Rose's POVI let out a sigh. In spite of my love for books, my head was hurting at the sight of this one.Another day was passing after learning the news. With Rael absent, I was more helpless than ever.When had I started depending on him so much?I couldn't find it in myself to go out unless it was within the mansion. My friends within the place we're occupied and didn't need me to bother them. As such the only refuge I had was within the library and my room.Finally giving up, I rested the book onto the bedside, letting my head fall onto the pillow. Sleeping this late in the afternoon was probably not a good idea, but I hadn't had any bad dreams before I woke up, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad.I slipped my eyes closed, trying to lull myself to sleep. My eyes snapped open at the knocking sound. I quickly sat up on the bed, eager as to who was there.There was only one answer to that. After all, they promised.I expected the welcome that was to come, yet I was forcefully pushed out
Rose's povKayla had placed herself in the lead, heading the shopping trip like a manager to a project. The moment we entered the complex mall, she had already completed a mental schedule. One that she was quickly spouting out from the moment we got out of the car.“We would reconnaissance here and then to the spa. Give or take, by 5 o'clock this evening we'll be back. Got it?." She turned around, bubbly as she looked back at us. I smiled fondly in amusement. Although she acted naive when it came to love, she was one of the smartest people I knew.I only gave a sharp nod. “Yep."She quickly moved toward me, holding my hand.“We'll start with you then. Your clothes are the most important on the list. Jade?"To my surprise, Jade shrugged. “I'll just take a walk and come back after a few minutes.”Her response filled me with surprise.“Are you sure?" I asked.For a moment, her eyes trailed down to me, but before I could fathom what she looked at, it quickly disappeared. She gave her usua
Rose's POVTo my shock, another woman came into the scene, heels clicking as she approached us.“Ma'am!" The rude woman exclaimed, sounding affronted before gesturing toward us.“I have been trying to get these people to leave, but they refuse to leave." She said. From the way she spoke, I could tell that this was her superior.She came closer to view. As I saw her full frame, I gasped. She was beautiful. With blue hair in a short bob cut matching her eyes and an angular jaw, she resembled more a model than a boss.Her eyes were focused up and it took me time to realize that she was staring at Adian. What was going on?My breath caught the moment her blue eyed gaze laid on me. She seemed to be penetrating and scrutinizing. Though she looked up and down my figure, it wasn't the same haughty look as the other woman. Rather, when she came back to me she looked… amused? Pleased.'What on earth was going on?'The silence grew with every second, yet she didn't say a word.The rude woman step
Rose's POVMy breath hitched as I read it for the second time. The simple contact name "Rael" remained static on the screen.It was real. It wasn't a mistake or some crazy imagination.I sat straighter on the mattress, unlocking my phone quickly. All thoughts of texting Kayla and Jade flew to the winds. My heart beat like a drum within my chest.I recalled what Kayden had said in the office. Wasn't it that Real didn't contact anyone during whatever trip he was on? Did that mean that he had replied to me?Even though it was two days after I sent those messages, I couldn't help the happiness that rushed over me like a waterfall. My fingers trembled slightly as my hands hovered over the word. Just a single tap, and I would see everything.I stopped in my tracks as it came to me how abnormal I was being. Why was I acting more excited about this than I had for even my own graduation?I shut my eyes, taking in a deep breath. Calm down girl.’This only further added to the new feelings I h
Rose's POVWhen she said those words, I hadn't expected what she was going to do next.My gaze remained set on the vast greenness and the berth of people playing there. Many noises filled the place, but the most evident were the faint sound of children squealing.She had told me that after the long week, she had finally gotten a day off whilst George was still working in another post, so she decided to use her free day to see me and lead me around.Tendrils of happiness swerved through me at her gesture, whilst on the other hand guilt dampened it. Hearing that this was her sole free day in a while made me sad, and I still hadn't gotten over the logical possibility that it was - directly or indirectly - my fault that they had had such a difficult time. So hearing that she had decided to use her sole free day to ease my boredom brought guilt to the forefront.A part of me wished I could do something, anything to help assist them in repayment for what they were doing. But what could I hel
Rael's POVI stared down at the long text. A mix of emotions circled through me as I read it over and over again. The most evident one? Guilt.She had plans. Of course, she did. She had a life before she met me and a future she had expected.Months before, I hadn't thought much about her words. In all honesty, I hadn't cared too much about how I had turned her life over its head the moment I introduced her to the press months ago. I didn't care as I watched her sign the contract. Only recently did it truly hit me.There were no amount of words to define her, no box to put her in. She had her plans, her future.And then she came into my life, and all her plans fell apart.My hands tightened on my phone. The guilt mixed in with the conflict brewing in me. It was always part of my principle to switch off my phone during important trips like these. They served as a distraction to my work. In the end, it made no difference as most of the time, I was too engrossed in duties to bother.It w
Rose's POVWhere was I?Looking around, I saw nothing but darkness.A maze? Looking around, I tried to recognize the place, the darkness giving way to specs of light. Green and trees were faintly seen from the light.My breath hitched as it clicked inside me.I was in a forest.I looked around, confusion stilling inside.How had I ended up here? How far was I from the mansion?I moved forward, yet no matter what I couldn't find any source of light. How could I have gone so deep in the forest?A sharp growl stopped me short. Goosebumps ran through me at the sound.Even without looking back, I knew what it was and what was coming next.There was a dankeh at the front. When I turned, they came one after another. And another.They stood there, all of them blocking my path. I shook with terror as they came closer, ready to strike.No.I couldn't give up like this. But there wasn't any way out. I hugged my belly, pulling myself closer. Why was I holding my belly?Praying that it was all a
Rose's POVA sharp ringing filled the static air suddenly.The sharp trill startled me awake, reaching out for my phone to switch off the alarm I had set. In spite of the lethargy keeping my eyelids heavy, waking up was inevitable now.With a sigh, I lifted my crusted eyelids. Finally, I took my phone in hand. As though on instinct, the first thing I checked was Rael's texts.Despite how much I resigned myself to the fact, it never failed to send a spark of dissapointment every time I would see nothing but my texts.The last time I had heard from him was the day he told me that I could text him for anything. A week had passed since then.I had still sent messages his way in spite of his lack of response. True to my past words, I treated it like a diary of sorts. Aside from the last memory-based nightmare I had days ago, I told him of everything. And even though he didn't reply, it still eased my mind.In a matter of time, another week passed without much fanfare.There was one new tex
Rose's POVI sighed, looking up at the night sky. The chill of the night sky made me shiver, but I embraced it.The hospital region looked so different from the places I was used to, but the sky always remained the same.I had stayed in the hospital for four days now. Even though in theory there was no longer any need to. Real had insisted on the hospital staff who allowed me to remain here, even without the needs for medical attention.I was grateful for it, and I was sure he knew why I didn't want to step into the mansion again.And so my nights were spent within the place, no dankehs in sight and Real being a constant presence. Despite staying in the hospital, he brought food from the pack house daily which I accepted.Adian visited another time on one occasion, and Rael stood by, acting more like a watchdog. Amidst their jabs I could see what I had been blind to for so long. The easy camaraderie between them. And Rael seemed lighter than I had ever seen him before.Now, four days
Rael's POVTracing her contact and the texts she sent was the hardest part, everything aside from that was easy.Location in hand, I arrived to find him, said ex boyfriend, sipping tea in the cafe waiting for her. I stepped in, facing him.I could tell that he was one to be easily intimidated, proven by how he palmed immediately after he recognized me. In no time, he scrammed out of the cafe, garnering many looks for a moment. I waited in silence for the main reason for my presence.It took almost twenty minutes, before Jade stepped in, eyes searching through the tables. Despite her almost innocent appearance, she was definitely sharp minded. The moment she spotted me, surprise flitted onto her face before morphing into dislike.She indeed loathed me. I had never been close or bothered with any of her friends aside from listening whenever she talked about them, but whether I caught it or not wouldn't have mattered either way if not for this.I partly expected her to walk away or try t
Rose's POV Rael left shortly after bringing me breakfast, leaving me with a kiss on my forehead and whispered promises.Full and completely awake, there was no way I was going back to bed anytime soon. With nothing left to do, I walked around the large hospital room I had been given, admiring the skyline view in peace. I tried not to think too much about Jade and whatever measures Real was going to take, only hoping that both of them were alright. Instead, I looked down at my belly.A baby was growing in there and I never noticed. Slowly rubbing it, I smiled to myself at Rael's past words. Indeed, this baby was resilient to have gone past the alcohol and malnourishment, only to remain healthy.Strong, but that didn't mean I was going to let anyone harm it. “I don't know what will happen between your father and I, but I promise you I'll protect you the best I can. Even if it costs me.” Shutting my eyes, I repeated it several times, keeping it etched in my bones.I would do my best t
Rose's POVWhen I woke up, the sun was up and it was far warmer than before. Yawning, I looked around as it eased upon me.The chair Rael was on was completely empty. I properly looked around at the surroundings.The place was large, filled with couches and chairs with a dining setting right beside them. Save hospital beds, it looked more like a hotel.This definitely wasn't cheap.I let out a sigh, shaking my head. There was nothing I could do about it now.Even with his absence, I could still hear his words.He loved me.There were still plenty of things to deal with, especially with my pregnancy on the way. But instead, I laid back on the mattress, closing my eyes. At this moment, I was content.I spent my time taking deep breaths, lost in the blank zen state when a sudden vibration pulled me out.Blinking, I looked around for the source, only to see my phone in surprise.‘He'd taken it too, I reasoned. I looked at the screen in surprise. Jade was calling.I gasped, recalling how I
Rose's POVI squinted in the face of the blinding lights, taking time to adjust as I slowly returned to reality.Beeping filled my ears, closer than ever. The sting of disinfectant woke me up even further.‘Where was I?’ I faintly wondered as I drifted out of dreamland. I tried sitting up when suddenly a pair of warm hands circled me.“Wait." All vestiges of sleep erased at his voice.His words and our unfinished discussion before my fainting still rang clearly in my mind.‘Of course,’ I thought. He was the one who no doubt brought me here.I remained silent while he helped me sit up, avoiding eye contact. Tingles grew from his penetrating stare, but I ignored it.“Where am I?" I asked, breaking the tense silence.“You're in the hospital." He said, confirming my thoughts.A slight twinge of relief filled me that I wasn't back in the mansion, no matter how much my heart lurched for it. This was more neutral ground.Those thoughts went away once I remembered why I was in the hospital.
Rael's POVPanic grew in my throat the moment I caught her in my arms. She was out cold, her breaths shallow.Damn it all. I hadn't thought about her condition. The fact that she hadn't been eating for the past few days.None of that will do. I had to take her to the hospital.Hefting her body up, I moved against the fallen bodies in the hallway. That would be taken care of later.I had rushed in, feeling the warning instincts. She wouldn't forgive me if I left her friend there.‘She may not forgive you at all.’ Ny hands tightened on her at the thought.Rose's friend was knocked out cold on the floor, but otherwise, she was safe. No doubt she would wake up in a matter of hours.Laying Rose on the couch, I picked Jade up, tucking her into her bedroom before leaving just as quickly.Picking her up again, my gaze was fixated on her face, how peaceful she looked even now.Without another word, I sped back to my car.Driving into the hospital gave the feeling of deja vu, but I ignored it i
Rose's POVI almost couldn't believe it, but it was undeniable.The man I was hurt by, whom I thought wouldn't rescue me, was there. His eyes treaded across them.“Let her go.” He growled, body poised in a way that made him seem larger than life.The man that held me and his henchman were both stuck in place. I was too stricken to try struggling against them, which wouldn't have amounted to anything considering the still painful grip they had on me.In a flash, everything changed.The whiplash was painful as I was pulled away, the man holding me running as fast as he could out of the hallway. The movement sent a wave of dizziness through me.A loud growl, and everything holding me disappeared. I was light, flying freely in the air for a moment before I collided harshly with the ground. I whimpered as my injured arm burned before I slumped back to the floor.A choked noise and the sound of flesh colliding were all I heard before everything fell silent.Harsh breaths came up behind me,
Rose's POV I followed Jade through the door, shutting it behind me.I had sneaked out of the mansion, thankfully taking advantage of the lack of presence. Even with fear creeping from me, I walked until my legs hurt, moving until I reached the asphalt streets I had told Jade to wait for me in. Jade had taken a taxi all the way to the far end of the place where I met her. I looked away from her gaze, knowing the poor sight I looked like at the moment. It all went away after I entered the taxi, watching the mansion move farther and farther away. It was past midnight when we finally arrived in the city and even further when we got to her place.The timing was unexpected, but it all made sense when the destination wasn't the same one I knew.This apartment was new and different. From the minimal tones and the slightly more expensive look, it was a complete change from her former space throughout college.I looked around in awe. “I didn't know you had a new place,” I said, looking around
Rael's POV.I took in the cool air, letting the heat simmer down.Finally, the anticipated meeting with the Alpha Council had taken place and it was anticlimactic.I had welcomed them, pushing away all my worries easier than expected. After giving them the information and discoveries gathered, thanks to Mira, they were equally ecstatic.That was my chance to state my sole condition to continue this project.Let Rose go.“There is no need for us to use an innocent human as bait for the Dankehs anymore.” I had tried reasoning with them.The backlash was expected, but I physically had to hold myself back from losing control in the face of their disparaging comments.‘A mere human?’Rose was far more than that. She was more than anything else I had seen. I, who had taken advantage of her naivety and kindness, had tried seeing her in the same way in the beginning and failed miserably. None of them would understand though. They just saw her as a tool to gain victory over the threat plaguin