He folded Spar blood. Still, he grinned through it. "You're nothing but a weak link." he growled. "I'm going to kill you today, you fucking freak!" My fist disagreed. The room spun with motion. Broken breath. Scuffling boots. Grunts and snarls and the dry scent of rage. I was all ready to turn it all towards the end when suddenly something slipped from a pocket. It hit the floor with a soft thund and rolled around. Something round. Black. Something familiar, a smell. No. I froze. I knew that smell. My eyes widened as I bent down, heart lurching. I plucked in from the cracked floor, squeezed it open and the scent nearly knocked me to my knees. My heat. That scent mixed in cologne. The one Ronan wore. The one that made everything worse. That made my body scream for things I couldn't have." This berry's smell exactly. The one that made my body betray me. The one that made me ache, burn, crave. This wasn't a coincidence. This was deliberate. I looked up. Reed. The bastard stood there, feigning confusion-but his lips twitched with something else. "You..." My voice came out hollow. Shaking. "You did this?" He blinked, feigned innocence. Cassius chuckled behind him. "Oh, now he gets it." Reed paled, just for a moment, then grinned. An ugly, victorious grin. "Yeah," he said. "I mixed ut. You were supposed to go into rut. Lose control. Parade your pathetic file self around the arena- naked, desperate, fucked senseless by Alpha Ronan because he was wearing it and should have been affected too and lose hus enses enough to understand gender and just fuck you." My chest constricted. And once my eyes met with Ronan's calm ones I realised he knew about this berry mixed in his cologne. You were supposed to be humiliated. Ruined. But you got lucky. It didn't work. Too bad." P. My whole body froze at the revelation and all I could see was them laughing. They thought I would go into rut but I actually went into heat. Their plan had actually succeeded and my whole future would have been ruined and sealed with the fate that my father had prescribed for me. I was about to lose myself, my existence and my everything. All because of...them. "You wanted to see my balls?" I murmured, voice disturbingly calm. I crouched and picked up a jagged shard of broken glass from the shattered window. Panic sparked in their eyes. "Hey hey! Fucker! What the hell are you doing?!", I straightened. "Now I want to have your balls..." I raised my eyes and smiled at them, "...in my hand," DANTE With one leg crossed over the other, I sipped my coffee, eyes fixed on the chaos unfolding across the Academy grounds. The bitter warmth coated my tongue as the taste lingered-rich, slow, and deliberate. A shadow loomed beside me. One of my wolves leaned in, his voice low against the shell of my ear. "The in-fighting has begun." A slow smile curved my lips behind the rim of the cup. "What a bad thing to do." I put it down, got up and walked away with a smile. In "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" by CrushReel, Zoe Hale takes a daring step by marrying Ashton Cross, a man under suspicion for her sister's mysterious demise. As their relationship evolves, hidden truths unravel, intertwining love and suspense in this captivating romance novel. Exploring the complexities of loyalty and deception, the story delves deep into Zoe's quest for justice while navigating the unexpected twists of her heart. The enigmatic bond between Zoe and Ashton unfolds against a backdrop of secrets and revelations, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each turn of the page. Set in a blend of romance and drama, "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" stands out for its intricate character dynamics and the seamless fusion of passion and intrigue. With every chapter, CrushReel skillfully crafts a narrative that immerses readers in a world where love confronts darkness, leaving them yearning for more. Discover the enthralling saga of Zoe and Ashton, available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in this unique tale that defies conventions and promises an unforgettable literary experience.