Chapter: chapter 92One Month Later LYNEXIA The first peek of the morning sun through the window hit my face and I stir awake with a yawn. I sigh, extending my hand to the other side of the bed to find it empty. Of course, what am I even expecting? I reluctantly climb out of the bed, while rubbing the remnant sleep away from my eyes with the back of my hand. The soft pad of my legs echoes in the air as I slip out of the room, making my way to Felicity's room. I used to grumble about me and Felicity's morning routine before everything went down but now I very much enjoy it. After almost losing my daughter once, I now bask and cherish every single moment I spend with her. I guess the saying goes you value something that you have used. Felicity's soft snores reach me as I slowly creak the door to her room open. Her beautiful, innocent face brings a smile to my face before I step into the room. I settle on the edge of the bed, tucking the strands of her hair behind her ear. I watch her sleep
Last Updated: 2024-05-29
Chapter: chapter 91LYNEXIA The words have just left my mouth before Elena lunges at me. "Shut it." She explodes. "I'm about to fucking end your life so stop being pompous." "What?" I scoff. "Were you expecting me to fall on my knees and beg for your mercy?" I say. "Is that it?" She slaps me across the face, the look on her face sinister. I know I shouldn't push her since she can be so unpredictable but I don't stop. "Shut it," She roars at my face. "I hope my death brings you the utmost happiness and joy. You sick, pathetic loser—." I choke on my words as something sharp digs into my stomach. I wince as blind pain throbs through me. I look down to find Elena's claw deep inside of me. Elena smirks. I shock her by matching it with a scornful, tight smile of my own. "Let's get this over with." I grit my teeth, doubling over as she pulls her claws out of my stomach. Blood drips off the corner of my mouth as my stomach starts to leak. "You should have shut it when I asked you to." "Why do you eve
Last Updated: 2024-05-29
Chapter: chapter 90LYNEXIA An ache starts in the middle of my head as I groan awake. I blink, confused as an unfamiliar room that resembles a barn comes into view. As my head throbs harder and more vicious, I try to reach out my hand to grip it but my hand jerks back against a hold. Then I wiggle my body, including my hands and legs. They jerk against a hold painfully that I have to grit my teeth. The headache is so much I have to squeeze an eye shut as I turn my gaze down to look at the state that I am in. My hands are tied behind the wooden chairs I'm seated on and my legs are tied around the legs of the wooden chair. My back screams with pain as it is arched uncomfortably. Panic sets in as I realize the danger I may likely be in. Seraphina brought me here for what? Why has she kidnapped me? What have I done? What is her aim in any of this? I don't have the luxury to think of an answer as I wiggle my hands, trying to cut the bondage around my wrists. The chair scraps loudly on th
Last Updated: 2024-05-29
Chapter: chapter 89DIMITRI"What is this about?" I ask, my voice tight with curiosity as Zarek leads me away from the quarantine camp towards a lone building at the edge "I'm afraid you will have to hear it from the person herself." Zarek glances back at me before he focuses front again. "Hear about what? Who?" I press as we slip into the lone building. A woman whose face is obscured by a veil turns towards me. Before I can ask further questions, she pulls the veil down to reveal her face. "Julianne," I say. "What are you doing here?" Her chest rises and falls with deep breaths. "I may have a cure for the black plague." "You have a cure?" I repeat, my mind reeling. This can't be true. Julianne nods. "Yes." This time, she sounds assertive. "How?" I ask, not knowing how to react to this. "I have been thinking hard about why Gavin, I, and Lynexia didn't get infected even though we came in contact with black ink. I have been racking my brain this past—." "Get straight to the point." I cut her of
Last Updated: 2024-05-28
Chapter: chapter 88LYNEXIA"No." Dimitri cuts me off harshly as if he already knows what I am about to say. My mouth falls open in shock. "But what if I can provide the cure?" Taking up Elena's offer doesn't feel so bad though dying sends a shiver of dread through me. "Let me guess, you have to put your life on the line for it?" Dimitri's eyes flash in disbelief. I grip the hem of my shirt tightly. Deep down, fear gnaws at me, but to save these people, to make this place livable for those I care about, I'm willing to risk everything. "Yes. If that's what it takes.""No, so get over yourself and stop trying to play the savior." Dimitri jolts to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Dimi—." "Stop it with this your useless hypothetical theory. You are no savior and you don't have the power to be the messiah." His words cut deep but I know it's the panic talking through him. He shoves his fingers into his damp hair. "I didn't let you hate me for five years just to make you be a sacri
Last Updated: 2024-05-28
Chapter: chapter 87LYNEXIA In a span of two days, things do take a turn for the worse. Bodies ply upon bodies. The shadow pack territory becomes a ghost town compared to how vibrant it once was. The number of people tolled into the trainee complex which is now the quarantine camp increases exponentially. The air is thick with despair and the stench of death. The children have been taken away from the town to a safer place leaving behind the healthy werewolves locked up in their houses and the rest of us brave enough to watch over the infected. The drugs that were given to us by Alpha Henry are running out and our healers are hitting the wall about any cure or drug to reduce the symptoms. Reaching out to other packs is useless because word has spread and most of them wouldn't open their gate to us for fear of being infected. I don't blame, I would have done the same if I were in their shoes. As the dreadful moment passes at a slow, tormenting pace, my mind lingers more and more on Elena. The
Last Updated: 2024-05-28
Chapter: Epilogue Two years later. She did it. Finally, she was a certified interior designer. Today was another great milestone for her. With the help of the twins, her friend, Lola who couldn’t be here because she was several countries away And most especially her man. Who’d been with her through thick and thin. Whose loyalty never waver. Whose patience never ran thin. Whose love multiplied daily. Even when she moved across the country, to California, he’d followed her, he’d took charge, he’d been there for her. He’d stayed with her. He’d and made her take the backseat which she was very much pleased. He’d made her the happiest woman on earth. Her heart swelled with the ceremonial gown on her. “Oh my fu—“ Aiden’s exclamation was abruptly cut off when his eyes locked with hers. “Oh my.” He muttered under his breath. He’d become grumpier as he grew older. “What happened?” Amy’s puzzled gaze scanned the surroundings, searching for the cause of Aiden’s displeasure. A gasp escaped her lips, and she
Last Updated: 2023-12-05
Chapter: Chapter 71Ollie had been practically glued to her side. He hadn’t been apart from her for more than a minute. And that was a stretch. He followed her around the house like a lost puppy. Whenever she took a step, he was around by her side. “What did you want? What do I need to do? Where are you going?” He would say with so much love and care. She wasn’t complaining at all about his clinginess. As a matter of factly, she loved so much. She missed him so much. Now that he was finally with her, she was never going to let go ever again. Being with him felt like she could finally breathe. She was genuinely happy. She couldn’t explain the level of joy his presence alone brought to her. They’d been indoors for four days without a pint of curiosity for the outside world. It could be burning down and they wouldn’t even care. As long as they were with each other. During those periods, they’d caught up with each other’s life. They’d shared their deepest insecurities. They’d made love so many times. Th
Last Updated: 2023-12-05
Chapter: Chapter 70She was just out of the restaurant she worked part time when she bumped Rachel, Ollie’s step mother. When Rachel’s eyes met hers, the smile on her face broadened and Rachel instantly enveloped her into an embrace. “Isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” Rachel’s voice carried a warmth of genuine delight. June returned the hug. “It is.” As Rachel withdrew, she added, “How have you been?” “I’ve been good. Thank you. What about you?” June asked. “I doing well dear. What else can this old lady do?” a shared laughter echoed between them. “What are you doing here?” “I work here.” June answered, her eyes meeting Rachel wrinkled corners. Rachel said with a low hum. “I’m a regular here and I never stumble across you.” “I work the evening shift.” She’d switched shift with one of her colleague who’d pleaded with her. “Must be the reason.” Rachel said, her hand resting on June’s shoulder. “By the way, I heard you broke my son’s heart.” June tensed up, unsure of what to response. “I…” She st
Last Updated: 2023-12-05
Chapter: Chapter 69Max: Are you busy?Ollie: Yes. Max: See you by 7. At Eden.It wasn’t hard to make out Max in the bar. His blond hair stood out like a beacon in contrast with the subdued ambiance of the bar and his outfit. A black turtle neck with matching trench coat. When he flopped on the chair opposite Max, he said. “This has better be for a good reason or I might just kill you. ” Max leaned back, no words just a raised brow as Ollie’s hand sought for bottle positioned between them. Not caring what it was, he poured himself a generous measure into the glass. It felt dull as it slid down his throat. He’d gotten accustomed to the taste of liquor. They almost tasted like water to him. “Take another swig, you will need it.” Though, Confused at what Max was implying, he took another swig. The burn of the drink a familiar comfort. This was how he kept his sanity. This was how he kept going after June. She ruined him and he couldn’t even hate her for it. He'd accepted June the type of love he co
Last Updated: 2023-12-05
Chapter: Chapter 68She’d been an unfixable mess since the breakup. Firstly, because there had been an unending swirl of chaos within her. Secondly, because life was still life. A colossal mess. She had no luxury to mourn a broken heart. Every morning, she rose to her feet, not because she wanted to but because she had to. She showed up at multiple part-time jobs until she broke a nail because she had to. To top it, she had to read for the exams.When she’d told the twins and Lola about her ambition, they were so proud of her. They mattered to her but deep down she wanted someone else praise. The persono who’d told her it was okay to dream and instilled this confidence into her to take a step towards her dream. The actual person who’d motivated her to take this risky step wasn’t there. At 2 am or 6 pm, when she ate, when she slept when she worked, when she studied. He was a constant pillar in her mind. She had no right to think about him but she couldn’t help it. He was everywhere. He was in every
Last Updated: 2023-12-05
Chapter: Chapter 67It always worked. Work had always been a perfect distraction for him anytime he needed to push something aside and not think about it. Until now. Workloads upon workloads. It couldn’t stop the image of June burning the pages of his mind. It haunted him with vividness that made it impossible for him to concentrate. Her anguished voice echoed in his ears, refusing to fade. Her cruel words whipped him like a lash. Her pained face that he wanted to console even after everything.His brain had been on a maddening repetitive loop. We’ve had our fun. Fun?The word taunted him. All he wanted to do was drown thoughts of June out of his mind but everything he’d done proved futile. Seated at his cluttered desk, surrounded by towering stacks of paperwork, but the weight of his workload did little to divert his thoughts. Three days. Twenty hours. And June hadn’t left his mind for a millisecond. Twenty hours of work a day had done little to distract him. June, even in her absence, was a r
Last Updated: 2023-12-05
Chapter: Chapter 65NIKOLAIThe phone trembles in my hand, and I clench it so hard my knuckles ache as I fight the urge to hurl it across the room. My pulse drums loud and fast in my ears, each beat stoking the frustration, the doubt, and the guilt.Yes, I’m going to tell Lia I’m quitting. But not tonight. Not after everything that has happened. And not because I care about her more than Hannah.Screw Xander for even saying that. Screw him for daring to throw that accusation in my face. As if everything I’ve done, and every decision I’ve made haven’t been for my sister. Every damn sacrifice, how I live my life has been for my sister’s sake. Every time I think of doing something, the first thing that crosses my mind is how it’ll impact her.Everything has been heavily influenced by my sister—.Right. That isn’t entirely true. I have made a decision solely for me before. Just once I made a decision, and I didn’t think about my sister, but my selfish self. Accepting the job from Lia was the only time I wasn
Last Updated: 2024-11-13
Chapter: Chapter 64NIKOLAISigning the contract with Lia was a selfish decision. I knew from the start that the pay wouldn’t cover my sister’s hospital bills, but I still went for the job. Now I’m paying the price for that decision.For the past one week, I’ve taken on some of the most dangerous jobs I’ve ever accepted. The kind of jobs that put me inches away from death. Jobs that used to give me a thrill and make me feel alive in some twisted way. But now, I can’t say the same anymore. Because the thrill no longer fuels me, rather it unsettles me. Every time I’m on the edge of life and death, I find myself hesitating. The adrenaline I used to love now feels more like a sick twist in my gut and it makes me want to turn and run, to protect myself.My sister makes me feel fearless. For her I’m ready to face anything, come hell, or high water. But it’s different when it comes to Lia. She makes me want to back down and avoid risks. Because every time I think about facing something that could end me, there’s
Last Updated: 2024-11-13
Chapter: Chapter 63LIAPanic kicks in, pressing me forward until I burst into the kitchen. Relief washes over me as I see him, right there.Nikolai’s changed out of his soaked clothes, though his hair still glistens with drops of water, the dark strands occasionally sending a bead sliding down his neck. He's wearing those low-rise pants that hug his hips, and a fitted tee stretched over his frame, showing just enough… no. I shake my head and dart my eyes away. This isn’t the time to be ogling him; I’m here to confront him.When I shift my gaze back towards him, he’s looking at me over his shoulder, and the tiniest smile pulls at his lips before he looks away, or not… I’m just imagining things. Nikolai isn’t smiling at me.“Feel better?” His voice pulls me back to the moment as he turns fully, his eyes skimming over me with that subtle, unreadable appraisal.“Yes,” I answer and sneezes immediately, disproving my answer.“Clearly not.” He stops right in front of me, holding out a steaming cup. The space
Last Updated: 2024-11-06
Chapter: Chapter 62LIAThe words I’ve kept buried seem to boil up inside of me. Words of hurt, longing, heartache that has twisted itself deep, when even I can barely reach it. I want to scream at him. I want to demand answers, force him to tell me why he disappeared, why he left me here to be mad with worry, clawing through days that stretched endlessly without him.But as he stands there, with softened face and eyes weighed with something unsaid, looking at me like he hasn’t shattered my world, like he hasn’t been gone for a week without a trace, like I wasn’t shell of myself because of his absence, like I haven’t been teetering on the edge, the words slip away. Every line I rehearsed in the mirror all vanish. My voice fades under the weight of his gaze and his silence.Tears spill over before I can stop them, mingling with the rain that lashes down, soaking me to the bone. The chill seeps into my skin, but the burn of his stare holds me still, locked in place.The world feels muffled, just the sound
Last Updated: 2024-11-06
Chapter: Chapter 61LIAGetting ready for work doesn’t take long, and in no time, I’m pulling into the parking lot of ROQ.Kate is already at the entrance with her attention laser-focused on the tablet in her hand until she spots me. She and I have met in the middle ground and have agreed that she won’t jump in step beside and scare the living daylights out of me, she stays in my line of sight.As I approach, her eyes shift past me, darting through the lot. She doesn’t have to tell me who she’s looking for. I feel the same, though I doubt it runs deep for herFinally, her gaze snaps back to me, and with a quiet nod, she says, “Good morning, ma’am.”I nod in acknowledgment, too weighed down to respond.“Have you been able to reach him?” she asks. I shake my head, trying to hide how much I’m affected by Nikolai’s absence. But Kate’s eyes narrow, noticing more than I wish she would.“I wonder where Grumpy is.”I halt abruptly in my steps, making Kate tilt her head slightly toward me. “Is something wrong?”
Last Updated: 2024-11-03
Chapter: Chapter 60LIAI haven’t heard from Nikolai in a week, and it feels like my world’s been stuck on pause. Scratch that—life hasn’t just paused. It’s slowed to a dull, gray crawl.The day he disappeared, I sensed something was wrong. I tried to get through to him every way I knew how. I called him more times than I can count, sent message after message. Eventually, his line stopped going through, so I left voicemails, each one more desperate than the last. But I got nothing. Not a single reply.Even though my project has been moving faster, and my week has been busier than ever, Nikolai is still there, at the back of my mind. He’s everywhere I look, his presence in every corner of my apartment.I water his flowers religiously, telling myself he’ll be back. After all, our contract still has four months left. Nikolai is responsible—he’d never just leave without finishing what he started. Yet, with each day that passes, I’ve been forced to make up new excuses for why he hasn’t called, why he hasn’t c
Last Updated: 2024-11-03
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