly offered myself. I’d whored myself to him like some cheap slut and I’d enjoyed every second of it.I hated myself. I hated the fact that I couldn’t even bring myself to feel guilty for my actions. Last night shouldn’t have felt right and yet… it did.After minutes of sitting on the shower floor, disgusted in myself. I rose to my feet, turned off the shower and stepped out.The knock on the door brought me to a pause. Pulling the

Thirteen years ago…“Eloise baby, you’re going to be late for school!” My mother called from outside my room, but I remained on the bed, holding onto Tommy, my stuffed bear. “Eloise?” she called, stepping into the room, “Why aren’t you dressed yet?”“I don’t want to go to school, mama.”“Why would you say that?” she questioned in surprise. I’d always loved school.“Because everyone in school believes I’m a weirdo and a freak,”“No one thinks that!”“That’s a lie! Everyone thinks that! They call me an outsider—Melisa said I don’t belong in this pack because I’m an orphan.”She gasped, “What? Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” she questioned, trying to blink back tears from her eyes, but I’d already seen it.“Because…I didn’t want you to be sad,” and that was the truth. My foster mother, Nellrose, was a good woman with a pure heart and she loved me just as she would her own child, but I’d kept the truth about the constant bullying I had to endure in school from her because I kn