Avery’s POVThe silence settled back into the dining room like a heavy fog, as if nothing had just happened. The three of them continued to eat, unbothered, while I struggled to detach myself from the agony, from what was surely just the first of many painful moments to come in this place.Coming here was the worst mistake of my life—worse than trusting Nathan and agreeing to marry him, worse than leaving Liam three years ago. I should never have come here.Losing my pack and my position as an alpha had already wrecked me, but now things were a thousand times worse. Now, I had lost everything. I had lost myself.My mind drifted back to the present as the Alpha King rose from his seat and began to exit the dining room, his son Andrew trailing behind him. Liam remained in his place, finishing his glass of orange juice with deliberate slowness.He finally got up and walked past me, his voice low and tight as he gave a simple command “Follow me.”Every muscle in my body ached as I pushed
Liam’s POV"Liam, come to my office, I need a word with you," echoed my father's gruff voice, a stark intrusion into my thoughts.Without a word, I made my way to his study, the air growing denser with each step towards the heavy oak door. Pushing it open, the familiar sight of his expansive, cluttered desk greeted me, a fortress of paperwork and old leather. There, casting a long shadow in the dim light, stood Andrew, my half-brother, ever the silent sentinel by our father's side.I positioned myself before the desk, the silence hanging heavy as I awaited the inevitable onslaught. My father's eyes, sharp and scrutinizing, bore into me for a torturous few seconds before his voice, dripping with disdain, shattered the quiet. “Did you apologize to her for your cruel father’s actions? Promised to protect her and heal her wounds? Begged for forgiveness?”I met his gaze with a defiant scowl, ice forming in my veins. “Of course not,” I retorted, the words laced with bitterness.She would ne
Avery’s POVWith each touch to my wounded arm, I whimpered again—lost count after the hundredth time. Olive worked gently, her hands careful as she disinfected and bandaged the raw injury. I clenched my teeth, a futile attempt to barricade the sharp pain that streaked through me like lightning.Her eyes, filled with unshed tears, met mine apologetically. "Almost done, I’m so sorry if I’m hurting you," she murmured, her voice cracking with emotion.I let out a weak scoff, the sound more air than defiance. "You’re not the one who should be apologizing, Olive," I managed to say, my voice thick with the effort of holding back tears.I caught the hesitation in her eyes, the slight tension as she paused, biting her lip. I could sense she was holding back words, probably the urge to remind me that some of this was on me—that had I just kept my head down, refrained from challenging them through staying quiet when asked a question or for saying the wrong answer, maybe I wouldn't be sitting her
Avery’s POVHis mouth opened slightly, a flicker of surprise etching across his face at my bold defiance. Despite his chilling threats and stern warnings, which I had brazenly cast aside, he seemed momentarily taken aback. But really, he should have known better; after all, he knew me quite well.In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere shifted violently. I was slammed against the wall with a force that knocked the breath from my lungs. His hand clamped around my neck, his grip iron-tight, pinning me mercilessly in place. "You keep this up, there might not be any promise left to uphold," he hissed, his voice deadly quiet. "I’m not even sure you’ll survive being a slave here."Before I could muster a response, he brandished a syringe from nowhere. With a swift, calculated movement, he plunged the needle deep into the side of my neck, injecting its contents into my bloodstream. I winced at the sharp, unexpected pain and gasped, taken completely off
Liam’s POVI loosened my iron grip on her wrists, which had been pinned mercilessly above her head to quell her earlier resistance. As I stepped back, a complex mix of emotions churned within me. The raw intensity of our earlier conflict still echoed in my veins, mingling with a piercing sense of remorse. I watched her carefully, noting each pained expression that flitted across her face.She moved towards the nightstand with slow, halting steps, each one seeming to cost her more than the last. Her body trembled uncontrollably, a visible testament to the brutal effects of the wolfsbane that ravaged her system. The sight of her so vulnerable, so utterly debilitated, stirred a turbulent sea of guilt and regret inside me.My emotions were a tangled skein of conflict and remorse. As I observed her painful, shuddering progress, a profound sense of guilt washed over me. It was a stark contrast to the power I had wielded just moments before. This guilt was not just for
Liam’s POVWe retreated to my bedroom, the silence between us heavy and unbroken. Without turning to look at her, I issued a curt command, my voice devoid of warmth. "Go to sleep." I then made my way to my own bed, my thoughts churning tumultuously.Rest was the last thing on my mind. Instead, I yearned to release the beast within, to transform into my wolf form and race through the night, muscles stretching and lungs burning, to purge even a sliver of the emotional chaos that gripped me. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to leave her alone, vulnerable and isolated in this cold, unfamiliar place. Trust was a scarce commodity here; only Olive had proven loyal, and she had already spent the day by her side.My inner wolf, Sean, stirred within me, his growl resonant with deep-seated anger. "You don't deserve an outlet for your pain as long as she is suffering," he accused, his voice a harsh whisper in my mind. He understood the reasons behind my actions, perhaps e
Liam’s POVAvery's soft cries continued their relentless assault on my heart, each sob slicing through me with a precision that was almost surgical. Her tears soaked into my neck, a warm, salty cascade that seeped down into the pillow beneath my head, marking the very spot where my resolve crumbled entirely.Holding her even tighter, I murmured words steeped in regret, my voice a low, remorseful hum against the backdrop of her anguish. "I'm so sorry, Avery. I never wanted to do this to you. It was the only way to protect you. I'm really sorry."Her response came as a shivering whisper, her words punctuated by the chills that racked her feverish body. "No, you're not. I hate you, you're a liar. You enjoyed it."Despite the sting of her accusations, a small, involuntary smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. This fierce, defiant spark was undeniably Avery—unbroken and unafraid. She was no longer cowering before me; instead, she dared to speak
Avery’s POV"Get up, Slave," a rough voice commanded from above me. I stirred, the remnants of sleep clinging to my consciousness. The pain that had enveloped me the night before had dulled to a persistent ache, yet my body was drenched in sweat, my clothes glued uncomfortably to my skin. My hair felt damp against my neck and shoulders, and my mouth was parched, as dry as the desert winds. Shifting slightly, I turned my head and my eyes locked with Liam's. His gaze was dark, intense, almost piercing.As we stared at each other, something stirred within my mind—fuzzy, blurry, and dreamlike. Flashes of scenes from the previous night flickered before me, scenes that seemed incongruous with the monster he had been yesterday.Fragmented images haunted me—of him cradling my face tenderly in the sterile light of the bathroom, his eyes brimming with a torment so piercing it threatened to splinter my heart. He was pleading with me, his voice thick with
Liam’s POVI lost all semblance of control. The floodgates burst open, irreparably so, because of her. She, who wrenched open a chasm within me that could never again be sealed. From the moment she re-entered my life, the cracks began to spread—each pained glance, each subdued whimper, each involuntary flinch, each shadow of fear she cast, gnawed at the edges of my composure. I fought desperately to shore up the breaches, erecting frail pillars of resolve to stave off the inevitable collapse. Yet, all my efforts crumbled to dust the moment I witnessed her lips press against my brother’s in a kiss laden with the unmistakable sweetness of falling in love.In that instant, I plunged into the depths of my own despair, a torrential downpour flooding my senses, submerging me. I thrashed wildly, struggling to breathe, to surface, but the water was unyielding. Suffocating. And she—she seemed to bask in my torment, flaunting her newfound affection not on
Avery’s POVWhen I remained frozen, rooted to the spot by a mix of fear and defiance, his grip on my collar tightened abruptly. The sudden pressure stole the breath from my lungs, forcing a sharp gasp to escape my lips. His eyes, cold and unyielding, bore into me as he leaned in closer, his voice a venomous whisper that left no room for disobedience. “You better not make me repeat my orders everytime, Slave. Strip. All your clothes off. Now.”His words hung heavy in the air, an ultimatum that echoed ominously in the small, stark room, reinforcing the gravity of my situation. His demeanor was unrelenting, his authority absolute, and in that moment, the reality of my powerlessness crystallized painfully within me.What was he planning next? The question gnawed at me, but I knew better than to voice it; his answers were never straightforward.He released his grip abruptly and stepped back, his eyes alight with a fiery menace that promised p
Avery’s POVI moved with cautious steps, acutely aware of the tension thickening the air between us. Uncertainty clouded my thoughts—I wasn't sure what churned in his mind, or how deep his anger might run after discovering me in a stolen kiss with his brother. My choice had been my own, free and deliberate, but now, as we stood locked away in his bedroom, silence was my only refuge. He paced the room, a relentless predator in his own domain, casting not even a fleeting glance my way. One hundred and sixty seconds felt like an eternity in that charged stillness.A knot of fear tightened in my chest, fear of what he might do next, what harsh words might fall from his lips. The possibility of being wounded again, either by his actions or his words, loomed over me. Yet, beneath that fear, a stubborn determination took root. I needed to understand his true feelings, to see the heart of the man I once knew.Was I truly nothing more to him than a despised slave, a breaker of his heart, a
Avery’s POVI hadn't known what to expect from this impulsive leap, but the last thing I imagined was enjoying our kiss so much, or getting utterly lost in the sudden, intense surge of emotions it sparked within me.I melted into him, my body quivering slightly with pleasure from the delicious sensation of his lips pressed against mine. Just when I thought it couldn't get any more intense, he deepened the kiss with a bold stroke of his tongue, and from that moment, I was utterly and irrevocably lost in him.Unexpected, too, was how much he seemed to enjoy the kiss. His hands were gentle yet deliberate as they cradled my face, tilting my head to better explore the depths of our kiss.We only broke apart when the need for air overcame us, but even then, he kept his forehead pressed against mine. We stared into each other's eyes, silent and wide-eyed, our mutual surprise at this unforeseen intimacy hanging palpably between us.Want to know what else I wasn’t expecting?A very not expecte
Avery’s POV"Are you trying to get me into trouble?" I asked, my gaze sharpening into a narrow slit, suspicion threading through my voice. It seemed implausible, his sudden generosity, as if the darkness in his heart had suddenly turned altruistic."Letting me shift and run around only to snatch me back, claiming I was trying to escape the pack?" I threw the words at him like accusations, waiting to see how he'd maneuver around them.His response was a grin that unfurled slowly across his face, amusement sparkling in his eyes. “That’s an overactive imagination you’ve got. Ever think about writing thriller novels?” he teased, his tone light but not diminishing the seriousness of my concern."I do not trust you, Andrew," I declared, the formality of titles slipping away unnoticed—or perhaps inconsequentially—as he let the conversation flow. "Call me paranoid all you want, but I've learned the hard way. Anyone can betray you, no matter how close they seem or how trustworthy they may appe
Avery’s POV"So let's say, just for argument's sake, that I believe you. What exactly were you rescuing me from?" I asked, my voice low and steady, attempting to mask the uncertainty that fluttered like a caged bird within my chest."If I told you... I'd have to kill you," he replied, the sarcasm in his voice thick enough to cut through the chilled air between us."Touché," I retorted sharply. "And what's stopping me from mindlinking your brother?" My challenge hung heavy, a tangible force in the growing tension.His expression shifted, a flicker of intrigue crossing his features as he stepped closer, closing the distance between us with a single, deliberate movement. I fought every instinct telling me to retreat, to maintain distance, as he leaned in, his breath faintly sweet with the scent of vanilla, whispering intensely, "Am I hurting you, Avery?"His proximity was overwhelming, his scent enveloping me, so fierce it invaded all my senses. For a moment, I was rendered speechless, m
Avery’s POVTrue to his chilling promise, the echo of Liam’s footsteps had barely faded when his so-called 'loyal' men appeared. Two hearts beat steadily outside the locked door—ominous drumbeats to my impending fate.They stood in silence, sentinels of doom, merely waiting for the moment to act. Their presence was palpable, a heavy weight in the air, even through the barrier that separated us.In the stifling quiet of the room, I lay on his bed, pulling his pillow close. I inhaled deeply, the scent of him—intoxicating and painfully sweet—lingering in the fabric. It was pathetic, perhaps, but I clung to the aroma of the man who haunted both my dreams and nightmares. It was all I had left of the Liam I once knew, a feeble balm for the raw edges of my shredded heart.An hour ticked by—slow, inexorable minutes that stretched into an eternity of waiting. Then, Andrew's voice shattered the silence, sharp and commanding. "Lea
Avery’s POVSeveral quiet days drifted by, marked by a surprising absence of incidents, pain, or punishment. The oppressive presence of Wolfsbane had finally vacated my system. Clarity returned to my mind, the constant ache in my body subsided, and my wounds—those visible reminders of past torments—had fully healed.Each day unfolded with the same monotonous rhythm. I worked tirelessly in the kitchen from the early morning light until the shadows of evening stretched long and dark. Night after night, Liam himself would escort me from the clatter of pots and the warm kitchen smells back to the solitude of his bedroom after his familial dinners. Thankfully, I managed to avoid running into his father or brother during these transitions. Their absence was a small mercy, for each encounter with them was like brushing against a dark cloud of malevolence.Liam and I existed in a strange bubble of mutual disinterest. Since the night he handed me a bag of M&Ms—a token laden with bitter memorie
Liam’s POVMy hand hung in the air, waiting expectantly for the note she had hinted at earlier. As I lifted my arm towards her, I heard her heartbeat quicken, her chest rising and falling rapidly with the fear that my gesture incited. The sight cut through me, a sharp pang of pain at her instinctive terror.Despite the fear shadowing her eyes, she continued to challenge me with her words, her defiance unyielding. It was perplexing—her relentless audacity to speak her mind so freely. Each word she uttered was a test, pushing the boundaries of my patience. I found myself caught between admiration for her snarky resilience and frustration at her blatant disregard for the consequences she might face.With a tremulous breath, she finally pulled out a small piece of paper from her pocket and handed it over. My fingers brushed against hers as I took it, feeling the slight tremor of her hand. Unfolding the note, I read the few words scrawled across it, each one a blatant provocation. My bl