Hey guys, what do you guys think? Do you think Blaise’s rivals are two different people or one person creating illusions? I will like to know what you all think.
LILA "The first lesson," Blaise began, his voice steady and firm, "is to remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Always stay vigilant." He glanced at me, emphasising the importance of his words. "Attacks often happen when you least expect them, like when you're engrossed in your phone or trying to enter your car. Do you comprehend this?" "Yeah," I replied, although my mind was still wandering back to last night when Blaise had whispered sweet nothings into my ear. Suddenly, Blaise seized my wrist, expertly twisting my arm behind my back before slamming me against the wall. His body pressed firmly against mine. "What are you doing?" I nearly cursed in pain. "See how simple that was?" he whispered, sending shivers down my spine. "You're not focused." With that, he released me. "I'm releasing you now, but an attacker won't." I rubbed my throbbing wrist, my face crumpling in a frown. "You should have warned me that you were starting." "Because your attacker will surely
LILA The moment Blaise entered the house, his presence was announced by the thunderous slam of the front door that sent a tremor through the walls. His footsteps reverberated with a foreboding echo, as he traversed the living room, paced down the hallway, and assailed the staircase, each step sounding louder, like he was crushing spiders beneath his feet. He muttered commands to someone, though I couldn’t make out the words. It made my heart race; I knew something was terribly wrong.Blaise burst open the bedroom door, startling me, but I pretended to be asleep. His silhouette lingered, framed by the doorway as he exhaled a burdened sigh, an unspoken surrender to the quiet, before moving slowly and quietly toward the side of the bed. My body tensed as I felt the weight of his gaze tracing the contours of my form, but he didn’t speak or touch me. When he didn’t move, I cautiously opened my eyes just enough to see his face. His jaw was clenched, and he stared down at his fingers in
BLAISE When Lila and I finally crawled into bed, I expected to sleep soundly. After the whirlwind of the past few days and the intense sex we had in the shower, exhaustion weighed heavy on my mind and body. Instead of drifting into slumber, I found myself wide awake, gazing at Lila as she peacefully slept beside me. I wanted to etch every perfect detail into my memory—the gentle rise and fall of her chest in repose, the way her curls framed her face, her rosy, inviting lips, and her dark, lush lashes and brows. Each detail was precious, a safeguard against a future when we might be apart. The revelation of an ominous "ghost" lurking around me gnawed at my thoughts. The last thing I desired was for Lila to be harmed in any way. I knew she would be furious, perhaps even contemplate leaving if she discovered my initial motive for marrying her, which had now become secondary. So, I kept my silence, no matter how selfish that might make me, understanding that some truths were best l
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. In the stillness of the night, a massive black wolf prowled gracefully around the slumbering men scattered on the forest floor. His nostrils flared as he meticulously sniffed each of them before dashing across the boundary where another wolf, cloaked in rich brown fur, waited in anticipation. They stood, nose to nose, an unspoken dialogue flowing between them, until the brown wolf yielded, melting back into the embrace of the dark woods. The black wolf hurriedly returned to the sleeping warriors, only to be interrupted by the rustle of leaves and the muted sounds of approaching paws. "Erick," boomed a voice tinged with disbelief and the weight of betrayal. The other wolves, concealed in the shadows of the woods, emerged from their hiding spots. They encircled the big black wolf, teeth bared in a menacing display of hostility. Leo, taking on his human form, stepped out of the darkness, holding a cloak in his hand. "You are the traitor," Leo stated ca
BLAISE Erick's cries pierced the air as I approached the winery's entrance. Apathetic to his pain, the guards bowed deeply, granting me passage through the imposing doors. Inside, Erick was a battered shell of a man, restrained to a chair. His body was a canvas of torture, painted with blood and marred by the lashes he had endured. His left eye was swollen shut, and blood seeped from his wounded fingers, staining the floor beneath him. Clad only in his shorts, the scars and welts on his skin told a story of relentless punishment. I observed him coldly before shifting my gaze to Leo, who stood in the shadows, overseeing the warriors as they dealt their harsh punishment. "What has he confessed?" I inquired of Leo. Leo shrugged, a sombre expression on his face. "Nothing. His loyalty to his master runs deeper than we anticipated." A heaviness settled in my chest. Betrayal seemed to haunt me, even when my intentions had always been good. While Erick's betrayal didn't c
LILA I was running mad. I had not set my eyes on Blaise for two days and no one was eager to tell me what was going on. There was no sign of Erick anywhere too, which made it even worse. My nerves were frayed, twitching with the anxiety that gnawed at my insides, but the only thing that had kept me a little insane was that Leo and some of Blaise's inner circle members were not around. Maybe they were on a mission or something, but why didn't he tell me before he left? I couldn't concentrate on anything because my mind had been running wild ever since. I was still grappling with the shocking revelation Erick had disclosed to me, and I was unsure how I would react when I finally laid eyes on Blaise. I tried to convince myself that everything was fine, that the warriors' mysterious behaviour and their vigilant surveillance of me, tracking me as if I might evaporate with a blink were normal, but deep down, a sinking feeling persisted, an unease I couldn't shake. After snapping
BLAISE In the muted light of dawn, I awoke, disoriented, on the cold floor in front of my bedroom door. Memories of the previous night flooded through my mind, each one a sharp reminder of my foolishness. Lila had banished me from our room, a justified measure for my inexcusable action of striking her in a moment of unbridled anger. Despite my relentless apologies since last night, a chasm of guilt and regret yawned within me. I couldn't shake off the remorse for having let my rage overwhelm me. It was her accusations of my infidelity with Amanda, and of slanderous gossip that had ignited my fury, leading to that unforgivable slap. But even as I regretted my actions, a nagging suspicion about her knowledge of Erick's master lingered in my thoughts. I would apologize for striking her, but I wouldn't let that matter rest. Running my fingers through my dishevelled hair, I reached for the door handle, bracing myself for another round of apologies. To my astonishment, the
LILA "You should wear a smile on that face, Lila. There are cameras everywhere, and we wouldn't want anyone suspecting that things aren't going well between us. Remember our agreement in the contract?" Blaise whispered in my ear as we took our seats, Amanda having just left our table. Fury simmered within me, but I managed to force a smile and turned to face him. I saw his own smile unfold, but I could see the falseness in his eyes. To any onlooker, we appeared to be a loving couple. "I can certainly pretend everything's fine if you stop behaving like a complete jerk," I hissed, my teeth gritted in suppressed fury. "I'm not as dumb as you seem to think, my dear husband. I do know what the contract stipulates." I reached out and rubbed his arm, underlining the sarcasm in my tone. His smile remained, but there was a fiery intensity in his gaze. I knew he wouldn't dare do anything in front of these people, so I felt emboldened to push his buttons further. " Stop bei
BLAISE I burst into the dimly lit room where Richard was tied up around a chair. I had not physically tormented him, but he looked exhausted. I couldn't help but wonder if it was the weight of guilt that had drained him so. It was incomprehensible that Richard, of all people, would become entangled in the web of those seeking to bring about my downfall. But I heeded Lila's counsel and resolved to approach this encounter with the grace of composure and hear him out. I gestured for a chair and signalled the guards to leave us alone. "Keep vigilant watch over Mrs. Pierce and her son," I instructed them, to which they replied in unified affirmation. My focus returned to Richard, who had steadfastly avoided meeting my gaze. Delicately, I retrieved my penknife, its blade shimmering menacingly as I flicked it open. "Listen closely, Richard. I'm giving you a final opportunity for redemption. Should you withhold what I seek, I shall not hesitate to strip your very skin from your
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. Dr Richard concealed himself beneath the inky depths of a black hoodie and robe, his movements quick as he vacated the hotel room. He stood still at the garage, his ears straining for even the faintest of sounds, but all remained eerily silent. His eyes darted thoroughly surveying his surroundings, but no discernible presence lurked nearby. Satisfied, he slipped into his car, ignited the engine, and eased out of the hotel's garage. Meanwhile, within a dimly lit room, two men hunched before their computer screens, their eyes tracking Dr. Richard's car as it exited from the garage. One of them, with a finger pressed to an earpiece, relayed a terse message. "He is on the move." Dr Richard accelerated, his foot heavy on the gas pedal, as the monotonous road stretched endlessly before him, bereft of other vehicles. The moon had chosen to withhold its luminous presence that night, yet his headlights carved a luminous path through the obscurity. An ho
BLAISE In a frenzy, I scoured my office, turning over papers and rifling through drawers in a desperate search for my signet ring. Its absence was a growing concern – the documents I had just approved were sitting on my desk, demanding the ring's unique imprint. The deadline was near; they needed to be submitted by tomorrow morning. Finding nothing, I ventured into our bedroom, combing through every corner with equal fervour. Yet, the ring remained elusive. I stood, defeated, in the middle of the room, eyes closed, straining my memory for the last time I had used it. But my thoughts were a tangled mess, muddled by the whirlwind of recent events. Lila's sudden interest in Aurora's family had left me puzzled. I had secretly set a trap for Drax, a plan I had shared with no one, not even Lila. The recent revelation about Hart potentially being the elusive 'Ghost'. further fuelled my frustration. Why would he target me? I bore no responsibility for his sister's tragic death, and
AUTHOR'S P.OV. In the stillness of the night, Amanda's sleep was abruptly interrupted by the insistent buzzing of her phone. Groggily lifting her head, she glanced at the glowing screen with an annoyed sigh, deciding to ignore the call and nestling back into her pillow. "I would answer if I were you," a deep, male voice resonated through the room. At first, the intrusion didn't fully register in Amanda's sleep-fogged brain, her drowsy state clouded her comprehension. She groaned, turning over to bury her face in her pillow, her desire for rest overpowering her curiosity. Then, the startling reality hit her like a cold wave: she was supposed to be alone. Her eyes flew open, her brow furrowing in confusion and fear. A man had spoken to her within the sanctuary of her bedroom. Panic surged through her, and she abruptly sat up in bed, reaching for the bedside lamp. In its soft glow, a figure materialized, concealed within dark robes and a hood that veiled their ident
LILA Blaise stormed into our room. "You keep giving me reasons not to trust you!" he barked, his voice echoing with a mixture of anger and betrayal. I followed Blaise into the room. We had just returned from the hospital where Tim was admitted. He was unconscious and in a bad shape, but he was still alive, which was a glimmer hope for me. "I'm sorry, Blaise, but—" "But what?" He spun around, his gaze piercing into mine. The muscles in his jaw twitched in barely contained frustration. "You made me promise to tell you everything going on, but you went ahead to do this on your own." His fingers raked through his hair, a gesture of sheer exasperation. He turned away momentarily, as if gathering his thoughts, then faced me again. His voice softened, tinged with worry, yet the undercurrent of irritation was unmistakable. "Lila, what if you were in that car? What if this tragedy had struck while you were returning from the Autumn Pack?" "I'm sorry." My words were a
AUTHOR'S P.O.V. Tim, dressed in the shadows with his all-black attire, stealthily navigated through the dense underbrush, determined not to alert the ever-watchful Mrs. Green. Fortunately, the moon had chosen to hide its luminous face that night, shrouding him in obscurity. His silent footsteps led him closer to the backyard of the house, which lay veiled in profound darkness, with only a faint glimmer from a lantern casting feeble light into the hallway. With deft carefulness, Tim picked the lock of the kitchen door, and within moments, the door yielded to his skilled touch. As he entered, he closed the door with painstaking care, but it let out a faint, protesting creak. A sudden crack from within the house prompted him to hide himself, holding his breath. Moments later, Mrs. Green emerged, gripping a shotgun, and sweeping it vigilantly from one corner of the house to the next. Tim knew that her senses were keen, and she could recognise his scent in an instant. Drawing
LILA As Tim drove me home in the dimming twilight, my mind swirled with thoughts of my earlier discussion with Mrs. Green. She had been evasive with her words, and it was evident that she possessed knowledge she wasn't willing to divulge. The only way I saw forward was using illegal means to obtain information, so, I contemplated enlisting Tim's help to infiltrate her abode, scouring for hidden secrets, while I confronted Dr. Richard regarding his involvement with Hart, who was from a pack two hours away from his own. "Tim," I began, my voice firm yet tinged with apprehension, "I need you to visit Mrs. Green's apartment tomorrow, discreetly, when she's absent. Search diligently for any trace of evidence—photographs, letters, tapes, whatever you can find." "Roger that, Luna," Tim acknowledged with determination, stepping down on the accelerator. Upon reaching home, I was greeted by Blaise, who was on the porch, waiting. His slung arm and sombre countenance hinted at
LILA The following day found me once more standing before Mrs. Green's doorstep, this time alone and imploring. Tim, my bodyguard, was not with me today. I thought that perhaps presenting myself alone would engender a greater sense of comfort and empathy from the woman. "Hello, Mrs. Green," I greeted, infusing my voice with a touch of desperation and plea. "Could you spare a moment to listen to me?" As she remained silent and motionless, I decided to appeal to her conscience. "Mrs Green, please understand that I'm a mother, and I've been separated from my two-year-old since yesterday. If you could kindly grant me access to complete my job and return to my waiting child, I would be immensely grateful. I cannot leave until the task is done—." Before I could complete my plea, the door swung open abruptly, revealing Mrs. Green's stern countenance. I met her gaze, silently pleading for entry. She scanned her surroundings before stepping aside, permitting me to enter. Initially
LILA Blaise had received strict instructions from Dr. Richard to rest until he fully recovered. However, I knew Blaise all too well to believe he would heed that advice. He was keen on dealing with his enemies and so was I to unmask them. Following a thorough sweep of the entire packhouse, we discovered concealed listening devices in both Blaise's study and the room he had allocated to me. Leo proposed that these bugs might have been the tools intruders employed to siphon information from the pack. Yet, I harboured doubts. I sensed that the truth lay beneath the surface, and I prayed that my solitary quest to unmask the mysterious 'Ghost' wouldn't lead me astray. My only wish was that my plan would unfold seamlessly. With unwavering determination, I informed Blaise that I intended to visit Randolph and Teresa at the vineyard. In truth, I had a different destination in mind. My true objective was the Water Side neighbouring pack, where I aimed to meet with a woman known to Teres