--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--"We'll miss you, Cassie," my two friends, Hailey and Michelle, said to me, their eyes welling up with tears, making me laugh.Hailey and Cassie were the only close friends I made when I came to Dream High."Why are you crying, girls, when you know we'll see each other?" I asked, looking at them."We like living in the same neighborhood," I explained as I walked out of the room where I had just received my valedictorian certificate."You're right," they said, wiping their tears away. Their eyes were puffy, and they looked sad."Can I get your number, Cassie?" inquired the school's best basketball player."Give it to him, Cassie," Hailey said, a broad smile on her face. Her mood immediately changed, as if she had not just cried her eyes out."Okay," I said, and he exhaled."Why did you do that?" I asked, taking the pen and paper from his grasp so I could write down my phone number."You always refused to give me your phone number," he remarked.That was Deon, the school's hot
--Cassie--I slipped out of my dress, feeling the weight of the past four years settling on my shoulders. As I stood before the mirror, I couldn't help but notice the resemblance to my mom, with her blue eyes and wavy brown hair. Stepping into the bathtub, I let the warm water wash away the fatigue of the journey, wrapping myself in a fresh-smelling towel from the wardrobe. Every item in this room seemed meticulously cleaned, undoubtedly in anticipation of my return.Moving to the closet, I sifted through my dresses, but none seemed to fit anymore. Frowning, I scanned the room until my eyes landed on my suitcase beside the bed. With a sense of relief, I unzipped it, selecting a pair of ripped jeans and a crop top. After applying lotion to my skin, I tied my hair into a neat bun, studying my reflection in the mirror. It was strange seeing how much I had changed over the years.I flopped onto the bed, retrieving my phone from the nightstand. Surprisingly, it already had a SIM card inser
--Cassie--"His wife-to-be is so lucky," Hailey exclaimed, holding up her phone with a picture of Alessandro Leonardo De Luca. Her excitement was palpable, and I couldn't help but wonder who this fortunate woman was. And then it struck me—I was about to be tied to Alessandro Leonardo De Luca for life.I studied the picture intently. Alessandro had striking features—sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and a confident smile that could melt hearts. It was easy to see why he was considered a heartthrob. But despite his looks, I wasn't interested in him romantically. My decision to marry him was solely to help my dad out of his financial troubles."How old is he?" I asked Michelle, trying to gather more information about the man who would soon be my husband."Twenty-five," she replied enthusiastically."Thank God he's not much older," I muttered under my breath, relieved that we weren't too far apart in age."What did you say?" Michelle asked, leaning closer to hear me better."Nothing," I repli
--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
--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--I was so excited as I got ready for school. Things were finally starting to look up. I was beginning to get along with a few classmates, and for the first time in a while, everything felt like it was falling into place. Though the lessons weren’t as challenging as the ones back in America, I reminded myself that I was here to get my certificate, and that was all that mattered.The morning felt ordinary, filled with the usual rush of preparing for class. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, checked my books one last time, and made my way toward the door when an abrupt sound froze me in place.A gunshot.I rushed to the window, my heart hammering in my chest, and peered outside. My breath caught. The compound was in chaos, swarming with men armed with guns. They moved with terrifying precision, their dark figures contrasting sharply against the bright daylight.“What’s happening?” I whispered to myself, panic starting to creep in.The once calm mansion had turned into a battlegr