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Lucas
I found Alara sitting by the window, her gaze distant as she stared out at the setting sun. She’d been like this for days, ever since she confronted Kaelen about the truth behind their fake marriage. I could see the cracks in her resolve, the uncertainty in her eyes every time she looked at him. And yet, she was still clinging to whatever remnants of hope she had left
She turned her head when she noticed me entering the room, her expression softening slightly ” Lucas,” she said, her voice quiet. “What are you doing here?”
I shrugged, playing it casual. “I came to see how you’re doing. You’ve been quiet since… well, since
everything.”
Alara sighed and looked back out the window. “I don’t know what to do anymore, Lucas, I thought Kaelen and I were finally building something real, but now… everything feels so uncertain.”
This was exactly what I’d been waiting for–a moment of doubt, of vulnerability. I needed to push her just a little more, get her to agree to the honeymoon. Crestwood City was the key to my plan, and I needed her to go willingly, without questioning my motives,
“I get it,” I said, sitting down across from her. “But maybe that’s why you should go on the honeymoon. You both need time away from all this–time to figure things out without the pressure of the pack and everything else hanging over your heads.”
Alara shook her head. “I canceled it for a reason, Lucas. How can I go on a honeymoon when we’re not even officially married? It feels… wrong.”
I leaned forward, trying to catch her eye. “I understand that, but think about it–this could be your chance to reconnect with Kaelen. To really talk things through, without any distractions. You’ve been through a lot, and maybe getting away from here will give you both the clarity you need.” She hesitated, biting her lip. I could see the internal struggle playing out on her face. She was torn between her loyalty to Kaelen and the growing doubts she couldn’t ignore.
“I don’t know, Lucas,” she murmured. “It just feels like I’m forcing something that isn’t there. Like no matter what I do, it’s never going to be enough.”
I couldn’t let her back out now. I had to keep pushing, keep planting the seed of doubt in her mind while still convincing her to go through with the trip.
“Look, Alara, I’m not saying this is going to fix everything overnight,” I said gently. “But you deserve to at least try. You deserve to fight for what you want. And if that means going on this honeymoon,
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then maybe that’s the best way to see if there’s anything left worth saving.”
$25 Ports
She was quiet for a long moment, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. I could tell she was still unsure, but the idea was starting to take root.
“And Crestwood City,” I added casually, “It’s the perfect place for a honeymoon. Beautiful scenery, luxurious hotels–it’s exactly what you need right now. A change of scenery could do wonders for
both of you.”
At the mention of Crestwood, Alara finally looked at me, her brow furrowed in confusion.” Crestwood City? Isn’t that in Bastian’s territory?”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “It is, but Bastian’s pack has nothing to do with this. People from all over visit Crestwood. It’s neutral ground. You wouldn’t be stepping into any kind of
pack drama, trust me.”
She still seemed hesitant, and I could tell the mention of Bastian had thrown her off a little. But I couldn’t let that deter her. Crestwood was essential to my plan–if I could get Kaelen and Alara there, everything would fall into place.
“I just don’t want to cause any problems,” she said quietly.
you and “You won’t,” I assured her. “Bastian won’t even know you’re there. Besides, this is about Kaelen, not him. You need this time together, Alara. You deserve to have something that’s just for the two of you, away from all the complications.”
She was quiet again, her eyes searching mine for something–reassurance, maybe. Or perhaps she was looking for a reason to trust my words. Either way, I wasn’t going to give her a chance to back
out now.
“And Kaelen,” I added, “he wants this too. He told me he’d go on the honeymoon if you agreed. He’s waiting for you to say yes.”
That was the final push she needed. I could see the resolve forming in her eyes as she took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll do it. I’ll go on the honeymoon.”
I smiled, feeling a surge of satisfaction. This was exactly what I needed to hear. Once they were in Crestwood, I could set the next phase of my plan in motion. Alara was still clinging to her loyalty to Kaelen, but that wouldn’t last much longer. Not once she realized what was really going on.
“Good,” I said, standing up. “You won’t regret it, Alara. This is the best thing for both of you.” She gave me a small, uncertain smile. “I hope you’re right.”
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+25 Ponts
“I am,” I said confidently, already planning my next move. “Trust me.”
As I left the room, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph. Alara had no idea what was really going on behind the scenes. She didn’t know that I was the one pulling the strings, guiding her toward the outcome I wanted.
But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she’d agreed to go to Crestwood. Once they were there, it would only be a matter of time before everything unraveled.
I didn’t care if Kaelen was my Alpha, or if I was supposed to be loyal to him. My loyalty was to Alara, and I wasn’t going to let anyone–especially Kaelen–stand in the way of what I wanted.
Alara thought she was doing the right thing by giving Kaelen another chance. But she didn’t realize
hands. that by agreeing to this honeymoon, she was playing right into my
The best part was, she didn’t even know why I was so supportive of the trip. I’d kept my true intentions hidden, and as far as she was concerned, I was just being a helpful friend. But deep down, I knew that Crestwood was more than just a honeymoon destination.
It was the place where everything would change. Where I would make my move, and where Kaelen’s perfect little world would start to crumble.
And when that happened, I would be there to pick up the pieces.
Because in the end, this wasn’t about loyalty or duty. It was about claiming what was mine. And Alara–whether she realized it or not–was mine.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
