Semua Bab The ice reaper and His blonde obsession : Bab 1 - Bab 10

VALENTINAAll my life I had lived for a single vision, the day I’d finally pack my bags and move in with my everything. My boyfriend. My mate. In a world that felt constantly tilted off its axis, he was the only thing the Moon Goddess had ever gotten right.But I couldn't let myself daydream yet. Not while the fluorescent lights of the office hummed overhead like a migraine. My desk was a graveyard of unfinished spreadsheets and inventory logs. If I didn't get these delivered by end-of-day, my stepmother wouldn't just be disappointed, she’d make my life a living hell. She had a way of making wicked look like a personality trait, and she delighted in burying me under enough busywork to ensure I never had a moment to breathe.The ache in my chest was physical, a dull, throbbing weight. Missing Harold for this long wasn't just lonely, it was damaging. Staying away from your mate for too long starts to fray the edges of your soul, but the end was finally in sight. I was leaving this hel

VALENTINAThe mansion stood like a fortress of glass and steel in the heart of New York City. I had barely stepped out of my cab when the front doors swung open."Valentina!"Zuria, my best friend, came charging toward me. I dropped my bags as she threw her arms around me, pulling me into a hug that smelled like expensive perfume. It had been so long since she’d moved to the city to dominate the fashion industry, and seeing her thrive made my chest ache with a mix of pride and envy.She dragged me inside, her heels clicking against the marble floors of an apartment so luxurious it felt like a movie set."You can stay as long as you want," Zuria said, her eyes flashing with protective fire. "I’m barely here anyway. I never thought Harold was that kind of coward, Valentina. And your stepmother? That bitch deserves a special place in hell for what she did.""Please, Zuria," I whispered, holding up a hand. "I don’t want to talk about them. The game is tomorrow and I have zero plans. I don

VALENTINAMy heart was pounding so hard it hurt. I looked at this man, this vile human who was the only person offering me a way out of my shame. The bond between us hummed low, pushing me to say yes.I wiped my nose with the back of my hand and looked up at him."Tell me, what do I have to do?".And then he moved even closer, his shadow swallowing me. "This is the Val I know," he said in a low tone."Don’t come any closer," I snapped, though my voice lacked conviction. "And you do not know a thing about me.""Oh, yes I do," he said, reaching out to tangle his fingers in the side of my hair. "I call the shots, so I tell you what to do." He tapped my cheek, a gesture that felt more like a brand than a touch and then he strode back to the large leather sofa.The room felt colder the moment he stepped away. His face had shifted into a small, sharp frown that meant business. I hated the way he sounded, but my body was a traitor. His scent was making my head spin. I was angry and horny at

HORACEThe cigar smoke swirled around the dark VIP lounge as I drove into Roxa with a force that should have broken her. She was a regular, a professional, and right now, she was arched back against the leather sofa, screaming my name in a desperate plea for more. The cigar stayed clamped between my teeth, the bitter taste mixing with the scent of sex and sweat.Usually, this was heaven. Usually, Roxa’s body was enough to quiet the demons in my head. But today? It felt dull. It felt like I was eating ash.Every time I closed my eyes, I didn't see Roxa’s face. I saw Valentina’s tear-stained cheeks and those defiant, blonde hair. My body was working, my muscles were tensing, and I was hitting her with a force that was cold and punishing, but my mind was stuck with her in it. The way Valentina’s skin felt under my hands, soft and forbidden, was ruined by the ghost of her.I had sworn by the gods I was done with the mate bond. After Deja died, after the tragedy that nearly burned my soul

HAROLDThe roar of my wolf, which had been a constant thrum in my ears, went dead silent. My stomach did a sickening flip. I looked at her, searching for the punchline, for the smirk that said she was just trying to ruin my night. But it wasn't there. There was only that cold, calculated hunger."Jacob?" I choked out, my voice sounding like it was coming from a mile away. "Don't look so hypocritical, Harold," she scoffed, blowing a cloud of smoke directly into my face. The scent was cloying, a mixture of luxury tobacco and a betrayal that tasted like ash. "You, I, and Jacob have been active for the past month, so don’t keep your face acting like this is all new. Now, for the last time, where is Jacob?"I stumbled back, my mind racing at a hundred miles per hour. If this was true, it wasn't just my career on the line. It was my life. If Valentina found out her stepmother was pregnant with her boyfriend’s child, there would be no coming back. No redemption. "You're lying," I hissed,