"You- you sent them to Adrian's mother?"I ask Elaine, finding it wholly impossible to maintain a straight tone that doesn't show my disbelief, but even the rage in my bones at her stupidity causes me to stand.Her gaze escapes mine as she takes a step back."She dead because of you? If you are angry, attack me, fight me! Don’t send my parents to kill the Alpha’s loved ones all because-”A loud scream escapes me.“You clumsy bitch, what did his mother ever do to you?"The shock on Elaine’s face looks genuine.Yet, despite that, I can’t help but want to scratch her face off. She has the nerve to detest me and call me the daughter of a murderer when she is the one collaborating with the man who killed her father.What is this hypocrisy?"She isn't dead. They just took her somewhere safe. To-""Are you three years old? When you tell an evil fuck a weakness, do you expect them to nourish it? Adrian’s mother is dead; her body was torn limb from limb. I saw her hand, I saw the body bags the

Where am I?The brightness around me turns to a pastel purple before three people show up before me.All of them have my hair and eyes...actually, they are me at different ages.Soft fur brushes against my left side before Maya settles beside me.“What's going on? Is this 'heaven’, rather is this where the Goddess resides?” ‘Do you think you are going to heaven with the kind of bedroom sex you had with the-?'“Ahh! Stop, oh my God, Maya!”Maya smiles before turning to my eight or is it seven-year-old self.‘This sometimes happens when you have multiple regrets. Typically, you choose how far back you want to go, but…’She drawls.“But?”I prod.‘There are usually gates behind the representations that you choose, but there is none, meaning…’The three versions of me at different ages vanish, leaving Maya and me behind.‘Meaning I do not have the power to make a way back for us.’So…this is it?The room’s light dims slightly before a sigh escapes me.“So, this is our afterlife, then? I

Adrian M. Knox The eyes of the woman— of the ‘Clive’ before him shone like Rubies. He had heard that Ruby was perhaps the most beautiful of the Clives, followed closely by Magnolia, but the mention of ‘Clive’ made the news enter one ear and out the other. He should have paid more attention; perhaps then he wouldn’t feel so caught off guard. He could feel Alex's delight, but he would be damned if he fell for- Ruby's long copper hair fell to the side as she bowed before him. He loved the thickness and curls in her hair, loved how well she wore it down, but he hated that the bow denied him the sight of her eyes. "I offered my hand-" "You offered your gloved hand, Alpha.” She interrupted with a soft sigh that made him feel shameful. “I know what that means." The regret that hit him was instant. The gloves had felt like such a good idea, but now perhaps… He retracted his hand as he offered his apology. "I am sorry. I did not mean to-" "Yes, you did. You did mean to offend me, b

After one last kiss to Elle, I turn to the nanny, who, despite the inconvenience, seems glad to pick Elle from my workplace. A raise is in order, but something tells me setting her up with Walter will excite her more. Closing the shop is quick; the cafe is right next to the beach, so I take a moment to soak in the beautiful peach of the sky glimmering on the ocean’s water. The view of the ocean from Dominic’s manor was cold, far from the liveliness of the colours here. This time, I managed to help Vivian and her mate escape his ‘initiation’ into his gang life; I don’t know where he is, and I would rather not keep tabs—then again, I am without a wolf, so does the concept of mates still work for me? My hands fly to my neck, to where the Alpha had pressed his tongue and sucked; he left a hickey. I almost groan at the cringy giddiness that I feel. But that should prove we are still second-chance mates, so I guess the concept works. A warm breeze carries the bulk of my hair, reminding

He was making the right choice, right?Adrian asked himself the question over and over as he sat by the cushy seats, watching Ruby speak to the attendant in the dress shop.The dress she had on was a deep green that clung to her curves like a vice, pressing her breasts to view. He wasn't looking for marriage or a serious date with a Clive, yet out of all that he could deny, a night with her was one he could not.“How is it?”She turned to walk to words him, the creamy fullness of her chest bouncing enticingly with her soft movements.Yes, he needed a night—just one, and everything would fizzle, it had to.“Breathtaking, but you have to try the red dress as well.”“I’m tired of dressing up; this is the seventh one, and your response is the same. I am only taking one dress either way. Must I try all of the ones picked out?”“Last one, I swear.”He uttered before mouthing to Rose, ‘Pack that one too.’He didn’t know why he felt the urge to spoil her, or why he wanted to surprise her, bu