Berrilyl's POV I watched as the Young Mistress, who had once stood so tall and proud, stood now, her eyes filled with an emptiness, strange and unreal. The confident, almost arrogant expression was gone, replaced by something I couldn't quite place something fragile. It was as if the weight of what she had done, or perhaps what she had been forced to do, had broken her in ways no one could see. But despite the pain in her eyes, despite what was much struggle, no pity did I feel for her.I don't feel sorry. Not for her. The way that she had conducted herself with me, in a manner that always sought to inflict hurt upon me through her use of power over me, had hardened my heart toward her. Now that she was standing wounded and crumpled in front of me, I wasn't able to care.I watched her closely, trying to understand what had happened to her. Why was she hurt? What had caused her to fall from the position she had so arrogantly held? The questions filled my mind, but I knew it didn't mat
Author's POVCandlelight bathed the luxurious room in a warm light, casting its glow over William as he lounged on the velvet divan. His second wife sat beside him; she poured wine with a gentle touch, her eyes locked on his with a soft, adoring gaze.She had given him what he had always wanted so it was right to spend it. Time with her, unlike his first, whom he thought was useless and provoking.He couldn't wait for his heir to finally come to life, and now that there was no screaming, he felt relieved and things were going accordingly.His lips curved as he looked at her, the tension between them charged with a sensual current.William accepted the wine from her meeting her seductive gaze as she handed it to him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.Moving closer to him she tells him how she loves him and is ready to be with him for the rest of her life. He replied with a smile that glowed with satisfaction.This was what he needed, a person who could soothe him, not be a nagging
Author's POVTalia stood in the kitchen, her hands chopping vegetables, yet her mind was barely present. With no pressing obligations, she found herself doing the task at hand cause she had nothing better to do. The low murmurs of the maids drifted towards her; slowly, their conversation broke the rhythm of her work. They spoke of men who had been captured as they tried to fight Cage. Some said that they were rogues. Everyone had different views. It was not the first time Talia had heard of them. The pack was always good at defending itself from enemies with help from its bright and brave soldiers. But what truly caught her attention was a name that made her fingers falter and her heart crack."Jake was incredible. If it weren't for him the battle could have taken a much worse turn""In my opinion. It's Milano""No, our Alpha is the best"The maids argued over who was better. Hearing them say Jake did so great it made her feel happy and proud of him. She was glad that he was able t
Cage's POVI woke up gasping. My chest was tight my hands clammy, and the flashes of a familiar nightmare still filled my mind. The details were already slipping away, but the sensation of dread lingered. It always did.I ran my hand down my face, smearing off the sweat that was on my forehead. The room was in semi-darkness, for heavy curtains were drawn such that only a sliver of morning light was allowed in. I let out a loud puff of breath and heaved myself up, the concrete slab that seemed to drop in my stomach weighed heavy against my limbs. Sleep was never a friend to me, and that night had been no different.I crossed the room to the corner where I kept a bottle of alcohol, reached for a cup, and poured a drink without giving it a second thought. The burning sensation went down my throat, contrasting with the cold hollowness spreading inside. It was a habit now, not one I was proud of, yet not willing to give up either.I leaned back against the wall, my fingers tightening aroun
Cage's POVI sat there, gripping onto the edge of my chair, staring at nothing. The weight of my thoughts pressed in around me, and it was hard to breathe, hard to think.I should have been strategizing. I should have been preparing for what came next. Instead, my mind was tangled in something or rather, someone—else.Berrilyl.I exhaled sharply and dragged a hand through my hair.She was a ghost of my past, an injury I wanted to open again so she could at least glimpse the anguish she had cost me. However much I had been trying to convince myself, this was the reason, that uncomfortable feeling within my chest did not let loose.She did not remember me.Had she lied? Did you play a trick? Or, in my absence, had something happened to her, really wiped me from her memory?For the first time in years, I felt lost.I just didn't know what to do next."Are you going to sit around and brood all day?Miliano's voice pulled me out of my reverie. I hadn't even heard him move, but there he was
Cage's POVAs I stepped into the pack centre, which was a bare land at the centre of the pack, different from the rest of the palace that glowed with beauty, I could feel the weight of the day's event falling upon me. It was as if the stars knew that something ugly was going to happen. It was usually very peaceful and lovely but as it looked down at the traitors. The sky became irritating and unusual.Berrilyl looked at me surprised because my eyes showed reluctance as opposed to the agile and sinister pleasure she must have been expecting from me.There was no way she still cared even though she saved me. It might have been accidental or just out of impulse. Something was wrong with me, I had been thinking of her so much that it had affected me badly because I hurt her. My heart was confused.I tried my best to let go of the thought as I took my seat at the forefront, my eyes scanning the sea of faces before me.Berrilyl stood tall and silent behind me; her presence brought me comfor
Berrilyl's POVHer gaze snapped to mine, her eyes flashing with defiance but Cage stood firm, his expression unyielding she didn't dare oppose him.Slowly, she released her grip on my arms, her chest heaving with ragged breaths.As the guards closed in to restrain her, the young mistress' eyes locked onto mine once more. "You'll pay for this" she spat, her voice venomous. "You'll pay for what you've caused me. You will"I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the once mighty Young mistress, now reduced to an utter state of despair and nothingness."I hate you!" Her eyes blazed with a force intensity as she yelled hysterically. Her face was a mixture of rage and desperation. The air was thick with the weight of her curses, directed squarely at both Cage and Berrilyl, whom she accused of framing her family.Despite the dramatic scene unfolding before her, Berrilyl felt no pang of pity or remorse. Her expression remained impassive, a mask of indifference that hid her true thoughts. She had witne
Berrilyl's POVI walked over to Talia and didn't disturb her, going ahead with my work. Trying not to be too loud and draw attention to myself, I began preparing for the next meal: cleaning up and organizing the kitchen space. I was used to working in silence, and this moment felt like a small reprieve from the chaos that always surrounded the Packhouse.Meanwhile, Talia washed the dishes. She didn't seem to mind my presence, though I could tell she was distracted. I watched her for a while, noticing how slowly she moved as if her thoughts were elsewhere.I watched her, and a wave of worry washed over me. The idea was really to ask her what was going on, to try and understand what was bothering her, but at the same time, I would not like to intrude, let alone make her uncomfortable. She just looked so lost in her thoughts, and if she wasn't ready to say anything, then I did not want to pressure her. So, I continued with my work, deciding to leave her alone in the meantime.As I turned
Berrilyl's POVTo my surprise, I heard that my brother's pack was left with no alpha and it had been taken over by some group of greedy wolves. The best part of it was that his Luna wife and the others were taken as concubine under the current leader apart from his wife Lucia who had gone earlier with some people of the pack who believed of in her and some of the slaves in the palace that agreed to help her escape. All the slaves he captured had been set free by Lucia but the ones who stayed due to greedy reason were now all under their new leader.In my opinion, Lucia was very lucky she could escape with some of the people I knew were righteous. The rest of them that I even had as friends were all sleeping with Owens behind my back so I didn't care what happened to them since they didn't bother deceiving me or hurting my feelings. They enjoyed my brother and Owens so they could also enjoy the aftermath. I just felt bad a little since I had many memories there but soon I realized t
Berrilyl's POV"Are you still in love with that idiot after everything he put you through?" William asked but I ignored him. What I needed was a way that I could make Cage forgive me for everything that I did. For every single thing that happened between us that I ruined, the people that died and leaving his face like that. There were just too many when I thought of it, and I didn't know how exactly I was going to make him forgive me. I figured out that I'd continue to try no matter what. He was the only true love I ever had."You are thinking about him. Aren't you?" William said looking at me with anger and frustration."Of course I am. Why not?""Really Sis? He punished you. Killed Owens. Turned you into a public slave, allowed people to mistreat you like you were nothing!""Yes, I know. And Owens's death was caused by Cage, and to me, it's a good thing because you knew that bastard was cheating on me, and you encouraged me to get married to him, and with what I did, I kinda deser
Cage's POVI arrived on the scene to witness something that I had not expected: William, cold and firm, was denying Berrilyl. The words coming out of his mouth were so bitter, as if he had no second thought, no remorse about what he was telling her. His eyes, which were usually so cold, were colder, harder than ever. He gazed at her as a stranger, as a failure, as something that could be discarded. There was no sympathy on his face, only complete disinterest.Berrilyl was before him, her own face twisted and pale with feeling. I could observe the shame and remorse reflected in her eyes.I remained in the entrance, observing them, trying to comprehend what I was seeing. A part of me that continued to resent her. The lies, the hypocrisy, that she had been an accomplice to so much pain. But part of me felt sympathy for her. She was also used, duped by the man she loved more than anyone. I was torn at the time, between my anger at her for what she'd done, and the sense that she was a vict
Berrilyl's POVI wasn't Cage's pack.Five years ago, I had arrived as a lost, wounded wolf with no memory, a stranger to the life they provided. I had woken up in an unfamiliar bed, the scent of herbs thick in the air, my body rattled and shuddering with my injuries.The first thing I remembered seeing was him.Cage.Even then, he had been powerful, his presence overpowering. His golden eyes had looked at me with curiosity, but there had been something more. concern, maybe, or wariness. He had saved me, but he had been wary, as if he knew that my arrival wasn't as innocent as it seemed.I had clung to the emptiness in my mind, pretending that I didn't know myself. That I wasn't the daughter of the Pierce blood. That I wasn't the princess of an unfriendly pack.That I wasn't a spy.But I had been.And Cage had been the target.I had been sent in to get inside his pack, to gain his trust, and to report back to my brother, William. It had been a simple mission. One that I had carried out
Berrilyl's POVI stood there in shock, my eyes fixed on Cage's. My heart was pounding within me, my head spinning from what he'd told me. He'd been so serious, as if he knew so for certain, speaking of something from my past that I didn't remember myself.I didn't believe him, I just didn't want to do that.I couldn't get the words I'd heard him say out of my head.It was William, my brother whom he had raised up, who guarded me, and who had always cared for me. Cage, however, abducted me, he enslaved me, and now he expected me to embrace his reality?I clenched my fists tight, biting the nails of my palms as I spun around and ran towards my room.I needed to get my head together.The moment I closed the door behind me, I inhaled deeply and my chest tightened in rage. My emotions were all tangled up, but one thing was for sure, I just couldn't believe Cage.I jumped at the knock at the door. My body hardened. Had Cage returned?I hesitated and crept toward the door, slowly opening it
Berrilyl's POVWhen I regained my consciousness I looked around and found myself in a very dark place that I could at first hardly see a thing. I tried raising my hands and felt severe pain; I was wounded in different places; it was so painful, and some were deep.Despite that I knew I had to get out of where I was, so I mustered all the courage in me to crawl out of the damn dark room and started shouting for help. My voice wasn't as loud as usual but I did my best to sound loud."Hahaha, oh my! See who's on the floor behaving like a snail. Who's in charge now? You disgusting asshole" I heard a voice say but couldn't clearly identify it."Does your head still hurt? I mean, does your body hurt? I remember throwing you in here, and it made a very loud thud," the man said again, and I realized it was none other than Cain. He had come back to take revenge on me. It became clear to me that all my crawling and shouting was useless and trying to run away from him was hardly going to be im
Cage's POV If someone had helped William escape from the hidden dungeon and find a way out of here, it either meant that he had brought someone with him who we didn't capture and was sneaking around then saw the perfect opportunity to let him go or we had a spy among us.The thought of having a spy in our midst left me dumbfounded. The spy must have known our pack so we'll that the hidden dungeon wasn't only unhidden but could be operated by whoever the spy was.Was I this careless to have never figured it out? When the spies were killed all of a sudden, I should have known there was still more to it, but I blamed Berrilyl since she always had more than one way of communicating with her brother, and I was caught up in so many problems that I forgot to investigate such a dangerous attempt further.Even if he had a someone with him who we didn't capture, there was no way the person would have got through the guards, the security system was tight which meant the only way he could escape
Cage's POVI wasn't that intoxicated. I was just tipsy. I knew where I was and what I was doing, still. But even with the alcohol in my system, I could feel my mind slipping, becoming less clear, less sharp. The edges of my world blurred, and everything felt a little lighter and easier to deal with.With that said, I didn't attack Berrilyl. She had already left, and something made me know it was not yet time to follow her. She was angry and scared. I could see that from her eyes as she turned her back on me. But she needed space, and I knew that if I followed her, things would just get worse. It was not the first time Berrilyl had left me, and I knew it would not be the last. So I simply released her.I did what I always did whenever I had to focus on other things instead. I took a hold of the mask again. It was more about obscuring my mind, and my emotions rather than hiding my face. My feelings. My thoughts. The mask gave me a feeling of control and detachment. Wearing it, I felt so
Berrilyl's POVIt was a day to my engagement already, and I had decided to carry out my plan. I had prepared for days now on how to escape, but the only way out that I could think of was to get rid of Cage. It was the last thing I could think of to save myself from getting married to him, and tonight I was going to carry out my plan.The night was calm as I walked down the halls of the mansion. There was just the soft thud of my steps against the quiet. My heart was racing, and I felt this crazy mix of fear and resolve. Was I going to do it? I stood before Cage's door.My mind was telling me that this was what I needed to do, but my body was tense and unsure. I'd never been more nervous in my life. I'd practiced this moment so many times in my mind, but now that it was here, it wasn't quite the same. Still, I could not go back. I had to move forward.I pushed the door inward slowly, as quietly as possible. The room was black except for the feeble flickering of candle flames at the ed