Tristan, Lynn, and Francesca rushed out of the office, their tense faces earning curious looks from the people working around them. Thankfully, no one asked them what was wrong. "Why the hell would he take them? They're humans, for God's sake. They have nothing to do with this." Tristan whispered at Lynn angrily. He knew the answer to his question, though. As soon as Jacob made that deal with Stefano, they were in on it. God, how stupid could his cousin be? Tristan opened his mouth to verbalize this, but Lynn shook her head at him, looking around to make sure none of their human employees heard him."I'm not surprised. Stefano's easy to insult, and Jacob shouted at him." Francesca's voice piped up behind him and Tristan immediately stopped in his tracks."What do you think you're doing?" He asked with a frown, looking down at his mate. Francesca pulled herself up to her full height, "I'm coming with you. I can help." "No, you're n

"Lynn? Oh, thank God. How are you? How is he?" Francesca asked, pacing back and forth like a lunatic. She had been sick with worry for her mate and Lyn, and her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest."We're okay. Where are you right now? In my apartment?" Lynn answered from the other line. "Oh..." Francesca looked around her and suddenly felt embarrassed. When Tristan said go home, the penthouse was the first thing that came to her mind. It was as if she never left."I'm at the penthouse," she tells Lynn, knowing how the Beta would react. "Okay. We're on our way." Lynn replied, sounding amused. It was another grueling ten minutes or so until Francesca heard the door open. She saw him then, fresh scars on his body and an exhausted and pale look on his face. But her mate smiled brightly like he always did in front of her. And despite everything, Francesca rushed into his arms, crying."Please don't do that to me aga

She was finally divorced from Stefano. Francesca didn't know how Lynn and Tristan had managed to do it. She thought divorces usually end up in court with both parties present. But somehow, she was only asked to sign some papers and appear in court by herself. Francesca was grateful for that, considering how she couldn't imagine facing Stefano in court without falling apart. It was happy news, indeed, if not for the line that she had to draw between Tristan and her. Francesca could still feel the pain from Tristan's words last night and she couldn't concentrate being around him at work. So it was awkward for them at the office, and it was only 9 AM. "Francesca, can you come over here, please?" Tristan was on his laptop, barely looking at her, "I thought I told you to keep my schedule clear for this afternoon? Why do I still get calls from Kingston's secretary? You know I can't be interrupted." It was true. Tristan had already explained this to her. He was reinstated as the future C

Francesca's eyes stung and she choked, coughing out the chloroform that was used on her. She blinked blearily at what was in front of her and her heart sank. She was back in the house that she abhorred. In Sebastian's library, no less, where he first took her body mercilessly their first night as husband and wife. Francesca grimaced as a soldato threw her into the floor, her knees hitting the marble hard. Her hands were bound so she was unable to steady herself.  Stefano's was standing in front of the windows, his back turned to her. "Leave us," he murmured gravely. His mean left the room, the Zeta that Francesca beat up earlier glaring at her before shutting the door behind him. Finally, Stefano turned towards Francesca. She gasped. His hooded eyes were red, and he looked disheveled and crazed. He seemed like he had been crying, but that was impossible. Stefano was ruthlessly persistent and he never cried. "When I heard that you were back, I thought to

As soon as he stepped inside Stefano's house, Tristan knew that his mate was there. He went straight to the library despite Gianna and Mira's protests, following his bond to Francesca. But when he opened the door, there was nobody in sight. He stood there for several seconds, wondering how his intuition could be wrong. And he was just about to give up when Francesca and Stefano materialized in the previously empty library. Francesca's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fainted while Stefano screamed in terror and pain. Smoke arose from the whole expanse of his skin as if he had just been burned.  "Em..." Stefano murmured, almost to himself. He screamed in torture again, clawing at his skin. But Tristan could care less for his fellow Alpha. He went straight to his unconscious mate. "What happened?" Tristan asked no one in particular as he touched Francesca's cold forehead.  "Hell if I know," Gianna answered as she and Mira ministered over th