Cynthia’s POV:Mr. Holt left after dropping me in the parking lot, but I had this one question in my mind that I needed an answer to."Why would Dad want me to participate in this contest?" I stroked my chin, keeping my head down when walking towards the entrance, thinking, "Of course, he's doing it for the money." I had the answer to the question myself.My father was only interested in money. He would sell me even if it came to that point.I had only walked up to the main entrance gate when somebody stepped between me and the gate."Move!" I didn't even raise my head and mumbled to Enzo. I recognized him from the hand tattoo."I'm only here to ask you about your wounds. Why aren't they healed yet? Did you not transition last night?" He sounded forceful when demanding to have a conversation with me."We rogues are not allowed to transition whenever we want," I grunted, thankful because that messed-up rule was saving my life."I can write you a permission letter," he shrugged. "Why is
Cynthia Dion:"You want to know who he is to me?" I almost let out a sarcastic laugh. "I'm sorry, but who are you to ask me that question?" I didn't hold back when expressing my emotions in this one question."I am--let's not forget I am still your mate," he clenched his jaw and whispered under his breath."Oh! Can you go tell everyone we are still mates because everyone thinks the rejection was completed later?" I folded my arms and questioned him.He shook his head, as he didn't have the courage to tell anyone he was still mated to a rogue she-wolf. But he had the audacity to question the same she-wolf about who she was hanging out with."He is a much older man than you. Are you so desperate for money that you don't even care who is in front of you? If money is the problem, you can ask me for help." He stood up and placed the tips of his fingers on the table, leaning over me as he continued to lecture me. I was stunned by his assumptions about me. It was like he would dream about so
Cynthia Dion:"Do you want to argue?" he grunted, narrowing his eyes."You're the one blocking my way," I stated, raising my voice a little."Lower your volume," he closed his eyes momentarily, processing, and then muttered under his breath, "Get inside; I'll drop you off at home." He attempted to calm himself by taking a deep breath."Why? Are you afraid someone might see you bullying me?" I scoffed, avoiding eye contact."Cynthia," he closed his eyes and clenched his jaw in frustration. I was trying to understand why he was so into my whereabouts. He had rejected me and he should be over me now. "I appreciate your offer, but I can't be seen with you after my father saw us on that tape. Please, maintain your distance from me," I avoided his gaze, but I could sense his eyes fixed on my face from the corner of my eye. His shifting stance hinted that he didn't like hearing that I needed to keep my distance from him."Why?" He placed his hands on his waist and forgot his own suggestion
Cynthia Dion:Reluctantly, I followed Liam.I hadn't planned on losing my virginity, but I was open to the idea of discovering the proper way to awaken my inner wolf through passion.We entered the empty room and stood facing each other in awkward silence."Wait! The expression on your face--what do you think we're doing here?" He inquired, releasing a small chuckle and shaking his head. I couldn't help but wonder what he meant by that."You will not ask for my virginity, right?" I should have kept my lips sealed because when I asked him that, he abruptly stopped moving and responding."Wait! No!" He shook his head vigorously and said, "I'm not suggesting we engage in sexual activity. I believe it's Mr. Orian's fault. He's old and thinks he knows everything better. He needs to understand that the world has evolved, and our generation might be very bold, but everyone learns differently, and there's a need for a proper explanation for everything," he explained, gesturing for me to join
Cynthia Dion:"To the basement? What's down there?" I tried to maintain a light-hearted smile, attempting to reassure myself, but his tension was palpable."I need to show you something," he replied, already walking away before I could make a decision.I didn't really have a choice. If I wanted to understand what was happening to me, I knew I had to trust him. He was the only one who could help me unravel the mysteries about myself. So, I followed him into the basement.He led me down a dark staircase, using his cellphone's flashlight as our only source of illumination until we reached the bottom, where he turned on the lights."Oh!" I nearly gasped too loudly as I beheld an antique library. Everything here seemed ancient, but upon closer inspection, it was merely rusty. The furniture appeared old, with random stains of blood scattered about. It was as if nobody tried cleaning them. I kept my breath steady and decided to listen to him. "Take a seat here," he instructed, gesturing to
Cynthia Dion: I remained in his embrace for the next few minutes before he finally released me. I felt much calmer then, but the trauma of enduring so much and the realization that I was destined for an even worse fate left me feeling utterly hopeless.It was foolish of me to ever think I could be considered blessed.Holt led me to a corner and settled me onto a purple couch. Silence hung in the air for a few more minutes before I cleared my throat to address him."If I'm a bad person, shouldn't I die?" I whispered, my thoughts turning to my sister. She wouldn't be safe around me."Everything I told you is written in that book we just read," he gestured toward the book on the ground, "and I don't buy into that nonsense." He shook his head, dismissing the entire prophecy with one swift motion."But it says--" I was silenced when he turned towards me and placed his finger gently against my lips."It says nonsense," his remark brought a faint smile to my face."You don't believe it?" I
Cynthia Dion: "Oh, I wish I had better daughters than you two useless pieces of shite," he pushed the plate away angrily but then pulled it back again, "I'm telling you, if you don't win the competition and bring that prize money home, I'll sell you to Mr. Beret," the threat seemed grave. He'd made it clear many times that he'd sell me to his friends once and for all. "What's dad---," Flora turned to ask me, tears in her eyes, when I told her not to take his words seriously. "Now go, get out of my sight," Dad said, and we sisters walked back to our rooms, feeling defeated. "Don't take his words to heart, he says all kinds of nonsense because he's mostly drunk," I said, trying to comfort her, though I was anxious myself. "But---," as she tried to voice out again, I hushed her lovingly. "I told you, don't listen to what he says. I will not be sold," I reassured her, when deep down in my heart, even I was scared of my father ever doing that to me. "Or maybe you won't get sold,"
Cynthia Dion: Afterward, Flora went to bed, claiming she was tired. I asked her to gather more information on this topic, and she said she'd talk to her teacher and request her private notes.I felt hopeful once more.Maybe I could find a way out of this mess?I had been tossing and turning on my mattress; it was already midnight, and everyone had fallen asleep except for me."Why did Atticus pay her fees on my behalf?" I questioned myself as I sat up on the mattress after giving up on trying to fall asleep."Maybe Flora is onto something. He might be regretting his decision to reject me," I offered as an explanation. It seemed reasonable. Another sign that he might not be entirely truthful when he claimed to feel nothing for me was how possessive and jealous he acted whenever he saw me with someone else. I shuffled over to the window and gazed outside at the empty road.I was startled by a howl and saw a wolf dashing through the darkness away from my house and toward the road, disap