~Mel~My entire body stiffened at the sound of his voice, but I forced myself not to turn around. I couldn’t let him see how shaken I was. My mind was racing, frantically searching for an excuse, an explanation—anything to diffuse the situation before it exploded.But then, he stepped closer. I could feel the heat of his presence against my back, the quiet, controlled anger rolling off him in waves.“You always seem to find trouble,” Carmine continued, his voice dangerously soft, like the calm before a storm. “Do you enjoy testing your limits?”I swallowed hard, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. “I... I didn’t mean to—”“Turn around,” he commanded, cutting me off.Every instinct screamed at me to run, but I couldn’t. I was trapped, both by fear and by his unrelenting power. Slowly, I turned to face him, bracing myself for whatever came next. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto mine, unreadable and intense.“Explain yourself.” His voice was cold, like ice sliding
~Carmine~It was almost comedic the way her face drained of color. Melody took a shaky step back like it would somehow save her from what was coming. I couldn’t help the scoff that escaped me. Santos, ever the voice of caution, dared to speak up. “Carmine, I don’t think—”My head snapped toward him, cutting him off with a glare. “You better not finish that sentence,” I warned, my voice dangerously low. “Or I’ll send for your sister.” He immediately clamped his mouth shut, the threat hanging heavy in the air. I didn’t need to elaborate—he knew I was dead serious.I noticed Luther shifting uncomfortably beside him. The unease in his eyes was clear, but unlike Santos, he had enough sense to keep quiet. Luther knew his place. I valued him for that. His silence earned him favor.I turned my attention back to Melody, who had already started crying. Pathetic. She was trembling, tears streaming down her face, pleading with her eyes as she whispered, “Please… don’t make me do this.”Her voice
~Mel~“You finally agree that he needs to be killed now, right?”I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. I just stayed there, lying in the blood that Carmine had just spilled. The blood he had just f**ked me in. My mind was spinning, my body shaking. Every part of me screamed to reject what had just happened. I couldn’t comprehend how someone could be so monstrous, so cold. My eyes closed, trying to block it all out.“It’s never going to stop, Mel,” Hannah’s voice echoed in my head, calm but pressing, “It’s only going to get worse. Until he kills you. Then, he’ll kill your father. You know that.”I forced myself to push up off the cold ground, blood sticking to my skin, making it feel heavier than it was. I lifted my head just enough to see her sitting there, just beyond the puddle of blood. Her own blood, mixing with his, spreading across the concrete like it had a life of its own. It was so strange—I couldn’t look away from the way the blood was merging, combining, until they met in the middl
~Carmine~The door slammed open with a deafening crash.I was sitting on the cold marble floor of my father’s estate. My mother was in the kitchen, humming softly, and my little sister was playing with her dolls beside me. I remember reaching for one of the toys when the air shifted, and then the sound hit. Heavy boots thudded against the floor, their echo bouncing off the tall ceilings. Men—strangers—stormed in, guns in hand, their faces masked by fury and something darker.My father wasn’t home. He should have been. He always told me he’d protect us, that nothing would ever harm us as long as he was there. But he wasn’t. He wasn’t there.“Get down!” My mother’s scream was the first sound that pierced the silence. Her voice cracked, desperate and terrified. I looked up at her, saw the fear in her eyes. The kind of fear that doesn’t go away.A gunshot rang out.My ears rang from the explosion of sound, and my body froze in place. My sister dropped her doll. I couldn’t move. All I cou
~Mel~I stared at Hannah like she had grown a second head. “So, you’re telling me I have, like, superpowers now? Powers I got from you?”Hannah frowned, her eyes narrowing as she glared at me. “Stop with the tone.”“What tone?” I asked, feigning innocence.“The tone where you don’t believe me, but you’re trying to hide the sarcasm. Only, you want me to know you’re being sarcastic anyway.”It hit me right then. I don’t know why it took so long to sink in. Maybe it was the shock. Maybe I didn’t want to believe it, but it finally landed: this was really happening. It was really her. Without thinking, I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around her bloodied body. “I’m so, so sorry, Hans. I’m so sorry.”She tightened her grip on me, pulling me into a hug as if holding on would make everything right again. We stayed like that for a long moment, her blood seeping through my shirt, neither of us saying a word. When I finally pulled away, I stared at her. “It’s really you.”Hannah gave me a fain
~Mel~His eyes might have been warm, but I’d learned that monsters wore different masks. Luther could be just as dangerous as Carmine, regardless of how soft his gaze appeared. If he was even remotely associated with Carmine, it didn’t matter how much kindness he tried to project; he was a wildcard. And in my world, wildcards couldn’t be trusted.I didn’t respond to him. My body was rigid, every muscle tensed in silent defiance as I stared at him. His shoulders relaxed a little, as if he’d resigned himself to the fact that I wasn’t going to answer.His gaze flickered down, scanning me over, not in the leering way men often did, but like he was evaluating every inch of me, taking in the blood. “Are you hurt?”I stayed silent. I wasn’t about to let down my guard, not after what had just happened with Carmine. Whatever spark I might’ve felt when Luther and I first crossed paths had been extinguished, smothered by the revulsion now boiling inside me. I felt nothing but disdain for all of
~Carmine~I snapped back to consciousness with a violent jolt, my wolf’s deep, guttural growl reverberating in my head, shaking me back into focus. My eyes flew open, and I was instantly on my feet, ignoring the sharp sting as shards of glass fell off my body, some still embedded in my skin. I pulled them out one by one, not caring about the blood or the pain. It was nothing compared to the rage simmering in my veins.Chaos surrounded me—screams, shouts, and the sound of people scrambling through the debris. I let out another low growl, my vision blurring with fury. Someone had dared to plant a bomb in my house. In my territory.Hell was about to break loose.“Carmine.” I heard Santos’s voice behind me, but I didn’t turn. My body was coiled tight, every muscle tense as I fought the urge to shift and tear something—or someone—apart. Finally, I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing as I took in the sight of him, unharmed.“We’re already checking the footage of everyone who’s been in an
~Mel~I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of Ellie’s voice. “Are you okay?” Her brow was furrowed as she leaned closer, concern etched across her features.Forcing a smile, I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied, waving it off like it was nothing. I hoped the smile would convince her, but Ellie wasn’t easily fooled.She eyed me skeptically for a moment before her signature smile returned. “Alright then, if you say so.” She launched back into whatever she had been talking about before, her words blending into the background as my mind wandered again.The mansion was still under construction after the explosion, and Santos had moved Ellie and me to another one of Carmine’s estates. It felt more like a prison than a safehouse, though. I was under constant surveillance—24/7, every move I made was watched. The worst part wasn’t the confinement, though. It was that Carmine had vanished. No one had seen him in days. The last time I had laid eyes on him, he didn’t just look angry. He looke
Chapter Twenty Nine~Carmine~I had to give her credit for the thought. It was bold, reckless, but stupid. I already knew how it was going to play out. She would slip it into whatever she hoped I would drink until the solution to its effect was too late.The moment she left the estate last night, I knew. I always knew. My men were everywhere, trailing her every move, watching every step she took. The fact that she thought she could slip something past me—poison of all things—was almost comedic. The Noctisbane? Really? Did she think I hadn’t taken care of that long ago? I had rid the entire country of it because of how potent it was. Too dangerous to be floating around, especially with the number of enemies I had.I leaned back in my chair, watching her with amusement as she sat across from me, still as a statue. She wasn’t moving, barely breathing, her eyes wide with the knowledge that her little scheme had been exposed. It was almost amusing. Almost.Santos and Luther were watching h
~Mel~I let out an irritated sigh as I exited what felt like the hundredth witch’s inn in the state. I’d never realized just how many of them lived among us. My mind briefly wandered, thinking about what other supernatural creatures might be lurking around that I didn’t know about, but I quickly pushed the thoughts away. This was not the time to be thinking about anything other than the fact that I needed to find that poison. That manifestation of evil in the form of a man—Carmine—had to die. I closed my eyes, trying to reach out to Hannah, but she refused to answer. I couldn't blame her; I had taken my frustration out on her after meeting yet another dead end two shops ago. So much for always being by my side.I was furious. Furious at Hannah for leading me on this wild goose chase all over the state, but even more furious at myself. How could I have been so stupid? Putting aside what Hannah had said about playing Carmine, manipulating him through sex, I had actually lost control in
~Carmine~No amount of scalding water could scrub the confusion from my mind. I had stood under the shower for what felt like hours, but it was doing nothing to clear my head. Whatever had happened back there, between us—it shouldn’t have. The moment it was over, I knew a line had been crossed, one that I needed to push her back behind. My wolf was growling in frustration, and I felt that familiar tug of losing control.I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist. The water hadn’t helped, and her scent hit me the moment I moved. The memory of how she felt beneath me flashed through my mind, making my body react instantly. The heat, the intensity—it all came rushing back, and it made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t used to.Damn it. I clenched my jaw, trying to rein it in. What the hell was this? I was losing control, and I couldn't afford that. Not now. Not ever. There were threats circling me like vultures, waiting for me to slip. And this... whatever this was w
~Mel~The moment his lips crashed onto mine, everything stopped.I gasped, the sound swallowed by the kiss, and he used that moment to deepen it, his mouth moving against mine with an intensity I hadn’t expected. It wasn’t like the first time he kissed me, that possessive, cruel gesture meant to mark me as his. This… this was different. Electrifying.A spark ignited between us, and I could feel it everywhere—his lips, his hands, the heat that rolled off him. Before I even knew what I was doing, I was kissing him back. My body responded without permission, betraying my mind’s constant war with him.His hands started to roam, moving with a slow, deliberate purpose, brushing over my waist, then my back, sending shivers through me with every touch. I felt my breathing quicken, and he must have sensed it because suddenly, his hands were cupping my face, holding me still while he plundered my mouth.I grabbed hold of him, my fingers digging into his shoulders, desperately clinging to him.
“Get out.”Ellie didn’t need to be told twice. The glass slipped from her hand, shattering as it hit the floor, but she didn’t care. Her legs moved like she was under a spell, her body responding to the command faster than her brain. She mouthed an apology, eyes wide with fear before she scurried past me like a scared animal. Smart girl.Melody, though, remained frozen, staring at me with that same blank expression, drink still in her hand. She hadn’t registered the weight of the situation yet. When she finally snapped out of it, she dropped the glass, and without missing a beat, started taking off her clothes. What the hell?I frowned, watching her drunkenly fumble with her shirt. “What are you doing?”“Taking off my clothes,” she slurred, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.I blinked, thrown off for a second. That wasn’t the response I expected. Her movements were sloppy, uncoordinated, as she tugged at her clothes, tossing each piece aside like it meant nothing. She
~Mel~I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of Ellie’s voice. “Are you okay?” Her brow was furrowed as she leaned closer, concern etched across her features.Forcing a smile, I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied, waving it off like it was nothing. I hoped the smile would convince her, but Ellie wasn’t easily fooled.She eyed me skeptically for a moment before her signature smile returned. “Alright then, if you say so.” She launched back into whatever she had been talking about before, her words blending into the background as my mind wandered again.The mansion was still under construction after the explosion, and Santos had moved Ellie and me to another one of Carmine’s estates. It felt more like a prison than a safehouse, though. I was under constant surveillance—24/7, every move I made was watched. The worst part wasn’t the confinement, though. It was that Carmine had vanished. No one had seen him in days. The last time I had laid eyes on him, he didn’t just look angry. He looke
~Carmine~I snapped back to consciousness with a violent jolt, my wolf’s deep, guttural growl reverberating in my head, shaking me back into focus. My eyes flew open, and I was instantly on my feet, ignoring the sharp sting as shards of glass fell off my body, some still embedded in my skin. I pulled them out one by one, not caring about the blood or the pain. It was nothing compared to the rage simmering in my veins.Chaos surrounded me—screams, shouts, and the sound of people scrambling through the debris. I let out another low growl, my vision blurring with fury. Someone had dared to plant a bomb in my house. In my territory.Hell was about to break loose.“Carmine.” I heard Santos’s voice behind me, but I didn’t turn. My body was coiled tight, every muscle tense as I fought the urge to shift and tear something—or someone—apart. Finally, I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing as I took in the sight of him, unharmed.“We’re already checking the footage of everyone who’s been in an
~Mel~His eyes might have been warm, but I’d learned that monsters wore different masks. Luther could be just as dangerous as Carmine, regardless of how soft his gaze appeared. If he was even remotely associated with Carmine, it didn’t matter how much kindness he tried to project; he was a wildcard. And in my world, wildcards couldn’t be trusted.I didn’t respond to him. My body was rigid, every muscle tensed in silent defiance as I stared at him. His shoulders relaxed a little, as if he’d resigned himself to the fact that I wasn’t going to answer.His gaze flickered down, scanning me over, not in the leering way men often did, but like he was evaluating every inch of me, taking in the blood. “Are you hurt?”I stayed silent. I wasn’t about to let down my guard, not after what had just happened with Carmine. Whatever spark I might’ve felt when Luther and I first crossed paths had been extinguished, smothered by the revulsion now boiling inside me. I felt nothing but disdain for all of
~Mel~I stared at Hannah like she had grown a second head. “So, you’re telling me I have, like, superpowers now? Powers I got from you?”Hannah frowned, her eyes narrowing as she glared at me. “Stop with the tone.”“What tone?” I asked, feigning innocence.“The tone where you don’t believe me, but you’re trying to hide the sarcasm. Only, you want me to know you’re being sarcastic anyway.”It hit me right then. I don’t know why it took so long to sink in. Maybe it was the shock. Maybe I didn’t want to believe it, but it finally landed: this was really happening. It was really her. Without thinking, I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around her bloodied body. “I’m so, so sorry, Hans. I’m so sorry.”She tightened her grip on me, pulling me into a hug as if holding on would make everything right again. We stayed like that for a long moment, her blood seeping through my shirt, neither of us saying a word. When I finally pulled away, I stared at her. “It’s really you.”Hannah gave me a fain