Chapter: CHAPTER TEN: THE LION'S DENELENA POV "He's in a meeting, I'll show you to your room." Victoria Chen was already at the top of the entrance steps when I stepped out of the car, dressed in cream silk at ten in the morning, like the rest of the world hadn't figured out weekday casual. She smiled at me the way people smiled at things they had already decided weren't a threat. "Victoria," I said. Looking into her eyes "Elena," she said back, same tone, same flat weight behind it, "welcome.” Then she turned and walked inside without checking if I was following. So I followed. The mansion was everything I expected: high ceilings, pale stone floors, light flooding through windows like the house had nothing to hide, which usually meant it was hiding everything. I counted cameras on the way to the east wing, seven, and clocked every exit I passed. "Your room," Victoria said, pushing open a heavy door. It was large and cold and decorated the way expensive things were, beautiful for a photograph, not for a person.
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
Chapter: CHAPTER NINE: THE LAST NIGHTELENA POV "You were gone forever," Maya was sitting on the porch steps when my headlights swept across the driveway, her little arms folded tight across her chest, bottom lip pushed out just enough to show me she'd been worried but wasn't going to admit it. Sophie stood behind her in the doorway with a look that said we needed to talk. I got out of the car and Maya was already running toward me, bare feet slapping the cold ground, purple pajamas with the little foxes she refused to let me wash too often because she said they smelled like sleep. I caught her, lifted her up and held her tighter than she expected. She didn't complain. "You're cold, mama," she said against my neck. "I know, baby," I said, "I know. Then I carried her inside and settled her on the couch under the big knitted blanket my father had left me, the only thing I'd taken when I ran five years ago. "Did you eat dinner?" I asked. "Sophie made her bad pasta again," Maya said. "My pasta is not bad." Sophie
Last Updated: 2026-05-19
Chapter: CHAPTER EIGHT: THE LIEELENA POV "Do you have a child, Elena?" The question hung in the air between us like a blade about to fall, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, feel it in my throat, taste it on my tongue. He was staring at me with those dark eyes, waiting, watching every breath I took. I should tell him the truth, I knew I should, the words were right there on my tongue, yes, I have a daughter, yes, she's yours, yes, I've been raising her alone for five years. But then I remembered that night, the altar, the white dress I'd worn, the way he'd looked at me with such hatred. Your father murdered my family; your bloodline is poison. The words he'd said in front of everyone, the way the pack had watched me bleed and done nothing, the way he'd walked away without looking back. That man didn't deserve to know about Maya, didn't deserve to touch her, be near her, breathe the same air as her. "Why would you think that?" My voice came out steady, carefully controlled, like I was
Last Updated: 2026-02-12
Chapter: CHAPTER SEVEN: THE CONTRACT SIGNINGELENA POV"Miss Hartwood, Mr. Vandenberg is ready for you now."The assistant's voice was too cheerful for what I was about to do, signing my life away for a year to the man who destroyed me this morning.I followed her down a hallway that smelled like expensive cologne and power, my heels clicking against marble that probably cost more than my entire sanctuary.Cassian was already in the conference room when I walked in.He looked awful, with dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his jaw, his shirt wrinkled as he'd slept in it."Elena," he said."Cassian,"I sat across from him, the table between us felt miles wide, two lawyers in expensive suits flanked us like referees at a boxing match."Shall we begin?" the older lawyer asked, sliding a thick contract toward me.I picked it up, started reading it, even though my hands wanted to shake.One year pretending to be his mate, public appearances at pack functions, living in his mansion, playing the devoted partner.Six million dollars
Last Updated: 2026-02-11
Chapter: CHAPTER SIX: THE FROZEN SMILECASSIAN POV "What really happened the night my parents died?"Uncle Marcus's smile froze, his hand stopped mid-reach for his coffee cup."Why are you asking this now?"The question came out too smooth, too practiced, like he'd been waiting for me to ask it someday.I pulled the hospital bracelet from my pocket and dropped it on my desk between us.Marcus stared at the plastic band like I'd thrown a live grenade."What is this?""You tell me."He picked it up, his fingers trembling slightly as he read the words printed on the label.Patient name, Elena Hartwood, date, five years ago, reason for visit, prenatal care, first trimester."This could be anyone's," he said finally, setting it down carefully, "where did you find it?"I stayed silent, watched the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes darted to the door and back to me."Cassian, you look exhausted." Marcus moved closer, his voice shifting into that concerned uncle tone, "When was the last time you slept properly?""Don't.""I
Last Updated: 2026-02-09
Chapter: CHAPTER FIVE: THE PHOTOGRAPHCASSIAN POV My head felt like it was splitting by the time my driver pulled over two miles down the mountain road.I gripped the head rest of the seat in front of me until my knuckles turned white, trying to breathe through the pain."Sir, are you alright?" my driver asked from the front seat.Marcus Jr, my uncle's nephew, has been driving me for three years now. "I'm fine," I said, even though I wasn't, "just give me a minute." "Did you get what you came for?" he asked. "Yes," I said, "Elena agreed to the contract." "Did she seem different to you?" he asked. I thought about Elena standing at that gate, hatred burning in her eyes. "She's hiding something," I said. "What makes you say that?" "Just a feeling," I rubbed my temples, Marcus Jr was quiet for a moment."You know, you really should look at that photo again," he said, "the one you took last week when you drove up here." My blood went cold. "I wasn't here last week," I said. "Yes, you were," Marcus Jr insisted, "Th
Last Updated: 2026-01-22
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