LIONEL
For the first time in a long time, I experienced a unique kind of peace, one that came from knowing that the person who had been lurking in my mind loved me back. Like how hadn’t I seen the beauty in what I had with Regina all along, and instead, I chose to be ruthless, wicked, and malicious?I loved this woman with everything that lived and breathed in me, and she was changing me, molding me to become someone I actually wanted to be. I was in love.I carried these soothing thoughts all through the time in the hospital, even when Regina had gone off to work and until evening came.But the peace didn’t last.A soft knock on the door shattered the calm, and before I could respond, the door creaked open. Penelope stepped inside, her face a mixture of worry and something I couldn’t quite place.“Penelope,” I said sharply, my voice low and firm. “What are you doing here?”“I came to see you,” she replied, her tonREGINAShe glanced toward Lionel’s room, then back at me. “I just came to check on him.” It was time to put Penelope in her place.“How thoughtful,” I said, my smile not reaching my eyes. “But he’s fine now. You can go.” Penelope’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she turned and walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the tile floor. I watched her leave before stepping into Lionel’s room. He was sitting up in bed, a faint smile tugging at his lips when he saw me. “Penelope was here,” I said as I closed the door behind me. Lionel sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I told her to stay away, but she doesn’t listen.” I raised an eyebrow. “You told her to stay away?” He nodded. “She’s been... persistent. But I made it clear where we stand.” Before he could say more, I crossed the room and leaned down, pressing my lips to his. It was a kiss f
LIONEL“Who sent you?” I demanded, my voice a low growl. He didn’t answer. Instead, he lunged at me again, his movements faster this time. I dodged and retaliated, but he was skilled—too skilled to be just an ordinary assassin. The fight moved down the hallway, crashing into walls and scattering equipment. My strength was returning, but I was still weak from my injuries, and every movement sent pain lancing through my side. Then he swung a knife and slashed at me, grazing my arm, and I hissed in pain. My vision blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to focus, landing a solid kick to his chest. He stumbled back, and for a moment, I thought I had the upper hand. But then he recovered, his movements faster and more aggressive. He drove me back toward a window, and I realized with a jolt of panic that I was running out of room. I braced myself for his next attack, my muscles coiled and ready to spring. But he feinted, an
LIONELThe ride home was silent, yet the air buzzed with unspoken thoughts. My side still ached, though it was a faint whisper compared to the chaos in my head. Regina was at my side, her face calm but her fingers trembling as they brushed mine. She hadn’t let go of my hand since the fight ended, and for that, I was grateful. When we arrived at the mansion, it was almost midnight, and yet, the house was alive. We had informed Grandpa about the incident, and he was already waiting for us in the study, leaning his cane against the arm of his chair. Gwen and Ryker followed close behind, their expressions etched with concern and exhaustion. We settled into the room, Regina and I on one side of the large mahogany table, Gwen and Ryker opposite us, and Grandpa at the head. His piercing gaze scanned each of us as if searching for answers we hadn’t yet spoken. “What happened?” Grandpa finally asked, his voice heavy with authority and worry. “I was t
REGINA The warmth of the study enveloped us as the conversation continued, but I could feel the weight in every word spoken. Grandpa’s deep voice carried authority; his concern for the Eric Circle wolves was clear. Ryker sat with his usual stoic demeanor, though his occasional glances at Gwen didn’t escape my notice. And Lionel... Lionel looked at me with a softness that felt like home, despite the storm of danger swirling around us. “Gwen,” Grandpa finally said, breaking the lull in conversation, “you’ve been out too late. You should head home.” Gwen arched a brow, her defiance clear, but Ryker was already rising from his seat. “I’ll walk you,” he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Fine,” Gwen muttered, rolling her eyes but not protesting further. She stood, stretching her arms. “But don’t think I’m backing down from this fight, Grandpa. We’re all in this t
REGINAThe first rays of sunlight crept into the room, casting a golden hue across the bed. I stirred slowly, realizing that Lionel’s arms were wrapped securely around me. The steady rhythm of his breathing tickled the back of my neck, and I smiled to myself, savoring the moment. Last night had been... perfect. For the first time in what felt like forever, the walls between us had crumbled. The connection between us was undeniable, and the memory of our whispered confessions and shared kisses filled me with warmth. I turned slightly to look at Lionel. His face was peaceful, free from the burdens that usually haunted him. His dark lashes rested against his cheek, and his lips were slightly parted in sleep. It was a rare sight to see him so unguarded, and it filled me with a tenderness I couldn’t quite put into words. For a while, I just lay there, letting the moment stretch on. But reality, as always, had a way of intruding. My phon
LIONELI woke to the soft golden light streaming through the curtains, the warmth of the previous night still lingering in the air. The bed beside me was cold, and my hand instinctively reached for Regina, but the space was empty. A pang of disappointment struck me as I sat up. She must have left early. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched, the events of the hospital fight flashing through my mind. Her Star Wolf manifestation, the power she wielded—it was incredible, but it also raised questions about the enemies that had appeared. I swung my legs off the bed, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. There was no ignoring what had happened; answers needed to be found. And the first place to start was with the Eric Circle pack. As I dressed quickly, the sound of voices drifted from downstairs. I made my way to the living room to find Grandpa and Ryker deep in conversation. "Good morning," I said, my voice ste
REGINA The throbbing pain in my head was the first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes. My vision blurred, and it took a few seconds for the world to stop spinning. The dim, cold room around me slowly came into focus—a damp, abandoned building with concrete walls and no windows, only flickering fluorescent lights overhead. I had been transferred to another place!I tried to move but was immediately yanked back by a sharp metallic clink. My wrists and ankles were bound in heavy chains, and the cold bite of steel pressed against my skin. Panic surged through me as I struggled against the restraints, but they didn’t budge. Memories of Victor’s enraged face flashed through my mind—the betrayal in his eyes when he caught me holding that photograph, the sickening force of the blow that knocked me unconscious. Victor. A shadow moved in the corner of the room, and I froze. Slowly, Victor stepped into the light, his expression
LIONEL The house was quiet when I returned, the kind of quiet that sits heavy on your chest and makes every sound echo louder than it should. My body ached from the fight with the Eric Circle pack, and my mind was weighed down by everything that had unfolded. Arturo’s accusations still rang in my ears, but I pushed them aside. My focus now was on Regina, her strength as a Star Wolf, and how the bond between us had grown stronger than ever. But something felt...off. I stepped into the bedroom, half-expecting to see her curled up under the blankets, her hair scattered over the pillows, her presence grounding me in a way nothing else could. Instead, the bed was empty, untouched. “Regina?” I called out, my voice slicing through the silence. No answer. I checked every room, my heart pounding harder with each step. The kitchen, the living room, even the small library she loved—nothing. She wasn’t here. “She might have gone out,” I muttered to myself, trying to quell the
REGINA I made my way to Marcy’s room shortly after seeing Lionel. She looked so small lying there, her face pale but serene. Her hands rested on her swollen belly protectively, even in her sleep. My heart clenched at the sight of her. The sister I had thought I’d lost forever was here again, and despite everything we had endured, there was hope. Then I thought of the tragedy that had befallen her—of Silas and everything else. Victor had indeed taken more than we could imagine. “Marcy,” I whispered as I approached her bed. Her eyes fluttered open, groggy but quickly filling with recognition. “Regina?” she murmured, her voice hoarse. I nodded, tears already welling up. “It’s me.” She eased into a smile. “I just knew you could do it. I just knew you could. You’ve always been just too strong.” I laughed as I planted a kiss on her forehead. “How’s the b
LIONEL The first thing I noticed was the sterile smell of antiseptic. My body felt heavy, but the softness of the hospital bed was comforting. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open. Regina’s face came into focus. Her hair was slightly disheveled, dark circles shadowed her eyes, but she was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. Her hand rested on mine, her touch grounding me. “Lionel,” she whispered, her voice filled with relief and tenderness. Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned closer. “You’re awake.” I managed a weak smile. “Hey…” Before I could say more, Grandpa appeared by her side, his face a mixture of concern and relief. Ryker and Gwen were there too, their expressions lighter than I’d seen in days. “You gave us quite the scare, kid,” Grandpa said, his gruff tone unable to mask the emotion in his voice. “Victor?” I rasped, the memories of the fight f
REGINA “No,” I whispered, cradling Lionel closer. His breathing was shallow, his usually vibrant eyes clouded with pain. Victor stood a few paces away, lowering his weapon with a chilling casualness. “You should've just cooperated with the plan, Regina.” He chuckled disdainfully. “You and that pathetic excuse of an alpha.” “Don’t you dare!” Marcy’s voice cut through the tension, and I turned just in time to see her charging at Victor. “Marcy, no!” I screamed, but it was too late. Victor swatted her away like she was nothing, sending her flying into the side of the truck. She hit the metal with a sickening thud, collapsing in a heap. My mouth dropped open, my scream coming uncontrollably. “Stay down, girl,” Victor sneered, turning his attention back to me. I froze, my arms tightening protectively around Lionel. Every instinct screamed at me to fight, but my b
REGINA I and Marcy had been together in the room, waiting, when we heard the sounds of the war going on outside the building. Lionel was here. At first, a feeling of joy and assurance rushed to me, but almost immediately, a certain panic rushed through me when we had waited for quite long enough and Lionel was yet to show up. “Are you sure he’s still okay?” Marcy asked, the fear in her voice evident. “He is okay.” I replied with all certainty. “Nothing could happen to Lionel!” Then the men suddenly stormed in, barking orders. Marcy and I rose hastily and followed the men down the corridors, all the way to the back of the warehouse. Soon, we were out in the dark and there was nothing but the dim lights of the moon to guide us through. I could still hear the faint buzz of war on the other far end of the building. Axel led the group of Victor’s men, his expression unreadable, but
LIONEL His taunting words drove me mad, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart. I clenched my jaw, focusing on my breathing as I adjusted my stance, preparing for the next round. But Victor wasn’t done. He was playing with me, like a predator toying with its prey. He danced just out of reach, circling me, his every movement calculated, precise. “You know, Lionel,” he began. “I’ve always admired your strength. But strength doesn’t mean anything when it’s built on lies. Your so-called ‘perfect love’ with Regina? It’s a joke. You’re both weak, just like your parents were. Too sentimental. Too tied down by your pathetic little bond.” His words struck harder than any blow he could throw, reminding me of all the mistakes I’d made, of all the things I’d failed to protect. The past kept clawing at me, refusing to let go. I roared in fury, charging toward him once more, but this time, I cou
LIONEL All I needed was a location and just that, Arturo had provided. Another site, another holding of Victor’s. Even if it meant going to a hundred locations this same night, as long as I was not dead, I was going to set my eyes on Regina and there was nothing that could be done to change that. As we drew closer to the warehouse where Regina was supposedly held, we knew better than to just storm our way in. We needed to maintain a low profile. The warehouse loomed ahead, its corrugated metal walls dull and rusted under the dim glow of the moonlight. A faint chill ran down my spine as I scanned the perimeter. This was the place. I could feel it in my gut. Regina was inside, and I wasn’t leaving without her. Ryker crouched beside me, his face set in grim determination. Arturo and his men from the Eric Circle pack fanned out behind us, their movements silent and purposeful. Each of them carried
REGINA “You already know how it started,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I refused to marry Lionel. I couldn’t. Not when my heart belonged to Silas.” I nodded, memories of that time flashing through my mind. Marcy had always been the rebellious one, the sister who defied tradition and sought her own path. “When I ran away with Silas, we thought we’d left everything behind,” she continued, her voice growing steadier. “We crossed borders, traveling from pack to pack, always looking over our shoulders. But eventually, we found a place where we could be safe, a small pack in a distant country. It was nothing like home, but it was ours. We built a life there, Regina. A happy life.” Her lips quivered, and I could see the love she still held for Silas shining in her eyes, even through her grief. “We planned to come back one day,” she said, her voice cracking. “To face
REGINA I awoke slowly. “Regina?” The voice echoed in my head, but the familiarity could not be mistaken. I knew I was captured again; alone, with no one to protect me, my heart aching in ways I couldn't even put into words. This time, not just for my own mistakes, but for my sister’s life as well. “Marcy…” I cried quietly. How? I lay on the cold, unforgiving floor of the dimly lit room, the rough stone scraping against my skin. The chains around my wrists felt heavier than ever, and my heart felt heavier still. It wasn’t just the physical pain that gnawed at me—it was the emotional torment of seeing my sister’s frightened eyes, the same eyes I remembered from our childhood, filled with so much terror. "Regina?" Marcy’s voice broke through the silence. Her voice was hoarse, trembling, as though she too couldn’t find the words to express th
REGINA I could feel the cold metal of the handcuffs biting into my skin as the car jolted over uneven terrain. Victor’s grip on my life—on everything I cared about—was suffocating, his constant presence a reminder of just how trapped I truly was. Axel was beside me, silent, but I could feel his gaze flicking over me like a hawk, calculating and waiting for any sign of weakness. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. Victor had been playing a game with Lionel. Each move designed to frustrate, each location a new dead end. I could tell it was wearing on him. His anger had become more pronounced, his impatience clearer. But it wasn’t just about the hunt anymore—it was about power, and I was the key to it all. The car slowed as we turned onto a dirt road, the thud of the tires against the gravel echoing in the small space. The lights outside flickered and then dimmed. I didn’t know where we were going this time,