MADDOXThe sharp knock on the door jarred me out of my focus. Seraphine’s trembling form was beneath me, her defiance finally subdued, her breath uneven. My hand gripped her chin, forcing her to hold my gaze even though I could see the hatred blazing in her eyes.“Don’t look away,” I murmured, my tone low and commanding. This was the moment I relished the most—the moment when her loathing dissolved into submission.But the knock came again. Louder this time.Her gaze flickered toward the door, breaking my hold over her entirely. My teeth clenched. “Wait here,” I snapped, rising from the bed and leaving her as she sat upright, wrapping the sheets around her like armor.I threw the door open with a scowl, my glare landing on the scrawny servant boy standing there, visibly trembling. His face was pale, his knuckles white as he clutched a folded parchment in his hands. “Whatever you have to say should better be important else you will regret ever coming five feet to this door,” I barked,
ASHERI stood at the doorway of the room, my hand lightly resting on the polished oak frame, watching her. Liana sat by the dresser, her back to us, her reflection caught in the mirror’s glass. She was still as a statue, her hands resting on her lap, eyes unfocused and lost in a world far away.Her chestnut brown hair shimmered under the soft light of the chandelier, but it wasn’t her beauty that caught my attention—it was the look on her face. Something between sadness and disbelief.I nudged Callum in the ribs, my voice low. “She hasn’t even noticed we’re here.”He grinned, but it felt hollow. “Must be really taken by her own reflection. Can’t blame her—it’s not every day someone gets a room like this.”I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Together, we stepped in, the creak of the floorboards breaking the silence.“Enjoying the view?” I asked, my tone deliberately light.Liana blinked, startled, and turned to face us, her cheeks reddening slightly. “Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.”“Cl
SERAPHINEThe lingering scent of Maddox clung to my skin like a shackle, a reminder of the power he held over me. I tightened the robe around my body, smoothing the silk against my trembling hands. He had left abruptly, leaving me alone in the room we shared for his twisted games of control. Yet, this time, something was different. That name. The Border Girl. It echoed in my head like a haunting melody, pulling at strings deep within me I didn’t even know still existed. My heart thudded against my ribs as I stood motionless by the door. Maddox’s deep, commanding voice resonated faintly through the walls, just enough for me to catch fragments of his conversation with the servant boy.“Lieutenants… spotted her,” the boy had said, his voice quivering with fear. Maddox’s response had been colder than winter’s bite. “Follow me to my office. This is a conversation that cannot be had here.”The second of their footsteps grew faint as they moved down the hall. My breath hitched, and my fin
REED The morning was quiet, but Malcolm’s words thundered in my ears. I sat on the exotic leather couch in the living room, leaning forward, my elbows resting on my knees, fingers steepled under my chin. Across from me, Malcolm paced the floor, his boots scuffing against the hardwood, his face dark with worry.“You’re sure they were Maddox’s men?” I asked, my voice low but firm.Malcolm stopped, turning to face me. “I know what I saw, Reed. They were at Elmswood Forest this morning—right before we left. Same uniforms, same insignias. Maddox knows about her and maybe he might know too much at this rate. Which means he is making a move.”A curse escaped my lips as I rubbed the back of my neck. Elmswood had been our safe house for weeks, and now it wasn’t safe at all. “Don’t you think Raiden might have sent them instead?” I asked, though the words tasted bitter even as I spoke them.Malcom’s brows furrowed as he considered it. “I don’t know. But whoever sent them is up to no good. The g
RAIDEN POVI should have gone to school. Hell, I even drove halfway there, my tires kicking up the dusty road as I gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary. But halfway through the winding path, something gnawed at me. The image of Seraphine sitting alone in that house—the cold, suffocating air of Maddox’s shadow looming over her—wouldn’t leave my mind.My hands clenched on the wheel as I imagined Maddox’s towering frame, his sharp, calculating eyes that could strip away your soul. If he suspected Seraphine was hiding anything, he wouldn’t hesitate. He’d crush her. And the way things had been unraveling lately, I had no doubt he was already suspicious.“Damn you, Maddox Gray,” the curse slipped through my teeth as I slowed the car to a stop on the side of the road. My heartbeat was erratic, a mix of fear and dread pounding through me like a relentless drumbeat. I sat there for a moment, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. “Damn it,” I muttered, slamming my p
LIANA I stared at the wall Reed had just punched, the crack spreading like a spider web across the surface. For a second, I thought the entire house might collapse from the force of his fury. Then, just like that, he stormed off, his boots pounding against the floor, echoing louder than the thoughts swirling in my head. I blinked a few times, trying to piece together what just happened.“What’s his problem?” I asked, turning to the three men still standing awkwardly in the living room. Asher’s arms were crossed tightly over his chest. Callum was rubbing the back of his neck, and Malcolm—well, Malcolm was staring at me like I’d just grown a second head.No one answered me. They just exchanged glances like I was some kind of puzzle they couldn’t figure out.“What?” I pressed, throwing up my hands. “Did I say something wrong?”Callum’s jaw tightened, and he muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “Unbelievable.” Asher shook his head and started walking toward
MADDOX’s POVThe air in my study was still, thick with the scent of aged whiskey and the remnants of cigar smoke. The desk before me was cluttered with maps and papers outlining our borders, but my mind had shifted from the elusive “border girl” to the unfinished business I had left behind. Seraphine.I had been interrupted at the worst possible moment. My wife’s body, warm beneath me, her breath shallow and quick, had been the only thing anchoring my restless thoughts until that damn servant barged in with news that couldn’t wait. And now, as I pushed away from my chair, I was ready to pick up where we left off.The corridors of my castle were eerily quiet as I strode toward my chambers. The faint shuffle of servants echoed in the distance, but the moment they spotted me, they froze in place, their eyes lowered in fear. I smirked at their trembling forms; power was a drug, and I was thoroughly addicted.When I reached my room, I swung the door open, already prepared to demand Seraphi
CALLUM POVI stormed into the study, slamming the door shut behind me, the echo reverberating through the house like my boiling anger. My fists clenched at my sides as I paced the room, every word Liana had said replaying in my head like a broken record. If Raiden begged me properly, I’d take him back. What kind of nonsense was that? After everything, after we saved her, protected her, gave her a damn home! I felt like a fool for even tolerating her presence here.The door creaked open, and Asher stepped in, his usual calm demeanor masking whatever storm brewed inside him. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his sharp green eyes narrowing at me.“You’re mad,” he observed dryly. “Don’t break anything this time.”I stopped pacing, running a hand through my hair as I glared at him. “Mad? Oh, I’m beyond mad, Ash. Did you hear her? If Raiden begged me properly!” I spat the words like poison. “After all he did to her? After he tossed her aside like trash, she has the audacity to
LIANA’S POV: I had no idea what “69” meant, I should have told him but I was too shy to say so. I turned over to face him, but he seemed to have understood my hesitation. “You have no idea what it means, right?” he asked, in a low voice. I nodded my head like a child with my glistening eyes. He smiled as he leaned in, his face inches away from mine. “69 is my favorite position because it allows us to pleasure each other simultaneously. It may feel a bit awkward at first, but trust me, once we get into a rhythm, it will become second nature.”That sounded like a fantasy I had pictured in my head from a movie. “How do we do it?” “First, let's start on our sides facing each other. You'll straddle my hips, your legs draping over mine. Then, bring your face close to my crotch so you can lick and suck my dick while I return the favor between your thighs. We'll use our tongues to drive each other wild until we both reach climax.”I listened to his explanation with keen interest and just
REED’S POVHer moans were all I needed to continue. The way she moved her hips to the rhythm of my mouth—I had no idea Liana was such a naughty little girl. I lowered my head as I feasted on her wet, slippery and juicy pussy.“Re…Reed… oh my goodness..” she moaned in a whisper. My tongue delved deeper inside her pussy hole as I gripped her thighs, pinning her to the couch. Damn, she was soaking now, lost in the pleasure of my tongue and lips. I focused my lips on her clit as I kissed it slowly, she shivered as begged me to stop. “Reed… please let’s not do this here..” she stuttered. That was it. All I needed to do was to change the room. I pulled my face out of her pussy as I smiled at her. She tried to sit up but her shaky legs stood as a barrier. “I’m not done with you, Eliana,” I said in a whisper as I stood up, grabbing her waist. I lifted her effortlessly on my shoulder as I carried her upstairs to my room. Once inside my room, I laid her down on the bed gently. I climbed
LIANA’S POVThe room was quiet except for the soft hum of the television. The dim light from the screen flickered across the living room, casting long shadows on the walls. My head felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, but it wasn’t just the alcohol making me feel this way—it was him. Reed sat beside me, his presence overpowering even in silence. His scent, a mix of pine and something distinctly his, filled my lungs with every breath I took. I could feel his gaze on me, watching, waiting. I had to leave. I pushed myself up from the couch, the air around me suddenly feeling too thick, too charged. “Goodnight, Reed,” I whispered, my voice quieter than I intended. My body wasn’t listening to me, though, because every part of me wanted to stay.He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, eyes dark, unreadable. Then, just as I turned to leave, his hand caught mine.“Eliana,” his voice was low, barely above a murmur, but it sent a shiver down my sp
REED’S POV The fire crackled in the hearth filling the dimly lit living room with a faint warmth. Asher and Callum were seated on one of the couches, their expressions unreadable, while Malcolm leaned against the bar, pouring another round of whiskey into the glasses before him. The scent of burning wood and aged liquor lingered in the air, blending with the silence that stretched between us.I sat back in my chair, fingers wrapped around the cool glass in my hand, but I barely took a sip. My thoughts were too tangled, too weighted by the conversation we were having. “You’re sure about this?” Callum asked, his brow furrowing as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “We didn’t make a mistake letting Seraphine stay here?” Malcolm let out a slow breath. “No, we didn’t.” He set the whiskey bottle down with a dull clink and met Callum’s gaze. “If she’s here, there’s a better chance of unlocking Liana’s wolf. And if that happens, it won’t take as much of a toll on her.” Asher nodded
LIANA’S POVI didn’t let go of her. Not for a second.Even as we walked up the stairs, my hand stayed tightly wrapped around hers, as if I was afraid she would disappear if I loosened my grip. It still felt unreal—having her here, standing beside me, existing in my world. For nineteen years, she had only been a whisper in my mind. A ghost of a dream—a ghost I didn’t know existed. But now, she was real. My mother. My biological mother. Aurora Blackwood. I swallowed against the lump rising in my throat as I led her down the hall. “Reed, Asher, and Callum put this room together for you,” I told her, stopping in front of the door at the end of the corridor. “It’s not much, but… it’s yours.”She turned to me, her violet eyes shining with something unreadable. “It’s perfect, Eliana.”The way she said my name made my chest tighten. Eliana Blackwood, right? Or should I ask her about my father? Hell, no! She just got here.I pushed the door open, stepping aside so she could enter firs
KADE’S POVI ended the call with Maddox and let the phone drop onto the desk.My fingers twitched, curling into a slow, tight fist. My other hand reached for the glass beside me, but I didn’t drink. I only stared, my reflection distorted in the dark amber liquid.Then, I looked up. Across the room, in the corner where the firelight barely reached, my beast watched me.Star.She was my baby. Her massive body was coiled, muscles tense beneath dark, jagged fur, those unnerving eyes locked onto me with their usual quiet intensity. She knew something was different. She could feel it.I exhaled, slow and measured. She had always been like this. Watching. Waiting. As if she knew every dark thought crawling through my skull. And tonight, those thoughts were particularly dark.After nineteen whole years. Nineteen. A bitter chuckle left my lips, low and humourless, but there was no amusement in it. Only disbelief.Aurora Blackwood. All these years, I had searched. I had sent men, I had sp
MADDOX’S POVI knew. From the moment I stepped into the dinning hall, from the way the air felt too still, from the faint, lingering scent of her that was already beginning to fade—I knew.Seraphine was gone.I watched Raiden closely as he sat across from me, barely touching his food, his fingers clenching the fabric of his pants beneath the table. He was trying to hide his fear, but it was bleeding through every crack. Weak.I took my time eating, savouring each bite, watching as his breath hitched every time I so much as looked at him. Letting the silence stretch, letting it suffocate him.Then I asked the question.“Where’s Seraphine?”He flinched. It was quick—barely noticeable—but I caught it. “She’s in her chambers,” he said, too stiffly. “She’s feeling unwell. The flu.”I chuckled. The flu?Lie. A pathetic, obvious lie. Raiden had never been good at lying. It was almost pitiful how easily I could tear him apart. I set my utensils down, wiping my mouth slowly before resti
RAIDEN’S POVThe house was too quiet. Too empty. Too wrong.I sat curled up in the corner of my bed, my hands gripping my phone so tightly my knuckles had gone white. The screen glowed in the dim room, the call screen mocking me with the same words over and over again.Voicemail. My heart pounded against my ribs as I hit redial. The line rang twice before the robotic voice cut in again.“The number you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please leave a message after the—”I didn’t wait for the beep.“Mom,” my voice cracked, raw and trembling, “please pick up. Please come back. Where are you? I—I don’t know what to do. He’s going to find out, and I—” My breath hitched as I wiped my wet cheeks with the back of my sleeve. “Please, just call me back. Please…”I ended the call and immediately redialed.Voicemail. Again.A strangled sob tore from my throat as I slumped forward, my forehead pressing against my knees.She was gone.And I was alone.The realization settled like a boulder in m
REED’S POVThe wind howled through the trees, a relentless, eerie whisper that did nothing to ease the frustration burning inside me. I held Liana close, her small, trembling body pressed against mine as her ragged breaths hit my chest. She was shaking, whether from fear or exhaustion, I didn’t know. All I knew was that I almost lost her tonight.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to take a deep breath as I pulled back just enough to look at her face. Her skin was cold, her lips slightly parted, her dark eyes hollow with shock. But she refused to look at me.That only made my frustration grow. “Why?” My voice came out sharp, cutting through the silence. “Why the hell did you run off like that?” She flinched slightly but said nothing. I was trying to be patient—I really was. I knew she had been through too much already. Finding out that the mother she thought had abandoned her was still alive, learning that everything she believed about her past wasn’t the full truth—it was a lot to