I felt myself being gently placed on the bed, the mattress soft beneath me. Someone draped a warm quilt over my body, cocooning me in its comforting embrace. A soft, short cold sensation brushed against my forehead, making me shiver slightly before I drifted back into sleep. I gathered a few things for the short journey ahead the next day. Winter boots, thick clothing, my trusty winter coats, my medicine bag and some other essentials. I made sure to pack lotions, the new tampons I had bought earlier, a heat pad, and a few nightwear sets. I knew I might need to stay a couple of days, so I packed enough essentials to last me three or four days.I was heading to visit my mother and planned to stay at my Grandma's half-abandoned house. I stuffed some toiletries, makeup, and extra lotions into another bag, along with a few more changes of clothes. It took some effort to double press the bag closed. I glanced around the room, trying to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything, when the
I twirled the roses in my hands, watching as the once gold colored majestic cemetery gate stood weathered and worn, almost falling apart from years of neglect.Roses. She had always loved them. Her garden used to be filled with hundreds of flowers, but roses dominated the landscape. She was obsessed with them, to the point where my grandmother had to tiptoe around her just to avoid disturbing them.Why? Well, It was a family thing, passed down from my grandmother. She, too, had been obsessed with roses. Her secret drawing room was filled with paintings of them, a testament to her love for the vibrant flower. She was even more obsessed than my mother.When she was young, her own mother hadn't allowed her to have a garden because of the limited space in their yard. So, she had saved up her money and bought roses instead. I couldn't help but find it amusing. One day, she had spent an entire afternoon in the flower shop, helping the florist clean up in exchange for a single floribunda ro
The walk back to my grandma's house felt longer than I expected, especially with the scorching sun beating down on me. It was odd to have such hot weather in the middle of winter, but I guess that's just how had came to be around here. The sun blazed overhead, casting harsh shadows on the dusty road as I trudged along, each step feeling heavier than the other.Halfway there, I decided to stop at a quaint little tea shop to take a break and quench my thirst. The weather wasn't doing me any favors, and I regretted not bringing an umbrella. It felt like my mother's way of punishing me for all the bad decisions I've made. The heat seemed to seep into my bones, making me feel more exhausted than I had ever felt before.As I stepped inside, the cool air hit me like a wave, offering a momentary relief from how hot and tired I felt. I found a table near the window and settled in.This part of the pack is pretty nameless, we just call it the outskirt. The wolves and pups here hardly ever see t
As I approached the familiar beige building with its black heavy door and roof, it felt like I had never left. Everything looked exactly the same as when I had left it, like I had been here just yesterday. The memories flooded back, the feelings was to familiar.There was no gate to the property, just my mother's neglected rose garden, the once vibrant rosy colors now withered and forgotten. As I got closer, I could hear the sound of chatter and laughter drifting from inside. It seemed they were all there, both my father and his woman, along with their children, both the one birthed out of wedlock and the complete biological. Happy family, I supposed, this was one of those feelings that made me feel not-strangely disconnected from them, like I was an outsider looking in.I've felt that way for years, both before and after my mother's death, it was a familiar sensation. Something I didn't want. One of the kitchen windows was facing me, so it wasn't surprising when I saw a figure from
VictorThey walked back out of the kitchen, Avery with a cup of water, not any drink not even sparkling water, just plain water and handed it to me like I came crying that I was on the verge of collapsing from the thirst. The pumpkins on the dining table had been cleared and Kane and Avery directed me to it. “So Ana, what brought you by. I thought you said you'd never come back here”See, she's a total bitch.I dropped the water on the table. “Oh I only came to see my mother, dropped a couple of roses and bumped into Elise on my way back. She literally forced me to come here” I saidLouisa was still staring at me, still wondering who I was. So she asked, her hands folded under her breast.“Daddy, who's she?” Her tone was hostile.Kane looked at her and drew a chair out to sit. “Um...” He rubbed his beard. “She is you sister, Anastasia and also the Luna”Her eyes went wide at the last part but the moment her eyes met mine she scoffed and faced Kane. “If she's the Luna then why didn't
The snowflakes started falling, and Jules had to drive slower to avoid any accidents as we entered the woods. It got colder, and even with the heater on, I could feel the chill seeping in through the windows so I had to roll up the windowAs we delved deeper into the woods, the temperature dropped further. I couldn't tell if it was because of the woods themselves or just the winter weather. Maybe it was both.When we finally reached the house, the tires made a soft sound as the car stopped in front of the building. The porch light was the only source of light, casting a glow around us. I turned to Jules and asked if he wanted to stay or go back to his hotel. I expected him to decline, but he surprised me by saying he'd stay in the car, even though it was freezing.He insisted he could guard and rest in the car, and if he got too cold, he'd come inside. It seemed like a strange choice, but I didn't argue. Instead, I suggested he at least come in to grab a blanket. He agreed this time,
So you'd think that something that smelled so delicious would be a colorful and an amazing kind of food to eat.Yeah, I thought so too. Until I was served a colorful soup for cold and rice, plain white rice.“It's something my mother used to make for us when we were little,” he explained as he dropped another bowl of our late-night soup slash dinner on the table.“Us?” I wondered aloud.“My brothers and I,” he replied and sat.I've never heard of his brothers, but I didn't push it, same as the reason he was here and why he has been ignoring me. I didn't want to ruin the lovely mood in the air by asking questions that could backfire if I or he said the wrong sentence or word.After we finished eating, Victor cleared the table and washed the dishes, humming softly to himself as he worked. I watched him from the kitchen doorway, feeling a blanket of peace wash over me.As he dried his hands on a towel, he turned to me with a smile. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?” He asked.I
What started out as a slow, sensational kiss in the living room, ended up as a fast, hot and nerve wrecking kiss in the other bedroom, that left my lips numb and bloody. And his too.But who cares. Absolutely no one. He pulled away, licking the blood on his lips. “Are you sure about this?” He asked like he didn't want it as much as I did.Absolute Bullshit.“Would you rather jerk off in the shower?” I asked the obvious. He nodded, grinning as he sat on the bed with his legs down, and apart. “Undress”Huh?Like he read my thoughts, he repeated his question. Slowly this time. “Un-dress”Foreplay, huh?I giggled as I gripped the hem of my shirt with an intention of pulling it over even though it has like only four buttons that were easier to unbutton.“Slowly” He told me.I did as I'm told to do, removing the shirt as slowly as I could, the heat of his stare on me and he watched as I pulled the shirt off and tossed to somewhere we both didn't know. The hunger in his eyes made me throb.
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