Ardal
This is my last chance.
I never thought I would think those words when it came to Kadeem and me, but one way or another this is where we’ve found ourselves. My childhood friend, my lover, my husband, my mate.
Tonight is my last chance to win him back - even if losing him was never my fault.
Kadeem is lying in bed when I walk out of the bathroom, wearing the lacy lingerie that I picked out for tonight. There’s a gleam in his eyes as he stares at me, though he’s also skeptical. Only, his lust wins over as he sees my breasts nearly spilling out of my bra.
I go to him, wasting no time as I move to straddle his lap. Kadeem lets out a huff as I settle.
“Adral…” he begins, his large palms sliding up the sides of my thighs. I nearly shudder at his touch over my skin - I’ve come to know those hands so well.
I first experienced their touch when we were ten and Kadeem held my hand for the first time. And over the years, his fingers and palms began to explore other parts of me until he memorized every inch of my body.
And I memorized his too. We’ve become so familiar with one another. But it’s more than that. Not only is Kadeem’s body perfect under my touch, but it also fits perfectly against my own body.
For a while, we thought that was because we were childhood sweethearts. Kadeem was the Alpha’s son and I was the daughter of the Beta while my mother was one of the main pack fighters. We spent a lot of time together, grew close, and then we fell in love.
However, years later, we also discovered we were mates. Not only do our bodies fit together because we know each other so well, but because we were basically made for each other. Every curve of him is meant to line up with me.
It makes him feel heavenly underneath me now - the sensation only heightened as he raises his hips up, causing me to roll over him as I sigh. I feel his growing length underneath me, making my stomach become warmer.
“Come to play, sweetheart?” Kadeem asks then.
“Yes,” I breathe, knowing I’ve come to do more than play. This is not a game - this is desperation. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep Kadeem’s wavering attention. And that begins by reminding him just how perfect we were made for each other.
Upon my response, Kadeem takes over. His hands wander over my skin and the fabric of my lingerie as he reaches up to cover my breasts with his hands and then squeezes. I squeak at the warmth of his palms, my hips grinding over him once more.
“Fuck,” he draws out, a groan rumbling out of his throat. “You’re so beautiful. I need to be inside you right now.”
I moan, causing Kadeem’s fingers to swiftly unhook my bra before he flips us. Within the blink of an eye, he’s on top of me, leaving enough space between our bodies so he can tear off my panties.
He hums as I’m completely naked to him, his hands rubbing over my skin again as my eyelashes flutter from the tingles he leaves over my stomach and thighs. But then his fingers dip between my legs, running through the slickness and my obvious desire for him.
“So wet for me,” he purrs, sliding his fingers inside of me and making my whimper. However, he soon pulls his fingers away and I look down to see him removing his pants, his underwear. In the meantime, I pull off his shirt, leaving him completely bare to me as well.
He’s so beautiful. That’s all I can think as he moves to kiss me, his tongue sweeping into my mouth.
We kiss and pull on each other until neither of us can take it anymore. Kadeem’s hips come forward with ease, the velvety skin at the head of his cock parting me until he begins to slide in. His size causes my hips to jerk as I gasp into his mouth, trying to adjust to accommodate him.
“You know you can take it,” he reminds me, causing me to nod as he presses in again, giving me more of him.
Finally, my body relaxes enough that my discomfort is replaced by pure pleasure as he slides in deeper, making me release an uncontrollable moan.
“Good girl,” he murmurs as he kisses my throat. “You’re so fucking perfect.”
He thinks I’m perfect - at least in that moment.
Kadeem moves again, pushing himself even deeper inside of me, making me cry out as my back arches. Seemingly delighted by my noises, he thrusts harder into me, finding a rhythm as he fucks me again and again.
“Yessss,” I draw out, dizzy from the feel of him. My hands are in his hair as I hold him close, our skin coating with sweat as we move against each other.
It’s perfect. Every single second of it. The way he moves in me, the noises we make, the way we match every move. This is it…everything that I wanted. And I’m sure that I’m victorious, that Kadeem is mine, will always be mine.
But when our eyes meet again, I’m immediately proven wrong.
It happens in seconds, that deep gaze is filled with ravenous desire but then immediately goes blank, empty. And then my heart drops as Kadeem freezes, staring at me as if I’m nothing.
“Enough,” he says harshly, tearing away from me. “Enough with this poor performance!”
With every inch that he retracts back, I feel myself shattering into smaller and smaller pieces. Especially as his gaze is practically dripping with hatred. My own desire and enthusiasm is quickly blown out like a candle as I lay there, self conscious by my nakedness and the sweat still over my skin.
“You’re pathetic if you think you can trick me,” he says then. “I don’t want you anymore, Ardal. How could I want a traitor who left me when I needed them most?”
His words are like a slap to the face and I have to bite the side of my tongue to keep from crying.
“I don’t love you anymore,” he says finally - as if he really needs to convince me. And officially, my whole world feels like it’s crumbling.
“I was only sleeping with you so I could see you try and please me for money,” he explains coldly. “But it’s a waste of my time - your body…everything about you does nothing for me.”
I bore him. My body bores him. Now I can no longer hold back the tears as I study the disgusted look in his eyes. In my mate’s eyes.
“I want Susan,” he states then, like a final nail in the coffin. “I want Susan.”
Susan. The woman who I thought was my friend, who I thought had been trying to help me. Somehow she has turned Kadeem’s head…and somewhere along the way I’d lost him to her.
He doesn’t want me anymore, and any courage I have to save our marriage is completely gone.
So I just breathe, words slipping out of me.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
~
It’s been days since Kadeem signed the papers. It was pure desperation that drove me to file for divorce, but I could no longer see another option.
The look on Kadeem’s face as he’d moved the pen across the page had been terrifying, even if he’d signed without any hesitation. Likely, he viewed my request for a divorce as proof that I’ve wanted to leave him for a long time, that I’d been planning this for months. Or maybe he believes I’m just trying to get more money from him with this separation.
But he doesn’t know, and he certainly doesn’t care, how much I still love him. How I didn’t want this divorce, but I felt pushed to it when I knew Kadeem would now always see me as a villain in his story. He believes every lie told about me and no longer loves me.
Today, I’m going to get all of my things from what was our home. I’m walking toward the door, pain and loneliness resting in my heart. The feeling only grows stronger as I let myself inside, immediately heading up to our room where I know boxes will be waiting.
However, when I finally pass through the door, I find Susan standing within my room…my old room…throwing my things on the floor.
“What are you doing?” I ask her. She pauses as she notices me, a hint of a smile appearing on her lips as she registers my tear stained cheeks. However, she holds back as she remembers the two servants also in the room, both of them carrying boxes of what I realize are her things.
“Leave us,” she tells them, and immediately they listen. They pass me on their way out of the room, giving me slightly regretful looks as they disappear. When they’re gone, I look back at her again.
And that’s when I notice her things are not only in boxes, they’re also already placed in various spots within the room. I haven’t even moved out yet and Susan is already moving in, taking my place.
“Glad to see he’s finally kicking you out,” she tells me smugly. “He should have done it long ago.”
I grit my teeth as her words find me, which only seems to please her as she hums.
“Or I guess you’re divorcing him, right?” she asks, clicking her tongue. “Poor thing. It was just too easy,” Susan pauses to laugh. “Taking him from you.”
Her words make my head pound, my palms twitch. And then she smiles again, smiles with evident and unapologetic wickedness.
“I’m going to take everything from you,” she states. “Every. Single. Thing.”
I can no longer contain myself. I’m blind with rage as I cross the room to her, practically pulled to her. And before I know it, I’m slapping her across the face with any strength I have left.
As I see the red stain against her face, I wait for her to laugh again. However, it’s not Susan’s voice that I eventually hear.
“Ardal!”
Kadeem’s voice calls out from behind me, making every inch of my tense as I turn back to see him. He’s standing in the doorway, undiluted anger fueling his gaze as he takes in the scene. From the corner of my eye, I can see Susan begin to play into the whole thing - painting herself as the victim as she gasps, shakes, and lamely touches her cheek.
Then I hear two words.
“Get out.”
ArdalKadeem clips out the words, instantly stabbing me right in the heart. I feel my chest rise and fall as I study his face, as I stare at the man who was once my everything.Where is that man now? The one who would hold me when I cried and tell me over and over that he loved me? Or the one who laid in the field with me when we were twelve and told me it would always be me and him?He’s nowhere to be found now. Every hint of him has disappeared and now…now this man might as well be a stranger to me.But he doesn’t care. He may never care again.“GET OUT!” Kadeem yells that time, practically shaking the house with his roar.Part of me wants to cower away, but I keep my feet planted, my hands balling into fists as I hear a quiet sound beside me. It’s Susan - she’s secretly snickering at me again. Anger boils through me, causing me to turn to face her. She’s won - she knows she’s won. Just as she planned, she’s officially taking everything from me again.It’s enough for me to lift my
Ardal“Nothing,” Mateo replies, shaking his head.“Liar,” I grit out. “You were taking photos of me.”Mateo gives me a sheepish smile, knowing he’s caught. “I just wanted a little souvenir to remember you by.”His tone becomes smooth then, sultry. And I watch as his eyes flicker from my face, dropping down to my tight body and taking in every inch. Finally, his gaze returns to mine, but focuses specifically on my lips.Holy Goddess. Does he really think I’m going to kiss him!?Mateo answers my question by quickly licking his own lips, as if he’s prepping. I try not to shudder with disgust.“And maybe,” he continues, his tone still sweet. “I wanted to send them to a friend. But I figured he should see how beautiful you are.”What a creep!I shake my head at him, knowing I don’t have time for this as I hear my babies starting to get louder at their seats.“Give me your phone,” I say, holding out a hand.“But I -““Give me your phone,” I repeat, firmer that time. That time, Mateo listen
KadeemIt was like looking in a mirror.The child before Kadeem looked exactly like him, like a miniature version. Not only because he had the same dark hair and green gaze, but the shape of his nose and eyes were almost a spitting image. Surprising Kadeem was no easy task, but he was left completely in shock as the child blinked back at him, his wide eyes adorable as he studied Kadeem towering over him.How could the boy look this much like him? Who was he?Trying for words, Kadeem’s lips began to move as if he planned to speak. However, he hardly uttered a single sound before there was a desperate voice calling off in the distance - one he recognized.“Kadeem! Help me!”Mateo - his childhood friend who he’d come to pick up. And from what Kadeem could tell, the man was in trouble.He knew he needed to go run and see what happened, but he was hesitant to move as he remembered the boy in front of him. Swiftly, he turned back, ready to address him that time. Only, as he looked forward a
ArdalAs I walk through the doors of GAINZ, every pair of male eyes turn toward me. I feel their burn against my skin, but keep my chin high and head clear as I move through the fitness center.It’s my first day of work and I want to be as professional as possible. I won’t let a little attention shake me - doing my best at my job is what matters.As I continue to walk, I take in my room around me, noticing how much nicer it is than the last gym I worked in. GAINZ has top of the line equipment and is clean top to bottom.However, as my eyes continue to scan the space, they eventually catch on a familiar face - one that makes my stomach nearly drop.Standing off to the side…is Susan. I hadn’t expected to see her here, which only causes my dread to grow. Only, the sensation gets worse as I notice her outfit. She’s wearing the same jacket as the other staff member’s wear - indicating that she also works here.I kick myself as I realize it, wishing I would have looked up the GAINZ staff te
ArdalThis is ridiculous. I can’t believe that Susan is really trying to test my identity by having me flash some little prize. However, I know she’s just trying to trip me up, figuring that I’m incapable of producing the medal.But this isn’t the worst stunt Susan has ever pulled. I know she’s capable of so much worse, which causes me to sigh.“So if I can prove that I’m Chelsea by showing the medal…then you’ll apologize?” I ask, scowling at Susan.She’s offering another game. However, I won’t let her get the best of me. Susan won’t bully me again - she already did that enough six years ago.I promised myself that if she tried again that I would stand my ground, retaliate as needed. I won’t be the woman who stands by and watches bad things happen to her anymore. I have a voice and I plan to use it.And that’s exactly what I plan to do now. However, it’s not Susan who answers my question.“If you don’t show us the medal then you’re not going to like the punishment,” Kadeem states firm
ArdalI know it was too good to be true that I could convince Kadeem of Susan’s lies. As I said, he’s still completely lovesick, and he only proved my point as he effortlessly picks her up.“I’m taking her to the hospital,” Kadeem announces harshly as he carries her away. All I can do is shake my head as I watch him go.Pathetic.“Sorry about Kadeem,” a voice says from my side, causing me to turn. I only want to sigh as I see it’s Mateo - I’d nearly forgotten that he was here.“I know his behavior was ungentlemanly. But I promise - he’s a very nice boss,” Mateo tells me.I doubt that, I think.“So you’re Chelsea Quinn,” Mateo continues, flashing a smile. “No wonder you didn’t want to tell me your name before. Probably didn’t want to attract attention.”“Sure,” I tell him flatly. That’s definitely not the reason, but I’ll let him believe whatever he wants.“Your work is very impressive,” he replies. “Would you mind if we swap business cards? Just in case I need some training?”As much
ErbaoThe quintuplets quickly set their plan in motion, using the computer again so they could find any information about the man in the photos. And it was an easy task, seeing as the man was very well-known within the pack.The babies sat stunned as they discovered just who he was. Apparently, his name was Kadeem, and he was the Alpha of the Red Moon pack. They found many articles about their daddy’s family business and the countless followers he had.“Our daddy’s famous!” Lottie declared, squealing as Erbao finished trying to read an article aloud.“And so is mommy, remember?” Silas said with excitement. “Both of our parents are important!”Once more, the quintuplets began to rejoice at the news, causing them to squirm and laugh with joy. However, Erbao soon shushed them, pointing toward a photo of their father as he held determination in his eyes.“We need to find a way to get to him,” Erbao announced then, causing a few others to nod.However, Ezra seemed a little skeptical. “How?
ArdalDue to Susan’s recent “offense,” I’ve been called in to meet with Kadeem. Everything in me had hoped I could keep a distance from him, but it appears that’s not going to happen as I’m sitting right across from him now.We stare at each other in silence for a moment, both of us glowering for our own personal reasons. It makes the air in the room feel electric as neither of us choose to back down, though I assume that’s what Kadeem is waiting for. I only wish he’d speak already so I could get this meeting over with, but apparently, he’s choosing to be stubborn.“So what? Am I fired or something?” I finally ask, wondering if Kadeem has pulled some strings to dismiss my position. Due to his love for Susan, it wouldn’t surprise me. Plus, he’s the Alpha of the Red Moon pack, which means he can make anyone do whatever he wants - including having the gym fire me.“No,” Kadeem answers, impatience within his tone. I’m surprised by his answer, but I don’t show it as I realize there’s more