NYX'S POVThe hospital room was quiet and dimly lit, the only sounds coming from the beeping machines and the occasional footsteps echoing down the hallway. I lay in my bed, staring up at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts. It had been weeks since I was admitted to the hospital, and I was beginning to feel like a prisoner in my own body.I couldn't move around freely. I thought being a slave was the worst thing that could happen to me until I got tied to this bed.Aurora wouldn't be visiting me today, she had told me today she was going to spend some time with her father-Atlas. That arrogant, egoistic cruel monster, I hated him so much for putting me through all these.I still wonder how such a heartless bastard could be the father of a sweet and adorable kid like Aurora. They were like two opposites.Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I sat up, my heart racing. I wasn't expecting anyone, and my mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario. But then I saw Riley walking in, a bouqu
NYX'S POVEver since Aurora showed me her father's journal, no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I hadn't been myself.I couldn't even identify my problem, I couldn't tell if it was the paintings of myself that I saw that made me feel this way or if it was the dirty thoughts that managed to flood my mind as I imagined what was running in his head when he painted me or how his muscles flexed.Apart from my unholy thoughts, I sincerely have been concerned after finding out about Atlas's illness. I've just had this unsettling feeling. It was as though I was bothered about his well-being and that's the part I don't understand.Atlas has been nothing but cruel, evil and wicked to me. He's even the reason I've been in this sick state for the past few weeks. So, it still didn't make sense how a part of me cares that he was inflicted with an illness. Maybe it was part of the effects from the painting.A part of me knew why. It was because of Aurora, she's too much of an angel and the last
NYX'S POVAs I walked up the stairs with Riley, a sense of anticipation filled me up. I had been away from home for so long, and the idea of returning to my own space was thrilling. As we walked up to my room, I noticed that it looked completely different from the last time I saw it. There were new curtains, fresh flowers on the nightstand, and even a stuffed teddy bear sitting on my bed."Oh, my God, Riley!" I exclaimed, taking in the sight of my newly decorated room. "This is amazing! Did you do all of this?"He averted his gaze shyly. "I redressed your room before coming to get you from the ward. It was a mess. I didn't know if you'd like it, but I wanted to make it feel more like home."I couldn't believe how thoughtful he was being. The room was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. The curtains were a pale blue that matched the walls perfectly. The flowers were a mix of pink and white, and their sweet scent filled the air. The teddy bear was soft and cuddly, and had a
NYX'S POVWatching Atlas with a keen eye, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration wash over me. He was nothing like my father - a greedy, proud, and selfish man who never once cared about his beta or any of the other officials in our pack.I couldn't help but compare him to my father. It was a stark contrast to what I was witnessing now. My dad was the complete opposite of Atlas. He was greedy, proud, and selfish. He only cared about his own power and wealth, never once bothering to take the time to listen to the concerns of his beta or any of the other officials in the pack.Atlas was different. He was attentive and genuinely cared about his pack members. He didn't view them as mere subjects, but rather as individuals with their own thoughts and emotions. It was a breath of fresh air to see such a leader in action.It was refreshing to see someone who didn't place their own self-interest above everything else. Someone who actually took the time to listen and care about
I woke up to the sound of rain tapping against the window. It was a soothing sound, but it made me feel lonely too. Ever since Elaine and I had a falling out, things had been different. I missed our late-night chats and early-morning gossip, the way she used to laugh at my jokes and share her dreams with me.I sighed and got out of bed. I tried to shake off the feeling of emptiness and focus on my morning routine. I brushed my teeth, took a shower, and got dressed in my usual black clothes. I put on my silver necklace with a small moon pendant, a gift from my mother. It always made me feel closer to her, even though she was far from me.As I headed to the kitchen, I felt a knot in my stomach. I knew that Elaine would be there, and I didn't know how to fix things between us. I wanted to apologize for what I had done, but I also wanted to know why she had been avoiding me. Had I hurt her too much? Was she still mad at me?I pushed those thoughts aside and opened the door to the kitchen
NYX'S POVI was still reeling from Elaine's words when she slowly turned around, tears streaming down her face as she revealed her back to me. The whip marks were deep and the bruises were dark, covering nearly her entire back. I was stunned into silence, my heart breaking as I realized the pain she had endured.I gasped in horror, reaching out to touch one of the wounds, but Elaine flinched away. "Don't," she warned. "It hurts."I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I had no idea that Elaine had been hurt like this. "What happened?" I asked softly.She sighed, her eyes closing briefly. "I was punished," she said simply. "Because of you."I didn't know what to say. I had always known that the pack could be strict, but I had never seen the consequences up close like this."I'm sorry," I said, not knowing what else to offer."You're sorry?" Elaine turned back around to face me, her eyes blazing with anger. "Sorry,doesn't even begin to cover it, Nyx. You put me in danger, you lied to me,
RILEY'S POVIt was just another day and I was going about in the courtyard when I saw Nyx bending over as she scrubbed dirty clothes. As I looked at Nyx's tired face, I couldn't help but notice how much weight she was carrying on her shoulders. She had just come out of a battle, was dealing with an injury, and on top of it all, had to do chores as a slave. It was all too much for anyone to handle, let alone someone who was trying to recover."Hey, Nyx," I said, my voice laced with concern. "I know you're trying to do your chores, but are you sure you're feeling up to it? You are still healing from your injuries."Nyx looked at me with a sad smile. "I'm fine, Rylie. I need to keep busy, or else I'll just dwell on everything that's happened. And, moreover it's not like I even have a choice or something."I shook my head. "Nyx, it's okay to take a break sometimes. You've been through so much, and you need to give yourself time to heal. It's not weak to admit that you need help."Nyx look
NYX'S POVI've been trying to get on Elaine's good side for weeks, but it's like she wants nothing to do with me. Every time I try to talk to her, she ignores me or gives me a look that could kill. It hurts, but I can't stop trying.One day, I saw her walking alone in the forest and decided to follow her. I knew it was a risk, but I needed to try. After a while, she realized I was following her and turned around to face me. I froze, not knowing what to say."What do you want?" she asked, her tone icy."I just wanted to talk," I said, my voice barely above a whisper."I have nothing to say to you," she replied, turning to walk away.I reached out to grab her arm, but she yanked it away, causing me to stumble. "Please, just hear me out," I begged."Why should I?" she asked, turning back to face me. "You've done nothing but hurt me and lie to me.""I know I messed up, but I'm trying to make things right," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I just want us to be friends again.""Fri