Cameron lounged on the chair casually reaching for an apple from the table. "Hey, guys," he greeted, lifting the fruit toward his mouth.Just as he was about to take a bite, Jasmine blurted out. "That apple is poisonous."Cameron froze, the apple hovering near his lips. His eyes narrowed at her.Jasmine burst into laughter. "Relax, I'm just joking."With an unimpressed look, Cameron took a deliberate bite, chewing slowly as the others chuckled."So, Cameron," Dominic said, leaning back in his chair, "how's Regina?""Who's Regina?" Margaret asked, curious.Elena shot Cameron a teasing glance. "Oh, Regina is Cameron's new girl in town."They broke into laughter.Cameron groaned, rolling the apple between his palms. "No, Regina is a lone wolf I saved. . .""A saviour now, are we?" Jasmine quipped, arching a brow.Cameron shot her a deadpan glare but continued. "Two men were after her, so I stepped in. Took her home, calmed her down, made sure she ate. . .""Dried pizza?" Sean interrupted
Cameron stepped into his apartment, immediately greeted by the warm, buttery scent of pancakes sizzling on the stove. His stomach rumbled in appreciation as he followed the enticing smell to the kitchen, where he found Regina standing by the stove, her back to him as she flipped the golden-brown pancakes, their edges crisping to perfection.She turned when she heard him. "Good morning," she greeted with a soft smile."Morning," he replied, sliding onto a stool at the kitchen island."I hope I'm not overstepping by making breakfast...""Not at all. Treat this place like home," Cameron replied. She nodded, plating up a serving and sliding it in front of him. "I hope you're not allergic to anything."Cameron glanced at the food: fluffy pancakes with butter and syrup, eggs, and crispy bacon. Then he picked up his fork, inhaling the mouthwatering scent. "Nothing on this plate," he assured her. "And it smells amazing."Regina's smile widened. "Glad to hear that." As she sat down across fr
Regina and Cameron sat together on the sofa as she flipped through his old photo album, her fingers trailing over pictures from his teenage years. Then she stopped, her eyes fixed on a particular image—Cameron in his werewolf form."When did you find out you were a werewolf?" she asked, glancing up at him."It’s a little embarrassing. I’m not telling you that."Regina tilted her head, lips curling into a playful pout. "Come on, you have to tell me."Cameron leaned back, a distant look crossing his face. "Okay... When I was ten. It was terrifying at first, confusing. My body felt like it was betraying me, twisting into something unnatural. I had no idea what was happening to me. But my parents explained everything, helped me understand it... It took time, but eventually, I learned to accept it... control it. That's all I'm telling you."Regina shot him a pointed look, then turned back to the photo. "Where are they now?"A small smile tugged at his lips. "Wandering the world. Living li
Freya and Dominic walked side by side, warm coffee cups in hand, as they strolled down the quiet street. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of fresh pastries from a nearby bakery."I still can't believe you used to live here before, and yet, I never knew you," Dominic mused, taking a sip of his coffee."Maybe because you were always my senior."Dominic chuckled. "That's true."She took a sip of her own coffee. "It feels good to be back. Life here is simpler than in the city. I love working at the bar, and now I get to start my cake business. In the city, I wouldn't have a chance, too much competition. But here..." She glanced around at the familiar streets. "Here, there's opportunity.""So what you're saying is, there are more opportunities here than in the city?" Dominic asked."Exactly," Freya said as they arrived at her grandfather's apartment.Dominic slowed his steps, glancing at the old building. "Last time I brought you here, I had to save you from that deranged man."Freya
Elena rushed into the apartment, her heart pounding with worry. Something felt off. She hurried upstairs, her anxiety rising as she pushed open the bedroom door, only to find Dominic fast asleep on the bed.That’s strange. He was supposed to be at the library.She walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle shake. "Dominic… Dominic… Dominic… Nico."His eyes snapped open, wild and unfocused. He sat up abruptly, glancing around in confusion. "What… what am I doing here?""That’s exactly what I was going to ask. You were supposed to be at the library."Dominic blinked a few times, rubbing his face before dragging a hand through his hair, as though trying to piece things together. "I was at the library. I remember seeing Freya…""Freya?"He nodded slowly. "Yeah. We decided to grab coffee. I couldn’t exactly tell her why I was there… but after that, it’s a blur." His expression darkened as he frowned, shaking his head as if trying to recall. "I remember us talking a
Dominic popped open the car boot and grabbed the grocery bags. He shut it with a quiet thud before turning to Cameron. "So, how's it going with Regina?"Cameron grinned, adjusting his jacket. "Great, actually. Thinking of asking her to be my girlfriend."As they reached the foyer, Dominic slid his key into the lock and pushed the door open. "You sure that's a good idea? Maybe you should find out who she really is first."Cameron stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him. "I don't think there's anything to worry about."Dominic hummed in response but said nothing more as he walked to the kitchen. He stepped inside and halted when he saw Elena and Freya.Elena stood by the counter, watching as Freya carefully pulled a tray of cupcakes from the oven, the rich scent of vanilla and caramelized sugar filling the air.Dominic set the grocery bags on the island before wrapping his arms around Elena’s waist, pressing a sweet, tender kiss to her lips.Freya, pretending not to notice, re
Elena paced the bedroom, gripping her phone tightly. "How could you, Mother? I told you—I don’t want to be with Joseph! Don’t you see I’m in a relationship?"On the other end of the line, Athena’s voice was smooth, almost dismissive. "Listen, darling, the man only wants to make you happy. Why are you being so mean?""Mean? You think I’m being mean? The next time he crosses my boundaries, he’ll find out what mean really is, because the only man I want is Dominic."Without waiting for a response, she ended the call and set the phone down on the nightstand.Athena’s persistence baffled her. Why was her mother so determined to end her relationship with Dominic—the man she had chosen, the man she loved? The thought of a life without him was unimaginable.Elena took a steadying breath and strode downstairs.Margaret met her at the bottom, concern etched across her face. "I’m so sorry," she murmured, pulling Elena into a tight hug.For a moment, Elena softened, resting her chin on Margaret’s
Freya arrived home and shut the door behind her with a quiet click. The familiar embrace of home surrounded her, carrying the comforting scent of her grandfather's old books and freshly brewed tea."Gramps?" she called, slipping off her shoes."In the kitchen," came his reply.She made her way inside and found her grandfather at the wooden table, a newspaper spread open in his hands. The soft glow of the kitchen light cast gentle shadows over his weathered face, a cup of freshly brewed tea sitting in front of him."So, how was your day?" he asked, peering at her over his reading glasses, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.Freya let out a breath and sank into the chair across from him. "Great. Really great. Everyone was welcoming, and I baked at least a hundred cupcakes today." She grinned, stretching her arms dramatically. "Pretty sure I have flour permanently embedded in my skin."Jeffery chuckled, setting the newspaper aside. "Sounds like you had a productive day and made yourself
Dominic entered the apartment, each step echoing in the silence. It was too quiet, too still. There was no sound of her voice calling from the kitchen, or laughter, just a heavy, suffocating silence.He moved to the dining room, where her presence lingered like perfume, clinging to every surface. He sat down, eyes fixed on nothing until he saw her.She walked toward him, radiant and smiling, a plate in her hands. "I just created a recipe," she said, that familiar light in her eyes. "Can you taste it for me?"He reached for her, but his fingers met only air.His heart dropped as he stood quickly, breath tight in his chest, and moved to the living room. And he saw them.They were wrapped in each other in the glow of the fireplace. Firelight danced across their bare skin, her laughter ringing like music through the room. Their love burned as fiercely as the flames. He moved within her as she arched beneath him, completely lost in each other.He smiled softly, painfully, until it faded a
Dominic stepped into the clearing, the soft rustle of leaves beneath his boots the only sound. The air smelled of memory—earth, pine, and the faintest trace of something old. He stood at the edge of the forest clearing, the place he and Regina—Sasha—had once called their secret spot, where they used to meet long before everything changed. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying memories that felt both distant and close.He turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Regina stood there, her expression unreadable.“You’re angry because I couldn’t love you the way you wanted,” Dominic said, his voice low but steady. “And I can’t change that, no matter how much I wish I could. But what we had—what we were—was real. I wasn’t blind to how you felt back then. I just thought… I hoped time would heal it. I never imagined it would twist into this.”Regina didn’t speak. She only stared at him, her eyes flickering with emotions dancing just behind the coldness.Dominic walked toward her,
Two men dragged a bound, struggling woman down a cold, dimly lit stone hallway. Her face was concealed beneath a coarse black sack, and her wrists were shackled in silver-laced chains that clinked with every step. When they reached the centre of the chamber, they shoved her forward. She hit the ground hard, falling to her knees, breath ragged beneath the cloth.“Well, well…” a man drawled, dressed too neatly for someone so casual, his voice smooth and mocking—like velvet laced with venom. “Look what we have here. My future mistress.” He gestured lazily. “Take that ridiculous thing off her.”One of the guards yanked the sack away. Elena blinked rapidly against the sudden light, her face pale—her mouth was gone, just smooth skin where her lips should have been. Slowly and painfully, it began to reform, the skin shifting unnaturally. Her golden eyes flared with fury.“Ah, there she is,” the man purred, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. “Our little guest of honour. Still got some fight in
Dominic sat hunched at the bar, nursing a half-empty glass of beer cradled in his hand. The amber liquid shimmered in the dim light, but his eyes were distant, lost in thought, unfocused.Freya stepped behind the counter, her apron slung over one shoulder, ready to start her shift. She spotted him immediately—alone, shoulders heavy, haunted—and quietly made her way over."Hey..." she said softly.Dominic glanced up, his voice flat. "Starting your shift?""Yeah," she replied with a small smile. "Thanks for asking."As she leaned on the bar across from him, a weight settled in her chest. His silence was loud, thick with pain. The kind you didn't need to name to feel. She could feel the weight of his sadness like a fog pressing down around him."Dominic," she said gently.He looked at her, eyes tired. "Do you need something, Freya?" His voice was rough, like he hadn't spoken to anyone all day.She shook her head. "No. I just... wanted to say something."He raised an eyebrow, waiting.She
Dominic picked up the bracelet, letting the frayed threads run between his fingers. He turned it over in his hand, brows furrowing, eyes narrowing as a memory tugged at him.“This was mine,” he murmured. “But I gave it to…” His voice trailed off, his mind sifting through the haze of distant days. “Sasha. I gave it to a friend—Sasha. She’s dead. How did you get this?”Regina’s voice trembled as she wiped away the tears threatening to fall. “Because you gave it to me. I am Sasha, Nico.”He took a step back. “That’s impossible. You want me to believe that? Sasha is dead.”“The poems and stories we read in the forest,” Regina said softly. “The stories we made up beneath the pine trees. The restaurant you took me to, the raw meat you snuck to my people. The playground where you taught me how to swing, remember?”He said nothing, the silence swelling between them.“If you need more proof…” She took a breath. “The song. The one I taught you. The one my mother sang to me every night... Close
"Elena, if it were just a kiss with my dad, maybe I could find a way to let it go—he’s always been a shameless flirt, I know that," Jasmine said, folding her arms. "But we’re talking about Dominic’s father. You know how complicated their relationship was—love and hate all tangled together.""I know," Elena said. "It happened so long ago, and I’ve regretted it ever since. I don’t even know what came over me. I used to get anxious just thinking about it. I’ve wished a thousand times I could erase that moment."Margaret wrapped her arms around her. "It’s going to be alright. Dominic just needs time. When he’s ready to talk, I believe he’ll listen. And maybe… forgive.""But who would do this to you, Elena? Who would dig up that memory now and make sure Dominic saw it?" Jasmine asked. "Was it Athena?""No," Elena said firmly, shaking her head. "It’s not Athena. For all her flaws, she loved Cerdrick. She’d be just as heartbroken as Dominic if she knew. She wouldn’t use this against me. No…
Freya slipped into the university library and made her way to the myths section, heading straight for the shelves on werewolves. Her fingers brushed over the spines of old books until a few caught her attention. Cradling them in her arms, she headed toward her newfound usual hiding spot—tucked behind the farthest shelf, past dusty encyclopedias no one ever touched.A small smile played on her lips as she turned the corner.The familiar carpet was still there, along with the worn pillows she’d stashed weeks ago. Untouched. Undisturbed. This hidden nook had become her private sanctuary.She dropped her bag quietly and sat cross-legged on the carpet, exhaling slowly. Here, she could breathe. Learn. Be herself—even if no one else knew who she truly was. It was a place to explore her identity in peace. She had learned a lot, and her Gramps had taught her even more.Lately, she’d been reading about a ritual—something her father had done to hide her real identity. She wondered why. Was she m
The memory plate trembled violently in Elena’s hands, pulsing with a force that felt almost alive. She gritted her teeth, clutching it tighter, trying to keep it hidden behind her back. It vibrated with a strange energy, tugging at her fingers like it had a will of its own—no, not a will. A purpose.It was meant for Dominic. And deep down, she knew it. Knew it with every ounce of dread pooling in her stomach.Still, she could stall. She had to.“Nothing,” Elena said a little too brightly, forcing a grin as she stepped toward him. “Dominic, I love you. More than anyone in this world. You know you’re the only man I’ve ever truly been with… right?”“What’s going on?” He asked.The memory plate gave a final, violent pull and tore free from Elena’s grasp, glowing silver as it zipped through the air and landed in Dominic’s waiting hand."Elena…” he said slowly, eyes narrowing. “What’s this doing here?”She opened her mouth, but he didn’t need to wait for an answer.The memory unfurled in gl
Jasmine and Margaret were nestled under the soft blankets of the guest room bed, wearing the cozy cotton pajamas Elena had lent them—matching, oversized, and undeniably comfortable. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Margaret said with a small laugh, staring up at the ceiling. “I know, right?” Jasmine laughed, fluffing a pillow behind her head. “But seriously, have you ever wondered why Elena and Dominic live in this modest apartment when they grew up in literal mansions? I mean, Elena has Athena’s legacy, and Dominic basically inherited generations of wealth from his ancestors." Margaret chuckled softly. “I think that’s the point. Dominic’s always been about the simple life. That’s why, after Cedrick died, he left the castle behind like it meant nothing and came here. Honestly, I think it’s kind of admirable.” The bedroom door eased open, and Elena slipped inside, her bunny pajamas swaying as she climbed onto the bed with a wide grin. “So… what exactly are we doing tonig