*CHAPTER 62* Lianna: The sharp sound of the door swinging open startled me so much that I instinctively leaned into Edward. His grip on my arm was immediate, firm yet steadying. My heart pounded in my chest as the guard stepped into the room, his face shadowed by urgency. Edward’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “What is it?” he asked, his tone low and commanding. The guard’s breaths came in ragged gulps as if he’d been running for miles. “My lord,” he began, bowing his head slightly, “the woman… she seemed intimate with the man. It wasn’t just a meeting.” My eyebrows shot up, confusion swirling in my mind. Woman? Man? Who were they talking about? My gaze darted to Edward, whose face had darkened, his jaw tight. “Anything else?” Edward asked, his voice calm, though I could sense the storm brewing beneath the surface. The guard shook his head. “No, my lord. That’s all I could gather.” Edward dismissed him with a wave, and the guard slipped ou
Lianna: The morning light crept into my room through the sheer curtains, bathing everything in a soft glow. But instead of feeling the usual pull to start the day, I remained tangled in my sheets, staring at the ceiling. There was a tightness in my chest, as if the events of last night had left a weight there, pressing down into my chest with every breath. I turned onto my side, pulling the blankets closer. Maybe if I stayed here long enough, the day would pass without me having to see Edward. I wasn’t sure I could face him after the awkward exchange in the kitchen. The thought of his probing eyes, his knowing smile, made my stomach twist uncomfortably. With a sigh, I let my eyes close again, convincing myself that another hour—or two—of sleep would do me good When I opened my eyes again, it was to the sound of the door creaking open. I blinked groggily as Ingrid’s familiar figure entered, her sharp eyes narrowing as they landed on me. “You’re still in bed?” she asked,
Freya: I woke up tired. Really tired. My head ached, a dull throb that came from a night of restless plotting and sneaking about. I shifted in bed, the silk of my nightgown cool against my skin. Beside me, Ethan was still asleep, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythms. I smirked faintly, brushing a strand of hair off his forehead. He had no idea what I’d done last night. The ether—an odorless, potent concoction I’d acquired through some very specific means—had kept him in a dreamless slumber. Even now, his face seemed unusually pale, and there was a subtle tick in his jaw. When he finally stirred, his eyes fluttered open, bleary and unfocused. He groaned, bringing a hand to his temple. “What’s wrong?” I asked, feigning concern. He sat up slowly, his movements sluggish. “I feel… strange,” he admitted, his voice rougher than usual. “My head feels heavy, and it’s like I’m moving through water. Even my limbs feel slow.” I leaned in, resting a hand on his arm.
Imogen: It was a sunny morning, definitely not one for our kind. The sun filtered through the delicate lace of the parasol above me, casting intricate patterns on the table in front of me. A gentle breeze carried the scent of freshly bloomed roses, mingling with the earthy undertones of the garden soil. The parasol shielded me from the worst of the sun, but the warmth still seeped into my skin, lulling me into a false sense of calm which I knew was going to leave burn marks later. But I loved to see the way the sun slightly burnt intricate patterns from the parasol on my skin. I adjusted the hem of my dress, the silk gliding smoothly between my fingers. It was a soft blue today, simple but elegant, the kind of thing that suited a future queen. My engagement to Ethan had finally been solidified, but my heart was still wary. A man like him—so indecisive —would always have his doubts. And I knew I would forever be walking the line between being his choice and being his burden. I
Lianna: The sound of hooves thudding against the earth was steady, almost hypnotic, as Edward and I rode side by side. The forest around us was alive, a symphony of chirping birds and rustling leaves. The scent of pine mixed with the faint aroma of wildflowers, and the sunlight filtered through the trees in fractured beams that painted the path ahead. Edward glanced at me, his expression unreadable at first, but then his lips curved into a smile that hinted at something unspoken. "What do you say we take a different route?" he asked, his voice casual but laced with intrigue. I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes slightly. "What route?" He gestured to a narrow trail veering off from the main path, half-hidden by overgrown ferns. It looked untouched, almost secret. “It leads to a place I think you’ll enjoy.” The uncertainty in me stirred, but his confidence quelled it almost immediately. Edward was many things—arrogant,
Lianna: The blanket beneath me was soft against the grass, the rich hues of the sunset reflecting in the still waters of Lunaris Spring. The sky was a masterpiece of fiery orange and soft pink, streaked with hints of lavender and gold. I leaned back, letting my fingers trace absent patterns over the fabric of the picnic blanket. Beside me, Edward sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the horizon as though the sunset had cast its spell on him too. “I’ve always loved sunsets,” I murmured, my voice breaking the gentle hum of the crickets around us. “They make me feel… hope. Like no matter what happens during the day, it all ends in beauty.” Edward shifted slightly, turning his attention to me. “Hope,” he echoed, the word lingering on his lips as if tasting its weight. I nodded, my eyes still on the horizon. “Look at the colors. The oranges remind me of warmth, safety, like being wrapped in a blanket on a cold night. The pinks feel tender, like love that’s soft and quiet. And the pur
Lianna: The tremor in my hands hadn’t stopped since he got rid of the body. but Edward seemed unbothered, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos in my chest. How could he act so nonchalantly after what had just happened? A rogue had lunged at me—teeth bared, eyes wild—and he brushed it off as if it were a regular occurrence. He crouched near the picnic spot, packing the last remnants of our impromptu meal into the basket. The soft rustling of fabric and clinking of utensils was a good distraction, but my mind was elsewhere, replaying the attack over and over again. My heart still raced at the memory of its guttural growl. “Are you seriously not worried about what just happened?” My voice cracked, betraying the calm façade I was trying to hold onto. Edward stood, brushing the dirt off his hands. “Rogues attack from time to time,” he said with a shrug, his tone almost dismissive. “It’s nothing new.” He turned to look at me, his jaw tight but his eyes steady. “As t
CHAPTER 69 Freya: The weight of Alistair’s body beneath mine was thrilling. His resistance only made the game more intoxicating, his pathetic attempts to stop me was a show of weakness I enjoyed. My lips moved against his, a mixture of hunger and malice driving me. He tried to turn his face away, his breath ragged, but I caught his jaw with my hand, forcing him to look at me. “Freya, stop this,” he rasped, his voice trembling. “This isn't right. What we're doing isn't right at all. You're married...and I know you don't even like me.” “Oh, Alistair,” I purred, running my fingers down his chest. His shirt bunched under my touch, the fabric soft but wrinkled from my earlier grip. “You wanted this. Don’t pretend otherwise.” “I didn't!” His wide, terrified eyes betrayed him. He tried to push me off again, his hands pressing against my shoulders, but I snarled, low and guttural, letting my claws extend just enough to graze his skin. “Don’t make me hurt you,” I wa
Lianna: I woke him with a kiss. It was gentle and slow, the kind that lingered on his lips like sunlight brushing the edge of dawn. His skin was warm beneath mine, soft and familiar. He stirred slowly, lashes fluttering like leaves catching the breeze before his eyes opened, that drowsy gray haze still clinging to them. “Is it time?” he murmured, his voice low and hoarse with sleep. It was the kind of voice that made it feel like the world was still paused for us. I nodded, fingers brushing back the strands of hair that had fallen over his forehead. “Yeah. It's time.” He sighed, sitting up reluctantly. I could tell his body felt heavier than usual—grief had a weight all on its own. Still, he moved, slow but sure, like he owed it to himself to keep going. I slid off the bed to help him, but the rug betrayed me. My heel caught on the edge and I pitched forward with a sharp gasp. And just b
Lianna: The Palace was too quiet. That kind of quiet that sat thick on the skin like humidity before a storm, smothering and heavy, as if the very walls were mourning. The corridors were dimly lit, the sun long gone, and I could hear the distant creak of wooden beams settling overhead, slow and reluctant, like the house itself didn’t want to exist in this version of our reality. Edward hadn’t said a word in hours. He lay curled on his side, one arm slung carelessly over the edge of the bed, his knuckles pale against the white linen. His lashes fluttered occasionally like he was trapped somewhere between sleep and waking. Sometimes he’d blink open his eyes and just stare blankly at the ceiling, unmoving, unblinking, lost in a place I couldn’t reach. I sat behind him, cross-legged, one hand tracing slow circles along his back. His shirt had ridden up, exposing the bare slope of his waist. The skin there was cool, soft beneath my fingertips, marred only by the faint scar
Lianna: The morning light was shy, barely bleeding through the velvet curtains when I cracked my eyes open. I didn’t need a clock to know what day it was. My chest already felt like it was caving in. The air hung heavy, saturated with that stale chill that often preceded sorrow. A mourning fog rolled outside our window like some prophetic omen, brushing ghostlike tendrils across the glass. Edward hadn’t moved beside me. His breath rose and fell in shallow waves, his hand still loosely curled around mine like he feared I’d disappear in my sleep. I shifted slowly, brushing a thumb over his knuckles. We were going to banish his brother. I sat up and pulled the duvet around me, the fabric swishing softly against my bare skin. My toes hit the floor with a shiver, the marble tiles beneath me as merciless as the decisions we had to make today. My robe hung at the edge of the armchair, still draped from the night before. I sl
Freya: The night felt too loud for how quiet it was. Crickets whined in the grass like tiny, angry violins, and the wind kept slipping through the cracked wooden shutters, brushing cool air against my bare arms like an unwelcome ghost. I was lying in the dark, staring at the ceiling like it held the answers I’d been chasing in circles. My bed creaked with the slightest shift, the old mattress groaning beneath the weight of my body. I shouldn't have come back here. I shouldn’t have returned to this house. I shouldn’t have ever listened to her. My chest ached. That tight, slow burn of regret that started somewhere beneath my ribs and dragged itself up to my throat like it had claws. I reached up and rubbed the heel of my palm against my eyes, trying to stop the tears that had already found their way to my pillow. My face was warm, wet. I could taste salt. My breath shuddered on the exhale. “I didn’t want this,” I whispered into the room, voice barely audible over
Edward: The eggs Tarantino made were, as he warned me, an absolute disaster. But the bread was warm, and it was good enough to make me forget about the burnt rubber taste of the eggs. We ate in silence, only the scraping of silverware and the occasional sip of coffee filling the air. My mind wasn’t exactly on the food anyway; it was stuck on the conversation we’d had earlier. Tarantino was right, of course. Everything happens for a reason. I could hear the words repeating in my head, like a stubborn echo bouncing off the walls. But as much as I wanted to believe him, that sentiment did nothing to ease the weight in my chest. Nothing could change the fact that I was sending my brother into exile, to a life without the Pack, without me, without any of the privileges that came with being a royal. But I couldn’t just let the sorrow flood over me, not in front of Tarantino. Not in front of the only person who still seemed to see me for more than just my title. So I swallowe
Edward: The drive was long, and Harvey wouldn’t stop humming that off-key tune under his breath like he was trying to win some invisible award for irritation. I didn’t say anything because well, silence stretching between us felt safer than opening my mouth and letting all the tangled thoughts spill out. My jaw ached from clenching it too tight. My nails had dug half-moons into my palm by the time we pulled into the small, quiet Pack territory that felt like the world had forgotten it. “I remember this place being a dusty excuse of a town,” I muttered, eyes flicking over the paved roads and fresh buildings. “Now look at it. They have actual sidewalks. I should’ve sent Ethan here for humility training.” Harvey chuckled but didn’t comment. Smart choice. It’d been years since I last came here. I was just a boy, clinging to my father’s hand while he laughed and pointed at the bakery with the awful scones and the house with the broken weather vane that somehow never got
Lianna: The palace had never been this quiet. Not even during the former Alpha's father’s funeral, when the halls were draped in black silk and everyone spoke in whispers like mourning had a volume limit. No. This silence was different. It hung in the air like a mist, curling around the columns, sliding under doors, seeping into my skin like cold. I sat on the balcony, elbows on the marble balustrade, chin resting against the back of my hand. My eyes drifted somewhere beyond the courtyard, past the rustling hedges and the guards stationed like statues, to a place I couldn’t name. The sky was pale and slow today, the clouds dragging their feet like even they couldn’t be bothered to hurry. A soft breeze combed through my hair, lifting strands across my face, and I didn’t bother to tuck them behind my ear. Ingrid was beside me, her legs propped up on the ornate table, scrolling through her phone like it held the cure to this numbness
Ethan: The moment Edward’s footsteps faded from the dungeon, I felt my chest constrict. I was alone. And not in the usual way where I sought solitude; this time, I felt like I was suffocating. I collapsed to my knees, the cold, damp floor seeping through the thin fabric of my clothes, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. My tears came in torrents, hot and bitter, an unforgiving reminder of everything I had lost, everything I had thrown away. There was no one left to blame but myself. I didn’t even care how pathetic I looked at this moment. All I wanted was the sting of reality to fade, even if only for a second so I could catch a sense of monetary relief. The memories of my life before all this pain before Freya, before Lianna, before the twisted path I had walked flashed through my mind like a parade of ghosts. I remembered how everything had been so simple back then. It was supposed to be me and Lianna, always. We had a bond, a bond that nothing could break, or so
Edward: The echo of my boots against the marble hallway was all I could hear as I stepped out of the study, my hand still clenched from how tightly I’d been gripping the edge of the desk moments ago. My jaw ached from how tightly I was clenching it, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Not now. I told myself I wasn’t going to interfere. I promised Lianna I wouldn’t. But promises made in the eye of a storm rarely stand when the wind changes. And gods, it changed. The moment the elders started screaming over each other like a pack of senile hounds, all clamoring for blood, I had to shut them up. I didn’t even remember raising my voice until the silence hit. Until they all turned to me, and I, like a damn fool, spoke the decree. Now my baby brother would be banished to the Drekavac Hollow, and somehow, my voice had sealed it. The air grew colder the deeper I went, but I barely noticed. My fingers brushed the stone walls out of