Her Boyfriend Cheated So She Claimed Her Fiance's Alpha Billionaire Father | Werewolf Romance

PR I never planned to fall for James Prescott. Let's back up three months ago. I was just another girl, stupidly in love with her college boyfriend and mate, Alex. And I had the whole thing: matching posts, Friday date nights, inside jokes that made our friends roll their eyes, the works.

Then I walked in on him with his tongue down some blond's throat at Jake's party. Funny how your whole world can implode between one heartbeat and the next. One second I'm bringing Alex a drink, the next I'm standing there like an idiot, watching him feel up Katie freaking martinz against the hallway wall. The worst part? He didn't even look sorry, just gave me this annoyed look like I'd interrupted something important.

I spent three days in bed after that: ice cream, rom-coms, the whole cliche breakup package. My roommate Sarah probably thought I was losing it. Maybe I was. But on day four, something clicked. I was done crying, done feeling worthless, done letting Alex think he could just toss me aside like yesterday's news.

That's when I saw it. The popup advert to the Prescott Industries networking gala staring at me on my laptop screen. The one Alex's dad sends every year to keep up appearances with the scholarship students. James Prescott. Billionaire. Alpha. Alex's father. Father. I stared at the invitation, running my finger over the embossed letters. Something hot and dangerous unfurled in my chest as I remembered how Alex always got weird whenever I talked to his dad, how he dragged me away the second James walked into a room. The perfect way to make Alex hurt the way I hurt.

I'd never gone to one of these things before, always made excuses because Alex hated seeing me play dress-up at his dad's events. But now? Now I had a different game in mind. I RSVP'd yes before I could chicken out. What I didn't count on was James himself. I wasn't prepared for the way he'd look at me that night, like he could see right through my designer dress to all the broken pieces underneath. Wasn't ready for how his hand would feel on my back, or how his voice would make my skin tingle. I wanted revenge. Instead, I got something else entirely. They say Karma's funny, but maybe, just maybe, Karma wears Italian suits and knows exactly how to make a girl forget why she came looking for trouble in the first place. This is how I accidentally fell for my ex's dad. And trust me, it's about to get messy.

Chapter 1

I was lying on my bedroom floor, watching as my mascara ran down my face and onto my favorite shirt, thinking about what a complete idiot I was. Everything hit different now. Every time Alexander kissed me, every "I love you," every promise that I was his only one, it was all BS the whole time. He was with her. Katie, my supposed childhood neighbor and my friend. Yeah, you heard right. Alexander was my destined mate, and we have been together for three years now. When I caught them, they didn't even try to hide it or act sorry. Alexander just stared at me with this blank face, like he couldn't care less, and Katie, she just gave me this pitying look, like I was some random person she felt bad for.

I ran out of there before they could say anything, stumbling through the hallway and into the night like a zombie. My whole world crashed in like two seconds, and now here I was, sprawled on my floor, feeling empty and stupid and so freaking mad I could scream. I picked up my phone with shaky hands and scrolled through our old pics. All these fancy dates and dinners where I looked at him like he hung the moon. My blood boiled seeing Katie and half of them smiling and laughing like she wasn't planning to stab me in the back the whole time. My head was spinning, my heart going crazy every time I remembered what I saw.

But after hours of just staring at my ceiling, something changed. The hurt turned into something colder and sharper. I was done being the sad ex-girlfriend, done feeling like an idiot. I wanted payback. A few days later, the idea hit me, slowly building up with every memory of Katie's fake friendship, every replay of Alexander's cold stare, like our whole relationship was just in my head. Then it clicked. James Prescott. Alexander's dad. Not just rich, like stupid rich. The kind of guy whose name was basically a brand in the pack. Everyone at Alexander's work kissed up to him, and Alexander talked about him with this weird mix of hate and jealousy. I remembered the few times I'd met James, how he'd looked at me with this intense stare that made my stomach do flips. I always thought he was really cute, too. He wasn't just a tall glass of vanilla milkshake; he was so muscular, you would think he was 25. Then this crazy idea popped into my head, making my heart race. What if I got James to notice me? What if I could make Alexander feel that same gut punch he gave me?

I sat up, suddenly wide awake, as the plan started coming together. It wouldn't be hard to run into James again. He was always at those fancy business parties I used to go to with Alexander, and his company had these networking things every month. If I played it right, I could see him pretty soon. I spent days stalking social media and event pages, looking for the next Prescott Industries thing. Finally found it: some mixer in two weeks. I knew Alexander would skip it because of work, but James would definitely be there. Those two weeks were torture. Every night, I'd imagine seeing him, practice what I'd say, plan my outfit. I finally decided on an expensive-looking red body-hugging dress. Thankfully, I had the right figure for it. I was going to be subtle but unforgettable. But as it got closer, I started freaking out, like, what if he sees right through me? What if he knows I'm just using him? But I was still so angry, and that pushed me through the fear. Alexander and Katie broke me, and now I was taking my life back, whatever it took. Out of you were in my shoes, wouldn't you do the same?

Finally, networking night. I put on the beautiful dress and added some red lipstick. Looking in the mirror for the first time since that night, I didn't see some pathetic mess. I saw someone in control. Walking into that ballroom was surreal. People talking, glasses clinking, the whole fancy vibe. I looked around until I spotted him: James Prescott, standing at the other end of the room, talking business with some people. Tall, broad shoulders, totally owning the room without even trying. My stomach did this weird flip thing again. But then he turned, and our eyes met, and I knew I had to do this. I walked toward him, trying to look confident. Right before I got there, this older lady stepped in front of me, giving me this "who do you think you are?" look. "Can I help you?" she asked with this fake-nice smile. She was just about to ruin my night. "Oh, um, I wanted to say hi to Mr. Prescott. I know his son," I said, keeping my voice steady. She looked me up and down like she knew exactly what I was up to, but she just nodded and moved aside.

James looked up as I got closer, and damn, that same electric feeling hit me again. "Mr. Prescott," I said with a smile. "Didn't expect to see you here." His eyes had this hint of amusement. "Nice to see you, miss." "I... I said we met at Alexander's work dinner last month." He nodded, definitely remembering. His voice was smooth as butter. "Ah, yes, you're Alexander's ex." "I cut in, probably sounding more bitter than I meant to. He raised an eyebrow, looking interested. "Ex?" he repeated, like he was testing out the word. I nodded, holding his gaze, really feeling the pressure of what I was about to do. "Let's just say it ended badly." "Did it now?" he asked, his face giving nothing away. I had no clue what was going through his head, and it made me nervous. But I forced a smile, channeling all my confidence. "Can I buy you a drink?" I asked, tilting my head slightly with a seductive smile routine I found online. James stared at me for what felt like forever, like he knew there was more to this than I was saying. But then he nodded. "Of course, Ella. Let's talk." He led me to this quiet corner away from everyone else. My heart was racing as I walked with him, feeling like everything was about to change. But I had no idea just how much this plan was going to blow up in my face.

I walked with James to a quiet spot in the ballroom, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it everywhere. Each step made it worse until I had to remind myself to just breathe. This was what I wanted, wasn't it? I came here to catch his attention, to show him I wasn't just Alexander's ex. We stopped at a small table in the back, and James turned to look at me up close. He was even more stunning. Those gray eyes seemed to see right through me. "Have a seat," he said, gesturing to a chair. I sat down, smoothing my dress and crossing my legs, trying to look as confident as I'd practiced at home. He didn't sit, just leaned against the table with his arms crossed, watching me. "So," he said calmly, "what brings you here tonight, Ella?" The question threw me off, but I managed to smile. He really wanted to go straight to business. "Just networking. Thought it might be interesting." "Really?" he kept staring, not breaking eye contact, like he was trying to catch me in a lie. There was no way a college girl was interested in something like this, and I admit it was pretty boring for a moment. I felt my confidence slip. He knows. I pushed the thought away, leaned back, and crossed my legs like he was doing. "Maybe I just needed a change, you know? Like a fresh start." Something changed in his expression, like I'd caught his interest. "A fresh start?" he repeated, like he was thinking it over. "Is that how things usually go with Alexander?" My jaw clenched when he mentioned Alexander's name, memories flooding back. "Not usually," I said carefully, not wanting to say more. "But I guess you know that." He nodded slowly, his face blank. "My son tends to leave chaos behind him." His tone was cold, making me wonder how much he really knew about Alexander's mess-ups. "I'm guessing you didn't come here to talk about him." His question was direct, no way to dodge it. My confidence wobbled again, but then I remembered why I was here. This was my chance. I needed to win him over, make him see me as more than just another girl Alexander had hurt. I leaned in, letting myself smile a little. "No, I didn't come for him. I came for myself." James kept staring. "And what exactly do you want?" I held back all the things I wanted to say, giving him a look that was part mysterious, part challenging. "Maybe I wanted to see if what they say about you is true." His face didn't change, but I caught a tiny hint of amusement in his eyes. "What do they say?" "Just that you're someone who gets what they want," I said smoothly, "and doesn't settle for less." He kept looking at me, and I almost got lost in the tension building between us. "So, you think you know what I want?" His voice was quiet but challenging, making my heart race. I shrugged, trying to seem cool even though I was nervous as hell. "I know you like things done right," I said, hoping I sounded sure of myself, "and I'll work hard for people who get that." He thought about it for a while, still staring. Finally, he nodded. "All right. You're hired." It took a second to sink in. "Hired? Prescott Industries needs a new media strategist," he said simply. "If you really want a fresh start, here it is." I was shocked. This wasn't my plan at all. I came here to get his attention, maybe get close enough to make Alexander jealous, but a job? This meant seeing him every day. "I... I don't really have much experience in media," I admitted, suddenly unsure. He just raised an eyebrow. "Then I guess you'll have to prove yourself. Isn't that what you wanted? A fresh start?" I nodded slowly. This was different from what I planned, but maybe it was even better. Alexander would hate this, seeing me step into his world, working closely with his dad in a job he'd wanted. That thought made me smile. "Okay," I said, meeting his eyes. "When do I start?" James gave a small, approving smile and pulled out a business card. "Tomorrow, 8 sharp. Don't be late, Ella." When he handed me the card, our fingers touched briefly. It sent shockwaves to my brain, and for a second, I forgot everything I'd planned to say. He was watching me closely, like maybe he felt it too, but his face gave nothing away. "Thanks, Mr. Prescott," I said, standing up and putting the card in my purse. Reality was starting to hit me, but I kept my head high and looked him in the eye. "I'll be there." As I turned to leave, I could feel him watching me with that same intense look from when we first met. I made myself walk away without looking back, feeling weirdly excited. This was more than I'd planned for, but I knew I couldn't back out now. As I walked out, pulling out the annoying heels I had on all evening, I started having doubts. James Prescott was powerful and intimidating. Getting close to him wouldn't be easy, and the closer I got, the more I'd have to be honest with myself about why I was doing this. This job, this chance to be around him, was it just about revenge? I took a deep breath to steady myself. Tomorrow, I'd find out.

Chapter 3

I got to Prescott Industries early the next morning, trying to keep my cool even though I was super nervous inside. The lobby was packed with people who didn't even notice me as I headed for the elevators, holding on to James's business card like a lifeline. The executive floor was all glass walls and fancy decorations, totally social media-worthy. A woman at the front desk looked me over curiously when I walked up. "Need help?" she asked, friendly but kind of distant. "Yeah, I'm here to see Mr. Prescott. He just hired me," I said, hoping my voice wouldn't shake. Her eyebrows shot up, and I could tell that she was surprised, but she nodded and made a quick phone call. "He's waiting for you," she said, pointing down the hall. "Just go straight ahead."

I walked down the hallway, my heels clicking on the freshly polished floor. My stomach was doing backflips, but I couldn't chicken out now. This was my shot to make Alexander squirm, seeing me work so closely with his dad, the guy he'd been trying to please his whole life. I knocked on the door, my heart running and leaving me behind. "Come in," called a deep voice from inside. James was at his desk when I walked in, looking at some papers. When he looked up at me, it felt like he could read my mind. He had this way of staring that made me nervous. "Ella," he said, motioning to a chair. "Have a seat." I sat down and tried to look chill, but being in his office made everything feel so real and kind of scary.

"Your job here will cover a lot of different things," he started, straight to the point. "We'll give you some smaller duties first, and if you're as good as you say you are, we can talk about bigger projects." I nodded, trying to look focused. "Got it, Mr. Prescott." "Let's skip the formal stuff," he said, watching me closely. "Just call me James." "Sure, James," I said, felt weird saying his first name. He handed me a folder about some new app they were launching, something for business people to connect remotely. I tried to focus on reading it, but I could feel him watching me. "I want you to look at our current plan and tell me how to make it better," he said. "I need that report by the end of today." "I'll start right now," I said, my throat dry. He seemed happy with that and pointed to the door. "Your office is down the hall. Rachel will show you where." I left and followed Rachel to my new office. It wasn't huge, but it was nice. Lots of books about marketing and leadership on the walls, and a sweet desk by a big window overlooking the city. It was just perfect.

I had just started looking through the folder when someone knocked. I looked up, and there was Alexander. My heart jumped when he walked in. He looked sharp in his suit, but instead of his usual smug smile, he looked shocked and maybe something else. "Ella?" he said, sounding surprised and annoyed. "What are you doing here?" I felt a little thrill seeing him so thrown off, and I made myself smile. "I work here now. James gave me a job." He squinted at me. "Since when? And since when did you call him James?" "Just yesterday," I said casually. "He thinks I'd be good at media strategy, and I think so too." Alexander's jaw got tight. He was obviously trying not to lose it. "So, you just decided to work for my dad?" I shrugged like it was no big deal. "Why not? It's a great job." He stared down at me. "Ella, this isn't a game. Trust me." "I shot back, probably too sharply. "I know exactly what I'm doing." We just looked at each other for a minute, the tension super thick. I could tell how mad he was, and honestly, it just made me want to push harder. He had no clue why I was really here. Finally, he spoke. "Fine," he said coldly. "But don't think you can play my dad like you're trying to play me." Then he walked out, leaving me there with my heart pounding. His words stung, but they just made me more determined. He thought he could scare me, but he didn't know what I was capable of.

I spent all day working on that report, giving it everything I had. It was almost 6 when I finished, and the office was pretty empty. I grabbed my stuff and went to James's office, feeling nervous but excited. When I knocked, he called me in. I walked up to his desk with the report. "Here's what you asked for," I said. He looked through it thoughtfully for a few minutes, then he looked up at me with those intense eyes. "Nice work, Ella. You clearly did your research." I felt proud and met his gaze head-on. "Thanks, James. I'm glad you like it." He nodded, closing the report. "Looking forward to seeing what else you can do." I didn't know why my mind immediately began thinking that he was talking about other things that weren't work-related. Maybe something more, and my heart started racing. This was exactly what I wanted, but the longer I looked at him, the more I felt this weird pull. This was supposed to be about getting back at Alexander, but standing there with James, I couldn't deny there was something else going on, something I didn't really understand before. Before I could think about it too much, he spoke again, his voice low. "Be here at 8 tomorrow. We've got lots to do." I nodded, feeling the weight of what he said. This was just the start, and I knew I was in way deeper than I'd planned. Walking out of his office, my mind was spinning with all the possibilities and risks ahead, but one thing was clear: I wasn't backing down now.

Chapter 4

I got to work really early the next morning, feeling pretty good about myself. I kept thinking about all the ways getting close to James could help me. Sure, seeing Alexander freak out yesterday was fun, but that was just the start. I wanted him to see how close I was getting to his dad, then he'd really understand what he'd done to me. When I got to my office, I found a note on my desk, written in fancy handwriting. "Stop by my office at 10. Project review. JP." I smiled and pocketed the note, feeling excited. At exactly 10, I went to his office. The moment I walked in, I could feel him watching me. He looked up from his desk and waved me over to sit. As I sat down, he leaned forward, looking at me with those gray eyes that always made me a bit nervous. "There's a fancy party tomorrow night," he said quietly. "A Prescott thing. I need you there to talk about our new media strategy, and as my plus one." I tried to stay cool, even though my heart was almost jumping out of my mouth. A formal event, just us together? "Yeah, of course, I'll be there." He kept looking at me, his expression hard to read. "I've never seen you at a fancy event before, Ella. You'll need to bring your A-game." I blushed but smiled back, ready for the challenge. "Trust me, you'll be impressed." He nodded, looking satisfied, and went back to his papers. "Good. We'll leave at 7 sharp. For now, I need you to handle the client presentations for the new app we're building. Can you do that?" "Yeah, definitely," I said, keeping my voice steady even though I was super excited inside. This wasn't just busy work; he was actually trusting me with something important. I wasn't going to mess it up. This dinner was my chance to make my move.

The day flew by as I worked on the presentations, my mind jumping between those and thoughts about the party. I kept picturing Alexander's face when he saw me with James, imagining how jealous he'd be when he realized how close I'd gotten to the man he'd always tried to be like. When I showed up at the office the next evening in a tight black dress, I felt really confident. I was ready to make everyone notice me, not just James, but everyone there. I wanted to show them all I was bigger and better than Alexander. James's face changed the second he saw me. There was something in his eyes like he was impressed, maybe even into me. "You look amazing," he said quietly, holding out his arm so I could slide mine in. "Ready?" I took his arm, my heart kept thudding as we walked into the party together. I hoped he didn't notice everyone got quiet for a second and turned to look at us, whispering to each other. I could see Alexander staring at me from across the room, and it just made me hold James's arm tighter.

All night, James and I worked the room like we'd been doing it forever, talking to clients and investors, totally in sync. It felt awesome being next to him like this, knowing Alexander was watching. As I laughed at everything James said and stood just a bit too close while we were talking to some executives, someone grabbed my elbow and pulled me away from James. I turned and saw Alexander looking super pissed off. "Ella," he said under his breath, "we need to talk." I didn't try to hide how much I was enjoying this as I let him lead me to a quiet corner, pretending to be surprised. "What's wrong, Alexander?" He glared at me, looking frustrated. "What are you doing with my dad?" "Working with him," I said smoothly, tilting my head and giving him a smile that hurt his little ego. "Isn't that what you wanted?" He grabbed my arm harder, and I could feel how tense he was. "This isn't a game, Ella. I told you yesterday. You don't know what you're getting into." "Oh, I think I do," I whispered, smirking, "and by the look on your face, it's working." Before he could say anything else, I pulled away and left him standing there fuming. I walked back to James and slipped my arm through his again, confidently this time, so I couldn't feel my heart pounding. James raised an eyebrow, looking back at Alexander, who was watching us with a look that could kill. "Anything I should know about?" I just smiled, feeling mischievous. "Nothing important." He looked at me for a while with a little smile. "Well, I don't like distractions," he said quietly. "I prefer staying focused. That is how I became a billionaire, Ella." His words gave me chills, and I felt this crazy connection between us that felt dangerous but exciting. He leaned closer, not breaking eye contact, and I wondered if he could see through my act. "Want to dance?" he asked softly. I certainly wasn't expecting that, and he caught me completely off guard. "Yeah," I managed to say. As he led me to dance, I knew everyone was watching us, especially Alexander, but I pushed that thought away, focusing just on James, on how smoothly he moved, his hand light on my back. His touch gave me butterflies, and I felt some organs of mine close and open again. We danced perfectly together, getting lost in the music and the feel of his touch. At one point, he leaned in close, his lips right by my ear. "You keep surprising me, Ella." I looked up at him, my heart beating faster. "I like keeping people guessing." He kept looking at me, and for a second, I forgot all about my plan, about Alexander, about everything except how intensely he was looking at me. His eyes were so beautiful, and his lips... his lips. Just then, someone grabbed my shoulder, snapping me back to reality. I turned and saw Alexander standing there again, looking more upset this time. "Ella," he said tensely, "we need to talk now." James held my hand tighter, and I could feel the drama stirring between them, like they were sizing each other up. Alexander glared at James, jaw clenched, and I could feel how angry and jealous he was, like it was weighing down on me. But before I could say anything, James stepped up, his voice calm but firm. "I don't think she needs to explain anything to you, Alexander. Leave her alone." The words just hung there like a challenge between them, and I felt a rush of excitement. This was exactly what I wanted: to see them both fighting over me, each trying to win. And for the first time in a while, I felt like I was in control.

Chapter 5

You could practically feel the bad blood in the air on the dance floor as James and Alexander faced each other. James kept his cool, but Alex... Alexander looked like he was about to lose it. "Alexander," I said quietly, "not here." "Okay," but he didn't budge. Instead, he turned to James, barely holding back his anger. "What are you even doing with her?" he asked, keeping his voice down but sharp. "She's my..." "James cut in, speaking softly but with an edge, "because from what I know, you lost any right to say that a while ago." Alexander's jaw got tighter, and his fists clenched. I felt a rush seeing James stick up for me, doing what Alexander never did. Real talk, I'd never felt more alive than right then, standing between them, knowing I'd caused all this. "James, please," I said softly, touching his arm. "Let's not make this into something bigger." He looked down at me, his expression softening for a split second before turning back to Alexander. "Ella can make her own choices," he said, like that was the end of it. "If you can't deal with that, maybe you should go." Alexander just stared at him for a moment, looking both pissed and hurt. "I thought I'd feel good about this, but seeing him realize what he'd thrown away, it hit differently than I expected." He stepped back, looking between me and James like he was trying to figure it all out. "Is this what you wanted, Ella?" he asked super quietly. "To make me look stupid? To mess me up?" I took a deep breath, trying to find the right way to say it. "I wanted you to see what you lost," I said quietly, "but you did that yourself, Alexander. I'm just moving on." His face got hard, and he nodded like he was accepting that this was his fault. Without saying anything else, he walked away, leaving James and me alone in the middle of the dance floor. James looked down at me with a little smile. "Well, that was interesting." I laughed shakily, still feeling amped up. "I didn't think you'd defend me like that." "I can't stand people who don't appreciate what's right in front of them," he said, looking at me intently, "especially when it comes to you." His words hit me hard in a way I hadn't expected, and I felt this crazy tug between us that had been building since we first met. The way he was looking at me made my heart jump, and for a second, everything else just disappeared. "James," I whispered. He moved closer, his eyes locked on mine. "You deserve better, Ella. You deserve someone who knows what they have and wouldn't ever let go." The way he said it, the way he looked at me, it was more than I'd planned for. I came here to make Alexander jealous, to prove something, but standing here with James, I realized my plans had changed into something real, something I couldn't ignore. Before I could overthink it, I leaned in and kissed him softly, testing the waters. He didn't hesitate, putting his hand on my face and kissing me back with a kind of energy that sent shivers through me. Right then, I forgot about Alexander, about getting even, about everything except how it felt to kiss him, to feel his touch. When we pulled apart, my face was burning, but I stayed close. James's eyes were dark and longing, filled with something I couldn't quite figure out. He smiled a little, running his thumb across my cheek. "Didn't see that coming," he said playfully. I laughed, feeling something warm and cozy grow inside me that had nothing to do with revenge. "Yeah, me neither." He chuckled, his expression getting softer. "It's been a minute since anyone surprised me like that." I started to say something back, but another voice cut in, cold as ice. "Well, isn't this sweet." I turned around, my stomach dropping as I saw Alexander standing there, looking hurt and angry. I thought he'd left, but clearly, he hadn't gone far. "Alexander," I started, but he put his hand up to stop me. "Don't bother, Ella," he said tightly. "Message received." He looked at James, his eyes hard and accusing. "Nice work, Dad," he said, super bitter. "Guess she was just waiting for an upgrade, then." He walked out, looking a little sad, or a mix of different emotions, leaving me feeling empty inside. I'd wanted to make him jealous, to make him sorry for what he did to me, but now, standing here, dealing with the fallout, I wasn't sure if I'd gotten what I wanted or if I'd just made everything worse. James took my hand, bringing me back to Earth, and I looked up at him, feeling better, seeing how steady he was. "You okay?" he asked quietly. I took a shaky breath and nodded. "I think so." He squeezed my hand, looking thoughtful. "I know this is rough," he said softly, understanding in his voice, "but if you need someone to talk to, I'm here." His words made me feel at peace with myself. It was weird falling for my mate's father. I didn't know how to feel. For the first time, I felt like I was with someone who really saw me, got me, and liked me for who I was. As the music started up again, he pulled me close, and we started dancing. I let myself get lost in it, in how it felt to be in his arms, feeling more peaceful than I had in forever. But as I rested my head on his shoulder, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over, that what Alexander said when he left was just the start, like a warning of what was coming next, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for this father-and-son war, or whatever that might be.

Chapter 6

I was back at work the next day, my head still spinning from everything that happened last night. I couldn't stop thinking about kissing James, but Alexander's words kept bugging me, turning my satisfaction about getting even into something that didn't feel so great anymore. I'd barely sat down at my desk when my phone lit up with Alexander's name. My stomach dropped. Part of me wanted to ignore it, let him deal with being mad on his own, but another part, the part that used to love him, that still remembered our good times, couldn't help it. I picked up, keeping my voice steady. "Hey, Alexander." He was quiet for a while before speaking shortly. "Meet me at the cafe downstairs. We need to talk. Now." I paused, my heart speeding up. "Is this about last night?" "Just come meet me," he said, softer now, almost begging. Please, Ella. Even though I knew better, I said yes, feeling like I needed to face him one last time to end whatever this was. When I got to the cafe a few minutes later, he was in the corner, looking stressed. He looked up when I walked over. "Thanks for coming," he said, sounding a little stressed out. "I know I probably don't deserve your time after everything, but I need to tell you something." I sat down, folding my hands together, trying to stay calm. "I'm listening." He looked away, his jaw tight. "Last night, seeing you with my dad... it made me realize a lot of things I didn't want to admit." I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep it together. "Like what?" He let out a big sigh, slumping down. "I screwed up, Ella. I didn't appreciate what I had, and I know it's probably too late, but I'm sorry. Can we fix things?" His apology caught me off guard, cutting through my anger and leaving me feeling puzzled. I hadn't expected him to say sorry, not like this, and I didn't know what to say back. This was what I wanted, well, kind of. "What would you have wanted?" He was all, "I've ever wanted." I know I'm dumb, but I still loved him. Maybe our bond was still messing with me. "But James... why now?" Alexander, I asked quietly. "Why say sorry now, after everything?" He looked down at his coffee cup, fidgeting with it. "Because I can't handle losing you. Not to him. Not to my own dad." I saw something in his eyes I'd never seen before. He looked desperate, lost. Part of me wanted to reach out, forgive him, believe he changed, but the other part, the part that remembered all his lies, held back. "It's not that easy," I said, my voice shaky. "You hurt me bad, Alexander. You broke everything between us, and now you want me to what? Forget it all because you're jealous?" He flinched, looking down. "I don't expect you to forget. I just want you to know I still care about you, that I never wanted to hurt you." I shook my head, feeling angry and sad at the same time. "If you cared, you wouldn't have done any of it." He reached across the table, putting his hand on mine. It felt familiar, like old times. "I'll... please, one more chance. Let me show you I've changed." I looked at him, feeling torn. I'd spent so much time hating him, planning how to get back at him, but now, with his hand on mine, I remembered a bit of what it felt like to love him, what brought us together in the first place. But then I thought about James, how strong he was, how kind, how he stood up for me without expecting anything back. He was different, reliable, someone I could trust. Right then, I knew I couldn't go back, couldn't let Alexander's sorry fix what he broke. I pulled my hand away, shaking my head. "I can't, Alexander." "I've moved on." His face got angry, his eyes dark. "To my dad?" he sneered bitterly. "Is that what this is about?" I felt frustrated, getting tired of this. "No, Alexander. This is about us, about how you treated me, how you took me for granted." He laughed without humor, leaning back. "You really think my dad's any different? You think he cares about you, Ella? You're just a game to him, another way to mess with me." His words hurt more than I wanted them to, making me doubt things I'd been trying not to think about, but I pushed those thoughts away, staring him down. "Maybe he is, or maybe he sees the real me, not just your ex." Alexander's face fell, and for a second, I saw a hint of the guy I used to love, but it didn't last, and he stood up, his face getting cold. "Just remember, Ella," he said, ice in his voice, "you're playing with fire, and you're going to get burned." He walked out, leaving me sitting there with my heart racing. His warning stuck in my head, making me feel uneasy. Back at work, I tried to focus, but his words kept bugging me, making me doubt everything. I wanted to believe James was different, that he really cared, but Alexander's accusations wouldn't leave me alone. Later that day, as I was finishing up, James came to my office, and just seeing him made me feel better, ready to head out. "Ready?" he asked with a nice smile. I tried to smile back, nodding. "Yeah, almost done." He looked at me for a minute, frowning slightly. "Everything okay?" I hesitated, Alexander's words still bothering me, but looking at James, seeing how he cared, I felt stronger, ready to leave the past behind. "Yeah," I said quietly, "all good." He smiled, fixing my hair. "Great. As I was thinking, maybe we could go somewhere this weekend, just us." My heart jumped at the idea of being alone with him, away from work drama, away from Alexander's accusations. "I'd like that," I whispered. He leaned in, looking at me softly, and for a second, it felt like we were the only people around. But just as he was about to kiss me, the door opened, and I heard that voice I knew too well. "Why do I keep seeing this?" I pulled back, my heart pounding, as I saw Alexander in the doorway, smirking with something dangerous in his eyes. He looked different, colder somehow, and it freaked me out. "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound calm. He shrugged, smirking more. "Just stopping by. I wouldn't want to miss seeing how your little relationship is going." James held my hand tighter, glaring as he stepped forward. "If you don't have a reason to be here, Alexander, get out." Alexander looked between us, clearly enjoying this. "Oh, I have a reason," he said quietly but threateningly. "You think you know her, Dad? Think you're the only one who's got her figured out?" He reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone, smiling bigger. "Let's just say I've got some secrets, and you're not going to like what you see." He held up the phone, his thumb ready to tap the screen, staring me down like he was daring me to stop him. My heart was racing, and I felt sick as I realized whatever he was about to show could wreck everything I'd worked for, everything I'd fought to get. Right then, I knew Alexander hadn't been making empty threats. I was standing on the edge, and I had no idea what was waiting at the bottom.

Chapter 7

Alex stood there with his phone held up like a trophy, and my stomach instantly knotted up. That stupid smirk on his face made me want to throw up. James squeezed my hand. Goddess, I needed that, but I could feel how tense he was too. "Cut the crap, Alex," James said, keeping his voice steady even though I could tell he was pissed. "Whatever you're trying to pull here, just stop." But Alex just kept grinning like he'd won the lottery. There was something scary in the way his eyes lit up, not the good kind of excitement, but the kind that makes you want to run. "Oh, you might want to rethink that, Dad," because he glanced at me, and my heart stopped. "Because what I've got here changes everything." When he turned his phone around, I promised the floor disappeared beneath me. Photos. So many photos. Me and James hanging out, talking, living our lives. And there was last night's kiss, right there on his screen. My skin crawled knowing he'd been watching us, stalking us, collecting these moments like some creepy hobby. "What's the matter, Ella?" Alex's voice stripped with fake concern. "Shocked? I just thought you'd want to see how committed I am to this little project." My hands were shaking, but anger burned through the fear. "What the actual hell, Alex? Like, seriously, what do you think this is going to do for you?" Something in his face changed then, like a storm rolling in. "Why? Because you were supposed to be mine, Ella, and now you're screwing around with my dad?" He let out this laugh that made my skin crawl. "Yeah, that's not going to work for me. I will show this to the entire Council. Who knows, there'll be other miners for you to screw. For the goddess's sake, Alex, grow up!" James snapped, and I could feel him fumbling with rage next to me. The fake smile dropped from Alex's face, pure hatred replaced it. "Oh, that's rich, coming from you, Mr. Perfect Dad, swooping in to steal his son's girlfriend. How long were you waiting to make your move, huh?" "I don't owe you any explanations," James said, but I heard the slight shake in his voice. It hit me then, how much this was hurting him too. My heart was going crazy, but watching Alex try to hurt James gave me a sudden surge of courage. But before I could say anything, Alex turned those cold eyes on me. "Tell me something, Ella. Was this your master plan? Hook up with Daddy Dearest to get back at me?" "That hit like a slap to the face. God, you really can't handle not being the center of attention, can you?" I shot back, my voice stronger than I felt. "News flash: this has nothing to do with you. I'm with James because I want to be, because he actually sees me as a person, not a possession." For a split second, Alex looked like I'd punched him, but he recovered fast, his face twisting into something ugly. "Whatever helps you sleep at night," he spat, "but if you think I'm just going to sit back and watch this little romance play out..." he waved his phone again, "let's just say these pics might find their way to some interesting places." James's arm went around my waist, protective but gentle. "You really want to play it this way?" he asked Alex quietly, "because I promise you, son, this won't end well for anyone." "Guess we'll find out," Alex said with a shrug, but his eyes were burning. He turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him. The second he was gone, my legs turned to jelly. James caught me before I could fall, pulling me against his chest. I buried my face in his shirt, breathing in his familiar scent – cologne and coffee and something just him. It helped, but my mind wouldn't shut up. "He's really lost it, hasn't he?" I whispered against James's chest. "Like those photos? He's been following us, watching us. Who does that?" James's fingers ran through my hair, and I felt his side deep in his chest. "He's throwing a tantrum because he can't control you anymore. But I won't let him hurt you, Ella. I promise." "I want to believe that's all it is," I said, pulling back to look at him. My eyes were stinging, but "you saw his face, James. This isn't just some jealous ex thing. He looks at us like... like he wants to destroy us." James cupped my face in his hands, and the love in his eyes made my throat tight. "Then we'll face it together. Whatever he throws at us." I nodded, trying to hold on to that warmth, that safety I felt with James, but I couldn't shake the dread sitting heavy in my gut. Alex wasn't done with us, not by a long shot. That darkness in his eyes, the way he'd looked at us, this was just the beginning. Standing there in James's arms, I realized something terrifying: Alex wasn't just hurt or angry anymore. He was dangerous, and somehow, I knew that before this was over, he'd make us both pay for falling in love.

Chapter 8

That weekend, we went on our getaway anyway. Somehow, James used his influence to control the media, and we were fine. James and I were at this nice restaurant, sitting in a corner table with some candles lit. The place smelled amazing, like spices and fresh bread. I loved how James looked at me, like I was special, making me feel so important. "I'm really happy we're here," I said while drinking my wine. "It feels perfect, just us enjoying each other's company after all the drama with Alexander." James smiled. "Same here. I missed hanging out like this." We were laughing and talking, and for a minute, I almost forgot about everything. Alexander seemed like ancient history compared to what I had with James. Then, everything went south. "Ella," I heard someone say, and my heart stopped. There was Alexander, standing at our table with this smug look on his face. Why was he so obsessed? "Can I join?" "What are you doing here?" I asked, feeling sick of him already. James rolled his eyes next to me before glaring back at Alexander. He was already tired of his back and forth too. "We're kind of in the middle of something," he said. "Oh, really?" Alexander smirked, leaning on our table like he owned it. "I think you both need to hear something. Someone has been lying to you, and it's time you knew. I didn't want to tell you, but I have to." "What are you talking about?"

I snapped as my heart did a thud, looking nervously at James, who seemed confused and angry. Alexander pulled out a folder and dropped it on the table. "Show him what you've been up to. Let's see how he feels about your little plan."

"Alexander, stop!" I begged. "Don't ruin this, please."

"Ruin what?" he cut me off, opening the folder to show texts, pictures, and emails. "He needs to know why you're really dating him."

James looked at the papers, his face falling. "Ella, what's this?"

"It's not what it looks like," I said, panicking.

"Alexander's lying," James said.

"Lying?" Alexander laughed. "My father should know that you were just using him to get back at me. Look at these messages. Your friends think it's hilarious. You told everyone you were going to make me feel bad."

James looked crushed. "Is that true?"

"I was mad," I tried to explain. "I thought hurting him would help me feel better, but that was before I got to know you. Before you fell for him."

Alexander rolled his eyes. "Please, you never loved him. This was all just revenge."

James wouldn't look at me. "Were you just using me?"

"Not anymore," I said, getting teary. I didn't even care about the staring eyes in the room. "I love you, James. I never meant to hurt you. You changed everything for me. What I feel is real."

But James was already doubting everything. "How can I trust you? You've been lying the whole time."

"Please," I begged. "People change. I didn't plan on falling for you. It just happened."

"You don't get to play," Alexander said coldly. "You caused this mess. I'm just letting him know the truth."

James stared at me blankly. "I can't deal with games like this."

I started crying. "James, I know I messed up. I was hurt and scared, but my feelings for you are real. Please believe me. I want to be with you."

He stood up. "I need space. This is too much."

"James, wait!" I reached for him, but he backed away. "Don't go."

But he left anyway, leaving me there with Alexander gloating. "Have fun explaining this one," he said, enjoying my pain. "You played games, and now you lost."

I stood there, frozen, hearing everything around me but feeling numb. James was gone, and I'd ruined my chance. I turned to Alexander, angry now. "You think you won? Whatever, I'm done letting you control me. Yeah, I messed up, but I'm not your puppet anymore."

He stopped smiling. "So now you're acting tough?"

"I'm not acting," I said firmly. "I'm finally living my life my way, and you can't control me anymore."

I walked out into the night with no direction in mind, trying not to cry as cars ran by. I wouldn't let Alexander win. I had to find James and explain everything, but first, I needed to believe in myself, that I was capable of his love. Walking down the street under the city lights, I made myself a promise: I'd fight for James, no matter what. I had to show him my love was real, no more games, just honesty.

Chapter 9

The days after James left felt like pure hell. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. All I could think about was how Alexander had ruined everything. But I wasn't going to let him win. James was worth fighting for, and I had to prove my love was real. I kept replaying our best moments in my head like a broken record: his laugh, the way he'd surprise me with coffee in the morning, how he'd text me random memes that made no sense but still made me smile.

I needed a plan to win him back.

First attempt: the letter. I decided to write him a letter, not like a text or email, an actual handwritten letter. I spent hours on it, crossing stuff out, starting over, trying to find the perfect words to tell him how sorry I was and how my feelings had changed from wanting revenge to falling completely in love with him. My hands were literally shaking when I walked into his office building the next day. The receptionist gave me this sympathetic look when I handed her the letter. "Could you make sure James gets this? It's really important." She nodded, probably used to seeing people looking as desperate as I did. "Of course, I'll give it to him." I left feeling hope, but then my friend at the office, Brit, texted me: "Just saw James. He's not letting anyone visit him right now. He looks pretty messed up." Okay, there was no way he was going to see my letter then. My heart felt like it was being squeezed in my chest.

Temp two: the fancy dinner. I knew I had to do something bigger. I went all out: rented the whole rooftop of our favorite restaurant, got this amazing chef to cook all his favorite foods, even had someone set up these soft lights and music. I wanted it to be perfect. I showed up early in this black dress that I knew he loved, setting everything up with shaking hands. When I heard the elevator ding, my heart nearly stopped. James stepped out, looking shocked. "Ella, what's all this?"

"James," my voice was trembling so bad, "I just... I needed to show you how much you mean to me. Please, can we talk?"

But because the universe hates me, Alexander walked in right behind him, looking like the cat who ate the canary. "Wow, how romantic. But you really think this will work, Ella?"

James looked between us, and I could see the pain in his eyes. "Oh, I can't do this. It hurts too much."

"James, please," I begged, feeling my eyes start to burn. "This is all for you. I'm different now."

"Ella, this is sweet," but he glanced at Alexander, who was smirking, and I felt my stomach drop. Alexander laughed. "Come on, D, let's get out of here. She's not worth it." And just like that, James walked away with him. I stood there among all those stupid romantic decorations, feeling like my heart was being ripped out all over again.

Attempt three: the public move. I decided to go big, like really big. James's company was doing this charity thing, and I thought maybe if I showed him how much I cared in front of everyone, he'd have to listen. I got there very early and set up this booth. When people started showing up, I was so nervous I thought I might throw up. The second I saw James walk in, I grabbed the mic. "Hey everyone, can I have your attention?" People turned to look at me, and I spotted Alexander in the crowd, looking distraught, but I didn't care. "I want to talk about someone amazing. James, you've taught me what real love is. I know I messed up, but I'm standing here telling everyone that I'm sorry, and I want to be with you." Some people were smiling, others looked confused. James looked shocked but kind of touched. But of course, Alexander had to ruin it. "This is so sad, Ella. You think making a scene will make him love you?" James frowned. "Ella, this isn't the way." I felt so small watching Alexander lead James away again, like I was nothing.

Attempt four: the concert show. I still wasn't giving up. I found out about this concert James was really excited about and bought tickets. It was his favorite band from the '90s. I even pulled some strings to get backstage access. My heart was going crazy the whole time I waited for him. When I finally saw him walking down the hallway, I thought I might pass out. "James!" I called out, my voice bouncing off the walls. He stopped, and I could see him tense up. "Ella, what are you doing here?"

"Just give me one minute," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "That's all I need." He hesitated but nodded. "Fine. Make it quick." The music was thumping in the background as I tried to find the right words. "James, I've been trying so hard to show you how much I care. I know I hurt you. I was messed up and scared, but what I... I feel for you is so real. You make me want to be better. You make me better. You make me whole." And like clockwork, Alexander showed up, looking like he lived to ruin my life. "Dad, are you really going to listen to her? He was lying to you the whole time." James actually looked annoyed at Alexander this time. "Can you back off for a minute?" But Alexander just kept pushing. "Come on, you really think she's different? She used to get back at me, remember?"

"Stop!" I snapped, feeling everything boil over. "You're the one who hurt me first. You don't get to control my life anymore." James looked lost between us. "Ella, I just... I don't know if I can trust this." In total desperation, I turned to the stage and yelled, "Hey! I need to say something!" The whole crowd turned to stare. "James, you made me believe in love again. I'm so sorry for everything, but you need to know I love you." People started cheering, and I saw James crack a tiny smile. But Alexander just rolled his eyes. "This is honestly embarrassing." The music started up again, and James shook his head. "I can't deal with this right now, Ella." I watched him walk away with Alexander again, feeling like my heart was being shredded.

Attempt five: the big finale. I had one last shot. I knew Alexander would be at his dad's fancy corporate party, so I snuck in. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely hold my phone. I saw James first, laughing with some people, looking gorgeous as always. My stomach was in knots, but I knew what I had to do. I marched right up to where Alexander was showing off to his dad's work friends and grabbed the mic. "Can everyone listen up for a sec?"

"Ella!" Alexander looked like he was going to explode. "What the hell?"

"I'm here to talk about love," I said, looking straight at James. His eyes went wide. "I know I've screwed up. I've hurt people, but I'm done letting Alexander run my life. James isn't just some guy I dated. He's the reason I believe in second chances. He's the second chance the moon goddess has given me, and I'm not letting him go." People were whispering, and Alexander looked ready to kill me. "Ella, shut up! You're making a fool of yourself!"

"Making a fool of myself?" I laughed. "No, I think fighting for love is worth looking stupid, and you don't get to tell me who's being a fool and who isn't." I turned back to James, my heart pounding. "I love you so much it hurts. You deserve someone who'll never stop fighting for you, and that's me. I'm sorry for everything, and I want to show you how real this is." The crowd actually started clapping, drowning out Alexander's angry yelling.

James's face softened as he walked toward me. "You really mean all this? Every single word?"

"I'll do anything to prove it," I said, trying not to cry.

Alexander lost it. "You think you can just take him from me? You're pathetic, Ella!"

But then something amazing happened. James turned to Alexander, looking angry. "Stop talking to her like that. Ella's stronger than you think. You've hurt both of us, and I'm done with you in my life. I keep trying to push you to be better, but you're so, so useless." Everyone gasped, and I felt like my heart might burst.

"James," I whispered, hardly daring to hope.

"I've seen how hard you fought for us," he said, getting closer, and I want to believe you. I want us to have a real shot. I've always known you're my mate, Ella, but I was just a little too old for you." I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face.

"Really?"

He nodded, and everything else just disappeared. "When fate brought you to me, I had to take my chances. Let's take it slow, though, okay? No games, just us."

"Yes!" I practically squealed. "That's all I want."

Alexander looked like he'd been slapped. "Are you kidding me? You're choosing her?"

"I'm not just choosing her," James said firmly. "I'm choosing to be happy." Everyone started cheering, and I felt like I was floating.

The next few weeks were like something out of a movie. We went on random adventures, stayed up late talking about nothing, and slowly learned to trust each other again. Standing with him under the stars one night, I felt this crazy peace I'd never known before. "I'm so happy we're here," I said, leaning into him.

"You make everything feel right," he wrapped me up in his arms and kissed my forehead. "You showed me what real love is. All I'm thankful for you every day."

I grinned like an idiot. "Same here. We've been through so much drama, but I'm excited for what's next." Looking up at the stars, I knew this was just the beginning. No more revenge, no more games, just love. I finally understood that my past helped make me who I am, but it doesn't control where I'm going. James and I would build something amazing together, leaving all that toxic past behind. With him next to me, I felt invincible, and as the usual events went on around us, I whispered, "Here's to us." Because sometimes, love stories don't need fancy words. They just need to be real.