QUINN'S POV They did manage to take me off after beating Adler to a pulp. He wouldn't let go no matter how hard they beat him up, and even when he was completely weak and exhausted, he still didn't.With tears dropping from my eyes, I whispered, “Let me go this time. It hurts to see you hurting so much because of me.”“No!! I'm not leaving you here. We're not sure what they would do to you. No, I cannot risk it.”More tears cascaded down my face. “I'll be back. Soon enough, I'll return to you.”He looked into my eyes and only then did he let go of me. As the men dragged me off, I did nothing but stare at Adler.He was broken and at the verge of giving it up. My heart was shattered, and even more because I didn't know where I was being taken to and what would be done to me.“Where are you taking me? What's this about?” My voice rang in protest as I fought on. They didn't utter a word and only pulled me off.We went, eventually halting in front of a house still within Perrin’s property
QUINN'S POV Seeing what had happened, there was only one option left - to flee.I gathered strength, muttered a few words and raced out of the room. My feet moved swiftly along the interlocked floor, and I was sure to escape this time.“Get her!! If she manages to escape, then you're all dead.’’Guards came on my tail, sprinting quickly behind me. I wasn't sure I could keep up from them for long.“You scheming witch!” A guard cussed as they caught up with me. He was infuriated, his breathing ragged. “Why do you have to stress us out so much?”They dragged me back to the house where Gianna was waiting. She wore a frown over her face like a plaque, her arms clasped together.“Did you really think you could escape from me? Didn't I already make it clear that you're mine.”Gianna moved closer, raised her hand and brought it heavily on my face. I recoiled, almost falling to the floor. The impact was crazy.Quickly, I pulled myself up, standing tall before her. My face bore within to the a
QUINN'S POV Alpha Perrin's eyes burned with fury.I wasn't sure I'd ever seen him as upset as he was at that moment.The men bowed at him, their hands shaking uncontrollably. They seemed smitten and had the look of a toddler about to be punished.Soft sobs escaped from my lips, glad that he had arrived at the moment. “Is nobody going to answer me? Or would you rather have me kill you all?” He yelled at the top of his voice, his eyes moving between the men. They shivered in fear, none able to bring themselves to speak. I wiped the tears off my eyes as I tried to get up, but to no avail.Gianna rushed forward, standing right beside him. “Long leave, the Alpha,” She praised, bowing to him as well.Alpha Perrin was totally uninterested. All he wanted from them was an answer, something he wasn't getting at the moment. “I didn’t realize you will be coming in today.” Gianna smiled, rubbing her hands in anxiety.“Would you like something to drink in the main house?” Turning towards her,
QUINN'S POV I gulped down saliva, hesitant to speak. My eyes flickered as I stared at him.He had a deadly expression, one that managed to push out the hesitation. I exhaled, cleared my throat, and began to speak.“The men!! There were about three of them.” I paused, the memory of the incident gnawing at my chest.“Gianna had ordered me to strip before the guests She had invited for a party, and I refused her order. As punishment, she asked the men to beat me to a pulp.“Damm it!! What exactly has come over Gianna?” he slammed his hands onto the bathtub. “Can you describe these men?”I nodded, “Yes I can. They all are tall and lanky. Heavily built as well.”“You can recognize them if you see them?” “Yes I can. How could I ever forget the faces of those who plunged me in such pain and affliction?” My voice was filled with spite and anger.Alpha Perrin patted me on the shoulders. “I will have this handled as soon as possible. For now, I have something to show you.”My brows furrowed,
Alpha Perrin Having been away from the pack for some time, I was elated to finally return. An important mission made me leave the pack, a few days ago. As Gianna stood before me that very day I prepared to leave, her hands clasped together, I ogled hard at her.She had this look on her face, I couldn't exactly decode. I ignored it like a plague, going on with the main reason why I had summoned.“Gianna,” I began, my voice loud and fierce. “I'll be out of the pack for a few days, and during the time that I shall be away, You would be in charge of the affairs of the pack.”She nodded her head in agreement, smiling at me. “You have got nothing to worry about. The park is in entirely safe and hands.”I smiled back at her, satisfied. She turned and was about to take her leave When something struck within me. “Gianna, Wait a minute.”She halted, resting her gaze on me. “I have a strict warning for you, and knowing kind of person I am, I wouldn't expect you to go against it.”“Speak, I'm
QUINN POVKnowing Gianna, I knew she wasn’t one to bluff. I tried to keep my cool, but fear had already wrapped its icy fingers around me."Why wait until nightfall? If you are going to do it, just get it over with now."She smirked, tilting her head. "Aww, eager to die, are we? But where is the fun in that? No drama, no suspense? That would be so boring."The air felt heavy, my heartbeat pounding like a war drum. The thought of dying sent chills down my spine. No. I couldn’t die. No matter what."Well," she continued, her voice filled with amusement. "I am feeling generous today. So, I am giving you another option. Think of it as my way of being merciful to you and that pathetic excuse of a man, Adler."I rolled my eyes. "Can you just get to the point? I’m tired of listening to your whining."Her smile faltered for a second before she scoffed. "Fine. Let’s fight. A real fight."I blinked. "You want to fight me? Seriously? That’s the best you have got? How childish.""Call it chil
Quinn's POV The door to the room suddenly flung open. I raised my head, curious as to who it was..Alpha Perrin sauntered in, his face long and stern. His feet dragged against the floor, creating a loud upsetting noise.I hissed, irritated by his presence. How dare he come to me after all that's happened?“What brings you here, Alpha Perrin? You shouldn't be here.” The words traced out of my lips before I realized it.He exhaled, his face falling with annoyance.Without uttering a word, he sat next to me, feigning a smile. His face? It made my belly twist into a knot.I gulped down saliva, still uncomfortable with his presence. I was shaken from all that had happened, and it was quite visible.It sure would take a while before I regained myself. That was certain.My hands and feet- they shook hard like I had just walked out of an ice cold bath. Emotions clouded my thoughts, and all I could do was stare into oblivion. My feet tapped against the floor as I remained quiet.The only sou
Quinn's POV I froze.Did he just say what I think he said? My brain short-circuited, my body going stiff as my eyes stayed locked on Alpha Perrin.What the hell? Where was this coming from?It was so sudden, so out of nowhere, that my throat went dry. I swallowed hard, trying to force some moisture back into my mouth.“What… What are you even talking about?” My voice came out shaky, my heart pounding like a damn drum. Was it possible for a heart to actually explode? Because mine was giving it a damn good shot.Perrin didn’t blink. His sharp gaze burned into me like he could see straight through my skin, through my bones, all the way to my soul.“You know exactly what I am talking about, Quinn.” His voice was smooth, almost amused. “You are not actually your father’s first daughter, are you?”I jerked back slightly, blinking fast. “What?” A laugh bubbled up my throat, but it came out forced. “Of course, I am. What kind of weird question is that?”Perrin chuckled, but it wasn’t the fri
PERRINFor weeks, Quinn and I had been walking ghosts under the same roof.We would nod to one another, ghostly pale...well, something like this, as we passed in the hall; maybe emit a few meaningless words when necessary; maybe eat when necessary or not at all-somehow one of us would make an excuse to leave, while the other pretended not to notice.I did not know how things were coming to be.Maybe it had something to do with Theodore. Or maybe it was the simmering fear that neither of us wanted to acknowledge. Or maybe it was both of us slowly drifting away and refusing to admit it.What hurt the most was that I loved her, and it seemed that it did not matter anymore.Some nights I would lie awake with her just a few feet away, curled upon the edge of the bed as if afraid to take up space. I would watch her breathe and wonder whether that would be the beginning of the end.And part of me, the one I hated, had already begun to ready itself.---Neither of us ever voiced it, but I kne
QUINNThe space between Perrin and me had suddenly shifted into something unspoken, something very cold that quietly set in between us.I could feel it every time he passed my way without brushing my hand like he used to. Every time he answered my questions with a nod or a blunt reply. Every time I reached out and tried to hold him, he sidestepped away from me in such a delicate way that it could be construed as nothing—yet I felt it.And I hurt far more than I would have wanted to confess.In my deluded mind, choosing him would have been the cure for any confusion. It would have silenced the voices in my head. It would have eased the storm that raged in my chest. But then it did not. Actually, the bond with Theodore was not even the major culprit anymore.It was us.Perrin and me.I didn’t know how to fix us.---Theodore had stirred too much about the manor.He was rude, proud, conceited, and good at getting on one’s nerves, but so was the dark one. Wherever he was, Theodore had bee
PERRINI didn’t trust him at all.Not even when the bond was broken. Not even when Quinn chose me. I still didn’t trust Theodore.It had nothing to do with jealousy.It had to do with the way he looked at her. As though she were the sun following a long winter, as though, no matter how many times she turned away, he would keep hoping to turn back again. And worst of all?But he never said it in the presence of Quinn. Smiled, played the respectful guest. However, when her back was turned, just us two, the claws came out. ---This happened for the first time when we were in the eastern yard for training.It had been a tiring day: scouts had been informed of rogue noises on the border, and there was very little sleep from the previous night. My patience was thinning already.Theodore was standing there with the younger warriors, giving them lessons as if he were one of them as if he had a say in how such things were done in my pack.I approached him, nodding as I passed the warriors. "
QUINNTheodore felt like a time bomb inside the manor. In the beginning, they made a pretense of ignoring it. They nodded politely as he went by; pinched smiles were offered in his presence; they kept their distance.There began the whispers along the hallways. The glances were lasting a bit too long. The smiles narrowed, and suspicion kindled.What is listening? "Too much time spent with him.""Didn't she reject Alpha Perrin?""Why is the other one here then?" "She is playing both sides."I tried to ignore it. Reminding myself that I had made my choice. I had rejected Theodore. I had chosen to stand with Perrin.But that wasn't the view in which everybody shared. Even the guards who had formerly looked up to me with respect had begun developing doubts. The Luna they held in honor had become a source of quiet gossip, and I felt powerless to stop it.---"I thought you said you took care of him," Keira whispered angrily beside me as we walked along. "Why is he still here?""I dealt
QUINNI stared at Theodore, heart beating like a hammer.“I’ll wait,” I said again. “But…” I took a breath. “I still reject you, Theodore.”The smile had faded from his face.“I have to make things perfectly clear, though. This is really paramount,” I went on. “No misunderstandings, please. I chose Perrin. I became Luna. This-” I pointed between us “-cannot and will not become a shadow looming over my relationship with him.”There was a slight tightening in Theodore's jaws, but he did not stop me.“This is not for us,” I said. “It is for me to be absolutely sure before I move. Breaking a bond is that final.”He nodded slowly. "I understand.""I don't want you waiting, hoping for something that isn't coming."His eyes became greyer, but his voice remained even. "I hear you."I looked away for a second and then back into his eyes. "You can stay. For a while and that's only if you want to see it I'm okay which you can obviously see that I'm fine""Also," I added, "I'll inform Perrin that
QUINNI took in a deep breath, trying to stay calm as it was almost impossible. Theodore took a step closer to me as his eyes gazed at me, I couldn't even lie to myself that I didn't like the way he stayed at me.He was mesmerizing that if there was something I needed to tell myself, it was the fact that I was freaking already close to marrying Perrin, and I wanted it to come true; at least, that's what I think I wanted."I'm good, Theodore," I lied because I didn't want I and Theodore to be seen together "You have no reason to worry about me," I added.He scoffed and stood with his hands in his pocket, not ready to move an inch. Then, just a moment after that, a tiny smile broke across his face: "Fine, are you?" he questioned, tilting his head. "Even after everything?"I nodded. "Yes." With slow deliberation, he advanced. "Even after he claimed you against your will?" I gasped and quickly straightened up, swallowing hard. "Perrin is different to me," I said "I don't care what any
QUINNWhat Theodore had said echoed through my mind. "Understanding the situation does not change my feelings."I clenched my hands while walking beside him, my heart weighed down with thoughts I didn’t want to address. Something was suffocating about everything that night, pressing down on me like boulders made up of my own choices.I had chosen Perrin. I had pledged myself to him. I had become Luna. So why did he feel like my being here was betraying someone?Glancing at Theodore, calm and composed, an image that conveyed the weight of this night did not touch him, but I didn't believe such. I had seen his golden eyes dim slightly as if withdrawing into the life behind them with every mention of Perrin.I exhaled slowly. "Why did you really come back, Theodore?"He slowed down his pace and turned to me fully. "You want the truth?"I nodded.He tensed for a second, exhaling. "I came back because my training was over. I was ready to take over my pack." His voice was calm, but in the
QUINNTheodore's words rang in my ear, as what he said rang in my ear again.This whole scenario made me realize one thing, "I didn't really know what I wanted. I was confused and conflicted between two people and i didn't think that a decision or a choice would be this difficult to make," I went north with Theodore, my arms hugging tight against me. The moving steps felt as if they were treading on thin and heavy ground.I don't understand why I agreed to this. I should have stayed by Perrin. He was the one I've chosen long ago. I already said I'm not leaving.So why does being here feel like betrayal? I thought, confused.He was a few strides ahead of me, relaxed, not like me, not holding any air of uncertainty. Not anxious, moving as if he belonged.There was something I really wanted to say, but the words failed me.And that stretched the silence between us.At last, Theodore stopped then turned toward me. His gold eyes are soft against mine."You don't have to be awkward, Quinn
QUINNAs I watched Theodore, about to leave my sight, my lips betrayed me, "Theodore."His name slipped my lips so easily, so naturally. I don’t even know why I said it. But, the moment I did, Theodore stopped.He turned slowly, eyes locking with my golden hues. He didn't say anything, but he didn't need it. I could feel it in the air- he was thinking I wanted him to stay.I could feel that Perrin was boiling beside me, I didn't need a seer to tell me that I had just provoked him because if I was in his shoes, I would have been provoked as well.I turned to Perrin, deciding to explain to him, "The thing is… I've known Theodore for some time now, Perrin. He was my childhood friend and we've been almost inseparable," I said.Perrin was quiet and feared me greatly.The room was now silent or rather hushed. The pack, the Elders, and the guards watched and waited. Their gaze flickered between the three of us. I had just stopped Theodore. What did that mean? I couldn't even comprehend why