Blaze stood outside the De Luca Villa on patrol after his discussion with Sandro and Annalise. Sandro had agreed for him to stay on patrol as he always did for the time being.Not much had been said between him, Sandro, and Annalise, but with the limited information shared, he understood that Paolo Salvatore posed a threat to Sandro's life. The reason behind it remained a mystery for now.He also couldn't shake the feeling that Annalise wasn't revealing everything she knew. At times, she hesitated, and other times, she blurted out fragments, looking embarrassed afterward.Her demeanor intrigued him, and he yearned for her to share more, suspecting she held valuable information. Yet, he doubted she'd be at ease doing so."Blaze, right?"Startled, Blaze turned to find Annalise beside him. He hadn't heard her approach. She tucked a strand of curly dark-brown hair behind her ear before casting her gaze downward."Depends on who's asking and why," Blaze replied.Annalise nodded, managing a
Thalia awoke with a gasp, her eyes wide as she took in her surroundings."Arabella," she called out, trying to get her bearings. She remembered being in the cave, tossed around.Recollection of holding Arabella came to her, but she couldn't find her now. She tried to stand, but her stomach churned, and she let out a groan, steadying herself with a nearby chair."Arabella," she called again, but there was no response.Thalia wondered where she could be. Standing upright, she finally found her balance and surveyed her surroundings. She was back home in her living room. She couldn't be certain of what had transpired, but she believed the force that had taken them to Ascotan had brought them back to Cooan.Yet, she had doubts about whether it had done the same for Arabella. There was no sign of her anywhere.Thalia made her way to the room Blaze often used when he visited her. She opened the door and peered inside."Arabella!" she yelled, rushing towards her.Arabella was sprawled on the
Blaze took a drag of the cigarette stuck between his index and middle fingers; his eyes narrowed as he continued to lurk in the shadows. He had been standing on the highest floor of an unfinished building for what felt like hours now, yet he hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary. Paolo Salvatore and Janice remained inaccessible.With the limited information he'd gathered from Annalise, he managed to locate the residence. It wasn't an easy task, but Blaze knew his way around even the most dangerous situations.The Salvatore's residence was situated at the farthest side of the city of Cooan. The two-story house in front of him exuded hostility. It felt colder than the De Luca villa at first glance, and he couldn't help but imagine how much Janice and Annalise had endured at the hands of their cruel father.Blaze sighed, leaning against the wall. He didn't hold much hope of seeing them soon. Still, he was determined to stay, for Sandro needed information, and Blaze couldn't leave with
THALIA's RESIDENCE"Where are you going?" Thalia asked, eyeing Arabella. She set aside the book that was spread on her lap and stood up."To look for Blaze," Arabella replied, slipping into a red pullover that Thalia had confirmed belonged to Blaze.Thalia snorted and rolled her eyes, giggling. When she noticed the seriousness in Arabella's expression, she asked, "Are you serious right now?""Of course I am," Arabella affirmed. "Why would I joke about finding Blaze?""I think you're crazy," Thalia said. "Do you think Blaze would want to be found, even if he were here? I mean, it's because of you that he's running around!""I need to know if he's safe, Thalia. I can't just sit here and do nothing. It's been more than 24 hours since we got back!" Arabella insisted."And Blaze never gave you the order to find him. He's not missing, Arabella," Thalia pointed out."How can you be so sure? What if he's still in Ascotan and he's being held captive?" Arabella asked."Your mind works mysteriou
DE LUCA's RESIDENCE"What do you have for me?" Sandro asked as Blaze entered the room. He walked to the window, pulled the curtains apart, letting the light flood in, and then turned his gaze towards Blaze."Not much," Blaze replied, taking a seat on the couch."And what does 'not much' mean?" Sandro's eyes narrowed."I found Paolo Salvatore, but he's no easy enemy," Blaze warned."I didn't ask for that kind of information!" Sandro glared. "I wanted to know more about him and his operations. So, if I'm attacked, I'll know where to strike back.""That's why I said he's not someone you can easily take down. He's formidable," Blaze admitted.Sandro groaned. "Must I extract every word from you, Blaze?""I'm speaking the truth. I couldn't get too close to avoid detection. So, I observed them from a distance.""Them?" Sandro's brows furrowed."Alessia and Janice were with him," Blaze revealed."I'm not surprised," Sandro remarked."There's something else I noticed, and I thought you might f
Blaze wandered around the De Luca Villa, uncertain of what to do.He had left the dungeon earlier, and the conversation with Sandro still weighed on his mind. Not only did Sandro want Arabella back in the villa, but he also aimed to use her presence as leverage to lessen Blaze's intended punishment.However, Blaze harbored doubts about Sandro's sincerity. He suspected that even if Arabella returned, Sandro would still inflict severe punishment upon him. He sighed, torn between his desire to seek answers from Arabella and his wish to keep her safe. He believed she might be in Thalia's residence or even in his house.Nevertheless, the danger loomed whether he visited her or not. Her whereabouts were known, and it was only a matter of time before Sandro dispatched one of his Eta to retrieve her."Did you see my sister?" Blaze turned abruptly, finding Annalise standing before the grand gate."You shouldn't be out here. It's quite late, and people might get the wrong idea if they see us to
Peering out of the window once again, Arabella grimaced. The street appeared empty, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She wondered if Sandro had managed to track her down and sent his henchmen after her. She sighed just as Thalia stepped into the room, dressed in jogging pants and a crop top."Where are you headed?" Arabella inquired."Where else?" Thalia replied."It's close to midnight, Thalia. Please don't tell me you're going for a walk," Arabella exclaimed, her eyes widening as Thalia nonchalantly shrugged her slender shoulders."I'm going for a jog. I need to clear my head," Thalia explained."At this hour?" Arabella shook her head. Thalia had been acting strange all day as if she were harboring a secret. Arabella had asked her multiple times, hoping for some insight, but had received no satisfactory answers. And now, Thalia was heading out for a jog at midnight."I find it more refreshing at this time of day," Thalia reasoned. "See you later."Thalia playfull
Peering out of the window once again, Arabella grimaced. The street appeared empty, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She wondered if Sandro had managed to track her down and sent his henchmen after her. She sighed just as Thalia stepped into the room, dressed in jogging pants and a crop top."Where are you headed?" Arabella inquired."Where else?" Thalia replied."It's close to midnight, Thalia. Please don't tell me you're going for a walk," Arabella exclaimed, her eyes widening as Thalia nonchalantly shrugged her slender shoulders."I'm going for a jog. I need to clear my head," Thalia explained."At this hour?" Arabella shook her head. Thalia had been acting strange all day as if she were harboring a secret. Arabella had asked her multiple times, hoping for some insight, but had received no satisfactory answers. And now, Thalia was heading out for a jog at midnight."I find it more refreshing at this time of day," Thalia reasoned. "See you later."Thalia playfull
EPILOGUEFOUR MONTHS LATERSandro stretched his legs, shielding his eyes from the sun with sunglasses. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Arabella had suggested a vacation by the beach, and they had been here for four months now. He still wanted to fulfill all her wishes, agreeing to everything she desired.Lately, it had been peaceful. Since the altercation with Paolo, there was no imminent threat to Arabella, though he couldn't say the same for himself, which he didn't mind. He didn't believe his enemies would ever cease, as wherever he went, he seemed to attract more.He didn't want to involve Arabella in his dangerous lifestyle, but he also doubted his ability to shield her completely.Alessia had disappeared. When Paolo had died, Sandro had taken the time to scour the building for her before leaving for the Villa, but he hadn't seen any trace of her."Why are you staring at her?"Sandro snapped his head at the sound of Arabella's voice. She stood above him, arms folded. H
Arabella wasn't as tired as she expected. She continued battling, and almost half of the members of the Salvatore house were already down. Although she couldn't unleash her powers to the fullest, she had imbued her knife with magic, enhancing its effectiveness even more.The enchanted blade caused immediate falls to anyone it touched, adding up to a high body count. Despite her victories, the number of foes she faced showed no signs of diminishing.Sandro, absent since his departure, left her uncertain about his fate. Paolo's absence suggested he wasn't defeated, as Paolo would have returned if he had been. Alessia was also nowhere to be found; Arabella wondered if Paolo had taken her with him.Yet, she was glad the merge hadn't happened.***Running after Paolo led Sandro to an unfamiliar location. Uncertain of his whereabouts, he felt a rush of anxiety as his gaze fixed on what appeared to be a full moon at the room's far end, shining brightly. Sandro, feeling a tingling sensation,
Paolo paced nervously, his gaze repeatedly drawn to Arabella, securely bound to the chair. At first glance, she seemed unconscious, her head hanging limply, but a closer look revealed that she was simply staring down."How much longer do we have to wait?" he inquired of Alessia, who had resumed her position inside the pentagram."A few more minutes or the ritual will be incomplete," Alessia replied.Despite the requirement for a special full moon, she had assured them of conjuring the moon to ensure the ritual's success. However, the actual full moon was still two weeks away, and Paolo couldn't afford to wait."Should I resort to force to speed things up?" Paolo clenched his teeth and advanced toward Arabella."I'll break ten fingers and ten toes if you lay a hand on her," Sandro declared, suddenly appearing in the doorway."Sandro," Arabella smiled, relief washing over her at the sight of him. Although she had never been particularly thrilled to see him before, his presence now offer
Goodness!Sandro pressed the gas pedal, driving over the speed limit. Relieved that the road was empty, he was aware that if someone had been there, a collision was inevitable, and he wouldn't have cared.His sole focus was reaching Arabella."Is she foolish enough to go to that guy without telling me?" Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.He had only left to settle some business deal with another pack that he had an alliance with, and it was to get them to fight in the war with him.Of course, he had done all he needed to do, albeit too late.Arabella, that he was trying his best to protect, wasn't even in the villa anymore.His phone rang, and glancing at the screen, he swiped to answer. "If you harm her, Paolo, I'll make sure you regret it. I won't hesitate to take you down with me!""She's still alive, De Luca. Why not come see her condition for yourself?" Paolo replied.Just then, a scream erupted from Arabella, further unsettling Sandro. "Let her go,"
No sooner had Arabella left than a loud boom echoed through the air. Though Thalia wasn't sure if it was an actual cannon, it sure sounded like one."Ah, darn!" she exclaimed, gasping and huddling against the wall. The cannon seemed to have targeted the building, affecting all the rooms. The meeting structure teetered on the verge of collapsing, with the pillars bending sideways."Are you okay?" Elisha asked, pulling her towards a corner."I am. How about you?" Thalia replied, scanning the area to see if others were in the same predicament."What's happening? And where is Bella?" she inquired."The attackers are here," Janice explained. "I overheard their conversation earlier, and I think my father spoke to her. It's why she left.""Why would she do that? That's so foolish!" Thalia hissed."My father is sly, Thalia. I don't know what he must have said to Arabella, but he can kill anyone he wants if she disobeys. She probably left for everyone's safety," Janice reasoned."That doesn't
TWO DAYS LATERThinking all plans would come easily as they were all gathered together, however, the reverse was the case. It was even more difficult to agree with all that was said, especially since it was the last day.Still, there was no attacker in sight, and it didn't seem like anything was going to happen. It was almost noon, and Arabella, Thalia, Elisha, Janice, and Annalise were in the meeting room.Some members were on guard, watching for any activity to report to those inside. However, Sandro, Arabella didn't know where he had gone. He said nothing to her and left the house."He should be here; at least, he's the alpha, and many of these people can listen to him," Elisha said, eyeing the other members in the room, acting as if they were bothered by the current situation."They listen to Bella, too," Thalia said. "She should say something to them."Say something? Arabella didn't know exactly what she was going to say. They weren't the phoenixes, and even though Orga and the r
Sandro awoke the next morning, groaning and turning to his side. "Arabella," he murmured, breathing in her scent before slowly opening his eyes. Using the pad of his thumb, he gently rubbed her cheek to confirm she was really in bed with him. He wondered why she hadn't left after he fell asleep, maybe because she had dozed off too.Gripping a lock of her white hair, he swirled it in his fingers. His free hand moved down to her stomach, caressing it. Sandro grinned as he felt a kick as soon as he touched, retracting his hand as Arabella groaned and turned."Sandro," she murmured, gripping his shirt.Raising his brow, Sandro watched as she began to unbutton his shirt slowly. Her hands slipped into his shirt as soon as she finished unbuttoning."Arabella," Sandro groaned as her hands moved further downwards.He didn't know what she was doing, and the thought of stopping her crossed his mind, but he didn't want to startle her. She seemed deeply asleep, and he hoped she would stop on her o
Sandro's condition hadn't improved; if anything, it had worsened. Arabella doubted it was due to the injury, which had already closed up two days since it happened. She had returned only yesterday to the room and found him sprawled on the bathroom floor.Initially, she thought he had stopped breathing, given his lack of movement, until she checked his pulse. Though she wouldn't admit it, she felt relieved. As much as she detested his behavior towards her, she was relieved he wasn't dead."I hate this," Sandro groaned, snapping Arabella from her thoughts. His lashes fluttered against his cheeks, and he opened his eyes slowly.Frowning, he murmured, "Bella?""Yes," Arabella said, placing her palm on his forehead to check his temperature. "How do you feel today?""Worse," Sandro mumbled, attempting to sit up. His eyes stayed on hers for a long time, making Arabella conscious of what she was wearing. She had opted for one of Sandro's T-shirts as she hadn't had time to do laundry. Now, she
Entering Thalia's room, Arabella made her way to the couch where Thalia sat."Trouble in Paradise?" Thalia raised a brow, sniffing. "I can smell blood on you. Did something happen?""In short, we were attacked by rogues, and Sandro decided to fight them off.""Typical Sandro," Thalia smiled. "But why the blood? Did you both engage in some kind of blood play?""What?" Arabella scoffed, "Never. Just because Blaze is no more doesn't mean I'll forget our moments easily. Besides, Sandro got injured during the fight, and I'm here because he said some really insensitive things.""About you not being receptive to him as you were to Blaze?" Thalia questioned."How do you know? Did you eavesdrop on us?""I'm a werewolf, remember? I can hear things miles away. Plus, your attitude towards him says it all. I've been watching," she said.Arabella shrugged. "I don't think you'd want me to relate with him either. He's been cruel to me, tried to kill me, and took me against my wish.""I know he did aw