Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“H-Hexius!”
The closest room at that time had been the armory, and so he had taken her there, literally, and then after that, as an alpha would his mate. He had meant it to be her punishment, for being too damn distracting for his peace of mind, but as it seemed to always happen where Samira was concerned—it had just as swiftly backfired, and Hexius had been the one to lose control the moment he heard her whimper his name.
Even now, he was unable to put into words why everything she said and did hit differently. And what made it worse was how other people had started to take notice as well, such as what happened a few days ago when he paid a surprise visit to her workplace.
The studio where she and her friend worked was only half an hour away from L’Alliance, and his first impressions had made him question why anyone would sign up for such insanity. There were too many people rushing to and fro. Everyone was shouting. And in his extremely objective opinion, the director and producers could do well to be less demanding when it came to Samira’s work.
Could they not see that she needed a break from stunt work every twenty minutes? And what about her safety? She was human, dammit. There was not even a surgeon on site, no medical equipment on standby that could scan her for concussions or internal injuries if anything were to go south.
And when she had been asked to demonstrate a jump sequence three stories up?
Insanity.
It was fucking insanity, just like most of the crew and cast were equally insane, with how none of them seemed to understand the unnecessary risks she was taking. Human, dammit! She was human, and thus with fragile human bones that could shatter with just one mistake.
And to make matters worse, the actor she had been tasked to instruct had the unfortunate habit of standing a little too close, and when the boy had even dared to throw an arm around her shoulder and calling her his ‘buddy’—
Hexius had seen enough.
He reached for his phone, made a call, and ten minutes later, the director announced about a change in plans, and it would now be one of the actresses making the jump sequences and requiring Samira’s aid.
Such changes were not uncommon, and so it was business as usual for everyone.
Or at least that was what he thought...until he turned around and saw none other than Samira’s roommate standing behind him, a knowing smile on her lips.
“Did you have something to do with that?”
“That being what?”
But this only had Anastasia’s smile widening. “How cute. The Leopard King, of all men, is actually—”
Samira suddenly popped between them, water bottle in hand. “What are you guys talking about?”
The words had Hexius jerking, Anastasia laughing, and Samira looking at both of them like they had lost their minds. “What am I missing?”
His thoughts drifted to last night. They’d been in bed, and she’d been telling him some story—something about Anastasia teaching her how to play poker, or was it about the stunt coordinator who kept calling her “kiddo”? He couldn’t remember now.
What he did remember was how her voice had just...stopped.
He’d looked down to find her eyes closed, lips slightly parted, one hand curled against his chest like she belonged there.
He should have woken her. Made her more comfortable. Something.
Instead, he’d just watched. The way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks. The tiny furrow between her brows even in sleep. The trust it took to fall asleep mid-sentence with a snow leopard king.
“Love you,” she’d mumbled, not quite awake.
His chest had felt too tight. Too full. Like something was trying to break free from behind his ribs.
He’d kissed her forehead—the first time he’d done that to anyone—and pulled her closer, her warmth seeping into him like she could thaw centuries of cold.
Tomorrow, he’d told himself. Tomorrow I’ll figure out what this means.
Except tomorrow was now today, and he still didn’t have answers. Just this persistent ache in his chest and the knowledge that she’d somehow become essential to his existence in a way that terrified him.
Assez avec ces souvenirs! Enough with these memories!
The conference room where Etienne Hirsche was currently waiting for him was only a few steps ahead, and it was time to stop fantasizing about Samira and start thinking of someone with a pack to protect.
The Caro prince was already on his feet when Hexius entered, and the two men briefly shook hands.
“As neither of us is keen on wasting time...” Etienne handed him the contract L’Alliance had drafted. “All the conditions we’ve agreed on are there.”
A mixture of emotions gripped his heart as he read the contract one last time. Upon finding out that Samira had sought refuge in L’Alliance, he had known right away that he had a choice to make. He would either have to fight his way inside...or pay the price for safe passage, which this contract was all about.