KEITHEN I stomped through the streets of the market, Where the fuck is she?! (‘Shall we let Alpha Kee hold our cub?’ muttered a fruit seller to his mate) I started jogging, my head bobbing to get my blind spots, my eyes searching like a hawk. Goddess blast it! ‘Keithen!’ She suddenly appeared before me, her mouth moving, munching, her black eyes squinting in puzzlement. Then, she broke into a huge grin; a bag of something shot up, blocking half her face. ‘Want some?’ WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU GO? DID I NOT TELL YOU TO STAY THE FUCK CLOSE TO ME?! I stared at her. In the past, back there, I would scream at her. Even now, my mind was screaming, wanting to scream some sense into her. My hands itched with a strong urge to grab her by her shoulders and shake the stupidity out of her, to wake her the fuck up. What was she thinking scaring the shit out of me like that? But something in her smile punched my chest with relief. And all I wanted was to hug her. The bag moved aside
ROSE‘Mmph!’ My eyes squeezed tight—my insides filled to the brim with the bliss from his wild pounding. Slap, slap, slap, slap! Our damp skins clapped along with the sighing of the bed, as the warm air cocooning us got heavier with the heat from our lustful bodies. His tongue dwelled deeper and deeper each time he rammed into me, rubbing and stroking wildly, caressing me in places I never knew I had inside my mouth, coaxing, enticing, unwilling to let go until I give in. The Alpha was trying to get me drunk in his passion so, in a muddled state, I would give him the answer he wanted. And honestly, I was drowning… drowning in his deep kisses…. The second his lips tore away, I was sober again. Sober but numb everywhere, threatening to spill of euphoria and explode with ecstasy. ‘What’s it gonna be, Rose?’ he grunted, his raspy voice betraying his own delight. My lips parted wide, spilling moans of pleasure in his name, but I couldn’t say the words he wanted to hear. Something wa
ROSENow, she looked incredulous at my question. ‘I chose Ellis,’ the White Crown Luna said firmly. ‘When we met, I felt a connection. With him. And that’s how I know. It’s hard to explain. But I can’t imagine being with someone other than Ellis.’ ‘And she wouldn’t dare.’ A new voice spoke. We both turned to it and the White Crown Alpha, as charming as ever, was standing before us, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Immediately, Elena broke into the smile of a sixteen year old. ‘As you wouldn’t. What’s that?’ The Alpha strode forward calmly and placed the flowers on his wife’s lap. ‘I picked them up on my way here from the manor. I heard they would make a woman’s heart skip a beat.’ Elena was already admiring the vibrant yellow and purple petals, taking a good whiff of the sweet scent. Fruity? I’ve never seen those flowers before. ‘They’re lovely,’ she whispered as Ellis kissed the side of her forehead. I coughed inside. They’re lovely on their own, but not together. Is
ROSEBut his wide gaze of surprise told me he heard it. ‘Is this some new stupidity that you caught?’ I should want to punch him in the face. Instead, I stifled a giggle. ‘You really love me.’ ‘Yup, I do.’ He looked back ahead and moved on, towards the light at the end of the path we were on. ‘You’ve definitely caught the dumb bug.’ Cheeks flushing hard, I threw a fist lightly. ‘I did not!’ And then I hugged him tightly. ‘Do you love me then?’ he asked, trying to sound like he didn’t care what my answer would be. I… don’t know. Staring at his black fur, feeling all warm inside, my head a little fuzzy with the lovey-dovey air, I really wanted to ask him: how do you know that you love me? What is it about me that you love? That you can’t live without? That made you want to marry me? Is it because we’re mates? I pressed my face into his back and rubbed my forehead against the soft black fur, and he chuckled with satisfaction. ‘Yup. You love me.’ ‘Tell me something about yourself
ROSE The breeze of the mountain and forest blew gently past. A golden lining appeared where the sun would rise. Dawn. I couldn't remember when I dozed off. Was it on the dining table? Or at the bedroom door? Keithen. I remember his strong arms holding me up all the time. I hugged myself, recalling the feel of the Alpha's warmth filling me. My lips curled up in a smile. This is what peace feels like. I think Daddy’s dream will be alright. Joy will be alright. She’ll understand. Goddess or not, I think I'm done resisting it. I want Keithen. I want to be with him. I can't be with anyone but him now. ‘Fuck!’ I heard the sound of a bear landing on the wooden floor in a loud thud. Then more sounds of the bear scrambling off the ground, breaking into a dash. And then he appeared, right at the entrance of the corridor, his face worried and nervous. ‘Good morning.’ I spread my lips in the sweetest smile I could manage as the bear stomped forward. Without a word, he pulled me into hi
ROSEStumped. I was stumped beyond words. I couldn’t feel a thing—I don’t know what to feel. Relief? Sadness? Resentment? ‘I can’t do this.’ Was all I could manage. It was barely audible, meant for myself, but the Alpha King caught it. With his super abilities. ‘What?’ He grabbed my wrist. ‘You can’t be serious. The ceremony is starting soon, blast it!’ I couldn’t shake his grip off. Yet I know very well that I don’t want to be here anymore. I can’t be here. I don’t belong here. I’m not… I’m not a werewolf. He deserves my sincerity. ‘I’m sorry, Keithen.’ Slowly, he straightened, his fingers still latched around me. ‘What happened to ‘Keithen’s mine’?’ This time his voice was hoarse with pain. ‘That was before I knew we were mates, right?’ I smiled. He watched me meaningfully. ‘So you’re saying you want to reject me.’ All of a sudden, he looked cold and menacing—just as when we first met. Reject? I blinked hard. Words of Perri flooded in. No. If I rejected Keithen, he’d be exil
ROSEAm I hearing things?‘Y-You really mean it?’ I read through the document once more, making sure that every word was printed and sealed in black against white.B.A.D taught me a hell lot. One second, you’d be a royal, and in the next a dumpster. I need to make sure it's not a dream. Jewel Virtus did hire me as a full time stylist, and she had just handed me my first major assignment: Richard Black, a model turned actor—and the next big star of Virtus Talent agency. ‘This isn’t Disney. And I’m not an NPO,’ replied the Director curtly with the cold gaze of a businesswoman. Shame seared my cheeks. But before I could apologise, the slender finger flicked in a dismissive tone, like an executioner’s axe condemning me. Jesus, Rose, what were you thinking blurting out a question like that? Of course, she means it! She wants a stylist with ideas that can be plucked out of the air anytime. Not some eighteen-year-old with the insecurities of a Disney princess. I searched the Director’s
KEITHENI couldn't believe my ears. ‘A villain’s role?!’ I slammed both hands on the CEO’s desk. ‘What happened to the male lead? I'm the Best Rookie of the year, Goddess blast it!’‘Best Rookie?’ Good ol' Dan stared back with aghast, steamed up like a volcano. A fat finger shot out like a gun aimed at my forehead. ‘You son of a bitch put my ass out there to dry!’ Saliva pewed like hot rocks. ‘Do you have any idea what you've caused me? All the endorsements. Not to mention all the loss that comes with it! If you weren’t the nephew of a king, you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me!’The lump of embarrassment in my throat thickened. But I need to suck this up and go, or I'll lose Rose to some wannabe asshole! Gritting my teeth, head hanging like a wilted flower, I said, ‘Okay, I'm sorry I left without notice.’‘Goddamn right you did.’ The old geezer slumped defeated in his bosschair, but his knuckles were hard and white against the edge of his desk like a deathly reminder to not