Victor rolled on the bed a few times restlessly and suddenly sat up, sweating. He groaned and rubbed his face, trying to shake off the uneasiness. He glanced at the white clock on the wall. Four PM. He was quite surprised. When did he fall asleep, and how long had he been out?He remembered working out in the gym that morning. He had pushed himself hard, trying to clear his mind, when he almost dislocated his elbow. When it didn’t heal right away, he was shocked. The pain lingered, unusual for him. Normally, his injuries healed quickly. He had come into his room to make a call, wondering what was going on. He sat on the bed and picked up his phone. That was it. He remembered nothing else after that.What happened? Why didn’t his injury heal like it was supposed to? He was quite confused. He picked up the phone that was just beside him and switched it on. Almost immediately, notifications bombarded his screen. His frown deepened as he saw the number of missed calls from Anastasia. Twen
Victor rushed out of the warehouse, his heart pounding with a pure rage. He got into his car and began to drive around the entire pack territory, desperately trying to trace her. Her scent, which had been so strong inside, was now faint and disappearing. The trail of blood that had led to the outside of the warehouse was gone, leaving him with nothing to follow.He drove in circles, his eyes scanning every street, every corner, hoping for a sign of her. But there was nothing. No trace of her anywhere. Panic began to set in, making his chest tighten with each passing second.After what felt like hours of fruitless searching, he pulled over to the side of the road. He ran his hands through his hair, frustration boiling over. With a sudden, uncontrollable rage, he banged his fist on the steering wheel, creating a little dent in it. He growled, the sound deep and feral.At that moment, he wanted to tear himself apart, tear everyone apart until he found her. The helplessness he felt was ov
Ana groaned as my eyes fluttered open for the third time. It felt like there were thousands of construction workers inside her head, each one hammering away relentlessly. She swear she could hear them. Her entire body ached, and every breath felt like a chore.Or maybe not. As her vision slowly came into focus, she saw someone pounding on something inside a miniature mortar. The man, wearing a black or grey shirt, pounding with urgency. Her head throbbed, making it hard to concentrate on anything else.“Vee?” She croaked, her voice barely above a whisper. She could see him now, standing at the edge of the room, his back turned to her as he worked on something. The sight of him brought a sense of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by the pain and confusion.He turned around quickly at the sound of her voice, his eyes widening in what looked like relief. “You’re awake” he said the obvious, rushing to her side.She tried to sit up, but her body protested with a sharp pain and she wi
The next morning, Cecil, with her heavy stomach, came to visit. She had grown suspicious when she tried calling Ana’s line and it didn’t connect. Ana wasn't the type to leave her phone off. Concerned, she made her way over to the mansion.Once she arrived, Victor asked his Ashley to prepare a tea table outside. To Make it comfortable for her as she’ll need to sit and wait while I wake Ana. And it was more ventilated outside for both women.Victor walked back inside and made his way to his room. She was still asleep, her face peaceful despite the bandages that adorned her body. He approached her gently, not wanting to startle her.“Ana," He whispered softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his with a soft, tired gaze."Vee" she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.“Come on, Breakfast is ready and your lady friend is here, the pregnant one” He whispered back, as if talking normal would startle her.With his help, she slowly sat up, wincin
Anastasia twirled the contents in her favorite mug, a warm cup of chocolate tea, as she watched Victor rummage through the top cabinets in search of his ‘elusive’ hot sauce. Outside, the rain pounded against the windows with relentless intensity, creating a cozy weather.Victor's frustration was evident as he stood on tiptoe, scanning the shelves for the bottle he swore he had. She couldn't help but laugh at his sudden determination to find it. It had been raining heavily all morning, providing him with the perfect excuse to stay home. She knew, deep down, that he would have found another reason to remain by her side regardless of the weather. She recalled how, earlier that morning, she had tried to persuade him to go to work. "I'm getting better, really," she had insisted, but just as he was about to give in, the sky had opened up, and he had chuckled, declaring that the universe was clearly against the idea of him going out. The truth was, he didn't want to leave her, She was love
Victor cleared the messy table, sweeping empty snack packs into the bin. He returned with two plates of his pasta—without the hot sauce—and set them on the table. Anastasia had insisted on eating breakfast at the coffee table instead of the dining.And the pizza still hadn't arrived.“Ohhhh!” Ana half-yelled from the couch, balancing precariously as she played an impromptu game of "The Floor is Lava" in her oversized, quirky outfit.She was all cute and adorable.Victor glanced up, bemused. “What?”“Nothing, I’m just reading spoilers for *Tale of the Nine Tailed* that someone posted,” she replied, looking up. “You know, the Korean drama we didn’t get to finish.”He shook his head, smiling. “You’re weird.”He walked over and stretched out both hands, offering to help her down. She fell into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and her hands around his neck, still engrossed in reading the spoilers on his phone.“Nothing’s weird about reading spoilers,” she insisted.“Hmm. Time f
“What’s going on?” Ana muttered under her breath, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. Zara’s face paled, her confusion deepening into genuine concern. “I swear, Luna, I told you. I even remember you nodding and telling me to have a good time. Are you sure you’re remembering correctly?” Her voice trembled slightly.Ana shook her head, feeling a strange mix of frustration, worry and fear. “I don’t know. Everything after the attack is a bit of a blur, but I distinctly remember calling you. Over and over.” Her voice wavered, betraying the fear gnawing at her.Ana looked down. There might have been some sort of mix-up, or something else is going on that they don’t understand.Ana bit her lip, considering the unsettling possibilities. “Could someone have tampered with your phone? Or maybe mine?” She glanced at Zara's phone again.Zara glanced at her phone, then back at Ana. “I suppose it’s possible. But why would anyone do that?” Her mind raced through potential scenarios, none of t
Ana’s irritation softened slightly at his explanation. She noticed his shivering and the genuine look of remorse in his eyes. “Then a heads-up would've been better,” she said, He glanced at the pizza boxes, then back at Ana. “My boss felt really bad about the delay, so he personally prepared your order. He made sure it was perfect, different from the usual, to make up for the wait. Please don't drop bad review”Ana sighed, her frustration melting into understanding. “Okay, I get it. Just... try to be faster next time”The boy nodded vigorously. “Yes, ma’am. I promise. Thank you for being understanding.”She handed him a few dollar note, another tip, even more than she had initially planned. “Here, take this. Get yourself something warm to drink.”The boy’s eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. “Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.”“You can go,” Ana muttered, taking the boxes. She closed the door and carried the pizza to the kitchen, setting it on the counter. As she opened
Leo’s POVShock couldn’t even describe how I felt when Michael and Greg were in the same room as us. It was hard not to show my displeasure as I watched them sit eagerly, rubbing their palms at the delicacy presented to them. While Michael was just interested in whatever this was, Greg cast furtive glances at me, but I paid him no attention.The least he could have done was to have informed me beforehand that my best friend had offered him an invitation to have dinner at the house. I could have told him to decline. If he had, Michael would have done the same, and I wouldn’t have had to watch Lila so uncomfortable.She squirmed in her seat, not looking up from the table. Her plate was empty, as she had yet to take what she wanted. But she had already been accosted, so I doubted she was interested in whatever was in those dishes.“This is amazing,” Michael gushed like a child who had just been handed his favorite candy. “I’m sitting in the same room as Leo and Armani. I can’t wait to te
Ana stepped into the pharmacy on her way to Victor's, with a sense of urgency. She made her way to the counter, her eyes scanning the shelves until she found what she was looking for. Birth control pills. She grabbed a pack, paid for it quickly, and left the store, her mind already focused on the night ahead. Hoping no one's attention was in her.Once outside, she took a deep breath and fished the packet out of her bag. She popped a pill into her mouth and swallowed it dry, anticipating her arrival at the mansion. She could feel the excitement building, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she imagined what was to come.Arriving at the house, she let herself in with the spare key he had given her. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of voices coming from the dining room. She walked in and found him sitting at the dining table, engrossed in a live Zoom call. His laptop was open in front of him, and two businessmen were visible on the screen, discussing some important matte
After getting the things he needed at the store, Carlos' uncle, Frances decided not to drive straight home if maybe not. Instead, he took a detour to a dimly lit tea shop. He parked in front and walked on foot to a bar a bit farther away. It might be calculated move on his part, a way to throw off anyone who might be following him.Entering the bar, he found a secluded corner and settled in, ordering a few less alcoholic drinks. He knew he needed to stay awake, and nit get drunk. As he sipped his drink, he kept an eye on the door, waiting for his contact to show up. He was told this bar sold cookies, and despite the unusual setting, he couldn't resist ordering some.An hour passed, and there was still no sign of his contact. He ordered another drink, more out of a need to maintain his cover than a desire for alcohol. The bar was a typical dive, with dim lighting and the smell of stale beer hanging in the air. He tried to stay calm, but the wait was beginning to get to him.After wait
Ana spent the rest of her morning and early afternoon in blissful solitude. She played games on her phone, The hours slipped by unnoticed, and soon she felt the heavy pull of sleep. Without bothering to change, she curled up on her bed and napped.When she woke up, it was late afternoon. The house was quieter now, the bustle of the morning's chaos having subsided. She stretched and took a moment to reorient herself, then decided it was time to freshen up and shake off the remnants of sleep. She wanted to make the most of her remaining free time before the annual packs' meeting.She dressed up in a casual chiffon dress, applied a little makeup, grabbed her bag and left her room, moving quietly through the house. She tried her best to avoid any lingering annoying family members, not wanting to risk another confrontation or forced interaction, or even an insult regarding her choice not to get pregnant. As she stepped outside, the cool afternoon air greeted her. Smelt like summer was just
The girl jumped, her face paling as she stammered an apology and quickly scurried away. Ana watched her go, irritation still simmering. She put in her key, twisted until she heard a click and then shd pushed the door open, entering her sanctuary. She took a moment to breathe, willing herself to calm down. The last thing she needed was to let anyone down there see her rattled.She freshened up quickly, splashing cold water on her face and running a brush through her hair. She changed into something more presentable, even though the effort felt wasted. These breakfasts were always the same—forced smiles and shallow conversations, or just them plainly trying to piss her off Descending the stairs. Damon was seated at the head of the table, with Catherine by the left, there was someone else by the right and he gestured the lady to move when he saw me approaching.Well, let's just not start on the part where he just acted nice and weird, like he's been doing lately.Victor, predictably, wa
The next morning, Ana lounged in the living room, munching on popcorn while Zara massaged her feet. She watched as Catherine, always the attention-seeker, prepared an extravagant breakfast. As usual, Catherine had invited almost the entire Pierce family for a feast without bothering to inform anyone beforehand. It was such a Catherine thing to do—spontaneous, inconsiderate, and utterly exhausting for everyone else involved.The kitchen was a chaotic mess of clattering pots and pans, the smell of cooking food thick in the air. Selene and the other maids bustled around, trying to keep up with her relentless pace. Ana watched them with detached amusement, knowing full well that any call for help from Catherine would be met with thinly veiled disdain.Catherine, in her own world, directed the maids with sharp commands, her voice carrying over the noise. Ana knew better than to engage. She had learned long ago that nothing she did would ever be good enough for Catherine, and she had stoppe
In the dimly lit warehouse, the men lounged around, a sense of nonchalance hanging in the air. The men were taking a break from their gruesome duties, their faces reflecting a mix of boredom and tiredness and maybe a bit sleepines. The smell of sweat, smoke, and faint hints of blood filled the room."Hey, you got another one of those?" one of the men asked, nodding toward a cigarette as he sprawled on a worn-out couch."Sure," another replied, tossing him a pack. "We're gonna need something stronger if we have to go back to work soon.""Tell me about it," the first man muttered, lighting his cigarette and taking a deep drag. He exhaled slowly, the smoke curling up towards the ceiling. "I’m tired of babysitting that old woman. shouldn't we just clear her. I wonder why she's here.""Seriously man, but orders are orders," the second man shrugged, leaning back and closing his eyes. "Besides, we’ve got that other guy to keep things interesting."In the corner of the warehouse, their other
Ana woke up early the next morning, the soft morning light filtering through her bedroom window, she was driven home last night after dinner by Jules under Victor's order since he refused to let her hail a taxi. She stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Today was the day she would prepare for the annual packs' meeting, an event that required her to be both presentable and versatile. The meeting was a significant occasion, filled with formal discussions and various activities, and she needed to look her best, but to beat the gossips and also build her confidence.As she dressed after freshening up, her thoughts turned to her wardrobe. Many of her clothes seemed dull and uninspired, and so was the ones she bought earlier for the meeting. She decided it was time to update her collection. Grabbing her phone, she made a quick list of the essentials she needed: a few new dresses, some casual outfits, and accessories to match. She also noted that she might need a couple of versatile
Lucas stood up, pondering her words. He exchanged a glance with the leader of the men, who gave a slight nod."You did the right thing by telling us, Maria," Lucas said. "We'll make sure your grandchildren are safe. But you need to understand that if I find out you lied, your grandkids wouldn't be safe in my hands either"She nodded vehemently, tears streaming down her face. "I swear, everything I just told you is the truth. Please, just protect them. They’re all I have left."He gave her a small, almost pitying smile, that to a normal eye would look a bit forced. "Very well then. We'll do our best. Remember, Maria, trust is a fragile thing. Don't give us a reason to break it.""I promise, I'm not lying"As they left her alone in the warehouse, her heart sank into a deep pit of despair, her mind racing with thoughts of her grandchildren. Outside, Lucas walked briskly to his car, which was parked just outside the warehouse. He climbed into the driver's seat, leaving the door open for a