Cynthia Dion: My lungs felt as if they were filled with fresh air once I reached my neighborhood. Before sharing what had happened with my dad, I needed to get inside my home and rest.Despite some background noises, I focused solely on the path ahead at that moment.My door was shut, a clear sign that my dad was now guarding Flora, suspecting that I had run away.My hands were trembling as I started to knock on the door. I was avoiding eye contact with anyone who might be watching me."Oh, she's returned!" I heard a woman's whisper, causing me to inch closer to the door. I didn't turn to see how many people had gathered behind me.My father swung the door open, almost causing me to stumble as the support I was leaning on gave way."D---ad!" I murmured, my voice heavy with drowsiness."How dare you turn up at my door again like th--," His words faded as his forceful slap sent me reeling to the side.After enduring Atticus's captivity for who knows how many days, I was too weak to wit
Cynthia Dion: "When he discovers that I don't even have a wolf, do you think he'll spare me? After being reminded of the scars on my wrist, do you think he'll still let me live?" I continued to cry and plead with the Moon Goddess."Please, save me," I sobbed, fearing the moment when this door would open, and Mr. Beret would come to claim me."How can I survive this?" I asked myself in a panic. I was going crazy with the fear of getting taken away by that old man. The fact that he knew I wasn’t ready for this mating ceremony yet he was happily awaiting our wedding just made me even more scared of him. "But--I do have a second mate," my sobs ceased as a name surfaced in my memory. It wasn't Enzo's name because he was just as terrible as Atticus."Mr. Holt,"I sat down on the mattress, my thoughts consumed by Mr. Holt. I knew it would be incredibly awkward to approach him after the scene I had made, but I was of legal age, and he could provide me with protection in this nightmare of a
Cynthia Dion: "No, of course not; she'll be dressed in a suitable bridal gown," my dad quickly interjected to prevent Mr. Beret from becoming agitated. He then took hold of my elbow and assisted me in standing.He forcibly ushered me out of the room, where I was met by an elderly lady who regarded me with disdain. She sneered, "If only you hadn't been so promiscuous, you wouldn't be marrying someone so much older than you.""Just hand over the dress," I grumbled, catching her off guard with my response."Now I understand why the Moon Goddess is punishing you," she muttered, shoving a white dress into my face."Let's get you ready for the wedding," she grumbled, her irritation apparent. A Rogue wedding wouldn't take place in a formal setting, as is customary. After I donned this attire, they would transport me to a lawyer's office for the wedding ceremony.I took a shower reluctantly, having been ushered into the restroom. The only reason I refrained from protesting was for Flora's sa
Cynthia Dion: "But I'm the one footing the bill for her," Mr. Beret interjected, reminding my father of their prior agreement. "And I'm more than willing to pay triple the amount originally offered for her," Mr. Holt said as he produced his checkbook. My dad's eyes lit up with excitement; he knew he had struck gold. "What's happening here? We've already settled this. She's my br---," Mr. Beret looked as if he'd seen a ghost. The thought of losing me as his prospective bride made him agitated, but he couldn't argue any further because Zeon extended his neck and cracked his knuckles. That gesture was enough to silence Mr. Beret. "You can keep her. Besides, she's too young for my taste," Mr. Beret forced a smile tinged with fear before stepping back from Zeon. "Now, could you give us a moment alone?" Mr. Holt politely asked Mr. Beret, holding the door open for both him and my father. Mr. Beret had no option but to exit the room, clearly defeated. This was my chance to express my g
Cynthia Dion: "As for your sister, I'll do my best to ensure your father doesn't bother her. He'll understand that, as long as he treats her well, he'll receive financial support," Mr. Holt continued to surprise me with his concern and affection. Although he never admitted to having feelings for me, he seemed more willing to give his second chance mate a try than I was. I was still stuck on the fact that my mate had gotten me into this trouble and had accepted his best friend, who was involved with his other friend, while I was unfairly labeled as a whore. "I'll hold you to your promises," I nodded, making sure to meet his gaze, so he knew I expected him to follow through on what he had just said to me. "Very well, then," he replied, holding the door open for me. There was nothing holding me back from moving on from my first mate, who had tarnished my reputation without a second thought. When Mr. Holt offered to help, I took a deep breath and held his hand. Now more than ever, I
Cynthia Dion: She had perfectly curly blond hair, an hourglass figure, and was dressed in a golden gown. Whoever she was, our marriage must have caused her significant pain, as her brown eyes were filled with tears of deep agony and anguish. "Maleeka! Please, go back to your room. We'll talk later," Zeon spoke to her, but he didn't seem entirely focused on consoling her; he appeared worn out and agitated. "She's that girl you've been spending time with. How old is she? Just turned eighteen a few months ago, right?" Her tone and intense glare made me uncomfortable. "Who is she?" I asked in a hushed tone, trying to maintain my focus despite being extremely apprehensive. She seemed to grow even more furious when she heard me speak and started to move menacingly in my direction. She might have hit me in the face, possibly giving me a black eye, if Zeon hadn't stepped in between us. "As if you don't know who I am," she muttered, growing increasingly agitated that Zeon didn't allow h
Cynthia Dion: "You're causing me pain, Zeon!" I almost whimpered as I uttered his first name for the very first time. However, it didn't seem to faze him; instead, his expression remained stern, and I sensed frustration in his gaze. His grip on my delicate arm remained unrelenting, and his eyes bore into mine."If you want to avoid a shouting match, return to the darn room and don't come out until I give the signal," he barked at me, his words filled with anger, all while forcefully shaking me.I was too taken aback by this sudden change in him. It felt as though I were witnessing an entirely different person. I couldn't fathom where his usual demeanor and gentle speech had vanished to."And if you utter a word, I'll deal with you too," he added with a hint of threat, briefly directing his warning toward Maleeka. He had deceived me into this marriage, and I couldn't fathom what other intentions he might harbor. This wasn't the man I thought would protect me.He forcefully shoved me t
Cynthia Dion: "He marked me and left me stranded in this place. I resisted the urge to cry for a while before finally succumbing. The pain in my body after being marked was far worse than I had expected. I wiped tears from my face so frequently that they soaked into my sleeve. Clearly, he didn't give me anything, not even my phone."Look at what you've done, Atticus!" I muttered, my words echoing the misery of my current situation. I wasn't sure why he despised me so much, but because of him, I had to endure all this pain alone. If Atticus hadn't abducted me and subjected me to humiliation, I'd be at home right now.Besides the forced marking, I also had to contend with the justified hatred of his wife. I wasn't sure how I would survive this."How can I possibly fix this?" I asked myself, wondering if anything I said would make a difference. How did I never know he was faking all his kindness and sweetness? was I that desperate to believe in someone but that overlooked some red flags