QUINN'S POV I was worried to the marrow. The way Fiona had suddenly barged in, and then she looked agitated.“Speak Fiona. What's the problem? What happened to you?” I shook her a bit when she didn't speak up.That seems to do the moment.“Just a few minutes ago, I heard Gianna speaking to someone..”“Okay. What did you hear her say to this person?” I sat upright, my heart pounding against my chest.“She.. she is planning on poisoning you…”“What?” My eyes bulged, the words hitting me in the chest. Fiona nodded her head. “That's right. She's plotting to poison you, and I'm absolutely sure they're going to go on with this plan of theirs soon.”Heat brewed in me. I became uncomfortable, rising quickly to my feet. My feet moved across the room, pacing.“Are you sure you heard right?” I couldn't help but ask even though I knew how stupid it sounded.She nodded. “Of course. I even saw her with both eyes of mine.”I bit at my lower lips, my mind racing with worry. I tried thinking of wha
QUINN'S POVWe all watched Gianna as she took a bite of the food. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. Any second now, she would start choking or clutching her stomach in agony. Something dramatic. Anything.But nope. She just chewed, swallowed, and then had the audacity to look straight at us like we were the crazy ones.“Are you happy now?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.Wait what?My stomach dropped. This wasn’t right. Fiona swore there was poison in the food. Was I losing my mind? Did she lie?I glanced at Alpha Perrin, hoping for some kind of reaction, but all I got was his usual cold expression. “See?” he said, leaning back like he had all the time in the world. “Told you. Gianna would never poison you. You stress yourself out for nothing.”I whipped my head toward him, my frustration bubbling over. “No. I know what I heard. What I saw. She tried to poison me. Let’s just wait a little longer.”I folded my arms and stared at Gianna, waiting for something, anythin
Quinn POV Seriously? This had to be a joke.I stared at Alpha Perrin, waiting no, praying for him to laugh and say he was messing with me. But no. That sadistic look on his face told me he was dead serious.For a while, I had thought his behavior was due to a bad temper. Maybe a little control freak issue here and there. But now? Oh, now I know the truth. This man was a straight-up lunatic. A full-blown, walking, talking red flag. And apparently, he enjoyed making my life a living nightmare.“Are you out of your damn mind?” The words flew out before I could stop them. I barely had a second to collect myself before I threw my hands in the air, pacing like a mad woman. “No, seriously. Did you hit your head or something? Because that is the only explanation for the nonsense coming out of your mouth right now. I told you before that I can’t do it!” “Insane? Maybe.” I could tell he was entertained due to that infuriating smirk, I wanted to slap it right off his stupidly handsome face. Bu
QUINN'S POV Quickly, I made up my mind. Meeting Adler was just as important as staying safe myself. I need it to know how he was doing.Nodding my head, I walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me with a loud bang.With every step that I took, a nagging feeling brewed in me. Something told me I was making a mistake, but I still didn't stop. Eventually, I got to tickling chambers where I had been asked to go. There was no one in sight.I frowned, my eyes moving around. “I should have known this was a prank!!” I tightened my hands into fist, threatening to make whoever was behind this pay. Suddenly, I felt a sharp blow on my head. The pain was immense, and then everything went black. My eyes flung open, only to be greeted by a dark and empty room. The entire place was covered in dust and almost made me choke. I coughed, struggling to get up. It was then it made sense to me. I have been trapped. No, I would rather say I had been fooled.Tiny ray of sunlight seeped into
QUINN'S POV I woke up feeling very exhausted and weak. I tried sitting up right, but the pain I felt made it difficult. Whatever it was that had been injected into me definitely was the culprit. I held the back of my head as I managed to bring myself to a sitting position. The room was partially dark, making it difficult to see through anything, or perhaps it was my eyes. Around me, I could hear loud eerie voices that sent shivers down my spine. At first, I thought it was strange to be hearing those voices, then it became clear to me. How come I could recognize one of those voices? The more I tried getting it out of my head, the clearer it became. Then out of the blues, my vision cleared. I could see Gianna, but she was not alone. There were four other people with her and they all looked serious. How come Gianna was there? Was I right after all? That low life bastard. I bit hard at my lips as I ogled on. “I promise you, she's a healer, and she's going to do everything yo
QUINN'S POV My eyes darted around as I tried to figure out where I was, but to no avail. How could I describe a place just from a room?I rose to my feet, moving quickly towards the small window. I was certain I should be able to get something to describe the place with.As I peed out through the window, I was greeted with that same lack of idea. I just couldn't tell the exact location where I was. “This is hard!! I don't know the exact location,” I said finally as I rested my back against the wall.Suddenly, the door creaked. One of the kidnappers walked in, his eyes darting around.“Hey!! what are you up to?” I shuddered a beat, swallowing the saliva in my throat.“Nothing.. I'm not doing anything..” My voice shook with fear, and though, I tried to keep my composure, I just couldn't.Another man walked in. He looked fiercer and than the other.“Why are you standing? Shouldn't you be laying your head?” He paused, casting a long stare at me.“Are you trying to mind link with anyon
QUINN'S POV For a few seconds, I thought I was imagining things, but I wasn't. Truly, my parents were the ones standing before me. Anger welled up in me, taking total control of me at once. “What are you both doing here,and how did you find out I was here?” I was confused, and suspicious as well. Something definitely wasn't right. Could they have a hand in my kidnap? They smiled, moving closer towards me until we were only a few inches apart. “We got words from some people that you were up for sale.”“And? What business does that have to do with you?”“I thought you were intelligent, Quinn? You've always proved it to us before now, so what happened?” Mother scoffed, an evil smile on her lips.“Wait, So does this mean you are yet to buy me?” “Exactly!! Since you are the only healer left, and you are up for sale, We have decided to buy you.”“What games are you both up to this time? For sure you're not buying me because you want me back.”My eyes were fierce, bearing witness to th
QUINN'S POV My eyes darted around as I tried to figure out where I was, but to no avail. How could I describe a place just from a room?I rose to my feet, moving quickly towards the small window. I was certain I should be able to get something to describe the place with.As I peed out through the window, I was greeted with that same lack of idea. I just couldn't tell the exact location where I was. “This is hard!! I don't know the exact location,” I said finally as I rested my back against the wall.Suddenly, the door creaked. One of the kidnappers walked in, his eyes darting around.“Hey!! what are you up to?” I shuddered a beat, swallowing the saliva in my throat.“Nothing.. I'm not doing anything..” My voice shook with fear, and though, I tried to keep my composure, I just couldn't.Another man walked in. He looked fiercer and than the other.“Why are you standing? Shouldn't you be laying your head?” He paused, casting a long stare at me.“Are you trying to mind link with anyon
QUINN POVThe days that followed seemed quiet but heavy. The events left me unable to stop thinking about everything that had happened. Theodore’s duplicity, how he deceived me, and how Perrin finally found me. My heart felt like it was still catching up to all the pain and the shock.But Perrin stayed close. He never left me alone, not once. When I woke up, he was there. His hand was in mine when I walked.“Are you okay?” he asked me over and over.I would nod. I was trying to be okay. I had to be.The pack circled around us, stepping away. Everybody seemed to know something big had happened, but no one asked questions. They stared at me with soft eyes and sometimes sad smiles, but Perrin kept them all away. He knew I needed time.I sat outside the pack house on the steps one morning. The sun warmed my face, and Perrin was quiet, simply holding my hand.“I’m sorry,” I finally said after a long silence.He turned his head fast. “Why?”“For that day when I hugged him,” I whispered. “Fo
QUINNI didn’t see Perrin for days. Theodore told me why Perrin couldn’t come every day.“He’s busy with the pack,” Theodore said one morning.“He’s dealing with some urgent business,” he told me the following day.“He’s making sure everyone is safe,” was his justification that day.I started to worry. If Perrin could he would have come to visit me. Something didn't feel right.One night, I sat by the window as the sun set. The sky went orange and pink and there was no joy. I missed Perrin. I missed his voice, his touch, his being.I turned to Theodore. “I want to see Perrin,” I said adamantly.He looked surprised. “He’s busy, Quinn, with serious business. He'll come when he can."I shook my head. "No. I need to see him now."Theodore sighed. “I know, but it’s not safe yet."Safe from what?" I asked. “You said everything was safe.”He hesitated. "There are still threats. We need to be cautious."I didn't believe him. I felt trapped.That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about
QUINN POVDays passed, and I did not see Perrin. I asked Theodore about him every day but he always had an excuse as to why Perrin couldn’t join.“He’s occupied with the pack,” Theodore said one morning.“He’s dealing with some urgent matters,” he told me the following day.“Making sure everybody’s safe,” was his excuse the next day.I started to worry. If he could have, Perrin would have come to see me. Something didn't feel right.One evening, I was sitting next to the window as the sun went down. The sky turned orange and pink, and I felt no pleasure. I missed Perrin. I mourned his voice, his touch, his presence.I turned to Theodore. I want to see Perrin,” I said adamantly.He looked surprised. “Quinn, he’s busy doing some very important stuff. He'll come when he can."I shook my head. "No. I need to see him now."Theodore sighed. “I know, but it’s not safe yet.”"Safe from what?" I asked. You told me “the danger was over.”He hesitated. "There are still threats. We need to be cau
QUINNHe paused for a moment before saying, “I didn’t bring you here to hurt you, Quinn. I did it to keep you safe.”“I know,” I said. “But I need to see him. Please.”Theodore stared down, pondering.Finally, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll take you back.”Relief flooded me. I wasn’t sure what awaited me when I returned to the pack, but I had to face it. With Perrin. Together.We hopped back in the car and began the long drive home. My pulse raced the entire trip there.When the pack house came into focus, I noticed the damage. Some trees were broken. The fence had scorch marks. It really had been a battle.Theodore parked way in the back, like he didn’t want anyone to see him.“You’re going to be fine from here,” he said. “If you need me again… you know how to find me.”So I nodded and opened the door and stepped out. I turned once to look at him. “Thank you. For trying.”He gave me a sad smile. “Always.”Then I ran.I dashed all the way toward the main hall, the rhythm of my heart exploding
QUINNThe wind was strong. I was still in the garden, dwelling on what Theodore said. So much had already happened, and my heart was weary. I needed some peace, just a little peace to think.But I didn’t get it.Suddenly, a loud howling erupted in the distance. The air changed. I glanced around, feeling danger in the air. As a few guards rushed past me, I heard one of them yelling, “We’re under attack!”What?Before I could get out of the way, someone caught my arm. I spun around, ready to fight, but stopped when I saw Theodore.“Come with me,” he said, hurriedly. His eyes were wide, serious. “It’s not safe here.”“What do you mean?” I asked. “Where’s Perrin?”“He’s holding the line. He’s battling with the other warriors to defend the pack,” Theodore said, motioning for me to follow. “He told me to get you to safety.”It didn’t sound like Perrin. He would have never left without saying anything. Still, I followed. Maybe it was really bad.Theodore took me to the back gate. A black car
QUINNTheodore’s words stuck with me long after we went our separate ways, their echo a whisper of something I hadn’t experienced in years: agency in my own life.But I didn’t run.Instead, I stayed.Because as much as Theodore had been a respite, I wasn’t prepared to leave Perrin behind. Not yet.But something had changed between us. Not merely because of what we’d gone through, but because the Perrin was attempting — actually attempting. He asked questions rather than issuing orders. He preferred listening to talking. And sometimes, if we sat there together in silence long enough, I could feel him hoisting up the guilt he carried around like another layer of skin.He no longer attempted to conceal it. And perhaps it was that honesty, that quiet vulnerability, that finally had the walls between us start crumbling.One night, curled on the window seat in our room, I finally said what I’d never thought I’d say out loud.“I hated you for so many years.”Perrin didn’t flinch. He nodded—o
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. "