QUINN My heart sank and for a second, I forgot how to breathe Seeing Gianna with him in his embrace, I could barely think, so I took a step back. This was all Gianna wanted and just like I had thought, Perrin no longer cares about me now that the blood contract had been terminated.Deep down, I had always known that the blood contract was the only reason he cared for me. But this sharpness makes it real. "Oh..." I took a cold breath. I just couldn't see through it all this time, my mind had been influenced that Perrin's affection could be genuine and not influenced by anything. I turned and walked away before my legs betrayed me. Now that Gianna had succeeded, I had to leave. There was nothing left here for me. As I turned to leave, I couldn't even move a single step forward. My heart was controlling my mind. I didn't belong here; I was nothing to Perrin without the blood contract, and staying would only cause more pain. I should have known this from the onset, I couldn't have
QUINN I moved back for a second, knowing that if it was the old me, I would have turned away. I would have let the pain consume me but being in prison for some time has taught me something else. Everything I had endured, being abandoned, accused, imprisoned, and forced to heal until I nearly lost myself, had burned away the weak, hopeful part of me. I used my hands to wipe the tears that is threatening to fall from my eyes down to my cheek , the feeling of watching him with my own sister that once rejected him cause he was crippled. I picked up courage.Instead of running, I took a bold step forward and marched towards them. My heart couldn't stop beating on my chest, seeing that they stood close, too close, whispering as if they had secrets worth keeping. I swallowed hard and cleared my throat, trying to make my presence known. I knew this was a wrong step to make as I was supposed to be on the run by now. Noticing my presence, Laila’s eyes widened, and Perrin turned quickly to
QUINN "I don't think I should be here with you Perrin. I mean, I saw you with Gianna in your bedroom; you didn't even care if I was feeling better or not," I complained. I thought that after I had been released, I would run to start my life somewhere, I just didn't see myself here anymore after what had happened. Especially not after everything. Not after the pain, the betrayal, the endless days and nights in the cell. So here it was, walking beside Perrin, back into the pack house. My body was exhausted and yet I was ready for anything that might be thrown at me. I knew I was going to see Gianna and I threaded the look that she'll have on her face. I paused for a second and Perrin stopped with me and asked, "What's wrong?" I shook my head, responding with one word, "Nothing!" I didn’t trust him. How can I even trust him after what happened? There was no way my heart could beat the same way again because each time now, I'll be scared, instead of feeling safe. As we walked down
QUINN I narrowed my eyes, trying not to believe him. Perrin beckoned for me to follow him and I did. We got to his office, and standing in there with the thought that my elder sister had been dragged away was disheartening. I swallowed hard as Perrin turned to me, asking, “Tell me what happened! All that I didn't listen to before, I'm ready to listen now!" I looked down and then turned to the side as I didn't want to gaze into his eyes. I started talking, telling him about the night I was taken and how the guards had accused me of poisoning Gianna. How they never let me explain, never gave me a chance to defend myself. I told him how they had dragged me to a cold, dark cell, how they had starved me, beaten me, and forced me to heal until I was too weak to stand. I told him about their murmurs, making sure I left nothing out. The way the pack had turned against me so easily. How no one had come for me. How I had given up hope. Perrin listened, frowning at every word. His fists cl
PERRIN Walking from a distance down the long corridor to see Quinn, I heard shouting. Not just shouting, there must definitely have been heated arguments between them, turning even into a little fight that I expected not too much of. Just in a blink, Laila was over the balcony, clutching the railing for support with her hands. Quinn staggered back against the railing of the balcony, with Laila pushing her, trying to throw her over. Furiously, I headed down toward them, but before I arrived, Laila was already over the fence, limbs throwing about like crazy, trying to grab onto anything. But nothing seems to witness her last breath. Gone. The screams filled the area as I ran forward, I caught the railing by grasp and looked out below. Laila's body remained still. I turned back towards Quinn. Clutching onto the railing, she was breathing harshly and wide-eyed with shock. I reached out to her. "Are you injured?" She shook her head, trembling even now. "She... she tried to p
PERRIN POV The instant those words fell from her parents' lips, her face instantly turned pale Stepping back, she shook her head. "No. . you're lying." Her mother just smirked. "Believe what you want; it won't change the truth." Quinn's breathing gradually, trying to comprehend what was happening, her mind was reeling. She was looking back and forth between them, searching for something, anything, that could possibly indicate they were wrong. There was nothing. I knew the moment the full weight of those words washed over her. Then she ran. "Quinn!" I yelled and stretched my hand toward her, but she was already gone. Through the doors she charged, her cloak trailing in the wind as she slipped into the black of night. My blood boiled. I turned to her parents, fists clenched. "Leave," I snarled. "Now." Her father laughed mockingly. "You can't order us around." I stepped toward him, my voice low and stern. "If you ever show your face again in my pack, I will kill you." "If t
Quinn's POV The days after that day became slow and numb as I still couldn't come to peace with what my parents had said. Oops. I forgot, that they completely made it clear to me that I was no longer their child, or rather in the same words they used, they said I was never their child I've been someone else my whole life. The thought of it made me wonder if I had ever experienced a love from family before But who? Who was the family? I had no one! It was disheartening. The truth had smashed to pieces everything I ever thought about myself. I had lived my whole life trying to please those who had never really wanted me. And now that I knew it, I didn't know what to do with that knowledge. Perrin stood beside me through it all. He did not push me into talking when I was not ready. He did not tell me to forget or move on. He just stayed, his presence strong and steady, like an anchor keeping me from drifting too far into the storm of my thoughts. In the beginning, I hardly opened
PERRIN POV The instant those words fell from her parents' lips, her face instantly turned paleStepping back, she shook her head. "No. . you're lying."Her mother just smirked. "Believe what you want; it won't change the truth."Quinn's breathing gradually, trying to comprehend what was happening, her mind was reeling. She was looking back and forth between them, searching for something, anything, that could possibly indicate they were wrong. There was nothing.I knew the moment the full weight of those words washed over her.Then she ran."Quinn!" I yelled and stretched my hand toward her, but she was already gone.Through the doors she charged, her cloak trailing in the wind as she slipped into the black of night.My blood boiled. I turned to her parents, fists clenched. "Leave," I snarled. "Now."Her father laughed mockingly. "You can't order us around."I stepped toward him, my voice low and stern. "If you ever show your face again in my pack, I will kill you.""If there's somet
Theodore‘s.Black valley in Black moon pack.I had to leave my villa at the Crescent Lane pack. It doesn't feel safe anymore especially when Perrin wouldn't stop acting weird and suspicious.Black Valley reminded me of my birthright; I gained a membership of the Crescent Lane pack, and Perrin’s Dad gave me the privilege, but deep down, the black blood of my pack can never turn to water nor change.While Perrin had it rough growing up, especially after his parents were murdered, I had it well, but it couldn't last. My dad wasn't an Alpha but a normal warrior obsessed about power- The legacy I would be honored to carry the cross.I stared into the space of my balcony as I wallowed in my thoughts. I had been expecting news from my spy at Crescent Lane, but they've decided to stay low for now, going by Perrin's suspense.My wine filled to the half of the glass while I dangled it rhyming with the rhythm of my silence.“I wonder how far he can go searching for her. I am in control now- I a
Perrin's.It came as a shock and it all happened too fast. It had been two days since Quinn had been abducted, two days of consistent searching and spying yet to no avail.I had my Beta, Gamma, and also one of my trusted allies amongst the pack show up in my study room. Gianna was the only one who knew I was going in search of Quinn, she speculated but I was so sure I didn't confirm her presumption; My Gamma was out of town and he just resumed then to my trusted ally, he knew me more than enough to do what I have done, it was obvious to him and I was a little shocked when he didn't mention or tried to question my authority.My mind was set up in chaos, stewing in rage as curiosity devoured my demeanor, leaving me battling with questions flooding my mind.I set back my head to the office chair I was sitting on while I anticipated the arrival of my knights I called upon. Different knots to be entangled yet left with no idea where to start, everything seemed fishy. I clenched my fist in
QUINNI slowly opened my eyes only for my gaze to meet with an unfamiliar environment.I rubbed my eyes, confused. "Where is this place? What am I doing here?" I kept asking, still confused, but my vision was still so blurry that I couldn't even name the things around me yet."Hmm..." I growled, realizing that I couldn't move my body as well as I wanted to.After some seconds, I was finally feeling a bit better and sane, at least sane enough to know that I was in a cage in an unknown environment.The last few things that I could recall were going to the safe place in the pack house with an omega who was asked to watch over me.I'm certain something happened after that. I couldn't point a finger at anything in particular until my eyes fell on the back of someone outside the age I was in."Wait... You're that omega, right?" I asked, trying to see her face well, but I couldn't. I knew she was the one, and she must have had something to do with this.Logically, if we were both invaded, th
~Chapter~Perrin's.It all happened like lightning, I thought I got it under control, I thought my assumption was correct until he showed up looking worried.The silent support I had turned against me. They all kept muted when I told them my assumption and now that Theodore showed up shattered and disoriented, I realized the silence has been impregnated with unsaid words.Theodore left in rage, turning the table against me and pinning me as the villian. He got the upper hand since she was his mate and I couldn't counter his opinion even though deep down,I know he had a lot of role and ploy to play in this game.His rage, his action, his words…they all displayed the authenticity he wanted the pack to see but to me it was nothing but another lawn in his game.My back facing the door while I dipped my hands in my sides pocket staring through the ceiling to floor window of my study into the space, my gaze affixed as changes in the climate took into action from broad to dusk. It has been s
Perrin I was not just in search of Theodore, but I needed to find Quinn too. I ran my hand through my hair, thinking of where Quinn must have gone to.At this point, I needed to find a way to stop the killing and help my pack members."Hey!" I called the second my eyes fell on Theodore in the crowd, trying to escape the circle of conflict."Theodore!" I called again, and then he turned to me; his gaze was so passive that if it were any other day, I would have demanded an apology for his rudeness."They're leaving, if that's what you came to talk to me about. I don't know how you were able to make Quinn feel so attracted to you that even with the mate bond pulling us together, she ignores it!""She keeps on acting like she's not seeing me, and when we were little, we were so close that I would say that we were never apart from each other!" Theodore said, but none of what he said made sense. I wanted him to leave, or, in other words, I didn't want him around."Where's Quinn?" I asked.
~Chapter ~Perrin's.I wasn't expecting Quinn to turn to them and asked for their help but this is something we would have to talk about.Their bloodlust was all over the air, the fangs gnawing against each other ready to devour anyone who comes their way.There glared affixed on me like a predator studying its prey.“This is not about a rival pack, this is not just a fight breaking down because they want the pack…..This is clearly more like an assassin and the only difference I could point out was they came through in a day and didn't seem to care about other beings.” I thought.I checked around to see if others were still where they are, this seems to look more like my fight as it was so obvious that their mission was to terminate me, the pack was just an additional bonus to their goals.They set aback almost in their four, leaning backward, their claws all set out while their bloodlust eyes scaled through me sending a shiver through my spine, a shiver that came with nostalgia. I co
QUINNIn the days that followed, everything was a blur of repairs, funerals, and silence. The pack had suffered trials by bond-smithing and sheer treachery, and trust was the first victim. Worse, no one had any idea how the Bloodfangs could strike so accurately, at least officially. Perrin had not told them. He would not until he proved it. I saw it in the way he looked at me.He did not blame me; he knew it was because of my foolishness that Theodore had gotten so close.And I couldn't fault him for that.Because, if I were to delve deep, I would have wanted to believe in Theodore.I would have wanted to believe someone from my past could still be this same boy I had once trusted.But Theodore was never going to save me.He was after my claim.---The letter showed up late on the night of the fourth day.A single folded note left at the gates, sealed with wax and stamped with a familiar crest-a wolf wrapped in thorns.Quinn,You deserve better than a cage dressed up as a home.I ga
PERRIN The stench of blood permeated the walls, long after the battlefield had gone silent.Even days later, it seemed to be seeping into everything - soil, stone, air. It brought back terrible memories of an earlier time, another night when I was too young and far too innocent.When I had believed in the word "alliance."When I had believed in mercy.---Seventeen was the age at which, one dark night, my parents were murdered.It was a violent attack, completely without reason- the rogues had come easy in the storm, covered from rain and wind; when the alarms were sounded from our warriors, the packhouse was already alight.I had already fought. I was too young to be Alpha but was old enough to know what bleeding for your people meant.I held my mother while the last of her life slipped away. The waning light in her eyes: the message came from my father, torn throat whispering:"Protect them."I did what I could: the youngest, the eldest, the too wounded to stand - huddled them toge
QUINNShall I say they felt extraordinarily long? Indeed, they did.Waking every morning with a wish for peace inside, it was but a wish-I would never find it. Though Perrin lay beside me, holding me as if nothing else mattered, whispering false, insincere promises that I was safe now, worry would not leave my heart leaden and mind restless. I should be happy. I had Perrin. I had returned to the pack. Freedom.Deep inside, I felt that something was amiss. It kept gnawing away at me — all that had happened. About Theodore. About the lies. About the danger I didn’t see coming.And always, the voice in my head said:What if it happens again?That day, Perrin had gone out on pack business, and I sat alone on the wall-less bed, gazing into the empty expanse around me. Only the old, relentless ticking of the clock could be heard that day throughout the unusual quietness in the house. My heart felt tight in my chest.I couldn't take it anymore.It was answers I longed for. I needed help. I