GIOVANNI'S POV~
Several days passed by and yet I couldn't recall when I last had enough rest.
From the information given, I was told how Jannie was strangely going close to Penelope, and always asking her to hang out, making me slightly uncomfortable but I didn't bother to probe her intentions because I was so preoccupied with the latest situation in the pack, as we had been attacked yet again. Jannie knew she was going to get it from me if she dares to fucking misbehave.
Past 3pm, I was already back at the office, entirely spent.
To my surprise, Jannie was already there, sitting in my chair with a transparent crop top and a short gown that displayed her thick thighs. My eyes darkened.
"You need something?" I grated out, unbuttoning one button on my shirt as I poured myself some water.
Her eyes darkened with lust as she licked her lips. "I'm here to serve you, Daddy."
Disgust filled me with the tone she used, I glared at her. "We made it clear that—"
"Shh… let me do the talking. Penelope would never find out about us, I made sure of that. I love you so much, Giovanni." Her eyes turned misty.
I was about to refuse her again when she muttered. "I promise you. This would be the last time… please."
Grinding my teeth, I bumped my glass with the table and growled. "Come here, Slut."
"I'm here to suck you off all the days of my life."
Not wasting anymore time, Jannie began to undress.
Janie moved behind me, pressing her naked body into my back and her stiff nipples slid across my skin.
When she began to lick my neck seductively, I closed my eyes, wondering how Penelope would feel on seeing me with another woman.
Pushing these thoughts away, I rotate my body, and grasp her by the throat, before slamming her onto the bed.
I stare at her with resentment, as she looks at me. I could detect the tinge of fear in those eyes as she breathes heavily, despite the trashy smile on her lips.
I spoke through clenched teeth. "Don't forget I don't do those disgusting romantic bullshits. When I want to fuck. I'm going to destroy your body and you know it."
She nods stiffly.
"Use me, Alpha."
"You're my cumslut, aren't you?"
She nodded. I grinned wickedly.
I then growled forcefully against her lips before hastily reaching down between us, pressing my hand into my boxers, whipping out my heavy cock.
I ram myself deep inside her, drilling into her violently until she screams for me.
I pound her pussy hard, releasing every ounce of frustration I have out on her.
When she tries to touch me, I snatch her wrists, force them down onto the bed, and place all of my body weight on them before returning to my vicious onslaught to teach her a fucking lesson.
Her eyes are focused on mine, peering into my dark soul as I thrust my cock so deeply into her.
Her big tits bounce beneath me while the sound of slapping skin against skin echoes through the bedroom and it doesn't take long for either of us to succumb to the pleasure we're experiencing, and we both come at the exact time.
I collapse onto her, crushing her with my big frame, still clutching her wrists so she doesn't dare attempt to fucking hug me again.
I feel the sensation of her dripping pussy gripping my dick tightly with a pulsing beat, her tiny body twitches beneath me.
Attempting to control my breathing before I could pull out, I heard something crashing outside the door.
I froze.
PENELOPE~
Where was she?
Jannie invited me out to the forest where she intended to hold a surprise for me. I felt touched at such gesture and couldn't help but wonder what it was.
No one had ever held a surprise for me, and for it to be my first by a stranger, it felt strange although I felt grateful. I had no idea what she had done to receive cold shoulder from Giovanni's family, but to me, Jannie was a sweet soul.
Perhaps she had erred, but she had promised to change and I intend to help her with that.
I kept strolling deeper into the forest where Jannie had directed me. I had no cellphone on me or a tracker but I made several marks on the large trees, in order to recall my path even if I lost my way.
The air was cool, rustling the leaves on the trees. The forest floor was covered in a carpet of fallen leaves, and the smell of pine and damp earth filled the air. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves, the birds chirping, and the scurrying of small animals through the underbrush.
It was as if the forest were holding its breath, waiting for something to happen as I walked deeper into the forest.
The forest grew thicker, the trees standing tall and close together, blocking out the sunlight. The path I was on grew narrower, and the shadows deepened.
The air was still and silent, and the only sound I could hear was the pounding of my own heart. I felt a sense of unease, as if I was being watched by something unseen.
My footsteps echoed in the silence, and I felt a growing sense of dread. I was no longer sure if I was on the right path, or if I was even going in the right direction. I was feeling claustrophobic.
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. I felt a lump forming in my chest, and my breathing grew shallow.
Oh shit! I should have told Iris or anyone where I was going, perhaps borrow a cellphone.
My heart was pounding in my ears, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing. I felt a sense of panic rising within me, and my body began to slightly tremble. I tried to take a deep breath, but the air felt thick and heavy.
I emerged into a clearing in the forest, and the feeling of panic slowly began to subside. But there was no sign of Jannie, or anyone else. The silence was deafening, and the stillness unnerving. I wiped the sweat from my palms onto my jeans, but they were still clammy.
My eyes darted back and forth, scanning the clearing for any sign of life.
But there was nothing, just the endless expanse of trees, and the darkening sky. I was alone in the Forest.
My feet kept moving deeper until I came to a large sign 'STAY AWAY. THIS IS THE PACK'S BORDER'
I gulped twice.
A feeling of unease began in my cells and everything in me began to scream to run back but my legs felt heavy and wouldn't comply with the warning bells in my head.
My heart skipped on noticing subtle details of something strange in the forest.
A tuft of fur snagged on a low-hanging branch, leaves matted with blood.
Broken twigs and claw imprints in the soil, the trail leading deeper into the woods. The air was thick with the scent of death, a sickly odor that filled my nostrils.
My palms became sweaty. The signs were clear. Something dangerous was nearby.
No
Not something but oh. My. Fucking. Goodness! I sniffed the blood only to realize it bore the exact smell that belongs only to rogues.
A rusty smell. I wanted to cry.
I felt a primal fear of the unknown. My body, flooded with adrenaline, my muscles quivering with the need to run, to hide.
How could I alert someone? Even if I did, would they come for my aid? Giovanni hadn't presented me to the pack as his. No one would ever care about me.
I have no idea if these rogues were even nearby if I even try to speak out.
Kaia growled, urging me to leave right now. I did, quickly retracing my steps, only stopping on hearing a growl from a distance. A pit formed in my stomach.
As I ran through the forest, I heard a low growl from behind me. I turned quickly, my heart pounding, but I saw nothing. The sound had come from a distance, from the shadows between the trees.
I forced myself to keep running, my legs feeling like lead, my lungs burning. Then, I heard the rustling of leaves above me, the branches shaking violently. I looked up, my eyes searching the canopy for whatever was causing the disturbance.
Something moved on top of the trees in front of me and before I could turn, I winced from the pain shooting from my foot.
I had no idea what it was but it looked like a black broken piece of a bottle. I gritted my teeth in pain, my head banging. My eyes turned misty and at the same time blurry. Before I could bend to force it out of my right foot, I felt something heavy jump to the ground, my eyes popped open and I screamed.
Large wolf rogues with yellow eyes stared right back at me, their expression feral and their teeth bared.
One, two, three… oh moon goddess! Eight of them. I fell on my ass to the uneven ground and began to crawl back, my soul almost leaving my body.
They all snarled in unison. My brain couldn't function anymore, I simply sat on the ground shaking and heaving.
Right before my eyes, the rogues parted to let another one of them step in front. It looks larger, more malevolent and darker. And with it snarls, the rest of them, they attacked me.
Oh shit! This one was even their leader.
I sat on the forest floor, the wound on my foot throbbing. Then two of the rogues came towards me. They moved swiftly, like shadows on the wind. They pounced, leaping at me with snarling mouths and claws outstretched.
I rolled out of the way, landing hard. I felt a sharp pain as the bottle in my foot dug deeper, and I let out a scream. The rogues circled me, their growls echoing through the forest.
With a snarl, all the rogues charged towards me. My breath coming in short, gasping gasps, I tried to scramble away, but my injured leg slowed me down.
Desperately, I looked around for anything that I could use to defend myself. My eyes landed on a sharp branch lying on the ground. I grabbed it and held it in front of me as the rogues approached. One of them leapt towards me, and I swung the branch with all my might. I heard a yelp of pain, and saw the rogue stagger back, a branch sticking from its belly. The rogue looked down at the wound, blood oozing from it, and let out a low whine.
But the other rogues showed no sign of stopping. They continued their advance, growling menacingly. I backed away, clutching the branch in a trembling hand. I could feel my strength waning, and I knew I couldn't keep this up for much longer.
I felt the rogue's weight crash down on me, knocking the breath out of my lungs. I tried to cry out, but my scream was cut off by the pain shooting through my arm. I could feel the rogue's fangs tearing into my flesh, the hot blood pouring down my arm. I tried to fight it off, but it was too strong.
I felt life draining out of me, my vision growing dark around the edges. I was losing the battle, and I knew it. The world was fading, slipping away, and all I could do was scream. I heard someone call my name, and my fist in the air, ready to blind the rogue's eyes, halted.
Being distracted made another rogue bit my hair, trying to pull me into the forests. I struck the other on its eyes, hit the other holding my hair and began to swing the branch weakly.
Suddenly, the mate bond began to pulse with betrayal. It was strange to me and confusing at first.
It became like a knife in my heart, a pain that I never knew before. I could feel my mate's emotions as if they were my own, I knew without a doubt what was happening.
Giovanni was fucking another woman.
He had betrayed me.
Again.
Just like my ex.
My stomach churned, and I felt as if I might be sick.
I couldn't believe that the person I would try to be with forever was doing this. My whole world was falling apart around me, and I didn't know how to put it back together.
I would never love again.
My knees suddenly gave up on their own, all my energy gone. I awaited death, my tears flowing.
The mate bond was draining me. I couldn't bring myself to fight on.
I've lost.
Footsteps and voices began to resound in the forest and the sound of gunshots filled the air, halting for rogues and they all began to run.
I let out a groan and then fell to the ground, my tears flowing as I curled into a ball.
Iris, Catherine, and Leon, who is Giovanni's Beta, rushed to me. Other people I didn't care to find out who they were surrounding us.
"Is she alright?" Catherine's concerned voice rang out, Leon lifted me up in a bridal style, while Iris felt me. I couldn't talk, my eyes closed.
"Penelope please don't die." Iris cried, as I felt Leon carry me.
My eyes turned heavier, the darkness engulfing me.
~ ~ ~ ~
I had no idea how many hours passed but once I opened my eyes I heard the machines beeping and the smell of antiseptic wafting into my nostrils, my stomach churned.
I almost winced but bit back the sound on hearing Iris, Catherine and the doctor converse. They looked worried but I felt empty.
Leon entered the ward and I shut my eyes, hearing him say Giovanni was coming. My chest tightened with so much pain, causing my eyes to sting.
I hated this feeling.
The ward's door opened again, my eyes flew open as I heard Giovanni ask about me. Before he could take a step, Leon was before him, his fists colliding hard on his jaw. I looked away, not wanting to feel the pain.
Iris screamed at the top of her voice, pushing her brother and blaming him for cheating on me, which confirmed my suspicion and fear. I wanted to die from the hurt.
I would have even been long dead anyway if Leon hadn't come to my rescue.
Groaning, I began to rise, halting the commotion and turning all eyes on me, everyone was shocked except Giovanni who looked expressionless.
Iris was about to speak and walk to me before I raised my hand to halt her. A flicker of hurt passed through her features but she stopped.
Then I did something I dreaded, I would ever do again.
"I, Penelope, reject you finally, Giovanni Callan as my mate!"
My teeth gritted in hatred.
To hell with him!
GIOVANNI'S POV~For the first time in my life, I was frozen in place, my mind racing.I tasted metallic and then swallowed it. My dangerous glare moved from Penelope to Leon who had punched me.I couldn't even believe what I had just heard, my mouth slightly hanging open in shock. My eyes moved back to Penelope. My jaw clenched and my eyes narrowed.I tried to form words, but nothing came out. My thoughts were jumbled, my brain trying to process what had just happened. I felt like I was in a dream, unable to speak or move. All I could do was stare at Penelope. Her nerve of rejecting me.I wanted to lash at her. I wanted to ask her who the fuck she was to reject me.For the first time in my life, I felt worthless, that someone had rejected me. Not just someone but a fragile female, who had deceived me.I had rejected so many women in the past, played with many, they ended up kissing the ground I walked on, rejected so many marriage proposals and yet this fragile lady had in turn reject
PENELOPE'S POV~I am leaving.FinallyI looked at my reflection in the mirror, and I barely recognized the person looking back at me.My skin was pale, my eyes hollow and dull. There was a bruise on my left cheek, a reminder of the pain I had endured.My right arm was bandaged, a small red stain on the white fabric. I felt like a ghost of my former self, a shell without substance.I couldn't remember the last time I looked in the mirror and smiled at the person looking back at me. I was tired, broken, defeated. I felt like a failure, and I hated myself for it.My wounds were slow to heal but who was I to blame?Me!I was so pathetic that I couldn't even morph with my wolf. I was aching with so much pain.I stared around the room I was in. I was back in Giovanni's mansion after two more days of being hospitalized.None of my family members had contacted me. I would never be surprised if my father said to my face that he wanted me dead.I only agreed to return back here to pack my thing
GIOVANNI'S POV~I was dumbfounded!Shocked!A mere fragile woman had slapped me, not just slapped me but slapped me into silence. And for the first time in my life, I found it extremely amusing.Who would have thought a day would come when a woman would hit someone as ruthless as I am and wouldn't have her fucking neck detached from her body.I would even kill the seer who would dare try to foretell this bullshit.I blinked and re-blinked but it was no dream.Penelope had fucking slapped me and it had strangely stung.My mother hadn't even raised her hands on me but this fragile looking woman did, fearlessly.Her eyes were blazing with fire and I found it oddly cute.My head was spinning as her scent kept hitting my sense of smell. I couldn't even think straight.I wanted to snarl, snap at her, yell and probably teach her a lesson but all my head could think of were the nasty, filthy things I wanted to do to her while pinning her against this wall.I felt my muscles tighten as a hot n
PENELOPE'S POV~"W-What?"My head was beginning to ring with thousands of warning bells, and my eyes widened in horror as I saw a tall man slowly begin to approach me.His expression was cold and in his hand, he held a mace, swinging it freely. I couldn't help but gulp at the thought of damage that thing in his hand would do to me.And for heaven's sake! I couldn't even heal like these shifters.What's wrong with these people and their heads?Before I could turn to Iris and protest, she gave me a sign language not to talk.My heart kept racing. I started sweating. This was so bad.Why would they even think I was some sort of warrior princess?"Luna Penelope accepts your challenge." Iris said giving me a look. My eyes widened, almost coming out of their sockets. Iris turned to the unknown man and muttered. "Nate, be gentle to our Luna.""Do you want to choose a weapon or do I select one for you?"What was she even doing?Iris bent down, surveying the racks of weapons and then picked ou
(KAIA'S POV)Series of growls and rumbles left my throat as I waited for Penelope to convince her mate to let me speak to mine.I was restless and anxious. What if that hardhearted Giovanni doesn't even agree?"Kaia?"I stilled for a second and waited for whoever had called to repeat my name."Kaia?" The voice called again.My tail wagged happily behind me, my tongue lolling out of my mouth.My ears perked up, flicking back and forth as I took in the voice of my mate.I howled happily, and wished I could merge fully with Penelope, to take full control.I gave a playful bark which showed how much I loved this moment, and he returned it."I've always wanted to meet you… talk to you, cuddle you… I can't believe it's finally happening. Although we haven't cuddled yet. Haha! But I feel excited." I fast talked, scared Giovanni might leave the room any time soon.Braxton laughed, his laughter tingling my heart. "I love you too…" My cheeks warmed. "Please don't leave here. Don't let Penelope
PENELOPE'S POV~I took a step back, pushing away from Giovanni, my heart pounding as I looked at him.His arms hung awkwardly at his sides, a look of confusion and guilt spreading across his face. His lips parted as if he were about to speak, but he quickly closed them again.His eyes glared at the door with utmost hatred, and I could tell he wished to kill the guard this instant.To him, the guard had come at the wrong time but to me! This was perfect timing.His eyes moved back to me, he stiffened, his fists clenched by his sides. I saw the conflict in his eyes, a struggle between the desire to beg me to stay and the shame of his actions.But I couldn't bring myself to feel anything but anger.And Hatred.He had betrayed my trust, again and again! And no amount of pleading would change that.I felt stupid.Dirty!Used!I should have listened to my head but I listened to my treacherous body and my crazy wolf, who wanted nothing but her mate.My wolf chose at that moment to whine for
PENELOPE~ ~"Okay, time to do this." I breathed in, stepping into the training ground after three weeks of trying to find out what needed to be learnt in the training ground.I saw the females changing into their training gears, after coercing Leon to make them according to my designs.Beaming, I stood watching them all and once they sensed me, their eyes moved to me, halting on their movements but I waved for them to hurry up.And they did.Few minutes passed before I clapped to gain their attention.They all began to gather, I couldn't help but feel a little bit nervous."Today, we're going to be learning how to use more modernized weapons," I announced. "These weapons are more advanced than anything you've seen before, but don't worry, I'll be right here to guide you through it."I pulled out a handgun, showing them how to hold it. "We'll start with handguns, then move on to rifles and other more advanced weapons. I chose these weapons specifically because the males or the attacker
GIOVANNI~ ~The door creaked open, and I turned to see who was there. My heart sank as I saw Penelope standing in the doorway, her eyes fixed on me.I could see the shock and hurt in her expression, and my heart broke at the sight. Her gaze shifted to my chest, and I realized that Jannie's hands were still resting there.Dread filled my heart on seeing the position we were in, Jannie's body was merged on mine, my hands on her wrist.It was an intimate position.Fuck!I quickly pushed Jannie away from me, but I couldn't find the words to explain what was happening.Penelope's face was pale, and I could see the betrayal written all over her features. I desperately wanted to say something, but my mouth was dry."Wait!"But Penelope had already slammed the door shut, her footsteps hurrying away.Oh shit!Shit! Fucking shit!My eyes snapped to Jannie, whose eyes moved from the door to stare at me.Color drained from her face when she caught onto the murderous expression on my face."I swea
GIOVANNI'S POV~My jaw clenched as I observed my warriors, their determination etched on their faces. My eyes gleamed with pride, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as I watched them push themselves beyond their limits. "Keep going!" I shouted, my voice resonating with authority. "Remember, the enemy never sleeps. You must be prepared for anything!"One of the warriors faltered, gasping for breath, but I was there in an instant, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Never give up!" I roared, my eyes blazing with intensity. "You're stronger than you think!"He nodded, gathering his strength and rejoining the others. I watched, as they continued to fight, their bodies glistening with sweat.Suddenly, the air was pierced by the sound of my phone ringing. Nate approached, holding out the device. "Alpha, Luna has been trying to reach you," he said, his brow furrowed.My heart skipped a beat. I nodded curtly at Nate before turning to address my warriors. "Continue training! I ex
PENELOPE'S POV ~A few days passed, and despite Giovanni's efforts to convince me to talk to my father, I stood against it. The last thing I wanted was to get into a fight with Giovanni, so he let me be.My health had miraculously improved, and I could go about my daily activities without any problems. We had the most mind-blowing love-making and rough, dirty sessions throughout those days. Giovanni made me feel loved more than ever, and I didn't need a father popping out of nowhere to make me feel complete."Guess what, baby?" The door clicked open, and Giovanni strode in, holding a paper in his hand. He placed a kiss on my lips before sitting beside me. "What are you doing?"I looked down at the large book in my hand and shrugged. "As your wife and Luna, I think it's best to be familiar with all the fields you're in. I need to be your support everywhere, so I'm reading this book to gain more insights on how to run a business," I grinned at him, and he flashed me a proud smile, which
GIOVANNI'S POV~"Good morning, baby," I whispered, kissing her crown before sliding off the bed to answer the door.Upon checking who it was and seeing it was the maid, I gestured for her to lower her voice. I didn't want her to wake Penelope up."Good morning, Alpha," she bowed, and I nodded. "The meal has been prepared according to your request. Should I bring it up or leave it at the dining hall?" she asked.I hummed, glancing back at Penelope, who was still fast asleep."Just leave it downstairs. We'll be coming down," I informed her and closed the door before she could respond.I returned to Penelope to find her wide awake."Hey," she said, and I beamed."Hey." I climbed onto the bed and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "Good morning. How are you, darling?"She hummed before snuggling closer to me. "I feel better. I'm sorry that you were stressed because of me," she apologized, and I found myself smiling even more."Stop. It's my responsibility to take good care of you. I'm glad
PENELOPE'S POV ~Giovanni gently slid me off him and tucked me beside him, covering my body with the sheets before pulling me closer."Talk to me now, baby. I'm all ears," he encouraged softly, his eyes filled with concern.I sighed and shut my eyes for a moment, gathering my courage before opening them again. "When I was 10, I remember when Violetta asked me to play with her. I didn't want to play in the woods because I knew Angus and his wife would be furious and punish me, so I rejected her idea and insisted we play indoors. But Violetta said she had gotten permission from her mother to play in the woods, so I reluctantly followed her."Giovanni listened attentively, his brow furrowed as he absorbed every word."We went into the woods, and Violetta wanted to mark the trees before we played. I waited for her, and when she returned, she said she had marked the trees to prevent us from getting lost. After playing for a while, I noticed boys flooding into the forest, heading towards ou
PENELOPE'S POV ~His eyes darkened, the pupils dilating with the weight of his memories. "He threatened her always," Giovanni said, his voice hoarse. "Made her miserable and even warned her not to birth weaklings like her. He warned her that if she ever birthed any omega, he was going to kill the kids."As I listened to the horror unfolding, I could almost picture the fear in his grandmother's eyes."Fortunately for my grandmother," Giovanni continued, "she gave birth to two strong Alphas."I heaved a slight sigh of relief at that and nodded my head."My uncle, who was the eldest, was killed during a rogue attack," Giovanni said, his voice laced with sadness, "so my father had to step in as the next Alpha. But despite having a strong son just like my grandfather wanted, the asshole kept beating up my mother, abused her mentally and physically, and wrecked her emotionally. She became a shadow of herself, so weak to defend herself."The room felt colder, as if a chilling breeze had swep
PENELOPE'S POV ~My mind awakens to a gentle rise and fall of a deep, rhythmic breathing. As my eyes fluttered open, I was met with the sight of a warm, huge figure beside me. It was Giovanni, his head gently resting on my breasts, his breathing slow and steady.My heart instantly filled with warmth and a deep sense of affection. I carefully shifted my arm, taking care not to disturb his rest, and gently placed a soft kiss on his lips. A soft smile crept across my face before I pulled away and just as I attempted to rise from the bed, I was struck by a sudden wave of soreness, my body protesting the movement.I tried to push past the aches, only to be thwarted by shaky, wobbling legs that refused to support me. A soft groan escaped my lips in frustration.Shit! Giovanni was a beast! I threw a glare at him before looking away.Glancing towards the window, I was met with the dark night sky, speckled with glimmering stars and a gentle half moon casting a soft glow into the room. My eyes
GIOVANNI'S POV~“This goes off." I pointed at her thong. Claiming her lips again, I climbed on the bed,trapping her with my legs on both sides of her. Then, I released her lips and took her hardened nipple into my mouth, biting on it until she cried out.“Giovanni, please…”A moan escaped her mouth as I slipped two fingers into her sweet pussy, while continuing to suck on her nipples. I wanted to feast onher. Her sweet scent was driving me insane… driving my wolf crazy as well. I finger-fucked her for a little while until she was gasping for breath. The sounds of her moans were like the most beautiful music. A moment later, I pulled out my fingers, and went down on my knees.Holding on tight, I pulled the thong down her beautiful thighs, and then dove my face right between her thighs. I was going to devour Penelope’s pussy—and the thrill of it just made me so fucking hard, my dick hurt.I lifted my gaze to find her staring down at me with her lips slightly parted, breathless. Her top
PENELOPE'S POV ~I close my eyes, and a dream pulls me in.A sun-kissed field unfolds before me, and my eyes are drawn to a small family under a towering oak tree.Alistair is there, younger, his eyes twinkling with warmth and affection. A woman sits beside him, her features mirroring mine. Their hands intertwined, their love, palpable.A child that looks very much like me, a little girl, darts around them, giggling, full of life. Her hair bounces with each bound, her face, a tiny echo of my own.A lump forms in my throat as I watch them. Their joy, their love, it’s a beacon, illuminating their world.The child, breathless and grinning, runs to Alistair, launching herself into his arms. His laugh is rich and deep, his love for her etched in every line of his face. She turns to the woman, her mother."Mommy, catch me!" she cries, before darting away, her laughter dancing on the breeze.Their love, it’s almost tangible, filling the field with warmth and joy. A family, bound by love.I w
PENELOPE'S POV ~Memphis captured Aurora, and he hurt her," Alistair continued, his voice wavering. "I saw it through my powers, and the pain I felt was unimaginable. I felt every blow, every agonizing moment twice over. She was dying, and so was I. I tried countless magic spells and relied on our bond, but I couldn't pinpoint her location..." He released a heavy sigh, and my heart clenched in my chest as I observed his torment.As he spoke, his voice trembled, each word cracking under the weight of his inner turmoil. It seemed as though he was on the verge of breaking down, and his distress was evident to everyone present.His shoulders sagged, the burden he carried nearly crushing him. His features twisted into a mask of hurt, his brows drawing together as he struggled to maintain his composure.I quickly averted my gaze, focusing on my toes as I bit my lip."Do you know why I haven't appeared for so many years, Penelope?" Alistair asked, prompting me to look up, though I remained s