CHAPTER 12: Fear and courage The following morning, Hana felt as though her chest was heavy and she was having trouble breathing. She was confused and dejected after what had happened the day before. She was physically and emotionally stuck, unable to escape the sensation. She could feel her circumstances suffocating her more with each breath. She made the decision to get outside and stroll since she didn't know where she was going and thought the change of scenery would help her think more clearly. The territory of the pack was covered in long shadows by the early morning light. Hana was lost in contemplation, a whirlwind of rage, anxiety, and melancholy. She was so focused on her morning routine that she hardly saw the other pack members. Their voices and movements seemed distant as if she were observing them through a thick fog. Hana’s steps eventually took her to a far corner of the SeaHowl pack’s territory. She had never ventured this far before, and the unfamiliar
CHAPTER 13: Unwavering Determination Jarrel was a monster in every sense of the word, a man with no compass in his heart who loved to cause people pain just for the sake of it. She wanted to know what really happened to him to become like this but she rejected the negative train of thought. The details of how they turned him into a monster did not matter and all that mattered was that he had inflicted a lot of pain. She tried to think of the Moon Goddess and why she had let such suffering happen in the world. Had the Goddess sent Jarrel to inflict pain on people, to suffer? Will Hana ever find it? Or is there a bigger picture that is hidden in her eyes? The questions ran through her mind and the set of them raised her increasingly uneasy feelings. Hana started to think about her own position now too. She found herself living in this kind of hell where she was a mate to a man who was known to be a brute and a cruel one at that. Nothing would change the fact that she needed to sur
CHAPTER 14: Jarrel's expressionHana was at her window, sitting in her own room, looking out into the darkness of the trees beyond the pack lands. The moon was almost touching the trees and the whole area was dimly lit by the silvery moonlight. Her thoughts were stormy waters churning in her head like an ocean. She was mated to Jarrel, the man she despised most in the entire world. And yet, there were moments when the relationship with him tugged at her emotions, leaving her conflicted, hating herself for how she felt. She folded her hands into fists and felt the nails’ tips dig into her flesh. How, in heaven’s name, could she cherish any affection but have hatred for him? He was the cause of her family’s death and the cause of her pack’s decimation. She had witnessed him slaughtering people with no concern for their fate and had even felt his hand on her neck, a sign of the horror she had endured. But sometimes his skin touching her naked skin made her feel an unexpected unspeaka
CHAPTER 15: Shadows of VengeanceHana woke up hearing the terrible shuffling sounds of metals against stones that were reverberating through the dark hallway of her room. She sprang up in an upright posture, with an intuition for disaster hammering heavily in her heart. In no time at all, there was a loud bang at her door and Mia, stepped in looking so frightened or as though she had seen something alarming."My lady," Mia whispered urgently, "the Alpha commands your presence in the hall immediately."Hana's blood ran cold. She had learned to dread Jarrel's summons, each one more cruel than the last. She quickly dressed and followed Mia through the dimly lit hallways, her mind racing with terrible possibilities.The tremors in the low murmurs of the pack members inside the hall grew louder as Hana got closer. The big doors snapped open, and an almost audible gasp escaped her lips as she stared at the grand hall in front of her.The nanny who had been a motherly figure to her since ch
Chapter 16: Ernest Expression The next day, Hana got up early from her bed and went out to meet Mia."My lady, it’s shocking to see you out of your room so early," Mia said, her surprise evident."Well, I took your advice yesterday. There was no need to continue wallowing in pity and depression over the past," Hana responded, giving a smile that seemed so pure. Yet within her, she harbored deep hatred for the SeaHowl pack she was standing on.She had decided to be good for a few days, to get closer to Jarrel and give herself enough chance to execute her plans. First, she would relate with pack members, then treat Jarrel like she ought to treat her mate, making him believe in her so she could gain enough money and freedom to go anywhere.She needed money to get information on where to buy wolfsbane and who could get it for her. Staying inside that luxurious room, which felt more like a cage, wasn't going to work if she was to succeed in her plans to poison Jarrel with wolfsbane."Whe
Chapter 17: Threads of DeceptionThat night, when she got into bed, Hana was full of thoughts. She needed to be cautious and wait for the right time. Jarrel was strong and dangerous, but with Wolfsbane, she would finally have a chance to stop his reign of terror.She closed her eyes, thinking of his face, how cruel his mouth seemed as he ordered the nanny’s death. This picture made her more determined than ever. It was clear that she would win.Her patience and bravery were tested to the core in the subsequent days. Hana went to perform her role by interacting with the pack members in an endeavor to win their trust, although she had other hidden motives. She kept the wolfsbane hidden in her quarters, waiting for the right moment to strike.Finally, the day came when the man returned with the wolfsbane. Hana took it, her hands trembling slightly as she hid it away. Now, she just needed to find the perfect opportunity.The following day, Hana was stared up with a clear and focused mind.
Chapter 18: Desperate PlansShe began to think of different ways to get Jarrel alone, to ensure that there would be no interruptions next time. She considered the layout of the packhouse, the routines of the guards, and the times when Jarrel was most vulnerable.As the hours went by, Hana's resolve became stronger. She would wait for the right opportunity, and when it presented itself, she would be prepared. She would be let free, and Jarrel would suffer for his harshness. It was just a question of time.After a while, Hana lay down on her bed, her heart heavy and her thoughts racing with plans. She stared at the ceiling, repeating the events of the evening in her head, sleep a faraway concept. Though the battle was far from over, she had come so close. She was going to find another route. She was forced to.The poisoned wine bottle stayed on the table, a quiet symbol of Hana's determination. It was a reminder of how far she would go to gain her freedom and how far she would go to ke
CHAPTER 19: Smiles Faded The atmosphere in that room was heavy with tension while Hana gazed at Mia whose face and body were pale and wasted on the bed. Her eyes, which had once been bright and warm, now looked like empty shells reflecting all much pain she was going through. The healer then asked a question that still hung in the air, “Did you consume any substance containing wolfsbane?”Hana’s heart skipped a beat. Wolfsbane? The word alone sent a jolt of fear through her. She knew the deadly herb all too well—it was the key to her plan to end Jarrel’s life. But now, the possibility that Mia had ingested it made Hana’s blood run cold.Mia shook her head weakly, too feeble to speak. The healer glanced at Hana, his expression unreadable. "Please excuse us for a while, sir," Hana managed to say, her voice barely steady."Of course, my lady," the healer replied, gathering his things. "I will use the time to prepare her medication outside." He walked out, leaving Hana alone with Mia,