CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE DARIUS “Damn!” I yelled, as I managed to bring my head above the surface once more. My black hair plastered to my face in slime water, and I took out my claws, swiping madly at the creatures. They made screeching noises, and stank so bad that I felt it would kill me instead of the slimy water they wanted to drown me in. “Stay.” They all began to say, their words overlapping, in their scratchy voices. “Get off me!” I yelled as they increased in number, gathering from every part of the water to come to me.My claws swiped blindly, black substance squirting on my face, with each slash. Face, neck, body, arm— I slashed madly, wanting to hit anything I could. Wanting to somehow magically ruin them all for daring to even touch me.My hair was pulled roughly by hands. My legs were also pulled downwards, and I actually held onto one of them, so I would stay above the surface. They were so slippery, I could barely hold on. One caught my arm, and before I could bat it
CHAPTER FORTY HAZEL The color drained from my face, as I saw Aurora sitting with her arms and legs crossed, as she watched me with a smile.Next to her was her Alpha, looking at me with furrowed brows. He was the Alpha I was supposed to get married to. Alpha Liam and his Beta sat on another sofa, all of them, staring at us. “Oh my God, Hazel, I knew you'd get into trouble soon enough. Honey, may I have a word with her?” She asked, and I wanted to say no, but I couldn't. I was the one in the less favorable position.“Go on.” Her Alpha said, and she got up, adjusting her dress. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she signaled rudely with her finger for me to follow her, and that, I did.She led me to a room, and eyed me from up to down.“Look, Hazel, I have the key to your life right in my hands, and you should know that.”“Is that really what you called me for? To gloat?” I asked. She was unbelievable. “It's not gloating, dear, I'm telling you what is happening right now. Honestly, yo
CHAPTER FORTY-ONEHAZEL Oh my God! I couldn't think! What in the world was happening!? My mind went blank, and everything suddenly fled from my head. Aurora smiled devilishly, watching me try to think, while Melissa had a stiff expression on her face, like she was waiting for the worst to happen. The men watched without sympathy. They were eager for me to be crushed, just so they would break Darius. That was the only thing they wanted. ‘Hazel! You shouldn't be thinking of this now!’ Isis screamed at me. I swallowed. My palms were sweaty, and my fingers shook like never before. I looked at the walls. “Oh my God, oh my, jeez!” I freaked, and Aurora laughed crazily, while the men smiled. “Uh, um… okay, I… I've heard this riddle somewhere, but…”‘Hazel! Take in a deep breath!’ Isis growled. ‘Stop breathing.’I did as she said, and stopped breathing. ‘Now, let it out slowly. Don't look at the walls. Just don't.’ She advised, and I let out my breath slowly, letting it mingle with the
CHAPTER FORTY-TWOHAZEL They growled fiercely, showing their long fangs, and my breath stopped, as my smile ran down. The middle one opened its mouth wide, ready to bite into my head, and I just pushed my hands forward, scratching it behind its ears vigorously.Like magic, it closed its mouth, and whined, enjoying it. With shock still on my face, I continued to scratch, and my tears ran down freely. Books had saved me. Hurriedly, I reached out to the other heads, my breath coming out sharply. The fear that they'd suddenly pounce on me was still there, eating at me.I pulled on a wobbly smile, and they stepped back, suddenly seeing like friendly creatures. Just a scratch behind the ears, that's all the fierce animal wanted. That was it. Who knew the numerous people who had been killed because they lacked the knowledge of the secret? What an irony. Such malicious animals being subdued by such a gentle tactic. As I got to my feet my limbs still shaking, they stepped back in return,
CHAPTER FORTY-THREEMELISSA {THIRTY MINUTES AGO}I paced all around in my room, biting my thumb harshly. Guards had lined my door, and I was quite sure they had done the same for Hazel.They didn't want us going out again, but that wasn't my major concern. My hopes had been thoroughly, and mercilessly, dashed. I couldn't even help my shock, and displeasure. How did Hazel manage to survive? Liam had clearly emphasized how dangerous the beast he kept was. The creature was sick, and that resulted in it being more aggressive, so how had Hazel come out unscathed. Even during the riddle, it had hurt when she'd accidentally said the answer. “What's the next move, Mel?” You can't wait around for Darius to wake. It would be harder if Darius wakes. He would be around her almost all the time. “Screw you!” I pulled my sheets, and dragged them across my dresser. All my makeup products, skincare products, perfumes, and oils went crashing to the ground. “How did you do it, wretch?” I asked, ru
CHAPTER FORTY-FOURDARIUS Who the heck was Darius McCallister? Why did it feel like I was him? Darius McCallister? Why?The girl touched me, and a flood of memories that weren't mine filled my head. “Stop!” I shouted, stepping away from her.*‘Wash the dishes properly!’ A fat woman chopping onions at monster speed said, while I stood with the plates whimpering, my knuckles peeled and bleeding. The woman threw a plate, and it shattered on my head.*“Ah!” I moved farther away from the girl, and in my head, another memory stood out. *‘Just take me!’ I screamed, and the rogue King, whose face was mine, slashed my neck, and I fell to the ground. The pain and disoriented feeling too much to bear.*Why was I having her memories? Why was my own face fading in my head?“Get away from me!” I stumbled, and fell into the hands of a bald man. *‘You're a shame, Arthur! You slept with the Alpha's wife. You'll face death in the worst way! They decided you'll be sent as prey to the Rogue King!’*
CHAPTER ONEHAZEL PRATTA sudden cascade of cold liquid jolted me from my sleep, leaving me disoriented and staring in shock at my soaked dress. Was there a leak in the ceiling? Was it raining?“Sleep, that's all she ever does. When will you ever get your work complete? We don't have all day!” Lucian's voice cut through the confusion, making me shrink back in fear.It hadn’t rained. It was my stepfather, Lucian. He hurled the bucket he had been holding, striking me squarely in the stomach. I winced in pain.“There's work to be done!” he barked. “Yet you lay here shamelessly and even dare to sleep.”I glanced around the workload in the kitchen and wondered how they got there. The piles of plates, the soup stains on the floor, flour on the table and soiled dish cloths. I could swear I had tidied up the place before sitting down to rest. Then I may have fallen asleep in the processBut one thing I was certain of was that, I had cleaned up earlier, else how would I dare sleep?“I-I’m sorr
CHAPTER TWOHAZEL PRATTDesperation clawed at me. When the house finally fell silent, I slipped out of my window. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I had to run. I would rather die than be given to the Rogue King.I ran blindly through the dark, my heart pounding in my chest. Eventually, I found myself heading toward the Beta's house. Things had been awkward between the beta and I since he proposed his feelings to me. I didn't like him romantically so I didn't validate his feelings. But now I was in deep shit and he was the only person I could turn to.I prayed the Moon Goddess would make him help me.When I knocked on Sylvester’s door, he answered with a look of surprise. "Hazel? What a pleasant surprise.”I forced a smile, “Hey Beta Sylvester.”“What are you doing here?”I glanced around me quickly in fear that I was being followed. “Please, may I come in? I will explain.”He led me inside, concern etched on his face. "What brings you here at this hour?”Tears spilled dow