--Cassie--It had been almost impossible to measure how long I’d been trapped in this torment. Time seemed meaningless. My thoughts, like restless shadows, darted from one corner of my mind to another, relentless and unforgiving. I hadn't been able to close my eyes for more than a fleeting moment. Fear consumed me, an insatiable void devouring every shred of reason. My very existence felt as though it hung by a frayed thread, on the verge of snapping under the weight of uncertainty.The room was deathly quiet. No sound reached my ears apart from the steady rhythm of my breathing. Yet even that felt too loud, a betrayal in a space that demanded utter silence. The air was thick, oppressive, and seemed to amplify the unease that coiled around me like a serpent.My mind circled back to them—the werewolves. The betrayal was a wound that refused to heal, festering in my chest like a dark curse. Did my father know about it? He couldn’t have. Surely, if he were one of them, I would have known
--Cassie--For about an hour—though it felt like an eternity—I was still stuck in this endless maze of tunnels. My steps echoed faintly, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence around me. What had Alessandro done? How could he have kept a place like this hidden from me?After countless turns, choosing again and again whether to go left or right, I found myself at a dead end, both figuratively and literally. My chest felt tight, and my breathing came in sharp, uneven gasps. I wanted to drop to the cold, damp floor and cry as hard as my body would let me. But I couldn’t. Crying wouldn’t save me, not when people were out there, hunting me like prey.I needed to think. My dad always said I was fast—fast on my feet, fast in my thinking. “Use that speed, girl,” he used to say. “It’ll save your life someday.”Well, Dad, today is that day.I needed to prove him right, to prove to myself that I wasn’t some helpless eighteen-year-old girl who would die down here, in a labyrinth meant to s
--Cassie--After two grueling hours of driving, my body felt numb, and my nerves were frayed. Finally, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon—a small gas station, its neon sign flickering faintly against the darkening sky. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. The girl I’d picked up was still unconscious in the back seat. Her shallow breathing reassured me she was alive, but her condition made my stomach churn. She looked so fragile, her bruised face and bloodied dress a stark reminder of the unknown horrors she’d endured. I parked the car near the station, scanning the area. It was eerily quiet. The faint hum of the station’s fluorescent lights and the occasional rustle of wind in the bushes were the only sounds. Locking the car, I cast one last glance at her before stepping away. I prayed silently that she would be okay until I returned. The gas station’s shop was cramped but well-lit. Shelves lined with snacks, bottled drinks, and various supplies stood in neat
--Cassie--Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over, blurring my vision. "You’re lying," I accused, my voice breaking as the room seemed to close in around me."I’m not lying," she said firmly, her voice steady despite my unraveling. "I have nothing to lose now. Everything I worked for is gone."Her words were laced with sorrow, and I could see the pain etched into her face. She didn’t look like someone who was lying, but I couldn’t accept it."How can you prove it?" I demanded, my voice sharp as panic bubbled just beneath the surface.How could this be happening? First, I find out that he’s a werewolf, and now this? A Mafia lord? My life had taken a drastic turn in a single day, spiraling out of control with no end in sight.She sighed deeply, running a hand through her disheveled hair. "I don’t have proof with me, but if you look closely, it’s all there. His connections, the way he operates… everything points to it."I shook my head, unwilling to believe it. Yet, deep down, piece
The memory of the ball came back to me vividly—the way Alessandro’s dark eyes seemed to follow me the entire evening. At the time, I had felt special, like he saw something in me no one else could. But now I wondered if it was all just part of the plan.Could I forgive my father for throwing me into this chaos? Could I forgive Alessandro for keeping me in the dark?The girl stirred slightly in her sleep, her face peaceful despite the scar on her arm that told a story of pain and survival. Her presence grounded me, reminding me that, despite everything, I wasn’t alone in this nightmare.But the path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t know if I was strong enough to face it.How could I be this stupid? The only thing I clung to was the hope that he hadn’t lied about loving me. That hope was the fragile thread keeping me grounded at the moment. Even though I didn’t want to get back with him right now, the thought of discovering he had lied—used
I couldn’t help but smile back, though I didn’t fully understand what that meant. I knew it had something to do with being a mate or a leader, but the terms were all so new to me.Before I could respond, she paused, her head tilting slightly as if listening to something.“I can hear two heartbeats,” she said, her gaze fixed on me with a knowing expression.I frowned, confused. “What does that mean?”“Meaning,” she said, her voice gentle but firm, “you’re expecting twins, Luna.”My breath hitched, a wave of dizziness crashing over me. Twins? How could she know that?“How do you know?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly, feeling suddenly vulnerable in front of her.She gave a soft, knowing smile. “It’s a gift of mine. I can sense certain things, especially with someone like you. I can feel their heartbeats. Trust me, you’ll be fine.”I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. Two babies? My head was spinning with the implications, and I couldn’t even begin to process it all. The thought of t
Running into the private jet brought me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in days. The chaos of the outside world seemed to fade as the soundproofed doors sealed shut behind me.“Dad,” I called out, spotting him standing near the plush leather seats. He was on the phone, but the moment he saw me, he hung up and opened his arms. I was in them instantly, the comfort of his embrace breaking the dam of emotions I had been holding back.Tears began to spill from my eyes, hot and uncontrollable. I felt his arms tighten around me, and when I looked up, I saw tears glistening in his eyes as well. He was trying to stay strong for me, but the worry etched into his face betrayed him.“Sit down. Bring her some food and water!” he barked to someone outside the cabin. His authoritative tone made it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate any delays.“Dad,” I whispered, my voice trembling. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Seeing him had unleashed everything I had been suppressing—the fear, the exhaustion, the
--Cassie--I typed it into the search bar, and her profile appeared, her vibrant smile staring back at me from the screen. Relief washed over me as I scrolled through her page, scanning for any signs of trouble or distress. Her latest posts looked normal, even cheerful, but that didn’t ease my worry entirely. What if something had happened and she hadn’t shared it?I quickly sent her a message: “Hi, how is everything there?” The words felt too brief, too cautious, but I didn’t want to say too much in case someone else had access to her phone. My stomach churned with anxiety as I hit send, using a fake name for the account just to be safe.The message sat there, unread. She wasn’t online. I stared at the screen, willing her to reply, but the small notification stayed stubbornly unchanged. Time seemed to drag as I lay there, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.What if she never responded? What if Alessandro was in danger and there was nothing I could do? The thought made my c
--Cassie--The letter in my trembling hands brought me to tears. I sobbed so hard that my chest ached, and my breaths came in short, sharp gasps. I needed to get out of here, away from the suffocating truth it confirmed. That single piece of paper held the key to everything I had been dreading, everything I had been denying. It was the proof that I, Cassie, was indeed the Mafia princess of the American Mafia.The contents of the letter were brief, cold, and calculated. No fluff, no emotion, just commands.“Do it fast and quick. No loose ends. Mafia Don.”The words felt like daggers, each syllable cutting deeper than the last. It wasn’t just the message itself but the unmistakable implication behind it. My father wasn’t just involved with the Mafia; he was entangled in its very heart, possibly even pulling the strings.The recentness of the letter made my stomach churn. This wasn’t some distant past he had walked away from. No, this was now. Whatever he was involved in, it was ongoing,
--Cassie--We were back home, and Dad still hadn’t told me anything about the mafia. Either he didn’t know much, or—worse—he was part of it. The thought sent a chill down my spine.Could my dad really be involved in the mafia? The idea seemed absurd, but the more I thought about it, the more it made a twisted kind of sense. If he was part of the mafia, what did that make me?A mafia princess.The realization hit me like a freight train. I was a freaking mafia princess. All my life, I’d been kept in the dark, oblivious to the danger that shadowed me. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want my father to be part of the mafia. That would mean he wasn’t just the loving, protective dad I’d always known—he was a killer. A man who made deals in blood and secrets.I needed answers, and I needed them now. If Dad wasn’t going to tell me the truth, I’d find it myself. Determined, I made my way to his office. He wasn’t home, which gave me the perfect
--Cassie--I typed it into the search bar, and her profile appeared, her vibrant smile staring back at me from the screen. Relief washed over me as I scrolled through her page, scanning for any signs of trouble or distress. Her latest posts looked normal, even cheerful, but that didn’t ease my worry entirely. What if something had happened and she hadn’t shared it?I quickly sent her a message: “Hi, how is everything there?” The words felt too brief, too cautious, but I didn’t want to say too much in case someone else had access to her phone. My stomach churned with anxiety as I hit send, using a fake name for the account just to be safe.The message sat there, unread. She wasn’t online. I stared at the screen, willing her to reply, but the small notification stayed stubbornly unchanged. Time seemed to drag as I lay there, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.What if she never responded? What if Alessandro was in danger and there was nothing I could do? The thought made my c
Running into the private jet brought me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in days. The chaos of the outside world seemed to fade as the soundproofed doors sealed shut behind me.“Dad,” I called out, spotting him standing near the plush leather seats. He was on the phone, but the moment he saw me, he hung up and opened his arms. I was in them instantly, the comfort of his embrace breaking the dam of emotions I had been holding back.Tears began to spill from my eyes, hot and uncontrollable. I felt his arms tighten around me, and when I looked up, I saw tears glistening in his eyes as well. He was trying to stay strong for me, but the worry etched into his face betrayed him.“Sit down. Bring her some food and water!” he barked to someone outside the cabin. His authoritative tone made it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate any delays.“Dad,” I whispered, my voice trembling. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Seeing him had unleashed everything I had been suppressing—the fear, the exhaustion, the
I couldn’t help but smile back, though I didn’t fully understand what that meant. I knew it had something to do with being a mate or a leader, but the terms were all so new to me.Before I could respond, she paused, her head tilting slightly as if listening to something.“I can hear two heartbeats,” she said, her gaze fixed on me with a knowing expression.I frowned, confused. “What does that mean?”“Meaning,” she said, her voice gentle but firm, “you’re expecting twins, Luna.”My breath hitched, a wave of dizziness crashing over me. Twins? How could she know that?“How do you know?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly, feeling suddenly vulnerable in front of her.She gave a soft, knowing smile. “It’s a gift of mine. I can sense certain things, especially with someone like you. I can feel their heartbeats. Trust me, you’ll be fine.”I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. Two babies? My head was spinning with the implications, and I couldn’t even begin to process it all. The thought of t
The memory of the ball came back to me vividly—the way Alessandro’s dark eyes seemed to follow me the entire evening. At the time, I had felt special, like he saw something in me no one else could. But now I wondered if it was all just part of the plan.Could I forgive my father for throwing me into this chaos? Could I forgive Alessandro for keeping me in the dark?The girl stirred slightly in her sleep, her face peaceful despite the scar on her arm that told a story of pain and survival. Her presence grounded me, reminding me that, despite everything, I wasn’t alone in this nightmare.But the path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t know if I was strong enough to face it.How could I be this stupid? The only thing I clung to was the hope that he hadn’t lied about loving me. That hope was the fragile thread keeping me grounded at the moment. Even though I didn’t want to get back with him right now, the thought of discovering he had lied—used
--Cassie--Tears welled up in my eyes and spilled over, blurring my vision. "You’re lying," I accused, my voice breaking as the room seemed to close in around me."I’m not lying," she said firmly, her voice steady despite my unraveling. "I have nothing to lose now. Everything I worked for is gone."Her words were laced with sorrow, and I could see the pain etched into her face. She didn’t look like someone who was lying, but I couldn’t accept it."How can you prove it?" I demanded, my voice sharp as panic bubbled just beneath the surface.How could this be happening? First, I find out that he’s a werewolf, and now this? A Mafia lord? My life had taken a drastic turn in a single day, spiraling out of control with no end in sight.She sighed deeply, running a hand through her disheveled hair. "I don’t have proof with me, but if you look closely, it’s all there. His connections, the way he operates… everything points to it."I shook my head, unwilling to believe it. Yet, deep down, piece
--Cassie--After two grueling hours of driving, my body felt numb, and my nerves were frayed. Finally, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon—a small gas station, its neon sign flickering faintly against the darkening sky. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. The girl I’d picked up was still unconscious in the back seat. Her shallow breathing reassured me she was alive, but her condition made my stomach churn. She looked so fragile, her bruised face and bloodied dress a stark reminder of the unknown horrors she’d endured. I parked the car near the station, scanning the area. It was eerily quiet. The faint hum of the station’s fluorescent lights and the occasional rustle of wind in the bushes were the only sounds. Locking the car, I cast one last glance at her before stepping away. I prayed silently that she would be okay until I returned. The gas station’s shop was cramped but well-lit. Shelves lined with snacks, bottled drinks, and various supplies stood in neat
--Cassie--For about an hour—though it felt like an eternity—I was still stuck in this endless maze of tunnels. My steps echoed faintly, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence around me. What had Alessandro done? How could he have kept a place like this hidden from me?After countless turns, choosing again and again whether to go left or right, I found myself at a dead end, both figuratively and literally. My chest felt tight, and my breathing came in sharp, uneven gasps. I wanted to drop to the cold, damp floor and cry as hard as my body would let me. But I couldn’t. Crying wouldn’t save me, not when people were out there, hunting me like prey.I needed to think. My dad always said I was fast—fast on my feet, fast in my thinking. “Use that speed, girl,” he used to say. “It’ll save your life someday.”Well, Dad, today is that day.I needed to prove him right, to prove to myself that I wasn’t some helpless eighteen-year-old girl who would die down here, in a labyrinth meant to s