CATHERINE The door creaked open, and I tensed, gripping the crude, rusted sharp hook I’d found behind the bed. There was no way I was going to sit down comfortably without doing anything. Since he wasn't going to let me go, I might as well do well to escape. Damon walked in, carrying a plate of food and a glass of water. He looked so calm, almost unnervingly so, as he approached. “You need to eat, Catherine,” he said, setting the plate on a small, wobbly table near the bed. “You’ve been relying on nothing but those solutions and drugs to keep you alive while you were unconscious. This is real food. You need your strength.” I didn’t respond. I fixed my eyes on the far wall. My heart was pounding so loudly I was certain he could hear it, but I kept my grip firm on the hook, hidden beneath the loose folds of my dress. “Catherine,” Damon repeated, almost pleading. “Look at me.” Slowly, I turned my head, flashing him a cold and unyielding glare as much as I could muster. “I don’t
CATHERINE I sat there, bound and helpless with my wrists sore from Damon’s unrelenting restraint. The ache in my shoulders was nothing compared to the frustration boiling within me. Damon would come in like clockwork, bringing me food and hovering over me as though I were some priceless artifact. His eyes would watch my every move, ensuring I didn’t try anything reckless.It was maddening.Every attempt I made to escape had been futile. Once, I’d faked needing to use the bathroom, thinking I could slip past him when his guard was down. But he’d caught me, dragging me back with a smug look that made my skin crawl.Now, I was out of ideas, out of strength. My body ached, but my mind raced. I couldn’t give up. Not yet.I leaned my head back against the wall, my thoughts swirling. If brute strength and wit wouldn’t get me out of here, maybe I needed a different approach. Something subtle.Think, Catherine. What does Damon want?It was clear he wanted me to believe he was my protector, th
CATHERINE Words. Hushed whispers. Pleas? I couldn't tell as it all filtered into my subconscious, pulling me from the depths of sleep. For a moment, I lay still, disoriented, before realizing the words weren’t part of a dream. They were real. Someone was speaking, just a few inches from my ear.“I’ve always known,” the voice murmured, and a chill ran down my spine the instant I recognized who was speaking up close. It was Damon. His proximity had a way of making my stomach churn as usual.“I knew you’d come around eventually,” he continued, his breath warm against my skin. “You’ve always been meant for me, Catherine. Even when you didn’t realize it.”I resisted the urge to open my eyes or flinch away. I knew better than to react now. Instead, I kept my breathing steady, feigning the deep rhythm of sleep, even though I was awake.“You don’t have to pretend anymore,” Damon went on. “You’re safe with me. I’ll make you see that, no matter how long it takes. I’ll give you the life you de
CATHERINE The opportunity to act presented itself sooner than I had anticipated.The maid appeared at my door, polite yet wary, as though unsure of how to approach me. “Good morning, my lady,” she greeted tentatively. “What would you like to eat?”I sat up on the edge of the bed, clasping my hands in front of me as if I had nothing but breakfast on my mind. “Something simple,” I replied. “Perhaps eggs with herbs and some fresh bread.”The maid nodded, bowing slightly before leaving the room. The moment she stepped out, I stood and began pacing. Minutes later, the maid returned, wringing her hands nervously. “My lady, I’m afraid there are no herbs available,” she said apologetically. “Would you like something else?”I narrowed my eyes, letting my shoulders droop as though in disappointment. “I really don’t feel like eating anything else,” I said softly. “I’ve had a craving for that dish for days now.”Her face fell. She turned and hurried back to the guard stationed outside, expl
CATHERINE The opportunity to act presented itself sooner than I had anticipated.The maid appeared at my door, polite yet wary, as though unsure of how to approach me. “Good morning, my lady,” she greeted tentatively. “What would you like to eat?”I sat up on the edge of the bed, clasping my hands in front of me as if I had nothing but breakfast on my mind. “Something simple,” I replied. “Perhaps eggs with herbs and some fresh bread.”The maid nodded, bowing slightly before leaving the room. The moment she stepped out, I stood and began pacing. Minutes later, the maid returned, wringing her hands nervously. “My lady, I’m afraid there are no herbs available,” she said apologetically. “Would you like something else?”I narrowed my eyes, letting my shoulders droop as though in disappointment. “I really don’t feel like eating anything else,” I said softly. “I’ve had a craving for that dish for days now.”Her face fell. She turned and hurried back to the guard stationed outside, expl
CATHERINE From the moment the door clicked shut, the oppressive silence of the room enveloped me once again. But that silence didn’t last long. Through the thin, cracked walls, I could hear Damon’s voice filled with a fury I hadn’t heard before. Each word and syllable he spew out of his mouth were laced with venow“You! Get back to work, or I swear I’ll have your families punished!”I stiffened at the sound of his threats, and my heart sank. The maids had been only doing their duty, but Damon’s need to control everything had escalated to a level where even their smallest mistake would cost them. I could hear them muttering apologies, their voices strained with fear, but it was clear that their pleas weren’t enough to calm him.“We’ll be more careful, Master Damon. We’ll stay on guard, we swear!” one of them pleaded.“See that you do, else you wouldn’t like what I'll do to you.” Damon’s voice boomed, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps. I could picture him standing there
CATHERINE "So, what’s the update with Kane?" Damon asked simply, but there was an edge to them, like he was waiting for something to fall into place—something that would finally give him the upper hand."That’s the reason I’m here, Damon." Zelda stepped forward, as she prepared to divulge the details.I could feel my heart beat a little faster as I strained to hear. Kane’s name again—every mention of him, every mention of the lies surrounding him, made my stomach twist in knots. What was going on with him now? Why were they all talking about him like he was a pawn in some twisted game?"The Council of Elders and the Alphas have impeached Kane," Zelda continued, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "They’ve declared him unfit to rule. The damage he’s caused is too severe for them to ignore any longer." She paused for a moment before she continued. "And so, I’m now the Queen once again. At least for the time being. I’ll serve as regent until another King is appointed."I felt the blo
CATHERINE I had made my decision, and there was no turning back now. I couldn’t just sit around, waiting for Damon and the others to come after me. I needed to find Kane before they did—before they could drag him back to the castle, before Zelda could sink her claws deeper into him. It was my only shot at stopping whatever plans she had for him, and I couldn’t fail.My heart raced as I moved quietly across the room, scanning every corner and every piece of furniture. I needed to find something that would give me an edge, something that could buy me enough time to slip away undetected. And then, there it was—the first aid kit. My hands trembled as I opened it, as I searched it through. I didn't see anything that could help me as I searched it thoroughly. I sifted through the contents, hoping for something useful, when I spotted a small bottle tucked away in the back—sleeping pills. I was elated, an idea obviously forming in my mind upon sight. I quickly snatched it up. This was it
CATHERINE Kane walked forward, towards the men, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his presence instantly drew the attention of the two men.“I’m sorry, but I have a proposition for you both” he began calmly, the kind of tone that didn’t invite much argument.The men exchanged glances before the older one spoke. “Do I know you from somewhere?”My heart skipped a beat. Could it be that they recognized Kane? No! That mustn't happen. “I doubt you do.” Kane replied but the man's eyes remained squinted, trying to recall if he has seen Kane before.“But you do look familiar.” the second man supported but Kane shrugged his words off, not bothering to respond to him.“I would like it if you can assist us out of the borders, please.”“We’re already pushing our luck with these two,” the man gestured toward the woman and her daughter, “so whatever you’re proposing—”Kane cut him off, pulling something from his cloak with a deliberate motion. The glint of gold caught the dim light, and I ga
CATHERINE The sun was beginning to set when Kane and I finally emerged from the forest. My legs ached from the relentless pace, and every breath felt heavier than the last. We were now in the city and I was obviously relieved.We were closer to safety. But that relief evaporated as soon as we spotted the guards stationed near the border, inspecting every traveler with unnerving scrutiny.Kane tensed beside me, scanning the checkpoint. He grabbed my hand gently, pulling me toward a shaded alleyway where we wouldn’t be spotted. “We can’t go any further, I guess” he said, clearly frustrated.I leaned against the wall, taking a moment to catch my breath. “What now?” I asked, keeping my voice equally hushed. “Aren’t the people you wanted to contact nearby?”He shook his head. “No. They’re outside the city. Far beyond the borders.”“So, what do we do?” I pressed, though I knew he didn’t have an answer yet.Kane didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back against the wall.“Give m
CATHERINE “What now?” I whispered with urgency as my mind raced.Kane’s eyes flicked toward the entrance. “We have to leave,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “If Damon’s nearby, it’s only a matter of time before he finds us.”I frowned, glancing toward the entrance as though I might catch a glimpse of the man who had caused us so much pain. “Are you sure he didn’t trail you here?”Kane shook his head firmly. “No. I would’ve smelled him on the way.” He paused. “But it doesn’t matter how he found us. His scent is getting stronger, Catherine. We can’t stay here.”His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind raced with a million questions, but the one that came out was the most immediate. “Where are we going?”His lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze scanning the cave as though answers might materialize from the stone walls. “I don’t know yet,” he admitted. “But if we want to live, we have to leave.”My stomach twisted at his words. The raw seriousness in his voic
KANEThe moment I walked into the cave, Catherine’s eyes lit up. She sat up from the makeshift bed she had put together, her body language already radiating curiosity.“Kane,” she began with urgency, “what happened? What’s the outcome of your trip?”I shrugged my shoulders and sat down opposite her, trying to gather my thoughts. “I made it to the castle,” I said. “I encountered Durmas. He was the only one there, and he filled me in on everything.”Her brows knitted in confusion. “Durmas? What was he doing there? And what did he tell you?”I recounted the entire encounter in detail: Durmas's revelations about the council’s schemes, the kill order on my head, and the council’s plans to name Damon as Alpha Regent. As I spoke, Catherine listened intently, her gaze never leaving mine. She absorbed every word, her lips pressed into a thin line.When I finished, she sat back slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought. Then, after a long pause, she tilted her head and asked, “Do you trust Durma
KANEThe quiet steps of Durmas echoed faintly against the stone walls as I followed him deeper into the castle’s underbelly. My senses were on high alert, eyes scanning for anything out of place, but my focus was split. Why was he here? And why hadn’t he sounded the alarm to the guards or Damon’s minions? As we rounded another corner, I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. "Durmas," I uttered. "What’s going on? Why are you here, and why aren’t you turning me in?"He stopped abruptly, his robes swaying slightly with the motion. Turning to face me, his expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with intensity. "After the events of the mating ceremony," he began, carrying a voice that demanded attention, "a great many things unraveled in the aftermath."I crossed my arms and arched an eyebrow. "Such as?"Durmas let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. Then, he began to recount everything that had transpired. "The council convened almo
KANEThe early morning air was crisp, the kind that bit at your skin and made every breath sharp in your lungs. I moved swiftly through the forest, the damp leaves crunching beneath my boots.I knew I shouldn’t have left so early, not in the state I was in, but I couldn’t stay idle any longer. Every fiber of my being demanded answers, even if it meant risking my life to get them. My destination was clear: the castle.As I made my way through the dense woods, my heightened senses picked up everything—the distant chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, even the faint sound of water flowing from a nearby stream. It was all background noise compared to the one sound I dreaded most: footsteps.The first sign of trouble came when I crossed the old stone bridge leading to the outskirts of the castle grounds. The scent hit me first, a group of Lycans. I took a moment to observe them and found out they were Damon’s minions.I crouched low, keeping to the shadows as I scanned the
KANEThe makeshift bed Catherine had arranged from the clothes she’d brought was a far cry from the luxury I was used to, but it served its purpose. She’d done what she could to make it comfortable, but the cramped space meant we had no choice but to share it. It wasn’t my type of thing, but I wasn’t going to complain—not when I knew how much she’d already sacrificed for me.We lay there, shoulder to shoulder and for a while, neither of us spoke. Finally, she broke the quiet. “Don’t you think I should call the doctor to check on you again?”I turned my head toward her, meeting her worried eyes. “I’m fine, Catherine,” I replied. “Now that I’m conscious and in a better state of mind, my healing abilities are kicking in. You don’t need to worry.”She frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. “That doesn’t mean you’re completely okay,” she countered. “Just because you’re awake doesn’t mean the poison’s effects are gone. You might need—”I cut her off gently but firmly. “Catherine,
KANERoaming through the endless expanse of the forest, my legs felt like lead, dragging with every step. The ground beneath me was damp and uneven, but I hardly noticed anymore. My body was running on pure instinct, driven by a hollow ache in my chest that refused to subside. The world around me had become a blur of greens and browns.And then I caught it, a faint trace of her scent. Catherine.The smell was so faint, so fleeting, that for a moment I thought I’d imagined it. My breath hitched as the familiar odour sent different emotions crashing over me: longing, anger, and that deep, gut-wrenching hurt that seemed to have taken permanent residence inside me. But the scent was too weak, diluted with something unfamiliar. Someone else.I clenched my fists, claws digging into my palms. It wasn’t her. It couldn’t be. She wouldn’t be here, not after everything. And if she was... if she was, then why did her scent carry traces of someone else? The thought alone was enough to make my bl
CATHERINE Kane's face remained stoic, his piercing gaze fixed on me, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. He didn’t outright dismiss what I had said, yet I could tell he wasn’t ready to fully accept it either.When I opened my mouth to speak again, to plead with him to understand, he cut me off with a sharp shake of his head."I need to see it for myself," he said flatly, devoid of emotion."Kane, you can’t—"He raised a hand, silencing me. "I’m going to check things out," he stated firmly, leaving little room for argument.But he had underestimated me. I was no longer the timid woman afraid to speak her mind. My voice rose, tinged with frustration and desperation. "You’re not going anywhere, Kane!"His eyes widened slightly, more in surprise than anger. I didn’t care."Do you think I’ve been running around, risking my life for you to just throw it all away with your stubbornness?" I yelled, stepping closer to him, my chest heaving. "You’re not well! The doctor said you need time