Savannah stumbled through the dark forest, driven by a hunger that drowned out her fear. She felt nothing as the dewy branches slapped her face, as the twigs tore at her ragged shirt. She had no room for pain, only for survival. Her world had shrunk to the next step, the next breath. The only sound was the thud of her heart and the echo of her footsteps.She had lost track of time, of days and nights. The forest was a blur of green trees and grey clouds that hung beyond the canopies of branches. Savannah had grown to hate the sun, it was the cruel reminder of another day she might not live to see. She hated the moon, the cold witness of the warmth she had left behind in Sylvia. Of a life she might have led. The warmth of Zhao's arms, of his smile, of his love. A love she had betrayed.She had no home, no refuge. And anytime she thought about returning to Hybern, her father's face haunted her dreams, twisted with anger and contempt. He would never forgive her, never understand. He woul
The first snowflake of the season landed on Zhao’s cheek, a cold kiss on a face already numbed by months of self-inflicted bitterness.Six months.Six months since the forest swallowed Savannah whole, its stupid emerald branches suffocating the embers of the newly found love and hope Zhao had desperately held onto. Six months since Zhao, the shadow of his former self, took down the Valerian Kingdom with the cold efficiency of a winter frost.Alpha Zhao, they called him now, a title that tasted like ashes on his tongue. The memory of that fateful night, the raw fury that had fueled his victory against Reginald’s pack, flickered in his mind like a dying fire. Learning Savannah was a member of the pack, he’d carved through them, a wolf possessed leaving trails of crimson snow and echoing howls in his wake but still, he couldn’t find her. That only made his triumph taste like ashes in his mouth. Victory had come at a price, a price etched deep in the lines around his eyes, in the tremor o
Four Years Later.The screech of brakes on asphalt pierced through the noise of childish shrieks outside the brightly painted school gates. Zhao jolted from his reverie, the warmth of a forgotten memory clinging to his chest. “Why did you stop?” he asked his driver who flushed as their eyes met in the rearview mirror.“Sir… it’s a few meters from here and remember you said you didn’t want them to know you’ve arrived until you showed up with in front of them.” The driver stuttered.Right. Zhao closed his eyes and leaned back against the leather upholstery. He’d truly said that. He’d been lost in the chaos of his thoughts to actually remember that. Sighing, he opened his eyes and peered out through the tinted glass. Little children all screaming and dancing around. Swings soared in rusty arcs, laughter boomed between climbing frames and the air hummed with a carefree energy that Zhao hadn’t felt in years. Why did they make his heart clench this bad?He sighed again and clenched his fis
Back in her cramped apartment, Savannah couldn’t get rid of Zhao’s words in her head. The words hung heavy in the air, thicker than the lingering scent of burnt popcorn from Kai’s movie night.Hugging him close, Savannah sank onto the worn sofa, her heart hammering a frantic tattoo against her ribs. His small frame was like a shield against the storm brewing inside of her. The encounter had ripped open the wounds she’d spent years bandaging, leaving her raw and exposed.Leaving. It was the only thought that made sense to her now. Disappear, vanish like a wish of smoke, take Kai and find refuge in some nameless corner of the human world, far away from the wolves and their cruel games.Unable to remain on a spot, she allowed Kai slide off her lap and she stood up, pacing up and down the length of the room.But as she paced, the moon casting long and accusatory shadows on the tattered wall, a creak from the front door broke quite rudely into her thoughts. Savannah paused, straining her e
She had confessed. The truth hung between them, a razor-sharp fence cutting off any means of escape. Zhao's face was dark as a storm, his chest tight with conflicting emotions. He hated her, hated her for leaving him, for ripping open his wound every day. He wanted to hurt her, to make her pay for what she'd done. He felt the snake of revenge wrap around his heart, making him hot with the need to hurt her.But there was something else, too. A glimmer of hope. This child, this small copy of him in her arms, was part of the future he'd once imagined, the future she'd taken away."What's his name?" he asked his voice rough and low.She looked at him, her face pale and hopeless. "Kai," she said softly. The name felt like a knife in his gut."Kai," he repeated, tasting the strange sound. "My son." He claimed him, marked him as his own. He saw the fear in her eyes, and he felt sick at the satisfaction that coursed through him. Yes, he wanted Savannah to be terrified of him."He's coming wit
“I love you, baby.” A deep voice muttered, his lips pulling into a lazy smile. “You look so fucking mouthwatering in that dress. Can’t wait to take it off you.”The woman next to him giggled, sliding across the seats to plop down on his lap. “No, I love you more and you look…like dinner in that suit. Can’t wait to peel it off you with…my tongue.” Her voice was a mumbled slur but still audible enough for those in the limo.“Mrs Bloodsworth, you are so fucking drunk…but fuck, I like drunk you.” The man threw his head back in laughter, taking his hand to her bottom to massage the skin softly while peppering kisses over the skin of her neck. It was so fucking supple and the sweetest smelling thing he’d ever seen. “Remind to always feed you with alcohol.”“NO! I am…never not drunkieeeee.” She let out another streams of giggles and suddenly moaned, reached her hand between them. “I want to suck you off in the Limo, Husband. Please. Pweese. I promise it would be goody. You you…trust me right
The palace corridors echoed with the hurried footsteps of Gareth and Stephanie, their expressions a mixture of concern and bewilderment. The flickering torches cast dancing shadows on the walls as they approached the quarters of the palace maids. The two had come seeking information about an unsettling rumor circulating within the palace walls.Gareth,, pushed open the door to the maids' shared living space. The room was filled with the soft murmur of gossip and laughter, momentarily silenced by the unexpected presence of their King's brother and his wife.."Good evening, ladies," Gareth greeted, attempting to maintain a calm demeanor. "We were wondering if any of you had heard anything unusual lately. Something about Zhao and a woman he brought into the palace."A hushed tension gripped the room as the maids exchanged furtive glances. Finally, a middle-aged maid with a kind face stepped forward, her eyes darting between Gareth and Stephanie. "Oh, you must be talking about Zhao's secr
"Oh come on Zhao. Just tell me what happened between you both. Why do you seem to hate her so much? I mean.....it's just odd. I don't think that I have ever seen you hate anyone the way that you hate her!" Stella said. She just thought that there was something weird in the way that he treated Savannah. He definitely did hate her, that was for sure. But there was something else that she could not understand. The way he looked at her....it was as if he did hate her, but they were a lot of other feelings in there that he was trying to hide. Zhao did not want to talk about Savannah. She always seemed to be able to mess with his head no matter what. He thought that he was over her for sure and that she would not have any more effects on him but it just turned out that he was wrong. She still had a lot of effects on him and it just felt like she was a drug that he could not quit. He knew that it was bad for him, but he kept going back again and again. He felt pathetic. "I don't want to