VIOLET SWAN.

꘎♡━━━━━━━♡꘎

I feel my whole body trembling from the rush of sensations crashing through me. My heart pounds so hard it feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest any second. His intense blue eyes lock onto mine with that challenging stare that makes it impossible to look away without looking like a fool. If I buckle under his dominance, I’ll lose the last shred of control I have left.

I’m such an idiot for letting this happen—but I can’t help it when he uses that voice—the one that doesn’t just command me… it owns the scared little wolf inside me. His lips trail down my neck, my back pressed against the cold wood of his desk, and all I see in slow motion are the papers scattered on the floor.

“There’s nothing I want more right now than to make you mine,” he murmurs before kissing me again—and I feel his fingers graze my bare skin. The cold AC hits me, sending shivers through my body until I’m trembling like jelly.

“That’s never gonna happen,” I try to push back as hard as I can—but deep in my chest, I feel scratches, like my inner wolf is clawing to break free and let herself be devoured.

“Your body says otherwise,” he smirks, low and dangerous.

“N-no, don’t touch me… g-get off me,” I plead, trying to sound firm—but shock takes over, and my voice shakes more than it holds steady.

“Get off you?” A wicked grin spreads across his lips as he deliberately flashes his fangs. “Go ahead, Violet. Show me how you’ll get me off.”

Aarón knows he has power over me—that’s why he pushes me like this. And his closeness makes my legs wobble. That’s what pisses me off the most—he makes me feel like a fool who could fall into his claws at any damn second.

*You promised you wouldn’t let him do this to you, Violet. What happened to that promise?*

I press my hands against his bare chest to shove him away—but he gives me that icy glare that freezes my pulse and stops my weak little movements dead.

“I’m leaving this place,” he says, and the mocking smile from a second ago vanishes from his face.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he challenges—and now more than ever, I’m dead set on making him eat those stupid words. I lunge forward, but my moment of bravery gets cut short when he snatches my wrists.

“I’ll say this one more time, Swan,” he says, licking his lips slowly.

“I don’t care,” I struggle.

“I’m the only one who gives orders here…”

“Get the hell off me, damn it, Aarón!” I scream so loud my throat burns—but I don’t care. Let him finally understand I want out. A whimper of pain slips out, and if I were a full wolf, this wouldn’t even register. But being half-human? It leaves me raw. And Aarón knows it—that’s why he loves twisting me like this. “Enough… it h-hurts,” I whisper—and this is my lowest point.

Just minutes ago, I swore I’d make him pay for every humiliation. I gathered every ounce of strength to break him—and now here I am, begging him to let me go.

Then, out of nowhere, a flicker of something soft crosses his face. He releases me. Presses a kiss to my forehead. Brushes the sweat-soaked hair from my face.

“Sometimes I forget you’re a fragile little cupcake,” he says—and this time, his smile is real. No sarcasm. No mockery. Just… kindness. “Violet,” he murmurs my name—and my skin prickles, my cheeks burning red.

“What…?”

“Leave,” I blink, confused by the sudden shift. How dare he kick me out like I’m nothing?

I force myself to stand, refusing to think about what just happened on his desk—how he claimed me, took me to heaven with his hands, made me touch the stars… only to drag me back down and burn me alive in his fire.

I yank my skirt up as best I can—and when I see my blouse and bra torn to shreds, I grab his shirt in a huff, wrapping it around my waist like a shield.

“Violet…”

“No!” I snap, euphoric, locking eyes with him. The courage I lost floods back—and this time, I don’t hold back. “I hate you so much, Aarón. I despise everything about you. You’ve turned my life into a fucking hell, and I won’t take it anymore.” He steps toward me—but I back up two steps faster.

He’s still naked—and he doesn’t care. Modesty isn’t his problem. But I won’t fall for his charm again. Not after my weakness landed me here—humiliated, exposed, broken.

“I’m not going to—”

“Shut up!” I cut him off. “If you hate me so much, you should’ve just let me die in that river!”

I don’t give him a chance to answer. I scoop up his shirt and my shoes and walk out with stiff, determined steps—even though my legs shake so bad I feel like I might collapse face-first on the floor.

When I reach my desk, I grip the edge to keep from falling. I bite back tears, but I still feel every kiss, every touch, every brush of his skin seared into mine.

Then I feel it—eyes on me.

I scan the room. Everyone’s staring. Among my coworkers, I search for Lanny—but I curse silently, remembering she and Layla went for coffee. Without looking at anyone, I head straight for the exit.

I step into the elevator and bite my lip hard to keep from crying—only to find Kate, Aarón’s sister, standing there, staring at me in confusion.

I know exactly why.

It’s my look—the tangled hair, the oversized shirt that barely covers my thighs, the way I’m clutching a man’s shirt that reeks of him. If I were her, I’d stare too. Yeah… I look like a goddamn mess.

“Miss Swan, are you okay?” Kate asks, stepping closer.

I want to scream. Tell her everything her damn brother just did to me. But I swallow it. Talking to her might only make things worse.

I shake my head without a word.

“Don’t worry, everything’s fine,” I say, stepping forward to slip past her—but the second my foot hits the hallway, she grabs my hand.

“Violet, wait,” she says, not letting go. “Did Aarón do this to you?”

“Please, Miss Connor, just let me go,” I beg, throat tight with unshed tears.

I hate how sensitive I am. I hate being the girl who falls apart instead of standing tall. I loathe this weak, pathetic version of myself. My vulnerability makes me sick.

“Listen—I know this screams my brother’s name, and I won’t let him keep doing this to you—”

“Enough, please!” I yank my hand free and clutch my bag like armor. Kate looks at me with pity—but I don’t want her pity. Not from her. Not from anyone. “I don’t want empty promises you won’t keep. I get it—he’s your brother. And I’m just some stranger in your world.”

I’m grateful when the elevator doors slide shut, cutting off my humiliation.

꘎♡━━♡꘎

AARÓN CONNOR.

꘎♡━━━━━━━♡꘎

She slams the door behind her—and yeah, it’s better this way.

Good thing I always keep spare clothes in my office. I get dressed, then let out a slow chuckle remembering my little cupcake walking out wearing my shirt. Not only is she soaked in my scent—but fair’s fair. I did rip her blouse and bra to pieces.

“Perfect. You’re a damn fool, Aarón,” I mutter, sinking into my chair and glaring at the wreck I made by fucking her right here. “What a fucking disaster.”

I glance at the folder Violet left behind, flip open the contract—and a bad feeling coils in my gut. I try to focus, but it’s useless. All I see is us on this desk, tangled together, her scent flooding my senses.

So I leave the papers where they are—what’s left of them.

Just then, the door bursts open without a knock. I roll my eyes as Kate slams it even harder than Violet did. Her face is pure fire—but honestly? I don’t give a shit. I can do whatever the hell I want. And I already know why she’s pissed. I don’t need her reminding me I’m an asshole to my she-wolf. I know.

“You haven’t learned a damn thing, Aarón,” she snaps, arms crossed. Sometimes she forgets who’s alpha and who’s beta in this family. “Are you even listening to me?! You said you wouldn’t hurt her, you said—”

“I know exactly what I said, Kate—for fuck’s sake, I know!” I snap back, sick of her lectures. I’m not in the mood, and she’s just pissing me off more. But then I remember—she and Grandma Rossi are the only ones I give a damn about. So I soften my tone. “What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“Don’t play dumb—I’m not stupid,” she fires back. “What the hell happened in here, Aarón?!” She gestures at the mess. “Don’t tell me you…”

“If you already know, then leave me alone and stop pretending you don’t,” I say, brushing her off.

She glares at me, furious—but I stay quiet. Let her rant if she needs to.

“You’re completely wrong, Aarón,” she says, shaking her head. “I’m staying with Grandma Rossi for a few days—and I wanted to ask for some time to…” She trails off. I know that look. She’s holding something back.

I know my sister too well.

“Did you come here just for that?” I raise an eyebrow. She’s hiding something. This isn’t just a random visit.

She takes a breath, then flashes that pretty, knowing smile.

“How do you always know?” She drops onto the couch, crossing her legs like she owns the place. Pointless to pretend—we’re siblings. We feel each other.

“Just say it, Kate. I’ve got work to do,” I say, patience wearing thin.

“Ari, Ari…” she sing-songs in that childish voice she hasn’t used in years—and just like that, I know she wants something.

“The truth is…” she hesitates, then blurts it out: “I want to take Violet with me.”

I freeze. Then glare—wiping that smile right off her face.

“Sister, I’m not like our mother,” I say, jaw tight. “And unlike her, I know how much she means to you. But don’t stand there acting like everything’s fine. I see it—you’re destroying yourself, and you’re dragging her down with you.”

“She’s not getting away from me,” I say, voice low and final. “I’m not letting her go, Kate.”

“Aarón…”

“I’ll tell you the same thing I told Mom when she offered the same damn thing,” I cut her off. “I’m. Not. Letting. Her. Go.”

“You’re such a stubborn bastard.”

“Yeah, I am. And she stays by my side.”

“To hurt her?”

“That’s my fucking problem!”

“Perfect!” She stands up fast, pissed. Good. I want her gone. “I hope you don’t regret this, brother,” she says, hand on the doorknob. “I hope you don’t end up regretting what you’re doing.”

She leaves without another word.

I take a deep breath, biting back curses.

But deep down? I know she’s right.

♡━━♡

The hours drag by—painfully slow—but I made sure Violet got home safe. I always keep her under my watch. I cleaned up the mess I made in here… and I’d do it a thousand times over if it meant having her as mine again.

A knock at the door pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Come in.”

A redhead steps inside—immediately looking down when our eyes meet, cheeks flushing. Same old story. Women can’t handle me. Blackbell’s secretary is cute, I’ll give her that—but my attention snaps to the folder my wolf brought in. I’m still torn on whether to greenlight this project, but I grab a pen anyway.

“Mr. Connor, I wanted—”

“I know why you’re here,” I cut her off. I stand, grab the folder, and hand it back. “Tell Kody his terms don’t convince me—and neither does his timeline.” I don’t have time for this bullshit, but I’m not naive. Being young doesn’t mean I’m an idiot—and half this paperwork is full of holes.

“Sir…”

“If he wants my signature, he works by my rules,” I say flatly. She ducks her head again. “Tell him he won’t get it until he makes the changes I’ll email him.”

She takes the folder and leaves with a stiff nod.

What’s with that look?

Then I catch my reflection in the monitor—and realize my shirt’s unbuttoned, chest bare… and pink marks stand out against my pale skin.

My she-wolf left her claim.

“Violet…” I taste her name like a prayer. Part of me wants her as my moon—consequences be damned. But then I remember the fallout… and curse the day I ever pulled her from that river.

Kate’s words echo in my head. Yeah, Violet would be safe with her. But I wouldn’t sleep a single night knowing my cupcake was far from me.

And that? That’s something I can’t accept.