*Selene’s POV*“Cassie?” My voice cracked as I gripped the steering wheel, swerving around another tight curve. Horns blared, angry drivers flashing their headlights at me, but I couldn’t care less. If they were being hunted by a psychotic freak, traffic laws would mean nothing to them either. My knuckles turned white as I weaved through cars, my mind racing faster than my heart.I didn’t look at my phone, too focused on getting away, but my voice grew sharper as I called again, a tremor sneaking in. “Cassie!” I tried not to let my rising fear unsettle me lest I crash my car.A groggy voice finally crackled through the speaker. “Selene?” Cassie’s voice was hoarse, still thick with sleep. “Is everything—”“Will there be room for me at Red Velvet tonight?”“Huh?” A long yawn followed. “Tonight? You mean now?”“Yes, yes, tonight,” I said, urgency seeping into my tone.There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, the weight of my request sinking in. The last time I was this fra
*Noelle's POV*“There she is.”the maid pointed at the table under an oak tree and scurried away,leaving me at the edge of the garden,scared to enter the open field I saw my mother from a distance,sitting at her computer with a tea cup at her side,her silky gray hair pulled tightly to her neck and secured with a pin. I stared long and hard before I gathered the courage to walk to her. Besides,if she didn't want to meet me,she would have told the guards to let me in, right? The sound of my shoes hitting the grass sent her eyes spinning my way. They paused at my face and did a full scan of my body,her gaze got disgusted and she quickly looked away,facing her computer with an unbothered air. “Hello Mother.”I said respectfully,as though I was addressing an authority figure and not my caretaker,I might have been adopted but my feelings for her went way beyond papers,Im not sure–no I am sure–she didn't share the same sentiment but it never hurt to try.“The fact that you are calling me
Ares's POV*Three whole days. Selene had been completely off the radar for three whole days—no contact, no call, no public appearances. Every passing hour gnawed at my patience, the anxiety tightening in my chest like a vice.I sprang from the chair the moment Cassie entered the room. Her presence here was a reminder of where I was—this brothel, a place I shouldn’t have been, but desperation was a powerful motivator."Alpha Ares," she greeted, bowing respectfully."No need for that," I muttered, waving my hand dismissively. The last thing I needed was formalities when my mind was already spiraling.Cassie closed the door behind her, her sharp eyes lingering on me with what could only be described as judgment. Her silence dragged on for a moment before she broke it."I'm assuming you aren't here for a prostitute?" she asked, her tone dry but layered with subtle sarcasm.I frowned, confusion creasing my brow, until the realization dawned—of course, she would think that. It wasn’t often
*Dominic's POV*“What did he mean by that?” I asked myself, watching the footage for what felt like the hundredth time. My eyes remained glued to the screen as I replayed the moment yet again. Ares’ finger brushed against Selene’s skin, and she didn’t flinch. No, she leaned into it — just slightly, but enough for someone like me, someone who knew her, to see that she wanted to be there. It was a small gesture, but it screamed betrayal. Not of me, but of everything she had fought for. Or perhaps it was all a lie. Maybe she hadn’t really been fighting at all.With me, she refused to eat. She used to give me the silent treatment, and now she was on a full hunger strike. I knew what I was doing was kidnapping — technically. But the lines were always blurred when it came to Selene and me. She wasn’t exactly here against her will, but she wasn’t free either.I couldn’t stomach the idea of her leaving. She had forgiven Ares for his betrayal because she loved him, but I was sure I could get m
*Selene's POV*Where am I?Something internal voilently forced me awake, everything was blurry, like a painting smudged with greys and whites. A faint, sterile smell lingered in the air—disinfectant and bleach, sharp enough to wrinkle my nose. My throat was dry, my lips cracked, and a faint buzzing filled my ears. Slowly, the haze began to lift, and reality hit me with the weight of a boulder.The hunger strike. Dominic.I shifted slightly, feeling the stiff fabric of the hospital sheets brush against my skin. Every muscle in my body ached, the fatigue of starvation pulling me down like chains. I had taken this too far,it was foolish.Had I trusted someone enough to bring me food,It would all have been a farse but not even Greta was an ally,and actually starving myself was the only chance I had. I tried to breathe evenly, keeping my movements subtle. My eyes flicked toward the door—two of Dominic’s men were stationed there. Their dark suits a jarring contrast against the pale walls of
*Ares’ POV*It was all like a dream-no,nightmare was the word best suited for what I felt.The question hit me like a punch in the gut,and the fans weren't helping either.The sound of the crowd was a distant roar, swelling around me like the crash of waves, but all I could see was her—Selene. She stood stiffly in front of Dominic, her eyes wide and unblinking. The fans were chanting, “Say yes!” louder and louder with each passing second, a suffocating rhythm pressing in on me. I clenched my fists, my body tense as I watched Dominic smile before her, his face smeared with a mixture of fake sincerity and desperation.Something was wrong. Her body language, the way her fingers twitched, the slight tremor in her hand—she was hesitating. She didn’t want this. I knew her well enough to read that. I could practically taste the panic in the air, though her face was trying to stay neutral. The fans, the cameras, all of it was just noise. Selene was my focus, and I wasn’t going to loose her,not
*Selene’s POV*“You are never going to pull that stunt with me, are we clear?” Dominic’s voice sliced through the quiet of the room like a whip, sharp and unforgiving.I remained silent, staring blankly at my reflection in the mirror as Greta calmly combed my hair back, her touch careful, avoiding even the slightest tension in the strands.“Answer me!” Dominic’s voice erupted again behind me, his frustration rippling through the air like a storm about to break. Greta flinched this time, her hand faltering.I dragged my eyes from my reflection to him—lazy, uninterested, detached. “You’re being too loud,” I said quietly, taking a slow sip of my ginger tea as if his anger didn’t reach me.“Greta,” Dominic snapped, his tone softer but still commanding. “Leave us. We need to talk privately.”The comb dropped to the table with a soft clatter, and Greta quickly walked away, making sure not to meet my eyes as she left the room.“You should really get your face treated,” I said, my voice dripp
*Ares's POV*“Do you know who Victor is?” I asked as soon as the door opened. “Ares?”Cassie asked in surprise,her eyes darting behind me. “You are here again?” “Good morning.”I greeted,walking past her. “Morning.”She replies,rubbing her eyes,evidently too tired to complain.“Do you know you Victor is?”I repeat my question with shorter patience “Is he a customer here?”Cassie yawned,leading me to a chair. I reluctantly took a seat despite really not wanting to,I was hoping not to spend too much time here,I was hoping not to get so comfortable. “I don't think he's a customer,”I draw out the chair. “I know nothing about him. In fact, I was hoping you knew something about him.” “How should I know?” I handed her the note Selene gave me and watched her face,hoping for a reaction…there wasn't much. She recognised the handwriting, but there was nothing more to it than that. “That's his address.”I said, trying to jug her memory somehow. “I think Selene slipped it into my coat whe
*Ares's POV*“Do you know who Victor is?” I asked as soon as the door opened. “Ares?”Cassie asked in surprise,her eyes darting behind me. “You are here again?” “Good morning.”I greeted,walking past her. “Morning.”She replies,rubbing her eyes,evidently too tired to complain.“Do you know you Victor is?”I repeat my question with shorter patience “Is he a customer here?”Cassie yawned,leading me to a chair. I reluctantly took a seat despite really not wanting to,I was hoping not to spend too much time here,I was hoping not to get so comfortable. “I don't think he's a customer,”I draw out the chair. “I know nothing about him. In fact, I was hoping you knew something about him.” “How should I know?” I handed her the note Selene gave me and watched her face,hoping for a reaction…there wasn't much. She recognised the handwriting, but there was nothing more to it than that. “That's his address.”I said, trying to jug her memory somehow. “I think Selene slipped it into my coat whe
*Selene’s POV*“You are never going to pull that stunt with me, are we clear?” Dominic’s voice sliced through the quiet of the room like a whip, sharp and unforgiving.I remained silent, staring blankly at my reflection in the mirror as Greta calmly combed my hair back, her touch careful, avoiding even the slightest tension in the strands.“Answer me!” Dominic’s voice erupted again behind me, his frustration rippling through the air like a storm about to break. Greta flinched this time, her hand faltering.I dragged my eyes from my reflection to him—lazy, uninterested, detached. “You’re being too loud,” I said quietly, taking a slow sip of my ginger tea as if his anger didn’t reach me.“Greta,” Dominic snapped, his tone softer but still commanding. “Leave us. We need to talk privately.”The comb dropped to the table with a soft clatter, and Greta quickly walked away, making sure not to meet my eyes as she left the room.“You should really get your face treated,” I said, my voice dripp
*Ares’ POV*It was all like a dream-no,nightmare was the word best suited for what I felt.The question hit me like a punch in the gut,and the fans weren't helping either.The sound of the crowd was a distant roar, swelling around me like the crash of waves, but all I could see was her—Selene. She stood stiffly in front of Dominic, her eyes wide and unblinking. The fans were chanting, “Say yes!” louder and louder with each passing second, a suffocating rhythm pressing in on me. I clenched my fists, my body tense as I watched Dominic smile before her, his face smeared with a mixture of fake sincerity and desperation.Something was wrong. Her body language, the way her fingers twitched, the slight tremor in her hand—she was hesitating. She didn’t want this. I knew her well enough to read that. I could practically taste the panic in the air, though her face was trying to stay neutral. The fans, the cameras, all of it was just noise. Selene was my focus, and I wasn’t going to loose her,not
*Selene's POV*Where am I?Something internal voilently forced me awake, everything was blurry, like a painting smudged with greys and whites. A faint, sterile smell lingered in the air—disinfectant and bleach, sharp enough to wrinkle my nose. My throat was dry, my lips cracked, and a faint buzzing filled my ears. Slowly, the haze began to lift, and reality hit me with the weight of a boulder.The hunger strike. Dominic.I shifted slightly, feeling the stiff fabric of the hospital sheets brush against my skin. Every muscle in my body ached, the fatigue of starvation pulling me down like chains. I had taken this too far,it was foolish.Had I trusted someone enough to bring me food,It would all have been a farse but not even Greta was an ally,and actually starving myself was the only chance I had. I tried to breathe evenly, keeping my movements subtle. My eyes flicked toward the door—two of Dominic’s men were stationed there. Their dark suits a jarring contrast against the pale walls of
*Dominic's POV*“What did he mean by that?” I asked myself, watching the footage for what felt like the hundredth time. My eyes remained glued to the screen as I replayed the moment yet again. Ares’ finger brushed against Selene’s skin, and she didn’t flinch. No, she leaned into it — just slightly, but enough for someone like me, someone who knew her, to see that she wanted to be there. It was a small gesture, but it screamed betrayal. Not of me, but of everything she had fought for. Or perhaps it was all a lie. Maybe she hadn’t really been fighting at all.With me, she refused to eat. She used to give me the silent treatment, and now she was on a full hunger strike. I knew what I was doing was kidnapping — technically. But the lines were always blurred when it came to Selene and me. She wasn’t exactly here against her will, but she wasn’t free either.I couldn’t stomach the idea of her leaving. She had forgiven Ares for his betrayal because she loved him, but I was sure I could get m
Ares's POV*Three whole days. Selene had been completely off the radar for three whole days—no contact, no call, no public appearances. Every passing hour gnawed at my patience, the anxiety tightening in my chest like a vice.I sprang from the chair the moment Cassie entered the room. Her presence here was a reminder of where I was—this brothel, a place I shouldn’t have been, but desperation was a powerful motivator."Alpha Ares," she greeted, bowing respectfully."No need for that," I muttered, waving my hand dismissively. The last thing I needed was formalities when my mind was already spiraling.Cassie closed the door behind her, her sharp eyes lingering on me with what could only be described as judgment. Her silence dragged on for a moment before she broke it."I'm assuming you aren't here for a prostitute?" she asked, her tone dry but layered with subtle sarcasm.I frowned, confusion creasing my brow, until the realization dawned—of course, she would think that. It wasn’t often
*Noelle's POV*“There she is.”the maid pointed at the table under an oak tree and scurried away,leaving me at the edge of the garden,scared to enter the open field I saw my mother from a distance,sitting at her computer with a tea cup at her side,her silky gray hair pulled tightly to her neck and secured with a pin. I stared long and hard before I gathered the courage to walk to her. Besides,if she didn't want to meet me,she would have told the guards to let me in, right? The sound of my shoes hitting the grass sent her eyes spinning my way. They paused at my face and did a full scan of my body,her gaze got disgusted and she quickly looked away,facing her computer with an unbothered air. “Hello Mother.”I said respectfully,as though I was addressing an authority figure and not my caretaker,I might have been adopted but my feelings for her went way beyond papers,Im not sure–no I am sure–she didn't share the same sentiment but it never hurt to try.“The fact that you are calling me
*Selene’s POV*“Cassie?” My voice cracked as I gripped the steering wheel, swerving around another tight curve. Horns blared, angry drivers flashing their headlights at me, but I couldn’t care less. If they were being hunted by a psychotic freak, traffic laws would mean nothing to them either. My knuckles turned white as I weaved through cars, my mind racing faster than my heart.I didn’t look at my phone, too focused on getting away, but my voice grew sharper as I called again, a tremor sneaking in. “Cassie!” I tried not to let my rising fear unsettle me lest I crash my car.A groggy voice finally crackled through the speaker. “Selene?” Cassie’s voice was hoarse, still thick with sleep. “Is everything—”“Will there be room for me at Red Velvet tonight?”“Huh?” A long yawn followed. “Tonight? You mean now?”“Yes, yes, tonight,” I said, urgency seeping into my tone.There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, the weight of my request sinking in. The last time I was this fra
Selene’s POV“Just say it.” I spat, disgusted at myself.“Say what?” Elias asked, still holding the doorknob, his brows furrowed in confusion.“That you think I’m being reckless and stupid,” I snapped, folding my arms. The air between us was thick with tension, and I could feel the heat of embarrassment rising to my cheeks. Elias was the last person I wanted to appear vulnerable in front of.“Eh,” he gave me a small, sympathetic smile. “I’ve done worse, trust me.”I didn’t fully believe him, but I appreciated the effort. At least he was trying to make me feel better, which was more than I could do for myself.“Just stay in here for a bit,” he added, glancing down the hall. “So people don’t get suspicious.”“Yeah,” I sighed, resigned. My arms unfolded, my body suddenly feeling heavy. I needed some time alone to think anyway. When the door clicked shut behind him, the silence returned with a vengeance, amplifying the chaotic mess inside my head.I tried to replay what had just happened,