EMBER's POV

I know I should have pushed him away. But I couldn't seem to. My needs and my desire for him were way more powerful. So I kissed him back as relentlessly as he kissed me, giving in to the very whim and demands of my wolf.


"Oh, ma'am, I was-" Paris and I jumped away from each other at the sound of Bella's voice, looking at each other like children who had been caught stealing from a cookie jar.

"oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"

Didn't realize what exactly. I thought to myself. Didn't realize that two people who were supposed to be divorced were kissing each other?


Well, that's not very hard to believe, if anything it was possibly the craziest thing to have to walk into.

I cleared my throat and shook my head, "it's okay, Bella. What did you want to see me about?" I asked, doing my best to sound diplomatic. But my hoarse voice possibly gave me away.


"It's just that I needed to show you something about the revenue allocation. But it can't most definitely wait."

I shook my head, "it's okay, I can see it now." I said and turned to Paris, who was watching me, and I felt my throat burn. This wasn't over. I knew it wasn't. but for the time being, there would have to be a pause,

"It's okay. Go right ahead. I'll catch you later."

"Okay," I said nodding, and fought the memory of his lips against mine,

"Bella," he said, as he walked passed her,

"Mr. Alpha sir," she said with a ghost of a smile, and I raised a brow as he left,

"Mr. Alpha, sir?" I asked, and she shrugged,

"It's his title after all."

"Of course it is. Show me the thing."

"right." She brought the papers out of their folder and handed them to me, "some of the resources have already been allocated to their appropriate areas, but you still need to check and know if you're okay with them."

I nodded as I looked through them. Enough of the money available was going into the right places, so I really did not have issues with them, "what's left then? My signature?"

Bella nodded, "That. And a few meetings with the financial team about your vision for this entire project. How much you feel should go in, how much they feel would have to go in. things like that. And perhaps discuss other ways to get more revenue."

"I don't think I need more revenue," I said, thinking about the huge amounts of money that was already coming. Paris alone was already doing so much."

"alright. If you feel so. But then, I've received calls from people asking if you need donations. There are a lot of people interested in what you are doing, Miss Ember."

I smiled at that. The idea of people liking my work and wanting to support it.

"Perhaps, maybe I could create room to accept their help. It should not be too much for me if it's not too much for them."

"Now, that's the spirit," Bella said happily.

I watched her tap away on her tab and wondered if it would be appropriate to bring up what she saw with Paris. It wasn't her concern, and she was actually doing a good job at acting like it wasn't any of her concern… but still.

"uhh, Bella… "I began slowly, and she looked up from what she was doing,

"about today, with Paris.."

She smiled as though she understood me and shook her head, "Don’t worry, ma'am. My lips are sealed."

I blinked, trying to understand her, and then realized that she thought I was asking her not to talk about whatever relationship I was growing with Paris. And I shook my head,

"no, Bella, it's not that, it's just that I…" What exactly? I didn’t want her to talk about it. Wasn't that another way of agreeing to be in a relationship,

"you?" she said, smiling happily, and I frowned,

"You seem to be enjoying this a little," I said bitterly and she laughed,

"I can’t help it, miss. I love love. But I assure you, I'm not going to go about talking about anything I see. So you can be rest assured."

I sighed and shook my head. If I could have erased that scene from her mind, I would. But it was of no use.

"Thank you," I said and shook my head at myself., and she laughed.

I really needed to create some ground rules between Paris and myself.

PARIS'S POV

life was really looking up if you ask me. I had a budding relationship with Ember that made me happy. Sure, from time to time, she tried to put up those old walls. But there were moments, like today, when I saw those walls coming down. Not to mention the fact that her body said a different thing when she was in my arms. It was enough to make a man feel great.

"What are you smiling about?" I looked away from the window in my office, to find Kate staring at me with a strange expression, and my brows drew together,

"I didn't know smiling was now a crime in this household," I said and leaned against my chair as she sat across from me.

Now when I thought of it, it had been days since I smiled genuinely,

"I never said it was a crime. I was just wondering what you were so happy about."

"I'm alive."

She nodded solemnly, "yes you are." she said and sighed,

"Did you need something?" I asked after some time, and she moved her head from left to right,

"I wouldn't say I need something, more like I need to tell you something."

"I'm all ears," I said, straightening,

"alright. Well, I need to go away for some time."

"and by for some time you mean or, by going away, you mean what exactly?"

"By going away, I mean I need to visit my family. It's been months and I haven't seen them. I miss them." she looked so much like a little girl when she spoke that I couldn't help how my heart softened at her. I nodded briefly,

"So when will you come back?" I asked, but she only frowned,

"So you're okay with me leaving?"

"Am I, not supposed to be okay with you visiting your family?" I asked, totally confused,

"you're a little too okay with it if you ask me. Is this about Ember?"

"ember?"

"I mean. You've become something of a hero for her these past couple of days. You partnered with her and saved her from attackers. Even confronted your mother because of her." she looked as though she was holding back her anger, but there was nothing I could do about it at the time,

"Those were all things that needed to be done." I said with a tone of finality. "but this isn't about Ember. If you need to see your family, that's fine with me. I'm always with mine. It's only fair that you see yours."

She nodded slowly and began to rise, "As to when I'll be back, I'm not sure yet. I'll keep you updated I suppose."

"That will also be fine."

She looked around my office and then back at me, "I don’t know what space Ember has in your heart, but I'm going to need you to keep in mind that I am your mate."

I smiled, "how could I ever forget? I have fate to remind me."

"good. I'll be off now. I need to pack."

I watched her turn away and waited until she was out of the door, and the door was closed.

"Each day. I have each day I wake up without Ember in my bed to remind me."

~~~~

The day of Kate's departure came with much peace and calm rather than a twinge in my heart. It was not very hard to know why.

I hated to be the kind of man who gaslighted a woman, but her departure meant I could chase a relationship with Ember a bit more freely. At the very least, with a whole lot less guilt.

“I’m going to need to talk to you every single day, I’m aware.” Kate said, putting her arms around my waist, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I turned to her and smiled, “of course. Morning,noon and night if it’s what you’d like.” And she giggled,

“Maybe not morning , noon and night. But every day. Cause I’ll miss you every day until I’m home.”

“I’ll miss you too.” I was lying. I was a bloody liar. But this was better than arguing with her before she left.

She rose on her tip toes and kissed ,

“I love you.”

“I love you.” I parroted and helped her into the car.

And as she left, Ember's words about her brother came to me.

"he would much rather do away with you." she had said and didn't blame him. I would much rather do away with me too, considering how much I had hurt her. How much of a lie I had become in my own home.

"but I am going to do better," I said, coming through my hair.

Or I was going to die trying.