Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

-Maya’s POV-

Everything felt different after that moment with Ivan. I meant what I’d said. When he first confessed his feelings, I never imagined we’d be here. Sure, my

And it wasn’t just my personal life that was blossoming. I was thriving as his PA. Okay, there were certain activities that made me blush in hindsight, espe and thankfully Alex, who I had realized I was finally moving on from, had disappeared. No physical sightings in over two weeks. But the city was abuzz w in my own world, happy for the first time in a long time.

The twins were doing great. I still couldn’t believe I let them go to school, thanks to Ivan’s convincing. Part of me hated seeing my babies grow up so fas their play class. My friendships with Sarah, Riley, and Natalia had blossomed too. Everything was clicking into place, and then the unexpected happened

While my

life was finally peaceful, the war between my father and Alex had escalated to a whole new level. Humans had died. Finally, Ivan stepped in. As the mediator between the two, he pushed them to actually t both my father and Alex to attend.

I was ecstatic. A gala was something I’d always dreamed of experiencing. That’s why I was currently on a shopping spree with the girls- Sarah, Riley, an

Now, finding a dress that wasn’t ridiculously expensive or completely impractical for a werewolf was proving to be a challenge. We’d hit five stores alread

“Ugh,” I groaned, collapsing onto a plush velvet chair in the latest boutique. “This is hopeless. Maybe a gala isn’t such a good idea after all.”

Sarah knelt beside me. “Don’t give up yet. There has to be something in here that works.”

Natalia chimed in, “Maybe we should expand the search. Have you tried the high–end stores downtown?”

Riley added, “And maybe consider something a little less…restrictive? We don’t want you tripping over your dress during the night.”

I sighed. They all had good points. Maybe my dream of a flowing, elegant gown wasn’t exactly practical for a werewolf gala.

“Okay, new plan,” Iannounced, a determined glint in my eyes. “High–end stores downtown, and we’re keeping an open mind. No more Cinderella fantasies. We’re going for something functional and fabulous.”

The girls grinned, their shopping spirits rekindled. We piled out of the boutique, ready to conquer the next stop. This gala might be a gamble, but I was d and maybe even have a little fun along the way.

We left the boutique feeling a bit defeated but not discouraged. The high– end stores downtown were our next target, a fresh battlefield in the war against unpractical gowns

“Alright, I think we have held it in long enough,” Sarah started as we walked, “spill the beans. What’s really going on with you and Ivan?”

A blush crept up my cheeks, a traitor giving away the secrets my lips were trying to hold. It had been like this for weeks now. Ever since things had shifted betwe

particularly interested in the…aftermath, shall we say.

Just as I opened my mouth to deflect their questions, a voice chimed in from behind us.

“Can I help you ladies find something special today?”

We turned to see a tall, Impeccably dressed woman with a dazzling smile. Her nametag read ‘Evelyn, and she exuded art aura of quiet confidence that put me at ease instantly.

“Actually, yes,” Sarah said, stepping forward. “We’re looking for a dress for a gala.”

“A gala, how exciting!” Evelyn exclaimed, her smile widening, “What kind of gala is it?”

“It’s a werewolf themed gala,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. Of course I knew she wouldn’t actually think werewolves.

Her smile didn’t falter. “Interesting,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Not something you see every day. But that just makes it all the more special, wouldn’t

I nodded, surprised by her calm acceptance. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all. “Do you have any specific styles in mind?” Evelyn asked, gestu

“Well,” Natalia started, “we were hoping to find something elegant but also practical. You know, something that moves well.”

“Ah, I see,” Evelyn nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps a cocktail dress could be a good option? They offer the elegance you desire with the freedom of movement you need.”

Relief washed over me. Cocktail dress? Now that was an idea I hadn’t considered. Maybe it wasn’t the flowing gown of my dreams, but it could definitely

“That’s a great suggestion,” A genuine smile spread across my face. “Can we see what you have in mind?” Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Evelyn’s smile mirrored mine. “Absolutely. Follow me, ladies. I have just the thing for a night of werewolf revelry.”

The next hour was a whirlwind of fabrics, sequins, and stifled sighs. We tried on everything from sleek black cocktail dresses that clung to our curves a little too tightly to flow worthy. Each dress felt like it belonged on someone else, failing to capture the essence of who I was or what I wanted to project.

Discouragement started to settle in. Maybe the whole “dress for a werewolf gala” concept had been a bad idea. Maybe there was no such thing as a dre

Just as I was about to throw in the towel and declare defeat, my gaze drifted towards a secluded corner of the store. There, tucked away amongst a sea of jewel tones, hung a dress that seemed to call out to me. It wasn’t on a han

“What about that one?” I blurted out, pointing towards the corner.

Evelyn, who had been patiently shuttling dresses back and forth, turned to follow my finger. Her gaze lingered on the green dress for a moment before she gave a small shrug.

“Oh, that one,” she muttered dismissively. “It’s nothing special, really. Just a leftover from a previous season.”

There was something about the way she said it, so nonchalant, that piqued my curiosity. Leftover or not, the dress held a certain allure.

10:32 Sat, 22 Jun J

“Can I try it on anyway?” I asked, a flicker of hope igniting in my chest.

She hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Alright, fine. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up. It might not be your style.”

A few minutes later, I stood in the dressing room, the emerald green dress clasped loosely in my hands. It was lighter than I expected, the fabric a soft, lu itself was simple yet elegant, with a fitted bodice that accentuated my curves and a flowing skirt that fell just below my knees. But what truly stole the show was the color. The emerald green was unlike anything I’d ever seen before, rich and vibrant with a subtle hint of gold that seemed to catch the light and dance.

Hesitantly, I slipped the dress on. It fit like a dream, hugging my figure in all the right places without being restrictive. As I looked at myself in the mirror, a

The emerald green somehow complemented my coppery hair perfectly, drawing out the warm highlights and making my eyes appear brighter. It exuded

“Wow,” I breathed out, running my hands over the soft fabric. “This is it. This is the dress.”

A smile bloomed on Evelyn’s face, genuine and warm. “Sometimes, the most unexpected things turn out to be exactly what you were looking

for.”

“This is amazing.” I swirled.

Relief and excitement washed over me. After all that searching, all those failed attempts, I had finally found it.

The perfect dress for a night unlike any other.