Luca's POV The city lights blurred past as I gripped the steering wheel, my thoughts racing as I headed toward Lex’s place. Lex was dead. Not just dead—taken out. The guy had his share of enemies, but this? This was no random hit. Someone was making a point, and I’d heard it loud and clear. They wanted Lex silenced, and now they’d have everyone he worked with looking over their shoulders.I killed the headlights as I turned onto his street, parking a few blocks away. If whoever did this was still lurking, I didn’t want to be the next easy target. The night air was heavy, and every shadow seemed to watch as I made my way toward his apartment building, my senses on high alert. The whole place was quiet, almost too quiet.I reached his door and noticed it was slightly ajar, the lock busted. Whoever had done this wasn’t interested in covering their tracks. I pushed the door open, my pulse hammering as I stepped inside, gun drawn. The place reeked of metal and stale air, an all-too-famili
Bianca’s POVMy hands trembled slightly as I dialed yet another number. The list of contacts I’d carefully curated over the years dwindled with every unanswered call, leaving me more frustrated with each passing minute. Yet, I couldn’t give up now—not with everything on the line.“Have you heard anything?” I asked as soon as the line connected, my voice sharp, betraying the unease bubbling beneath my polished exterior.“Nothing definitive,” came the clipped response. “But we’re still looking.”I ended the call with a terse thank-you and leaned back in my chair, pressing my fingers against my temples. The tension pounding behind my eyes was unbearable, but I didn’t dare stop. Lex’s death had thrown everything into chaos, and the longer I remained in the dark, the more vulnerable we became.When the chime of a new notification broke through the silence, I straightened immediately, my pulse quickening. My investigator had sent something—a video.With a flick of my finger, I opened the fi
Rose's POVThe dream was terrifying.I was standing in a vast, empty hall adorned with wedding decorations. The air smelled metallic, thick, and suffocating. My wedding dress, pristine and white moments ago, was soaked with blood. The vibrant red seemed to pulse, a grotesque reminder of something I couldn’t yet piece together.My gaze fell downward, and there he was—Finn, lying in a pool of his own blood. His lifeless eyes stared up at me, accusing and hollow.My hands trembled as I looked down at them. I was holding a knife.“No...no, no, no!” I screamed, the sound echoing through the empty hall.I tried to drop the knife, but it wouldn’t leave my hand. My breaths came in short gasps, panic swelling in my chest. The walls around me seemed to close in, the decorations morphing into dark, clawed shapes.Then, faint laughter echoed. Low, guttural, and filled with malice.I spun around, searching for the source, but the hall was empty. The laughter grew louder until it consumed everythin
Rose's POVI sat in front of the vanity, staring at my reflection. My makeup was flawless, my hair pinned up elegantly, and the dress shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the window. But no amount of glamour could hide the anxiety swirling in my chest.A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Aaid entered, bowing slightly. "Ma'am, Benedicta is here to see you."I nodded, trying to compose myself. “Let her in.”As the door opened, Benedicta stepped in a radiant smile on her face. She crossed the room and pulled me into a warm hug. “My dear Rose,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. “You look beautiful.”I felt a lump form in my throat. “Thank you, Benedicta. I’m glad you’re here.”She pulled back, her hands resting on my shoulders. “It’s a big day for you, and I just want you to know how proud I am. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”Her sincerity made my eyes sting, but I blinked the tears away. “Thank you. That means so much to me.”Benedicta sat
Finn’s POVThe wedding bells rang loud and clear, echoing through the grand hall. My heart should have been soaring, but unease clung to me like a shadow. As the doors opened, Rose walked in, her arm linked with Benedicta’s. She looked stunning in her gown, but there was a tension in her smile that only I seemed to notice.As we exchanged vows, her voice was steady, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The officiant’s words blurred as my wolf instincts screamed at me, warning of impending danger. Still, I pushed the unease aside. This was our moment, and I wouldn’t let anything ruin it.“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant announced.I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Rose’s lips. The applause erupted around us, but all I could think about was the gnawing sensation that something was about to go wrong.---The reception was a whirlwind of laughter and celebration. Guests filled the hall, the sound of clinking glasses and cheerful chatter blending with th
Rose's POVThe chaos outside was deafening. Shouts echoed through the halls, and the tension in the air was so thick it felt like I could cut it with a knife. Finn’s injury had thrown the entire pack into disarray, and the sight of Alina’s cold, accusing eyes earlier kept replaying in my mind.I forced myself to move, my feet carrying me to Benedicta, who stood near the staircase, trying to make sense of the chaos. She turned the moment she saw me, her face a mix of worry and determination.“Benedicta,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I need to talk to you. Now.”Without waiting for a response, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward my bedroom. I shut the door behind us and locked it, leaning against it as I tried to steady my racing heart.“This is bad,” I muttered, pacing the room. “This is bad.”Benedicta watched me with a calmness I envied. “Take a breath, Rose,” she said gently. “Tell me what happened.”I stopped pacing and faced her. “Alina… she’s going to blame me. I know it.
Bianca’s POVThe tension in the air was suffocating. Every corner of the pack house buzzed with whispers of Finn’s attack, and I couldn’t move without feeling a dozen eyes boring into my back. Jenny and I had barely made it out of that hallway alive after Alina’s confrontation. I wasn’t scared of her, but her words stuck in my head.“Did we mess up?” Jenny asked nervously as we entered my room and closed the door behind us. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands twisting anxiously in her lap.I leaned against the dresser, crossing my arms. “No,” I said firmly, though the tightness in my chest said otherwise. “We’ve been careful. We didn’t stab Finn. Someone else did. Alina’s just lashing out because she’s desperate.”“But what if she’s right?” Jenny’s voice cracked. “What if whoever stabbed Finn was aiming for Rose? What if we’re next?”I turned to her, my glare silencing her panicked rambling. “We are not next. Whoever did this has no reason to come after us unless you do somethin
Rose’s POVI glanced at Finn one last time as he lay still on the bed, his breathing shallow but steady. My heart ached to see him like this. I wanted to stay, to keep watching over him, but Alina’s accusations still lingered in my mind, making the air in the room feel suffocating.With a heavy sigh, I turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, a flicker of movement caught my eye. The curtains by the window swayed gently, though there was no breeze. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze.“Who’s there?” I called out, my voice firmer than I felt.Silence.I stepped closer, peering into the shadows near the window. “I said, who’s there?”Still no response. I waited for a few tense moments, but nothing moved again. My mind began to race with possibilities. Was it just my imagination? Or was someone there?Shaking my head, I decided not to let paranoia take over. “It’s nothing,” I muttered to myself, though the uneasy feeling didn’t quite leave me.I stepped out of the room and made my wa
Luca's POV The air was heavy as I waited at the secluded spot I had chosen for the meeting. The dim glow of the streetlamp above barely illuminated the area, making it the perfect place for a private confrontation. My fingers drummed against my thigh as I replayed the plan in my mind. Russell wasn’t stupid—he’d be on guard.I heard the faint hum of an approaching car and looked up, spotting Russell’s black vehicle as it rolled to a stop a few feet away. He didn’t step out immediately. I knew he’d call first, testing the waters. My phone vibrated, and I answered it on the first ring.“Are you alone?” Russell’s voice was clipped, suspicious.“Yes,” I replied evenly, keeping my tone calm.“What do you want?”“To negotiate. About Rose. Nothing else.”There was a pause before I heard his car door open. I slid my phone back into my pocket, watching as he approached. His steps were measured and deliberate. Russell always carried himself like a predator, confident and ready to strike.“You h
Luca’s POVHearing Rose’s voice had done something to me. It was as if the weight of the entire world had lifted, even if just for a moment. She was alive. She was strong, though I could tell she was barely holding on. That was all I needed to ignite the fire in me. I wouldn’t stop until she was out of that dungeon and safe in my arms again.I sat at my desk, Bianca and Jenny’s videos and pictures of the dungeon laid out before me. The images showed every detail the cold, damp walls, the heavy iron bars, the chains. Each photo made my blood boil, but I forced myself to stay calm. This wasn’t the time for emotions. It was time for action.I transferred the files to multiple systems, uploading them to encrypted drives and saving them on several flash drives. Losing this evidence wasn’t an option. Russell would stop at nothing to keep his secrets buried, and I wasn’t going to let him.“Benedicta,” I called out, and moments later, she entered the room, her brow furrowed in concern.“What
Russell's POVI leaned against the cold windowpane of my room, Alina’s words echoing in my mind. “The truth will come out eventually.” She had said it so casually, but the way her eyes pierced mine told me she suspected something. Alina wasn’t stupid, if anything; she was the most cunning person I’d ever met.But I couldn’t let her unravel this. Not now, not ever.Pacing the room, I pulled out my phone and dialed one of my guards. “I need eyes on Bianca and Jenny,” I ordered, my voice cold and sharp. “From now on, I want them followed whenever they leave the house. I want to know where they go, who they meet, and what they’re planning. Understood?”“Yes, sir,” the voice on the other end replied.I ended the call and tossed the phone onto the bed, rubbing a hand over my face. Bianca and Jenny were up to something, and it was only a matter of time before they made their move. But I wouldn’t give them the chance to ruin everything I’d worked for.Pulling on my jacket, I left my room and
Bianca's POVJenny and I stepped out of the car, exhausted but feeling a small sense of accomplishment after managing to give Russell the slip earlier. It had been a long day, and all I wanted was to get inside, grab something to eat, and collapse on my bed. But as soon as we walked toward the front door, I saw him. Russell. Leaning casually against the porch railing, his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk playing on his lips.“What’s this?” Jenny muttered under her breath, her expression immediately hardening.I glanced at her, then back at Russell. “Trouble,” I replied quietly.“Ladies,” Russell greeted us, his tone laced with mock politeness. “Long day?”I rolled my eyes and walked past him toward the door, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “Not so fast,” he said. “Where have you two been?”“Out,” Jenny replied nonchalantly, folding her arms across her chest. “What’s it to you?”Russell’s smirk deepened as his eyes narrowed. “Out where? Because last I checked, Al
Rose's POVThe cold stone floor beneath me was a cruel reminder of my reality, my back pressed against the damp wall of the cellar. My body ached with exhaustion and pain; each bruise was a testament to the torment I had endured at the hands of Russell and Alina. The cell was stifling, suffocating in its silence, and I could feel my breath becoming shallow as panic bubbled just beneath the surface. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been here, but the isolation and darkness were wearing me down.The faint creak of the cellar door jolted me to attention. Footsteps echoed down the stairs, slow and deliberate. I already knew who it was, even before she stepped into view.Alina.Her presence filled the room as she approached, her polished, composed demeanor standing in stark contrast to the grim surroundings. She held something in her hand something that glinted in the dim light. A dress. A ridiculous gesture of control. She tossed it onto the floor in front of me like I was nothing more than an
Luca's POVThe weight of the past few days bore down on me like a suffocating blanket. I couldn’t shake the gnawing worry about Rose. She was out there somewhere alive, I hoped but every passing second without answers felt like a dagger twisting in my chest.My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. Jenny's voice came through the line, calm but urgent.“We’re here,” she said.I grabbed my jacket and stepped out of my car, spotting Jenny and Bianca standing near the café’s entrance. They looked anxious, their gazes darting around as if someone might overhear them.“Let’s make this quick,” I said, gesturing for them to follow me to a quieter corner of the park nearby. “What’s this about?”Jenny glanced at Bianca before speaking. “It’s about Rose... and Russell.”The mention of his name made my fists clench. “What about him?”Bianca took a deep breath, her expression conflicted. “We know where Rose is being kept.”My heart skipped a beat. “Where?”“At the pack house,” she said, her v
Jenny’s POVBianca and I exchanged a knowing glance as we drove down the main road, the morning sun casting long shadows over the car’s dashboard. Russell’s little stunt in the parking lot was laughable. The way he tried to play the enforcer, pretending to be the innocent one, was almost amusing if it weren’t so infuriating.“Can you believe him?” Bianca scoffed, leaning back in her seat with crossed arms. “Acting like we’re suspects when we already know what he’s capable of.”I smirked, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “He’s so transparent, it’s pathetic. But let him think he’s in control. The more he underestimates us, the easier it’ll be to take him down.”Bianca nodded, her expression hardening. “He thinks we’re clueless, but we’ve got him pegged. And Alina, too. They won’t see us coming.”Before I could reply, my phone buzzed on the console. Luca’s name flashed on the screen, and I quickly answered.“Where are you?” Luca’s voice was tense and low like he was barely holding hi
Luca’s POVSitting on the worn leather couch in Benedicta's living room, I stared at my phone, replaying Jenny’s words in my head. She had called earlier, her voice trembling as she insisted we meet. She claimed to have information about Rose, information that could turn everything around. My chest tightened at the thought of her name.“I don’t know if I can trust her,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair.Benedicta leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, her expression filled with concern. “What exactly did she say?”“She was vague, but she mentioned Rose and said it was urgent. She sounded scared.”Benedicta tilted her head, a thoughtful frown on her face. “Luca, you know this could be a trap. Russell has his claws in everything right now. Jenny could be working for him.”“I know,” I said, my voice sharp with frustration. “But what if she’s telling the truth? What if she knows where Rose is or what happened to her?”Benedicta sat down across from me, her dark eyes steady. “
Bianca's POVThe room was unusually quiet as I paced back and forth, my mind clouded with regret and unease. Jenny sat on the bed, her hands fiddling with her phone as if she were looking for the courage to speak. Finally, she sighed and broke the silence.“Bianca, we’ve made some terrible mistakes,” she said softly, her eyes meeting mine.I stopped pacing and turned to her, nodding slowly. “I know. What we did to Rose... it wasn’t right. I was so caught up in the moment, in everything Alina and Russell fed us, that I didn’t stop to think for myself.”Jenny gave me a small, sad smile. “Me too. But it’s not too late. We can still do something to help her.”Her words lit a spark of hope in me. “You’re right. But how? Russell and Alina have her locked up somewhere, and we both know they’ll go to any length to make sure she suffers. If we make a wrong move, they’ll know we’re on to them.”Jenny bit her lip, thinking hard. Then she grabbed her phone and opened the video she’d recorded of R