Ember's pov

"Of course," William said, taking my hand in his, and I placed my other hand over his,


"why haven’t you said the words yet?" I asked softly,

"What words?"

"I told you so?"


He raised a brow at me, and shook his head, "why would I want to do that to you?"

I shrugged, "Maybe because I deserve it. you tried to tell me, again and again, you tried to tell me, but I wouldn't listen. I think I even dragged you into some of my rubbish."


"It wasn't rubbish, em. You loved him and felt you needed to do the things you needed to do. There wasn't ever a time you pointed a gun to my head and forced me to go anywhere with you. All of it was my choice. Mine, Ember. And none of it was forceful."

Tears stung my eyes, and my lower lips wobbled.

"it's just that, lately I've been feeling like I take you for granted. All you do is help me and try to be there for me, meanwhile, all I did is make bad choices and hurt you with them."

"I don't believe you've ever meant to hurt anyone with your choices."

But the fact that he didn't say I had not hurt him said all I needed to know, and a tear rolled down my cheek,

"don’t do that." he said and swiped at the tear, "or you're going to get me going too," he said and I laughed but he shook his head,

"I mean it. You matter to me, Ember. Whether or not you might still love Paris, you matter to me, and that is enough for me to do the things I do. I don't feel like I'm being taken advantage of by the way."

" I hear you. But sometimes, what I hear and what I process are two different things."

"That's only normal if you ask me."

"life changed really fast." I said, thinking out loud, "One minute we were both trying to get Paris to sign the papers, then the next he had an accident, and managed to convince me that he was a better person."

"one minute we were on a date, then the next you found your mate."

I made a face, "then I rejected that mate, and went through a downward spiral. And now, I simply have no idea where I'm actually going."

"Then we'll take it one day at a time. And for today, we'll simply deal with putting a genuine smile on your face."

My eyes stung again, and this time I wrapped my arms around him, "William?"

"yeah?"

"you're literally the best friend ever."

PARIS's POV

It had been a whole day since Prince Axel came over to tell me, in not-so-like terms, to stay away from Ember, and I was still in a bad mood over that one.

The man laughed when I told him about letting people know that he was a ruler who used his means to obtain a woman, and the sound still played in my head, irking me. But he could laugh. Laugh all he wanted, until it all finally happened. Until everyone saw him for what he was. Hopefully, Ember would see him for what he was as well.

I drank from my glass of whiskey and eyed the rest of the bottle, before finally shaking my head. Neither the alpha prince nor life as a whole would win this battle. Plus, there was still so much to be done, and I could not afford to lose myself in a bottle.

The phone rang and I considered tossing it aside. But being the alpha did not permit me to indulge in such a degree of rage. Especially when the call was to my line. Knowing full well, that there were only a couple of people who actually had that number.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver when I picked up the call,

"Is this Alpha Paris?"

"Depend on who is speaking." I drawled, unable to hold back from a little bit of sarcasm,

"It's William, Ember's lawyer. I'd like a word, but I assure you I won't waste your time."

My heart raced at the sound of Ember's name, but I soon recovered when it clicked that it was one of the men in her life who was calling. And it just so happened that I was acquainted with this one.

"I won't bother asking how you've been able to get a hold of my private line. Ember could have easily given it to you. But I'd really like to know on what grounds you have the audacity to call me as it pleases you to do so."

"don’t get your knickers in a twist, Mr. all high and mighty. I simply want to speak to you concerning the divorce."

"What divorce?"

"the divorce between you and my client. She's like me to let you know that she wants nothing more than to forge on with the divorce between the both of you. Perhaps you would like to think about it as well. I will forward the divorce papers to you, as I have made some modifications. You may get a lawyer to discuss these modifications with."

I fought the urge to growl at him, "Now, you listen to me, William, or whatever the hell you say your name is. You can go to hell with your divorce papers because I'm not signing anything. You let your client know that. Or better still, I'll speak to her myself." and with that, I hung up and whatever anger had come with the prince's visit that had managed to flee, all returned in fresh waves, and I gave into it by running my hand into the closest wall.

"I don’t believe that wall has done anything to you." I looked up to see my mother, approaching me with concern written all over her face. She sat on one of the chairs and waited until I sat too before saying anything,

"Would you like to tell me what's going on with you?" she asked carefully, and I waited till I was relatively calm enough to form coherent sentences before speaking up,

"Ember's friend, who is also a lawyer, just spoke to me about our divorce."

"That's why you're in such a bad mood?" my mother asked in disbelief, irritating me further,

"among other things," I said and got up.

"How long, Paris?" she asked quietly, and I looked at her,

"How long for what?"

"how long until you see just how bad this girl actually is for you? How long until you open your eyes to just how cursed this girl is and you actually are better off without her?"

I rolled my eyes, "Ember isn't a curse, mama. You just don’t like her. But I would appreciate it if you didn't say such things."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Paris. But this is what I believe, and as long as it's what I believe, it's what I'm going to say. I mean look at all of the misfortune she has caused. You no longer pay Kate any attention, you and I are in the same house, but you keep your distance, and let me not get started on the sister whom you know nothing of. The sad part is, you don't even care!"

"Is it not better that she is on the run, rather than being locked in a cage? For had she not run away, I would have made sure that she never saw the light of day."

"Just look at you. Listen to yourself. You're talking about your own sister, and from what? For whom? That tramp who doesn't even deserve you."

"you best be careful how you talk about Ember," I warned, and my mother's face turned red as a tomato,

"you conceited boy. I had hoped that these past few weeks of lack of communication between you and me would make you more sensible. But I was wrong. You are so bent on your way, so bent on the path of destruction. Whatever it is you feel for Ember has clearly blinded you."

"And what had blinded you, mama? Because it appears to be that you are so bent on being cruel and mean to a girl who has done nothing wrong to you. Your hate and judgment consume you, mother, and just like your daughter, you're irredeemable." I said and turned away, before turning back to her,

"and did you think withholding from communicating with your own son would be the answer to what you've chosen to be your problem? Then you can think again."

"Because of that girl, you’re estranged from your own family, don’t you see it?"

"Quite the contrary, mother. Rather, it's because of my family that I'm estranged from that girl. Once upon a time, you and your daughter mistreated her and pushed me toward Kate. But I accept my role in this too. Now I'm trying to amend my ways, but don't go talking about family, trying to use a lot of you to manipulate me. You just might make my anger burn."

"I don't recognize you. You're not the son I raised."

"Yes, mama. You're correct. This might be the only correct thing you've said in a while. I am not your son, you know. The man you knew did everything you wanted him to do. This man, in front of you, is going to do all that he really wants to do. And one of those things involves getting Ember back. No matter the price it might cost me this time.