Lying on my bed, I shivered as I felt the cold air blowing from the air conditioning unit. I got up and switched it off before jumping back onto the bed. The mattress squeaked in protest under my weight as I flipped onto my stomach and closed my eyes.I don't know how long I was asleep, but suddenly, I found myself somewhere unfamiliar. It looked like a forest with trees, shrubs, and grasses all around me. I furrowed my brow and took a step forward, wondering what I was doing there.As I walked deeper into the woods, everything began to blur, and I noticed the place where I had been walking earlier was turning into water."What the?" I muttered, unable to believe my eyes.I turned around and began to run, my legs aching from the effort. The sound of waves crashing behind me only added to my sense of urgency, and I ran faster and faster, desperate to escape.Eventually, I slowed down, panting heavily and sweating profusely. That's when I heard a voice calling my name."Adie," the voice
Aderyn PovMy heart raced as I thrashed around, trying to break free from the tight binds that held me captive. "Let me go!" I cried out, desperation lacing my voice.Dylan, with an evil glint in his eyes, taunted me with a sinister laugh. "What will we eat if we let you go, huh?" he asked, his words dripping with malice.Bell joined in, a fork in her hand, teasing me with her chirpy voice. "We're starving, Adie."Desperately, I tried to reason with them. "Bell, I thought we were friends," I cried, my voice cracking with emotion.But she only laughed, a coldness in her eyes that sent shivers down my spine. "Humans can never be our friends," she said, her voice low and menacing. "We can't make friends with our food. What will we eat to survive then?"I tried to crawl away, but they closed in on me, their eyes glinting with a pang of savage hunger. "Let me go!" I pleaded, but they only laughed and taunted me with their knives."No can do, Adie," Blake sneered, while Cole smirked at me w
Aderyn's POVIt’s been three weeks since I started staying at the new place, and much to my surprise, I’ve found myself growing attached to the people around me. Bell has become a close friend; she’s like the sister I never had, always there to lend an ear or share a laugh. The people in the household have taken care of me, making me feel important and needed, though I’m still clueless as to why these strangers are so kind to me.Yet, there are two individuals who constantly irritate me: Lilly, the blonde girl with her perpetual smile and annoyingly perfect hair, and Dylan, the enigma who seems to take pleasure in scolding me like I’m some sort of child. Lilly is clearly infatuated with Dylan, but he brushes off her advances, remaining distant and aloof. His attitude towards me, however, is a different story; he’s grumpy, irritable, and seems to think I’m weak and childish.I’m sitting on the couch with Blake, a goofy grin on my face as
Dylan PovWhatever I did was wrong. Completely wrong. How could I have done that? The question tormented me, its echoes reverberating through my mind with relentless, suffocating intensity.Sitting at my desk, I raked a hand through my hair, trying to steady my racing thoughts. I could still see the scene in my mind's eye—the moment I grabbed Aderyn by the neck. My grip had been firm, not enough to hurt her, but enough to remind both of us of my control. But it was still wrong. So profoundly wrong.The weight of my actions settled heavily on my chest. I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes against the onslaught of guilt. I had let my anger get the better of me, accusing her of hiding something during that phone call. Her tone, the secrecy—it had all triggered something primal inside me. But that didn't justify my behavior. Nothing could.I jerked upright, the memory too much to bear. The papers on my desk flew to the floor as I stood, frustration and regret mingling into a toxic
Aderyn PovThe shrill beep of my phone pierced the early morning silence, pulling me from the depths of sleep. Groggily, I fumbled for the device, squinting at the screen as yet another message from an unknown number lit up.“Next round will be held next month. Be there. It’s a really big one.”With a sigh, I deleted the message without a second thought. Leaning back against the headboard, I exhaled slowly. My life had become a series of cryptic messages like these, each one a thread in the tangled web that seemed to tighten around me with every passing day.For a brief moment, bitterness welled up, but I forced it back down. There was no point in dwelling on the unfairness of it all. Despite the chaos that had taken over my life, there were still things worth holding on to. My gaze drifted to the small, framed photo on my nightstand—my family. My mom, dad, and Nancy, all smiling back at me, frozen in time.“I miss you, Mom, Dad, and Nancy,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to the glass be
“What did you just say?” I demanded, my voice edged with disbelief as I stared at Dylan, who was leisurely enjoying his Chicken pasta. The nonchalance in his demeanor was infuriating.Dylan looked up, an exaggerated innocence in his eyes. “What did I say?” he asked, his tone casual as he twirled his fork through the pasta.I clenched my teeth, fighting to keep my composure. “I heard you clearly. You said, ‘She is a virgin, I can smell it.’ How in the world do you know that about me? And what do you mean by ‘I can smell it’?”His words had hit me like a jarring shockwave.How could he possibly know something so intimate?The implication of detecting it by scent was beyond me, and it unsettled me deeply.The thought of spending just three more weeks here before I could escape was both a relief and a torment. I longed for the freedom of my previous life—traveling, exploring, and living unencumbered.I would miss Bell, Blake, and Cole, who had become unexpectedly dear to me. But Dylan? I
Aderyn PovThe sun was setting, casting long shadows across the room as I stood by the window, letting the cool breeze wash over me. The air felt refreshing against the sheen of sweat on my forehead, a small comfort after the intense practice session I’d just completed.Panting lightly, I glanced down at the chaos I’d wrought—a sandbag, now reduced to a tattered mess, lay scattered on the floor. It wasn’t the first time I’d had to clean up after myself, but the sight never failed to remind me of why I needed a bigger space for my training.I slipped off my gloves and glanced around, mentally preparing myself for the tedious cleanup. I meticulously gathered the remnants of the sandbag, folding the battered fabric and stuffing it into a bag. The mess was a testament to the frustration I felt with my confined practice area. I was hungry and tired, and the thought of cleaning up the sand only added to my growing annoyance.After several minutes of scrubbing and tidying, the room looked pr
Aderyn Pov The cool morning air nipped at my skin as Bell and I walked toward the gym. Bell’s excitement was practically contagious, her steps light and quick as she bounced beside me, clad in a pink tank top and black slacks. She looked like she was ready to conquer the world—or at least the gym. I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm, even though my own feelings were a mix of confusion and apprehension.“Why are you dressed like that?” I asked, glancing down at her outfit. “I thought that the Alpha guy wanted only me to train.”Bell grinned and clapped her hands together. “I know, but I want to join in too! It’ll be fun, don’t you think?”Her excitement was almost childlike, and I chuckled despite myself. “Yeah, sure, why not?”As we approached the gym, the sounds from within grew louder—thuds of punches landing on heavy bags, the squeak of shoes against the floor, and shouts of exertion. My heartbeat quickened with a strange mix of anticipation and dread. When we finally push