Alle Kapitel von The Maid Who Was the Alpha's Mate : Kapitel 11 – Kapitel 20

Soraya Miller’s POV I stayed exactly where I was. It wasn't my conversation, and it definitely wasn't my business. Yet somehow my feet refused to move, partly because I was terrified of getting caught. . .and partly because I needed to know what was going on. “Tell me again,” Rielle's voice reached my ears. My stomach twisted. Tell her what? Jenna's features lit up as she began rather confidently. “Like I said before, Miss. . .late that evening. . .returned to my room. . .” The music and laughter drowned out most of what she was saying, but I picked up enough to recognize the story she was telling. Listen, Azura stirred. The word brushed against my mind and I swallowed. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to let her closer for one second. My pupils narrowed as heat rippled beneath my skin. The sounds of crystal wares and fabric rubbing against fabric blurred together until only Rielle's voice remained. “Interesting,” Rielle said in a way that caused Jenna's smile to falter.

Soraya Miller’s POV The car was filled with silence, a comfortable one, after Lucien had turned off his stereo the minute we got in. Through the side mirror, I watched Charlotte's vibrant skyline disappear behind us as the buildings quickly got replaced with forest and streetlights became fewer. I sat almost motionless, my mind still racing no matter how numb I tried to be. As we got closer to the familiar route next to Lake Norman, Lucien took a sharp right turn away from the direction leading to the Blackwater Estate. “Where exactly are we going?” I quietly asked. His eyes never left the road as he said, “You'll see.” I looked away from him, wondering why I consistently found myself in situations where I had to completely rely on someone lately. The road ahead wound through pine trees and the sounds of the city had completely been replaced by crickets. I spotted a few old fences and abandoned stone structures. I'll admit the scenery was visually appealing, but not when it w

Soraya Miller’s POV I followed Rielle up the grand staircase to the third floor, the sound of our footsteps nearly swallowed the thick carpet beneath them. The familiar passageway became quieter as the chaos from the afterparty gradually faded behind us. Unlike the servants' floor below, this part of the manor always felt like a different world with its softer lighting, larger windows and expensive paintings lining the wall. It suited the people who belonged here. Rielle came to a stop in front of a set of double doors and pushed one open. It wasn't her bedroom like I'd expected. Instead, it was one of the family's private sitting rooms furnished with a cream sofa, two armchairs, and all the possible quiet luxury that could fit into the space. Rielle stepped inside, and I hesitantly followed after her. My heart sank as the door clicked shut behind me. Beyond the tall glass doors by the corner was a balcony that overlooked the dark estate grounds. She walked up to it,

Soraya Miller’s POV Why the fuck did I do that? That was the only question that plagued my mind as I opened my eyes when it was brighter outside. I'd barely been able to sleep a wink the entire night. Only tossing and turning as flashes of our sinful encounter assaulted my mind. My body still ached, and that was part of the reason Clara gave me extra time to prepare when she'd dropped off my new uniform at seven in the morning. She hadn't said much when she'd seen me half-dead beneath the covers. She'd simply taken one look at me, set the neatly folded uniform on the chair and told me I had another hour before I needed to report to Rielle. I knew what that meant. Clara was trying to keep her promise. She couldn't exactly reduce my workload while I was assigned to Rielle, but she could at least give me an extra hour to recover when I looked like I'd been run over by a truck. I appreciated it more than I could say, especially today. “When you're ready, go downstairs and collec

Cassian Blackwell’s POV The fourth floor was usually the quietest part of the manor. But at this time, with most of the household asleep, it took on a different feel. The light from my office remained on as I sat behind my desk, going through the latest revisions to the Thorne-Blackwell Strategic Consolidation Agreement. For nearly an hour, the document had been sitting in front of me, and I had already read the same sections twice. As always, the agreement was straightforward on paper. The Thornes would provide access to their stabilization resources and research, invest in several Blackwater holdings and extend their political network to protect the interests of both families. There were also favorable territory arrangements and a joint venture that could expand Blackwater's reach considerably over the next few years. In return, the Blackwells would grant the Thornes majority control of one of our more lucrative companies, along with access to our security network, politi