Bella looked across her desk to where Madison sat rigidly before her. Even now, the girl was determined to force an air of defiance in the wake of the disaster she’d instigated. ​ Bella shook her head in distaste. Not only for the detestable young woman sitting before her, but for the undoubtedly unfortunate circumstances that she was sure had pushed Madison to this point. Bella herself remembered that desolate, desperate climb to the top. Clawing your way up from nothing was never pretty but allowing yourself to become so deadened on the inside was no way to live.​ Her business wasn’t a pretty one – Bella knew that. But she’d worked herself to the bone to create a place where her workers could do their jobs efficiently, and in relative safety. However, the last few days had made it remarkably clear to her how her mission had begun to crumble right from under her while she’d been none the wiser.​ Needless to say, there were more than a few holes in her business model that

“I don’t know what it’s like to have my life not be my own?” His words were low as he finally moved from the desk to stalk toward Ava. Unlike before, when he’d maintained a semblance of respect by keeping his distance, this time he fully crowded Ava’s space.​ They truly had entered into a new phase of their relationship, because when he stepped in close, Ava didn’t bulk. She stood her ground until they were chest-to-chest, their bodies pressed up against one another. “You think Alpha snap their fingers and get everything they’ve ever wanted?”​ Ava found herself curiously apprehensive, rather than intimidated as Xavier leaned down until his nose brushed hers, “What if it was you I wanted, Ava?”​ His breath whispered against hers, and their hearts met each other beat for beat. But this wasn’t like earlier. The mating scent that emanated from them was thick, but cold. The air between them didn’t heat but was laden with an aching sorrow. Inexplicable, Ava felt that the heavy e

Ava settled into the piping hot tub of water and let out a prolonged sigh. Finally, she let her body relax for what felt like the first time in days. When she’d first considered taking a bath, she’d momentarily balked at the thought of being submerged in water. Then, she felt every single bone in her body creak, causing her to come to the swift conclusion that this was one fear she couldn’t afford to cultivate. ​ She sank below the fruit scented water, allowing the luxurious bath oils to saturate her hair. It was peaceful down there, and warm. Ava took the opportunity to shut her mind off for the moment and just be.She’d heard somewhere about a thing called exposure therapy – it was pretty much when you face your fears until you replace upsetting memories with more positive ones. The concept felt like an analogy for her life since being released from the dungeon.It seemed like every time she turned around, there was another mountain to climb, another person to forgive. It was me

“You know, you’ve been doing a whole lot of talking, Rhys.” Dylan sat back in his chair in a faux semblance of indifference, but where Xavier sat beside him, he could see how hard the male clutched the stress ball in his hand. “It’s really a shame that you don’t seem to have anything of important to add.”​ Rhys’ face twisted with unearned superiority, “That’s where you’re wrong again, princeling. It’s never a waste of breath to remind ourselves of the mistakes of the past. Lest we be doomed to repeat them, an all that.”​ Xavier clenched his teeth until he could feel them grind against one another, but he managed to keep himself together. He refused to rise to the bait Rhys dangled in front of him. The whelp had barely been out of Pampers during the events three years ago. ​ What smarted was that, in a sense, he was correct. The events surrounding the attack that had ended his sister and his friend’s lives had shaken not just the Red Moon Pack, but the very foundation of th

Ava accepted the bouquet with trembling fingers. The sizable assortment of bright, fresh flowers was easily the brightest thing in her room, now. She stuck her nose in it and breathed in, an array of scents, ranging from sharp to subtle, filling her nostrils.Ava felt Mia perk up from her internal slumber, as they were both barraged with memories of running through fields at the peak of springtime. The recollection held the bitter bite of melancholy, but they were sweet all the same.“I’ll have to thank him for this. It was a sweet gesture,” she breathed.“You’ll never be able to if you don’t get going,” Bren made a gimme gesture toward the bouquet, placing it in a prime spot on Ava’s dresser before shooing her out the door. “Have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”Ava chuckled as she was led out of the building. She didn’t know what made her more nervous, her newfound commitment to a strange man, or the fact that this would be the first time Ava had left the Green Light Club sin