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