Chapter 11 / Part TwoI hear the footsteps of someone approaching me, I dry my tears and try to put on the best stoic expression I have. It's a woman, walking past me, straight to another grave. I stand up and decide it's time to leave. Outside the cemetery there is a water fountain, I drink some and also wash my face, as I wet my hands, my wedding ring falls into the marble and I decide to leave it there, I don't need it.I am walking to my car, which has magically appeared in the parking lot when a woman stops me."Sir, you've left your ring." She grabs it and runs over to me, taking my hand and leaving it in my open palm. "If you lose it, your wife would kill you, try to take care of it.""Yes, of course, thank you." My wife must be suffering the consequences of my actions, right about now.I keep the ring inside my pocket, I guess it's not going anywhere for now. It's going to have to stay by my side for a season, right where I don't want it, because it's a constant reminder of al
Chapter 11 / Part ThreeHabbabI arrive at the Arslan mansion, a place that has been empty for the last twenty-two years, my grandmother having arrived first and opened the doors. There are people gathered around, surprised with the return of my family. The gates are still open and our security team is positioned outside taking care that we have no unexpected visitors, like the Erdoğans.I get out of my car and walk inside, I listen to the murmurs, someone say that I look just like my father, another ask if I was not Melek's husband, and if I will be an Arslan... This town is not very discreet let's say. When I enter the mansion it doesn't feel like home, I haven't belonged anywhere in so long.My grandmother is sitting in the middle of the main courtyard, as some of our workers organize the rooms and put everything in its place."Dear grandson, you've arrived, did you talk to your mother, did she give you courage to keep going?""Yes, grandmother, she did. I just need you to tell me,
Chapter 12Habbab"We can't go in there just like that, Habbab," Erdem shouts at me as I cross the street in the direction of the Erdoğan's house."We're not going in the door, Erdem. The house next door has been uninhabited for years, we can go up through the roof straight to the Erdoğan's rooftop.""What if someone sees us, have you lost your mind?""Erdem, I just need to know if Melek is there, analyze the situation so I can act, so I can take her out. Are you with me or not?"I watch as he shakes his head and looks frustrated, but finally agrees to help me. It's not the first time I've climbed on that roof, I used to do it from time to time so I could make sure no one hurt Melek. I didn't trust her with her family.I know how to get in through the back of the abandoned house, an elderly couple used to live there and when they passed away the land was left to their son, who only uses the house for vacations. We climb the stairs to the rooftop which is a couple of meters on top of t
Chapter 12 / Part Two"Daughter!" It's Hazar's voice, and seconds later I hear Senay's voice, crying about her daughter and how hurt she is. “What is going on?”"This whore was thrown in the square in her wedding dress!" Çakir howls. "Now, you tell me, Hazar, what is going on here? Your daughter has ruined us. Habbab is nowhere to be seen and he has taken half of our company.""All right, I'm not coming down." I say to Erdem, giving up. "Just let me see, make sure Hazar protects Melek." He lets me go and I see the main patrio between two columns on the top floor of the house."Don't you dare talk about my daughter like that, father, or I swear you'll regret it." Hazar shoves his own father, creating a barrier between him and Melek. "Daughter, please tell me, what happened.""I don't know, dad I swear. Habbab took me to a hut in the middle of a road, told me that what happened there would stay there and then left the next morning, telling me that his last name was not Argent, that it
Chapter 13 Melek I open my eyes due to a strong cough that causes my whole body to shake uncontrollably, I turn to one side of my body and spit out all the water that burns my throat. It takes a few considerable minutes before I can breathe normally again. I sit down on what appears to be wet grass and focus on the person in front of me, the one who has pulled me out of the river... It's Habbab, the traitor, the liar, the asshole. When I left home I was sure Esat was going to kill me, instead, he was offering me a way out, we were going to go far away from the city, until Habbab, the villain of my story, appeared again. "Why, why do you keep showing up like a fucking nightmare?" I yell angrily at him. "I'm not going to let you die, Melek, neither by your own hand nor by your cousin's, from now on I'm going to protect you." "You're going to protect me?" I spit at him full of sarcasm and pain. "Don't be ridiculous Habbab, the only thing I need protection from is you, and the damage
Chapter 13 / Part Two My feet hurt from walking, but I have to keep putting one in front of the other, get out of here, and put distance between me and Habbab. "Come on Melek, don't make me chase you." I hear his footsteps behind me. "Then don't, leave me, go to your mother and cousin, and leave me alone with Esat." "With Esat? Do you really think your cousin can take care of you better than me?" "A thousand times better than you, I've known him all my life, he's not going to hurt me." "Melek, by all the gods, Esat was going to kill you, he took you from your home to end your life." I turn around furious, something that makes our chests touch for a couple of seconds, I push him with my good hand and speak to him with all the anger there is. "Esat wasn't going to kill me, he took me out of the house so Grandpa would calm his anger, to save me. But he was about to take me out of town and give me a new life, but of course, you show up and ruin everything again." "Melek, I'm you
Chapter 13 / Part 3I'm about to speak again, to ask for more explanations, but Erdem decides to make an appearance, clearing his throat and watching Habbab in the rearview mirror. We are both sitting in the back of the car."We're not going to talk about this right now. Shut up for the rest of the way."I sigh, annoyed, then lay my head back on the seat and make the mistake of falling asleep. I have no idea how much time has passed, I wake up because the car stops, and we are in front of a huge house, a bit rural, already far away from any civilization... Wonderful, what I was missing, another inhospitable destination where Habbab can rape me again, fantastic."Melek has fallen asleep, I'll take her down myself." I hear him say, he hasn't noticed I've woken up. Maybe it's silly of me, but I let him carry me out of the car and into the house pretending I'm still asleep. For a few seconds, I long for the protection his arms give me."Habbab, I think you should take her to a hospital, s
Chapter 14 Melek Dilay helps me walk to the bathroom, where with a pair of scissors she finish tearing my dress apart. She doesn't ask any questions, but I can see her frightened and surprised expression when she sees my bruised body. Even I am amazed, my whole torso is bruised, I have bruises that have different colors, yellow, red, orange... It's honestly grotesque. She covers her mouth after exhaling in complete panic, I look in the mirror and realize I have my grandfather's boot marked on me. "Don't worry, it's not the first time he's marked my skin like that." I tell Dilay with a smile. "When I was eleven, I accidentally broke a house ornament, he slapped me so hard, I wore his hand for three days mark on my face." "Who did this to you?" she asks with tears in her eyes. "My grandfather, Çakir Erdoğan, the cruelest man you could ever meet." "And why would he beat you like this, what did you do?" "I married the wrong man." The bathtub is already full because Dilay set it to f
LeaI watch as my husband's betas change, ready to attack me, I'm not going to let them, I need to rescue Enzo and bring him back. Bear also changes and does his best to get between me and the wolves, but there are too many of them and even though he is a huge bear, even bigger than them, he won't be able to take them down."Shit Osiris, I can't stop the spell." I tell him mentally, still chanting"Lea, you have to, this is unnatural, you're endangering the balance of nature. Stop it now.""Screw you, I'm not going to let Enzo die.""Lea, Enzo is already dead..."An indescribable fury grows inside me. No, I won't accept it, that my Enzo is dead, I won't allow it. Osiris is a coward who probably only wants the alpha's position. I am angry with him and with all those who came to support him, none of them want Enzo, otherwise they would be happy, they would support me and they would understand that I and also the pack need their alpha back.Without stopping reciting the spell, I create a
Chapter 4DaphneI should have asked Kate to take out the trash.Then she could have dealt with this strange guy who claims to be my partner. I mean, come on. A partner? It sounds so primal and barbaric. Like I have no say in the matter.Although, if I'm being honest, it doesn't sound too bad… I keep feeling this strange attraction to him. The feeling of being drawn to him when I first saw him lying injured in the dumpster is even stronger now. It's taking hold of me.“What did you say your name was?” I ask as I look at him differently.“I didn't say it. My name is Armel, but people close to me call me Army.“I can't imagine why you get that.” He actually laughed at that.“And you?” “I'm Daphne.” I say in a shy voice.“Daphne.” He whispers as she looks at me with those deep blue eyes. I feel my cheeks blush under the intensity of them.“So, then I'm going to call you Army.” I told him, “I like it, it sounds like danger, and not that I like danger, but I l don’t know... Army is origi
Chapter 3ArmelA loud moan comes out of me as I close my eyes and let the hot water wash over my face.This has to end.It's a never-ending hell. Destroying one city after another. Tearing my body apart. Bringing danger wherever I go.I don't even know where I am now.I turn my head and force my eyes open. A pink towel. More beauty products than I can count piled around the small sink. A small pair of bunny-shaped slippers by the door.The memory comes back, but it's foggy and full of holes. I remember climbing into the dumpster and passing out. Then, the bright light as someone opened the door. Stumbling up the steps. A smell that was like fire in my lungs. I had lost a lot of blood and was very weak. I didn't know what was happening.“Fuck.” I wince as I pick up the soap with my wounded arm, and a bolt of pain flashes through me. I'm going to kill that fucking Frenchman with his own sword.No. He's just doing his job. He's doing what's right. He's doing what you're too cowardly to
Chapter 2Daphne“Stop eating the fries!” Pete shouts as he tries to hit my hand with his greasy spatula. I'm too fast for the grumpy chef.“Last one.” I say with a wide grin as I shove the hot french fry in my mouth. “I promise.” We both know, it won't be the last.This failing restaurant doesn't do a lot of things right, but even I have to admit they know how to make crispy, delicious fries.“Yeah, Sure.” Pete grumbles as he walks over to the grill. I snatch another one from his as he turns his back to me.Kathy laughs. “Do you have a death wish or something?” “It's worth the risk.” I say with a groan as I swallow the delicious fry. “It's one of the perks of working at the best restaurant in Timberville.”“It's only a restaurant.” She says as she cleans up the plastic menus, “Why did you move back here?” I sigh as I pick up the coffee pot. “I wonder every day.”She laughs as I make my way to the table area, smiling at all the regulars as I refill their coffee cup after cup.There
Chapter OneArmel “Timberville, Montana!” shouts the driver as the commercial truck comes to a stop.I sigh as I look at the old, worn sign with the town's name barely visible behind the peeling paint and faded old graffiti.Is this town going to be safe?I nod as I realize that no town is safe for me. Not when the greatest danger lurks inside my body. With a heavy breath, I rise from the large bags of rice I've slept on all night and jump off the back cabin of the truck. I jumped in the past night without the guy to notice.My grizzly bear growls inside me as I head into the forest.“Hey!” the drivers yells, “Get away from my truck! Damn hobo.”I don't turn around. For his protection, I lower my head and hurry to the colorful tree line. It's a beautiful fall day, but this is no time to admire the autumn leaves.My bear growls inside. He paces angrily. I know what's coming and I want no part of it. I'm sure the good people of Timberville, Montana, don't either.“Keep your cool.” I wh
I call my men and ask them to prepare a special dinner. It will take place in five nights, right on the anniversary of Melek and Habbab's wedding. This will be an unforgettable occasion, not only to celebrate that union, which was a complete farce, but also to reveal the last secrets that have been hidden for too long. My heart beats with excitement as I meticulously plan every detail. This dinner will be more than just a gathering; it will be a feast of truth, where everyone will learn the complete story of Derya Arslan and Çakir Erdoğan. I will tell everyone why Derya decided to seek revenge and ruin the lives of the Erdoğan family. The truth will come to light, and everyone will know that her intentions were entirely personal; she never thought about the well-being of her family. Derya's revenge has left a trail of pain and destruction, and it's time for everyone to know. I can't allow her to continue manipulating others and escaping the consequences of her actions. Melek, Habbab
Chapter 52Derya ArslanI'm pacing around my room, eagerly waiting for news from Habbab and Ahmet. I feel helpless and very angry because my revenge plan didn't unfold as I wished. Everything has been ruined by that Melek, because Habbab fell in love with her. Now, I find myself a prisoner of my own grandson, Habbab, and I must hide from my other grandson, Ahmet, who wants to see me dead.The courage and determination that drove me to devise my revenge plan seem to fade in the face of this complicated situation I'm in now. I wonder how everything could have gone wrong, how Melek could have touched Habbab's heart and changed everything.It's hard to accept that my grandson, whom I raised and taught to be strong, is protecting the very person who ruined my plans. The daughter of our enemy. I should have known better; planning the fake marriage between Habbab and Melek wasn't the best decision I made. I should have come up with another plan to hurt Hazar and Çakir.It was also not a good
I watch as Senay, Hazar, and Melek walk towards the house, leaving the beautiful garden behind them. In that moment, something wonderful happens. Gul, Melek's sweet little 9-year-old sister, comes running out of the house. Her eyes sparkle with excitement, and she jumps onto Melek, hugging her tightly. "I knew it! I knew in my heart that you'd come back!" Gul exclaims with a radiant smile.Melek looks at her affectionately and asks, "Did you really know, Gul?"The little girl nods excitedly, "Yes, everyone said you were gone, but I knew it was a lie. I always knew my sister was still alive.""It's true, Melek. Gul always refused to believe you were gone," says Senay, smiling at her two daughters. "I should have believed her, to know that she had a feeling you were okay.""Mom, don't worry, I'm here now." Melek responds and then embraces her little sister tenderly, "Thank you, Gul. I love you so much, and I promise I won't leave you again."Gul smiles widely and then notices my presenc
Chapter 51HabbabWe arrived at the village of Hazar, a peaceful place far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Melek comments with a smile softened by relief, "I'm glad that my fake death was the reason you finally moved out of Çakir's house, Dad. Now we can all be together here."Hazar sighs and looks at me with gratitude. "Yes, Melek, I deeply regret not having taken you out of Çakir's clutches earlier. I thought he would change at some point, that he would love you as his own granddaughter, but I was wrong. Forgive me for not doing it faster."Melek gently squeezes her father's hand. "I don't want to dwell on the past anymore, Dad. We are together now, and that's what matters. Let's make this place our home and build a future together."Hazar smiles affectionately and nods. "You're right, my dear. I am very happy to have you back in my life, and I promise to protect and care for you always. Nothing and no one will separate us again."Taking her hand, Hazar leads Melek towa