Stella had that foolish human who refused to release her, despite her having left him years prior; he was still attempting to persuade her into a marriage. One that, from his observations, her father also desired.
However, his Stella was resolute and determined; she had declined and truly intended to uphold her decision. She desired no association with that foolish man and had fled from him and her family, mirroring Brianna’s actions.
He contemplated whether that was the connection that united the women and also questioned if Stella had ever observed Layla on the surface. It was a potentiality. They had collaborated for several years. He was unaware of the extent of Brianna’s control or the nature of Layla’s temperament.
Despite Layla’s advance and growl directed at Ryder that day in her studio, he found himself exceedingly intrigued by the incident. Since few mates would exhibit overt aggression towards one another, he was uncertain whether her rejection was legitimate. No one had determined that at this juncture; they still needed to resolve it, likely prior to any further developments.
Upon arriving in Toronto, neither he nor Ryder had slept at all. Luca and Enzo, conversely, slept soundly, while Nolan was aware of the concerns he and Ryder faced. No plan of action existed at this juncture. Identify Brianna at her hotel and proceed from that point. That concludes the information provided thus far.
Their knowledge of Brianna Dieng’s hotel was derived from tracking her credit card, prompting them to reserve a penthouse suite in the same establishment for all four individuals. Both he and Ryder required rest prior to approaching either of their Mates, as their fatigued, restless wolves would likely assert themselves and claim what they perceived as theirs, disregarding the potential repercussions.
Nolan could not permit Oscar to approach Stella at this juncture, as he had already escaped from Nolan in a fit of anger over her departure. He had intended to mark her in his wolf form that day, an action that would have been highly inappropriate.
Oscar remained discontented that she had fled and was particularly displeased that she had traversed half the globe to escape them. Was determined not to allow her to escape once more. Although she may be human, she was unequivocally his, and he was resolute in his determination to retain her.
Regardless of whether she remained human after being Marked, Oscar maintained that she was his Mate, and he desired her. Only Nolan had been with her that night. Oscar had predominantly maintained control but had not advanced to checkmate her.
He was aware that his wolf was highly aggressive and could potentially harm her. Once she was Marked, her circumstances would change; if she fully embraced them, her body would also accommodate Oscar and his wolf’s desires, irrespective of his roughness, and she would derive pleasure from it.
He had no interest in humans; they were not his preference, nor that of his wolf. However, Stella drove them to madness; from the moment he kissed her, they craved her like the very air necessary for survival.
He gazed at his reflection in the hotel bathroom mirror; having showered and cleansed after their extensive journey, he appeared fatigued—an unfamiliar sight for him. The absence of her presence was beginning to exert its toll. He required his Mate returned to his embrace.
Stella’s Perspective
Stella awoke to six missed calls from her father and groaned in annoyance upon noticing three calls from an unidentified number on her phone’s screen.
The three calls coincided with her father’s. It was also a number with the Denver area code.
She had indeed deactivated her phone after departing the family estate, aware that her father would attempt to contact her, either to press her regarding Miguel or, following the incident with Carlos, whom he had introduced himself to her father, to ascertain the circumstances of her life.
Stella sighed and gazed at the phone’s voicemail service, which indicated that there were currently nine voice messages to be heard. She decided to listen to them in the order they were received to grasp the context accurately.
The initial voice message was from her father, insisting that she return home without delay to provide an explanation. Precisely what transpired.
Miguel approached him to convey that he had been informed she and Carlos were scheduled to marry in approximately nine weeks.
Stella gazed at her phone in utter disbelief; she had not made that statement and had informed her father that Carlos was inconsequential to her. It was evident that he had observed the man’s excessive attention towards her. After she intervened in the escalating conflict between Carlos and Miguel, she remembered that Carlos had physically removed her from the family ballroom. But from where had he acquired the notion of marriage? She was unaware and questioned what nine weeks entailed.
The second voice message was likewise from her father. He appeared significantly more composed in this message, merely requesting that she contact him to discuss Carlos, possibly attempting to persuade her to return his call. The man perfunctorily apologised for raising his voice in the initial message he had sent.
The third message was from an irate Miguel, who asserted that her conduct during Valeria’s wedding was utterly unacceptable, and that if she continued such behaviour, he would no longer be inclined to marry her. Stella nearly laughed aloud; that foolish man still believed he could marry her, solely because her father had promised to facilitate it. It was never destined to occur.
Message four, her father stated, “Sienna, my dear, I believe I may have overreacted somewhat.”
Carlos seems to be a reputable and affluent individual, and I believe it is time for you to bring him home to formally introduce your fiancé to us. Your mother concurs with this as well.
“Please return my call, dear.”
