PHILIP'S POV With Lizzie's admission igniting a tempest of volatile emotions within me, I rushed outside of the room, her words echoing in my thoughts. I moved on because I was driven by anger, abandonment, and a pressing desire for closure. I had to act; I was unable to cover to wait around for the Alpha in me to request it.I could hear my footsteps echoing down the hallway on my way to Catherine's room. Tension crackled in the air, and I could feel its weight hanging over me. Rain pelted the windows, a chaotic rhythm to my deliberate steps, the thunderstorm outside reflecting the maelstrom inside.I arrived at Catherine's door without bothering to knock as is customary. I was burning with the Alpha's rage, and I swung the door open. It opened, revealing a scene that was as vivid as a tableau of disharmony.Catherine was sitting on the bed with a vulnerable air around her. Her eyes, which were normally consoling, suddenly held a mixture of fear and sadness. Rose appeared in front o
CATHERINE'S POV Philip rushed out of that space with a rage that seemed to destroy the very basis of our connected past, and I felt the amount of that terrible stillness weighing down upon me. The door shut, enclosing me in a prison that reflected the chaos inside.I collapsed into my bed because the sleeping surface felt strange under my body as though the room had changed into a strange world. Rose's eyes mirrored the same doubt that was plaguing my mind right now, so having her brought little comfort.I tried hard not to cry as tears started to fill up in my eyes. What had once been a refuge began to seem like a jail. I never thought that the boundaries that had once recorded muttered vows and shared laughs would one-day record such treachery.My thoughts raced, reliving the events leading up to this break. The deadly waltz on the edge of betrayal, the murmured assurances of power, the covert meetings with Stanley. How had this happened to me? The specter of my misplaced desire wa
Philip's POV The weight of treachery permeated the entire room. My thoughts were haunted by Catherine's behaviors; they were a jarring tune that broke the harmony I believed we were creating. How might she slip so easily under the guise of Sarah, my sister's surrogate, and weave an internet of falsehoods into my life? Now, the comforts that had begun to blossom between us felt like an unkind delusion, broken into a million cold fragments.I could still feel the resonances of Catherine's deceit deep within my being. It was a deep-cut betrayal, a complex ballet of falsehoods that made me doubt the sincerity of every hour we spent together. Once a haven, the space felt oppressive today, the air heavy with the bitter taste of dishonesty.I could not get the eerie tune of what she did out of my head; every note was a reminder of the faith I had put in her. How frequently had I entrusted in her, thinking her answers were genuine, only to find out later that they were masterfully staged act
LIZZIE'S POVMy wolf was aware of my uneasiness and was restless, just like me. An eerie silence had descended upon the pack ever since Catherine's duplicity was exposed, leaving me to deal with the unnerving fallout from my choice to reveal her.I had known all along just what I wanted to do: expose Catherine's betrayal, provoke Philip's fury, and see as he banishes her, cutting the treacherous thread that jeopardized the cohesion of our pack. However, when the days grew into evenings, the anticipated removal never occurred. Rather, Catherine stayed imprisoned within our Alpha's house, a live symbol of the treachery that hung over us like a shadow.My thoughts were tinged with doubt. Why was Philip so attached to Catherine, the beast who had woven a false web to get within our pack? Was he unaware of the threat she created, or was perhaps a more nuanced reality at play that I was unable to discern?I walked erratically into the center of the courtyard, a raging sea of questions racin
PHILIP'S POV As I left my house and the small comforts of the family behind, I was met by lengthy shadows from the rising light and relentless trials ahead. Dissatisfaction echoed like spirits in the air, and the familiar smells of the complex told narratives of a pack in disorder.I couldn't stop thinking about Catherine's captivity in our house; the conflict between my responsibilities as an Alpha and a parent kept me restless all the time. I was having trouble sifting through the complicated web that had been created by the pack's requirements, Stanley's lurking danger, and Catherine's deceit.I could hear the pack members' disgruntled whispers as I strolled around the complex. With each second of hesitation that went by, the once-unwavering loyalty that held us together appeared to wane. As the second mate to Philip, I found myself in a difficult position where my loyalty was needed to balance the pack's expectations with Philip's unclear objectives.Beneath my skin was a seethin
PHILIP'S POV The sound of my footsteps reverberated across the lavish area, which was opposed to the secret choice I had chosen. Lizzie was sitting at the dining table staring at me expectantly and with anxiety in her eyes.I said, quietly but firmly, "Lizzie, we need to talk."A frown began to develop on her eyebrows as she lifted her head from her plate. Our dining room was spacious and well-furnished, which only served to heighten the significance of the talk that was about to take place."What's happening, Philip?" she said, searching my eyes for information.I sat down across opposite her, the enormity of the speech I intended to utter amplified by the oppressive quiet of the room. "I've accepted a choice, and that's significant because it includes the pack's safety and the possibility of Stanley's treason."Lizzie's eyes narrowed, a mixture of worry and fascination. "Exactly what somewhat choice?"Leaning forward, I placed my palms on the shiny dining tabletop. "I'm about to fa
LIZZIE'S POVI jumped through the table, my chest still thumping from the rage, and the opulence of the mansion's dining room vanished behind me. I was drawn outside by the scent of the neighboring garden in the evening air. To process the storm of feelings Philip's plea had unleashed inside of me, I wanted the comfort of wide-open spaces.Stepping out of the warm shelter of the evening, I was met by the expansive estate stretching before me. The sky was tinted pink as well as orangeas the sun sank low in the horizon, creating a pleasant glow. I took cover from the deluge of contradictory ideas on a seat tucked away in the garden, the calming sounds of the natural world providing a moment's reprieve.My thoughts raced with questions as I sat down on the bench. What made Philip decide to stage his death t
CATHERINE'S POV Every day that passed seemed like a lifetime spent inside the confines of my room. What had previously felt like a golden prison had become a painful expanse of loneliness over two weeks. Furnished with opulent furniture, the room had turned into a haven and a jail.With Ana, my darling little daughter curled up in my arms, there was only one thing to feel better in this stuffy environment. Her innocent look was blind to the struggle swirling inside of me as I attended to her needs, the burden of duty pressing down on me. Even with the room bathed in a subdued brightness from the glowing sunlight filtering through the drapes, the cold that persisted in my heart persisted.The loud ticking of the elaborate wall clock reverberated throughout the room, serving as a constant reminder that time was passing at an excruciatingly slow pace. Two weeks had passed between my fingers like sand grains, and I was left entangled in the opulent maze of affluence that had become a res