Novelbar-new-j1's Captivating Facebook Ads

😍His thumb circles my clit with ruthless precision, each stroke sending lightning through my veins. His cock pulses inside me, thick and insistent, stretching me just shy of pain. My back arches off the bed, every nerve alight—I’m so close—but he slows, grinning against me. "Not yet."🔥 …… Chapter 1 Bailey I looked at the clock on my bedroom wall. I think I have delayed the inevitable for as long as I physically can. I should go to the packhouse to go and wish our pack's upcoming Alpha a happy birthday. The bane of my life. My brother’s best friend. One day to be Alpha Miles. Today he will turn 17, and meet his Alpha wolf. In all honesty, he was egotistical enough, thinking the world revolved around him, without him adding to that by finally gaining his wolf. Not your run-of-the-mill werewolf either. Oh no, Miles Davenport was destined to be an Alpha, so he would have a strong and powerful Alpha wolf, only adding to his arrogance and strength. The crazy thing is, Miles had once upon a time been one of my closet friends too. In my younger childhood... Friends, that kind of thing comes when your father is the Beta to the Alpha. The children spend a lot of time together, and become friends. My older brother, Jordan, became the wing-man to Miles. His closest friend and ally, who as his Beta when the time came, was only right. But as the years went on, the friendship between Miles and I changed. Friendship faded as he grew into a more popular sports star of our school. At the end of the day, he was always going to be popular, he was the upcoming Alpha after all, but as one of the top sports stars too, he was idolized. As was my brother. All the girls in school flocked around them like they were pop stars or something, and it was bizarre. I was nothing more to him now but a source of amusement for him and his sports buddies. A geek. Not one of the beauty queens who followed him around. Simply someone to make fun of. I had gone from enjoying time with my one-day Alpha, to hating him, in the space of a school year. He thought he was god’s gift, and in all honesty, if he was, he is a gift I would return… “Bailey!” I heard my Mum call from downstairs, telling me I was definitely running it close now for time. I know Jordan had already headed over to the packhouse a while ago with my Dad to meet his friend and our Alpha. “I know.” I yelled back, looking at the books on my desk, desperate to continue with the assignment I was working on. I would so much rather continue working on the assignment and gain the additional credit available, work toward going to the college I want to go to instead of going to a party for the big-headed bully, I got to consider almost family, considering he was the son of my Dad’s best friend. I stood from my seat, and walked to my mirror, adjusting my black skater dress I had chosen to wear today. Something plain and simple, easy to blend into the background, but a dress all the same if anyone asked why I hadn’t made an effort. Along with my chunky black sandals, I looked presentable, not that anyone would be looking at me. Today, all eyes would be on the birthday boy, as they always were. He would make sure of that. I flicked back my curly brown hair, before I walked out of the door, already dreading the hours that lay ahead… My Mum pulled the car into the parking spaces outside the packhouse, while my younger sister Morgan was flicking at the curls around my head, simply trying to irritate me. She knew I would rather be anywhere but here right now, and was loving every last moment of it. “Aww, you want to go home Bailey-boo?” she teased. “Stop you two, come on, your Dad is waiting inside. Let us go and find the birthday boy.” Mum says, sounding cheerful, completely oblivious to the fact how horrendous this party had the potential to be. She, too, worshiped Miles. Having seen him grow up alongside my brother, she seemed to think the sun shone out of his rear-end. It had always driven me insane. “He won’t even notice us there.” I muttered under my breath as I followed her up the steps of the back house, shaking my head at my sister and how overdressed she looked. She definitely looked like she was out to impress someone today. A small part of me wondered if she hoped she might be the fated mate of Miles. After all, he was meeting his Alpha wolf today. He will have shifted for the first time today, and today could potentially be the day he can sense his fated mate out there waiting for him! There had been so much buzz around school about this, so many of the girls were excited about the potential possibility they could be his fated mate. The one chosen for him by the moon goddess. The one destined to be with him. So many of them are desperate for it to be them. While there I was desperate for anything but. I could think of nothing worse! Yet, looking at the amount of effort my younger sister had made today, I am beginning to think she was one of the many she-wolves that was holding out that hope… We walked through the corridors of the packhouse, and it was filled with various pack members. Today was a day of celebration within pack, the birthday of the upcoming Alpha. And not just any birthday, the day he came of age. The day he met his Alpha wolf. The walls of the packhouse were adorned with decorations, music was blaring from various speakers dotted around the multiple rooms. “Ooff, sorry!” a giggling she-wolf said to me as she nearly knocked me off my feet as she knocked into me. I would rather be anywhere but here right now. This was far too hectic and far too loud for me. I simply glare at the back of the girl as she moves away from me, not a care in the world. I followed my Mum and my sister, who was almost skipping as she walked, toward the main lounge area. I can only assume my Mum had mindlinked my Dad to let him know we had arrived, and he said they were there, or else we could spend all day looking around for them! It appeared almost every member of the pack had turned up to celebrate the birthday of Miles Davenport. The lounge area was laden with people, music truly blasting, and everyone seeming to have a good time. Everyone but me. I caught the eye of my brother, leaning against the wall of the lounge, the furthest away from the door we had just walked into. He nodded in my direction before simply turning away. ‘Could have made an effort, Bailey.’ he mindlinked. ‘It is a birthday, not a funeral, you know?’ I felt my heart sink at his words. Great, the insults were starting already, which meant it would only be a matter of time until Miles started too. The two of them seemed to like working together like that. Finding great enjoyment in harassing me. I was only a year younger than both of them, and had desperately hoped the name-calling and insulting would ease off as they got a little older, but if anything, they seemed to get worse. All because I wasn’t like the girls they were interested in, I was sure of it. I wasn’t like the other girls. Made myself an easy target, my Mum told me, all because I enjoyed studying. Liked reading and learning. Said, I only made it harder for myself. The plan was to make it easier for myself by finding a way out… “Jordan says your dress looks like you are going to a funeral, Bailey.” Morgan teased, fluffing up my curls again. My long brown hair fell in thick, unruly curls down my back. They drove me mad at times. Especially when my brother and sister decide to mess with them. “Oh well, I wore a dress, like you asked.” I snapped, moving away from them, feeling angry already, so tempted just to turn around and walk home, only to be pulled back by my Mum. “We are going to wish Miles a happy birthday. You will stay for a while at least. I do not need to be explaining to your Aunt and Uncle yet again why you have walked out on a social event, Bailey.” Mum warned me, her tone sounding grumpy, I swear she had to have read my thoughts on leaving the party already. I am sure she hated having me as a daughter, likely wishing for one that was more sociable, and one that enjoyed being a part of everything, instead of one that would rather have her head in a book. “Awww, Happy Birthday, Miles!” I heard my sister squeal from by my side. I swear she spoke at a pitch so high only dogs could hear. Goddess knows why she is so excited. It is only his birthday. He likely doesn’t even care, he never normally does… As I looked up, his blue eyes were locked on me, I raised my gaze to meet his, and could see his eyes shift to a darker blue… was that his wolf? I see a snarl across his face as he suddenly storms from the room. What the hell was that about? ‘Get out here.’ Miles is suddenly mindlinking me, and I have to say he sounded far from impressed. That, combined with the angry expression on his face, told me something was off. Would he have rather I had not come? Well, he was not the only one… ‘What?’ I questioned, completely confused. Was he annoyed over how I had dressed too? Jeez, it was just a dress. Does it really matter? I would go home if it was. ‘Outside now.’ He demanded once more, sounding even more irritated this time, making me realize I had little choice but to follow his orders, so I snuck away from the ongoing party back to the doors of the packhouse. Only to find Miles pacing along the bottom of the steps, looking a mixture of confused and angry. So why did he need me here? Someone to take his anger out on? I was not willing to be that, I was sure about that… Just as I was about to walk away, he looked up. “ took you long enough.” He snapped. I frowned, unsure what this was all about, but it was making no sense to me as I looked down toward him from where I stood at the top of the packhouse steps. His blue eyes shifted to the dark blue once more, like they had inside, taking me by surprise. His wolf is clearly lingering… “What is wrong, Miles? Do you want me to get Jordan?” I asked. “No I do not! I do not want anyone knowing this.” He snarls, a growl slipping from his lips, though whether that was aimed at me or whether his wolf was angry at him, I do not know… “I don’t think I understand…” I began. “You soon will.” He sneers, and I simply look to him in confusion. Nothing he says makes sense to me. Until he continues. “Only today did I realize. The thought makes me sick. Why our own moon goddess would play a trick like this on me, I don’t know. I am an Alpha. A Alpha. I deserve a strong mate. A beautiful mate to be proud of. Not some feeble pathetic wallflower.” My body trembles at his words. No. I had yet to gain my wolf. I did not know this yet. Why… Why him of all people? “I am your fated mate?” I question with a shaky voice. “Are you sure?” “Are you doubting me?” he yells. “And you won’t be. The moment you have your wolf, I will decide when the time is right to reject you.” My heart twists and contorts at the thought. Rejection was meant to be the most painful thing possible. Why would he want to reject the mate chosen for him by our own moon goddess? Am I truly so repulsive? Chapter 2 Bailey A Year Later Yet another birthday party for our beloved upcoming Alpha. Ha. Not my beloved upcoming Alpha. I hated the fucker. Breaking my heart without a second thought. What I had done to deserve that I had never got a proper explanation from him. Other than the frequent insults, of why would he want to be with someone like me? Did I look like Luna material to him? I had no clue. What the hell did Luna material look like in his eyes? Some blond bimbo, no doubt. They were the she-wolves he tended to spend his time with within our pack. The ones who worshiped the ground he walked on. That would do anything he asked of them. Ones that I highly doubted read much more than the work set of them at school. “Bailey!” my Mum yelled at me from the stairway of our family home. “Will you hurry up?!” “Do I really need to come to the party?” I responded. “I am telling you, Miles will not be bothered if I am not there!” “Your Aunt and Uncle will be though. And I am not explaining to them again why you are missing.” My Mum continues yelling. “Do you not realize just how many events you have missed this year, all because you have your head in a book?” “Yeah Bai-Bai. Such a geek. No wonder you have no friends.” My sister Morgan giggles from outside my bedroom door. “Piss off.” I hissed. “I have friends.” I stormed from my room, and down the stairs toward my waiting family. I planned to greet the birthday boy, not that he would care in the slightest. I know that he would rather not see me at all. And then I would sneak home. “Ew, are you wearing that?” Morgan asked. I looked down at the skinny black trousers I had on and the white tank top. Great. I can’t win. Nothing I wear is approved of by my sister, evidently named the fashion queen without my knowledge. Oh well, I am dressed and wearing it. I think it looked good with my chunky black sandals I had on… I scowled at my sister and walked out of the door. “Are we going or not?” I snapped at them all, truly not able to wait for the following month when I leave to go to university. Get away from them, and this pack! The party was well underway when we arrived, music pounding from the speakers as couples made out in every available space, so I averted my eyes as we walked through the corridors of the packhouse to the lounge where we would no doubt find Miles reigning over his people. Being all important, like he was partial to considering himself. ‘Why are you here?’ Miles’s voice filled my mindlink, before I had even fully entered the room behind my parents. Great. ‘I didn’t get a choice. Trust me, I would rather not be.’ I snapped back. I was getting more than a little tired of the way he would treat me. Yes, he planned on rejecting me. Decided I was not for him, but he could have left it at that. I didn’t need treating like I was some sort of social pariah because of the fact he decided I was not right for him. I do not think I deserved that. I had endured enough bullying through my time in high school, for the fact I enjoyed my education. ‘Oh. Excuse me? Are you implying you were not going to come to the party of your next Alpha?’ Miles links with some serious attitude. ‘Miles, you just asked why I had bothered coming. Now you are asking if I was not going to come? Make your mind up.’ I argued. ‘Remember who I am Bailey. You are not above me. Never will be. Could have been equal to me at most had I seen you as suitable to be my mate, but no. You were beneath that honor.’ He sneers. I felt anger racing through me. ‘And you think I would not have rejected you?’ I snapped, moving back toward the exit, not wanting to be here anymore. Until I felt a hand grabbing the back of my tank top, yanking me back. My eyes darted upward to see the dark eyes of Miles. Sneering down at me. Our Pack’s upcoming Alpha. The most arrogant man I think I have ever met. One, thankfully, I did not have to be mates with any longer as the stupid fucker had chosen to reject his own fated mate before even giving her a chance. “Going somewhere Bailey?” he asked, his voice full of spite. “Well, I do believe you asked me why I was here, so I assumed you wanted me to leave.” I told him. Miles bows his head down so it is level with mine, he inhales deeply, like he still enjoys the scent of me. He has done this numerous times of late, which I find quite bizarre. But, I ignore him as he tilts his head to look at me, “Hmm, I think my Mum and Dad may have something to say if you leave. Their clever little Bailey. Heaven forbid.” He presses his forehead against mine. “Just stay away from me, and do not spoil my fun.” I shake my head in disbelief at him, as he stalks away. Did he even think for a moment I would be going near him if I could avoid it? I would rather be anywhere but near him! “Bailey, why are you harassing my friend for?” I heard my brother, Jordan demand, as he suddenly approached, causing many people to turn around and look at me. Wonderful. Nothing like starting pack gossip is there. I am sure Miles would appreciate that! “I wasn’t harassing him, he came to speak to me. Asking why I had come.” I told him, and my brother laughed. He is as much an idiot as Miles. Any of my friends who have big brothers hate how protective they are. Me? No, my big brother is the one leading all the bullying and being a total dick to me. He finds great embarrassment in the fact his younger sister is far from being one of the popular group, and is, in his words, ‘far too into her books’. I think, in all honesty, my entire family found me, in one way or another, a huge embarrassment. “Well, he has a point. Not like you will be joining in with the celebrations. You will probably be sitting in a quiet corner somewhere reading.” He teases. “Well, it is certainly more intellectually pleasing than any of you would be.” I smirked at him as I walked away from my brother who was standing looking confused. I am sure he had no clue what I meant. The scary thing is he will be the next, pack Beta. Heaven help our pack. Between him and Miles they only had one brain cell between them, and that was one that they shared, I am sure of it! And even then, I think it was rechargeable and started losing power and knowledge at a rapid rate! They only graduated high school because they paid people to do their work for them. As I snuck away, out of the busy lounge to the top of the stairway, where I hoped to hide out for as long as possible, I heard footsteps behind me. I quickly turned, hoping it was simply someone on their way to their bedroom or even to one of the spare bathrooms on this floor. But, sadly, luck was not on my side tonight. No. Miles was following me. Eyebrows raised and looking quite irritated. “Oi. I want to talk to you.” he demanded. “You asked me to go away a minute ago, didn’t you?” I asked him. “Don’t think so, think it was more a case of why you were here.” Miles says with a smirk. Sitting on the top step with me. “Miles, you have the whole pack here for your birthday, I am sure whatever you need to speak to me about can wait.” I shrugged, desperately craving peace, which, considering the pounding beat of the music playing, would be difficult. “No. Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” he questions, like he is irate at the fact I had not let him know. Why would I let him know? “Why would I? We aren’t friends, Miles. You also are not my Alpha yet. It was arranged with my parents, me and your Dad, as Alpha.” I explained to him, unsure why this would even bother him. If anything, I would think he would be glad to get rid of me. “You are going away though.” he murmurs. “That is generally what happens when you go to college or university. Yeah.” I said with another shrug. “There wasn’t one closer to home?” he hisses. “Because it seems to me you picked the one furthest away.” “What does it matter to you? You hate me. I won't be here, You get your wish of being rid of me.” I snapped, truly sick of him trying to dictate to me what I should and shouldn’t be doing. I had worked hard in school, so I could do this. My parents had spoken to my Aunt and Uncle, the Luna and Alpha of our pack to allow me special permission to go to a university out of state to study, saying it was what I had dreamed of. I had nothing holding me back. And, with the fact Miles did not want me for his mate, or his Luna, I truly did not. Not that any of them knew of that. That was our own secret. Even despite the pull to him as my mate since my wolf had arrived, I still found him truly repulsive. He sickened me. Though, the pains when he slept with the many she-wolves that visited his bed, made it even easier to detest the man that he had become. I still had no clue what I had done to deserve this treatment from this man, other than not being one of the popular group. But, I knew I deserved better than him. Miles glanced at me, momentarily a thoughtful look passed over his face, almost caring, before a hardness replaced it. “That much is true. No more having to see the disappointing failure the moon goddess made of mating me to you. At least not for a few years. Who knows, perhaps you will meet someone while there. I suggest you do. That way you won’t have to come back, because, I, as Alpha, will be looking for my Luna.” “Miles, I honestly do not care if you find someone else.” I told him, going to stand and head home, not wishing to spend another moment in the same place as him. As I went to move away, he grabbed my hand, pulling me to him, so I was once more sitting level with him on the top step of the first floor landing of our packhouse. “Always so righteous aren’t you Bailey? You say you don’t care? We will see. Well, this will be on my terms. I, Miles Davenport, reject you, Bailey West, as my fated mate…” he began, and my head began to whirl as his words sunk in. The realization and excruciating pain of what was happening becoming too much for me… Chapter 3 Bailey Three Years Later I drove the long road down to pack. I hated this drive. It was like returning to hell for me. Lotus Shadow Pack. My very own version of hell. Though, three years away, studying had been truly amazing. Transforming myself into the woman I should always have been. Confident. Self-assured. Brave. Just me. And now a fully qualified teacher. As a she-wolf, you spend so many years of your life being told your focus is finding your fated mate. Settling down with them and creating a strong matebond. A love. A family. Well, once I had come to accept that my naïve, teenage dreams would never surface, thanks to the moon goddess pairing me with a mate so incapable of loving anyone other than himself, I decided that my focus would be my career. My education had always been something I took great pride in. I loved to learn, and I had decided that I wanted to pass that gift along. I no longer cared what others thought of me. And, while at university, it felt so wonderful to be surrounded by others who felt the same way. I finally felt like I fit in somewhere. And, I believe that is what allowed me to become the person I was meant to be. However, now, I had to return to my pack, at their orders. The agreement was, once I had completed my degree, I would return home. Unless, of course, I had found my fated mate. But, I knew within my heart, that was never to happen. For, my fated mate sat at home. Lording it over our pack. Acting like he was the best thing since sliced bread. Sleeping with any she-wolf that came near him, from what I heard, having rejected me. I pulled up at our guarded pack gates. Harley, one of our pack warriors, currently on guard duty, stepped forward to my car window. “ID” he ordered. I frowned at him. I do not think I have been asked for ID before when returning home, even in all the times I have visited home, though in all fairness, those visits have been few and far between. My visits were only when they were required of me. I had grown to loathe this place, and coming back had become less of a priority for me over the time I was away... “Harley, it is me. Bailey.” I explained, trying not to smile at his mistake. Harley looked at me closer. “Shit. Sorry Bailey, didn’t really recognize you there. You changed your hair. And you aren’t wearing your glasses. You look good.” He says with a shrug, quickly looking away, clearly embarrassed by his faux-pas. I smirk at his response. Yes, my hair is somewhat tamer than it used to be. The curls straightened out, and my hair now neat and sleek down my back. My glasses I had worn for reading had been long gone. Having got my eyes fixed with laser eye surgery whilst away. Plus, I now wore a little simple make-up to accentuate my features. Nice to know somebody has noticed a difference… “No problem. You still need ID?” I asked him. He grins at me. “I think I know who you are. Nice to see you.” he nods at me in acknowledgment as the gate opens for me. “Maybe catch you around while you are back.” He adds as I begin to drive away. I smiled in response, I guess there would be nothing to stop me catching up with any guy I wanted to now. Not that I was really bothered right now... but it was not like I had a fated mate to wait for any longer. And it wasn’t like Miles was making a point of staying single. Every time I had returned home, he had had a different she-wolf on his arm. Parading them through pack like a prized possession, only to have traded her in by the time I returned on my next visit. He was turning into quite the lothario. And quite a joke in my eyes. I set off along the quiet, familiar roads of our sweet old pack. The evening sun was settling in the sky as I moved my car down the route to my family home. No doubt my Mum would be there waiting for me, perhaps my Dad, if he was in from work by now. My brother and sister, I was unsure. They still both lived at home with my parents, but were back and forth to friends' homes and my brother was looking to move into the Beta suite in the packhouse soon enough, in preparation for taking on the role from my father when the time came. Either way, they rarely bothered to rush home to see me when they knew I was returning. I don’t think seeing me was at the top of their priority list… I pulled my car up on the street in front of my familiar family home. I could not believe I was home. Stuck back here. The dread within my stomach churned heavily at the prospect of many years stuck here. Miserable and unhappy, with no way out, now my fated mate had rejected me. Not that anyone other than Miles and I knew of that. No. He had decided he would be considered weak if others knew an Alpha had gone against the powerful Moon Goddess’s choice. So, this was our secret. Or he would make me pay in ways I did not want to imagine, apparently. And, in all honesty, I did not want to think of it. He had allowed me to go away to do my degree. Doing the final bit of convincing when my Uncle, the current Alpha, and Miles’s father, along with my parents were on the fence. Or, so he said. How true that was, I would never likely know the truth, but it had been for that reason, and that alone I had chosen to do as he had asked. If he had done the things he said, then he had allowed me to fulfill my dream of gaining my degree of teaching away from pack. To allow me to be just me, not the daughter of the pack Beta. And I have thrived because of it. But, now, I had to return. Back to where I belonged. And, while I may have gained my degree, I had no real future prospects. I was likely stuck here. I stepped from the car, determined more than ever to find work, as I heard my Mum’s voice. “Bailey!” she greeted me from the porch steps, a big smile upon her face. “You look beautiful sweetheart.” I smiled back at her, as I moved toward the front door. Only to see Miles leaving the house next door to ours. The Alpha home. Could I have timed my arrival home any worse? His eyes met mine, giving me a dark stare before looking at my Mum. “Hi Aunt Brianna. You didn’t say she was home today.” Mum smiled at Miles like she thought the world of him, though most of the time she generally did. “Ah, I think it slipped my mind. Bailey is home for good now, Miles. How wonderful is that?” Once more, Miles gave me a dark stare. “Hmmm. Truly wonderful.” he said with some serious contempt in his voice. ‘You stay out of my way unless I say otherwise, you understand?’ Miles mindlinks me, as he moves toward his car. “Are you not going to speak to him Bai?” Mum tries. “He will be Alpha this time next year, you know?” “Oh it doesn’t matter, Aunt Brianna. Bailey will be excused this time. I am sure she is tired from her drive back home. But no doubt I will be seeing her around. And yes, she will have to get used to me as her senior. Her Alpha.” He says with a sneer, and at his words my stomach twists into knots. I don’t think I can stay here… I not only need to find work, I need to find work away from my pack, so I can move away to get away from my psychotic Alpha and ex-mate! ……

When his liquid spulrts inside and my eyes widen, "You're human," the alpha growls. I lied to him about that and I tried to pull away "No, no, please!" His werewolf is already knotting me, locking me in "Shh, stay calm sweetie you're going to hurt yourself." "You're already in heat, baby, just accept it." He watches me curiously as I struggled to pull away from the knot but it suctions my pusii more. "Oh my god," I groaned as I lay there taking in his knot pumping insiide me...🔥 ----------------------------------------------- I move to the beat of the music, suddenly feeling all my worries wash away. I wanted to forget. To forget that the man I’m in love with is having this party to celebrate finding his mate. To say I'm heartbroken would be an understatement. I am shattered because I knew my love for him would probably never fade. “Come on, Sadie, you’ve danced enough.” My best friend, Piper, tells me, pulling me off the dance floor. She knew I was having a hard time today. After all, the man who had unknowingly broken my heart was her big brother. “I want to dance a little more.” I whined. Right now, I would do anything if it meant that I wouldn’t think of him. That I wouldn’t think of the fact that he was never going to be mine. That I had lost him before I even had him. It’s sad, honestly. I tried everything to get him to notice me, but he never did. I was nothing more than his sister’s best friend. The annoying girl that usually gets on his nerves. I had hoped and prayed to the moon goddess that he would be my mate. I had wished every single year on my birthday that he would be mine. I thought he would notice me, but he never did. How could he when I wasn't his type? When I wasn't the kind of woman he would look at twice? Unrequited love hurt like a fucking bitch, and now I was paying the price. Now I had to watch him fawn over his mate like she was the most precious thing in the world. It fucking hurt, and no one knew how deep the pain was. “You have to get over him. I’ve been telling you this for years,” Piper says, pulling me out of my thoughts. She hands me a shot and I gladly take it. I needed something to drown out the pain I was currently feeling. “Look, you probably have a mate out there that is dying to meet you. Get over Alec. It won’t be fair to your mate if he finds out you’re in love with someone else.” Just the mention of his name brings pain shooting inside me. If I didn’t know better, I would think I was literally dying from heart break. “It’s not that easy Piper” I whispered brokenly. How can I explain to her that her brother was embedded deep inside me? That he’s in my blood. That he is all I see and all I can think of. That he is the very air I breathe. She wouldn’t understand. She always thought it was a silly crush. Alec was the freaking Alpha. Apart from that, he was freaking hot. A god walking among mortals. Every teenage girl and every single woman in our pack had a crush on him. Damn even some of the mated women got all flustered around him, so, of course, Piper would think that mine would fade away. “It is. It will be really wrong if you continue this when he has already found his mate. It won’t be fair to them if you shadow their union by refusing to let him go,” she looks at me in sympathy. I turn my head away. I didn’t want to see the sympathy in her eyes. It always hurt because I knew that I could never measure up to what a Luna should be. I knew what she was saying was the truth, but getting my heart to listen was another thing altogether. “Let’s just enjoy the party, okay? I’m sure that I’ll get over him in no time,” I lie to her, changing the subject all together. She nods her head eagerly before shooting back her glass and grinning at me. I manage to give her a smile before I take another shot. She was the happiest when Alec found his mate. We usually find our mates when we reach twenty-one; Alec hadn’t been that lucky. I thought it was a sign. I was four years younger than him, so I thought it was a sign that he was meant to be mine. I am now twenty. I thought that I had to wait one more year before we found out we were mates. I was so excited. I couldn't wait for next year. The shock was on me, though. Unfortunately for me, he found his mate a few months back. Piper chats with those around us. Happiness radiating from every pore of her body. Instead of engaging, I scan the area. My eyes immediately land on him, and my breath catches. He was dancing with Lola. His mate. He held her so closely and tenderly, like she was a porcelain doll that would break easily. He pulled away and looked down at her. His eyes held so much tenderness and love that I found it hard to breathe just from looking at them. He bends down and softly kisses her lips. For the first time since I’ve known him, he was smiling. My heart breaks even more knowing that Lola was able to do something that I’ve never been able to do. Not wanting to stay at the table watching everyone happy for the couple and not wanting to see Alec and Lola, I stand up. “Where are you going?” Piper asks me, worry written on her face. “I’m just going to the bar. I need to get shitfaced ASAP,” she nods her head, and I leave. I take one of the bar stools and face the bartender. He was really cute. If only my stupid heart could fall for someone like him instead of Alec, who was unattainable. “What can I get you?” Blondie asks with a smile. “Something really strong.” He stares at me before smiling again. “Coming up” I don’t know how long I'd been there when I felt his presence next to me. I give him a quick glance before turning back to face the drink in my hand. “How are you, Sadie?” He suddenly asks, something that is so unlike him. I turn to face him, wondering if he was drunk or something. “I’m good,” I tell him after realizing that he is sober. “I’m so fucking happy. Lola is everything I’ve ever wanted,” he says, grinning. I take back what I said. He wasn’t sober, but he also wasn’t wholly drunk. The Alec I know isn’t this chipper. Not even when he has had a few drinks. Looking at him now, it hits me how happy he freaking was. He was so happy that it radiated off him in waves. How then can I be against his happiness? I loved him so much, so how can I begrudge him for finding his mate? Loving him meant that I should be happy when he is. Having realized that, I let go of my pain and resentment. Loving him meant that his happiness is mine, even if I am not the one bringing him that happiness. “I’m happy for you. Really happy Alec”, I tell him, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulder. “Thank you” Two glasses appear in front of me. “On the house,” the guy said. He was a different bartender from the one that had been serving me for the past few minutes, but I just shrug it off. Maybe they exchanged shifts or something. "Here,” I hand him one of the glasses. "To your new beginnings.” We clink our glasses and throw back the contents. It burns and tastes weird, but I don’t really care. I was drinking with Alec. That has never happened. Instead of thinking too much about it, I let go. I was going to have this moment with him, then I was going to let go of him. We talk for a while and the next thing I know, we were in a room. I don’t know how or when we got there, but my mind doesn’t register a damn thing. “I’ve been waiting for this since we met” Alec says, undressing me. Before I can respond, he smashes his mouth against mine and takes my mouth in a scorching kiss. One that left me breathless. My mind is hazy as Alec takes my body. Joining us and making us one. I love everything he does, and I eventually lose count of every single time he brings me to the climax. This is everything I ever imagined being with Alec would feel like. So why the hell did it feel so wrong? Why the hell did it feel like something wasn’t right? The day after Raised voices bring me out of a peaceful sleep. There were people arguing, but it all sounded so far away. Instead of opening my eyes, I snuggled deeper into the comfy and warm mattress. It felt like heaven. Like I was sleeping in the clouds. Someone shouts my name, but I push the sound back. It was probably one of the maids trying to wake me up. Frowning, I try to get back to sleep. I was just falling into bliss when someone roughly shakes me. Before I can do anything, I’m pushed off the bed, and I fall on the cold, hard floor. “Wake up, you shameless, thieving bitch.” If the fall didn’t wake me up, then the menacing and vicious voice definitely did the trick. I open my eyes, my mind foggy. I looked around the room, but it wasn't familiar. Looking down, I realized that I was naked. Fuck! What the hell was going on? I grab the sheet quickly and wrap it around my naked form before standing up. “What’s going on?” I asked, as I stared at the occupants of the room. Lola was staring daggers at me. Her eyes filled with so much hate and bitterness. Jason, Alec’s beta, Micah, his gamma and Piper were present. Alec was seated on the bed in nothing but his boxer briefs with his head held in his hand. I stare at them, not really sure what the hell was happening, why everyone was here, or what the hell Alec was doing in this room, half naked, while I didn’t have my clothes on. “I can’t do this. I just can’t do this,” Lola whispers as tears fill her eyes. Alec stands up and tries to go to her, but she backs away from him. “Stay away from me, you cheating asshole” she screams. “Please, Lola…please just fucking listen” he begs. “I don’t remember what the fuck happened. The last thing I remember is going to the bar” It takes a while, but things start to make sense. Fuck. Why me moon goddess? What the hell did I do to you? I try to think back to last night, but I come up with nothing. The last thing I remember is the bartender handing me and Alec drinks and telling us they were on the house. “No! I won’t listen to your damn excuse. Do you think I’m stupid? You cheat on me two days before our mating ceremony, and you expect me to believe your pathetic excuse. You expect me to believe that you don’t know what happened and don’t remember sleeping with that slut?” she screams at him. I feel my legs weaken as Lola voices my thoughts. I hold on to the headboard for support. My eyes scan the bed, and they quickly land on the spot of blood on the sheets. Oh goddess. I slept with Alec yesterday. I slept with someone else’s mate, and I don’t even remember a fucking thing. I feel bile rise up, and before I can stop it, I puke all over the carpet. Everyone except Alec looks at me in disgust. Alec just stares at his mate. His eyes fixated on her. Lola turns her eyes back to Alec and gives him the coldest look I’ve ever seen on her. “We’re done. Don’t call me, don’t look for me and don’t fucking dare come near me again.” “Please, Lo, don’t do this.” “I’m not doing anything, you destroyed everything when you decided to take that bitch to bed.” Ripping her hand from his, she walks out, banging the door on her way out. Alec looks at the door for a while, before the most terrifying growl leaves his mouth. He turns and pins me with a deadly look. His eyes were flashing yellow, and his mouth was set. I take back a step in fear, but there is nowhere to go. Growls and snarls leave his mouth. Both his and his wolf’s anger were all directed at me. “Get dressed and get your fucking ass in my office” he snarls, making me scramble to get my clothes. Within seconds, all three of them leave, and I’m left in the room alone. I try to breathe through the panic, but it’s no use. I was in deep trouble. Not only had I slept with the alpha and a man who had found his mate, but I might also be responsible for breaking Alec and Lola up. ‘Just calm down. You’ll just explain your side of the story’, I tell myself. ‘I’m sure they’ll believe me' I dress as fast as I can while taking deep, calming breaths. After I’m done, I rush out of the room and head straight to the Alpha’s office. ‘Whore’ ‘Slut’ The words were flung at me as I ran past a few pack members. The shaming words hurt, but I ignore them. Now is not the time to let my feelings take control. When I get to the office, I gently knock. Alec yells for me to come in. At first, I thought of running because I could hear the anger in his voice, but that would only get me into more trouble. The moment I get in and I close the door behind me, a slap lands on my cheek. I looked at Piper in shock. Unable to believe that my best friend slapped me. “How could you?” she cries. “How could you betray me like this? You know how much I love my brother and how happy I was that he found his mate, but you just had to ruin that, didn’t you?” she screams at me. “It’s not like that. I didn’t do anything.” “You’ve always been obsessed with Alec, but you’ve taken this too far. Drugging him so he could sleep you is disgusting and low even for you, Sadie.” Tears fall down my face as her words pierce my heart and soul. We’ve been best friends for years, yet she believed I was guilty the first chance she got. “I didn’t drug him, I swear.” I cry. “Then explain this”, Alec shouts and throws me a gadget. It hits me on the forehead, but no one seems to care. I see stars for a while, but I bend down and take the tablet, ignoring the throbbing pain. The video shows me handing Alec one of the two glasses that the bartender gave me. “You probably spiked the drink before giving it to me, isn’t that right? You knew I would never sleep with you sober, so you drugged me. You wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Sleep with me and break my relationship with Lola,” Alec says bitterly, his eyes conveying nothing but hate and anger. “I swear that’s not true. I would never do that. You can ask the bartender who gave me the drinks,” I pleaded. Jason scoffs. “How convenient, since the bartender is nowhere to be found, and he wasn’t one of the workers hired yesterday. You know what I think? I think he’s your accomplice. You paid him to spike the Alpha’s drink.” I shake my head as more tears fall down my face. It pained me knowing they believed such horrible things about me. “You’ve known me for years, Pip. You know I would never do something like that. Please believe me.” Something soft passes through her eyes, but as soon as it appears, it disappears. A cold look takes over her face and her eyes shine with hate. “I want to believe you, but given how you’ve been obsessed with Alec for years, I believe your obsession could have caused you to abandon your senses.” With those words, she nails the first nail in my coffin. I sag in defeat. I don’t understand why no one would believe me. I love Alec, but I would never do anything to hurt him. “Take her to the fucking dungeon” he orders Jason, before turning to me. “The contents of the glass you gave me have been sent for analysis. If the results come out positive that there are traces of drugs, I swear you’re going to regret ever crossing me, Sadie..” I don’t fight as Jason drags me from the office to what will be my new home, unless I can prove I'm not guilty. Someone was framing me; I just didn’t know who it was or why they were doing it. A monster The whip lands on my back. I grit my teeth against the pain and refuse to give them the satisfaction of watching me break. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. All I know is that I’m slowly starting to lose my mind. Slowly starting to lose myself. I’ve known nothing but pain since I came here. Nothing but hurt and sadness. Every day they come and take their frustrations out of on me. Every day they come and make me pay for ruining their Alpha’s chance at happiness. As you’ve already guessed, the test turned positive. Very few things can affect werewolves, so no one is sure what exactly was used, because the drug used wasn’t anything our pack is familiar with. The moment the test turned positive, I knew that my fate had been sealed. No one seemed to believe me. Everyone I knew and loved, including Piper, turned their backs on me in support of Alec. Another whip, and I wince. My back probably looked like ground meat. I’ve been through every kind of torture. Whipping, slicing, burning, my bones have been broken, and my hair has been cut. If you can think of any torture, then I’ve probably been through it. It hurts. Not just the physical pain, but the emotional one. This is the pack that took me in and embraced me when my parents died. Now I was a piranha to them. Everything good I’ve ever done has been forgotten. I was no longer Sadie, a pack member. Now I was nothing but a hoe, a slut, a home wrecker, a thief, and a traitor. I can’t even remember the last time I heard someone say my name. My thoughts are pushed back when the door opens and Alec walks in. I tremble in fear. I guess he was here to get his pound of flesh. “Has she talked yet?” he asked, his voice on edge. He seemed angry. More pissed off than usual. His shoulders were tense. His mouth set, and his eyes blazed fire. They kept switching colors, meaning that he and his wolf were in sync. “Not yet Alpha”, Jason grits out. Alec folds the arms of his shirt, before taking a knife. I try to walk back, but there is no escape. I’m chained to the ceiling. There is nowhere to go. “Let’s see if I can get her to confess her sins” he spits before plunging the knife into my stomach. Of all my tormentors, Alec is the worst of them all. I loved him with all my heart. I treasured him. I would never have done anything to hurt him, yet he’s done everything he can think of to cause me pain. The love I had for him has now been poisoned. All I see when I look into his eyes is the monster that he is. I now hate him as much, or even more, than he hates me. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not the one who drugged you.” I whispered, trying to control the tremble in my voice. “You expect me to fucking believe that, you bitch?” he bellows. The punch he lands on my face is enough to have me seeing stars. Being hit by a man fucking hurts. It’s similar to being hit by a huge boulder. “I swear I didn’t” “And I won’t believe the lies of a slut. You knew I couldn’t sleep with you sober, so the only way you could have my dick is by drugging me. Did you enjoy taking advantage of me? Did you enjoy sleeping with a man who could barely remember his own name? Is that what gets you off?” His words are bitter as he flung them at me. Each one of them pierced my heart. Broke down the little pieces of myself I had left. Why can’t they see how much they’re hurting me? How much they were destroying me? “I wouldn’t know. I was also drunk.” No one believes that I was also drugged. No one believes that I was also a victim. That I also don’t remember what happened that night. They all want to blame me. To turn me into a villain. His snarl is the only warning I get before he plunges the knife deeper. He then twists it before wrenching it out. I close my eyes. Hoping to hide my pain. Hoping to hide my helplessness. When I have everything under control, I open them. They clash with his. Alec’s were filled with nothing but loathing and hate. My heart breaks even more at seeing this. Yes, he used to give me expressionless looks, but never ones that were filled with hatred. From there, he uses me as a punching bag. I can feel myself weaken with each punch, each slap, and each stab. Relief comes when Micah opens the door and enters. “Alec, Lola is here to see you,” he tells him. I see hope flash in his eyes. He truly does love and care for her. If only he knew that I would never have done anything to jeopardize his happiness. Alec nods before turning to me. “I’m giving you one last chance to confess.” “I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.” My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper. He looks at me with deadly eyes. His lips twist in a cruel grin right before he swings his arms and slashes my face. “Now, no one will ever be able to look at you because you’re disfigured and ugly. It will always be a reminder of my hate for you.” He leaves without remorse or a backward glance. His friends leave with him too. The moment they’re out of the door, I let my first tear fall. My cheek throbs from the cut, which I’m sure is deep. Alec’s right. Given I haven’t shifted yet, my scars will forever remain with me. Not just the one on my face, but also the ones on my body. I slump forward and curse the moon goddess for what she has allowed to happen to me. She knows I’m innocent, yet she allowed her children to hurt and humiliate me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get out, but I’ll hate Alec and his pack until my dying breath. My body was giving in to the darkness when the door creaked open. I stare at him, afraid he’s back to give me another beating. “Shss, don’t move,” he says gently. “I’m here to help, but we have to be quick before the guards or Alpha Alec notices what’s happening.” I stare at him in disbelief. “You believe me?” He nods his head. “Yes. Something about this doesn’t feel right. My intuition is always spot on and something tells me that this is bigger than any of us can imagine.” He walks to me and slowly begins untying my chain. “What about the cameras?” “Don’t worry about that. I’ve taken care of it.” Once I’m free from the chain, I slump forward and almost collide with the floor, but he breaks my fall. He holds me up and walks us out the door. There weren’t any other prisoners. Neither were there any guards. We slowly walk until we get to a secret passageway. “Won’t you get in trouble if he ever finds out you helped me escape?” I ask worried for him. If there is something I’ve learned; is that Alec doesn’t know the meaning of forgiveness. “He won’t ever find out unless I want him to” he answers as we finally reach the end of the passage and break through a forest. For some reason, I believe him, so I let the issue go. Besides, I didn’t have the energy to keep the conversation going. When he realized that we were walking too slowly, he picks me up and carries me. Everything begins to blur as he speeds past trees. I don’t know how long we ran, but finally we get to the border. This part of the border didn’t have any patrols, probably because it bordered humans. It would raise too much suspicion if humans saw dozens of men patrolling the area. “You have to cut connections with the pack if you don’t want Alec to find you easily,” he puts me down. I slowly, but tiredly cross the border. Taking a deep breath, I say the words that would severe my connection to the pack. “I Sadie Evans, cut my ties with the Blood Moon Pack.” A chill goes down my back as I feel the connection end. The humming disappears, and my brain becomes quiet. “Is it done?” I’m about to answer when I hear a terrifying roar in the distance, right before a blinding pain cuts through my body. I scream out in pain as tears run down my face. It felt like a part of me had been ripped away. “Shit! You have to leave, Sadie. Right fucking now” he tells me pleadingly. Tears continue to run down my face as I began to walk. My whole body ached and everything, including my soul, was broken. One step after another, I walk away. I know what that pain meant, and I will never forgive him for doing this to me.

😱😭 I have been in love with Alec for as long as I can remember, but he never felt the same way. To him, I was just his sister's annoying best friend. I was sure he'd be my mate, but the moon goddess played a cruel joke on me because Alec found his mate, and it wasn't me. I thought nothing could be worse than seeing the man you're in love with happy with someone else. I was wrong. It took just one night for my life to change. Everyone turned against me. I was shamed, shunned, and tortured for a crime I didn't commit. As if that wasn't enough, Alec banished me, a fate that was worse than death. With a broken heart and soul, I left, vowing never to cross paths with him again. ----------------------------------------------- I move to the beat of the music, suddenly feeling all my worries wash away. I wanted to forget. To forget that the man I’m in love with is having this party to celebrate finding his mate. To say I'm heartbroken would be an understatement. I am shattered because I knew my love for him would probably never fade. “Come on, Sadie, you’ve danced enough.” My best friend, Piper, tells me, pulling me off the dance floor. She knew I was having a hard time today. After all, the man who had unknowingly broken my heart was her big brother. “I want to dance a little more.” I whined. Right now, I would do anything if it meant that I wouldn’t think of him. That I wouldn’t think of the fact that he was never going to be mine. That I had lost him before I even had him. It’s sad, honestly. I tried everything to get him to notice me, but he never did. I was nothing more than his sister’s best friend. The annoying girl that usually gets on his nerves. I had hoped and prayed to the moon goddess that he would be my mate. I had wished every single year on my birthday that he would be mine. I thought he would notice me, but he never did. How could he when I wasn't his type? When I wasn't the kind of woman he would look at twice? Unrequited love hurt like a fucking bitch, and now I was paying the price. Now I had to watch him fawn over his mate like she was the most precious thing in the world. It fucking hurt, and no one knew how deep the pain was. “You have to get over him. I’ve been telling you this for years,” Piper says, pulling me out of my thoughts. She hands me a shot and I gladly take it. I needed something to drown out the pain I was currently feeling. “Look, you probably have a mate out there that is dying to meet you. Get over Alec. It won’t be fair to your mate if he finds out you’re in love with someone else.” Just the mention of his name brings pain shooting inside me. If I didn’t know better, I would think I was literally dying from heart break. “It’s not that easy Piper” I whispered brokenly. How can I explain to her that her brother was embedded deep inside me? That he’s in my blood. That he is all I see and all I can think of. That he is the very air I breathe. She wouldn’t understand. She always thought it was a silly crush. Alec was the freaking Alpha. Apart from that, he was freaking hot. A god walking among mortals. Every teenage girl and every single woman in our pack had a crush on him. Damn even some of the mated women got all flustered around him, so, of course, Piper would think that mine would fade away. “It is. It will be really wrong if you continue this when he has already found his mate. It won’t be fair to them if you shadow their union by refusing to let him go,” she looks at me in sympathy. I turn my head away. I didn’t want to see the sympathy in her eyes. It always hurt because I knew that I could never measure up to what a Luna should be. I knew what she was saying was the truth, but getting my heart to listen was another thing altogether. “Let’s just enjoy the party, okay? I’m sure that I’ll get over him in no time,” I lie to her, changing the subject all together. She nods her head eagerly before shooting back her glass and grinning at me. I manage to give her a smile before I take another shot. She was the happiest when Alec found his mate. We usually find our mates when we reach twenty-one; Alec hadn’t been that lucky. I thought it was a sign. I was four years younger than him, so I thought it was a sign that he was meant to be mine. I am now twenty. I thought that I had to wait one more year before we found out we were mates. I was so excited. I couldn't wait for next year. The shock was on me, though. Unfortunately for me, he found his mate a few months back. Piper chats with those around us. Happiness radiating from every pore of her body. Instead of engaging, I scan the area. My eyes immediately land on him, and my breath catches. He was dancing with Lola. His mate. He held her so closely and tenderly, like she was a porcelain doll that would break easily. He pulled away and looked down at her. His eyes held so much tenderness and love that I found it hard to breathe just from looking at them. He bends down and softly kisses her lips. For the first time since I’ve known him, he was smiling. My heart breaks even more knowing that Lola was able to do something that I’ve never been able to do. Not wanting to stay at the table watching everyone happy for the couple and not wanting to see Alec and Lola, I stand up. “Where are you going?” Piper asks me, worry written on her face. “I’m just going to the bar. I need to get shitfaced ASAP,” she nods her head, and I leave. I take one of the bar stools and face the bartender. He was really cute. If only my stupid heart could fall for someone like him instead of Alec, who was unattainable. “What can I get you?” Blondie asks with a smile. “Something really strong.” He stares at me before smiling again. “Coming up” I don’t know how long I'd been there when I felt his presence next to me. I give him a quick glance before turning back to face the drink in my hand. “How are you, Sadie?” He suddenly asks, something that is so unlike him. I turn to face him, wondering if he was drunk or something. “I’m good,” I tell him after realizing that he is sober. “I’m so fucking happy. Lola is everything I’ve ever wanted,” he says, grinning. I take back what I said. He wasn’t sober, but he also wasn’t wholly drunk. The Alec I know isn’t this chipper. Not even when he has had a few drinks. Looking at him now, it hits me how happy he freaking was. He was so happy that it radiated off him in waves. How then can I be against his happiness? I loved him so much, so how can I begrudge him for finding his mate? Loving him meant that I should be happy when he is. Having realized that, I let go of my pain and resentment. Loving him meant that his happiness is mine, even if I am not the one bringing him that happiness. “I’m happy for you. Really happy Alec”, I tell him, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulder. “Thank you” Two glasses appear in front of me. “On the house,” the guy said. He was a different bartender from the one that had been serving me for the past few minutes, but I just shrug it off. Maybe they exchanged shifts or something. "Here,” I hand him one of the glasses. "To your new beginnings.” We clink our glasses and throw back the contents. It burns and tastes weird, but I don’t really care. I was drinking with Alec. That has never happened. Instead of thinking too much about it, I let go. I was going to have this moment with him, then I was going to let go of him. We talk for a while and the next thing I know, we were in a room. I don’t know how or when we got there, but my mind doesn’t register a damn thing. “I’ve been waiting for this since we met” Alec says, undressing me. Before I can respond, he smashes his mouth against mine and takes my mouth in a scorching kiss. One that left me breathless. My mind is hazy as Alec takes my body. Joining us and making us one. I love everything he does, and I eventually lose count of every single time he brings me to the climax. This is everything I ever imagined being with Alec would feel like. So why the hell did it feel so wrong? Why the hell did it feel like something wasn’t right? The day after Raised voices bring me out of a peaceful sleep. There were people arguing, but it all sounded so far away. Instead of opening my eyes, I snuggled deeper into the comfy and warm mattress. It felt like heaven. Like I was sleeping in the clouds. Someone shouts my name, but I push the sound back. It was probably one of the maids trying to wake me up. Frowning, I try to get back to sleep. I was just falling into bliss when someone roughly shakes me. Before I can do anything, I’m pushed off the bed, and I fall on the cold, hard floor. “Wake up, you shameless, thieving bitch.” If the fall didn’t wake me up, then the menacing and vicious voice definitely did the trick. I open my eyes, my mind foggy. I looked around the room, but it wasn't familiar. Looking down, I realized that I was naked. Fuck! What the hell was going on? I grab the sheet quickly and wrap it around my naked form before standing up. “What’s going on?” I asked, as I stared at the occupants of the room. Lola was staring daggers at me. Her eyes filled with so much hate and bitterness. Jason, Alec’s beta, Micah, his gamma and Piper were present. Alec was seated on the bed in nothing but his boxer briefs with his head held in his hand. I stare at them, not really sure what the hell was happening, why everyone was here, or what the hell Alec was doing in this room, half naked, while I didn’t have my clothes on. “I can’t do this. I just can’t do this,” Lola whispers as tears fill her eyes. Alec stands up and tries to go to her, but she backs away from him. “Stay away from me, you cheating asshole” she screams. “Please, Lola…please just fucking listen” he begs. “I don’t remember what the fuck happened. The last thing I remember is going to the bar” It takes a while, but things start to make sense. Fuck. Why me moon goddess? What the hell did I do to you? I try to think back to last night, but I come up with nothing. The last thing I remember is the bartender handing me and Alec drinks and telling us they were on the house. “No! I won’t listen to your damn excuse. Do you think I’m stupid? You cheat on me two days before our mating ceremony, and you expect me to believe your pathetic excuse. You expect me to believe that you don’t know what happened and don’t remember sleeping with that slut?” she screams at him. I feel my legs weaken as Lola voices my thoughts. I hold on to the headboard for support. My eyes scan the bed, and they quickly land on the spot of blood on the sheets. Oh goddess. I slept with Alec yesterday. I slept with someone else’s mate, and I don’t even remember a fucking thing. I feel bile rise up, and before I can stop it, I puke all over the carpet. Everyone except Alec looks at me in disgust. Alec just stares at his mate. His eyes fixated on her. Lola turns her eyes back to Alec and gives him the coldest look I’ve ever seen on her. “We’re done. Don’t call me, don’t look for me and don’t fucking dare come near me again.” “Please, Lo, don’t do this.” “I’m not doing anything, you destroyed everything when you decided to take that bitch to bed.” Ripping her hand from his, she walks out, banging the door on her way out. Alec looks at the door for a while, before the most terrifying growl leaves his mouth. He turns and pins me with a deadly look. His eyes were flashing yellow, and his mouth was set. I take back a step in fear, but there is nowhere to go. Growls and snarls leave his mouth. Both his and his wolf’s anger were all directed at me. “Get dressed and get your fucking ass in my office” he snarls, making me scramble to get my clothes. Within seconds, all three of them leave, and I’m left in the room alone. I try to breathe through the panic, but it’s no use. I was in deep trouble. Not only had I slept with the alpha and a man who had found his mate, but I might also be responsible for breaking Alec and Lola up. ‘Just calm down. You’ll just explain your side of the story’, I tell myself. ‘I’m sure they’ll believe me' I dress as fast as I can while taking deep, calming breaths. After I’m done, I rush out of the room and head straight to the Alpha’s office. ‘Whore’ ‘Slut’ The words were flung at me as I ran past a few pack members. The shaming words hurt, but I ignore them. Now is not the time to let my feelings take control. When I get to the office, I gently knock. Alec yells for me to come in. At first, I thought of running because I could hear the anger in his voice, but that would only get me into more trouble. The moment I get in and I close the door behind me, a slap lands on my cheek. I looked at Piper in shock. Unable to believe that my best friend slapped me. “How could you?” she cries. “How could you betray me like this? You know how much I love my brother and how happy I was that he found his mate, but you just had to ruin that, didn’t you?” she screams at me. “It’s not like that. I didn’t do anything.” “You’ve always been obsessed with Alec, but you’ve taken this too far. Drugging him so he could sleep you is disgusting and low even for you, Sadie.” Tears fall down my face as her words pierce my heart and soul. We’ve been best friends for years, yet she believed I was guilty the first chance she got. “I didn’t drug him, I swear.” I cry. “Then explain this”, Alec shouts and throws me a gadget. It hits me on the forehead, but no one seems to care. I see stars for a while, but I bend down and take the tablet, ignoring the throbbing pain. The video shows me handing Alec one of the two glasses that the bartender gave me. “You probably spiked the drink before giving it to me, isn’t that right? You knew I would never sleep with you sober, so you drugged me. You wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Sleep with me and break my relationship with Lola,” Alec says bitterly, his eyes conveying nothing but hate and anger. “I swear that’s not true. I would never do that. You can ask the bartender who gave me the drinks,” I pleaded. Jason scoffs. “How convenient, since the bartender is nowhere to be found, and he wasn’t one of the workers hired yesterday. You know what I think? I think he’s your accomplice. You paid him to spike the Alpha’s drink.” I shake my head as more tears fall down my face. It pained me knowing they believed such horrible things about me. “You’ve known me for years, Pip. You know I would never do something like that. Please believe me.” Something soft passes through her eyes, but as soon as it appears, it disappears. A cold look takes over her face and her eyes shine with hate. “I want to believe you, but given how you’ve been obsessed with Alec for years, I believe your obsession could have caused you to abandon your senses.” With those words, she nails the first nail in my coffin. I sag in defeat. I don’t understand why no one would believe me. I love Alec, but I would never do anything to hurt him. “Take her to the fucking dungeon” he orders Jason, before turning to me. “The contents of the glass you gave me have been sent for analysis. If the results come out positive that there are traces of drugs, I swear you’re going to regret ever crossing me, Sadie..” I don’t fight as Jason drags me from the office to what will be my new home, unless I can prove I'm not guilty. Someone was framing me; I just didn’t know who it was or why they were doing it. A monster The whip lands on my back. I grit my teeth against the pain and refuse to give them the satisfaction of watching me break. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. All I know is that I’m slowly starting to lose my mind. Slowly starting to lose myself. I’ve known nothing but pain since I came here. Nothing but hurt and sadness. Every day they come and take their frustrations out of on me. Every day they come and make me pay for ruining their Alpha’s chance at happiness. As you’ve already guessed, the test turned positive. Very few things can affect werewolves, so no one is sure what exactly was used, because the drug used wasn’t anything our pack is familiar with. The moment the test turned positive, I knew that my fate had been sealed. No one seemed to believe me. Everyone I knew and loved, including Piper, turned their backs on me in support of Alec. Another whip, and I wince. My back probably looked like ground meat. I’ve been through every kind of torture. Whipping, slicing, burning, my bones have been broken, and my hair has been cut. If you can think of any torture, then I’ve probably been through it. It hurts. Not just the physical pain, but the emotional one. This is the pack that took me in and embraced me when my parents died. Now I was a piranha to them. Everything good I’ve ever done has been forgotten. I was no longer Sadie, a pack member. Now I was nothing but a hoe, a slut, a home wrecker, a thief, and a traitor. I can’t even remember the last time I heard someone say my name. My thoughts are pushed back when the door opens and Alec walks in. I tremble in fear. I guess he was here to get his pound of flesh. “Has she talked yet?” he asked, his voice on edge. He seemed angry. More pissed off than usual. His shoulders were tense. His mouth set, and his eyes blazed fire. They kept switching colors, meaning that he and his wolf were in sync. “Not yet Alpha”, Jason grits out. Alec folds the arms of his shirt, before taking a knife. I try to walk back, but there is no escape. I’m chained to the ceiling. There is nowhere to go. “Let’s see if I can get her to confess her sins” he spits before plunging the knife into my stomach. Of all my tormentors, Alec is the worst of them all. I loved him with all my heart. I treasured him. I would never have done anything to hurt him, yet he’s done everything he can think of to cause me pain. The love I had for him has now been poisoned. All I see when I look into his eyes is the monster that he is. I now hate him as much, or even more, than he hates me. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not the one who drugged you.” I whispered, trying to control the tremble in my voice. “You expect me to fucking believe that, you bitch?” he bellows. The punch he lands on my face is enough to have me seeing stars. Being hit by a man fucking hurts. It’s similar to being hit by a huge boulder. “I swear I didn’t” “And I won’t believe the lies of a slut. You knew I couldn’t sleep with you sober, so the only way you could have my dick is by drugging me. Did you enjoy taking advantage of me? Did you enjoy sleeping with a man who could barely remember his own name? Is that what gets you off?” His words are bitter as he flung them at me. Each one of them pierced my heart. Broke down the little pieces of myself I had left. Why can’t they see how much they’re hurting me? How much they were destroying me? “I wouldn’t know. I was also drunk.” No one believes that I was also drugged. No one believes that I was also a victim. That I also don’t remember what happened that night. They all want to blame me. To turn me into a villain. His snarl is the only warning I get before he plunges the knife deeper. He then twists it before wrenching it out. I close my eyes. Hoping to hide my pain. Hoping to hide my helplessness. When I have everything under control, I open them. They clash with his. Alec’s were filled with nothing but loathing and hate. My heart breaks even more at seeing this. Yes, he used to give me expressionless looks, but never ones that were filled with hatred. From there, he uses me as a punching bag. I can feel myself weaken with each punch, each slap, and each stab. Relief comes when Micah opens the door and enters. “Alec, Lola is here to see you,” he tells him. I see hope flash in his eyes. He truly does love and care for her. If only he knew that I would never have done anything to jeopardize his happiness. Alec nods before turning to me. “I’m giving you one last chance to confess.” “I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.” My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper. He looks at me with deadly eyes. His lips twist in a cruel grin right before he swings his arms and slashes my face. “Now, no one will ever be able to look at you because you’re disfigured and ugly. It will always be a reminder of my hate for you.” He leaves without remorse or a backward glance. His friends leave with him too. The moment they’re out of the door, I let my first tear fall. My cheek throbs from the cut, which I’m sure is deep. Alec’s right. Given I haven’t shifted yet, my scars will forever remain with me. Not just the one on my face, but also the ones on my body. I slump forward and curse the moon goddess for what she has allowed to happen to me. She knows I’m innocent, yet she allowed her children to hurt and humiliate me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get out, but I’ll hate Alec and his pack until my dying breath. My body was giving in to the darkness when the door creaked open. I stare at him, afraid he’s back to give me another beating. “Shss, don’t move,” he says gently. “I’m here to help, but we have to be quick before the guards or Alpha Alec notices what’s happening.” I stare at him in disbelief. “You believe me?” He nods his head. “Yes. Something about this doesn’t feel right. My intuition is always spot on and something tells me that this is bigger than any of us can imagine.” He walks to me and slowly begins untying my chain. “What about the cameras?” “Don’t worry about that. I’ve taken care of it.” Once I’m free from the chain, I slump forward and almost collide with the floor, but he breaks my fall. He holds me up and walks us out the door. There weren’t any other prisoners. Neither were there any guards. We slowly walk until we get to a secret passageway. “Won’t you get in trouble if he ever finds out you helped me escape?” I ask worried for him. If there is something I’ve learned; is that Alec doesn’t know the meaning of forgiveness. “He won’t ever find out unless I want him to” he answers as we finally reach the end of the passage and break through a forest. For some reason, I believe him, so I let the issue go. Besides, I didn’t have the energy to keep the conversation going. When he realized that we were walking too slowly, he picks me up and carries me. Everything begins to blur as he speeds past trees. I don’t know how long we ran, but finally we get to the border. This part of the border didn’t have any patrols, probably because it bordered humans. It would raise too much suspicion if humans saw dozens of men patrolling the area. “You have to cut connections with the pack if you don’t want Alec to find you easily,” he puts me down. I slowly, but tiredly cross the border. Taking a deep breath, I say the words that would severe my connection to the pack. “I Sadie Evans, cut my ties with the Blood Moon Pack.” A chill goes down my back as I feel the connection end. The humming disappears, and my brain becomes quiet. “Is it done?” I’m about to answer when I hear a terrifying roar in the distance, right before a blinding pain cuts through my body. I scream out in pain as tears run down my face. It felt like a part of me had been ripped away. “Shit! You have to leave, Sadie. Right fucking now” he tells me pleadingly. Tears continue to run down my face as I began to walk. My whole body ached and everything, including my soul, was broken. One step after another, I walk away. I know what that pain meant, and I will never forgive him for doing this to me.

💔"You're not my daughter. Your birth wasn't approved by me," he said. But he still gave me a monthly allowance of a million. He said I looked just like her—the woman who ruined his family. But when I looked into his dark, fathomless eyes, I saw my own reflection. My brothers sneered at me… until I tripped and they caught me without hesitation. “You’re a bastard, sure. But if anyone dares to bully you, call me—I’ll break their legs.” My four uncles? Scoffing over dinner: “You wanna enter showbiz? Fine. Keep your money. We’ll save it for you.” I thought I had nothing. Turns out I had the most difficult, most loyal protectors in the world. Under the spotlight, I became the nation’s sweetheart. At the airport, fans screamed my name. On variety shows, I was the center of every frame. Zayn—my childhood friend—had become the cold, untouchable Mr. Graham. He took my hand and said, “I raised you. Now let’s build a home together.” I tried to leave with my little suitcase… but a pack of men blocked my way. “You’re not going anywhere. We’re your family.” In that moment, I finally understood— They might never say it aloud, but their love was louder than any words. ------- 1.Chapter 1 The Illegitimate Daughter The sharp voice of a woman pierced the air. "Vixen! I'm starving! Hurry up and fix me something to eat!" In hurried strides, Laura Yale made her way over to the cupboard on her petite legs, rifling through its contents. A few moments later, she stood before her mom with a timid expression and mumbled, "Mommy... there's no pasta left..." Lilian Yale's response was swift and harsh as she yelled, "If there's no pasta, can't you just go out and buy some?" Laura's ears rang from the loud noise, her face devoid of any emotion. "But I don't have any money," she managed to utter softly. Lilian rolled her eyes, holding a cigarette between her teeth as she rummaged through her shabby red wallet in search of money. Her expression shifted as she flipped through the wallet's contents. A frown formed as she stared at the paltry 1 dollar in her hand. In a dismissive gesture, she tossed the coin at Laura as if discarding trash. "Go on and buy it! All you ever talk about is money! When are you ever going to earn some money for me?" Laura did not respond. She picked up the meager coin and silently made her way out to the door. As the door closed behind her, her stomach protested with a series of grumbles. She hurriedly massaged her belly in an attempt to appease its grumbling, softly reassuring, "Calm down; it'll be all right." Maybe she could treat herself to a bowl of leftover mushroom soup if she made her mom some pasta. The fragrance of warm dried pasta never failed to soothe her. With delicate and cautious steps, Laura climbed the aging staircase with her petite legs. Even at her young age, she had long known that her mother, Lilian, was far from virtuous. Lilian went straight to prison shortly after Laura's birth. Laura had been raised within the confines of an orphanage, where the other children often taunted her as "the child of a criminal." Nonetheless, her heart always held onto the fervent hope of one day meeting her mom. And that day finally arrived when she turned four. She finally met Lilian and immediately recognized her. The aura Lilian exuded was undeniably familiar, as her beauty was a mirror image of how Laura imagined her mother to be. However, Lilian had a bad temper, in stark contrast to the tales others had spun about how kind and gentle mothers could be. Lilian would call Laura a vixen whenever she laid eyes on her, never sparing the latter from a torrent of curses ever since the day Lilian brought Laura away from the orphanage. During the six months she spent under her mom's roof, Laura had heard the truth about her dad and another woman. It was said that her father lived a good life, and was married with three sons. Laura, being the fourth child, was incessantly belittled to a position beneath anyone else. She slept on the bare floor and ate whatever was left of her mom's meals. And because her features bore a striking resemblance to her dad's, her mom believed it was all right to mistreat her. Nonetheless, Laura did not blame her mom. After descending the stairs, Laura hastened to the mini-mart to buy the cheapest dried pasta available. Fearing her mom's wrath, she dashed back home without delay. She knew too well the consequences of arriving late. As she approached the corridor outside her home, her mom was there as well. Laura was just about to call out to Lilian, yet her voice caught in her throat. Lilian was seen pestering a greasy middle-aged man, her lips curving into a sugary smile as she pleaded, "Harry, please. I've run out of money, and the rent is long overdue! I'm on the brink of starving!" The middle-aged man wore a grin on his face as he fished out his phone, but just as he was about to make a transfer, a robust woman unexpectedly burst forth from the background, accusing, "You shameless woman, trying to seduce my husband again!" A scuffle ensued, leaving Laura wide-eyed as she witnessed the woman fiercely clutching her mother's hair. An anguished groan escaped Lilian's lips. Laura's instincts urged her to step in, but Lilian's warning to avoid her affairs with other men held her back. She stood there, powerless and helpless, watching the tumultuous scene play out before her eyes. The struggle intensified, reaching a peak as her panicked mom managed to break free, dashing toward the edge of the residential area. The woman pursuing Lilian remained unyielding, her voice slicing through the air. "Stop running, you shameless woman!" Laura hurried after them, clutching the packet of dried pasta in her hand. She called out desperately, "Mommy! Mommy!" However, Lilian paid no heed, her red dress billowing like a flower in full bloom as she rushed toward the road. Abruptly, the screech of tires shattered the moment; a car collided with Lilian's figure. Amidst the cacophony, Laura's eyes widened in astonishment as she witnessed Lilian being hurled through the air before crashing down with a resounding thud. Thump! In a heartbeat, the scene erupted into chaos. Some people pulled out their phones, hushed whispers spreading like wildfire, while others gathered around to observe with curiosity. The woman who had been in pursuit of Laura's mom paled, seized by fear. She quickly grabbed the greasy man and hastened to flee the scene. Laura's mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She approached her fallen mom, squatting down beside her in a daze. "Mommy... Are you okay?" she stammered softly. Lilian lay in a pool of blood, eyes wide but vacant, body twitching involuntarily. Laura felt utterly lost. She spoke hesitantly, her voice quivering. "I brought back the pasta. Can we go home now? We can have dinner." Blood trickled from the corners of the woman's lips as she struggled to speak. Laura leaned in, straining to hear her mom's feeble words. "What are you going to do... I've left you behind... What are you going to do?" After uttering those words, the glimmer in her mom's eyes abruptly dimmed. 2.Chapter 2 Up For Adoption Softly, Laura called out, "Mommy?" There was no response. The car's owner grew flustered as he said, "Your mom ran onto the road on her own! It wasn't my fault! Where is your dad? Let's talk this out calmly!" Unperturbed by his words, Laura continued to shake Lilian repeatedly. "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Laura's pleas grew more desperate. "Mommy, please, wake up! Please yell at me like you usually do! Mommy, I brought the pasta back! Don't ignore me, Mommy!" Yet, despite her frantic efforts, Lilian remained unresponsive. Gradually, a crowd began to gather around, cautiously inquiring, "Kid, where is your dad?" "I don't have a daddy." In haste, Laura lifted her tear-streaked face, her voice choked with sorrow. "I only have my mommy!" Her words hung in the air, leaving everyone momentarily stunned. A lady among the onlookers gazed at Laura with a mix of astonishment and sympathy. Laura's sobs intensified. "Please save my mommy. Someone, please save her! She's ignoring me!" After saying those words, she couldn't understand why, but many people regarded her with pity and even tears in their eyes. Someone captured the scene and posted it directly on the internet, where it quickly became a trending topic under the headline: [Breaking news] Laura's innate beauty was undeniable, and the sight of the dainty child weeping for her mom struck a chord in the hearts of those who beheld it. In the sea of comments, a lone post stood out. It read: [I know this girl. Her mom has a history of imprisonment and the girl was subjected to daily mistreatment. Such a tragedy! Her name is Lala!] Most of the comments were brimming with heartfelt concern: [Such a poor child, crying so miserably after her mother's passing! I really want to hold her close!] [Lala, stop crying. I'll buy you all the candy in the world!] Soon, a new trending topic emerged: [BringLalaHome] In an office, a woman approached a man with her phone in hand. "Mr. Yale, I've found a potential business opportunity." The handsome man languidly opened his eyes and took the phone from her. As he played the video, the heart-wrenching sobs of a little girl reached his ears, causing his brows to furrow. "I hate kids." The woman persisted, "This child is different. She's an orphan now. Her mother has just passed away, so she'll probably end up in an orphanage. If we are able to arrange for her adoption and give her a makeover, she could become an overnight online celebrity. And look at her." She paused the video and zoomed in. "This child is an incredibly rare beauty, a one-in-a-million enchanting little girl. Her commercial value is exceedingly high!" On the screen, Laura was holding a packet of dried pasta in one hand, her other hand held by a police officer. Her delicate face bore an expression of shock as she gazed at a pool of blood. She appeared fragile and beautiful. Louis Yale cast a casual glance at the screen before his gaze abruptly focused on the girl. "This child!" he exclaimed inwardly. He zoomed in on the photo until the girl's features were distinct, and a sudden wave of surprise washed over him, causing goosebumps to crawl all over his skin. "She's an orphan?" The woman's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Yes, not just an orphan, but one with a tragic fate. I checked quickly and discovered her mother's name is Lilian. She was sentenced to prison five years ago for intentional assault. Upon her release on parole, she took her daughter back home. It's been said that she frequently subjected her daughter to mistreatment. Anyone who seizes this opportunity could make a significant profit. Mr. Yale, I urge you to consider this!" Louis was taken aback as his inner voice cried out, "Lilian? Isn't that my wicked little sister?" He swiftly searched the internet on his phone and indeed stumbled upon an uncensored video of the accident. The woman sprawled on the ground was his estranged sixth sister, whom he had disowned five years ago. His blood-related biological sister. The malicious woman had once climbed into Antonio Smith's bed while he was drunk, even going so far as to attempt to harm Louis' fifth sister. After Lilian became pregnant, Antonio had given her money for an abortion. "Did she not proceed with the abortion? Did she still give birth to the child after all?" Louis' thoughts raced. Louis studied Laura's facial features intently. She looked exactly like Antonio as if they were carved out of the same mold. He quickly captured a screenshot and sent it to Antonio, accompanied by a message that read: [Do you know this is your daughter? You actually have a daughter! Lilian actually bore you a daughter! Holy crap!] Their exchanges were usually succinct, and this marked the first longest message Louis had sent Antonio. Before long, Antonio responded to Louis' message with a single question mark: [?] 3.Chapter 3 Illegitimate Daughter Of Antonio Antonio Smith clicked on the message he received as soon as his meeting concluded and saw the picture of a girl. Her facial features were almost identical to his, except for her mouth. A grim look flashed past his eyes, and he clenched his fists. He cursed inwardly. "Darn it! I can't believe that woman did something like this to mess with me after taking advantage of me back then!" He asked: [Where is Lilian?] Louis' response came quickly. It was a video. In the video, Lilian was lying in a pool of blood. The little girl was howling sorrowfully beside her lifeless body. Someone asked the girl, "Where is your daddy?" The girl said without hesitation, "I don't have a daddy!" Hearing the girl's words, Antonio frowned and thought to himself, 'No Daddy? It's pretty obvious why Lilian gave birth to this child, but she actually told the girl she didn't have a daddy. What was she thinking?' His expression was gloomy. Just as he was about to put down his phone, he couldn't help clicking on the video and playing it again. The girl in the video was crying her heart out, repeatedly calling out for her mother. Alas, Lilian couldn't respond to her anymore. His heart ached for no reason, and he tightened his grip on his phone. He thought, 'Darn it! I can't believe I have an illegitimate child! How am I going to explain this to Winnie?' Louis' message came in quickly. It read: [Winnie can't know about this! Back then, Winnie had a kidney removed because of Lilian and even became blind in one eye. She just had a corneal repair procedure. She will break down if she finds out about your illegitimate daughter!] Naturally, Antonio knew he couldn't let Winnie know. He got drunk that night because of certain reasons. Lilian seized the opportunity to climb into his bed by impersonating Winnie. What happened that night left a stain on his life. He didn't expect the stain to still be there. Just as he was pondering, his phone rang again. His three sons unanimously sent him pictures of Laura from various angles. One of them questioned: [Dad, where'd you get an illegitimate daughter?] Another asked: [I heard that you cheated on Mom once. Was this the child you had with another woman back then?] The third son expressed his disappointment: [Dad, you've let us down.] A deep frown marred Antonio's countenance. His three children had inherited his and Winnie's high intelligence, so it was impossible to hide anything from them. "But... Even though the girl looks like me, it's not necessarily my child," he thought. Just then, Louis set up a group chat with Antonio and the latter's three sons. Louis typed: [All three of them found out about it. I failed to hide it from them. Let's discuss what to do with this child. How about putting her up for adoption?] Xander Smith: [If she's my father's biological daughter, she's related to us by blood. It is strange to send her out for adoption. She may come back to haunt us one day. So she might as well be left to fend for herself.] Everett Smith: [She's still a kid. How can we do that? Let's send her abroad for adoption so she'll never find out about us.] Jasper Smith: [Even though she's abroad, she can still find out about us. Best to leave her be and let her fend for herself.] Louis: [You guys are such "kind souls." She's your sister, for goodness' sake.] [Ha-ha, what a joke. How decent can she be when she's raised by an evil woman? I won't acknowledge her as our sister. Uncle Louis, you don't want her either, do you?] Louis: [You're right. I don't.] Antonio's face was grim. After a while, he stood up and typed: [Find out where she is. I'm going to do a paternity test with her.] He couldn't believe the girl was his child. Laura curled up on a chair at the police station with snacks piled next to her. The police stepped in to see this scene. The four-year-old girl had long hair that cascaded down her back, resembling a delicate doll in a toy store. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Such a pretty child did not deserve such a horrible fate. The female police, Angie, stepped forward. "Lala, why didn't you eat anything? Do you not like the snacks?" she asked, heartbroken. Laura lifted her head timidly. "You left these snacks here. I can't eat them. They're not mine." Angie was stunned. With tears brimming in her eyes, she said in a choked voice, "Go ahead and eat. I specially brought the snacks for you." "Thank you, Madam, but I don't want it. I have dried pasta." Laura presented the packet of dried pasta she had been holding in her hand. "When Mommy is done eating the pasta, I will get to have some leftover mushroom soup. When will Mommy come back?" For a moment, Angie was stumped by the question, not knowing how to answer. "She will have the leftover soup after her mother finishes the pasta? What a devil her mother was!" Angie thought to herself. 4.Chapter 4 Daddy Does Not Like Me Angie was furious and held the little girl in her arms. "Lala, your mother won't be coming back." Laura's heart skipped a beat. "Why?" "Because she is..." Angie paused for a moment, finding it hard to say the word "dead" to a child. Hence, she managed. "She's gone to heaven to become a superhero." Laura tilted her head and asked, "What is a superhero?" "Um... A superhero is one of those powerful adults you see on television." "Like Queen Giselle?" Laura asked innocently. Angie nodded and said, "Yes! She went to become Queen Giselle, so she can't take care of you anymore." Laura hung her head in disappointment. Angie was stunned. "Lala, don't you wonder why your mother didn't take you with her?" The other police officers came out one by one and looked at the little girl. Laura's face was filled with sorrow as she shook her head and said, "Mommy told me that if she has a good place to go in the future, she will not bring me along. Instead, she'll leave me at home to fend for myself." Laura felt the urge to cry but pouted her lips, struggling to hold back her tears. "I know that Mommy will leave someday. When the time comes, I must be happy for Mommy and can't be sad." However, sadness still overwhelmed Laura to the point that she felt like bawling her eyes out. She covered her eyes and said, "But I'd be alone again..." All the officers looked at her sadly. Even the elderly police chief, who was experienced in life, couldn't help feeling sorry for the pitiful girl. She was still so young, yet she had suffered so much. Antonio walked in to see this scene. The little girl who looked almost identical to him was nestling in the arms of a policewoman, tearfully holding a packet of dried pasta. She was so adorable and tiny that he almost couldn't believe his eyes. "She's ridiculously cute," he thought. He felt slightly short of breath, and even the three young men's gaze darkened when they saw the child. "This child... How can she be so cute?" they wondered. However, they soon came to their senses. They thought to themselves, "No. She is that woman's offspring, and that woman excelled at pretending to be innocent. Perhaps the girl also inherited her mother's ability and is now playing dumb to deceive us." A whirlwind of emotions raged in Antonio's eyes. The three young men were about to step forward, but Antonio stopped them. "Listen to what she has to say first." The police chief noticed him and was about to say something when Antonio shook his head, gesturing for him to remain silent. In response, the police chief shut his mouth in confusion. He belatedly realized that the child resembled Antonio. The police chief's eyes lit up in enthusiasm, eager for some juicy gossip. Similarly, Angie noticed Antonio, too. Startled, she looked at Laura with uncertainty. "Are you sure you don't have a daddy?" Angie wondered, "If she doesn't have a daddy, then who is this handsome and charming man? Those three young men look so similar to her, too." Laura tearfully nodded and then shook her head again. Antonio narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?" he mused. Laura said, "I do have a daddy." As soon as her adorable voice fell, everyone looked at Antonio. Antonio's expression was dark. The three brothers snorted and thought, "Here it comes. She's going to try to climb up the social ladder by using us as her stepping stones." To their surprise, Laura sniffled and said softly, "But Mommy says Daddy doesn't want me anymore and doesn't like me at all. So, I don't want to look for him." Her words were like a bolt from the blue, rendering everyone speechless. Angie wondered where did that come from. The corners of Angie's mouth twitched as she glanced at Antonio subconsciously. "But what if your daddy's here to pick you up?" Laura shook her head and said, "Daddy won't come. Daddy doesn't know that I exist. Mommy said that Daddy once tried to kill me. If he sees me again, he will try to kill me again." The police officers were shocked. Antonio was confused. The three brothers were puzzled as well. Meanwhile, Louis thought to himself, "What kind of gory drama is this? Should I call the police?" 5.Chapter 5 I Am Dirty In the deafeningly silent room, Laura wiped the tears on her face and gathered her strength to smile again, saying, "I can take care of myself. I can cook pasta." After speaking, she hopped off Angie's lap and bowed to her, saying, "Thank you, Madam! I'll be going home now!" "Wait!" Angie instinctively called out to her, "You've forgotten your snacks!" The minute she uttered those words, she felt like banging her head against the wall in frustration. "That's not the point!" thought Angie. Hearing that, Laura looked at the snacks seriously, and with caution, she picked out the smallest lollipop. She said in an ingratiating tone, "Madam, I'll only take this. Mommy told me these things are expensive and she'll have to sleep on the streets after buying them. Thank you so much. Please keep the rest." Then, she bowed to Angie, saying, "I'm going home to wait for Mommy." Laura turned around and was taken aback to see a group of people at the entrance of the police station, appearing out of nowhere. They wore formal suits and looked like those powerful adults she saw in television dramas. Laura looked up and met a man's sharp gaze. With one hand casually in his pocket, he exuded an undeniable air of authority as he gazed coldly at her in silence. The atmosphere suddenly became so tense. The onlookers couldn't help but swallow nervously as they watched the father and daughter reunite. Laura widened her eyes in astonishment as she gazed at Antonio's features. Suddenly, tears began forming in her eyes, and she took small steps toward him. She continued to look up at him before glancing at the three young men behind him. Antonio had mixed feelings. His daughter was in front of him right now. Surprisingly, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this young girl, possibly because she was his blood relative. Yet, as this sensation intensified, his countenance grew increasingly grave, and he remained silent. The stiff atmosphere continued until Laura held up the bag of dried pasta timidly. "This is for you, Sir." Antonio was stunned. Looking at the unfamiliar and obviously cheap food, he furrowed his brows and asked, "What is this?" "Pasta." The little girl smiled brightly as tears trickled down her face. "It's delicious!" She recognized her dad, for he looked exactly like her. Regrettably, she also recalled Lilian's words about how her dad would dislike her the moment he saw her. However, Laura still yearned to be near her father, even if it was just for a single moment. Laura mustered her courage and stuffed the dried pasta in Antonio's hand. She gently pinched his fingertips with her dainty hands and looked up at him with admiration, saying, "Sir, your hands are huge." "Just like the other children's daddies. I've finally held my daddy's hand," she secretly added in her heart. Satisfied, Laura took a step back and bowed to them. "Goodbye, Misters. Goodbye, Sir." After speaking, she toddled away on her tiny legs, her departing figure exuding an air of premature innocence and vulnerability. Antonio couldn't help but feel a trace of compassion for her. "Laura Yale." Laura turned around and saw the man standing at the door with an air of elegance, his expression icy. "I suspect you are my daughter. Come with me for a paternity test. If you are..." His gaze grew somber, and in the presence of everyone's attention, he said in a low voice, "I will take care of you." Laura's eyes widened in astonishment, tears instantly streaming down her face. She remained speechless for a long time. "Mommy, you might not know this. After you turn into Queen Giselle, Daddy came to meet me. He's really handsome, just like a prince. He came to take me with him. Would you be happy for me?" Laura thought. Following Antonio, Laura approached a stylish black car with a dazzling exterior. Laura pursed her lips timidly. Antonio got into the car first, followed by the three young men. The car felt a bit cramped with everyone inside. After considerable hesitation, she finally lowered her gaze to her dirt-stained dress and shoes, which bore the marks of accumulated dirt from being unwashed. This was the first time she felt self-conscious about being dirty. Hesitating, Laura stood by the car door and remained silent. Antonio gradually lost his patience. "Get in." His annoyed tone caused her to shudder, and she looked down, tugging at her dress and saying hesitantly, "I'm dirty..." The three boys looked at her in astonishment as she lowered her head even more. Jasper sneered and said sarcastically, "Why don't you stay in the trunk then? It's the perfect place for you." Hearing this, Laura looked at the trunk with a hint of interest and said, "Well, that works too." Jasper was rendered speechless. 6.Chapter 6 Will We Meet Again? He thought to himself, "Sure? What does that even mean?" He got angry. "Don't try to act pitiful in front of us. You think we can't see through it?!" Laura trembled, not understanding why he suddenly got angry. Her eyes turned red, and she shook her head helplessly. "I-I didn't mean to. My mom says I'm dirty, and she doesn't let me sleep on the bed. She says I'll dirty her bed. I didn't mean anything else. Mister, please don't be angry." All four of them were taken aback. Antonio's expression turned even uglier. "Your mom doesn't let you sleep on the bed?" Laura nodded in fear. He suddenly felt very angry. Lilian took his money, didn't have an abortion, gave birth to his child, and she was mistreating the child? Why did she have to give birth and cause trouble for him if she didn't like the child? His tone became lower. "Get in here! Don't let me say it a second time!" Laura hesitated for a moment and then hurriedly climbed into the car. Her steps were awkward and difficult, and she cautiously sat down on the seat. Once she sat down, a sour stench filled the air. Jasper wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Ms. Yale, don't you take a bath? You smell terrible!" Laura trembled, her voice tinged with self-doubt. "There's no hot water at home. I can only wash my face." Her mom didn't care about her. She only knew how to wash her face and hands. Jasper sneered, "A person like you shouldn't even be alive! Your mom isn't a good person, and neither are you!" The other two boys also smirked. Laura felt a pang of sadness, but she was used to it. She clutched her dress nervously and didn't dare to speak, stealing glances at them. Antonio, annoyed, picked up his phone. He felt her eyes on him, and he cast a cold glance her way. Laura trembled under his gaze and quickly lowered her head, feeling like an unwanted little puppy. His frustration grew. Once they reached the hospital, the blood test was done swiftly. He didn't want to continue being with her, so he sent her directly to the orphanage where she had stayed before. "When the results come out, I'll find you." Laura felt anxious, looking up at the tall man. Her intuition told her that her dad didn't like her. Just like what her mom said, he would only dislike her, not like her, when he saw her. Jasper looked even more annoyed with his arms crossed. He glanced down at her and said coldly, "Laura, don't get too proud now. Don't go around saying he's your dad just because you think he is. The results aren't out yet. Got it?" Laura obediently nodded. "Got it." She complied so easily that all four of them exchanged glances. Did she have some tricks up her sleeve? But Antonio was too fed up to bother with her. He turned and got back into the car. Laura stood there in the fading light and suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Smith!" All four of them turned to look at her. Their delicate features had an air of aloofness and coldness. She stood under the dim street lamp, looking similar to them, but her worn dress was incompatible with their attire. Between sophistication and destitution, an invisible chasm lay. She gazed at him hopefully. "If I'm not your daughter, will I ever see you again? I want to give you a gift; is that okay?" Antonio looked at her pleading eyes, didn't say anything, and got into the car. The paternity test would take seven days. During those seven days, Laura's situation garnered widespread attention. Many childless couples online wanted to adopt her. The buzz surrounding her only grew stronger. But the orphanage indicated that given Laura's relationship with her potential father; they needed to wait for the results of the paternity test to determine whether or not she could be up for adoption. Yet, she believed that the man was her dad. She felt it strongly. The orphanage nanny, Grace Mitchell, saw Laura doodling on a greeting card and couldn't help but chuckle. "Looks like you really want to find your dad, Lala." Laura used her worn-out crayons to draw, nodding emphatically. "Yeah! I like my dad! That man must be my dad! He's so tall and handsome!"

🔞"Now baby, you are going to svck my c0ck." Her shithead boss commanded. Her eyes looked at his huge c0ck before lifting to his. "But?" She was going to ask how it would fit. He smiled at her. "Blair, however I choose, remember? You will svck my c0ck. If you are really good. I'm then going to fvck you so hard." ------------------------------------- Olivia's POV I slumped against the passenger seat as Ryan's car cruised through the palm-lined streets of Los Angeles. My eyelids felt heavy after a twelve-hour shift at Carter Enterprises. The quarterly marketing campaign required us all to work overtime, and as a junior marketing executive, I was stuck with weekend work. "You still with me, babe?" Ryan glanced over, his perfectly styled dark hair catching the sunset's glow. "Barely." I stifled a yawn. "Remind me why we're going to this party when I could be face-planting into my pillow right now?" "Because Sophia would kill you if you missed her birthday." He reached over and squeezed my knee. "And because you look stunning in that dress I bought for you." I glanced down at the black cocktail dress he'd insisted I wear. The neckline plunged lower than I'd normally choose, and the hemline rode high enough to make me self-conscious every time I sat down. Ryan had shown up at my apartment with the dress in a boutique bag, eyes gleaming with anticipation as I'd tried it on. "I still think it's a bit much for a birthday party," I tugged at the fabric, trying to cover more of my chest. "Liv, we've been dating for two years. I know what looks good on you better than you do. Trust me, every guy at this party will wish he was me tonight." "Is that what this is about? Marking your territory?" "Can you blame me?" He winked as he turned onto Sophia's street, where luxury cars lined both sides. Sophia's recently purchased triplex stood illuminated against the darkening sky, music pulsing from within. For someone only turning twenty-five, she'd done remarkably well for herself in real estate development. Ryan found a spot half a block away and cut the engine. "Ready to make an entrance, Ms. Morgan?" "As I'll ever be." I grabbed my purse and the gift bag containing the vintage champagne Ryan had suggested we bring. The cool evening air hit my bare shoulders as I stepped out of the car, making me shiver. Ryan's arm slid around my waist, his hand resting dangerously low on my hip. "See? Worth getting dressed up for." He nodded toward the house. "This place is insane." We walked up the curved driveway where twinkling lights had been strung through the palm trees. The front door stood open, spilling light, music, and laughter onto the porch. "Olivia! You made it!" Sophia appeared in the doorway, resplendent in a gold sequined dress. "I was starting to think you'd stood me up!" "My work tried its best to keep me away," I laughed, accepting her enthusiastic hug. "Happy birthday, Soph." "And Ryan, looking delicious as always." She air-kissed his cheeks. "Come in, come in! Everyone's already two drinks ahead of you." Ryan's hand pressed against the small of my back as we entered the foyer, which opened to a massive great room where at least thirty people mingled. The space featured floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the twinkling Los Angeles skyline. "Drink?" Ryan asked, already scanning the room. "God, yes. The strongest thing they've got." He chuckled. "That's my girl. Be right back." As Ryan disappeared toward the bar setup, I heard a familiar squeal from across the room. "Olivia Morgan, get your ass over here!" I turned to see Emilia waving frantically from a plush sectional sofa. My best friend since college was already flushed from alcohol, her blonde hair falling in waves around her shoulders. "Em!" I navigated through clusters of guests to reach her. "How long have you been here?" "Long enough to know the bartender's life story." She stood, wobbling slightly in her heels, and embraced me. She pulled back, holding me at arm's length to examine my outfit. "Holy shit, your boobs look amazing in that dress. Did Ryan pick it out?" I felt my cheeks warm. "Is it that obvious?" "Only because I've known you for eight years, and you've never willingly shown that much cleavage." She smirked. "Not that I'm complaining. If I had your rack, I'd show it off, too." "Could you say that a little louder? I don't think everyone in Malibu heard you." "Sorry, can't help it. You're too easy to embarrass." Emilia's eyes danced with mischief as she took another sip of her drink. "By the way, have you seen our birthday girl? I swear she was here greeting people and then just... vanished." I scanned the crowded room. "No, actually. Where did Ryan go? He was supposed to be getting me a drink." "Maybe he's outside? I saw some people heading to the back lawn earlier." Emilia shrugged. "Or he could be sneaking a cigarette." I narrowed my eyes. "He told me he quit three months ago. If I catch him smoking after all that 'I'm done with nicotine forever, baby' bullshit, I'll kill him myself." "Men lie about the stupidest things. Like, just admit you still smoke and save us both the drama." "I'm going to find him," I said, tugging at my dress, which had ridden up dangerously high. "If he's outside with a cigarette, I'm putting it on his favorite shoes." "That's my girl." Emilia raised her glass. "I'll be right here judging everyone's outfit choices when you get back." I weaved through the crowded living room, nodding at half-familiar faces from past gatherings. The kitchen was jammed with people mixing drinks. No Ryan. The back patio held a group playing some drinking games with shots and ping pong balls. No Ryan among them. "Looking for someone?" A tall guy with a man-bun approached, his eyes dropping to my cleavage before meeting my gaze. "My boyfriend. Tall, dark hair, probably looking smug about something." He laughed. "Haven't seen him. But I'd be happy to keep you company until he shows up." "Hard pass, but thanks." I turned away, irritation building. Where the hell was Ryan with my drink? I climbed the modern floating staircase to the next floor, where the noise from the party became more muffled. The hallway was dimly lit and had several closed doors. A sound caught my attention – a moan? A laugh? Something between the two. It was faint, coming from further down the hall. The sound came again, more distinct this time. Definitely a moan. Great. A couple had found a private spot to hook up at Sophia's party. How classy. I was about to turn back when I noticed a slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway, a sliver of light spilling onto the hardwood floor. Something compelled me forward – curiosity, or perhaps a sixth sense I didn't know I had. As I approached, the sounds became clearer. A woman's voice, breathless and urgent: "Fuck, yes, right there." I froze. The voice was familiar. A male voice responded, low and commanding: "You like that, don't you? Tell me how much you want it." My stomach dropped. Ryan's voice. I should have turned away, run down those stairs, and straight out the front door. Instead, I moved closer, pushing the door open wider. The scene burned into my retinas like a brand. Sophia bent over her dresser; her gold dress pushed up around her waist. Ryan was behind her, his pants around his ankles, hands gripping her hips as he thrust into her. "Harder," Sophia gasped. "Make me feel it tomorrow." "What the fuck?" The words escaped me before I could stop them. They both froze. Ryan's head whipped around, his eyes widening with shock.

😱😭 I have been in love with Alec for as long as I can remember, but he never felt the same way. To him, I was just his sister's annoying best friend. I was sure he'd be my mate, but the moon goddess played a cruel joke on me because Alec found his mate, and it wasn't me. I thought nothing could be worse than seeing the man you're in love with happy with someone else. I was wrong. It took just one night for my life to change. Everyone turned against me. I was shamed, shunned, and tortured for a crime I didn't commit. As if that wasn't enough, Alec banished me, a fate that was worse than death. With a broken heart and soul, I left, vowing never to cross paths with him again. ----------------------------------------------- I move to the beat of the music, suddenly feeling all my worries wash away. I wanted to forget. To forget that the man I’m in love with is having this party to celebrate finding his mate. To say I'm heartbroken would be an understatement. I am shattered because I knew my love for him would probably never fade. “Come on, Sadie, you’ve danced enough.” My best friend, Piper, tells me, pulling me off the dance floor. She knew I was having a hard time today. After all, the man who had unknowingly broken my heart was her big brother. “I want to dance a little more.” I whined. Right now, I would do anything if it meant that I wouldn’t think of him. That I wouldn’t think of the fact that he was never going to be mine. That I had lost him before I even had him. It’s sad, honestly. I tried everything to get him to notice me, but he never did. I was nothing more than his sister’s best friend. The annoying girl that usually gets on his nerves. I had hoped and prayed to the moon goddess that he would be my mate. I had wished every single year on my birthday that he would be mine. I thought he would notice me, but he never did. How could he when I wasn't his type? When I wasn't the kind of woman he would look at twice? Unrequited love hurt like a fucking bitch, and now I was paying the price. Now I had to watch him fawn over his mate like she was the most precious thing in the world. It fucking hurt, and no one knew how deep the pain was. “You have to get over him. I’ve been telling you this for years,” Piper says, pulling me out of my thoughts. She hands me a shot and I gladly take it. I needed something to drown out the pain I was currently feeling. “Look, you probably have a mate out there that is dying to meet you. Get over Alec. It won’t be fair to your mate if he finds out you’re in love with someone else.” Just the mention of his name brings pain shooting inside me. If I didn’t know better, I would think I was literally dying from heart break. “It’s not that easy Piper” I whispered brokenly. How can I explain to her that her brother was embedded deep inside me? That he’s in my blood. That he is all I see and all I can think of. That he is the very air I breathe. She wouldn’t understand. She always thought it was a silly crush. Alec was the freaking Alpha. Apart from that, he was freaking hot. A god walking among mortals. Every teenage girl and every single woman in our pack had a crush on him. Damn even some of the mated women got all flustered around him, so, of course, Piper would think that mine would fade away. “It is. It will be really wrong if you continue this when he has already found his mate. It won’t be fair to them if you shadow their union by refusing to let him go,” she looks at me in sympathy. I turn my head away. I didn’t want to see the sympathy in her eyes. It always hurt because I knew that I could never measure up to what a Luna should be. I knew what she was saying was the truth, but getting my heart to listen was another thing altogether. “Let’s just enjoy the party, okay? I’m sure that I’ll get over him in no time,” I lie to her, changing the subject all together. She nods her head eagerly before shooting back her glass and grinning at me. I manage to give her a smile before I take another shot. She was the happiest when Alec found his mate. We usually find our mates when we reach twenty-one; Alec hadn’t been that lucky. I thought it was a sign. I was four years younger than him, so I thought it was a sign that he was meant to be mine. I am now twenty. I thought that I had to wait one more year before we found out we were mates. I was so excited. I couldn't wait for next year. The shock was on me, though. Unfortunately for me, he found his mate a few months back. Piper chats with those around us. Happiness radiating from every pore of her body. Instead of engaging, I scan the area. My eyes immediately land on him, and my breath catches. He was dancing with Lola. His mate. He held her so closely and tenderly, like she was a porcelain doll that would break easily. He pulled away and looked down at her. His eyes held so much tenderness and love that I found it hard to breathe just from looking at them. He bends down and softly kisses her lips. For the first time since I’ve known him, he was smiling. My heart breaks even more knowing that Lola was able to do something that I’ve never been able to do. Not wanting to stay at the table watching everyone happy for the couple and not wanting to see Alec and Lola, I stand up. “Where are you going?” Piper asks me, worry written on her face. “I’m just going to the bar. I need to get shitfaced ASAP,” she nods her head, and I leave. I take one of the bar stools and face the bartender. He was really cute. If only my stupid heart could fall for someone like him instead of Alec, who was unattainable. “What can I get you?” Blondie asks with a smile. “Something really strong.” He stares at me before smiling again. “Coming up” I don’t know how long I'd been there when I felt his presence next to me. I give him a quick glance before turning back to face the drink in my hand. “How are you, Sadie?” He suddenly asks, something that is so unlike him. I turn to face him, wondering if he was drunk or something. “I’m good,” I tell him after realizing that he is sober. “I’m so fucking happy. Lola is everything I’ve ever wanted,” he says, grinning. I take back what I said. He wasn’t sober, but he also wasn’t wholly drunk. The Alec I know isn’t this chipper. Not even when he has had a few drinks. Looking at him now, it hits me how happy he freaking was. He was so happy that it radiated off him in waves. How then can I be against his happiness? I loved him so much, so how can I begrudge him for finding his mate? Loving him meant that I should be happy when he is. Having realized that, I let go of my pain and resentment. Loving him meant that his happiness is mine, even if I am not the one bringing him that happiness. “I’m happy for you. Really happy Alec”, I tell him, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulder. “Thank you” Two glasses appear in front of me. “On the house,” the guy said. He was a different bartender from the one that had been serving me for the past few minutes, but I just shrug it off. Maybe they exchanged shifts or something. "Here,” I hand him one of the glasses. "To your new beginnings.” We clink our glasses and throw back the contents. It burns and tastes weird, but I don’t really care. I was drinking with Alec. That has never happened. Instead of thinking too much about it, I let go. I was going to have this moment with him, then I was going to let go of him. We talk for a while and the next thing I know, we were in a room. I don’t know how or when we got there, but my mind doesn’t register a damn thing. “I’ve been waiting for this since we met” Alec says, undressing me. Before I can respond, he smashes his mouth against mine and takes my mouth in a scorching kiss. One that left me breathless. My mind is hazy as Alec takes my body. Joining us and making us one. I love everything he does, and I eventually lose count of every single time he brings me to the climax. This is everything I ever imagined being with Alec would feel like. So why the hell did it feel so wrong? Why the hell did it feel like something wasn’t right? The day after Raised voices bring me out of a peaceful sleep. There were people arguing, but it all sounded so far away. Instead of opening my eyes, I snuggled deeper into the comfy and warm mattress. It felt like heaven. Like I was sleeping in the clouds. Someone shouts my name, but I push the sound back. It was probably one of the maids trying to wake me up. Frowning, I try to get back to sleep. I was just falling into bliss when someone roughly shakes me. Before I can do anything, I’m pushed off the bed, and I fall on the cold, hard floor. “Wake up, you shameless, thieving bitch.” If the fall didn’t wake me up, then the menacing and vicious voice definitely did the trick. I open my eyes, my mind foggy. I looked around the room, but it wasn't familiar. Looking down, I realized that I was naked. Fuck! What the hell was going on? I grab the sheet quickly and wrap it around my naked form before standing up. “What’s going on?” I asked, as I stared at the occupants of the room. Lola was staring daggers at me. Her eyes filled with so much hate and bitterness. Jason, Alec’s beta, Micah, his gamma and Piper were present. Alec was seated on the bed in nothing but his boxer briefs with his head held in his hand. I stare at them, not really sure what the hell was happening, why everyone was here, or what the hell Alec was doing in this room, half naked, while I didn’t have my clothes on. “I can’t do this. I just can’t do this,” Lola whispers as tears fill her eyes. Alec stands up and tries to go to her, but she backs away from him. “Stay away from me, you cheating asshole” she screams. “Please, Lola…please just fucking listen” he begs. “I don’t remember what the fuck happened. The last thing I remember is going to the bar” It takes a while, but things start to make sense. Fuck. Why me moon goddess? What the hell did I do to you? I try to think back to last night, but I come up with nothing. The last thing I remember is the bartender handing me and Alec drinks and telling us they were on the house. “No! I won’t listen to your damn excuse. Do you think I’m stupid? You cheat on me two days before our mating ceremony, and you expect me to believe your pathetic excuse. You expect me to believe that you don’t know what happened and don’t remember sleeping with that slut?” she screams at him. I feel my legs weaken as Lola voices my thoughts. I hold on to the headboard for support. My eyes scan the bed, and they quickly land on the spot of blood on the sheets. Oh goddess. I slept with Alec yesterday. I slept with someone else’s mate, and I don’t even remember a fucking thing. I feel bile rise up, and before I can stop it, I puke all over the carpet. Everyone except Alec looks at me in disgust. Alec just stares at his mate. His eyes fixated on her. Lola turns her eyes back to Alec and gives him the coldest look I’ve ever seen on her. “We’re done. Don’t call me, don’t look for me and don’t fucking dare come near me again.” “Please, Lo, don’t do this.” “I’m not doing anything, you destroyed everything when you decided to take that bitch to bed.” Ripping her hand from his, she walks out, banging the door on her way out. Alec looks at the door for a while, before the most terrifying growl leaves his mouth. He turns and pins me with a deadly look. His eyes were flashing yellow, and his mouth was set. I take back a step in fear, but there is nowhere to go. Growls and snarls leave his mouth. Both his and his wolf’s anger were all directed at me. “Get dressed and get your fucking ass in my office” he snarls, making me scramble to get my clothes. Within seconds, all three of them leave, and I’m left in the room alone. I try to breathe through the panic, but it’s no use. I was in deep trouble. Not only had I slept with the alpha and a man who had found his mate, but I might also be responsible for breaking Alec and Lola up. ‘Just calm down. You’ll just explain your side of the story’, I tell myself. ‘I’m sure they’ll believe me' I dress as fast as I can while taking deep, calming breaths. After I’m done, I rush out of the room and head straight to the Alpha’s office. ‘Whore’ ‘Slut’ The words were flung at me as I ran past a few pack members. The shaming words hurt, but I ignore them. Now is not the time to let my feelings take control. When I get to the office, I gently knock. Alec yells for me to come in. At first, I thought of running because I could hear the anger in his voice, but that would only get me into more trouble. The moment I get in and I close the door behind me, a slap lands on my cheek. I looked at Piper in shock. Unable to believe that my best friend slapped me. “How could you?” she cries. “How could you betray me like this? You know how much I love my brother and how happy I was that he found his mate, but you just had to ruin that, didn’t you?” she screams at me. “It’s not like that. I didn’t do anything.” “You’ve always been obsessed with Alec, but you’ve taken this too far. Drugging him so he could sleep you is disgusting and low even for you, Sadie.” Tears fall down my face as her words pierce my heart and soul. We’ve been best friends for years, yet she believed I was guilty the first chance she got. “I didn’t drug him, I swear.” I cry. “Then explain this”, Alec shouts and throws me a gadget. It hits me on the forehead, but no one seems to care. I see stars for a while, but I bend down and take the tablet, ignoring the throbbing pain. The video shows me handing Alec one of the two glasses that the bartender gave me. “You probably spiked the drink before giving it to me, isn’t that right? You knew I would never sleep with you sober, so you drugged me. You wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Sleep with me and break my relationship with Lola,” Alec says bitterly, his eyes conveying nothing but hate and anger. “I swear that’s not true. I would never do that. You can ask the bartender who gave me the drinks,” I pleaded. Jason scoffs. “How convenient, since the bartender is nowhere to be found, and he wasn’t one of the workers hired yesterday. You know what I think? I think he’s your accomplice. You paid him to spike the Alpha’s drink.” I shake my head as more tears fall down my face. It pained me knowing they believed such horrible things about me. “You’ve known me for years, Pip. You know I would never do something like that. Please believe me.” Something soft passes through her eyes, but as soon as it appears, it disappears. A cold look takes over her face and her eyes shine with hate. “I want to believe you, but given how you’ve been obsessed with Alec for years, I believe your obsession could have caused you to abandon your senses.” With those words, she nails the first nail in my coffin. I sag in defeat. I don’t understand why no one would believe me. I love Alec, but I would never do anything to hurt him. “Take her to the fucking dungeon” he orders Jason, before turning to me. “The contents of the glass you gave me have been sent for analysis. If the results come out positive that there are traces of drugs, I swear you’re going to regret ever crossing me, Sadie..” I don’t fight as Jason drags me from the office to what will be my new home, unless I can prove I'm not guilty. Someone was framing me; I just didn’t know who it was or why they were doing it. A monster The whip lands on my back. I grit my teeth against the pain and refuse to give them the satisfaction of watching me break. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. All I know is that I’m slowly starting to lose my mind. Slowly starting to lose myself. I’ve known nothing but pain since I came here. Nothing but hurt and sadness. Every day they come and take their frustrations out of on me. Every day they come and make me pay for ruining their Alpha’s chance at happiness. As you’ve already guessed, the test turned positive. Very few things can affect werewolves, so no one is sure what exactly was used, because the drug used wasn’t anything our pack is familiar with. The moment the test turned positive, I knew that my fate had been sealed. No one seemed to believe me. Everyone I knew and loved, including Piper, turned their backs on me in support of Alec. Another whip, and I wince. My back probably looked like ground meat. I’ve been through every kind of torture. Whipping, slicing, burning, my bones have been broken, and my hair has been cut. If you can think of any torture, then I’ve probably been through it. It hurts. Not just the physical pain, but the emotional one. This is the pack that took me in and embraced me when my parents died. Now I was a piranha to them. Everything good I’ve ever done has been forgotten. I was no longer Sadie, a pack member. Now I was nothing but a hoe, a slut, a home wrecker, a thief, and a traitor. I can’t even remember the last time I heard someone say my name. My thoughts are pushed back when the door opens and Alec walks in. I tremble in fear. I guess he was here to get his pound of flesh. “Has she talked yet?” he asked, his voice on edge. He seemed angry. More pissed off than usual. His shoulders were tense. His mouth set, and his eyes blazed fire. They kept switching colors, meaning that he and his wolf were in sync. “Not yet Alpha”, Jason grits out. Alec folds the arms of his shirt, before taking a knife. I try to walk back, but there is no escape. I’m chained to the ceiling. There is nowhere to go. “Let’s see if I can get her to confess her sins” he spits before plunging the knife into my stomach. Of all my tormentors, Alec is the worst of them all. I loved him with all my heart. I treasured him. I would never have done anything to hurt him, yet he’s done everything he can think of to cause me pain. The love I had for him has now been poisoned. All I see when I look into his eyes is the monster that he is. I now hate him as much, or even more, than he hates me. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not the one who drugged you.” I whispered, trying to control the tremble in my voice. “You expect me to fucking believe that, you bitch?” he bellows. The punch he lands on my face is enough to have me seeing stars. Being hit by a man fucking hurts. It’s similar to being hit by a huge boulder. “I swear I didn’t” “And I won’t believe the lies of a slut. You knew I couldn’t sleep with you sober, so the only way you could have my dick is by drugging me. Did you enjoy taking advantage of me? Did you enjoy sleeping with a man who could barely remember his own name? Is that what gets you off?” His words are bitter as he flung them at me. Each one of them pierced my heart. Broke down the little pieces of myself I had left. Why can’t they see how much they’re hurting me? How much they were destroying me? “I wouldn’t know. I was also drunk.” No one believes that I was also drugged. No one believes that I was also a victim. That I also don’t remember what happened that night. They all want to blame me. To turn me into a villain. His snarl is the only warning I get before he plunges the knife deeper. He then twists it before wrenching it out. I close my eyes. Hoping to hide my pain. Hoping to hide my helplessness. When I have everything under control, I open them. They clash with his. Alec’s were filled with nothing but loathing and hate. My heart breaks even more at seeing this. Yes, he used to give me expressionless looks, but never ones that were filled with hatred. From there, he uses me as a punching bag. I can feel myself weaken with each punch, each slap, and each stab. Relief comes when Micah opens the door and enters. “Alec, Lola is here to see you,” he tells him. I see hope flash in his eyes. He truly does love and care for her. If only he knew that I would never have done anything to jeopardize his happiness. Alec nods before turning to me. “I’m giving you one last chance to confess.” “I didn’t do anything. I’m innocent.” My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper. He looks at me with deadly eyes. His lips twist in a cruel grin right before he swings his arms and slashes my face. “Now, no one will ever be able to look at you because you’re disfigured and ugly. It will always be a reminder of my hate for you.” He leaves without remorse or a backward glance. His friends leave with him too. The moment they’re out of the door, I let my first tear fall. My cheek throbs from the cut, which I’m sure is deep. Alec’s right. Given I haven’t shifted yet, my scars will forever remain with me. Not just the one on my face, but also the ones on my body. I slump forward and curse the moon goddess for what she has allowed to happen to me. She knows I’m innocent, yet she allowed her children to hurt and humiliate me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get out, but I’ll hate Alec and his pack until my dying breath. My body was giving in to the darkness when the door creaked open. I stare at him, afraid he’s back to give me another beating. “Shss, don’t move,” he says gently. “I’m here to help, but we have to be quick before the guards or Alpha Alec notices what’s happening.” I stare at him in disbelief. “You believe me?” He nods his head. “Yes. Something about this doesn’t feel right. My intuition is always spot on and something tells me that this is bigger than any of us can imagine.” He walks to me and slowly begins untying my chain. “What about the cameras?” “Don’t worry about that. I’ve taken care of it.” Once I’m free from the chain, I slump forward and almost collide with the floor, but he breaks my fall. He holds me up and walks us out the door. There weren’t any other prisoners. Neither were there any guards. We slowly walk until we get to a secret passageway. “Won’t you get in trouble if he ever finds out you helped me escape?” I ask worried for him. If there is something I’ve learned; is that Alec doesn’t know the meaning of forgiveness. “He won’t ever find out unless I want him to” he answers as we finally reach the end of the passage and break through a forest. For some reason, I believe him, so I let the issue go. Besides, I didn’t have the energy to keep the conversation going. When he realized that we were walking too slowly, he picks me up and carries me. Everything begins to blur as he speeds past trees. I don’t know how long we ran, but finally we get to the border. This part of the border didn’t have any patrols, probably because it bordered humans. It would raise too much suspicion if humans saw dozens of men patrolling the area. “You have to cut connections with the pack if you don’t want Alec to find you easily,” he puts me down. I slowly, but tiredly cross the border. Taking a deep breath, I say the words that would severe my connection to the pack. “I Sadie Evans, cut my ties with the Blood Moon Pack.” A chill goes down my back as I feel the connection end. The humming disappears, and my brain becomes quiet. “Is it done?” I’m about to answer when I hear a terrifying roar in the distance, right before a blinding pain cuts through my body. I scream out in pain as tears run down my face. It felt like a part of me had been ripped away. “Shit! You have to leave, Sadie. Right fucking now” he tells me pleadingly. Tears continue to run down my face as I began to walk. My whole body ached and everything, including my soul, was broken. One step after another, I walk away. I know what that pain meant, and I will never forgive him for doing this to me.

🔞"Now baby, you are going to svck my c0ck." Her shithead boss commanded. Her eyes looked at his huge c0ck before lifting to his. "But?" She was going to ask how it would fit. He smiled at her. "Blair, however I choose, remember? You will svck my c0ck. If you are really good. I'm then going to fvck you so hard." ------------------------------------- Olivia's POV I slumped against the passenger seat as Ryan's car cruised through the palm-lined streets of Los Angeles. My eyelids felt heavy after a twelve-hour shift at Carter Enterprises. The quarterly marketing campaign required us all to work overtime, and as a junior marketing executive, I was stuck with weekend work. "You still with me, babe?" Ryan glanced over, his perfectly styled dark hair catching the sunset's glow. "Barely." I stifled a yawn. "Remind me why we're going to this party when I could be face-planting into my pillow right now?" "Because Sophia would kill you if you missed her birthday." He reached over and squeezed my knee. "And because you look stunning in that dress I bought for you." I glanced down at the black cocktail dress he'd insisted I wear. The neckline plunged lower than I'd normally choose, and the hemline rode high enough to make me self-conscious every time I sat down. Ryan had shown up at my apartment with the dress in a boutique bag, eyes gleaming with anticipation as I'd tried it on. "I still think it's a bit much for a birthday party," I tugged at the fabric, trying to cover more of my chest. "Liv, we've been dating for two years. I know what looks good on you better than you do. Trust me, every guy at this party will wish he was me tonight." "Is that what this is about? Marking your territory?" "Can you blame me?" He winked as he turned onto Sophia's street, where luxury cars lined both sides. Sophia's recently purchased triplex stood illuminated against the darkening sky, music pulsing from within. For someone only turning twenty-five, she'd done remarkably well for herself in real estate development. Ryan found a spot half a block away and cut the engine. "Ready to make an entrance, Ms. Morgan?" "As I'll ever be." I grabbed my purse and the gift bag containing the vintage champagne Ryan had suggested we bring. The cool evening air hit my bare shoulders as I stepped out of the car, making me shiver. Ryan's arm slid around my waist, his hand resting dangerously low on my hip. "See? Worth getting dressed up for." He nodded toward the house. "This place is insane." We walked up the curved driveway where twinkling lights had been strung through the palm trees. The front door stood open, spilling light, music, and laughter onto the porch. "Olivia! You made it!" Sophia appeared in the doorway, resplendent in a gold sequined dress. "I was starting to think you'd stood me up!" "My work tried its best to keep me away," I laughed, accepting her enthusiastic hug. "Happy birthday, Soph." "And Ryan, looking delicious as always." She air-kissed his cheeks. "Come in, come in! Everyone's already two drinks ahead of you." Ryan's hand pressed against the small of my back as we entered the foyer, which opened to a massive great room where at least thirty people mingled. The space featured floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the twinkling Los Angeles skyline. "Drink?" Ryan asked, already scanning the room. "God, yes. The strongest thing they've got." He chuckled. "That's my girl. Be right back." As Ryan disappeared toward the bar setup, I heard a familiar squeal from across the room. "Olivia Morgan, get your ass over here!" I turned to see Emilia waving frantically from a plush sectional sofa. My best friend since college was already flushed from alcohol, her blonde hair falling in waves around her shoulders. "Em!" I navigated through clusters of guests to reach her. "How long have you been here?" "Long enough to know the bartender's life story." She stood, wobbling slightly in her heels, and embraced me. She pulled back, holding me at arm's length to examine my outfit. "Holy shit, your boobs look amazing in that dress. Did Ryan pick it out?" I felt my cheeks warm. "Is it that obvious?" "Only because I've known you for eight years, and you've never willingly shown that much cleavage." She smirked. "Not that I'm complaining. If I had your rack, I'd show it off, too." "Could you say that a little louder? I don't think everyone in Malibu heard you." "Sorry, can't help it. You're too easy to embarrass." Emilia's eyes danced with mischief as she took another sip of her drink. "By the way, have you seen our birthday girl? I swear she was here greeting people and then just... vanished." I scanned the crowded room. "No, actually. Where did Ryan go? He was supposed to be getting me a drink." "Maybe he's outside? I saw some people heading to the back lawn earlier." Emilia shrugged. "Or he could be sneaking a cigarette." I narrowed my eyes. "He told me he quit three months ago. If I catch him smoking after all that 'I'm done with nicotine forever, baby' bullshit, I'll kill him myself." "Men lie about the stupidest things. Like, just admit you still smoke and save us both the drama." "I'm going to find him," I said, tugging at my dress, which had ridden up dangerously high. "If he's outside with a cigarette, I'm putting it on his favorite shoes." "That's my girl." Emilia raised her glass. "I'll be right here judging everyone's outfit choices when you get back." I weaved through the crowded living room, nodding at half-familiar faces from past gatherings. The kitchen was jammed with people mixing drinks. No Ryan. The back patio held a group playing some drinking games with shots and ping pong balls. No Ryan among them. "Looking for someone?" A tall guy with a man-bun approached, his eyes dropping to my cleavage before meeting my gaze. "My boyfriend. Tall, dark hair, probably looking smug about something." He laughed. "Haven't seen him. But I'd be happy to keep you company until he shows up." "Hard pass, but thanks." I turned away, irritation building. Where the hell was Ryan with my drink? I climbed the modern floating staircase to the next floor, where the noise from the party became more muffled. The hallway was dimly lit and had several closed doors. A sound caught my attention – a moan? A laugh? Something between the two. It was faint, coming from further down the hall. The sound came again, more distinct this time. Definitely a moan. Great. A couple had found a private spot to hook up at Sophia's party. How classy. I was about to turn back when I noticed a slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway, a sliver of light spilling onto the hardwood floor. Something compelled me forward – curiosity, or perhaps a sixth sense I didn't know I had. As I approached, the sounds became clearer. A woman's voice, breathless and urgent: "Fuck, yes, right there." I froze. The voice was familiar. A male voice responded, low and commanding: "You like that, don't you? Tell me how much you want it." My stomach dropped. Ryan's voice. I should have turned away, run down those stairs, and straight out the front door. Instead, I moved closer, pushing the door open wider. The scene burned into my retinas like a brand. Sophia bent over her dresser; her gold dress pushed up around her waist. Ryan was behind her, his pants around his ankles, hands gripping her hips as he thrust into her. "Harder," Sophia gasped. "Make me feel it tomorrow." "What the fuck?" The words escaped me before I could stop them. They both froze. Ryan's head whipped around, his eyes widening with shock.

🔞"Now baby, you are going to svck my c0ck." Her shithead boss commanded. Her eyes looked at his huge c0ck before lifting to his. "But?" She was going to ask how it would fit. He smiled at her. "Blair, however I choose, remember? You will svck my c0ck. If you are really good. I'm then going to fvck you so hard." ------------------------------------- Olivia's POV I slumped against the passenger seat as Ryan's car cruised through the palm-lined streets of Los Angeles. My eyelids felt heavy after a twelve-hour shift at Carter Enterprises. The quarterly marketing campaign required us all to work overtime, and as a junior marketing executive, I was stuck with weekend work. "You still with me, babe?" Ryan glanced over, his perfectly styled dark hair catching the sunset's glow. "Barely." I stifled a yawn. "Remind me why we're going to this party when I could be face-planting into my pillow right now?" "Because Sophia would kill you if you missed her birthday." He reached over and squeezed my knee. "And because you look stunning in that dress I bought for you." I glanced down at the black cocktail dress he'd insisted I wear. The neckline plunged lower than I'd normally choose, and the hemline rode high enough to make me self-conscious every time I sat down. Ryan had shown up at my apartment with the dress in a boutique bag, eyes gleaming with anticipation as I'd tried it on. "I still think it's a bit much for a birthday party," I tugged at the fabric, trying to cover more of my chest. "Liv, we've been dating for two years. I know what looks good on you better than you do. Trust me, every guy at this party will wish he was me tonight." "Is that what this is about? Marking your territory?" "Can you blame me?" He winked as he turned onto Sophia's street, where luxury cars lined both sides. Sophia's recently purchased triplex stood illuminated against the darkening sky, music pulsing from within. For someone only turning twenty-five, she'd done remarkably well for herself in real estate development. Ryan found a spot half a block away and cut the engine. "Ready to make an entrance, Ms. Morgan?" "As I'll ever be." I grabbed my purse and the gift bag containing the vintage champagne Ryan had suggested we bring. The cool evening air hit my bare shoulders as I stepped out of the car, making me shiver. Ryan's arm slid around my waist, his hand resting dangerously low on my hip. "See? Worth getting dressed up for." He nodded toward the house. "This place is insane." We walked up the curved driveway where twinkling lights had been strung through the palm trees. The front door stood open, spilling light, music, and laughter onto the porch. "Olivia! You made it!" Sophia appeared in the doorway, resplendent in a gold sequined dress. "I was starting to think you'd stood me up!" "My work tried its best to keep me away," I laughed, accepting her enthusiastic hug. "Happy birthday, Soph." "And Ryan, looking delicious as always." She air-kissed his cheeks. "Come in, come in! Everyone's already two drinks ahead of you." Ryan's hand pressed against the small of my back as we entered the foyer, which opened to a massive great room where at least thirty people mingled. The space featured floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the twinkling Los Angeles skyline. "Drink?" Ryan asked, already scanning the room. "God, yes. The strongest thing they've got." He chuckled. "That's my girl. Be right back." As Ryan disappeared toward the bar setup, I heard a familiar squeal from across the room. "Olivia Morgan, get your ass over here!" I turned to see Emilia waving frantically from a plush sectional sofa. My best friend since college was already flushed from alcohol, her blonde hair falling in waves around her shoulders. "Em!" I navigated through clusters of guests to reach her. "How long have you been here?" "Long enough to know the bartender's life story." She stood, wobbling slightly in her heels, and embraced me. She pulled back, holding me at arm's length to examine my outfit. "Holy shit, your boobs look amazing in that dress. Did Ryan pick it out?" I felt my cheeks warm. "Is it that obvious?" "Only because I've known you for eight years, and you've never willingly shown that much cleavage." She smirked. "Not that I'm complaining. If I had your rack, I'd show it off, too." "Could you say that a little louder? I don't think everyone in Malibu heard you." "Sorry, can't help it. You're too easy to embarrass." Emilia's eyes danced with mischief as she took another sip of her drink. "By the way, have you seen our birthday girl? I swear she was here greeting people and then just... vanished." I scanned the crowded room. "No, actually. Where did Ryan go? He was supposed to be getting me a drink." "Maybe he's outside? I saw some people heading to the back lawn earlier." Emilia shrugged. "Or he could be sneaking a cigarette." I narrowed my eyes. "He told me he quit three months ago. If I catch him smoking after all that 'I'm done with nicotine forever, baby' bullshit, I'll kill him myself." "Men lie about the stupidest things. Like, just admit you still smoke and save us both the drama." "I'm going to find him," I said, tugging at my dress, which had ridden up dangerously high. "If he's outside with a cigarette, I'm putting it on his favorite shoes." "That's my girl." Emilia raised her glass. "I'll be right here judging everyone's outfit choices when you get back." I weaved through the crowded living room, nodding at half-familiar faces from past gatherings. The kitchen was jammed with people mixing drinks. No Ryan. The back patio held a group playing some drinking games with shots and ping pong balls. No Ryan among them. "Looking for someone?" A tall guy with a man-bun approached, his eyes dropping to my cleavage before meeting my gaze. "My boyfriend. Tall, dark hair, probably looking smug about something." He laughed. "Haven't seen him. But I'd be happy to keep you company until he shows up." "Hard pass, but thanks." I turned away, irritation building. Where the hell was Ryan with my drink? I climbed the modern floating staircase to the next floor, where the noise from the party became more muffled. The hallway was dimly lit and had several closed doors. A sound caught my attention – a moan? A laugh? Something between the two. It was faint, coming from further down the hall. The sound came again, more distinct this time. Definitely a moan. Great. A couple had found a private spot to hook up at Sophia's party. How classy. I was about to turn back when I noticed a slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway, a sliver of light spilling onto the hardwood floor. Something compelled me forward – curiosity, or perhaps a sixth sense I didn't know I had. As I approached, the sounds became clearer. A woman's voice, breathless and urgent: "Fuck, yes, right there." I froze. The voice was familiar. A male voice responded, low and commanding: "You like that, don't you? Tell me how much you want it." My stomach dropped. Ryan's voice. I should have turned away, run down those stairs, and straight out the front door. Instead, I moved closer, pushing the door open wider. The scene burned into my retinas like a brand. Sophia bent over her dresser; her gold dress pushed up around her waist. Ryan was behind her, his pants around his ankles, hands gripping her hips as he thrust into her. "Harder," Sophia gasped. "Make me feel it tomorrow." "What the fuck?" The words escaped me before I could stop them. They both froze. Ryan's head whipped around, his eyes widening with shock.

🔞"Now baby, you are going to svck my c0ck." Her shithead boss commanded. Her eyes looked at his huge c0ck before lifting to his. "But?" She was going to ask how it would fit. He smiled at her. "Blair, however I choose, remember? You will svck my c0ck. If you are really good. I'm then going to fvck you so hard." ------------------------------------- Olivia's POV I slumped against the passenger seat as Ryan's car cruised through the palm-lined streets of Los Angeles. My eyelids felt heavy after a twelve-hour shift at Carter Enterprises. The quarterly marketing campaign required us all to work overtime, and as a junior marketing executive, I was stuck with weekend work. "You still with me, babe?" Ryan glanced over, his perfectly styled dark hair catching the sunset's glow. "Barely." I stifled a yawn. "Remind me why we're going to this party when I could be face-planting into my pillow right now?" "Because Sophia would kill you if you missed her birthday." He reached over and squeezed my knee. "And because you look stunning in that dress I bought for you." I glanced down at the black cocktail dress he'd insisted I wear. The neckline plunged lower than I'd normally choose, and the hemline rode high enough to make me self-conscious every time I sat down. Ryan had shown up at my apartment with the dress in a boutique bag, eyes gleaming with anticipation as I'd tried it on. "I still think it's a bit much for a birthday party," I tugged at the fabric, trying to cover more of my chest. "Liv, we've been dating for two years. I know what looks good on you better than you do. Trust me, every guy at this party will wish he was me tonight." "Is that what this is about? Marking your territory?" "Can you blame me?" He winked as he turned onto Sophia's street, where luxury cars lined both sides. Sophia's recently purchased triplex stood illuminated against the darkening sky, music pulsing from within. For someone only turning twenty-five, she'd done remarkably well for herself in real estate development. Ryan found a spot half a block away and cut the engine. "Ready to make an entrance, Ms. Morgan?" "As I'll ever be." I grabbed my purse and the gift bag containing the vintage champagne Ryan had suggested we bring. The cool evening air hit my bare shoulders as I stepped out of the car, making me shiver. Ryan's arm slid around my waist, his hand resting dangerously low on my hip. "See? Worth getting dressed up for." He nodded toward the house. "This place is insane." We walked up the curved driveway where twinkling lights had been strung through the palm trees. The front door stood open, spilling light, music, and laughter onto the porch. "Olivia! You made it!" Sophia appeared in the doorway, resplendent in a gold sequined dress. "I was starting to think you'd stood me up!" "My work tried its best to keep me away," I laughed, accepting her enthusiastic hug. "Happy birthday, Soph." "And Ryan, looking delicious as always." She air-kissed his cheeks. "Come in, come in! Everyone's already two drinks ahead of you." Ryan's hand pressed against the small of my back as we entered the foyer, which opened to a massive great room where at least thirty people mingled. The space featured floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the twinkling Los Angeles skyline. "Drink?" Ryan asked, already scanning the room. "God, yes. The strongest thing they've got." He chuckled. "That's my girl. Be right back." As Ryan disappeared toward the bar setup, I heard a familiar squeal from across the room. "Olivia Morgan, get your ass over here!" I turned to see Emilia waving frantically from a plush sectional sofa. My best friend since college was already flushed from alcohol, her blonde hair falling in waves around her shoulders. "Em!" I navigated through clusters of guests to reach her. "How long have you been here?" "Long enough to know the bartender's life story." She stood, wobbling slightly in her heels, and embraced me. She pulled back, holding me at arm's length to examine my outfit. "Holy shit, your boobs look amazing in that dress. Did Ryan pick it out?" I felt my cheeks warm. "Is it that obvious?" "Only because I've known you for eight years, and you've never willingly shown that much cleavage." She smirked. "Not that I'm complaining. If I had your rack, I'd show it off, too." "Could you say that a little louder? I don't think everyone in Malibu heard you." "Sorry, can't help it. You're too easy to embarrass." Emilia's eyes danced with mischief as she took another sip of her drink. "By the way, have you seen our birthday girl? I swear she was here greeting people and then just... vanished." I scanned the crowded room. "No, actually. Where did Ryan go? He was supposed to be getting me a drink." "Maybe he's outside? I saw some people heading to the back lawn earlier." Emilia shrugged. "Or he could be sneaking a cigarette." I narrowed my eyes. "He told me he quit three months ago. If I catch him smoking after all that 'I'm done with nicotine forever, baby' bullshit, I'll kill him myself." "Men lie about the stupidest things. Like, just admit you still smoke and save us both the drama." "I'm going to find him," I said, tugging at my dress, which had ridden up dangerously high. "If he's outside with a cigarette, I'm putting it on his favorite shoes." "That's my girl." Emilia raised her glass. "I'll be right here judging everyone's outfit choices when you get back." I weaved through the crowded living room, nodding at half-familiar faces from past gatherings. The kitchen was jammed with people mixing drinks. No Ryan. The back patio held a group playing some drinking games with shots and ping pong balls. No Ryan among them. "Looking for someone?" A tall guy with a man-bun approached, his eyes dropping to my cleavage before meeting my gaze. "My boyfriend. Tall, dark hair, probably looking smug about something." He laughed. "Haven't seen him. But I'd be happy to keep you company until he shows up." "Hard pass, but thanks." I turned away, irritation building. Where the hell was Ryan with my drink? I climbed the modern floating staircase to the next floor, where the noise from the party became more muffled. The hallway was dimly lit and had several closed doors. A sound caught my attention – a moan? A laugh? Something between the two. It was faint, coming from further down the hall. The sound came again, more distinct this time. Definitely a moan. Great. A couple had found a private spot to hook up at Sophia's party. How classy. I was about to turn back when I noticed a slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway, a sliver of light spilling onto the hardwood floor. Something compelled me forward – curiosity, or perhaps a sixth sense I didn't know I had. As I approached, the sounds became clearer. A woman's voice, breathless and urgent: "Fuck, yes, right there." I froze. The voice was familiar. A male voice responded, low and commanding: "You like that, don't you? Tell me how much you want it." My stomach dropped. Ryan's voice. I should have turned away, run down those stairs, and straight out the front door. Instead, I moved closer, pushing the door open wider. The scene burned into my retinas like a brand. Sophia bent over her dresser; her gold dress pushed up around her waist. Ryan was behind her, his pants around his ankles, hands gripping her hips as he thrust into her. "Harder," Sophia gasped. "Make me feel it tomorrow." "What the fuck?" The words escaped me before I could stop them. They both froze. Ryan's head whipped around, his eyes widening with shock.