“Piper!” Nicholas called after me. I continued walking, not slowing down until I was in the hallway, with the stage and all of the other candidates safely out of view. Then, I turned toward the wall and truly let the tears fall. I knew Nicholas wouldn’t give up his chase, even though I hoped he
With Julian on my arm, we returned to the ballroom. Nicholas noticed immediately, gaze zeroing in on where Julian and my arms were interlocked. I didn’t move away this time. After all, Bridget had her arm, at that very moment, wrapped around one of Nicholas’s too. On stage, Tiffany and Jessica are
“Wonderful,” Bridget said with an even bigger smile than before. It was a beautiful smile, all pearly white teeth. She looked every bit the part of the a-list actress. Her makeup was on point. Even her hair was perfectly styled. I wondered how many stylists traveled with her. It wasn’t unheard of
I was tired from a long day of acting and handling drama. So when I finally made my way back to my room, my feet were slow, my pace sluggish. I didn’t reach the hallway where the candidates’ rooms were until well after the others had already gone. Maybe this was why I found Mark standing alone out
A million different emotions flittered across Mark’s face in the span of an instant, but then, in the next, happiness won out. He barreled forward, scooped Susie up against him, and kissed her senseless. When they came up for air, he peppered her entire face with butterfly kisses until she was giggl
When Bridget opened the door to her rooms, the first person she saw was Nicholas. A brilliant smile blossomed across her face. But then, in the next moment, she opened the door wider and saw me standing there too. That perfect smile wavered. “Piper,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting you.” “It seeme
In my mind, my wolf was rampaging, storming back and forth, smashing against the walls I used to contain it. I wanted to run. I wanted to fight. I wanted to tackle Bridget to keep her away from my mate. “Well, look at the time. We have to go,” Nicholas said at once. He never checked his watch. Who
My wolf cowered inside of me, hurt crashing in on all sides. Rejection. It seeped into every pore and every bone. I knew I shouldn’t feel that way. Nicholas was pragmatic and cautious. He wouldn’t want to have a baby out of wedlock with anyone, even me. But my wolf’s reaction is visceral, as if