Chloe JaneSo, Alpha Mason couldn’t make it this weekend to spend time with me, and I can’t say I’m disappointed. I wouldn’t have been myself around him, anyway, and it would have left me feeling hollow again.Now I’m sitting in the sun room, reading my Braille dark romance novel and wondering what will become of my life now. I have less than six months left of my independence before I’m to be someone’s wife and womb. As much as I want to fight the fact, I can’t. It’s been decided by those more powerful than me, and I can do nothing but go with the current.Sometimes I wish my life was one of these dark romance novels I usually read. One where the morally gray man takes the usually sweet virgin girl away from it all and worships her, while she never has to worry about anyone harming her because he would kill those who even looked her way.But my life is not a dark romance novel, although this marriage arrangement is quite archaic. “Something sad happening in that novel, dove?”I smi
RuinGreat fucking going, Ruin, you gave her a kiss. A bloody forehead kiss! As if my life wasn’t already a tangled mess, now I’ve gone and added another knot to it—a knot named Chloe Jane.I close my eyes, but the image of her, looking up at me with those unseeing eyes, trusting and innocent, haunts me. The last thing she needs is more confusion, more uncertainty. And what do I do? I lay a kiss on her like some bloody love-struck fool. I’m a fucking idiot who needs to keep his emotions on a tighter leash. I’ve never been this reckless before, and Chloe Jane’s vulnerable as it is.It’s been hours since I turned in, but I can’t seem to sleep while replaying the events of this afternoon in my head. I overstepped, there’s no denying that. I’ve been overstepping since the moment I arrived, letting my guard down, letting her in. That needs to stop. I need to stop.There was a time when I didn’t give a fuck about people’s feelings; when I completely gave into who I was without remorse. Tha
Chloe JaneI need to breathe. I need to breathe. I can’t be around this man anymore. Everything in me is telling me to ask Ruin to take me home, but no matter how many times I try to get his attention, he brushes me off.Did I do something wrong? Why is he being so cold to me? I thought we turned a new page yesterday, and got closer than before, but it seems I was wrong. He’s barely spoken to me today, when he would usually chirp in when I’m deep in thought.Then again, he promised he wouldn’t overstep again, so this must be him doing that. But he also promised to protect me, and now he’s not doing it. All through the dinner I had to be polite, to make conversation with people who I can tell pitied me, all while staying on Alpha Mason’s arm. He introduces me as ‘the Sovereign’s daughter, Chloe Jane, and my soon-to-be Luna’ as if those titles are more important than my own name.I hate being here.After I can’t take it anymore, I ask Ruin to walk with me to the ladies’ room while givi
Chloe JaneAll too soon, we’re back at our estate, and when Ruin opens the door for me, I remove my mobility cane from my handbag and walk inside. I can hear him hesitating, but I need to be alone right now.“Please don’t follow me,” I throw over my shoulder, but I know he won’t listen to me. It’s his job to watch over me, as he always tells me.While walking out toward the back garden, I drop his coat and remove the pins from my hair, throwing them down as I walk. As soon as my curls tumble out of its confines, I feel like myself again. I reach a place close to the woods at the back and sit down on the dewy grass, not caring that I may be damaging the dress I’m wearing. Then I pull my knees up and rest my forehead on them before the tears start to fall.Fat and blind. I’ve never been spoken about with such contempt before and all because of a man I don’t even want. That’s one thing about growing up sheltered my entire life; I had no idea people could be so cruel.Actually, I didn’t
RuinI’m pacing the bedroom with my phone against my ear, waiting for Ryker to bloody pick up. Things have escalated; I’ve gotten way too close to Chloe Jane. Either I reject this bond and leave here, or I take her with me. But I am not going to allow her to be married to that cunt who doesn’t even deserve the title of Alpha.Ryker picks up his cell as I’m pacing. “I know what you’re going to say—”“You have no fucking idea what I’m about to say, mate,” I growl, trying to get my emotions in check. “This is about Chloe Jane, yes, but there’s so much more going on here than we think.”He’s silent for a beat, then he sighs. “Okay, hit me. What am I not aware of?”Honestly, it feels odd hearing Ryker say something like this since he’s literally ‘all knowing’. It feels like The Creators are taking all of us for a ride as of late, but that’s not something I can mention to Ryker since he serves them blindly.“The Alpha Chloe Jane is engaged to, there’s something going on with him,” I start.
Chloe JaneMy hands won’t stop shaking and my heart is sitting in my throat. I’ve been nibbling on my muesli for the last few minutes with absolutely no appetite, because the reality of what I’ve done is finally setting in.I know my father won’t choose me, and that’s what hurts the most. He’ll be calling me up to his office soon to give me a talking to and to tell me I’m being selfish because my decision will impact everyone.As if I don’t know that already. It’s been drilled into me that the wellbeing of the pack, no matter how small, is more important than one singular person. But I’m not going to allow myself to be sold just because my father had an agreement with Alpha Mason.I don’t care if he’s going to be the next Sovereign in line. Just as I throw my spoon down, ready to tell Ruin to take me out to the back garden, I faintly hear the tap-tap-tap of Kim’s heels sprinting toward me. I take a deep breath, knowing she’s going to rip me a new one, so as I rise to my feet, I alrea
RuinMy eyes flicker to Chloe Jane in the rear view mirror. She hasn’t moved a muscle since we left Chicago at our last refuel, and hasn’t spoken to me since I told her not to interfere with my duty to protect her. Not even on the last three pit stops; she’s been unbearably silent.But there’s no way in hell I’m taking her back to that mansion, not after hearing the fear in Kim’s voice and listening to the faint gunshots in the background of the call. I know it’s that cunt Mason, or whoever he is, doing this. And with me taking Chloe Jane, everything can easily be pinned on me.But I’d rather face that than let any harm come to her.My cell phone rings and I know it’s Ryker before I even answer it. “It’s not safe to speak,” I say in German as soon as I answer. “I have her with me.”“Are you fucking insane, Deacon?!” he roars, using my fucking human given name as an added punch to the fucking gut. “There’s a bounty on your head. What the hell happened?”I breathe out a sigh, needing to
Chloe JaneMy life has drastically changed in the space of +-36 hours. I’m no longer the daughter of a Sovereign; I’m on the run with a bodyguard who has a bounty on his head, a fugitive..After meeting with the vampire, which was terrifying in itself, we did exactly what Ruin said we would, and now we’re on the way to a safe house. I have never felt so out of my depth in my life, and that’s coming from a blind girl.Knowing Kim and my father could be dead is still a heartbreaking possibility, but then again I didn’t feel our link snapping like I did when my mother died. That’s the only thing keeping me going right now.But that also means that Mason could be holding them hostage doing Goddess knows what to them. I shake my head, trying to put that thought on the back burner. It won’t help to be negative right now; I have to stay strong even if the guilt is eating me alive.“We’re here,” Ruin says as he brings the car to a stop. I breathe out a sigh and wait for him, feeling even more