After walking over to the back of the class, I put threw my bag on the desk, sat down, and relaxed in the seat.
Suddenly a frown surfaced on my face as I stared at Nero walking into the classroom.
At that moment, my gaze rested on Karen as she sat in the seat beside me, and anger spiked inside of me while I clutched my fist.
Suddenly, Karen turned around, gazed at me, and cheerfully said, "Good morning, Blake."
“Have you lost your sense of shame, talking to me after what you did?” I harshly uttered, glaring at her.
A pitiful look settled on Karen's face as she pouted and said, "Someone is moody this morning. Sorry if greeting you was that offensive!”
“What?!” I mumbled, drawing my brows together in a frown.
Then I swayed my gaze at Nero, and he slightly frowned at me. But that didn't stop me from glaring back at Karen, and coldly uttering, " Don't play dumb with me. You know what you did, and soon enough, the school board will find out too!"
Without replying, Karen wrote on a piece of paper, and then passed it to me.
Even though I didn't want to accept it, I took the sheet and silently read it, "I know that you left the campus in Mr. Fang's car, and if you don't want him to get into trouble, you will keep your hole shut!"
It felt like time froze for a moment as I solely stared at Nero, knowing that if my father found out that I stayed at his place, he would hurt him, or worse kill him.
Swaying my gaze off Nero, I took the paper and stuffed it into my bag. Then I frowned and gave the middle finger when Karen turned around and stared at me.
I smiled as I swayed my gaze towards the doorway. But fear ceased my body as I stared at my father.
Immediately, I laid my head flat on the desk, hiding my face behind my bookbag.
“Running away from home!? You got guts, brat!" I heard Loki coldly uttered. "Are you going to come down here, or should I come there for you!?"
From his voice, I could tell that he was infuriated, and not wanting to test his unstable patience, I stood to my feet.
Struggling to steady my breath and calm the panic rising in me, my eyes unintentionally stared at my father, and fear immediately damaged the calmness that I tried so hard to maintain.
'Calm down, Blake. Once he knows that your wolf is awakening, everything will change for the better. You just have to make him understand.' I cried in her head as she walked away from her desk.
When I reached the front of the class, I stopped before my father, and the moment I met his icy eyes, a sense of distress rushed through me and I clutched my fist.
The entire class grew silent, and I just knew that they all were waiting anxiously for what was going to happen next.
“Dad, I can explain!” I cried out of fear, pushing my nail into the skin of my palm.
Without uttering a word, Loki viciously hit me in the face with the back of his hand, and I lost my balance and dropped to the floor, staring at the blood from my nose dripping on the tiles.
"You little bitch didn't I warn you to stay in line this semester!" Loki shouted as he scowled down at me.
Raising my head, I gazed into his cold eyes and felt a raw wave of a mixture of anger and fear wash over me as the hairs rose on the back of my neck and my mouth ran dry.
Then I suppressed it all in and whispered, "I'm sorry, alpha."
"Sorry! Wow! She is sorry!" Loki shouted, folding his fingers into a fist, "Do you know how troublesome it was to look for you!"
"I didn't mean to stay away from home!"
"Really! Then where the hell was you yesterday?!"
With tears running down my face, I choked back my cry as I fought against my urge to look at Nero.
Then I drew a deep breath, stood from the floor, and mumbled, “I missed the school bus, and I was afraid that you would get mad at me, so I stayed at a motel.”
"A motel?" Loki mumbled in confusion. "How did you get the money to book a motel room?!"
Gazing intensely at me, his face suddenly ravaged with rage as he looked me dead in the eyes and firmly asked, “Who are you messing around with?!"
"No one!" I whispered, gazing down at my shoes. "I swear that I was alone."
Not holding back, Loki viciously smacked my face, causing my head to veer around to the left, and then shouted, "You little lying bitch!"
Suddenly, I heard Nero's voice, "Mr. Hayes, you are disrupting my class! So can you take this somewhere else!"
“Who the fuck do you think you are to speak to me in such a tone!” Loki coldly said.
Immediately, I looked back at Nero and slightly shook my head, knowing what my father was capable of doing to anyone that dared cross him.
For a moment, Nero gazed into my eyes. Then he looked back at Loki and said, "My bad for speaking out of term."
Clenching his brows, Loki gave him an icy stare and firmly said, "The next time you speak to me in such a tone, I will put a hold inside your chest and rip your heart out! Got it!?"
For a moment, I watched Nero's eyes darken as he nodded, and when I look back at Loki.
"Good!" Loki said.
Then he focused back on me and harshly uttered, "You can forget coming back to school for the next one month."
Although I was striving my best to stay calm, I immediately started to freak out when I heard those words.
“Dad please,” I whispered, hearing my heartbeat pounding in my ear. "I don't want to go to that place. I won't go back to that place!"
My gaze unintentionally rested on Loki's soulless eyes, and I swallowed hard as he approached me.
When he was only a foot away from me, he raised his hand and viciously slammed his palm against my cheek.
“Who do you think you are to tell me what you would do and wouldn't do!” Loki coldly uttered.
Frowning, Loki gave me a hard look and said, "I despise having the disappointment of a daughter like you! Maybe a few weeks in 'The Night' will make you learn your place in the pack!"
A deep sense of anger held me captive as the pain from Loki's hit surged through me, and I tightened my fists, lowering my gaze to the tiles.
"I am not going," I whispered, raising my gaze to stare at Loki.
“When I tell you to do something, you do it and shut the fuck up!” Loki screamed, staring coldly into my eyes. "Now, walk ahead of me, and let's go home!"
When I didn't comply, Loki seized me by the arm and yanked me along with him. But I fought back, struggling to pull my hand from his grip.
My action made Loki vex, and he forcefully swung me, causing me to lose my balance and crashed into the wall.
As the pain ripped through my body, I hurriedly crawled into the corner and pulled my knees against my chest. Then I hugged my legs tightly as the blood from my nose dripped onto my jeans.
A sense of hopelessness left me numb shaking, and my heart froze for a second as I ushered my eyelid shut and allowed my tears to soak upon my bloodstained face.
Suddenly, raw anger awakened in me, and I pushed aside my fear as I struggled to my feet.
"I will rather be a lone wolf than stay in a pack that treats me like a piece of shit!" I screamed, looking my father dead in his eyes.
A bitter laugh escaped Loki's lips. Then his expression grew cold as he said, "You don't want to cross that line! Trust me, your ass will be dead within a matter of days!"
"A dead hybrid is better than the one who spent her days in anguish, tortured by the very ones who should protect her!" I loudly uttered. "So go ahead, father, do the honor and denounce me!"
"Don't you dare test my patience!" Loki coldly uttered.
When I didn't react or say something, he let out a loud growl of annoyance and then approached me.
The insanity in his eyes sent chills down my spine. But I kept still with my hands tightened into fists.
“Your stubbornness will be the death of you!” Loki coldly uttered without taking his eyes off me. "You are dead to me!"
Then he turned away from me, gazed at the faces of those in the class, and firmly uttered, "From today onward, Blake Hayes will no longer be known as my daughter or a member of the Dark moonlight pack. From now till forever, she will be recognized by this pack as a rogue!"
After his remark, Loki stormed out of the classroom with Alaska, and for a moment, I looked at his back fade out the door. Then I hung my head and sadly thought, 'What have I done?'
As I stared at Blake, I could tell that she was holding in her breath and fighting back her tears while she gazed back at me. But I said nothing as I kept gazing at her wet eyes, bruised lip, and bloodstained nose. Even if I wanted to, I didn't know what to say to her at such a moment. So I dragged my gaze off her and coldly uttered, "Blake, I think you and your father have disrupted my class enough, so maybe you should take a seat, or get out!" Feeling her eyes on me, I turned around, and the moment our eyes locked, I paused for a moment and then said, "Did you hear m..." "I did," Blake mumbled beneath her breath with her ga
******************Luna Pov*********** Avoiding the sunlight, I rolled over in bed, and kicked the blanket off me, pissed over the fact that Alaska suddenly ruined breakfast this morning to inform my father that he got news about Blake. Immediately, dad abandoned his food and left the dining hall like that bitch was worth something to him. Since he left the villa with Alaska, we haven't gotten any news yet, and it felt a bit odd since a couple of hours had passed already and he should have been back with his bastard by now. A sudden loud knock on my room door forced me to open my eyes, and I swear whoever was at the door, woke up and chose not to live another day because a second later, I heard, "Bang! Bang!" Enraged, I sat up, resting my back against the headboard as I turned my head to stare at the door. "Who is it?" I shouted, feeling hesitant to leave the bed. "It's me, James. Milady, Our Luna requested your presence in
*********************Blake POV*************Noticing the supermarket from a distance, I busily tapped Nero on his shoulder and shouted, "Can you stop at 'Greenland?!""No!" Nero shouted back, glaring at me for a second as though he was annoyed that I was distracting him from focusing on driving."Please!!""Why?"Saying the reason out loud in my head sounded a bit embarrassing. So I chewed on my bottom lip, darted my eyes away from him, and then mumbled, "Forget it,"Sighing, Nero suddenly made a U-turn and drove into the parking lot of the supermarket.Then he stepped on the brake before looking at me and blurting out, "Are you in need of Sanitary pads or something!?"Even though I wanted to chuckle, I suppressed my laugh and didn't look at him because from his voice I could tell that he was upset with me."No, that is not what I need," I mumbled, screwing my face into a frown. "You k
***************Nero Pov************As I walked past the living room, I screwed my face into a frown when Jason suddenly sped from behind me, crossed in front of me, and stepped in my way."You should go upstairs and freshen up. I will take these to the kitchen! Seriously! What the hell happened last night to get you two acting like mates?" Jason lashed out, frowning as I walked past him with the bags.But he kept walking behind me until we got into the kitchen and stopped in the doorway."Did you mark her?!" Jason blurted out. "Or did you fuc…"Frustrated, I sluggishly dropped the bags on the counter, turned around to stare at my beta, and said, "No, Jason, I didn't mark her, neither did I mate with her. She simply needs a place to stay for two weeks…""Two weeks! You are allowing Hayes's daughter to stay here for two weeks! What is wrong with you!" Jaso
********Blake POV*********When I pushed the guest bedroom door open and walked inside, Nero's eyelids immediately raised and he swayed his gaze to the right, staring at me.As our eyes locked, my lashes fluttered, and I froze, losing touch with reality for a moment.What happened last night was extremely embarrassing now that I'm back to my senses.Knowing that he was on the other side while I moaned that loud made me want to bury my face in a pillow and scream on top of my lungs."What is it?" Nero asked, tossing the sheet off him.Then he got out of bed, and as I watched him walk over to the closet wearing only a boxer my words faded from my lips, and I swallowed hard, unable to draw my gaze away from him.His burly physique left me speechless, and my entire body jerked to a standstill unexpectedly as my heart pounded and my mind went blank."Blake," Nero called out to me, frowning as he looked back at me."Huh!" I su
************Nero POV****************When I came downstairs, I met Jason waiting for me at the bottom of the staircase.With my eyes fixed on him, I faintly smiled before walking past him. But Jason suddenly grabbed my arm, causing me to stop in my tracks.“She's only going to be here for two weeks, right?” Jason asked, pulling his brows together in a frown.The truth was, I wasn't sure about the answer to that question either, and it annoyed me to know that I was being hesitant to decide.After a brief silence, I looked at the time on my phone screen and said, “I'm running late for class. So, let's catch up this discussion later.""Nero!" Jason harshly said.As I stared at him, his eyes told me that he was mad. But if he knew why I was this considerate to Blake, he would detest me, and I didn't wanted the one person that honestly cares about me to see me as the monster that I am.When Jason squinted his
It felt a bit annoying that fate kept messing up my plans, but now that I was staring at Luna, I felt like I was getting back on course.Watching her eyes slightly dart left and right, I asked with a straight face, "Do you tell your name to every stranger that you just meet?""No. But I make an exception if that stranger is a hottie like yourself." Luna said with a sheepish grin."That's a bit straightforward, don't you think?""I don't see the crime in honesty."Staring coldly at her, I paused for a moment before saying, "I should get out of your way."
****************Blake Pov**************When the shorthand on the clock hit seven and the long hand pointed at twelve, I stared away from the wall clock and looked at the door.Then I rolled over, laid on my back, and slowly shut my eyelids, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the bright chandelier light.It was hard to fall asleep when Nero was haunting my dreams, and it was even irresistible to ignore his scent, even though I was trying to since he arrived home a few hours ago.When the bitterness I felt finally left me, I dragged myself out of bed and headed in the hallway, planning on going downstairs for a cold glass of water.But as I wa
As I descended the stairs, the smell of fresh coffee greeted me. Jason was in the kitchen, pouring a cup for himself. He looked up as I entered, a warm smile on his face."Morning," he said, his voice gentle. "I made coffee.""Thank you," I replied, taking the cup he offered. The warmth of it seeped into my hands, a small comfort. "I appreciate it."We stood in companionable silence for a moment, sipping our coffee. The morning light filled the kitchen, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the frenzy inside me."Blake," Jason began, his voice hesitant. "I know I keep pushing this but you have been restless since yesterday... I can feel it without you telling me... every second, every time you block me out of your head, you can't stop me from feeling what your heart is going through. Are you sure you're okay? I mean, okay?"I met his gaze, the concern in his eyes evident. I wanted to reassure him, to tell him that everything was fine, but I couldn't bring myself
Blake's POVI woke to the pale light of dawn streaming through my curtains, casting a soft glow on my bedroom walls. I stretched, feeling the comfort of my warm bed cocooning me, reluctant to break free from its embrace. As I sat up, a sharp knock echoed through the quiet room, pulling me from my sleepy haze."Blake? Are you awake?" Jason's voice, laced with urgency, came from the other side of the door.I threw back the covers and reached for my robe, slipping it on hurriedly as I padded across the room. My heart pounded a little faster. Why was he here so early? I opened the door to find Jason standing there, his expression a mix of concern and frustration."Jason? What's wrong?" I asked, tightening the belt of my robe.He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, a sign that he'd been restless. "Blake, you've been blocking your mindlink from me. I can't hear your thoughts, and it's driving me insane. I can tell something's troubling you."I hesitated, looking away. "I don't know what
Nero's PovThe terminal's buzz of activity faded as we stepped out into the brisk evening air. My business partners, Victor and Raymond, chatted animatedly beside me, discussing the upcoming meeting at the resort. I nodded along, only half-listening. My mind was elsewhere, stuck on the strange encounter with the boy named Nicholas.We piled into a sleek black SUV waiting at the curb, and I slid into the back seat, the leather cool against my skin. Victor took the front passenger seat, continuing his conversation with Raymond, who was driving. They were both seasoned businessmen, used to these trips and the high-stakes negotiations that accompanied them. I should have been focused, mentally preparing for the discussions ahead, but I couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity that had struck me when Nicholas had looked up at me with those wide eyes.As we drove towards the resort, the cityscape gave way to more serene surroundings. I stared out the window, trying to piece together why
Blake's POVI stepped off the plane, the cool air of the terminal a welcome contrast to the stifling cabin. Nicholas's small hand gripped mine tightly, his eyes wide with excitement and curiosity. We maneuvered through the crowd, making our way to the immigration counters.The lady behind the counter looked up as we approached, her eyes scanning my passport. “Bella Greene?” she called, her voice smooth and practiced. “Yes,” I replied, my heart racing slightly. The name had become second nature, a part of the disguise I had maintained for years.The woman smiled warmly and then glanced down at Nicholas. “And who is this handsome little fellow?”“This is my son, Nicholas,” I said, returning her smile.She leaned forward slightly, her gaze softening. “How old are you, young man?”Nicholas beamed up at her, his pride unmistakable. “I’m eight.”The lady chuckled, handing back our documents. “Well, you have a very charming boy, Bella. Enjoy your stay.”“Thank you,” I said, taking the passp
Every fiber of my being screamed in agony as I reached out through the mindlink, desperately trying to connect with Blake. But she wasn't there. The connection was broken, severed by some unseen force, leaving me stranded in a sea of darkness, alone."Blake?" I whispered, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. But there was no response, only the echoing silence of my own mind.My wolf paced restlessly within me, its primal instincts urging me to break free from the chains that bound me, to unleash its fury upon the world. I fought against it, struggling to maintain control, but the bonds that held me were slipping, fraying with each passing moment."Nero, snap out of it!" Scarlet's voice cut through the haze of my thoughts, her words laced with urgency and concern. "You'll get yourself killed!"But I couldn't heed her warning. All I could think about was Blake. I had to find her, no matter the cost."I have to get to her," I muttered, my voice hoarse with emotion. "I have to fi
Blake POVMy body felt cold as I stood naked in front of Jason, opening the mind link between Nero and me. I felt his pain, and it was time for him to feel mine.Jason's jaws clutched, and I could see that he was fighting to restrain himself, but his wolf had always wanted me. Now that I was standing vulnerably before him, bare, his eyes darkened, his gaze burning with a mixture of desire and conflict. I could sense the tension radiating off him as he struggled to maintain control over his instincts. With the mind link open, Nero's anguish surged through me, his voice echoing in my head, "Blake, the guard took Jason away. What are you going to do with him?""Can't you feel it in my body, Nero... I am breaking our bond." I hissed back, the pain was so intense... I could hardly breathe. I could feel his fear, his anxiety, his fear of coursing through my veins."Jason... You and Jason... Blade, kill me before you do this. Blake..." Nero groaned in my head. "Please, just end me now. Don'
Jason's POVI was startled awake by the sudden commotion, the clanging of metal against metal echoing through the dimly lit cell. The guards burst in, their faces hidden behind stern masks, their intentions unclear. My heart pounded in my chest as they approached, their eyes cold and unyielding."What's going on?" Scarlett's voice trembled beside me, her hand reaching out in confusion. "Where are you taking him? Where's Blake?"Nero's voice joined hers, his tone sharp with concern. "Answer us! Where are you taking Jason?"But the guards remained silent, their grip firm as they yanked me off the chains that bound me. I stumbled, my legs weak from hours of confinement. Fear gnawed at my insides as I was forced out of the dungeon, the darkness of the cell giving way to the flickering torchlight of the corridor."Please," I pleaded, my voice hoarse. "Tell me what's happening. Where are you taking me?"But my words fell on deaf ears as the guards dragged me further away from Scarlett and N
As my grandfather's question hung in the air, I couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt creeping into my mind. What proof did Scarlett have? Could I trust her account of that fateful night? After all, my entire worldview had been shattered once already today."I... I don't know, Grandpa," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "But something just feels off about all of this. I can't explain it, but I can't shake the feeling that there's more to the story than what we've been told."My grandfather nodded solemnly, his expression mirroring my uncertainty. "Trust your instincts, Blake. They will guide our family for generations after I am gone. So remember, as the next leader of our pack, you cannot afford to trust easily. There are those who would seek to deceive and manipulate you for their own gain."His words struck a chord within me. Was I truly ready to take on the responsibility of leading our pack, especially in the midst of such turmoil and uncertainty? Did I even want th
I stormed through the dimly lit corridors of the mansion, my mind a tumultuous storm of conflicting emotions. Each step I took echoed through the empty halls, a stark contrast to the chaos raging inside me. As I reached Loki's cell, I could hear the faint sound of chains rattling, and I scowled.Pushing open the heavy door, I was met with the sight of Loki, chained up in the corner of the room, bruises marring his once proud features. His eyes widened in fear and desperation as he caught sight of me, and he lunged forward, only to be yanked back by the chains that bound him."Blake, please, spare me," he pleaded, his voice raw with desperation. "I... I'm your father. I didn't mean for any of this to happen.""Okay," I said blankly. I didn't feel like hearing his pathetic apology. After everything that had been done to me over the years... what right did I have to pity him or offer even a tiny shred of care to anyone? Even to myself. And certainly not to him. Not after everything. Lok