I feel like I''m betraying Holt as I took a cab going to Emily''s address. I know I should trust Holt, but there''s a voite inside me telling me to check it out. Annika was never nice to me, but she didn''t have to lie to me either. She has no reason to do so, which makes me convince more that there''s truth with what she told me. My heart was racing as I slowly walked towards the door of Emily''s house. My heart sank when I saw Holt''s car parked outside their house. Despite the obvious truth, I still wanted to hear it from Holt''s mouth.


    I


    1 blew a loud breath as I stand outside the door. I was contemting whether I should pressed the doorbell or not. I raised my hand, and I was about to press it when I was suddenly filled with fear. I was afraid to know the truth. I decided to turn around and leave. But before I could even take a few steps away from the ce, the door swung open. And there I saw a beautiful woman with the most sweetest smile I''ve ever seen. "H-Hi-"rvously greeted. But before I could even finish, she immediately give me a tight hug.


    "How nice of you toe!" she greeted ecstatically. "You''re Holt''s sister, right? You came here for the announcement?" she said, shing her sweetest smile. "Come on, let''se inside. There''s plenty of food for everyone." I didn''t get a chance to to decline. She gently pulled I me towa towards the the crowd. Holt was busy talking to a member of our pack, when he turned around and noticed us. I saw him turn pale when he saw me with his fiancée. "Holt, look who I saw outside. I thought you said she couldn''te because she''s sick?"


    Holt''s face was filled with surprise. I was probably thest thing he was expecting to see today.


    "Oh, he''s probably talking about Annika. I''m Sage, his other sister," I introduce myself, forcing a smile on my face.


    Emily looked surprise, "Oh! I didn''t Holt had another sister, But anyway, it was so nice of you toe to our engagement. We''re still going to have a formal announcement. Right now, it was just friends and other members of the family."


    Holt looked surprised and at the same time relieved when I didn''t tell Emily who I was. "Congrattions. You two will surely make a good couple," I said, forcing a smile on my


    Chisper Y


    face


    "Thank you. Emily answered. "Will you be a doll and take care of Sage for me, Holt? I wanted to spend more time with your sister, but I still have a lot of things to do around here. I''ll be back in a jill, okay?" Emily said before giving a kiss on the cheeks. She then went ahead to o manage the party.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    I don''t want to be left alone with Holt right now, but I had no other choice. "Congrattions," I greeted him.


    "I''m sorry. I don''t have choice," he apologize.


    1 grabbed a ss of champagne from a roaming waiter. "We all have a choice, Holt. Be at man and own it up." I said before drinking the whole ss in one go. "Congrattions again on your engagement. Please say bye to Emily for me. She''s a nice woman, take care of her," I said before leaving the party.


    "How many did you drink, Sage?" Hiry''s voice was tinged with concern as she watched me down yet another shot of tequ. I had asked her to join me at the bar, seeking sce in the numbing embrace of liquor.


    I believed I deserved this escape after the shocking revtion that had recently shattered my world. My adoptive father, Alpha Gordon, had decided my fate, binding me to the ruthless Lycan king without even considering my consent. What''s worst is, this is also the day that the only man I thought I can rely on abandoned me and hang me out to dry.


    Until this night, I had been the timid, obedient girl who followed orders without questions. I felt I had no other choice. My father had been killed, used of treachery, when our pack fell victim to a rogue wolf attack. Gordon, the man who had adopted me, was the only one generous enough to take me under his wing. No one dared challenge his directives, and I had remained grateful for the shelter he provided, despite what my father did. He took over the pack and became the new alpha after my father died.


    But tonight, it was finally revealed the reason behind his decision to adopt me. All alpha of the pack has agreed to send one of their daughters to be part of the tyrant''s **m and be one of his wives. Now, it''s time for the Mooke Crest pack to pay their due. And Alpha Gordon had every intention to sent me on behalf of her daughter,


    215


    Annika


    But what''s more painful above all this is the fact that the only man I''ve ever loved choose power over me. He promised to protect me, yet, he''s the first one to throw me under the bus when his father decided that marrying me off to the ruthless lycan king will be the best for the pack. As I sat at the bar, staring into my empty ss, the gravity of my destiny weighed down on me like a looming thunderstorm. Hiry''s presence and her unwavering support were the silver lining on this darkest night of my life. She leaned closer, her voice just above a whisper, as though afraid the walls might betray our secrets. "What w Sage?"


    I


    I met her gaze, "What choice do I have?"


    You


    do.


    after I said those words, I remember what I said to Holt. Everybody has a choice. Yes, that''s right. And tonight, I have a choice. I may not escape my fate to marry someone I don''t love, but I can choose who will I give my virtue.


    Right after that look. You can''t do that, Sage!"


    I smil


    smiled mysteriously, "But you still haven''t heard what I''m about to do."


    "Yes, but I know you and I know that look. You''re about to do something dangerous."


    "Yeah, and so is marrying that pompous p**ck," I retorted, my words a sharp retort against the future that had been cruelly crafted for me.


    Panicked, Hiry was quick to cover my mouth with her delicate hand, a frantic look in her eyes as she scanned the bar for prying ears. The music throbbed in the background.. its deafening bass drowning out most conversations. People were too absorbed in their own lives and dramas to to pay heed to our whispered exchange. "Are you crazy? Someone might hear you!" she said, gently massaging her temple.


    I smiled and said, "Don''t worry. The music is too loud; I''m sure nobody can hear what I said, I told her, followed by a chuckle.


    "You know what? Let''s go home. You''re drunk, Your father, will kill us if he discovers that we went to this bar," she suggested. "But before that, I''ll go to the restroom real quick. Don''t go anywhere, okay? Wait, me here." She was hesitant to leave me alone, especially after what I said. But it seems like she doesn''t have any choice. She quickly turned around and ran to the restroom.


    I seized the opportunity to execute my n, not caring about who it would be. All I


    Π


    wage worse for some, and ms priskiem would be solved Scanning the


    for a willing partner


    2


    The bar was tied with engem each and escape from my predetermined Game Despite her palpable desier, nome cared my interest until I saw him-a


    were serga meminimac connection, making the world


    he brandon Timesed no freeze and became my sole focus


    box


    Xhe sipped drink bed in a stone graceful hand my breath caught. His gaze


    unted a dinare ? hadn''t know, and my heartraced in sync with the pulsating music.


    His aut exuded danger a primal force that could overpower me, yet I felt an movible pull. In that Sery moment I longed to be consumed by that danger, to be beld within his arms


    Nor him" I repeated to myself, the words a feeble attempt to shield my racing heart from the danger that his mere presence seemed to embody. He was trouble, and that was thest thing eded.


    Hy intense at felt overwhelming, suffocating me. eded to find someone else. Trying to my focus. I scanned the bar for a new prospect. Yet, the memory of his moved arms lingered inside my head, refusing to fade.


    Savigating the crowded room, the anticipation hung thick. The pulsating music matched my erratic beartbeat. I urged myself to keep moving, escaping the tantalizing fanger shadowing each step


    Amid the swirling lights on the dance floor, I moved urgently, propelled by a need to age his intense gaze. Unsure of my destination, I surrendered to the night''s energy Conficting desires overwhelmed me. In a sedudeder. I leaned against the wall. attempting to regainposure and distance myself from the enigmatic stranger. Closing my eyes. I tried to forget his gaze and the allure of danger. My gaze returned to where be sat disappointment washing over me as he was nowhere to be found. was right, I mumbled to myself, shaking my head as if to dispel the irrational pull be had on me. This is crazy


    I decide to leave the bar, taking hesitant steps toward the exit. As I moved away from the dance floor, my head started spinning, likely due to the tequ shots I had earlier.


    "Hided t Chapter 1


    sperately trying to steady myself, my unsteady fingers failed. Instead of hitting the floor. I felt something warm and solid beneath me. Inded against the chest of a stranger, gasping in surprise, myzy eyes struggling to focus.


    Looking upward. I met the familiar gaze of these mesmerizing gray eyes, gazing down at the with a knowing amusement.


    "You should be careful, kitten," he cautioned, his voice like smooth velvet, a seductive. baritone that sent shivers cascading down my spine.


    In that exhrating moment, my inhibitions vanished like morning mist. With a newfound boldness, I threw caution to the wind. Without a word. I wrapped my arms around his neck-a sudden, daring move that surprised him. His initial expression shifted from surprise to a sly smile. Though unexpected, he didn''t resist my impulsive move. His arms encircled ein response, drawing me closer as the heat between us ignited. You''re one brave little kitten," he whispered.


    I felt the warmth of his breath teasing my parted lips, sparking an irresistible urge to taste his mouth. Fixated on his luscious lips, the world faded away.


    Driven by primal desire, I boldly reached out, seizing his nape to pull him closer. The hunger in my kiss imed his lips fervently. In response, he answered with a lustful, urgent kiss.


    An involuntary moan escaped as his warm, determined hands explored my body. His touch ignited a cascade of sensations, a mix of desire and need. In that charged moment, restraint blurred, and I surrendered to the intoxicating allure of his caress.