Emily’s POV:

After Alexander left, I decided to bake some muffins. Cooking has always been my therapy, the one thing that brings me comfort no matter how chaotic my life gets. I made extra because, well, you never know who else might want them.

Back when I was alone, I used to share my baked goods with my co-workers, and before that, I helped in the orphanage kitchen. That was probably the only time I felt at peace, the only time I could forget about the reality of my life.

I had just taken the muffins out of the oven when the door swung open. My heart jumped, thinking it was Alexander, but when I turned around, I gasped.

"Salley!" I shrieked, nearly dropping the tray in my hands.

She stood there, eyes wide, before rushing towards me. "Oh my God, Emily!"

I ran into her arms, hugging her tightly. It had been so long, too long. Tears welled up in my eyes as I held onto her.

"I missed you so much," I whispered, my voice breaking.

"I missed you too, pumpkin," she murmured, sniffling. "But stop crying, or I’ll start crying too."

I pulled back, laughing softly as I wiped my tears away. Salley had always been my rock, my only friend in this world. The one person I could count on.

"Ahem." A deep voice cleared from behind Salley.

I looked up to see Xavier standing there, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Guess I’m forgotten, huh?" he teased.

I rushed over and hugged him too, feeling his strong arms wrap around me. Unlike Alexander, Xavier had been nothing but kind to me. Protective, even.

"I missed you too, Xavier."

He chuckled, ruffling my hair. "Good to know, little one."

After a while, Xavier excused himself, saying he had work to do. That left me and Salley sitting in the kitchen, catching up. Hours passed without us realizing, and soon, the sun had set.

I glanced at the clock. "Hey, Salley, guess what one best friend said to the other?"

She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling nervous. "Will you be my maid of honor?"

She gasped dramatically before practically launching herself at me. "Hell yeah, bitch! You know I will!"

I laughed, hugging her tight. "Phew, I was scared you’d say no."

She pulled back, smirking. "Like I ever would. But, girl, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do."

After talking for a while, we were escorted to the main mansion by one of Alexander’s guards. Salley went to rest, but I had something else in mind.

I took my muffins to the kitchen, excited for Alexander to try them. Just as I finished setting them aside, I heard footsteps.

Peeking out, I saw Alexander walking in with a few men. Xavier wasn’t there, but another guy caught my eye—sandy brown hair, pale blue eyes. He looked young, early twenties at most.

"Oh, hi!" He grinned at me, his Italian accent thick. "You must be the girl who stole this wolf’s heart. Damn, you’re gorgeous. Might steal ya myself, you know."

I stiffened, feeling uneasy. His words were playful, but there was something sharp beneath them.

"Hi… I’m Emily."

The room fell silent. All eyes were on me. I shifted uncomfortably until Alexander came up beside me, placing a firm hand on my back, rubbing slow, soothing circles. His presence calmed me instantly.

The man smirked. "I’m Victor. Me and Alexander? We’re like brothers."

I hesitated before offering my hand for a handshake, but instead of shaking it, he pulled me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

"That’s how we greet in Italy, sissy," he chuckled, winking.

My cheeks flushed red.

Alexander’s grip on my waist tightened, his jaw clenching slightly. He didn’t say anything, but I could feel the tension rolling off him.

Dinner was served, and Alexander made sure I was seated beside him. His hand never left me, resting possessively on my thigh, rubbing slow circles. The dinner went smoothly, but I was eager for dessert.

Clearing my throat, I turned to Alexander. "Umm… I baked some muffins. Would you try them?"

He nodded, and I quickly went to get them. I also offered one to Victor, who took it eagerly.

"Damn, these are good," Victor said, taking another bite. "You sure you wanna keep her, Alex? I might just steal her after all."

Alexander shot him a warning look, making Victor chuckle.

But when Alexander finally took a bite, his gaze darkened. He swallowed slowly, his tongue swiping across his bottom lip.

"There really good, kotenok," he murmured. "I love them."

My heart fluttered.

I didn’t even realize I was staring at him until Victor cleared his throat.

"Umm… hate to break the moment, but can I have more?" he asked.

Flustered, I jumped up and got him another muffin.

After dinner, Victor left, and Alexander led me to the living room. Before I could react, he suddenly picked me up.

I gasped. "Alex—"

He ignored me, settling me onto his lap. His fingers tilted my chin up, making me look into his stormy gray eyes.

"Kotenok," he murmured, his voice deep and commanding. "Give me your hand."

Confused, I obeyed.

He pulled a small box from his pocket and flipped it open. My breath hitched.

Inside was a ring. Not just any ring—two diamonds, one square-cut, the other almond-shaped, set on a sleek titanium band. It was breathtaking. Expensive. A symbol of power and possession.

I stared at it, speechless.

Without hesitation, Alexander took my hand and slid the ring onto my finger. The cool metal felt heavy, grounding.

I swallowed hard. "It’s beautiful."

His gaze softened, filled with something close to adoration. "I’m glad you like it, kotenok. But you’re not to take it off. Understood?"

I nodded, my fingers curling against his chest.

Something shifted between us in that moment. I wasn’t sure who moved first, but before I knew it, my lips were on his.

Alexander tasted like smoke and mint, dark and intoxicating. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer until I was straddling him.

The kiss deepened, his tongue sliding against mine, claiming me. He laid me flat on the couch, hovering over me.

I moaned into his mouth, completely lost in him.

And just like that, I knew—no matter how much I tried to fight it—I was his.



The ring:

Author’s Note ♡♤♡

Hey, beautiful souls! ♡

Thank you for stepping into this dark, twisted world. This isn’t your typical love story-Alex is dangerous, Emily is trapped, and their obsession is anything but simple. Love and destruction walk hand in hand here, so buckle up because it only gets darker from here. ♤

Drop a comment & let me know your thoughts—I love hearing from you! ♡♤♡

Much love.