T H O M A SFinally, she has acknowledged my presence. And it feels great.I want her to be aware that I'm here, and there's no way for her to evade me now. I've already taken control of every aspect of her life, and she remains oblivious.I didn't realize she had pups. Not an issue. I adore kids, and hers are delightful. I'll need to ensure the child's father isn't in the picture. They have me now. They won't need him.Our gazes have been locked on each other. I can't help but admire how stunning she appears. Even in the rain, I can tell she's been weeping. Her eyes are puffy, and she's not wearing any makeup.Why bother when the tears won't cease?It pains me to see her in distress, and I wish I could embrace her and assure her that everything will be fine, but that would be a falsehood. Life isn't always fine; at times, it's harsh and challenging, pushing you to your limits.That's why she must have someone like me. I'd ensure the harshness doesn't touch her and the challenges don'

H E R AI snap out of my reverie with him and back to reality. "Oh no, the cookies!" I exclaim, rushing to the oven and finding smoke billowing from the baking sheet. "Oh no, no, no." I slammed the pan on the counter, and the cookies were ruined from being forgotten for too long. "I have to start over now. I have an order to fulfill." My eyes start to sting, blaming the smoke for the tears."It's alright," he soothes, coming around the counter and standing behind it. He takes off his coat, rolls up his sleeves, then gently lifts my chin to meet his gaze.He wipes away a tear and furrows his brow. "You don't have to do everything alone, Hera. You're not on your own anymore. I'm happy to help, especially since I distracted you from the cookies. It's the least I can do. What can I do for you?""I need you," I choke out. "I need you to not make me fall for you. Your presence here is making that incredibly hard for me. I need you to go."“What if I wanted you to love me? What if that was m

T H O M A SI almost decide to bail on the mission and run across the street, but then I see not one, but two people crawling into bed with Hera. Her pups. She welcomes them with open arms, one on each side of her.I close the app, put my phone away, and wonder what I could have done differently to deserve to be in Hera's home.I bet it's warm and cozy there, unlike my place, which is minimal and cold. I'm hardly ever there anyway. I'm always at the club, running most of the business.The device in my hand beeps, reminding me of the task at hand. I unplug it, and the door unlocks automatically. I can destroy this in just a snap but that will cause much trouble. At this moment, human devices were useful.High grade for someone like you, Dale. What are you hiding in here?I won't let whatever he's planning to do touch Hera.As I step into the bookstore, I adjusted my vision. I don’t need to use a flashlight just to see what’s inside under the dark. It’s my advantage as a supernatural be

T H O M A SAs I gaze at the picture I swiped from Dale, I see that it sits proudly on my desk in its new frame. However, the longer I stare at it, the more my anger intensifies. It's frustrating to see myself portrayed as unstable and fixated on Hera instead of being seen as someone who is genuinely concerned about her safety and protects her from those with ulterior motives.Hera places more trust in Dale than she does in me. My instincts have never failed me, and while I do desire Hera for myself, my primary concern is ensuring her well-being and security.Dale's actions interfere with my plans. I'm uncertain about his intentions, but I am determined to uncover the truth.Gelo enters the room, closing the door behind him to grant us privacy away from the noise of the club. "I completed the background check as you requested," he informs me.I take a sip of whiskey, feeling the burning fuel my determination to make Hera mine. "I'm not pleased with how thin that folder looks," I expre

T H O M A SThe doorbell chimes, and in walks an older man, handsome and charming. A smile spreads across his face as soon as he lays eyes on Hera.Instantly, a surge of jealousy washes over me. I can't stand the thought of anyone else bringing a smile to her face. That's my job."Mike!" she exclaims, wrapping her arms around his neck as he lifts her off the ground.My hands clench into fists, disliking how close he is to touching parts of her that only I should. Even my wolf agrees with me."What brings you here? I thought you retired from being a guard?" she asks."I did. I did. I just wanted to check in on you and see how you're doing," he replies."I'm good. I'm great. Can I get you anything? It's on the house," she offers."I'd love that. I'm happy to see you thriving. I was worried about you," he admits.Her smile wavers and she avoids my gaze as she shrugs. "I'm fine. I've always been fine." She packs a box with cupcakes, scones, muffins, and slices of bread. "I've learned to r