Vienna's POV: I stared at Tessa with a look of pure absurdity, trying to hold back the hurt and anger building up inside me. But for some reason, my voice came out trembling. “What are you even saying, Aunt Tessa? I found out about Kai’s arrival after all of you! I- I was in my room, pretending to be invisible like you asked me to. I don't even have my phone, or laptop or anything by which I can contact him, you know that! And even after all of this, I came here after hearing all these noises and continuous screams… then… how can you—”I blinked, and her hand had lifted from her side in a flash. Her cold, tight palm cracked across my face before I could react. The force of the slap silenced me, my eyes watering. She had slapped me again, crushing my protest and confidence in seconds, making me feel more embarrassed than if I was standing here naked. The pain of humiliation is far greater than the pain of that slap– and right at that moment, I felt it from my heart.A growl emerge
Vienna's POV: I could hardly believe my eyes.Was this really my father, Orion Belmont, who was crying over how much he loved me? But no matter how many times I blinked to dispel the illusion or hallucination– whatever it was– he was still here, standing with his side profile towards me and tears glistening in his eyes and speaking further. “After Ellora died, I couldn’t bear to face my little girl. Every time I looked at you, Vienna, I was reminded of her. It hurt too much… and I felt guilty to some extent, like I had failed you both. When I married Tessa, I thought… I thought you would have a new mother to look after you, and I could finally grieve. But I wish! I wish I knew back then, that I would only end up isolating you further.”“Dad…”I could feel a startled gasp escape my throat, and my eyes followed the Adam's apple bobbing in his throat before he swallowed the emotions and spoke his next words. Words that I had imagined him saying at least a hundred times, when I was yo
Vienna's POV: I couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. I was the one saying all these words, which were completely against my wish… the words which were against my might.Was I really asking him to leave like this, without even the dignity of a proper explanation? And the reason! The reason behind it was my father… the same father who had never given me the love I deserved, the affection which was my right, the safety that my soul had craved for. The protection that I had always dreamt of. And now that I am finally getting the hope of getting all of these from somewhere I am the one who is asking him to leave, with my own mouth… without any force… just because of the sudden rush of emotions I was currently feeling.The expression had scribbled the verdict of hurt all across his face, and it was unbearable to me… making me feel like my guilt was an alien soul. Alive and breathing inside me, clawing me from within. And so, I did the cowardly thing and trained my gaze a
Vienna's POV: I didn't get to hear what he was going to say, or when exactly he would be coming to get me. Before he could finish, Tessa marched over, screeching like a banshee once again and making me wonder how she hadn't screamed herself hoarse yet. “You pest! Are you determined to suck our blood dry!" My startled eyes found Kai, just as she shoved him away from me using both her hands, and positioning herself between us like a guard dog on steroids. “I knew this girl was shameless, but you are no less! Tell me, what more do you want to hear? She said she is not going anywhere with you! Are you deaf, or just plain stupid?” If I was expecting to see anger or aggression lingering around his expressions, there was nothing as such. In fact, he barely even reacted at first. Then, taking his own sweet time, he cocked an eyebrow, his body language eerily calm. “I highly recommend you keep your aggression reserved for those who tolerate it willingly. And in fact, con
Vienna's POV: With Kai gone, I slowly felt the realization sinking in, about all that had happened in the span of less than an hour. I felt like a storm had just passed over my life, turning everything on its head and spitting me out of the eye of the storm, dazed and disoriented. My father… I remembered with a start, and a sudden jolt of urgency pushed me into action. I made my way towards my father, feeling like I was wading against thick currents, instead of walking on the floor of my house. But I forced myself to walk until I was standing in front of him; where he sat slumped on the couch, his head bowed and shoulders slumped, his face buried in his hands… looking like a defeated man. Slowly, I reached out and awkwardly rested my hand on his arm, hoping to offer some comfort. “Dad… I'm sorry…” My throat had suddenly become so tight that the words had to be squeezed out one by one. I lowered myself to my knees in front of him, speaking sincerely. “I’m sorry for not
Kai’s POV: I reached home, restless and on edge. I was too disturbed to even think about anything, and any time I tried, the haunting image of Vienna’s face appeared in front of me again. Time and again, my mind flashed back to the tears in her eyes, the tremble in her voice as she asked me to leave, the look of disgust in her stepmother and stepsister’s eyes… all those thoughts, refusing to be silenced. Not to mention the fact that my wolf was on the verge of rebellion, for abandoning our mate there. How could anyone be so heartless towards that innocent soul? And as for her father, I didn’t trust him for a second. Although he had said all those words to show how hurt he was by the possibility of her leaving, and said all the right things to prove his regret over not having a good relationship with her, for not showing how much he loved her… I could smell some bullshit. His regret was too sudden to be genuine, because how could a father watch his daughter get taunted and phys
Kai's POV:“To hell with that!” I gritted out through my teeth, finding no other suitable place for my rage. I had come here to find some clarity, but so far, Fynn’s presence and horrible suggestions were just making the mist of confusion and anger grow denser. I could see very well that Fynn was just as worried about Vienna… maybe even more than I was. But again! My twin’s stubbornness was overriding his sensibility, and I wished I could have told him earlier, how much he really sucked at acting. “Will you stop acting this way, how long are you planning to be mad at us for that?! She is our mate, for fuck’s sake–”“I wouldn’t say that.”Fynn’s jaw tightened as he said coldly. “Not when she hasn’t accepted me as her mate in front of the pack members and with Moon Goddess as our witness. Until then, she has at least accepted or acknowledged you as her mate, so that's good! I'm happy for you.”I growled, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. “What bullshit! You know the Mating Cer
Vienna's POV: I tossed and turned in my bed, trying to put pressure on my stomach, desperate to ease the sharp, stabbing pain. My sleep-addled brain was struggling to push past the discomfort, but it was useless. Even after fifteen minutes of this, I wasn't feeling any better; nor could I succumb to the call of sleep, no matter how heavy and droopy my eyelids were getting. Finally, I gave up and stumbled out of bed, clutching my stomach with both hands. My head was dizzy, and the realization hit me like a brick: it was already a new morning, which meant an entire day had passed, without anyone entering my room or bringing me any food. I reached out hesitantly and turned the latch of the door. Thankfully, it was unlocked, and I let out a shaky breath. Hopefully, that meant I could sneak down to the kitchen unnoticed. But as I crossed the hallway and turned to head down the stairs, I felt a shove on my shoulder, causing me to trip. I tumbled forward, the hard edge of each step
Fynn's POV:“Fynn…”The familiar voice felt like the forgotten voice of my conscience. I froze, my fingers still around Zella’s throat, butVienna’s voice sent a shiver down my spine. It was so calm, and yet, Zella’s wide, bloodshot eyes flickered past my shoulder. I didn’t even need to turn to know who she was looking at, but the terror in her eyes was clear enough to paint a clear picture in front of my mind. All the hope drained away from her eyes.Because until that moment, she had been assuming that I was Kai. That the twin she was planning on weakening and killing soon, was the one pressing the life from her lungs. While her Fynn, the idiot whom she had drugged, manipulated, and betrayed was the one who eas locked up behind bars, unable to help her. As if in her twisted mind, her confession of love and the declaration of her loyalty was enough to fix everything.But now… she knew it was me.She knew I was Fynn, and I wanted her dead.The way her eyes drooped, like last flam
Kai's POV:I looked at Zella with skepticism, wondering if this was why she had come here… to stage a rebellion against Alpha Axel? Or was there something more to her plan? I found a pair of soft eyes staring back at me– her answering gaze was filled with longing, which made me more disgusted with her existence than I could have imagined. But still, I didn't let it show on my face. I kept my mask on, this girl was too dangerous to be trusted. She had been watching Fynn closely for almost three years now, and I couldn’t afford a single slip. My act needed to be perfect if I was to convince her that I was my brother, without any questions. I straightened my spine a little more, deliberately letting some rudeness and coldness slip into my voice. “Zella! There is no point in this nonsense now. I already told Axel that I don't have any interest in taking the throne back, and that's the reason he has dumped me in this dungeon! Since you are his Healer, I can't trust you even if I want
Author's POV:The Oasis Pack's central courtyard watched in silent curiosity as Fynn strode toward Alpha Axel's private chambers. His boots crunched against the gravel path, his posture rigid, his face an unreadable mask. Axel greeted him with a smirk, lounging against the doorway. "Master Fynn!" His voice dripped with false warmth. "Or should I call you Supreme Alpha again?" "Neither," Fynn said flatly. "I have news for you." Axel's grin widened. "Oh? Do share." "Not here." Fynn's gaze flickered toward the servants loitering around nearby. “I need a private audience with you, right now." Axel waved a dismissive hand, signalling for the servants to disperse as he began leading Fynn towards the throne room. The heavy doors shut behind them with a resonant thud, sealing them in the chamber. Fynn didn't waste any time before breaking his silence. "I'm formally declaring that I won't support any further attacks on the Azuremist Pack." Silence. Then Axel burst into lau
Vienna's POV:A gentle breeze was blowing through the half-open curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. The peaceful atmosphere was shattered as soon as Zeke burst into my room like a tiny hurricane, just like it had become his routine for the past week. He used to rush in ten times a day, always asking the same questions with wide, worried eyes. It had been a week since we returned from the Oasis Pack, and although my hand was still wrapped in thin crepe bandages, it was healing well.“Mama!” Zeke’s arms shot up, and his little knee lifted just as Kai had taught him. Before I could blink, he was on the bed, huddling against my side.I shifted slightly as he clung to my side. His eyes were so full of concern that it made my heart squeeze. “Mama, are you feeling pain?”I pulled him closer, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “No, baby. Mama doesn’t feel any pain when her baby is by her side.” He grinned sweetly, and all his worries disappeared with a single answer of mine, l
Author's POV:The setting sun had painted the guesthouse corridors in colors of gold as Zella walked inside with an air of authority, her footsteps silent on the polished wood. No one stopped her, and for good reason. the Oasis Pack's royal healer, her presence was expected here. Especially when all everyone could talk about was the Supreme Luna's absence from the diplomatic pack visits, owing to her ill health.. But she wasn't here for doing anything that was going to help the supreme Luna, to recover or she wasn't in the mood to give anything that could have the potential to cure the supreme Luna in any way.In fact if she could, she would directly inject the poison in her veins, silencing her forever, after all, what she has been doing apart living like a burden on the Earth and being the owner of something that should never belong to her, that is Fynn's heart.But it wasn't going to be so long anyway, so there was no use for getting mad for this, rather it was the perfect oppor
Fynn's POV:The moment Kai walked out of the house, I collapsed to my knees, the dam inside me shattering completely. The cold compress Kai had used sat discarded on the table, melting slowly, a puddle forming. And just like that, the hot tears spilling from my eyes had melted the mask of coldness that I had been wearing, thinking that this was the only way to protect myself…But today, I could see myself for what I really was: a bruised and broken man who couldn't help but hurt those whom he was meant to cherish the most. Vienna…!An image flashed before my eyes, bleeding onto the floor… and bile surged up my throat. I leaned forward, raising my hands to clutch at my head. These hands… these cursed, guilty hands that had pushed her away without a second thought.The same hands that had once held Vienna closed to me, and the ones that had hurt her… and even this pain was too kind for a monster like me. I deserved far worse. Would she have been okay right now, if I hadn’t acted s
Author's POV:Kai’s hand, which had been gently wiping the blood from Fynn’s face, abruptly stopped. The damp cloth was hovering above against Fynn's bruised cheekbone as Kai’s expression shifted. His gaze was definitely softer than before, but it still carried an edge of grievance and anguish… flicking over Fynn’s bruised features before he spoke in a low, controlled tone. "You surely can make everything else right, and I know you want to make up for the time you have lost and the distance you have spent apart. I can understand that, but Fynn..." His grip tightened slightly. “How do you think you will ever make up for hurting her this time? Because I don't think there is anything that you could do to erase this bitter memory from any of our heads and no matter how much you apologise, I don't think I will be generous enough to forgive you for this act of yours, even if Enna will forgive …I don't I would be able to forget this incident easily…in fact I don't think you yourself c
Author's POV: The air inside the cottage felt suffocating, heavy with the aftermath of their brutal confrontation. The remnants of their fight lay scattered—broken furniture, splintered wood, and the metallic tang of blood lingering in the air, but the broken fragments of words and the things that were broken by the force of them were nowhere to be found. Fynn was on his knees, the shock of Kai’s words crashing over him like a tidal wave. He knew he couldn't stay standing on his feet after the tsunami that had just hit his world.His mind was a whirlpool of disbelief and desperation. Could this be true? “Is this true? Is it really true what you are saying–”“You really think I would lie about him? He's my son too, you bastard!!?”Kai’s eyes blazed with anger. Without warning, he grabbed him by the collar and shoved him back with a force that sent him sprawling. Fynn’s spine struck the ground hard, and he grunted as pain flared through his back.“That’s why I said what I said,” Kai
Author's POV: The cottage stood silent and foreboding, the morning mist curling lazily around the worn wooden structure. Birds dared not chirp, sensing the tension thickening the air. The door swung open violently, crashing against the wall as Kai stormed inside, eyes blazing and muscles taut with barely restrained fury.“Fynn!” he roared, voice echoing off the wooden beams. “Where the hell are you?!” The anger in his voice reverberated like a thunderclap. “Fynn, you can't hide from me, you coward! Come out, or are you only brave enough to hurt my wife?!”For a moment, the only sound was the rush of Kai’s heavy breathing. The air was heavy with the promise of violence. There were enough signs that could justify that promise.The cottage’s shadows flickered, disturbed by the force of his entrance.Then, from the back room, Fynn emerged. His expression was a cold mask, but his eyes blazed with pent-up rage and betrayal. He stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest, and a bitter smi