VENITA:I carefully treaded through the house, my heart pounding so loudly it felt like it might escape my chest. The serendipitous emptiness of the house was in my favor, and with Sasha playing outside, my mission was shrouded in secrecy. I needed to find Landon, and I was willing to take the risk to get what I wanted.The inexplicable pull in my chest led me to Landon's office. I stood at the door, ready to knock and confront him with my intentions, when I overheard a conversation that made me pause. It was Landon's voice, and I felt my heart sink as I listened."I can't be there tonight. Keep my side of the bed warm. Don't miss me too much," he said.My world crumbled, and I ran to find a hiding spot, seeking refuge in the kitchen. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn't help but question my actions. Rosalie had been right all along. What had possessed me to doll myself up, trying to seduce a man who hadn't shown an ounce of interest in me? He had reiterated countless times that
LANDON:I was certain that it was Sasha who had slashed the other boy. It was a clear sign that we needed to make some changes for her. Enrolling her in a different school, one that could accommodate shifters, seemed like the best solution. She needed proper training on how to control her emotions, her insatiable hunger, and her burgeoning strength. The incident with the boy could have escalated to something far worse. To top it off, we couldn't risk the news of her true nature getting out. I had orchestrated the scenario at the school, manipulating it to our advantage. The school had issued an apology to Sasha, shifting the attention away from her involvement and blaming it on a possible animal attack. It was a risky move, but one that I hoped would divert any prying eyes. Furthermore, I had tasked Cross to ensure that any evidence or records related to the incident would be carefully erased. I needed to ensure Sasha's safety and the safety of others around her. This was just the be
VENITA:Since I would be away for a few days, I asked Simeon to take care of Sasha. She kindly agreed, and I began packing some of Sasha's belongings. After work that day, I took her over to Simeon's place.Speaking of that fateful Tuesday at work, it was nothing short of awful. As soon as I stepped foot into the Crescent Corporation building, I became the center of attention. Whispers and hushed conversations followed me everywhere I went, and I could feel the weight of curious and judgmental eyes on me.As I walked through the office, a group of girls I passed by couldn't help themselves. They pointed in my direction, their voices carrying their conversation to my ears. "Yeah, right. She's the one that Rosalie fired on her first day here."The day had barely started, but I was already yearning for it to be over. The constant stares and hushed discussions were making me uncomfortable, and I wished for a way to make them stop. It was apparent that I was going to have a reputation as t
VENITA:Brighton promptly steered the car through the bustling streets of Nashville, taking me to the private hangar where a sleek jet was fueled and ready for takeoff. Jason greeted me on the tarmac, but there was no sign of Landon, which, in all honesty, was probably a good thing. After what had transpired between us, I wasn't sure I could keep from blushing when we came face to face, so I resorted to avoiding him as best as I could.The Crescent corporate jet matched the extravagance of its owner. Pristine white on the outside with the gray Crescent Cooperation logo on the tail and the name "Kurt" emblazoned in bold letters; the interior was adorned with expensive leathers and exotic woods. Eight passenger seats were arranged in sets of two facing each other, with a small table between them. I buckled in across from Jason for the fourteen hours to Shanghai. Chase Timothy occupied the seat across from Zenith, and Miranda settled into the seat directly behind Peter. It occurred to me
VENITA:The flight attendant, an exquisite sandy-brown-haired beauty who seemed straight out of a magazine, placed a hand on Jason's shoulder and assured him of her excellent service. I couldn't help but notice the predatory look in his eyes as he accepted her gesture. He clearly wasn't pleased with the attention, but to be honest, I was relieved. The last thing I wanted was any kind of closeness with Jason, as I sensed trouble brewing around him.The atmosphere in the cabin was tense, and it felt like all eyes were on me. Zenith and Chase sported matching frowns, disapproving of the situation. If Miranda's eyes could shoot laser beams, I'm pretty sure they would have already burned through my forehead. On the other hand, Peter and Edwin were the only ones who didn't seem particularly bothered by the situation. Edwin had dozed off, seeking solace in sleep, while Peter was engrossed in the pages of a fashion magazine. I was inclined to think, "To hell with those judgmental eyes." I had
LANDON:The presence of Jason had always agitated my wolf, and it couldn't be more obvious. My wolf despised him just as I did. His audacity to be at ease around Venita was infuriating. He should be on edge, not comfortably near her.I observed Venita closely as she nervously moistened her lips. She was well aware that all eyes, including mine, were fixated on her. I could practically sense the internal struggle within her, torn between telling me what I wanted to hear and voicing her genuine thoughts. Venita wasn't one to be easily swayed, and I anticipated that she would speak her mind.Amidst this inner conflict, my mind wandered into more illicit territory. I imagined her in fiery red lingerie, her body pressed against various surfaces on the private jet, consumed by a fervent desire to make her mine. Thoughts of the cockpit being the perfect setting to claim her, her legs spread wide, her breasts on display, filled my imagination.Her abrupt throat clearing drew my attention back
VENITA:The tiny bathroom of the jet felt claustrophobic as I locked myself inside, desperate to escape the judgmental stares and whispers of my colleagues. The disapproving glances felt like daggers, each one piercing my skin as if they were trying to tear me apart.I could almost picture their hands morphing into grotesque claws, ready to rip my flesh apart with every step I took. The anxiety building within me was unbearable, and I needed a way out, even if it was just for a few moments.The faucet beckoned me with its soothing sound of running water. I turned it on, and the noise became a comforting white noise, drowning out the world beyond the bathroom door. I was hoping the sound would keep my cries muffled, so they wouldn't echo beyond these walls.The memories and thoughts that had triggered this panic attack haunted me. The pain from their judgment had transported me back to a time when I was truly alone, facing my darkest fears.I couldn't bear the thought of coming out of
VENITA:I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, my hands trembling as I tried to regain composure. The ordeal I had just been through had left me emotionally drained, and I desperately needed to pull myself together. I examined my reflection closely, attempting to fix my disheveled appearance.My satin green top, once pristine, was now damp with tears. My eyes were red and swollen, an unacceptable look that betrayed the composed image I was expected to present. I was a mess.As I wiped away the remnants of my breakdown, I suddenly heard buzzes that sounded like a light bulb malfunctioning and then low whispers followed. It was so close as if I sat in the midst of those murmuring. Landon's voice was the next thing I heard and it was clear as if he was outside the bathroom. Jason wanted to come after me but Landon sounded strangely nonchalant, which left me baffled. Did he hold some deep-seated grudge against me? Was that the reason for his apparent indifference to my distress?What pu
VENITA:Things with Landon have been...different. Although having him back changed a lot of things, for one, Sasha starting to talk again, he zoned off most of the time. Each time he was in that state and I found him, he quickly recollected himself. As much as I would love more vacation days, Landon didn't allow that. He went back to work after beating the crap out of Jason and handing him over to the cops. Landon, as always didn't let any of his betrayers go free. He rounded them up and imprisoned them while he thought of a suitable punishment. Surprisingly, he submitted himself to his pack. More like asking for forgiveness. Something Landon Kurt hardly did. It felt great seeing this side of him. He was more level-headed. I guess that was what happens when you have a near-death experience.Here he was dragging me to an unknown location. It was so beautiful to have him back."Just tell me where we are headed. This blindfold is killing me," I nagged."We're here," he announced almost
LANDON:"Wow," I exclaimed as I made another mark on the glass, making know that I had been here for exactly ninety-one days. I have run out of everything and even hibernating wouldn't help. I threw a disgusted glance over what had served me for the last ninety-one days. Nothing was left of it except bones which were beginning to dry up.When I went back to the building, Dr. Grant had lazily gotten up, dragging me to the box that held Venita. He shut it before I could fight him off and the next thing I saw was a shockwave bringing everything down and burying us in the ground. Apparently, the box had been designed also to withstand such a blast, and around the building had a ticking bomb and a manual controller which the sicko head had activated."Of there's no evidence, then, they won't have a case," he coughed out before smiling. "My work is done. Now, I can die in peace. However, more of us will stand up in generations to come to fight against your kind. Our story would be told," he
VENITA:Before I left for my appointment with Jason, I headed to Landon's to check on things. Yes, Lanson's house. I took a few of our things and moved back there since it gave me a sense of security. With the situation, Sasha was in no shape to go back to school so, she only had her therapist and Cross training her. Cross strengthened security as he wouldn't take chances having almost died."She still hasn't said anything?" I asked Cross. Mr. Grumpy was more kind and interactive with me after he woke up from a two-day coma."She hasn't. Should we get a speech specialist to make sure they didn't do anything to her vocal cords back at that crazy lab?" He was sweaty, panting, having just come out from their last session which lasted an hour.Running my hand through my hair, "I think it's more of a psychological damage than physical because she spoke to me when we came out of the lab. She only stopped speaking once she was taken to the hospital," I explained."Let's give it time. The who
VENITA:Three months after...It has been exactly three months since we got rescued. Three months of grief and loneliness. Three months of having to stay strong not knowing if Landon was out there somewhere. I pray he was. My heart shattered every time I thought about him. My nights were terrible whenever memories of the blast came wrapping arms around me.I stepped up in so many things despite my loss. As the doctors said, my pup couldn't be saved. For the first month, all I did was lie down and cry. I refused to eat or even entertain communication of any sort. I pushed my limits, forcing Leah to search in every corner within me if my pup was still there. She always apologized that it wasn't. I lost my pup and then Landon. Things would never be the same.Since I was wheeled to the emergency room and all attempts to save my pup failed, Sasha has refused to speak. She was assigned to a therapist whom she wouldn't say a word to. I kept in touch with Peter and the companies, he was the a
VENITA:Barely able to get off the floor and into the car to drive off despite my lightheadedness, the building that my mate had run back into went up in flames.Boom! was the shattering sound that pierced my ear and sent our car off balance. I couldn't comprehend what had happened. The whole building came down. There was no way anything could come out of that place.I held Sasha by the waist as she cried out, "Daddy!" unbuckling her seatbelt, in an attempt to run out of the car. We had somehow ended up close to a massive gate. Despite the explosion that shook the entire place, we were now facing uncountable angry-looking masked men taking powerful strides toward us.This was finally the end for us. Cross was out and Sasha couldn't take on those countless guys for sure. As for myself, I was in no shape to help in any way. If only a miracle could save us.The world erupted in chaos as the deafening sound of another blast echoed through the air. Sasha, Cross, and I were still confined
LANDON:Even though we were lost in battle, Sean was, for the first time making plans about my future. It was funny because it didn't care whether I would survive this moment to fulfill that expectation. All it wanted was clarity of the path ahead."Sean shut the fuck up and stop whining in my head. I need to concentrate. You're not even helping as I'm fighting with my human strength. So, please, zip it!" I scolded, punching another guy in his stomach."Don't shush me. If I hadn't answered you, you wouldn't even have seen the human strength to fight with. So, be grateful to me," he retorted.Meanwhile, Sasha was leading the frontline of battle. She was fierce and intimidating. She hadn't fully transformed and still exacted such power. If she fully transforms, she was going to be a war goddess. Yet, I knew that I was going to get her all the help that she needed. There was no way I was going to make my baby comfortable with this life of chaos. She was a princess and her mother, a Queen
VENITA:The scorching pain by the side of my stomach was unbearable. I had no clue what had been done to me. Oh, my baby. My pup. Forgive me for being such a weakling. I couldn't muster the strength to save any of us.While I battled with my thoughts, an unsuspecting commotion broke out. "Sasha!" I called out. My daughter had been injected with something. If the substance was making Dr. Grant panic, I had every reason to be beyond worried.In seconds, Landon had snapped the rest of his binds with his already-freed hand. He crouched, carrying Sasha in his hands. I saw his mouth moving but couldn't hear him. The box was soundproof. His expression went pale and I saw his veins pulsing from anger.Before Thronesman could say another word, Landon dropped Sasha onto the floor choking Thronesman. He began to punch him uncontrollably on his torso before throwing him at the group of doctors, shivering in a corner.Grant shot me a displeased look, dropping everything he was doing to step out
LANDON:Seeing your whole world in boxes, reduced to nothing kills a part of you. Despite constantly falling unconscious because of what was being done to me, I reached deep within me to a place of darkness to keep me awake. When I looked around, I growled so loud that the doctor who had been injecting something into me cowered in fear. "You love the beautiful sight, don't you?" Thronesman's annoying voice rang in my ears, causing me to glare at him. I scratched and clawed toward his direction but the binds kept me in place.My mate and daughter were being tortured in my presence along with my pup who I wasn't sure was still okay yet, I couldn't lift a finger. Was this really the end for me? I always thought my death would have witnessed a happier ending compared to this sad and condescending one."Don't worry, I'm not a monster to hurt a child. Moreover, we need her more than we need you two," Thronesman informed me. The was a clicking sound and Sasha bonded on a crucifix with barbe
VENITA:When I woke up, my head felt heavy and my throat felt dry. Trying to open my eyes, the light blinded me and I winced in discomfort. The room smelled like chemicals and I couldn't even move myself. Blinking hard, I started to feel my body once more. There were beeping machines and a hand on my body like something was being drawn on it.I heard a grunt almost directly above me as someone freed one of my wrists to use a hand to tightly grip my hair. I winced from the sudden pain and reached to try and pry the hand away when another hand grabbed my wrist and held it against the bed. “I’m almost done,” a low, rapturous voice said. “What’s going on?” I asked suddenly feeling a steady, constant pressure against my stomach. The hand that was burrowed into a fist of my hair tightened. A few more thrusts followed, and then the sound of a disappointed, loud moan, punctuated by something warm started to run down the side of my stomach. The hands released my hair and wrist, and I quickly s