BRIELLE’S POV Brielle's hearty grin deepened as she looked at the mirror.She was in a terrific mood tonight. She didn’t know why. Even though she disagreed briefly with Madeline earlier, she was now better off and happier in ways she couldn't articulate.Maybe it was because of this date with Lord Darius, and the fact that she hadn't seen him all day added to the tension. She missed him terribly, and if she saw him tonight, she would not hesitate to tell him so. "Damn!" She whispered again, glancing at her lovely self. She was dressed in a dark green gown with a slit up the thighs, and the cloth hugged all her curves nicely, emphasizing her figure.She couldn’t wait to hear Darius's endearing words, and knowing how she would blush excessively, her cheeks going pink and melting under his intense gaze, she let out a gentle smile. However, Brielle adored it. She adored the way he gazed at her—dreamily and full of so much love. She adored how he treated her as if she were an egg, w
BRIELLE’S POV Brielle couldn't move an inch as Darius exited the room, banging the door hard behind him.She was trembling violently, her lips shaky, and the tears flowing down her face wouldn't stop.She would occasionally cast a glimpse at the folders on the floor, and her heart would compress slightly in excruciating misery.The photographs of her father were too good to be true, and she kept pinching herself, hurting her skin, hoping to wake up from this dream, if it was one, but nothing happened.She crawled carefully towards the necklace Darius had tossed on the floor, her fingertips caressing the diamond stone adorned pendant. It was the only important thing she possessed, and as she tried to think, her mind swelled. Where did he get this necklace?She had stopped wearing it after discovering the connection between her father and Lord Darius.So, how did he get it? She hadn't seen him all day, and as for the necklace, it’d been in her drawer. She'd seen it before going to bed
BRIELLE’S POV Brielle paused, her left hand lifted, as she considered knocking on Madeline's door.She had vowed to confront Madeline about the missing necklace before weeping herself to sleep last night, and now she was here. Her eyes were still sore from sobbing all day, and even though she was shaking violently with rage, Brielle knew she had to talk to Madeline or she wouldn't be herself at all.She needed answers, and Lord knows she'd battle for them if she had to.Brielle brought her hands down as a whimper crossed her lips. Steadying herself, she twisted the doorknob instead of knocking and entered the open room."Who the hell is…" Madeline was already saying something, but the moment she saw Brielle, she stopped talking.With a tiny smirk, she swiftly jumped up from her chair and folded her arms."And what brings you here, miss?" Madeline asked, her eyes darting all over Brielle's body. Her disdain was visible, but Brielle didn't flinch. And raising her shoulders, she wiped
BRIELLE’S POV Brielle could hear their conversation and see their scorn as she strolled by the maids and guards, but she didn't care.Her hands grasped the tray of food she was holding, and her shaky feet continued to walk straight.She didn't want to waste her time replying to them, and no one would back her up if she got into a fight now, so it was all pointless.Her life in the castle seemed to have fallen apart since the fallout with Darius, and the fact that she hadn't seen him in a week further emphasized that. The women who served her every morning, midday, and night had vanished, leaving her to handle everything in the mansion alone.Not that she was complaining, but a part of her wished she could go back in time and relive the wonderful times she had and how blissful those days had been. She didn't realize how important those days were until she realized how much she missed them.Not just them, but Darius also. She missed more than anything else, and it hurt. Every morning,
BRIELLE’S POV "No, no, no…" Brielle whispered to herself as she shook fiercely on the bed.She was huddled, her blanket wrapped around her, and she wasn't even chilly, yet she was shaking terribly. She hadn't been able to get Madeline's mocking words out of her thoughts since she went to her room, and every time she closed her eyes to sleep, she was instantly reminded that Darius would most likely be sleeping with Madeline and the other submissives.She was in pain when he fucked them, and her stomach hurt so much that she had to grasp her waist as if she were fighting for her life.Darius hadn't yet rejected her, so whenever he slept with another woman, she felt terrible, and it hurt.The discomfort, however, paled in comparison to how she was feeling emotionally. Her entire world had collapsed, and she couldn't keep it together.Brielle let out a quiet moan as another sharp agony raced through her abdomen, and she began to sob again.Her face was bloated from crying, her eyes were
BRIELLE’S POV "Come in." Brielle was terrified as she turned the knob and pulled the door open upon hearing Darius's voice.She was trembling all over, and her facial expression revealed her terror despite her best efforts to contain herself.As she entered the room, her gaze wandered throughout the enormous expanse, and when she spotted him, a shiver ran down her thighs.Even though their connection was dissolved, Brielle couldn't deny that he still had immense power over her.He had his back to her, and the moment he turned, their eyes locked, his smirk transformed to a sneer, and his eyes darkened with rage.Brielle staggered backward owing to the intensity of his gaze, and she held the wall behind her for support while she held his look."What in the world are you doing here? Who the hell let you in? What happened to not displaying your face in front of me ever again?" Tears welled up in the back of Brielle’s eyes as he thundered.He was staring at her with disgust and hatred. Sh
DARIUS POV Rocky arrived after Darius summoned him, and as he turned to face him, he let out a big exhale."You sent for me, boss," Rocky said, gently bowing and waiting for him to continue with his request.Darius didn't say anything for a long time. Instead, he raked his hands through his hair and breathed in and out as he considered how to express what was on his mind. How could he say this? Where would he even begin?He closed his eyes, and his mind was instantly flooded with memories of Brielle—her pleas and the terrible things he’d said to her during their last meeting. She’d knelt before him, looking distressed as she cried, but he’d acted unperturbed.But truth be told, he was worried. He felt so much hurt, and as he recalled the anguish in her eyes and how miserable she’d looked, it tore him apart. He couldn’t believe he’d treated her like that, not after everything they had been through together. Not after the magnitude of immense love they shared. But then again, he could
BRIELLE’S POV Brielle was nervous as she wore her dress over her head and looked at her little figure in the full-length mirror.She had had this sense since she got up this morning that something horrible was going to happen or was about to happen, and the feeling was growing stronger by the minute.She was perplexed, and every second, her gaze was drawn to the door, expecting someone to barge in and deliver some bad news to her.She hadn't been able to think clearly since the confrontation with Darius last night and his threats to her. She had scarcely slept all night, terrified that someone might break into the room and smother her in her sleep. Brielle didn't dread death because her life had been a waste, but she was concerned that Darius would be the one to draw the blade on her and that his eyes would be the last thing she saw before succumbing to the icy grip of her demise. ‘You stupid Brielle. He stated he wouldn't murder you because he couldn't bring himself to do it. Don'
BRIELLE'S POVHer heart fluttered like a flower picked from a peaceful garden. Brielle searched for words to convey how she felt as Darius hoisted her up the floor. Euphoria. Joy. Thrill. Delight. Excitement. Surprise. Yes. These words clearly defined the situation, but there was more going on. Something deeper. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps she didn't know what word to use, but it wasn't happiness. It was more than that. "My love. Mine, all mine..." Darius repeated in her ears as he twirled her around. After a few minutes, he dropped her back onto her feet.Brielle remained still for a moment, attempting to regain her breath. Her mind buzzed with so many different thoughts, and she felt dizzy and possibly lightheaded from all the dancing, but that didn't stop her from stretching her toes and kissing Darius on the cheek."How are you feeling?" Darius asked, and she replied. “I feel on top of the world. Or maybe I'm already flying through it; I have no idea
A MONTH LATERDARIUS' POVThe banquet went better than Darius had anticipated.He had hoped for a low-key and personal ceremony in which he could deliver the glad news to his people and seal the everlasting union with his partner, but the event planners had other ideas. They'd gone over and aboard, and he surprisingly approved. Every area of the castle was artistically ornamented with gold and scarlet decorations. Everything was stunning, from the beautiful wall tapestries to the intricate floral arrangements, and the crystal chandelier glowed like a light in the hall's center. It was ethereal. Just like the woman for whom this entire charade was intended. Darius smiled as he continued to glance around. His gaze swept through the guests in the room, mingling, drinking, and speaking in groups. He also watched the servants rushing around carrying platters, refilling drinks, and doing almost anything to keep the party going. Finally, his wandering attention was interrupted by the mo
BRIELLE’S POVThere wasn’t a force more powerful in the universe than love. At least, that was what Brielle was thinking as she watched Darius dress in front of the mirror.Her lips watered as he flexed his muscles to remove the white shirt that hugged his body's curves.They had both healed, and all that remained were the scars. Though as memories converged in her head, she nearly let out a whimper. She’d gone through a lot, and damn! Anytime she remembered the whippings, electric shocks, cold water dousing, and even days she went without food, tears streamed down her cheeks. It wasn't easy to forget what had happened, but with Darius, it was becoming easier than she had expected. He was at her side throughout the recovery process, and she couldn't have asked for anything more. "Like what you see?" Darius smirked, interrupting Brielle's thoughts.He was looking at her through the mirror, and when their eyes met, her cheeks flushed. She looked away."Umm." She murmured and said n
DARIUS POV Darius walked carefully down the corridor with his guards in tow. He’d woke up a few hours earlier, and all he could think about was seeing Brielle. The dream from the day before continued to torment him, keeping him half-awake all night. Now, all he wanted was to see and hug her tightly. Then he’d apologize for how he had neglected her—the anguish he'd caused her by not being present when she needed him most. And maybe she'd forgive him. But would she? The inexplicable torture she went through in Draken Havix's hands, as well as his irresponsible choice to send her out into the wild, was nothing short of horrific. It was unforgivable, and Brielle deserved much better. She deserved more than to be with a man like that. He was a coward and an idiot who couldn’t even admit that she had transformed him from who he used to be to a better person. But then, he was also a selfish fool, so he wouldn’t let her go. Not in this lifetime or the next. Regardless of these thought
SOME DAYS LATERBRIELLE'S POV Her eyelids fluttered slowly, and Brielle groaned softly as a dull pain throbbed through her temples. It took a few more attempts before she could open them properly, and eventually, they slid wide enough for her to see where she was.Brielle had to squint a little until her eyes adjusted to the light, which was in stark contrast to what she was used to - dim lighting, quiet, and empty space. 'Where was she?' She frowned and pondered, 'How did she get here?'.She tried to push herself up into a sitting position but froze when a sharp pain shot through her skull again."Damn it." She muttered quietly, lifting a hand to her forehead, only to discover that it was attached to something, and she could not move it. "Fuck! Where am I?" She cursed aloud and, with her eyes roaming, began taking inventory of the room. And that's when she noticed it. The familiar curtains dangling from the windows. The dark red couches facing one another, and gold-plated side ta
BRIELLE'S POVBrielle's eyes opened and shut as she slipped into and out of consciousness.Her entire body hurt; her head ached, and her chest was on fire. Her eyes were open, but she couldn't see anything, and her eyesight was fuzzy.She could only hear noises, low whispering voices that appeared to come from all directions simultaneously. She could also feel soft wisps of cool breeze on her skin, confirming that she was outside.She wasn't in that terrible cell anymore, being tortured by those evil men.But if she wasn't present, where was she? She remembered sprinting through the palace hallways, looking for a way out, but then...She slowly began to recollect what happened after that. Her memories were returning slowly. Brielle had planned to flee once the guards left, with the cell door open and the key having fallen out of their pocket by accident. She remembered scanning left and right to ensure she didn't knock into anyone. It seemed strange how empty the hallways were.She
DARIUS POVDarius fought with all of his strength. He hit and punched, channeling his inner strength until Draken was a bloody mess.Earlier, when Draken had transformed into a wolf and leaped at him, Darius had been prepared for it. His fangs and claws had sharpened, and he’d transformed into his lycanthrope wolf form. He rarely shifted, but when he did, he wasted no time. As a Lycan, he would always be faster than his opponent and better equipped to catch his prey. So when the man attacked, Darius didn't even think about what he could do. His beast form had switched to autopilot, and its instincts took over. He'd scarcely noticed anything when he attacked. He only felt the pain of the punches and strikes, which weren't too severe because he wasn't on the receiving end of them. Draken, on the other hand, was severely beaten. His hairy face was matted with blood, and there were several large gashes all over his body. At this point, he wasn't even fighting back, just squirming and
BRIELLE'S POV"What is happening?" Brielle overheard the question, as many guards entered the cell with troubled expressions."There is a very big problem." One of them spoke, and despite her weakness, Brielle managed to stretch her ears enough to hear what they were saying. "Which is? Can someone fucking talk to me?" Another guard inquired, and the whip in his hand tumbled to the floor. It fell with a resounding thud, and the sound echoed off the cell walls.The air seemed to cool even more. The room was silent for a long time until one of the guards spoke up again. "Master Draken and Lord Darius are…"Brielle's heart sank when she heard Darius's name."Goodness gracious please, let nothing happen to him…" The words came out of her mouth unexpectedly, almost in prayer, and a stray tear streamed down her left cheek. The guards resumed discussing, but this time in quiet tones, as if frightened Brielle would hear them. It irritated her, and she wanted to yell. She wanted to question t
BRIELLE'S POV "Please…" Brielle begged and screamed at the top of her lungs, but the guards did not stop. The more she pleaded, the more the torture increased, and they continued to whip her body with their batons.But she understood why this was happening. Darius was here again. He'd arrived yesterday, and while she hadn't seen him, the rate at which her torture had risen was clear evidence of this. Her agonizing yells were intended to convey a message to Darius. Draken was using it as a tactic to demonstrate that he still had the upper hand and leverage. Brielle's heart wrenched painfully as she thought of the wicked older man who held her captive. A shiver ran down Brielle's spine as she remembered their talk from last night.He'd informed her that Darius still loved her, and despite her misery, she couldn't deny that his words had given her hope. Even when he made insulting jokes about her and Darius's deaths, a small part of her brain ignored the unpleasant words and focused