DARIUS POVDarius snatched the weapon in his pocket and sprinted straight into an unknown destination as gunshots randomly fired into the air.His men were already attacking and ransacking the entire building. Some minutes earlier, they’d arrived at Brielle's location, and according to sources and intel, she was somewhere in the large mansion.He had no idea who the buyer was, and neither did the man who had accompanied them. Despite his need to discover who the foolish anonymous man was, Darius knew the first thing to do was hunt for Brielle.She was the only thing that mattered, and after a 14-hour drive, he had to start looking for her.Following a lead through the back door and climbing the mansion's stairs, he shot at any guard in sight as he searched room after room.He couldn’t find her, and after a few minutes of scourging through with no results, he felt exhausted and frustrated.Was she indeed here? Or had he been played again here? As he neared another corridor in the vast
DARIUS POVDarius noticed the wolves from a distance, dragging something that resembled... Brielle! Her fiery blonde hair shone brightly even in the dim light of day, and a snarl escaped his lips.He had searched the entire estate for her, but his efforts had been futile, forcing him to step outside.As the attacks continued, with some of the building structures being blown apart by bombs, Darius ignored everything and focused instead on finding Renee.With no sign of her in the damned castle, he’d decided to venture into the woods.The horror he was now staring at was all it took to bring him back to reality, and hurling the pistol in his hands, Darius roared once more before transforming into the beast he was.Bones cracking and his voice getting groggier, he quickly transitioned into his Apex wolfish form.When he was entirely in his animal form, he began to sprint towards them, using all his power, but just before he got there, a figure appeared from nowhere and stopped in front
DARIUS POV‘It has never been okay with me all my life. It has never been accepted that I don’t worry, even for a second, even in my sleep. That's why I'm Adolores, why I'm in anguish. It has never been okay with me. It has never been….’As he listened to the words coming out from Brielle's lips, Darius's chest clenched uncomfortably.The way she sounded, so wounded and helpless, tugged at his heartstrings, and he sniffed back a sob.A sob? Darius blinked twice, attempting to persuade himself that he hadn't thought about crying.Lilith, not Brielle, was the only lady he'd cried uncontrollably for without ever feeling humiliated.Never again... He wouldn’t cry for Brielle because she didn’t mean much to him.She was merely his second chance mate, a fortuitous gift bestowed upon him by the moon goddess, and for that, he was grateful, but to think he would break down and cry for her seemed ridiculous.His subconscious, on the other hand, disagreed completely, and Darius didn’t even know
BRIELLE’S POVBrielle's head was throbbing like crazy.She felt like someone was slamming a giant hammer into her brain or stamping on them with their feet.The pain was so excruciating that she tried to caress her head with her palm, but she couldn't even move an inch.Brielle attempted again with her eyes closed, putting her hands on her arm and she started to rub the fragile skin albeit slowly, shifting to the sides, wishing to face the walls of the... She blinked twice, and her eyes startled open.Her hands left her arm. It fell on something, and soon she was touching a soft material.A soft foam that she was currently on.She wasn't in a cell. Nor was she on the cold, damp flood. Instead, she was on a soft foam bed, and when she moved, she felt the mattress sink deeper.What the?!Her vision was already becoming a bit clearer, and since she still hadn't registered where she was, her emphasis on the bed, Brielle decided to look around where she was.However, the room was dimly dar
DARIUS POVDarius could see the fear lurking in Brielle’s eyes. It was as clear as day, and even though he had her trapped, he couldn’t bring himself to do what he wanted to do.He wanted to wrap his arms around her, draw her into a warm embrace, and tell her everything was alright, and she was home now. But he couldn't. He didn't want to startle her any further, and he needed to remain calm given her current situation."How are you doing, Brielle?" He asked again, his voice gentler this time, and clearing his throat, he took his hand from the bed headboard and carefully sat down on the bed.“I’m… I'm fine..." She stuttered, hands going to her forehead and rubbing slightly.She flinched when she touched a small wet cloth, and observing the expression of perplexity on her face, he explained, "You were burning hot earlier when we brought you in. I put something there in the hopes that it might reduce the temperature. "Are you all right now?" She nodded, but her face remained frowning
DARIUS POVThe alcohol Darius was gulping down his throat did nothing to alleviate the questions and thoughts racing through his mind.Grumbling angrily as he took another swallow, the rough taste of the whiskey slammed down his throat, and it caused him to cough slightly.Rocky stood alongside him, talking about the aftermath of the fight they had yesterday, and while he appeared to be listening, Darius knew his mind was elsewhere."What about the guard who was injured?" Darius suddenly blurted out, his first words since Rocky started his reporting.His brows wrinkled as he remembered Brielle's request earlier.The guard had been kind to her, and he’d even been against whatever her captor had done to her.He had even released her when the mansion was under assault, and according to Brielle, she owed him her life. ‘How ridiculous.’ Darius scoffed as his thoughts continued spiraling.Also, he didn't tell Brielle that he'd shot the fucker down because Darius knew she'd be upset at him
MADELINE’S POVMadeline couldn't sleep for reasons best known to her.It was already late at night, midnight per se, yet she was boiling with rage as she replayed in her mind the arrival of Lord Darius and Brielle.They'd arrived the day before, and Madeline, who had been standing outside doing nothing, had seen the vehicle entourage come into the compound.Suddenly the cars stopped, and Lord Darius stepped out of his already open jeep with Brielle in his arms.Running like a maniac, he’d belted out orders, giving directives to guards and requesting the presence of a doctor to check on Brielle.He’d ignored the greetings of the maids passing by, as well as her own, and she’d been more than irritated, but there was nothing she could do about it.Not only did he not respond to her greeting, but he did not even look her in the eyes or stop to acknowledge her at all.Instead, he’d hurried inside the castle with an unconscious Brielle in tow, and Madeline’s already fragile heart shattered
BRIELLE’S POVBrielle blinked as the bright rays flowing through the enormous window reflected squarely on her face, irritating her smooth skin.Tossing and moving a little, her hands on her head, she tried to block out the light even though her eyes were closed, but it appeared to be all over her, and she couldn't seem to get away from it.After much struggle, she opened her eyes, the lids shooting open. At the same time, she heard a husky voice by her bedside ask, "Hey, hey, is anything the matter?"“Ahhhh…” She shouted in terror, leaping from the bed, when she noticed Lord Darius by her side.He was seated by her side now, his massive frame shielding the sun's rays, and while this was meant to provide some relaxation for Brielle, she wasn't sure why she felt the opposite."What's the fright about, Brielle? Don't tell me you forgot about yesterday and that you're already at home." Lord Darius rasped out in haste, and her brows furrowed in uncertainty.She distinctly remembered last
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