MILAMy stomach twisted in knots as I stood at the foot of the bed, watching Jenna’s chest rising and falling in a shallow rhythm. I tried to heal her bruises, but they wouldn’t. Alex told me we had to wait until the blood transfusion pumps out all the Wolfsbane in her system before I could heal her.A whimpering sound caught my attention as I turned to see Laura fighting sleep. Poor thing was the first one to get to Jenna. Even I couldn’t forget the scene I came upon when I got that night from our mystery hacker.***Unknown: Jenna. Orphanage. Hurt.I raced back, dodging Gabe and the security tail. By the time I arrived, Laura and Camila were already there, holding an almost unconscious Jenna.“Mila, please,” Laura cried. “Heal her, please!”Blood was pooling beneath her from cuts too deep to be accidental. She blacked out with a ring falling from her hand. At the moment I didn’t know if it was important but I picked it up anyway. Maybe there was a reason she was safeguarding it. **
MILABack at the hideout, we poured over all the data we had on everyone.“I still don’t get why Gregory would have Arianna send someone to attack Jenna if he wanted to abortion from the start,” I wondered out loud.“Maybe he didn’t believe her,” Camila guessed. “Or he wanted to get rid of her too?”“This is all too frustrating,” Laura complained. “Can we just take them down already?!”Alex exited one of the rooms where Jenna was resting. We decided to move her here to keep her safe and keep any eye on her.“I’m with crazy eyes over here. What’s the move?” Camila asked, staring at the screen on the table.“I want to hit them from all sides,” I said, holding
MILAI felt his presence before I could fully register Tyler standing next to Leo. He gripped the wrist that held the knife with an iron grip. The tension in his muscles was visible, flexing beneath the tight fabric of his black button-down shirt. The sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal forearms corded with strength, and the shirt hugged his broad chest. His black pants and suede shoes completed the ensemble, along with a suit jacket draped casually over the other arm.The look was casual, but there was something very dominant about it. His jawline was shadowed with a light stubble, and the sharp cut of his golden eyes sent a shiver down my spine as they flicked to me for just a moment before returning to Leo. My legs seemed to wobble from the weight of his commanding presence.“Hot, holy hell,” Rayne purred her approval. I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep from vocalizing a similar sentiment, but damn, she was right.“Control yourself, Rayne.”“You first,” she retorted.Tyler
GABEThe door to my office swung open, hitting the stack of boxes I’d neatly lined up along the wall. A couple toppled over, spilling the contents onto the floor.“What’s with all these boxes?” Arianna complained as she stepped inside. She didn’t so much as glance at the mess she’d just created. “Are you moving to a bigger office or something?”“Why hello to you too, babe,” I said, not bothering to look up from the paperwork spread across my desk.Noah, sitting in his play area, looked up at the sound of her voice. His face lit up, and he scrambled to his feet, his toy truck clutched in his hand as he ran toward her.“Mommy!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms wide to hug her. But Arianna took a graceful step back, halting him mid-stride. Her perfectly manicured hands smoothed the front of her designer dress as if his touch would leave a permanent mark.“Noah, sweetie,” she cooed. “What did Mommy say about touching her clothes, huh?”“Don’t get Mommy’s clothes dirty,” Noah answered obedi
MILAWater cascaded down my body like icy needles, doing little to calm the raging fire within me. I wasn’t sure how long I was in this shower. Or how or when I got there. All I knew was that it wasn’t working. My body was riddled with heat the moment Gabe touched me yesterday–a spark that ignited like a train on fire, consuming every nerve and refusing to let up. I barely made it back here, shedding my clothes in the car and the rest on the way to the shower.No matter how much I scrubbed and cleaned, I couldn’t wash away Gabe’s scent–that woodsy, chocolate spice that had wrapped around me when he helped me through my panic attack. “Why the hell did he touch me like that?” I muttered to no one in particular.“Because deep down you want him to,” Rayne answered. “Rayne,” I warned, not in the mood for her commentary.“Mila, you know I’m down with whatever choice you make,” Rayne continued. “But girl you have to make up your mind. This affects me too, you know.”“I know!” I screamed, g
TYLERI closed the storage door making a trip to the front and paying the guy to keep quiet. I wasn’t sure what I was going to with the storage but I knew I had to keep it away from Gregory. No telling what he would do if he knew where my Dad’s stash was. It wasn’t the best plan, but at least it was one crisis down. Now on to Mila.Her phone went to voicemail again. I’ve been calling her since yesterday to figure out a plan b if we couldn’t get her clothes here on time, but she was ignoring me again. It was starting to piss me off. No one ignored me.“Maybe we could pay her a visit,” Declan suggested.Though I already knew what kind of visit he wanted. How the hell did that woman have us both up in arms was beyond me? Even if I wanted to visit, I wasn’t sure where the hell she was. I thought of the orphanage, but the only people there were the construction workers. I was thinking she probably took up my brother’s offer to stay at his packhouse, but one call proved that to be false.S
GABETrigger: ViolenceI hung up the phone with Tyler, suppressing the doubt in my chest. Mila. Something was up, but I didn’t have time to deal with that just now. Hopefully, I made it easy enough for Tyler not to fuck things up. He had a knack of complicating even the simplest task.“Delivery is on its way,” Yesmen informed me.Her calm voice was a contrast to the frustration that was building up as our little group followed the manager down the lavender scented hallway of Arianna’s favorite spa. So at least that was good news for once. Now, I had to figure out what to do with Alpha Gregory.Ever since yesterday, I knew she was going to do something to sabotage Mila, but I didn’t think it would include an early morning hookup. After everything I’ve sacrificed for her to be in this position and this was how she repaid me. I’m such a fucking idiot! I clenched my fists, and Spencer stirred restlessly. His anger surpassed mine, but I forced him to stay calm, my gaze locked on the door
MILAI tried wrapping my head around what was happening, but the only thing I knew for sure was someone was blowing up my phone. Something bad was happening. Then I blinked, and the scene before me hit me like a freight train.My power flooded the room like a tidal wave, Alex was pinned beneath me, his face red and desperate. My clawed hand gripped his throat with an intensity I couldn’t remember summoning.“Rayne, let him go.” I watched as Alex fought to breathe. “Now!”Rayne growled before pulling her hand away. Alex rolled to his side, coughing and clutching his neck as he struggled to breathe. I touched the side of my neck, the burning sensation slowly dissipated as I touched the puncture wounds gingerly. My trembling hand came back with blood on the fingertips.“Mila… I didn’t mean to,” Alex rasped, his voice rough but pleading. “I’m…”The words felt like an insult. A feeble excuse for what he just did. Without a word, I bolted towards the bathroom. My reflection, in the mirror, s
ARIThe tires of my car crunched over the loose gravel as my driver pulled over to the desolate warehouse. My father’s voice over the phone echoed in my mind–cold, clipped, and commanding. Get here. Now.He offered no details, but he didn’t have to. I knew that tone. The same tone he used whenever I stepped out of line, but for the life of me, I couldn’t think of what I did this time. I absentmindedly touched the diamond necklace Gabe gifted me as an early birthday present, though it wasn’t until next month, but at least it was calming. At least I had him in my corner. I got out of the car and walked through the heavily guarded door. My stomach was in knots when I entered the open space and the echoing sound of fists meeting flesh guided my gaze.Father stood in the center of the warehouse, his knuckles stained red as he drove another blow into the face of a man bound to a chair. I stopped walking when I realized it was Alpha Frank. He was barely recognizable.Blood streamed from his
MILAI stepped inside the abandoned warehouse. The heavy thuds from my combat boots echoed against the bare walls purposefully. I wanted him to know I was coming. Frank, Mirabella’s father, sat shackled tightly to the steel chair. He corrected his posture when he heard me, but the once ‘not-so-powerful’ Alpha couldn’t intimidate me.The cut and bruises on his body were turned into scabs.I pulled another chair across from him, letting the legs screeched against the floor. He flinched at the sound, but quickly tried to compose himself, the tremor in his hands gave him away. Behind me, Camila stifled a laugh before walking over to a table to set up the projector with Jenna. I waited for their signal before sitting down.“Alpha Frank,” I started, my voice altered. “You seemed to have healed quite well over the past few days. We might need to change that.”“I don’t know who you think you are,” Frank spat. “But you’re making a big mistake.”I leaned back letting the silence stretch before
MILAI stepped into the dimly lit interrogation room where Leo, shackled at the wrists, leaned back in a chair, smirking as if he was expecting me. I took the seat across from him before he leaned forward.“Well this is a surprise,” Leo smiled. “Finally ready to admit you got the hots for me.”“Please.” I placed a hand over my lips. “ I just had lunch, Leo. Let me keep the contents in my stomach and not on this table.”Leo laughed. “So why are you here?”“I thought you might need the company,” I said smoothly. “Seeing as your visitor’s log is empty. Didn’t want people to think you were all alone.”His jaw tightened. “I don’t need you here!” Leo growled, yanking against the restraints as the guards stepped forward. I raised my hand. Stopping them. Leo was about as intimidating as a fly. “Fine, I just thought we could relate to each other.”Leo scoffed. “How’s that?”“Wow, you’re that dense, huh?” I shook my head, clicking my tongue. “All this time, and you still don’t see it.”“See wh
ARII heard a commotion outside my office door and barely had time to process it before my door opened. Amber stormed in with my temporary assistant stumbling in behind her with flushed cheeks and hair askew.“You jealous little bitch! How could you?!” Amber shrieked.I dodged the phone being thrown at my head before looking at Amber as if she lost her mind.“I’m so sorry, Luna Arianna,” my assistant whimpered. “She.. she hit me and…”I held up my hand, cutting her off. “I don’t care for your excuses, whatever your name is. Since you can’t seem to do a simple job like not letting crazy people in my office, why don’t you go home for the day?”She didn’t wait for me to change my mind, bolting from the room as if Amber’s rage might consume her next. Amber stormed up to my desk, her arms crossed so tight, I thought she might snap in half.Julia, sprawled lazily in the chair by the window, didn’t even flinch at the commotion. She was probably as high as I was. She sat up with a smirk.“Gee
GABEThe words cemented themselves in my brain as the thud of fists meeting leather echoed in the gym, accompanied by grunts and rhythmic feet on the mat.“I, Mila Davis, reject you, Alpha Gabe, as my mate.”No matter how many times I replayed them, the ache didn’t lessen. The rejection should have freed me, should have severed the bond. But Spencer still howled for her in the depths of my mind, clawing against the walls I built to keep him restrained. She wasn’t ours anymore. She made that clear.And yet, it changed nothing.With a roar, I unleashed a brutal combo–jab, hook, uppercut–forcing my sparring partner back until he staggered back, trying to regain his footing, but I couldn’t stop. If I did, I’d feel the emptiness settling in my chest, the gaping hole she left behind.“Alpha, please ease up!” I heard someone say, but I couldn’t ease up. The next hit connected squarely with the sparring partner’s jaw, sending him flying into the corner before he crumbled to the mat. Silence f
MILAThe sound of plates clinking woke me. I blinked against the sunlight coming through the windows, my body slow to stir after another restless night. “Morning,” Tyler’s voice broke through my haze. I sat up, the blanket slipping off my naked body. I internally groaned at the fact I allowed myself to stay here another day.“Though, this image of you is making this one of the best mornings I’ve ever had,” he added teasingly.I looked up at him holding a tray loaded with food–scrambled eggs, bacon, bread, jam, fruit, and a steaming cup of coffee. A soft and unassuming smile tugged at his lips.“Breakfast… in bed?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I bet all the women go crazy for this service.”He laughed, a deep, throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. Placing the tray on the nightstand beside the bed, he sat down next to me. “Only the ones that intrigue me.”“Oh,” I said coyly, leaning over him to pick up a piece of fruit from the tray. “And do I still intrigue you, Tyler?”Hi
MILAI woke up to a sharp ache that radiated through my body. I was surprised it was still there. I tried to sit up when I noticed the weight on my mid-section. Tyler was fast asleep, arms wrapped around my waist and drool pooling from his mouth. It took me a minute to get him off of me and to the other side of the bed. His features were relaxed and I envied his peace, the way he seemed untouched by the weight bearing down on me. Hours ago had been a blur of heat and desperation, a reckless attempt to drown out the pain. I thought Tyler’s touch, his closeness, would be enough to numb what Gabe had created.But it wasn’t.The ache lingered, sharper now, like a knife twisting deeper with every beat of my heart.We had to do it.“It was sudden, but we had no choice,” Rayne said softly, but I could feel the sorrow in her voice as she paced, restless and wounded in my mind.I swallowed hard, my throat tight. No choice. I hated those words. They made me feel like a puppet, dancing on string
TYLERHoly shit! Fuck! What the hell was I thinking bringing her here? I rarely brought women to the packhouse. Hotel rooms were my domain for this kind of thing. A quick getaway if needed. But now? Now I was making an exception for her. Mila. Damn it, why was resisting her so damn impossible? Everything about her, from the way she looked at me to the way she moved, shredded whatever resolve I had left. And then there was Gabe. Something had happened back there, I could feel it. But the moment the elevator doors closed, and her lips crushed against mine with that fiery urgency, I knew. I knew exactly where this was going. Gabe? Fuck him. He had a mate already. He wasn’t here. I didn’t care what he’d do if he was. I cared about her.By the time we reached the front door, our clothes were practically gone. She pulled me in with a hunger that matched my own, and her kiss–it was everything. The heat radiating off her skin seemed to burn through me, leaving me aching in ways I didn’t unde
MILAWhat the fuck was he doing? And why was I letting him?The moment his tongue touched my skin, I nearly fell to the floor, but his grip kept me planted. I wanted to pull away but it felt… so good. I had half a mind to make another cut.No, focus you fool! I shook my head, deciding on placing my anger someplace else.“Rayne, you could’ve healed us.”Hey, I’m good but I’m not that good,” Rayne protested, her voice low and amusing. “Alpha’s and Luna’s attacks are much more difficult to heal. You know that. Besides, I don’t protest this. Let him lick our wounds.”“You have no control,” I snapped, even as my body betrayed me, leaning into his touch.“Said the woman who decided to get into two fights,” Rayne retorted. “Now this is more my lane.”When he finished, Gabe looked up at me, and my heart raced. There, in his light brown eyes that were flashing gold, was desire–no, an animalistic hunger–and my body responded. My panties could no longer keep the desire from sliding down my leg.