When she agrees to accompany her half-sister for a weekend in a charming country house, Élodie has no idea that these few days will transform her life. And yet... As soon as the attractive alpha Julien Duval smiles at her, an inexplicable shiver runs through her body: could he be the man of her dreams? This feeling intensifies when he kisses her passionately... Unfortunately, the dream turns into a disaster. A few weeks later, when Élodie discovers that she is expecting a child, Julien reveals an unexpected side of his personality and demands that she become his wife. Destabilized, Élodie finds herself facing a dilemma: can she really build a life with a man who seems to be hiding disturbing truths? What secrets does he hide behind his seductive allure?
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
Elodie was not particularly enthusiastic about the idea of spending a weekend in a country house lost in the countryside. She had been invited by her half-sister Clara, and although she was insistent, Elodie had initially tried to refuse. Social obligations often stifled her, especially when it came to intruding into Clara's circles of influential friends, people she barely knew and from whom she felt, for the most part, a complete stranger. But Clara, with her sparkling energy and her insistent gaze, had managed to convince her, as always. "It will be different this time, Elodie.
A real getaway, you'll see! »
So, after a winding road which had taken them further than Elodie would have imagined, they had arrived at the country house. It was a large stone building, isolated, surrounded by thick forests. The places were picturesque, but Elodie could not get rid of this feeling of unease which invaded her at each new stage of their arrival. She felt both excited and nervous. The soft lights that illuminated the windows could not erase the somewhat sinister atmosphere of the place.
Clara pushed her into the large dining room, a bright smile on her face. "Come on, relax. Everything will be fine. »
Elodie agreed without much conviction, taking one last look out the window where the evening light mingled with the shadows of the forest. It was then that he entered the room.
Julien Duval. He didn't seem like a man who paid any particular attention, but as soon as he walked through the door, something in his attitude, in the way he carried himself, silenced all the noise around Elodie. He had this silent presence, this natural authority, which made him a man difficult to ignore.
He greeted her in a simple manner, but his piercing gaze did not leave her from the moment their eyes met. A shiver ran through Elodie's skin, and she quickly looked away, as if to protect herself from something she couldn't define. But the attraction was there, palpable. Julien Duval was not simply an Alpha. He was a magnetic man. He had this quiet confidence about him, a charm that didn't need words to be felt. Her gaze rested on Elodie for a moment, and she felt a gentle pressure on her heart, a strange attraction that she could not explain.
"You must be Elodie," he said finally, in a deep, soft voice. "Clara has told me a lot about you. »
She smiled, trying to appear indifferent, but her heart was beating harder in her chest. "Yes, it's me," she replied, her voice betraying slight hesitation.
Clara, as if to break the tense atmosphere that had set in, quickly intervened. "Elodie is not a big fan of large social gatherings, but she will eventually get used to it. Julien is a long-time friend. »
Elodie didn't need to hear more to understand that Julien was not just a friend. His attitude, his look full of innuendo, everything about him betrayed a certain authority, an almost palpable power. He wasn't just a charismatic man; he also seemed to have a certain power over others, an ability to dominate them without even wanting to.
The evening passed in quiet conversation, punctuated by laughter and futile discussions. But Elodie couldn't get rid of the feeling of being observed, of being the object of an insistent gaze. Julien was never far away, and every time he laid his eyes on her, a shiver ran through her skin, as soft as a warm breath. She concentrated on her food, on the discussions around the table, but nothing seemed to be able to distract her from this mysterious look that penetrated her.
Dinner ended, and as everyone got up, Julien took a step towards her. "Are you coming for a walk with me? » he asked in a voice that seemed almost whispered, but so insistent, so direct.
Elodie hesitated. A mixture of envy and apprehension clashed in his mind. She knew she shouldn't have accepted. But something, an invisible force, pushed her to follow him. "I...I guess so," she replied, her voice barely audible.
They stepped out into the cool of the night, their footsteps sinking into the slightly damp ground. The light from the street lamps was gradually fading behind them, and darkness enveloped the forest. The tension between them was palpable, a kind of inexplicable connection that Elodie couldn't understand.
"You look nervous," Julien remarked, his eyes bright in the dim light.
"I'm not nervous," she replied, but she wasn't convincing. She didn't have the courage to admit to him that, in one way or another, he had this power to disturb her thoughts. "It's just... it's a little strange, isn't it? I mean...I don't really know you. »
Julien suddenly stopped, turning towards her. "There are things we don't always have to understand. Sometimes you just have to let life guide you." He took a step towards her, closing the distance between them, and the gaze he fixed on her was as intense as a burning fire. "You haven't to understand. You just have to feel."
Elodie felt her breath catch. She took a step back, but before she had time to react, he had already grabbed her by the waist, pulling her against him. The contact of his body against hers made her shiver. She should have pushed him away, but something, an insane desire, prevented her. Their lips brushed against each other, then found themselves in a fiery kiss. Julien didn't give him time to think. His mouth was hot and urgent, and Elodie, surprised by the intensity of what she felt, let herself be carried away.
The kiss intensified, each movement, each breath, transported her into a whirlwind that she didn't know how to stop. Her hands were lost in his hair, and she felt her legs give way beneath her. She clung to him, and it was at that precise moment that she understood that her body could no longer do without this irresistible attraction.
When they separated, both panting, Elodie had difficulty catching her breath. Her eyes met Julien's, and for the first time, she saw something dangerous in his eyes, a flame that she had not seen until then. A heavy, unsaid silence settled between them, and Elodie, her heart beating, realized that this kiss, as captivating as it was, left a strange feeling of worry, a presentiment that she could not ignore. .
"You have no idea what you've just unleashed," Julien said, his voice becoming deeper, more authoritative.
Elodie looked at him, confused and troubled. "What do you mean? »
He stared at her for a moment, his gaze seeming to probe her, before responding, "I mean it's too late now. You are involved. »
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