WINTER POVFor a while, we strolled around the pack. When I say "we," I mean my mother, Emily, and myself. While they chatted, my thoughts wandered. I had been on the lookout for Rafael, but he seemed to have vanished. I furrowed my brow, pondering where he might be. We'd even passed the garden he often visited, but he wasn't there. I only saw some crowd; even as I sniffed the air, I couldn't make out his scent.I wondered if he had headed to the eclipse pack. Still, if he were leaving, he'd at least inform me, wouldn't he? Maybe he didn't want to trouble me. I wasn't sure how Rafael's mind worked most of the time, but I doubted he'd bother to let me know if he was departing."Winter," my mother gripped my shoulder, pulling me back to the present. "You're not paying attention."I flashed her an apologetic smile and whispered, "I'm sorry.""Is it about Rafael?" she inquired.I nodded, sighing. "I haven't seen him since I arrived at the meeting."Perhaps I shouldn't have been this agit
RAFAEL'S POVI gazed at my hands longer than I'd have liked to. My lips twisted in self-disgust as I stared at the hands that were bloody just moments ago. The hands that had torn out the innocent guard's heart and shoved it into my mouth. Grimacing, I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling.I had left Winter's side when she stepped into the bathroom, hoping to reach the meeting hall. But I never made it there. I felt a strange sensation taking over me. I tried my best to fight it, but it persisted, eventually leading me to the garden, where I encountered the injured guard.I attempted to offer him aid, but it ended in his death and my unspeakable act. My hands clenched on the bars of the cage, eyes narrowed as figures approached.I recognized one of them as Winter, her scent preceding her. As they drew near, I saw her clearly. Concern filled her eyes, the last thing I wanted her to feel for me. I shouldn't be pitied. I wasn't the victim, yet the way Winter looked at me made it seem oth
WINTER POVThe discussion between Emily, my mother, and me didn't conclude until evening. Without their knowledge, I returned to the dungeon, eager to see Rafael.As I entered, I found him seated on the hay-covered floor of his cage, hands shielding his face, head bowed. I stood there for a moment, hoping he'd notice me, but nothing changed. Since he didn't acknowledge my presence, I took a step closer and crouched down."Rafael," I said, gently prodding him with a stick I'd picked up outside the dungeon.He raised his head, meeting my gaze. "W-what happened to you?" I asked, my eyes widening at his bloodshot eyes and the blood trickling from his mouth.When I'd left earlier, he looked nothing like this. He seemed normal but angry and dejected. Now, he was a different person than the Rafael I knew."Winter," he murmured. His voice was barely audible, but I heard him."What happened to you?" I whispered, extending my hand into the cage toward him."I don't know," Rafael replied, shakin
WINTER POVI groaned into the kiss, grabbing onto Rafael's shoulder and standing on the ball of my feet.Rafael twirled me around, nudging me into the bars of the cage, his lips never leaving mine."Are you sure about this?" He asked, releasing my mouth for a brief second before latching his lips on mine again before I could respond.I could only nod because that was the only thing I could do at the moment.Rafael's hand slipped into my gown, grabbing my backside and squeezing."Rafael," I moaned out his name."Should we be doing this?" Rafael asked again.Blinking back the haze from my eyes, I gazed at him. His expression was uncertain, and I wondered if he was thinking about what my mother had said."Your mom asked us not to." He said. "As much as I want you, I don't want to hurt you. Also, with what is happening, I am capable of hurting you. That is the last thing I want to do.""I kissed you, remember?" I said. "Then I should be the one worrying and not you. Besides, I want it."R
WINTER POVI hastily slipped into my dress, leaving my torn panty behind. I turned to Rafael and asked, "How do I look?" We spoke simultaneously, and I swiped at his lips to clean off the smudge from my lipstick.Rafael ran a hand through my hair, his eyes appraising me before he murmured, "You look good." I nodded, though my stride to the door was more of a limp.As I opened the door, my mother, Denise, and Emily stepped in. All three women wrinkled their noses before fixing their gaze on mine."What happened?" I asked, avoiding my mother and Denise's gaze. I was afraid that if I looked too long, they'd figure out what had transpired."You left without a word," my mother said, glaring at me."I needed to speak with Rafael; I'm sorry," I explained, even though our conversation had extended far beyond just talking."Are you sure that's all?" Denise inquired, raising her brows."That's all," I lied, but Denise didn't appear convinced, and neither did my mother."You seem troubled, and t
WINTER POVI tried to dart towards the other side of the room, but he blocked me, shoving me back into the wall. I gasped as my back slammed hard against it. "What do you want?" I asked him.A few minutes ago, while in the dungeon, he had been someone else until he came back to his senses. Now, he was someone else again. The fact that I had given myself to him made my stomach churn. I wondered if it was truly Rafael or another presence that I had been intimate with in the dungeon."What do I want?" He scoffed. "Seems like it's hard for you to grasp, Winter." His voice was sharp.I shook my head. "You can't have me, and you can't have Rafael either," I said. I pondered how I could reach him without hurting Rafael in the process. My mother, Denise, and Emily had a solution. I should've listened to them. But that meant letting go of Rafael."Tell me why you're tormenting his life. You have plenty of people to choose from, so why him? Was he an easy target?" I asked."Why should I answer
RAFAEL POVAs soon as Winter's body went limp, I let go. My eyes widened as I gazed at her, then at her hands. The reality of what had happened surged through me all at once."No, no, no, no!" I murmured, shaking my head. Gripping her shoulder, I shook her awake, but I received no response.Her eyes were closed, and her body was starting to grow cold and stiff."Winter!" I exclaimed, shaking her once again.Fuck! I had killed her. I had freaking killed her. I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't mean it. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as they locked onto her bruised neck.Whatever had made me grip her neck seemed to have left me immediately. I didn't feel the ominous presence anymore, which was stupid, considering I had been trying my best to control it. Now, it had done its worst and departed.My head pounded, and I sensed a brewing headache. Clutching it, I let out a low growl."You killed her," I murmured."No, you did," a voice said in my head. "You killed your mate o
RAFAEL POVExhaling once again, I stood rooted to the spot, unyielding since the trio departed. Winter hadn't budged either.No matter how often her mother offered reassurances, it did little to ease my unease. If only I'd left with Jude and faced the consequences head-on, just as I glimpsed in his eyes. It might have offered some solace.It could have balanced the scales, a punishment of sorts for what I'd subjected Winter to. Yet deep down, I knew that wouldn't be enough. I sighed and began to pace around the room."You should sit down. You'll wear yourself out," Denise advised."Sit?" I scoffed. "I don't think that's what I need."Rising to her feet, Denise approached me. "It's not your fault," she asserted. "I believe you would've shielded Winter if you had the inner strength. I know you never intended to harm her.""I should have shielded her, but I never did," I acknowledged. "I repeated the same mistake I made with my first mate. I'm cursed, shit!""Listen to me," Denise insist