Berrilyl's POVI sat still in the quiet of my room, my mind a storm of confusion and frustration. My thoughts were consumed by the same question that had been plaguing me for weeks: why hadn’t William come looking for me? I had been taken from him, kept captive by Cage, yet there had been no sign of a search. No attempts at rescue. No word from him at all.I shifted uncomfortably, trying to push the thought away, but it refused to leave me. The silence from William made no sense. He had always been protective, always there when I needed him, so why hadn’t he done anything?A part of her wondered if Cage’s explanation of the situation had some truth to it. Perhaps William was too busy with other matters, or perhaps he really hadn’t known where to look. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it, that something wasn’t right.I paced the room, the floorboards creaking under my weight. I had heard Cage mention things that didn’t sit well with me, things about po
Berrilyl's POV After the pandemonium had subsided, Cage stood his gaze looking carefully through the scene. The two men who laying dead on the floor had already been taken away. The attack had come without warning, and the deaths of his men were a painful reminder of how vulnerable they could still be.“Secure the perimeter,” Cage ordered. His voice was firm, carrying authority. The guards nodded and scattered to follow his orders. There was no time for grief now; they needed to know if there were more enemies hiding nearby, waiting to strike.He turned to the soldiers who had gathered the bodies. “Make sure the dead are buried properly. Both of them,” Cage added, his voice softer now. It wasn’t just his men who had fallen, but they were his responsibility, and that meant giving them a proper burial, no matter the circumstances.Jake, who had stood next to him, observed the men leaving. His face was strained as he turned to face Cage. He whispered, "I don't trust anyone," as he glanc
Berrilyl's POVThe cold, damp walls of the cell were growing all too familiar. I leaned against the rough stone, trying to block out the ache in my back and the faint stench of mildew clinging to the air. My wrists still showed the faint bruises from the last time they'd dragged me here, but it wasn't the discomfort that bothered me, it was the bitter taste of humiliation.Again and again, I was cast aside as if my words were but empty air.Steps rattled through the corridor; it was so narrow. I came straight up and then flicked a strand of hair away from my face. A small window on the cell door slid open, showing me an expectedly familiar face, Grace.She came into the room, her head held high, as always superior, her footsteps deliberate. This time, she didn't carry a tray of food with her just that knowing smirk, that set me on edge."You really can't help yourself, can you?" she said, crossing her arms. "Your mouth is going to get you killed one day."I let out a short, bitter lau
Berrilyl's POVI stood stiffly in the corner, the tension in the room thick enough to cut through with a knife. I could feel my heart thump as Cage took one stride forward, his gaze piercing cold upon the spies' blood-smeared forms kneeling at his feet.Who sent you?" Cage's voice was quiet, almost detached, but the weight of command behind the words left no argument.The spies didn't answer. Their heads were still hung low, their swollen lips leaking blood onto the floor. Watching them, a weird feeling twisted in my tummy, I didn’t know if it was pity and anticipation mixed up. Were they terrified or just too loyal to be sensible?When Cage spoke again, his words sent a shiver down my spine. “And while we’re at it,” he said, his eyes narrowing dangerously, “tell me if there’s another spy in this room.”There was a brief, strained silence in the room before my gaze turned instinctively to Grace. She was standing to the left of Cage, her face was blank, but I noticed her jaw stiffened
Cage's POVI stormed into my chambers. Grace trailed after me, her soft footsteps were hesitant but persistent. "I'm sorry for all that happened, it wouldn't have happened if I was careful enough all these wouldn't have happened. It's just the feud we had that day that caused it" Grace said. She kept trying to make me calm down. Everything that was happening was very annoying. All my plans were falling into place and we were working as planned but suddenly it was falling. This was the best time to execute most of my major plans only for me to find out that there were some spies in my pack.I was ready to kill whoever that person was. My long plan couldn't just easily get wasted like that"I can't believe Berrilyl would dare accuse me," she began, her tone tinged with disbelief. "After everything I've done for her. I’ve treated her with nothing but care and respect, and this is how she repays me?" Grace said her voice breaking. She sounded so sad.I didn't immediately respond. My fin
Berrilyl's POVI had just begun to feel like myself again, the lingering fatigue from my recent illness slowly fading. But when Talia approached me with Cage’s message, the fragile peace she’d built shattered. The maid’s words struck like a hammer. “Alpha Cage has ordered that you take over the kitchen duties for the day,” Talia said cautiously, her voice low. I blinked, stunned into silence for a moment. “What?” I finally managed, my voice sharp. Talia glanced around nervously. There were guests milling about nearby, their polite conversations barely masking the tension in the air. “It’s his order,” Talia repeated. “He expects you to prepare his meal and manage the kitchen for the day.” I clenched my hands into fists at my sides. I also felt the heat rising in her chest, my anger bubbled dangerously close to the surface. I had barely recovered from the torment they put me and now he was trying to add more to it, he wanted to burden me with an entire day’s worth of work. “T
Berrilyl's POVThe tray of dirty plates felt heavier with each step, though I knew the weight had more to do with my pride than the dishes themselves. My hands shook slightly as I grasped the edges, doing my best to keep my face impassive. The jeers and mocking whispers from the other maids burned in my ears, but I forced myself to ignore them."Look at her, acting all high and mighty. Bet she thought she'd never have to do a real day's work," one maid snickered loudly."Guess the little princess doesn't like getting her hands dirty," another chimed in, her tone dripping with malice.I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood, but I didn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me react. Their laughter followed me as I made my way to the kitchen, each step a bitter reminder of how far I'd fallen.When I finally pushed my way through the kitchen doors, I let out a small sigh of relief. It was deserted except for the remnants of the smell of prepared food and the mild clatter of
Cage's POV The room was tight, thick with accusations I could just about feel pushing against my skin. I watched in silence as Berrilyl froze, her face a mask of shock before it morphed into one of defiance. Her lips parted to say something, but no words came out at first. It was as if she couldn't fathom what was happening."I didn't do it!" she finally burst out, her voice loud and desperate, her eyes darting between Grace and me, wide with disbelief. "I would never.Grace cut her off smoothly, her tone calm but laced with an edge that made my jaw tighten. "You can deny it all you want, Berrilyl, but I saw you. Do you think I'd make something like this up?"I turned to Grace, taking in the sheen of sweat on her forehead, the slight shake in her hands. She looked really sick. Yet, there was a part of me, some buried fragment of doubt.Explain yourself, Berrilyl," I said calmly, folding my arms. "Why would Grace lie about something like this?" Berrilyl whipped her head around to me,
Cage's POVThe room had fallen into heavy silence after the rogues were done talking. The words lingered in the air like a thick fog, and the weight of their accusation was choking. The rogues had revealed their truth which made everything shift. It looked like the Great Elder and the elders were trying hard to maintain calm.I glared at the Great Elder, my stare cold, unyielding. They were trying hard to conceal their panic-it was an open book before me. They had been found out, and no denial would cover up what had just transpired.I took a deep breath and let the silence out, my voice firm as I spoke to the room. "Does anybody have anything to say?" My words cut like a knife through tension. "Anything to refute what's just been said?There was silence for a while. The Great Elder's eyes flickered towards the other elders, and I saw them exchange looks subtly. They were waiting for one of them to break the silence, waiting for the Great Elder to answer.Finally, after what felt like
Cage's POVI stayed seated, my eyes fixed on the great Elder as he spat venomous words at me while other Elders watched."You are a traitor. Going behind our backs to do shady things for your selfish benefit. You don't think about us at all. The consequences of your actions. Killing one of my sons was nothing to you and you dare question me. Why?" He lamented woefully.The continuous accusations made some of them, who were satisfied with the ongoing confrontations, feel like they could question me, too. So, one by one, they asked me questions, trying to prove me guilty and suspicious."Why would you question him like that? Making him seem suspicious. What are you trying to insinuate?" One asked."Did you truly kill his son?" Another elder feigned shock. The Elders with him joined in, their voice rising in a cacophony of accusations. But I remained calm, my expression unreadable.The Great Elder bellowed "You are a liar Cage!, You might be planning to betray us this very moment" I did
Cage's POVI sat in the middle chair of the conference room, my fingers steepled in front of me, my face expressionless. A half-circle of Elders sat stiffly to my left and right, some arms crossed, others leaning back as if their time was too precious to be wasted here. Irritation, impatience, and worst of all, disrespect, were mirrored in every pair of eyes."Why have you called this emergency meeting, Alpha?" asked one of the Elders’s wiry men whose tone clipped and dismissed easily. "Some of us do have more important things to deal with rather than indulge your whims."A soft murmur of agreement rustled around the room. My jaw tightened, but I didn't react. Instead, I merely stared at them, letting the weight of my silence press against their arrogance.It was at this point that it dawned on me: I had been so thoroughly hooked up on my desire for vengeance, my urge to squash whatever was in my way, that I had forgotten my Pack. I had let control slip right through my fingers and al
Author's POVThe Great Elder stood firm not scared of Milano's treat, he looked at Milano with anger in his. Still refusing to leave, and the Elders with him agreed. They felt something was wrong, something in the air was off. They didn’t trust Milano or what was happening. But they weren’t going to give in. The Elders kept saying the same thing—Cage should come and meet them personally, not send his messenger. They would not leave until that happened.Well, I am not interested in your demands or whatever you have to say. I am here for a reason, and am not going to waste time. Milano said as he moved slowly toward one of the Great Elder’s sons, the one who had been shouting insults and trying to act tough. He had been yelling at Milano, thinking his position and family power would protect him. But Milano didn’t even flinch. Without saying a word, he moved towards the older son and grabbed his arm, twisting it suddenly with a sharp movement. A loud snap echoed as the bone broke, and th
Author's POVThe Great Elder stood up from his seat, his face showing explicit dissatisfaction. Still, there was more than that dissatisfaction-an uneasy feeling crawled up in his chest, which he couldn't get rid of. His warriors that rushed in spoke in hurried and stuttered words, seemingly scared by whatever had happened.We... we were attacked, Elder. Ambushed. We did not see it coming. The enemy—" One of the warriors tried to conclude, but his eyes were shaking in fear.The room fell silent, as the other Elders stared at each other, incredulous and concerned. No one could believe what they were being told. The mansion of the Great Elder was always a safe place, always secure.Who dares to attack us?" asked another Elder, full of anger and confusion in his tone. "Who has the guts to challenge the Great Elder's mansion?The Great Elder did not waste any time as he ordered his close subordinates to handle it straight away. "Assemble the warriors and find out who did this; take care o
Author's POVThe grand dining hall of the great Elder's mansion shimmered under the glow of golden chandeliers. The long, polished table was adorned with the finest silverware, rich meats and the most exquisite wines that were hard to find.At the head of the table, the great Elder sat, his eyes gleamed with arrogance as he lifted his goblet filled to the brim with a deep crimson wine.The middle-aged men seated with him were all dressed in fine garments, and they looked important. Their faces lit with eager anticipation. Behind them, silent servants stood attentively ready to refill their glasses and plates at any moment.The great Elder laughed heartily as he toasted his guest, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "To our future success!" He exclaimed, with pride and confidence."With Cage and his subordinate finally out of the way, the pack would be ours. Everything in it would become ours. Every single thing" He looked at his wine and laughed at it like a very crazy man. One of the
Cage's POVHe instantly understood what I said and in a jiffy, new secret guards streamed in and surrounded the rouges.The rouges stumbled backwards, their eyes darting wildly as they struggled to process the sudden turn of events. Their leader's face contorted into a mixture of disbelief and fear. His shoulders sagged as his confidence fell. He looked at me with regret, his composure almost slipping."This shouldn't be happening!" He exclaimed, his voice shattering into a thousand pieces. "Fight back. Fight With your best," one of the rogue leaders ordered as he saw his rouge warriors getting overpowered."It's way too late for that. The probability of you guys winning is too thin. You better accept defeat" I looked him straight in the eye and told him.He unleashed a fury of rage, launching himself at me with tremendous force. Anticipating his attack, I swiftly moved away, blocking it. With a loud growl, he sped past me and slammed into the wall."Oops," I grinned with satisfaction
Cage's POVThe instant the scream from Berrilyl reached my ears, my heart contracted in a way it shouldn't have. My body had moved well before my brain kicked in and I turned sharply in the direction of her voice. I caught her running toward me, a look of concern twisting her face, along with something else, it was fear.In That split second, the distraction almost cost me my life.A rogue caught me out of focus and charged at me, his blade was aimed right at my exposed side; I barely had time to react. Instinct kicked in, and I twisted my body in time, the blade grazing across my ribs instead of burying into my flesh. The pain was sharp, but I pushed it aside, countering it with a vicious strike that sent the rogue stumbling back.I hadn't had a chance to finish him off.Berrilyl was too close now, too close."What are you doing?!" I snapped at her, latching onto her arm and yanking her behind me. My grip was firm as my heart still hammered in my chest from the near miss.The rogue
Cage's POVTonight, the air is weighted with unvoiced challenge. I sit at the far edge of Mansion's yard, my body bent and tensed on guard. The torches from behind the stone walls seemed to threaten and would violently hang, casting malicious shadowing alongside me in silence. Miliano stood on my right-hand side, still as a ghoulish smile stretched his tanned skin from nose to neck end."Bring the secret guard and surround the Mansion," I ordered, having my voice drop steady, emotionless when inside me chaos brewed.Miliano nodded profoundly. "Aye." And with that, he turned on his heel and motioned for the men we had trained in secret to take their position. They shifted like ghosts and moved into their positions, efficient but silent; slipping into darkness as if they were spawned from it.Just as we were going to make our move, I felt it, the unnatural shift in the air, followed by the distant yet unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. Lots of them. My instincts screamed a war