Shadows and Loyalties.
1277 Words
TAILA MIST.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” I complained when my gaze landed on Pierce’s back. He stood on the rooftop watching the city lights.
The cool breeze pressed his plain black shirt against his chest, outlining his abs above his ripped jeans. He tied his long hair into a ponytail. I noticed the multiple piercings along his ears and the dark tattoos running down his arms and across the back of his neck.
More piercings? Is he addicted to pain?
His claws extended as his gaze shifted to me with a faint frown.
“I thought you weren’t f*****g coming.”
As always, his arrogant tone was infuriating. I raised my middle finger at him as I walked closer. He smirked, returned the gesture, and grabbed my shoulder roughly.
“Don’t mess with me, Taila.”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t.”
We climbed onto the rooftop edge and leapt together. The harsh wind tore through us as we soared down the towering building.
I laughed wildly, exhilarated. “I love this! This is so much fun!”
Below, rogues waited. Our claws tore into them the moment we landed. Pierce handled most of them, ripping limbs with frightening precision. In battle, he became someone else, ruthless and terrifying. After the bloodshed, we retreated to a luxury hotel to wash off the rogues’ filth. Each of us booked the most expensive suite available.
Fresh from my bath, I slipped into my nightwear and went straight to Pierce’s room. He never locked doors, too sure of his own strength.
He sat on his crimson bed in a white robe, legs crossed, phone pressed to his ear. His damp hair clung to his face, and a towel draped over it. He had scattered papers around him.
“Bring her up here in an hour,” he said into the phone. “Yeah. Blonde. Yeah. Send her up as soon as she arrives.” He hung up.
“How do you get a woman so fast?” I crossed my arms. “You’ve been here less than a day and you already want to f**k?”
Pierce didn’t look at me, flipping through his papers. Of course, he ignored me. He always got women without effort, as if s*x was his second nature.
“Looks like you’ve got too much time on your hands,” he muttered, clicking his pen before scribbling notes.
“What are you doing?”
“None of your f*****g business.”
“Whatever.” I sighed, sitting beside him. “I want you to check something.”
“And what’s that?”
“The contract.”
“We’ve been over this.” He didn’t glance up. “I told you that once the company signs a contract, it is final. I warned you to read it thoroughly before agreeing.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you even listening to me?”
“I’m not deaf.” His pen scratched across the page.
“I’m not talking about a company contract. I mean Rose’s marriage contract with that bastard.”
That finally made his brows knit together. “Rose’s marriage contract?”
“Yes. The one with Jonathan.”
“Marriage contract?” He repeated, eyes closing in thought. Then he looked at me for the first time. “Who’s Rose?”
I blinked. “You don’t know Rose?”
“That’s why I’m f*****g asking.”
“She’s my best friend! How could you not know who Rose is?”
He shrugged, eyes back on his papers. “You’ve got a lot of friends. I don’t know them all.”
“I don’t have a lot of friends,” I snapped. “Rose is Jonathan’s wife. The Luna of the Mist Pack. How could you not know her?”
“Oh, Luna.”
“I can’t believe you. Seven years, and you don’t even know your Luna’s name? You’ve got to be joking, Pierce.”
“Go straight to the f*****g point. What do you want?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I want you to check the terms Jonathan added to her contract through his lawyer.”
“Why don’t you do it yourself?”
“Because I can’t. He’d never give the papers to me. But you, the lawyer, would.”
“Does Rose want to divorce Jonathan?” he asked suspiciously.
“No, she doesn’t.” I stood up from the bed.
“Then why are you so obsessed with her life?”
“I’m not obsessed—”
“Bullshit.” His eyes burned into mine. “You want to dig through her marriage contract. That is being obsessed.”
Why did he need to know everything? He is just pulling legs as always, isn't he?
“Listen, she’s not divorcing him. She just wants to—”
His phone buzzed. He answered immediately.
“Is that her? Okay, bring her upstairs to my suite.” He hung up and rose to his feet. “You need to leave, Taila.”
“Are you helping me or not?”
“No.” He stacked his papers neatly on the nightstand.
“Why not?” I stepped closer, groaning. “Please, Pierce. I need to know.”
His tone dropped cold. “Taila. Get out. Now.”
I hissed, slamming his door behind me. What a jerk.
Back in my room, I collapsed onto my bed.
I had promised Rose I’d help her. I meant it. She deserved freedom from Jonathan. She was the only one who had ever truly seen me, not the label, not the rumors. Just me. She was the first loyal friend I’d ever had. And I loved her for it.
I couldn’t count on Pierce’s support. He’d never agree to fight Jonathan alongside Rose. His ego would destroy her instead.
My name is Taila Mist. I’m an Alpha, twenty-seven, same as Rose. I don’t love talking about myself. What is there to say? I grew up in a broken home, shaped by betrayal.
Our father was barely around. Jonathan, Pierce, and I grew up with nannies and bodyguards. Our mother left us for another alpha. I never saw her again.
Although Pierce and I shared the same father, we had different mothers, and somehow, that made us closer. Jonathan was never a brother. He was a bully. Power-hungry, egoistic.
Our father adored him for it.
Pierce was different. Difficult, yes. Arrogant, absolutely. But brilliant. Unbreakable. He built his own wealth, his own empire. And despite everything, he always gave me his shoulder when I couldn’t stand on my own.
Yes, he’s an asshole. But he has a heart, even if he hides it.
I met Rose seven years ago at the gym. She was breathtaking, her scent unmistakable, an omega that alphas craved. No wonder Jonathan became obsessed with her.
But beyond her beauty, she was kind. Naïve, too trusting, too emotional. That vulnerability drew me to her. It made me furious to see people take advantage of her, to see her cry in that enormous, lonely house with no one beside her.
Sometimes, I wanted to abandon everything, just to be with her, to keep her safe.
Poor girl. She deserved so much more.
We all piled into the black van early that morning and claimed our seats. Pierce plopped down by the window and rested his head against the glass.
“What’s up, Pierce?” I teased, nudging his shoulder with a grin.
“Don’t touch me.” Shades on, eyes closed, completely ignoring me.
“You look tired,” I giggled. Couldn’t help it. I loved messing with him.
- Writer
