GINA'S POV I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the pottery session in front of me. The noble of the pack chatted and laughed around me. I tried to focus in how their hands shaped the clay but I couldn't focus on anything else but my thoughts. Our pottery session today was supposed to be a r
ELISE'S POV I spent my day doing the chores I had been assigned. It seemed as if I was given a larger share of the chores and I didn't know why. I guess it was Gina's way of punishing me and Ms Kelly's way of making sure I stayed in my space. As I worked, my muscles ached with exhaustion. I had bee
“Here,” she said “You’ll carry these to the tournament grounds. I expect you to be at my side the entire time. And don’t think for a second that you’ll get a break.” I looked at the bags in horror. Surely, she was joking. There was no way I could carry these bags all the way there. I struggled to l
I looked at Gina in surprise. "Me?!" I shrieked Jackson laughed loudly. Even my parents joined in. “Gina, darling,” he said, “pick a better opponent. Elise here couldn’t handle a feather, let alone a real fight.” "You're right" my mom said "Don't waste your time on her, my dear" My par
I ran as fast as I could out of the arena. I ran until I reached the woods. My breath came in ragged gasps as I ran. I ran through the trees, thinking of everything that had happened. The pain of seeing my once loving parents now so cold and distant tore at my heart. The words my father said to me
GINA'S POV I slipped into a special dress that I had picked out myself. It was a tight black dress that hugged my curves in all the right places. I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror. I recalled the events at the tournament. I'll admit, I never expected Elise to be so strong. For a moment
GINA'S POV I had never felt such anger boiling in my veins. Jackson had the audacity to compare me to Elise. Elise, of all people. I couldn't let that slide. This as all Elise's fault. With Helen at my side, we stormed toward where Elise was. She was supposed to be washing guards in the backyard.
ELISE'S POV The note from Helen burned a hole in my pocket all day. I couldn’t concentrate on anything, not with the questions I had in my mind. Was this a joke? A trap? Or something else entirely? I kept replaying the earlier confrontation in my head, searching for clues, but I found none. Why
ELISE'S POV The cell was... different this time After the attack I had, Ferris ensured that I was taken to a different cell. This one was much better. It wasn’t as dark or damp as my previous one, and the bedding was slightly softer. It also had less guards surrounding the place which made eve
GINA'S POV I stood by the back laundry. My heart still raced, though I tried to calm it. My moment with Ferris replayed in my mind—his words, his touch, the way his eyes seemed to see straight through me. For so long, I’d wanted to be close to him. I’d dreamed of it, schemed for it. He was one of
FERRIS' POV I sat in my study, deep in thought. My fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. My mind churnintwistwd with the rumors I'd just heard. A war. Gina. Planning to avenge Jackson? If there was truth to this, it couldn’t be ignored. But Gina wasn’t the type to make things easy. No, this req
FERRIS' POV I leaned back in my chair in my office, staring at the table while my mind raced with a thousand thoughts. Every thought of mine went back to Elise. I envisioned the sight of her locked away in that cold miserable cell. She was pregnant, vulnerable, and despite my every effort to protec
ELISE'S POV I sat in the corner of my room with my knees drawn to my chest, trying to suppress the fear inside me. The encounter with Gina still played on a loop in my mind. I remembered how angry she was. Was she really not behindJackson's poisoning? Was she taunting me? Or was I truly losing my
ELISE'S POV The cell was uncomfortable. No amount of pacing or shifting on the wooden bench could make the suffocating air in here feel better. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. My fingers trembled as I placed a hand over my belly. "I promise," I whispered to the life growing within
FERRIS' POV Eden sat across from me in my study, resting his hands on the table. His newly acquired Gamma badge gleamed on his chest. Ever since Barley decided to act a fool, I replaced him with Eden as Gamma and the head of my security. We discussed who the perpetrator might be and why they want
ELISE'S POV The walls of the cell were cold as I leaned against it. I had been here before, but this time it felt heavier. More suffocating. Sitting on the hard bench, I leaned my head back against the rough stone and closed my eyes. I couldn't believe I was in here, in trouble again and it's all
GINA'S POV I didn’t trust Alexandra. Not for a second. Sure, I knew she wanted to help me but I was conniving enough to know a snake when I saw one. When she appeared at my door that morning with her smile as sweet as honey and her tone dripping with kindness, I knew she wanted something. Women l