Darriane lay beside my lifeless body, her tiny hand clutching mine, using it to wipe away her tears."Mommy, Daddy's gone. It hurts so much," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I've been good. I didn't cry."Tears fell silently down her cheeks. I reached out with my transparent hand, stroking her soft hair. She was my whole world. And now, I had to see my poor daughter carefully comforting herself, trying not to break. My heart ached to imagine how much pain she must be in.Then, a noise broke the stillness of the room.I froze, my senses instantly alert. The rogues!"Darriane, hide! Hurry, hide!" I urged, leaning close to her ear, though I knew my voice could never reach her.But she didn't hear me. She just curled further into my lifeless arms, seeking protection I could no longer give.I floated out of the bedroom in a panic, scanning the intruders as they searched through the house."I saw James leave alone," one said, his tone filled with certainty. "The kid must s
The rogues stood warily by the door, activating the video visuals to see who was at the doorbell.A slightly plump woman banged impatiently on the door, her voice loud and piercing. "What are you doing in there? Laughing and crying like lunatics—do you know how noisy you are?! Just because you're not resting doesn't mean the rest of us don't need to!"Her incessant knocking filled the hallway, and then suddenly, she paused, her nose twitching. The sharp stench of blood seeped through the reinforced door, making her stiffen. Her instincts kicked in, and she adopted a defensive stance.Hope flickered in my translucent eyes. If she barged in, there might still be a chance to save my daughter!But, to my shock, the rogues opened the door.The bloodstains on their clothes were hidden beneath jackets, and one of them even wore James's silver-rimmed glasses, their faces plastered with harmless, apologetic smiles."Sorry," one of them said sheepishly. "The kid doesn't know any better. We
I held Darriane's hand tightly, leading her toward the door, but no matter how hard I tried, we couldn't float beyond it. I tried again and again, frustration bubbling inside me. Finally, an idea struck. I let go of her hand and made one more attempt. This time, I passed through effortlessly.Returning inside, I saw Darriane standing there, her small frame trembling with uncertainty. "Mommy, isn't Daddy coming with us?"Her words pierced me like a dagger, and tears welled up, spilling over uncontrollably.My daughter was only four years old, yet she had tasted the bitterness of death. And James? He was probably still wrapped around his lover, whispering sweet nothings into her ear.Time blurred as I waited. Eventually, James returned, his arm wrapped around Helena's waist. She clung to him, her head resting coyly against his chest. James planted a kiss on her cheek, his face glowing with a joy I hadn't seen in years.Quickly, I covered Darriane's ears, urging her to close her
After that day, James never came back.My corpse decayed beyond recognition, riddled with holes from insects and vermin feasting on it. Darriane's once soft and innocent face was now marked with scars of various sizes, her delicate features forever marred. The blood that had spilled had long since dried, soaking even into the cracks of the wooden floorboards.A few days later, the neighbor woman knocked on our door again. Her voice, sharp with irritation, cut through the stillness of the house."My ceiling is completely stained through with whatever's leaking from your place!" she yelled."What on earth are you people doing in there?"She pounded on the door relentlessly, but no one answered. Hours passed, and when the neighbors finally forced the door open, the stench hit them like a wall. The thick, suffocating odor of decay made them retch uncontrollably.Eventually, they found us in the bedroom—two lifeless bodies, mine and Darriane's.Our corpses were taken to the pack'
After the cremation of Darriane and me, our souls became tethered to James, unable to stray far from him. Wherever he went, we followed.I thought, at the very least, he might return to our old home for one final look. But instead, he went to a new house, one I'd never seen before.The moment he stepped inside, Helena greeted him."You're back? Let me guess—Sophia's pulling another pity stunt, isn't she?"That scheming woman just doesn't want the divorce. You really shouldn't—"Before she could finish, James cut her off with a roar that echoed through the house. "Don't you dare talk about her like that!"Helena froze, startled by the sudden outburst. She had always been the one James cherished most, the one he treated with gentle care. Ever since she became pregnant, he had indulged her every whim, never raising his voice. But now, he had shouted at her.Quickly regaining her composure, she tilted her head and feigned a wounded expression."James, I only said it because I love
At the funeral, the gravestone bore my name and my daughter's.James knelt before it, his hand resting on the black-and-white photograph."Why? Why did it have to come to this?" he murmured, his voice cracking."If only you'd been a little softer with me, said a few kind words… we could've been so happy."The tenderness in his eyes wasn't a lie, but neither were the years of indifference and infidelity.If looks could kill, James would've been reduced to pieces long ago. It was his cold neglect that led to our deaths, yet it was all conveniently dismissed as a tragic accident.How could I not hate him?"James, you've done enough," my father and mother said, stepping forward to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.I looked at their graying hair and felt tears spill silently down my face.When I first met James, he wasn't an alpha. He was just an ordinary beta. It was through my parents' support that he climbed step by step to where he was now.Poor Mom and Dad. Even now, t
The cause of my and Darriane's deaths became almost common knowledge.James's company stock plummeted, sealing its bankruptcy, and he was cast out of the tribe, stripped of his title and reduced to a rogue.But he acted as if he didn't care. Every day, he would visit our grave.When my parents found out, they moved us to a new cemetery overnight to keep him from disturbing us. The new site was not only beautiful but also home to the plane trees my daughter and I had always loved. We were both pleased.But when James learned of this, he lost his mind.Every day, he begged for forgiveness, pleading for another chance to see us.In the end, he was once again driven out by the Betas. With nowhere else to go, he returned to our home.The dried blood stains on the floor had never been cleaned, and the outlines of Darriane and I were still visible. Even the foul smell in the air had not dissipated.This time, James didn't cover his nose. Instead, he lay on the floor, as if by doing so
A crimson haze filled my vision as blood dripped from the corner of my forehead onto the floor.Inside the cabinet, my daughter's terrified eyes froze my breath.I watched as her trembling mouth opened soundlessly, forming the faint outline of words, "Mommy, I'm scared..."I wanted to reach out, to touch her face and comfort her, but I didn't dare. The rogue was still in the room.Summoning every ounce of strength, I forced a weak smile, hoping to reassure her. But my energy drained away quickly, and my head drooped again.My consciousness began to fade, but one thought grew increasingly clear. I couldn't die. If I died, what would happen to my daughter? She was only four years old.I lifted my head again, using my last shred of willpower to mouth the words to her. "Find... find your father."Three simple words, yet they took me nearly ten minutes to utter.While the rogue's attention was elsewhere, I shakily slid the phone into the cabinet. My daughter's small hands gripped it
The cause of my and Darriane's deaths became almost common knowledge.James's company stock plummeted, sealing its bankruptcy, and he was cast out of the tribe, stripped of his title and reduced to a rogue.But he acted as if he didn't care. Every day, he would visit our grave.When my parents found out, they moved us to a new cemetery overnight to keep him from disturbing us. The new site was not only beautiful but also home to the plane trees my daughter and I had always loved. We were both pleased.But when James learned of this, he lost his mind.Every day, he begged for forgiveness, pleading for another chance to see us.In the end, he was once again driven out by the Betas. With nowhere else to go, he returned to our home.The dried blood stains on the floor had never been cleaned, and the outlines of Darriane and I were still visible. Even the foul smell in the air had not dissipated.This time, James didn't cover his nose. Instead, he lay on the floor, as if by doing so
At the funeral, the gravestone bore my name and my daughter's.James knelt before it, his hand resting on the black-and-white photograph."Why? Why did it have to come to this?" he murmured, his voice cracking."If only you'd been a little softer with me, said a few kind words… we could've been so happy."The tenderness in his eyes wasn't a lie, but neither were the years of indifference and infidelity.If looks could kill, James would've been reduced to pieces long ago. It was his cold neglect that led to our deaths, yet it was all conveniently dismissed as a tragic accident.How could I not hate him?"James, you've done enough," my father and mother said, stepping forward to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.I looked at their graying hair and felt tears spill silently down my face.When I first met James, he wasn't an alpha. He was just an ordinary beta. It was through my parents' support that he climbed step by step to where he was now.Poor Mom and Dad. Even now, t
After the cremation of Darriane and me, our souls became tethered to James, unable to stray far from him. Wherever he went, we followed.I thought, at the very least, he might return to our old home for one final look. But instead, he went to a new house, one I'd never seen before.The moment he stepped inside, Helena greeted him."You're back? Let me guess—Sophia's pulling another pity stunt, isn't she?"That scheming woman just doesn't want the divorce. You really shouldn't—"Before she could finish, James cut her off with a roar that echoed through the house. "Don't you dare talk about her like that!"Helena froze, startled by the sudden outburst. She had always been the one James cherished most, the one he treated with gentle care. Ever since she became pregnant, he had indulged her every whim, never raising his voice. But now, he had shouted at her.Quickly regaining her composure, she tilted her head and feigned a wounded expression."James, I only said it because I love
After that day, James never came back.My corpse decayed beyond recognition, riddled with holes from insects and vermin feasting on it. Darriane's once soft and innocent face was now marked with scars of various sizes, her delicate features forever marred. The blood that had spilled had long since dried, soaking even into the cracks of the wooden floorboards.A few days later, the neighbor woman knocked on our door again. Her voice, sharp with irritation, cut through the stillness of the house."My ceiling is completely stained through with whatever's leaking from your place!" she yelled."What on earth are you people doing in there?"She pounded on the door relentlessly, but no one answered. Hours passed, and when the neighbors finally forced the door open, the stench hit them like a wall. The thick, suffocating odor of decay made them retch uncontrollably.Eventually, they found us in the bedroom—two lifeless bodies, mine and Darriane's.Our corpses were taken to the pack'
I held Darriane's hand tightly, leading her toward the door, but no matter how hard I tried, we couldn't float beyond it. I tried again and again, frustration bubbling inside me. Finally, an idea struck. I let go of her hand and made one more attempt. This time, I passed through effortlessly.Returning inside, I saw Darriane standing there, her small frame trembling with uncertainty. "Mommy, isn't Daddy coming with us?"Her words pierced me like a dagger, and tears welled up, spilling over uncontrollably.My daughter was only four years old, yet she had tasted the bitterness of death. And James? He was probably still wrapped around his lover, whispering sweet nothings into her ear.Time blurred as I waited. Eventually, James returned, his arm wrapped around Helena's waist. She clung to him, her head resting coyly against his chest. James planted a kiss on her cheek, his face glowing with a joy I hadn't seen in years.Quickly, I covered Darriane's ears, urging her to close her
The rogues stood warily by the door, activating the video visuals to see who was at the doorbell.A slightly plump woman banged impatiently on the door, her voice loud and piercing. "What are you doing in there? Laughing and crying like lunatics—do you know how noisy you are?! Just because you're not resting doesn't mean the rest of us don't need to!"Her incessant knocking filled the hallway, and then suddenly, she paused, her nose twitching. The sharp stench of blood seeped through the reinforced door, making her stiffen. Her instincts kicked in, and she adopted a defensive stance.Hope flickered in my translucent eyes. If she barged in, there might still be a chance to save my daughter!But, to my shock, the rogues opened the door.The bloodstains on their clothes were hidden beneath jackets, and one of them even wore James's silver-rimmed glasses, their faces plastered with harmless, apologetic smiles."Sorry," one of them said sheepishly. "The kid doesn't know any better. We
Darriane lay beside my lifeless body, her tiny hand clutching mine, using it to wipe away her tears."Mommy, Daddy's gone. It hurts so much," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I've been good. I didn't cry."Tears fell silently down her cheeks. I reached out with my transparent hand, stroking her soft hair. She was my whole world. And now, I had to see my poor daughter carefully comforting herself, trying not to break. My heart ached to imagine how much pain she must be in.Then, a noise broke the stillness of the room.I froze, my senses instantly alert. The rogues!"Darriane, hide! Hurry, hide!" I urged, leaning close to her ear, though I knew my voice could never reach her.But she didn't hear me. She just curled further into my lifeless arms, seeking protection I could no longer give.I floated out of the bedroom in a panic, scanning the intruders as they searched through the house."I saw James leave alone," one said, his tone filled with certainty. "The kid must s
The door creaked open halfway, and the thick, metallic scent of blood filled the air, forcing him to cover his nose. From where he stood, all he could see was my foot hanging off the edge of the bed."Sophia, what kind of nonsense are you pulling this time?" he barked. "Darriane's arm is hurt, and you don't even care? Do you even deserve to be called a mother?"When I didn't respond, a shadow of anger swept across his face. "How long do you plan to keep this act up? Get up and take care of Darriane's injury!"He was about to shut the door and leave, leaving Darriane standing there, small and unsure. I rushed to his side, shouting desperately into his ear. "James, I'm dead! Take Darriane to get help before it's too late!"Perhaps my outburst reached him in some invisible way. He flinched, a shiver running down his spine, and turned back toward Darriane. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before shifting to my lifeless body. Yet his expression stayed cold, his impatience growing
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself floating above everything, gazing down at the scene below.Darainne tremblingly extended her tiny hand to touch my head. "Mommy, can I come out now? It's so dark in here."I didn't respond. She pushed open the cabinet door with a soft creak, the sound slicing through the suffocating silence.I rushed forward, desperate to close the door again, to keep her hidden, safe. My arm passed straight through the cabinet, through Darainne's frail body. It was then I remembered—I was already dead.Fortunately, the rogues had moved to another room, continuing their search, oblivious to the faint noises here.Darainne stepped closer to my lifeless body. She shook me gently. "Mommy, why aren't you answering me?"Her voice quivered, fragile and small. "I'm so hungry. I'm scared."I lay there, unmoving, blood pooling beneath me, a dark halo expanding until it seemed to swallow what remained of me. They say death brings freedom from pain, but at th