Samuel POV:The moment the clock struck midnight, a piercing howl erupted in my mind. It wasn't just a howl; it was a cry, a scream of anguish that shook me to my core. Beside me, Cameron recoiled as if struck, his eyes wide with the same torment I felt."It's midnight," Cameron muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief and something darker, something like despair. "It's her birthday, Sam. It's Lyla's birthday today, and our wolves are—""In agony," I finished for him. "As if a part of them—of us—has been violently ripped away."The room we were in, usually a haven of strategy and planning, seemed to close in on us. The charts and maps spread out across the table faded into insignificance. Faces of council members turned toward us, concern etching their features, but their expressions were a blur. All I could hear was the persistent howl of my wolf, a haunting melody of pain and loss."We know it's Lyla's birthday," I said, my eyes meeting Cameron's. "But why would that cause our wolv
Cameron POV:As we stood there amidst the charged atmosphere, I could feel everyone's gaze on me. The tension was palpable, like a thick fog that had enveloped the room. Lars and Lyla's triplet brothers looked like they were ready to tear the place apart, their eyes fiery and full of accusation. I glanced at Samuel; he nodded, and I knew it was time to lay our cards on the table."Lars, we found out that Lyla was our fated mate during the first day of the welcoming party at the academy," I began, steadying my voice. "From that moment, we've made sure to gather all the information we could on her, especially after we heard that she was being positioned as Jax's mate.""And you decided to keep that information to yourselves? And make her a part of your plan?" Lars interjected, his voice laced with disbelief and anger."I understand why you would feel that way," Samuel jumped in, "but we didn't manipulate her. We took time to get to know her, to be with her. We showed her that there was
Lyla POVThe garden was an enigmatic blend of serenity and unrest, much like my own thoughts. Here, the roses bloomed fiercely, their reds, pinks, and whites vibrant against the green foliage. And just like me, they stood on a battlefield—beauty surrounded by thorns. I'd been standing here for Goddess knows how long, staring at the fountain in the center, its water droplets catching sunlight like diamonds as they danced through the air.I lifted my hand, my fingers brushing against the tender flesh at the side of my neck where Noah's mark pulsed like a second heartbeat. A wave of emotion washed over me: warmth, possessiveness, but also a sharp jab of... something. Something like disquiet or discord, lurking at the edge of my consciousness.According to Noah, the ceremony—about which my memory is mysteriously foggy—bound us as mates. He kidnapped me in the chaos of the attack on the academy, claiming I was brainwashed there, misled by others. Misled by Cameron and Samuel, who, as Noah
Cameron POV:I clicked through the multiple tabs open on the computer screen, my fingers drumming impatiently on the desk. Each site, each piece of coding, represented another failed attempt at tracking down Lyla."Damn it," I muttered, minimizing the last window."Any luck?" Samuel looked up from his stack of papers.His voice was tinged with frustration, much like my own."Nothing. It's like she's vanished into thin air. All I have is that IP address from the Instagram post, and it's bouncing all over the place. Whoever this guy is, he knows how to cover his tracks."Samuel leaned back in his chair, running his fingers through his hair."We need to find her, Cam. Something's off. I can feel it.""I know, I feel it too. And that picture…"My voice trailed off, unable to vocalize the sheer amount of pain and fury that one image had sparked. Samuel clenched his fists."The mark on her neck. It's like a slap to the face, seeing it there. And her caption saying she met her 'fated mate'.
Lyla POV:As I sat in the opulent chamber, getting ready for Noah's coronation, a whirlwind of emotions engulfed me. The room buzzed with maids flitting around, their hands skillfully working on my hair and makeup. Each stroke of the brush, each pinning of a curl felt like a step closer to a destiny I wasn't sure I wanted.I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at me was draped in a gown that cascaded down in waves of shimmering fabric, its icy blue hue reminiscent of a winter sky. It was stunning, yet it felt like a costume, a disguise masking my true self.My thoughts drifted to Noah. Our last argument about not seeing my family lingered bitterly in my mind. He had been relentless every night, trying to establish a physical connection, but I had firmly held my ground. Each time I gave in to the smallest of his advances, a sense of betrayal gnawed at me, leaving me feeling dirty and ashamed. Why did it feel like I was betraying someone when Noah was my desti
Lyla POV:The air in Noah's castle always felt heavy, laden with secrets and unspoken truths. As I navigated the dimly lit corridors, my thoughts were in a whirl. I needed to find that maid, the one who was my only link to the outside world, my only hope of contacting my brothers. The message I had entrusted her with weighed heavily on my mind. I eventually found her, huddled in a corner of a secluded alcove, her eyes darting around nervously."Did you pass on the message?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with urgency."Yes, Miss," she replied quickly, her voice trembling slightly. "I did exactly as you asked."A fleeting sense of relief washed over me, but it was quickly overshadowed by a chilling sensation that crept up my spine. I felt a presence behind me, imposing and intense. Turning slowly, I found myself face to face with an unfamiliar figure.He stood there, a striking embodiment of vampiric grace, his presence commanding the shadows around him. His hair was a
Samuel POV:The night enveloped Vampriya like a dark shroud, its silence only broken by the faint rustling of leaves in the eerie breeze. Perched on a high vantage point, Cameron and I surveyed the castle’s looming silhouette, an imposing structure of ancient stone and dark secrets.“This feels like the calm before the storm,” Cameron muttered, his eyes never leaving the castle.The tension in his voice was palpable.I nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of the moment.“It is. But we’re ready. We’ve planned for every contingency.”Beneath us, our team was a silent array of shadows, each member in their assigned position. Lyla’s brothers, Lars, Kaiden, Aiden, and Fiden, were huddled together, their faces etched with determination and concern. Our elite warriors stood poised, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.Alana, positioned safely yet strategically, was our secret weapon. Her psychic abilities could give us the edge we desperately needed.“Remember, stay out of si
Lyla POV:The grand hall of Vampriya's castle, usually a vision of dark elegance, was now the epicenter of pandemonium. The air, once heavy with the scent of ancient mystique, was now laced with tension and fear. As Noah led me towards the ceremony, my mind was a whirlpool of apprehension and dread."Noah, are you sure about this?" My voice was barely audible over the growing murmurs of the crowd.His grip on my arm was unyielding, his eyes fixed ahead with an unsettling determination."Everything is under control, Lyla," he reassured me, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Explosions, one after another, reverberated through the castle's walls. The crowd erupted into screams and chaos. The vampires, creatures of power and composure, were now scrambling for safety, their immortal facades shattered. Noah's face contorted with rage and confusion."Vincent!" he shouted over the cacophony, "Take her away, now!"Vincent, the enigmatic second p