This Isn't About Him Novels & Stories

“Yeah… that guy is trouble.” I do not respond. Because for the first time, I am not thinking about Luca. I am thinking about Noah. And the fact that this is no longer just about a deal.

Then he said, “Ask me again in six months.” That made me laugh softly. I stood up and walked closer to him. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I asked. “With me pushing you into another war?” He shook his head. “This isn’t a war for power. It’s not about image or position or ego.” “Then what is it?” “It’s about us not letting other people write our story.” I felt something warm move through my chest. “That’s the first time you’ve said ‘us’ like that in a while.”

"This is not love at all..." ****

Not about Madison, not about Jett. "Fine."

I turned to face him, and for the first time, my heart was utterly still. "I forgive you, Sam. But not because I still love you. I forgive you because the past no longer matters to me." I lifted my mate certificate above my head, smiling. "Now I finally know what a real mate certificate looks like. Goodbye." Then I turned, hand outstretched toward Tom's waiting grasp. This time, I would seize my happiness with both hands.

“What?” “This could affect your future.” “No, it doesn’t.” “It could.” “It won’t.” “You don’t know that.” “I do.” “You don’t,” she says more firmly now. “You can’t.” Silence. Because she’s not saying it to hurt me. She’s saying it because she believes it. And that? That’s worse. “I’m not going to let him control this,” I say. “This isn’t just about him.” “Then what is it about?” She hesitates.

Whatever this was, it wasn’t something he had agreed to easily. “There are things I cannot say,” he replied. “Not yet. Not here.” I pushed off the bed and stood. “You just said this would set my friendship with Nyvara apart. You don’t get to drop something like that and expect me to smile and pack.” A muscle ticked in his cheek. “Lower your voice.” I did, but only barely. “Is this about Kael? About what you walked in on?” “This is bigger than Kael,” he said firmly. “Bigger than you”

“Too late for that. You know, for you to have this conversation, for you to be this cocky, it’s a little too late for that.” I exhaled smoke into the dark. “This isn’t about her. Nothing about this has anything to do with her.” “No?” He arched a brow. “Then why are you out here thinking about her instead of sleeping like a man who just got a whole treaty signed in blood and silk? You know, I'm unlike you is not the type to waste his life thinking about something unless it made an impression on him and unless it is going to give him more time. He just doesn't want to admit it out loud.”

was never about the money. ​It was about the Expansion of the Soul.

“Don’t say that to me.” “Why not?” I asked, my voice cracking. “It’s the truth.” He shook his head slowly. “Then it’s a truth I don’t ever want to hear again.” The words stung worse than I expected. He sighed heavily and pressed his hands against the back of a chair, as if trying to steady himself. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just about you and him. There’s more at stake than your feelings.” I frowned. “Adrian..