Alina’s POVThe house was silent as I made my way to the hidden room I had secretly arranged for Russell. I had to be cautious; no one could know he was here, especially now. Tomorrow was Finn’s funeral, and the emotions in the house were already running high.When I finally reached the door, I hesitated. Taking a deep breath, I knocked softly. Russell opened the door, his sharp features illuminated by the dim light inside. His expression was unreadable, but there was a fire in his eyes—calculated and dangerous.“We need to talk,” I said, stepping into the room.Russell shut the door behind me and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “About what?”“Finn,” I said firmly. “We need to come up with a plan to find out who killed him. Tomorrow’s the funeral, and people are starting to ask questions. We can’t keep sitting in silence.”Russell smirked, his eyes gleaming with something that made my stomach turn. “Oh, I already have a plan.”I blinked, taken aback. “You do?”He walked ov
Rose's POV The cold metal cuffs dug into my wrists as the officers led me out of the house. I kept my head down, unable to meet the eyes of the house staff who peered through windows and doorways, their expressions ranging from shock to satisfaction. The last thing I saw before stepping out into the night was Alina’s smug grin, half-hidden in the shadows of the hallway.My mind raced as the car bumped along the dark road toward the police station. The reality of the situation was setting in, twisting my stomach into knots. Finn, my husband of just a few days, was dead, and I was the prime suspect. The betrayal I felt wasn’t just from the accusations; it was from knowing who had orchestrated this. Alina and Russell. They had been behind this from the start, pulling strings in the dark while I blindly played into their hands.We arrived at the station, and I was ushered into an interrogation room with walls so gray and lifeless they seemed to suck the air out of my lungs. The fluoresce
Luca's POV I arrived at Benedicta's house as fast as I could, my heart pounding. Her frantic call hadn’t given me much information, but the panic in her voice was enough to send alarms ringing in my head. When I walked in, she was pacing the room, her face pale and her hands trembling.“Benedicta, what’s wrong?” I asked.She stopped and turned to me, her eyes filled with worry. “It’s Rose. I think something’s happened to her. I could feel it, Luca. She’s in trouble.”Her words unsettled me, but I tried to stay calm. “What do you mean you feel it? Have you tried calling her?”“I’ve called her multiple times, but she’s not picking up,” she said, her voice trembling. “Luca, I’m scared.”I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed Rose’s number. It rang, but there was no answer. I tried again and again, but it went straight to voicemail. The unease in my chest grew heavier.Just then, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. I quickly answered, hoping it was Rose, but it was Jenny.“Jenny
Luca’s POVThe drive to the police station felt longer than it should have. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, frustration bubbling under the surface. Rose didn’t belong behind bars, and I was determined to get her out. When I arrived, I approached the front desk with a steady resolve.“I’m here to see Rose,” I said to the officer seated behind the desk.The officer barely glanced at me before shaking his head. “No visitors allowed.”“What do you mean, ‘no visitors allowed’? She’s my wife—” I started, but he cut me off.“She’s under investigation, and Alina has put in a directive barring all visitors until further notice.”Alina. Her name felt like a curse. Her influence over everything was suffocating. I clenched my fists, anger simmering just beneath the surface.“This is ridiculous. You can’t just deny me access—”“It’s not up to me,” the officer interrupted, his tone flat and dismissive. “Rules are rules.”I left the station, my blood boiling. The audacity of Alina to me
Russell’s POVI lingered just outside the grand hall, my ears perked and tuned to every word exchanged inside. Alina’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. Her anger was palpable, her defiance strong against the elders’ authority. As I listened to their futile attempts to calm her, I smirked to myself. Alina’s rage was a weapon, one I intended to wield.When she stormed out of the hall, I waited until she was far enough down the corridor before following her, careful to keep my steps silent. Her pace was hurried, her movements frantic, and I could feel the tension radiating off her like heat from a flame.“Alina,” I called, stepping out from the shadows.She spun around, her eyes wild and bloodshot. "Russell," she hissed. "What do you want?"I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "I heard everything. The elders are against you, and I know how much that stings."She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her lips pressed into a thin line. "They're fools. Rose killed F
Rose's POV The sound of the keys jingling outside my cell sent a chill down my spine. I sat up, staring at the bars, dreading yet another interruption to my solitude. My life was in shambles, but at least here, in this cold, damp cell, I could think—strategize.“Get up,” the warden’s gruff voice commanded as she unlocked the door.I stayed seated, narrowing my eyes. “What now?”“You have visitors,” she snapped, stepping inside.Visitors. My stomach churned. No one should be here. No one who cared about me would dare come to this place. Which left only enemies.I stood slowly, letting my chains rattle as I stretched out my aching limbs. “This should be fun,” I muttered under my breath, following her out.The warden led me through the long corridor. Every step felt heavier than the last, the chains clinking like a somber melody. As we stepped outside, the blinding sunlight stung my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust, and then I saw them.Alina and Russell.Alina stood tall and r
Bianca's POVThe night was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. I had been walking down the hall toward my room when I heard faint voices coming from Alina’s study. Curious, I paused just outside the door, careful to stay in the shadows.“Are you sure about this?” Alina’s sharp voice carried through the crack in the door.“Yes,” Russell replied confidently. “Tomorrow night, everything will go as planned. Once the fire distracts the guards, I’ll get Rose out and bring her back to the pack. She’ll be ours to deal with.”My heart skipped a beat. Fire? Rose? What were they planning?“And you’re certain the elders won’t interfere?” Alina asked her voice tight with concern.“They’ll have no idea until it’s too late,” Russell assured her. “By the time they figure it out, Rose will be back here, under our control. Trust me, Alina, everything is under control.”I pressed my hand over my mouth to keep from gasping. Russell and Alina were plotting to break Rose out of pri
Bianca's POVThe acrid smell of smoke hung heavy in the air as I crouched behind a charred wall, the flames casting flickering shadows around me. The chaos in the prison yard provided the perfect cover as I silently observed Russell emerging from the building, carrying an unconscious Rose over his shoulder.I couldn’t deny the small flicker of satisfaction I felt as I discreetly raised my phone, recording every step he took. The camera lens followed his every move—the way he moved quickly yet cautiously, his sharp eyes scanning the area for anyone who might witness his actions.“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath. My phone’s screen glowed faintly in the darkness, capturing every incriminating second.Jenny was stationed elsewhere, tailing Alina. We had planned this carefully. Jenny would ensure Alina’s actions were documented, while I focused on Russell. Every step of the way, we were one step closer to exposing the truth.As I watched Russell haul Rose out of the crumbling building
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
Rose's POVI woke up to darkness and the damp, musty smell of earth. My head throbbed painfully, and as I shifted, I realized I was lying on a cold, hard floor. Disoriented, I tried to sit up, but my movements were slow and unsteady. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the faint light seeping through the cracks in the door, revealing the confined space around me.A cellar.Panic surged through me as I scrambled to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. I rushed to the heavy wooden door, banging on it with all my strength. "Hello? Is anyone there? Let me out!"My voice echoed in the small space, but there was no response. Frustration bubbled up inside me, and I pounded on the door again, my fists aching with the effort.Suddenly, I heard footsteps outside. I froze, holding my breath as the sound grew louder, stopping just on the other side of the door. The lock clicked, and the door creaked open, revealing Russell’s tall, looming figure."Keep your voice down," he said sharply,
Bianca's POVThe acrid smell of smoke hung heavy in the air as I crouched behind a charred wall, the flames casting flickering shadows around me. The chaos in the prison yard provided the perfect cover as I silently observed Russell emerging from the building, carrying an unconscious Rose over his shoulder.I couldn’t deny the small flicker of satisfaction I felt as I discreetly raised my phone, recording every step he took. The camera lens followed his every move—the way he moved quickly yet cautiously, his sharp eyes scanning the area for anyone who might witness his actions.“Perfect,” I muttered under my breath. My phone’s screen glowed faintly in the darkness, capturing every incriminating second.Jenny was stationed elsewhere, tailing Alina. We had planned this carefully. Jenny would ensure Alina’s actions were documented, while I focused on Russell. Every step of the way, we were one step closer to exposing the truth.As I watched Russell haul Rose out of the crumbling building
Bianca's POVThe night was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. I had been walking down the hall toward my room when I heard faint voices coming from Alina’s study. Curious, I paused just outside the door, careful to stay in the shadows.“Are you sure about this?” Alina’s sharp voice carried through the crack in the door.“Yes,” Russell replied confidently. “Tomorrow night, everything will go as planned. Once the fire distracts the guards, I’ll get Rose out and bring her back to the pack. She’ll be ours to deal with.”My heart skipped a beat. Fire? Rose? What were they planning?“And you’re certain the elders won’t interfere?” Alina asked her voice tight with concern.“They’ll have no idea until it’s too late,” Russell assured her. “By the time they figure it out, Rose will be back here, under our control. Trust me, Alina, everything is under control.”I pressed my hand over my mouth to keep from gasping. Russell and Alina were plotting to break Rose out of pri
Rose's POV The sound of the keys jingling outside my cell sent a chill down my spine. I sat up, staring at the bars, dreading yet another interruption to my solitude. My life was in shambles, but at least here, in this cold, damp cell, I could think—strategize.“Get up,” the warden’s gruff voice commanded as she unlocked the door.I stayed seated, narrowing my eyes. “What now?”“You have visitors,” she snapped, stepping inside.Visitors. My stomach churned. No one should be here. No one who cared about me would dare come to this place. Which left only enemies.I stood slowly, letting my chains rattle as I stretched out my aching limbs. “This should be fun,” I muttered under my breath, following her out.The warden led me through the long corridor. Every step felt heavier than the last, the chains clinking like a somber melody. As we stepped outside, the blinding sunlight stung my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust, and then I saw them.Alina and Russell.Alina stood tall and r