LILA I woke abruptly, a startled cry escaping my lips, and my body jerked upright in bed. Fortunately, Blaise lay beside me, instantly awakened by my distress. His strong arms enveloped me, providing a reassuring anchor as I struggled to regain my composure. My heart raced within my chest as the vivid recollections of the dream swirled through my mind. "You're safe now. It was just a dream," Blaise whispered soothingly. "Amanda," I muttered, the name tasting like acid in my mouth. "Amanda." "You dreamt about Amanda? Was she harmed in your dream?" Blaise inquired, his gaze filled with curiosity and concern. I glanced at Blaise, my breaths still coming in ragged bursts. "No, she wasn't harmed. It was me... She was killing me, stabbing me over and over without mercy." As I spoke, Blaise tightened his embrace, pulling me closer to his chest. "Don't worry; it was only a dream." I nodded, still shaken by the startling realism of the nightmare. But my anxie
LILA Blaise's body tensed as Amanda entered the room, surrounded by her crew, her infectious smile drawing applause from every corner. I glanced at Blaise, trying to decipher his reaction. There was something about Amanda's dance that seemed intentional as if she aimed to remind him of a past connection. Wow, this woman was a master of manipulation. Amanda's beauty was undeniable, and her choice of attire now made perfect sense. I hadn't anticipated her performance here, of all places. Turning my gaze away from Blaise, I struggled to keep my rising anger in check. How was she even allowed to dance here? Who had given her the permission? As my frustration simmered, my eyes unintentionally met Ace's across the room. I quickly averted my gaze, feeling trapped in a whirlpool of emotions. I didn't want to witness Amanda's dance, nor did I wish to see Blaise's reaction. But I couldn't look elsewhere either, because the presence of Ace, expectantly waiting to lock eyes with me, le
BLAISE I pulled Lila into the room, inadvertently pushing her with more force than intended, causing her to nearly lose her balance. With a swift motion, I closed the door behind us and turned to face her. "What now?" she challenged, lifting her chin defiantly. Though fear flickered in her eyes, I knew Lila was never one to shy away from confrontation. "Are you planning to hit me as well? You were the one who proposed an open marriage, Bla—" "He's my fucking brother, Lila," I interjected, frustration evident in my voice. How could she even bring that up now? "Do you understand how that looks? You get jealous at the slightest hint of another woman glancing my way, yet you expect me to remain composed when I catch you kissing my own flesh and blood? What if it had been someone else who stumbled upon you? Is that why you abruptly left the party? Tell me." "You're free to think whatever you want," she retorted sharply, making a move to depart. I had never in
BLAISE "What in the world is happening!" I exclaimed, frustration lacing my words as the call abruptly ended. Lila's violent bout of vomiting blood had subsided, but her complexion had turned ghostly pale. It was clear that without immediate intervention, she wouldn't make it. It almost felt as though some unseen force was conspiring against her survival. Richard, who had been absent from the festival due to an emergency surgery, had initially seemed like our saving grace when I reached him, and he said he was just finishing from surgery. However, his journey to the pack house was marred by a sudden tire blowout, delaying his arrival. As I scanned my surroundings, I realized that all my own tires were mysteriously flat, except for one vehicle that happened to be out of fuel. Something was terribly amiss. Without hesitation, I instructed Richard to return to the clinic. Cradling Lila in my arms, I sprinted all the way towards the pack clinic, but Richard was nowhere to be
BLAISE Ace and I tumbled across the grass until we finally halted, pressed against the rugged base of a massive rock. Naturally, I knew that in a fair fight, I could easily overpower Ace I could beat him to a stupor. After all, he was merely human, while I was a werewolf—stronger and larger. However, I believed I deserved this punishment, so I allowed him to land his punches. I suppressed the urge of Jasper, my inner wolf, to defend me as Ace's fists rained down on me, causing blood to flow from my nostrils and mouth. His fury had blinded him to reason. I didn't care about the pain. At this point, death seemed like a preferable option, for I no longer felt any worth in my continued existence. It almost felt comforting that there was no one around to rescue me from Ace's wrath. "I knew you never truly loved her," Ace shouted in anger, his accusation sharp and bitter. I managed a grim smile despite the blows. "My dear brother, I'm proud to see how you've grown in str
Dear Readers,I am thrilled to announce the completion of the rewritten version of my book. The journey has been exhilarating, and I am equally excited for you to dive into this new story. My greatest hope is that you find as much joy in reading it as I did in writing it. Please, remember this book is participating in a contest and I am counting on you guys to emerge as a winner. If you enjoy this book please don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you.Wishing you all a Merry Christmas in advance and a Prosperous New Year!
LILA A dull ache tugged in my throat, gradually stirring me from my slumber. I groaned as my eyes flickered open, I found myself momentarily disoriented, unable to discern where I was. The room was bathed in soft, diffused light and was tranquil. "Luna? Are you awake?" I blinked twice, attempting to clear the fog from my mind. That was Leo's voice. Why was I in the same room as Leo? I turned my head towards him, my face contorted in pain. Ace also appeared in my line of vision. Both of them stared at me as if I had just emerged from another realm. "What happened?" I asked. My voice wavered as I attempted to sit up. Ace lent me a hand, arranging the pillows behind me for support. My eyes darted around the sterile hospital room, and I wondered why I was in a hospital room with Ace and Leo. Where was Blaise? "What's going on? Where is Blaise?" I inquired. "You're truly alive," Leo exhaled, his voice tinged with unmistakable relief and gratitude. "
BLAISE "So, what are you going to do?" Ace inquired, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon as if seeking answers from it. We sat on the balcony, cradling mugs of freshly brewed coffee. Leo had left the hospital to meet with some business partners arriving today. Lila remained in her hospital room surrounded by a protective circle of friends from the vineyard, seemingly unwilling to leave her side out of fear she might be harmed again. Tired of the noisy atmosphere, I had snuck out to find some solitude and had instead found Ace, who graciously offered me coffee. "I intend to send you back to Italy, exile you, just like Father did," I replied. Ace turned to face me, his expression serious. "When you put it that way, it sounds like the truth. Are you deceiving yourself, Blaise? Have years of self-deception made you believe it's the truth?" I turned to face him squarely. "Do you really want to discuss that now?" "Yes," Ace asserted firmly. "I also want to make i