EMMELINEMy head throbbed, a dull, insistent ache that pulsed with every sluggish beat of my heart. Groaning, I peeled open my eyelids, greeted by a disorienting darkness. Where the hell…? I blinked, trying to focus, but the darkness clung to everything, thick and suffocating. I tried to move, to sit up, and a sharp jolt of pain shot through my wrists. I was chained. Chained to… a pole? What the actual fuck?Then, like a punch to the gut, the memories slammed back. The crash.Michael. That smug, bastardly grin.The struggle. The blow to the back of my head.And then, DarknessShit.I got knocked out. And now I’m here. Wherever here is.I scanned the room—or at least, what little I could see of it. The only light came from a dim, flickering bulb in the corner, barely illuminating the concrete walls. There were no windows. No doors in sight.A basement? A dungeon?Whatever it is, one thing was certain—I’m trapped.Panic clawed at my throat. I strained as I gritted my teeth and pulled
DARIUS' POVThe smell of blood still lingered in the air, thick and metallic, mixing with the scent of burning rubber and shattered glass. The wreckage of Emmeline’s car was crumpled like a discarded toy, flipped on its side near the edge of the road. My stomach coiled in a way I hadn’t felt in years. I had seen countless battlefields, spilled enough blood to drown a village, but this—this—was different.This was her.My fists clenched so hard my knuckles turned white as I forced myself to breathe. I had to think. Losing my shit wasn’t going to help her.Sylas crouched near the wreck, his fingers brushing over a dark smear on the dirt. Blood.I hated seeing it. Her blood.He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. His brows furrowed in concentration before his eyes snapped open.“Someone else was here,” he muttered. “Not just the driver. Someone came after the crash.”My jaw tightened. “Who?”Sylas pressed his palm into the dirt, focusing harder. “The scent is masked, but whoever it was, th
EMMELINE’S POVI was exhausted.I didn’t know how long I had been here—hours, days? Time blurred together in the dark, cold space Michael had trapped me in. My limbs ached, my throat was dry, and hunger gnawed at my stomach like a rabid animal.But I couldn’t give up.Not now.Not when I knew Darius was out there, searching for me.I had to hold on.But the thought of him walking into whatever bullshit trap Michael had set because of me made my chest tighten. Darius was strong, smart—but grief made people reckless. And if Michael had been feeding him poison, making him believe he was responsible for my suffering, then…No.I shook the thought away. I needed to focus. I needed to get out of here before Darius came storming in without thinking.Just then, the door creaked open, the sound grating against my already frayed nerves.Michael stepped inside, carrying a plate of food.My body tensed, but I kept my face blank.He crouched down, setting the plate in front of me like I was some s
EMMELINE’S POVPain shot through my wrists as I pulled at the chains again. The cold metal bit into my skin, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t just going to sit here and wait to be saved.But fuck, every second felt like an eternity.I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. I wondered what Darius was doing. Was he already on his way? Did he even know where I was? Is he walking right into Michael’s trap?Was he coming?Or had he figured out this was a trap and decided to play it smart?I wanted to believe the latter, but deep down, I knew him too well. If he thought I was in danger, he wouldn’t hesitate. He would tear through hell itself to get to me.And that scared me more than anything.The thought made my stomach twist.A voice broke through the thick silence.Muffled at first, but close.Right outside the door.I held my breath, straining to listen.Michael. And someone else.“You sure Darius will come?” the unfamiliar voice asked.Michael laughed. A slow, amused sound that made
EMMELINE’S POV☆☆☆BANG! BANG! BANG!My eyes snapped open so fast I thought my neck might crack. Gunfire. Holy shit. My heart pounded, wild and frantic, like a trapped bird. What the hell was happening now?For a second, confusion clouded my mind…had I imagined it? But then another shot rang out, followed by shouting.Michael cursed under his breath. The slimy bastard jumped to his feet and rushed to the door. “Stay here,” he ordered, though it was clear he meant it for his gorilla-sized guards, not me.But even through the fear, something else struck me like a jolt of lightning. Darius. It had to be him. Who else would be crazy enough…or brave enough, to come barging in here with guns blazing?My breath hitched. Darius was here.A spark of hope ignited in my chest. Hope, mixed with an exhausted but undeniable, ‘Are you kidding me?’“Do not take your eyes off her,” Michael barked before slipping out, slamming the door behind him.He thought I wouldn’t try to escape?He underestimated
EMMELINE’S POV☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆Oh Moon Goddess, this is getting seriously messed up. I scrambled back, doing this weird crab walk thing as I crawled away from Darius and Michael who were going at it like wild dogs. My heart was hammering in my chest like a damn drum solo. Dust and dirt were flying everywhere, and I could hear the grunts and the clangs of their blades. I felt useless, just huddled there while they were practically trying to kill each other.My eyes darted around, searching for… I don't know, anything? Something to help? My fingers brushed against something hard and sharp on the ground. Yes! My hand closed around a rock, jagged and rough. It wasn't much, but it was better than freaking nothing. My hand was shaking so bad I almost dropped the damn thing. "Come on, Emmeline, get it together," I whispered to myself, even though I felt like I was about to lose my lunch right then and there.Then, bam! Michael, that psycho, he slammed Darius down. My breath hitched. Darius wa
EMMELINE☆☆☆☆☆☆When my eyes finally fluttered open, the first thing that hit me wasn't the light, or any pain, but the complete and utter silence. It was… different. Not like that silence, you know? The kind that used to press down on me, suffocate me while I was trapped in Michael’s dungeon. Nope, this was a peaceful quiet. A quiet that whispered, “It’s over, Em. The crazy is done.” The war… yeah, the war was really done. It still felt kinda unreal, like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for some new nightmare to start. But for now, just quiet.I shifted a little under the soft sheets, and my body groaned in protest. Man, I was still so damn sore. Felt like I’d been run over by a cartload of bricks, not just, you know, everything. But even with the aches, it wasn’t a bad sore. It was like… my body was just tired from fighting, from surviving. A strong arm suddenly snaked around my waist, pulling me back against a warm, solid chest. Darius. Of course.“You’re awake,” he mur
EMMELINE☆☆☆☆☆☆I had to see Sylas. Like, really needed to. After everything that went down, him helping find me and all, it just felt right to go over to his Estate. Plus, you know, gotta keep things moving, right? Can’t just sit around feeling rescued all day.So I headed over to the other Estate. It's not like it's a huge ride or anything. And when I got there, Sylas was, well, Sylas.He turned to me, and there was this look in his eyes – kinda serious, but also…relieved? “Emmeline,” he said, that deep voice of his, “Good to see you again.”“Hey,” I replied, stepping inside. “Thanks again for, you know… finding me. Seriously. Thank you.” I wanted to make sure he knew how much it meant. It wasn't just about being found, it was him, Sylas, who had played a big role in it.He just gave a slight nod, that kind that tells you he’s not one for big speeches. “It is my duty. To protect all lycans. Especially you, Emmeline. Of course, I would do it again. It is my job, after all.”Okay, th
★DARIUS★Damn it, looking at her sleeping there, all peaceful and shit, made my blood boil. Seraphine was locked up, should be scared out of her mind, but she looked like she was taking a damn nap on a Sunday afternoon. Not a twitch, not a sign of worry that she was rotting away in my cells. Any normal prisoner would've been screaming their innocence, begging for mercy, maybe even trying to pick the damn lock with a hairpin. But not her. Just this eerie calm that sent a shiver of unease down my spine.Just as I was about to lose my temper staring at her smug face, Dawson, my beta, showed up. He looked grim, holding a rolled-up scroll in his hand. “Alpha,” he said, his voice low, “we got him.”“Ronan Voss?” I asked, a knot of anticipation tightening in my gut.Dawson nodded. “Yeah. Tracked him down like you said. Wasn’t too keen on talking at first, but… well, you know how it goes.” He didn’t need to elaborate. We weren't exactly known for our gentle interrogation methods when push cam
☆EMMELINE☆Hearing that Seraphine was locked up and refusing to say a damn word, didn’t bring me any peace. Not even a single ounce of relief. Instead, a nasty knot tightened in my stomach, twisting with a fear that felt colder and sharper than anything before. It wasn’t over. I actually wanted her out. Gone. Either out of this Estate or just… six feet under—gone for good. There was something about her quietness, the way she hadn't broken down, hadn't begged or pleaded, that freaked me out way more than any of her damn lies. It was like she was just sitting there, biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And that thought? It sent shivers down my spine.Later that night, when the rest of the Estate was probably settling down, I found myself walking towards the cells. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the silence. What the hell was I doing? Darius had told me to stay away, to let him handle it. But I couldn’t shake this feeling, this gnawing anxi
DARIUS’ POV★★★★★★Emmeline was pacing in our bedroom, her frustration practically radiating off her in waves. "I told you, Darius! She's lying through her teeth! That whole story about the embarrassing letter and the list? Bullshit!"I watched her, my own anger simmering beneath the surface. I knew she was probably right. My gut had been screaming at me since she first told me about the man in the garden. But I had to play it smart. Rushing in with accusations based on a hunch wasn't going to get us anywhere."I know it feels that way, Em," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "But we can't just throw her out. Not yet. We need to know what she knows, what she's up to.""Knowing what she knows has been going on for days now!" Emmeline exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "And you know what else? I feel… uncomfortable around her. She's been making these little comments, these subtle threats… I don't like it, Darius. I really don't."My jaw tightened. Threats against Emmel
DARIUS’ POV★★★★★★At last, Seraphine arrived, flanked by the guards. They informed me that Beta Dawson had come to see me, and I told them to ask him to wait until I was done with Seraphine. Seraphine looked surprised, her normally calm expression slightly marred with a hint of confusion. “Darius? What is it?”"Who was the man you were talking to in the garden this morning?" I asked, my voice tight, trying to keep my anger in check.She blinked, her eyes wide and innocent. "Oh, that was just an old friend…he's a former soldier from my father's pack. He was just passing through and wanted to say hello.""Passing through and just happened to find you in our garden?" I challenged, my skepticism thick in the air."Well, yes," she said, her voice calm, almost too calm. "He knew I was staying here with you.""Did he?" I pressed. "Because Emmeline here saw him too. And she didn't get the impression it was just a casual hello."Seraphine turned to Emmeline, a hint of annoyance flashing in he
EMMELINE★★★★★★That damn letter. It was burning a hole in my mind, and my head was practically screaming for me to tell Darius. But something held me back. What if it was nothing? Just some random piece of paper that Seraphine had picked up? I’d look like a right fool, constantly sniffing around her business for no reason. And honestly, the thought of Darius looking at me like I was being paranoid… nah, I couldn’t risk it. Not yet anyway.I needed more. Concrete proof. Something solid that would make Darius sit up and actually listen. So, Operation: Get the Dirt on Seraphine was officially underway. I spent the next couple of days keeping a low profile, trying to observe without being obvious. It was like trying to sneak past a bloody elephant – Seraphine was very slippery and careful, or so it seemed.Then, this morning, I finally caught a break. I was taking a slow walk around the garden – the doctor said light exercise was good for the baby, though honestly, some days just getting
DARIUS’ POV♤♤♤▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎♤♤♤This messenger's words… they’ve burrowed into my damn skull and won’t leave. Baseless, Sylas had suggested. Just some nobody trying to stir up trouble. But what if he wasn’t? What if, against all odds, someone actually did survive? The thought alone sent a cold shiver down my spine.Another sleepless night bled into a tense evening. I was in the meeting room with Sylas and Dawson, my Beta. The air was thick with unspoken anxieties.“Alright, let’s go over this again,” I started, rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes. “Every known enemy. Every single goddamn threat we’ve ever faced. Could any of them have slipped through the cracks?”Sylas leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Alpha, we went over this a hundred times. Every last one of those sons of bitches was executed. Massively. My men personally checked the bodies. We made damn sure there were no survivors.”Dawson, usually quieter, nodded in agreement. “We left nothing to chance, Darius. It was a cle
DARIUS◆◆◇◆◆"Alpha, we got a situation at the south border." Dawson's voice was tight, his usual easygoing demeanor gone. He stood in the doorway of my office, his chest heaving slightly. "Someone tried to sneak in. Got a couple of our guys hurt."My blood went cold. An attempted breach? This close to everything that was happening? "How bad?" I asked, already moving towards the door."Nothing life-threatening, thankfully. Bruises, a nasty gash on Marco's arm. But they managed to take the guy down." Dawson fell into step beside me as we headed towards the border. "He put up a hell of a fight.""Who the hell was it?" I growled, my mind racing through possibilities. Kaelen testing our defenses? Some other rogue pack making a move?"Don't know yet. They've got him contained. He's not talking."We reached the border in record time. The air was thick with tension. I could see a small group of my guards gathered near the treeline, their faces grim. Marco sat on a nearby log, his arm wrapped
EMMELINE◆◆◆◇◆◆◆Okay, so after every talk that went down last night with Darius, a plan started forming in my head. Just being outright cold to Seraphine wasn't going to cut it. She was slippery, I could feel it. I needed to try a different approach, something that might make her drop her guard, even just for a second. I needed to bait her, see what kind of fish this was.So, this morning, I decided to invite her for tea. Yeah, tea. It felt ridiculously polite considering the suspicions swirling around her, but I figured it might throw her off. Plus, it would give me a chance to observe her up close, see if I could pick up on any tells.I asked one of the house staff to let her know I'd like her company in the sunroom around mid-morning. Then I went about my usual routine, trying to act as normal as possible, even though my insides were churning with unease.When Seraphine finally arrived, she looked a little surprised, maybe even a bit wary. I offered her a seat by the window, where
DARIUS◆◆◇◆◆This whole Seraphine situation was giving me a bad feeling in my gut, a real gnawing one. I called a small meeting, just the people I trusted most: Seraphine herself, my beta Dawson…the guy's got my back no matter what… and Sylas, our head of intel.Seraphine started laying it all out, talking about Kaelen's allies, these rogue packs that were itching for a fight. She named names and gave details about who was leading them. Honestly, she sounded convincing, like she knew her shit. But something about her… it just didn't sit right. Maybe it was Emmeline's words echoing in my head, planting seeds of doubt."So, these packs," I started, leaning forward on the table in my study. "You're sure about their involvement?"Seraphine nodded, her eyes earnest. "Absolutely, Alpha. These are the ones Kaelen has been grooming for years. They're loyal to him, waiting for his command… and now, they can't wait to take revenge for his death."Dawson, ever the logical thinker, chimed in. "An