(POV - Caroline Brennan)I know the reason behind Alex's shocked face yesterday is because of the mark on my neck. I looked at the reflection of my naked body in the bathroom, water still dripping from the ends of my hair because I had just finished showering. The base of my neck looks like it's rotting from the inside, even though my skin looks and feels fine but the area around Alex's mark is turning gray and almost black. Tiny purple vein-like strokes adorned the surroundings to make my neck look hideous.Idon't know when this black bruise turned to this terrible, when I woke up two weeks ago this bruise did look more intense than before but I ignored it until it suddenly became like this.Of course I tried to hide it from Balthazar, sometimes I covered it with bandages or with closed clothes. But I'm sure actually Balthazar already noticed it, only he pretended not to see it. With a gloomy face I averted my eyes and began to dry my body with a towel.I was supposed to start traini
"Is this because of the bruise on my neck yesterday?" I asked in a trembling voice. There's nothing wrong with my eyes already feeling hot.Alex gritted his jaw a little then his eyebrows furrowed for a moment like someone who was in pain but trying to hide it. "No- Cara, we'd better sit down first," he offered, his voice suddenly softening. He pulled my shoulder gently towards one of the sofas in this library.He sat next to me but there was quite a distance between us. That's when I knew things weren't going to be okay. I stared at the empty space between us with my burning eyes before looking at Alex again. "What do you want to talk about?" I asked in a small voice.Alex licked his dry lips briefly. "Cara-Caroline, I don't know how to tell you .. "I waited in piercing silence. Alex turned his eyes from me to the carpet beneath me, He didn't even want to look at me. Every second that passes feels like torture to me."During the past few weeks, while we have been temporarily apart,
When I opened my eyes again suddenly I was in my dark room. My whole body felt sore and hot. For a moment I felt relieved because I woke up from my nightmare just now, but that relief only lasted a few minutes ... Because slowly I realized all these nightmares were indeed my life.The base of my neck feels like it's on fire, when I touch it my skin feels hot and wet. With a slight stagger I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom and turned on the light. My eyes blinked because of the bright light. I unbuttoned the knitted turtleneck I was wearing and brushed my hair back to reveal the base of my neck.The color is still almost blackish gray and is now widening until it almost spreads to my collarbone. The purple streaks that surrounded it were also getting longer, this strangebruise seemed to be growing inside me.I'm still not entirely sure but deep inside I can guess what's triggering these growths of bruises and scars ...Alex.The heavy and tight feeling returned to my chest wh
The next morning the dress I was going to wear to Alpha Sam and Chloe's wedding arrived. Because the event was this afternoon, the dress rented by Balthazar arrived very quickly. I looked at the large white box on my bed that Balthazar had just brought me. He asked me to try it on so it could be exchanged asap if the size didn't fit.I opened the white box and the layers of paper behind it. A long, purplish-blue dress made of soft and slightly dreamy chiffon was neatly folded inside. I took the dress out and took it into the bathroom because the mirror there was bigger and clearer.I took off Alex's hoodie that I was wearing then my next pair of leggings before trying on the dress. I brushed my long hair back and looked at my reflection in the mirror. This dress looks very fit and beautiful on my body, the color is also almost like the Baltahzar tulips around the lake. The length of the dress reached to the floor and the semi dreamy strands of chiffon wrapped around me perfectly. The
My body was trembling a little either because I was shivering from the cold or because of the memory a few months ago that I can still remember clearly."How are you?" he whispered again before the sound of his breathing could be heard near my loose hair, as if he was sniffing me. Just like I can also smell his scent from this close with my sensitive nose.'I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the drastic change in your appearance, Caroline. Does this mean that your Leykan power seal has been completely released?" he asked again, this time his voice not sounding as close as before.Slowly my head turned to the back of my shoulder, among the dim trees not far from me. He stood holding out one of his hands to me. He wore a semi-casual black suit, the top three buttons of his white shirt open."What are you doing here, Dimitri?" I whispered in a tight voice. One of his blue eyes flashed in the darkness. DimitriStartovsky pulled the corners of his lips up and sighed before taking hi
In the end we still attended Alpha Sam andChloe's wedding until the end, even though I didn't get to meet the bride and groom in person because Balthazar insisted we come backsooner. Maybe because I can no longer control my expression. Dimitri's sudden appearance and what he had just said knocked the mask I'd been wearing for the last few weeks off my face.We waited for the taxi to arrive right in front of the main gate of the park where the wedding was taking place. Balthazar glanced at me a few times, but he didn't ask or press me anymore after seeing how pale my face was. We stood silently beside a decorative sign bearing the names Alpha Sam and Chloe Miller and across from a large all-white flower arrangement lit by matching lanterns.I tried to take a deep breath but my chest still feels tight. With a slightly hunted breath I turned to Balthazar. "Are ... you holding back my power again?" I asked in a slightly strangled voice.Balthazar who was looking at the dark building acro
"I can't let you go until you can control yourself again" Balthazar replied in his calm voice.I growled again, but now it was because of my frustration. My Leykan's vicious side wanted to tear Balthazar's mouth out, but the bit of rational inside me knew I didn't want to and wouldn't do it. It feels like there are two different thoughts inhabiting my body right now. The shackles on my body became heavier and heavier until my knees ached from rubbing against the rough asphalt beneath me, small sharp pebbles also began to rip my skin.Balthazar's two odd violet eyes still stared at me without blinking, perhaps at this moment my own eyes also seemed to have changed. Not my power, Leykan Balthazar's power is silent but deadly. No wind or fog came around us, everything looked normal and ... still. The silence almost deafens me."If you want to release your anger, do it now so you feel more relieved," he continued."How can I release my anger if you hold me like this" I retorted with a sha
Viktor Stratovsky's silhouette staggers through the darkness. Whatever Balthazar is currently doing with him, I totally support him. The sound of hoarse coughing came from him again, but the sounds of the guests walking towards us also got louder. "Balthazar" I whispered a little worried."Do you want me to kill him?" he asked in a low voice without turning to me. I looked at his back which looked wide and tense, now he didn't look relaxed like before."No! Don't ... Alex needs him. It was Viktor Stratovsky who killed Edward Adler," I said in a trembling voice. Hearing his name being called, Viktor looked up and smiled through the dim trees.Then you're going to let him loose?" asked Balthazar again.I don't know. We now have a chance to put an end to most of the trouble Viktor has been causing so far, but if he dies Alex will be found guilty of murdering Edward Adler. I can't save him anymore. But the longer I thought about it the clearer the answer became. "Viktor can't die now" I m