Rael's POVI watched her till she fell asleep as I had promised. Now her breaths were even, eyelashes fluttering very little as she was deep in slumber.Still, there laid a furrow on her brows that definitely wasn't supposed to be there, a tightness in the way she gripped the bedsheets and a tenseness that hadn't fully left her. Although she was unconscious, it was still there.If anything, it made me angrier than ever.But what bled in me distastefully was not the anger. Rather it was guilt. Bitter, nauseating guilt.I looked back at her arm. By now, the wound would have scabbed over but the initial sight still made the rage bubble up within me.I held my fists back, trying to breathe as carefully and slowly as I could. In this state, I wouldn't be surprised if the wrong noise could bring into full alert, waking up in terror.That was what held me back as I stood up, slowly walking out of her room in silence, and passing glances at her for most of the way.When I finally reached the d
Rose's POV“No…”The wolf - no. Dankeh was here again. This time in an enclosed space. It started growling, taunting me.I couldn't let him hurt me.My body trembled, chills running down my spine.My body scrambled through, searching for a solution. But there was none. It was just the wolf and I. There was no escape.“No!”Suddenly I was falling, deeper and deeper into a darkness I couldn't understand.“Help! Help!” I screamed out, searching for help where there was none.“Rose!"What! Who was calling me? The dark chasm opened up even worse than before, sending me falling…falling…“Rose!”I gasped out, scrambling forward for anything I could hold. Firm warmth blocked me, and so I grabbed on.“It's okay…you're okay."My eyes shot open, the blinding light throwing me off for a moment as I looked around in panic. My eyes darted through the place for the wolf, when I realized the warmth that was now on my face, firmly moving to face him.Dark eyes penetrated mine, stilling me before I co
Rose's POVAgainst my wishes, the day dragged on for long.I breathed out within the plain mattress, shutting my eyes so tightly I swore I could see stars underneath.Shortly after I gathered myself following Rael's exit, I didn't have the strength to move anymore, lounging on the bed.I had hoped that just like the day before, time would go fast and it would soon be evening. It was the reason for the core bitter feeling of disappointment when I looked at my phone to find that it was barely afternoon. I sighed, dropping it back down.I still hadn't called or informed Kayla and Lily. Scrolling through endless pages was meaningless and exhausting to do. I couldn't bear looking at my phone. The constant reminder of the attack and the memory of my destroyed belongings sparked without fail, constantly sending waves of dread down my belly.The only thing I could do sparingly was watching the window to see the expanse of green of the forest.Even when the tempting draw of sleep came, my fea
Rael's POVNo matter what I did, I couldn't get the look on her face off my mind.It wasn't just about the nightmare. Even though that was tempting enough. Adian and his mention of my faltering stability had impacted me, but the feeling of her sobbing in my arms, crying from being chased by someone who was far from present, made me want to go back and obliterate the dankeh that had invaded her home.‘Not her home' the primal part of me echoed, unstoppable in spite of my attempts to restrain it.Even now, in the plain sheets that didn't reflect the colors and contradictions that was Rose Bentley, she still fit in. She belonged and most of all, she was safe.‘Safe’ I swallowed inwardly, hot bitterness welling up in me. It was guilt, yet I pushed it away.Seeing her appetite come back relieved me, and I couldn't help but watch her, reminding myself that she was present and not cold with her throat torn apart by the danekhs. It was not like the last time.The memory of her back in the for
Rael's POVShortly after she left, I delved deep into my work, uncaring of anything and everything. Her words had made me restless, reminding me of everything that was at stake. Things I had almost ignored.How foolish of me. Aside from major decisions, there was little to nothing left for me to deal with in the office. I sat there, thumping my feet in staccato as I gazed at the glass windows that showed everything. The skyscrapers and houses that looked smaller than ever from my view and all the people that resided in it, ignorant and otherwise oblivious to the others that lived among them. And to the dangers that they faced.A snap brought my attention, prompting me to shift my eyes to my hands. The pen I held was broken in two.‘To hell with this.’I stood up, moving toward the elevator down to the ground floor where the real matters were at.Although I had told myself to wait for Kayden's prompting, my impatience had risen to the rim of my sanity.They were surprised as they saw
Rose's POV I opened my eyes to look at him, all hints of my facade gone as he turned to meet my gaze. His expression clearly held surprise, meaning that he actually fell for it.I couldn't deny that I had turned drowsy under the continuous droning. The strange warmth of companionship and safety I hadn't felt whilst alone was what drove me to close my eyes and slip under.Unlike the deep chasm of slumber I was used to, it wasn't anything like that. My eyes were closed shut, darkness swimming around me but with enough grasp on reality to feel everything. It was a strange sort of limbo between drifting and awareness, the kind of 'sleep' I could take during a nap after a study session back in college.I felt when Adrian had carried me up from the couch even though I didn't have the will to move at the moment. I let him slide my body under the covers, and heard his voice stating “Sleep tight" right before he left. I didn't do anything about it, vaguely hearing the click of the door.There
Rose's POVI waited with bated breath, unable to take my eyes off him.Now that my head was even clearer and he was here, the past of where we left off sat clearly in my mind.Only two days before, without speaking, he had left me to wake up alone. Even though I was given the assurance of our continued 'relationship' of sorts, and many days and nights in his embrace, I couldn't help the slight strand of doubt that had entered me. Doubt which followed until the attack.And then, he was there and according to him, he was coming to see me that night. Had the dankeh not attacked, he would have seen me.It may have been somewhat foolish, but I needed to know where we clearly stood at the moment. Even though he wasn't planning on discarding me with our mate bond, I still needed some sort of assurance.“What about us?" He was throwing the question back at me. A familiar spark of annoyance I associated with him sparked up but I quelled it down.“I mean, are we… can we…" I trailed off, unable
Rose's POVThe day passed by with me still within my room in spite of the lighter feeling I had. I ate dinner which was brought up to me and fell asleep quickly after that. And as the world turned, the next day came.I woke up from another nightmare panting in the daylight, only to remind myself that it wasn't real.Still recovering from the scare, my jittery gaze wavered till it stopped at my phone.My breaths slowed down, acclimating to reality.That was right. It was afternoon. I had stayed in the room for so long, I had fallen asleep. A deep sleep considering the nightmare that came back for the third time since I arrived.Relief washed over me, yet my gaze never left the phone. Although fully charged, I realized how little I had used it.Especially after the day before. I was missing something. What was I missing?My heart skipped a beat once.Kayla. Jade’ I remembered.I moved quickly, grasping the phone and turning it on.I had switched my phone to airplane mode once I was tir
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