[Rosalie’s POV]
“Rosalie, sweetie, this is your father,” my mother cooes, urging me from behind her. “Come out and say hello.”
In the beginning, life wasn't so bad. I lived a modest life with a loving mother who worked hard to give me the things that I needed. It wasn't bad and we had each other, but even that wasn't enough and eventually led to the start of a dark spiral into despair, lies, deceit, and a struggle for power.
I was born to a maid who lived in the countryside. This particular maid fell in love with a handsome warrior who just so happened to have a secret identity that he never revealed to her. And because of that, I didn’t meet my father until I was five years old. All I knew of him were the stories that my mother told, and although I hoped one day he would return and save us, I knew deep down that he wouldn't, and I had in the end convinced myself that he was a liar who tricked my gullible mother.
Slowly, I began to move while clutching my mother’s skirt so that I had a sense of security. Peeking around her body, I see a man with raven black hair and piercing green eyes—the very same eyes that I possessed and that the villagers considered cursed.
“Hello,” the man chuckles, kneeling down so that his gaze is able to meet my own. “Don’t be afraid, little one.”
As he reaches out, I dart behind my mother once more and hide.
“Sorry,” my mother sighs. “Rosalie is a bit shy.”
“Rosalie,” the man repeats. “That’s a beautiful name. It’s perfect for such a beautiful girl.” As he speaks, he continues to take me in with those eyes, which seem to almost see into my soul. “I won’t hurt you, little one.”
Won’t hurt me? How was I supposed to believe such a thing when all I knew was suffering due to the way I looked? Of course, my mother didn’t know about the tauntings and beatings I suffered because I didn’t want her to be sad, but I felt she had an idea. Maybe that was why this man was here now, staring at me and seeming to truly be interested in me.
“Rosalie,” my mother murmurs, turning and kneeling in front of me. “I know that you’re afraid, but Gusto is here to help you.”
For the first time since this meeting began, I noticed that my mother’s eyes were filled with tears, and a look of despair rested in them.
“Mommy,” I whisper, reaching out and wiping a tear from her cheek. “What’s wrong?”
For a moment, she didn’t speak as she continued to take me in, and when a sad smile crossed her beautiful features, I knew I wasn’t going to like what I heard next.
“Mommy is unable to protect you,” she murmurs, taking both my hands. “And because of that, you must go with your father, understand?”
These words were the ones that changed everything, and no amount of kicking and screaming changed the outcome. On that beautiful day where the weather was perfect and the sky was bright blue, my hell began, and it was all because I wasn’t strong enough to protect not only myself but my mother.
After that, I was taken back to Silver Moon, where my father was the alpha. Of course, I wasn’t accepted since I was an illegitimate child with a poor bloodline flowing through my veins. Just like in the village with my mother, I was tortured and treated like a pariah, especially by my father’s luna and their daughter.
At first, the abuse was simply verbal, but after my father grew sick from an unknown illness, it progressed to physical, and when he died, everything went downhill. I was thrown into a cell and kept as a slave until my stepmother and sister decided what to do with me. Day in and day out, I was starved and left for dead until the day the ambassador from Blood Moon came, demanding the daughter of Silver Moon as his bride.
The alpha of Blood Moon was a cruel man with a horrible reputation that consisted of murdering those who disobeyed him, sharing the women of his pack, and using his brides as baby-making machines; if they didn’t birth a male heir, he killed them.
Of course, my stepmother didn’t want my stepsister wed to that man, but she couldn’t deny his request as Silver Moon was struggling financially after my father’s death thanks to my stepmother and sister’s insatiable spending habits. So in place of my stepsister, I was promised to the alpha and released from my prison.
Although you would think things would get better after that, you’re wrong. Even if I was released, I was still treated like a prisoner and still beaten and bloodied on a regular basis, but I was at least fed and given an actual bed to sleep in, and when I turned eighteen, I was sent off to Blood Moon, where my fiance waited for me.
On that very day, we were wed in a small chapel with only his ambassador and mother present, and after that, I became his toy.
Day in and day out, I was used as a means for pleasure and the release of frustration. My existence became worse than death, and when he finished with me and left me bloodied on the bed, I prayed to the goddess to die, but I never did.
For three years, this continued until the day that he decided to share me with his beta and delta.
I would never forget their disgusting grins and their hungry eyes as they swarmed me and then held me down while one by one they took me again and again while my husband watched on as one of his mistresses pleasured him.
It was during all of this that something in me snapped, and when I was released, all I could think of was killing those that hurt me. It was this need that led me to that mirror and urged me to break it so I could grab a piece of it and then attack.
It was also during all of this that I let the darkness that tormented me day in and day out loose so that she could bloody her hands while I watched on in both shock and happiness.
I did try to escape after murdering every fucking one of them, but it didn’t take long for me to be captured and then sent to prison, where I awaited my fate. Little did I know that I still wouldn’t be given the death that I longed for; instead, I was sent away to the auctions and then sold to the ruthless Diego so that an all-new hell would begin.
[Rosalie’s POV]“You're shaking like a limb,” Diego chuckles, finding amusement in my fear. “What exactly do you fear I will do? Do you think I will fuck you here in the open for all to watch? Or do you think I will kill you?”Opening my mouth, I prepare to respond with the latter but remain silent, knowing my response didn't matter.“Just do it!” I hiss, closing my eyes. “Why waste time taunting when you've already won?”For a moment, Diego doesn't speak, and all that can be heard are groans and guttural snarls that indicate that the hunt is over and all those who have been auctioned lost. And when he continues to remain silent, I open my eyes to find that he is looking down at me with disgust in his eyes as he too listens to what is happening around us.“Is that what you want?” He suddenly asks, taking me by surprise. “For me to rape you right here and now?”My eyes widen as I take in each and every one of his words, which are laced with venom. Wasn't that why he bought me so that h
[Rosalie’s POV]My first week in the Moon Storm pack was exactly as I expected it to be. I was treated like nothing more than a pet, as Diego promised.When I wasn't leashed to his side, I was in a cage in his room, where I had to bear witness to everything from him fucking to his daily routine—wake up, workout, shower, disappear for a few hours, return, and repeat—and even his nights alone, where he seemed to be haunted by unseen demons when he tried to sleep.It was always the same no matter how many days passed, and I couldn't help but wonder why exactly I was brought here.To this point, he didn't say another word about my being a tool, which made me question if what he said from the start was true or not, but by day seven, instead of leaving after finishing his morning routine, Diego came to get me.Remaining silent, I wait until my collar is put in place before getting up so I won’t be dragged.“You're obedient this morning,” he murmurs in satisfaction. “Are you trying to get on
[Diego’s POV]Women are all the same. From the day I was born until now. They bat their eyes at you, pretending that they’re so innocent, and when you fall for their tricks and they have you in their grasp, their real colors come out.It’s disgusting and annoying, and it pisses me off anytime I see it. Even now, staring at the shaking and sobbing woman in front of me, I feel the need to kill beginning to rise, but I can’t. Not yet.When I joined the auctions, I knew what I was doing, and I knew that this woman would be there. That was the only reason I bothered attending. What other reason could there truly be? An auction involving nothing but criminals who all deserved to die. Why would anyone waste even a penny on them? But this woman was different from the rest of them, and she possessed something that I needed.However, looking at her now, sitting there pretending to be hurt because I made her show her true intentions when she lied, I didn’t see anything special. From her long whi
[Diego’s POV]“This annoying fabric needs to go,” I murmur, hooking a claw in the slip that Chanel wears and tugging it off. “Much better.”Once it is out of the way, I begin to work my way down Chanel’s throat to her breasts, where I stop to bite and lick at her pierced nipples. Groans of gratification escape her as her hands wrap around the back of my head, urging me on.Growling, I grab both in one hand and pin them above her head.“You know the rules,” I warn, sitting up and fixing my gaze with her dark one.“No touching,” she pouts. “I’m aware of that rule, but you’re letting me touch you now,” she continues, tightening her legs around me. “So what is the difference?”“The difference is if you don’t want to fucking listen, you can get the hell out of here, and I’ll find another woman to warm my bed.”“No, no,” she sighs, rolling her eyes. “So touchy. Is that woman pissing you off so much?”“Who?” I ask, not wanting to think about the woman who was most likely crumbling in the hol
[Diego's POV]I stare up at the large building in front of me while waiting to hear screams from inside, but when it continues to remain silent, I make my way inside and then up the winding stairs that lead to the single room in the whole thing.When I arrive, I once again wait as the feel of electricity presses against my skin. Even from where I stood, it was unpleasant, so why was that woman able to endure it? Was this some type of ploy to go easy on her because she was so small and weak-looking?Annoyance flaring, I push open the door and let my eyes come to rest on her. Her clothes are in tatters, and her skin is covered in burns from what is being done, making it clear that my assumption was wrong.“What the hell?” I growl, moving forward, just as another wave of electricity erupts from the cords that are attached to the woman.As it begins to travel through her, her body arches and her mouth clamps, but even when she is clearly in severe pain, she doesn't cry out.When it ends,
[Rosalie's POV]Pain. My whole damn world is pain, and when one round of it ends, another begins. Again and again, it goes. I only get a few moments to breathe before it happens again, and when I think I'm truly going to die, my new master decides he wants to kill me.What exactly was it that he wanted from me? He keeps mentioning an ability, but I don't know what this ability even is!‘I do,’ the darkness giggles. ‘Just set me free, and I'll...'‘No!’ I hiss. ‘I can't! He may really kill me before I take back what's mine!’I knew the dangers of letting the darkness take control, and it just wasn't worth the risk, but if this continued, my life would end.“Please,” I rasp, reaching up and grabbing Diego's wrist. “Tell me what it is that you want!”Instead of responding, Diego gives me a look of disbelief before his expression fills with rage.This was it. I was actually going to die right here and now. There was no saving myself unless I actually took a risk.‘Please,’ I whisper inwar
[Diego’s POV]I walk slowly up the long path that leads to the temple, and once I arrive at its entrance, I try to ignore the negativity that presses against me. Peeking out of the corner of my eye, I wait to see if the woman feels it, and when her body shakes and she wraps her arms around herself, I know that she does.“What the hell?” She murmurs, narrowing her gaze. “Are you bringing me to my doom?”“Not quite,” I respond.Lifting a hand, I grab the rope that rings the temple's doorbell and then wait until the door in front of us moves inch by inch so that a glowing blue eye can take us in.“Diego?” A raspy voice announces from the other side. “Is that you, boy?”“Yes, elder Marin.”At my words, the door opens more, allowing us entrance into the dark space beyond. Gritting my teeth, I ignore the energy that continues to press against me while my eyes take in the decrepit space around me.Once upon a time, this place was beautiful with a pure white interior, and it radiated with suc
[Rosalie’s POV]I sit alone in a corner, watching as the phantoms slowly slink toward me, their grotesque mouths open so I can see their rotten teeth that want to sink into my skin.“No,” I whisper, tightening my hold on my knees. “Stay away.”Why was I back here in this place? It was so long ago! I was sure that I managed to escape, but here I was in this place again, surrounded by these dark beings that wanted to devour me alive.“Go away!” I hiss as one wraps its clawed hands around my ankle. “Don’t touch me!”Where the creature's hand connects turns cold, and that cold begins to travel up my leg. It’s painful, and I can feel it sinking through my skin, into my muscles, and toward my bones.“NO!” I scream, kicking out and jumping up so that I can take in the area behind them. It’s my old home in the village with my mother, but it isn’t the same at all. It is decrepit, and the ceiling and walls are beginning to crumble. Even the floor beneath my feet is starting to rot.“Why?” I whi
[Chanel’s POV]I stare on, watching as Anthrose and the rest of his group surge forward, attacking the guards who were just sneering at me, and I can’t help but laugh at the difference in their demeanors.“Cowards,” I spit, sitting up and snapping my thumbs back into place. “Acting all high and mighty until actual danger appears.”As I speak, I grab the chains that are holding my ankles and begin to pull while ignoring the pain that shoots through me. Fuck, they were strong, but I was stronger. Soon enough, they begin to crack and then break apart, allowing me to finally get up and move to Gil’s side.“Just hang in there a bit longer, alright?” I tell him, clutching his cuff and starting to fight with it. “Then we will get you out of here and…”“No!” Gil gasps before breaking into a coughing fit. “We can’t just leave!”Frowning, I take in his words, trying to make sense of what it is that he is saying, but I don’t get to question him further before pain shoots through me and my body a
[Anthrose’s POV]The next morning we move out the minute the warm sun begins to paint the ground that we sleep on. After a quick breakfast, we head out with me leading the way since I’m the only one who can get a feel for the location that we are searching for.Together, we silently move across the island while keeping our senses alert in case of a surprise attack. However, the expected never happens, and by the time we are close to our destination, I can’t help but feel like all of this is too easy, and by the tension I feel from my companions, I know that they’re feeling the same.“Up ahead,” Sam murmurs, coming to my side. “I can see it.”Nodding, I take in the shining figure that I’m certain is the temple, noting the dark aura that radiates around it. Even from here I could tell that the things residing within were something the normal wolf wouldn’t want to approach, but given what we were fighting for, I wasn’t going to let it stop me.“Prepare yourselves.” I announce, letting my
[Anthrose’s POV]For the rest of the day, I search the island for a sign of where Chanel and Gil may be, but come up empty. And when my group can’t seem to move anymore, I have to call the search to a halt. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t continue to keep my connection with the earth, searching while dinner is made.It’s a silent ordeal, as I’m certain that the entire group is feeling the weight of what is at hand and what we may encounter when we find the ones we are searching for. I could only assume that a fight was waiting for us, and it was because of that that I even agreed to res.Sighing, I close my eyes and let myself slip deeper into a trance, searching until I feel something press against my consciousness that snaps me to alertness as hope flares through me along with a longing that I’ve never felt before.‘Chanel,’ I whisper, not daring to truly believe that I’m feeling what I am. ‘Is that you?’For a moment, all I’m met with is silence, causing me to believe that
[Anthrose’s POV]My body screams at me, begging me to stop, to take a break, but I can’t stop moving. Behind me, I can hear noises of complaint and exhaustion escaping my companions, making it clear that they’re feeling the same thing as me. However, I can’t stop moving; I won’t stop moving; just the thought of stopping makes me so damn anxious I want to fucking destroy something. I can’t stop the feeling that if I stop looking even for a second, Chanel will vanish completely.Shivering, I try not to think of a world where she doesn’t exist somewhere. Sure, it was one thing to keep my distance and allow her to live the life that she deserves, but to even think of her not being somewhere alive and happy damn near kills me.‘Chanel.’ I call to the darkness, hoping and praying that by some miracle she will respond to me. ‘Where are you? Why aren’t you answering me?’“Anthrose.”I immediately freeze as the voice reaches me, but I realize a moment too late that it wasn’t Chanel’s voice, it
[Chanel’s POV]I look around me, taking in the stone walls around me, noting how they’re cracking, allowing vines to grow through them while my intrusive thoughts try to get the better of me. They’re screaming things like what if this place were to collapse. What if you find yourself at a dead end? What if you run out of air? It’s irritating as fuck, and even though I keep telling them to shut up, they just won’t.“Hey,” I call to Tyson, who leads the way in hopes of distracting myself. “Are you certain that we are going in the right direction?”Since he was the one to choose our path and take the lead, I could only hope that he somehow could track the way out of this place, but what if he was just leading us deeper into this underground labyrinth?“Hey,” I repeat when he doesn’t respond to me. “I’m talking to you.”Frustration growing, I move forward and grab his shoulder, forcing him to turn and look at me, but I’m not met with the same gaze that I was used to. Instead, I’m met with
[Anthrose’s POV]We spend the rest of the day searching for any sign of Chanel or Tyson, but all we come up with is nothing. It’s almost like neither of them existed or were somehow spirited away from earth.“We should rest.” Henry, one of Ulrick’s warriors, suggests later that evening. “We will be useless in helping them if we are exhausted.”“Are you saying that this little bit of action exhausts you?” I demand. “If that's the case, you are more than welcome to rest, but I’m going to keep searching.”“But, sir…”“I said I was going to keep searching!” I growl, not giving two fucks if I came across as argumentative or defiant. “There’s no fucking way that I’m going to stop until I find her.”Even though only a couple of hours had passed, I couldn’t help but feel like days, even weeks, had already gone by without Chanel’s presence. It was fucking maddening, and I was beginning to feel like a crazy man. How the hell did I manage to stay away from her for so many years in the past?No.
[Chanel’s POV]I watch as the crevice above me grows farther and farther away until my body is hitting the wolf beneath me, who takes most of the impact. Together, we lay there, watching as the ground slowly begins to close once more, eliminating the little bit of light around us until we are plunged into darkness.Snapping out of it, I jump up and then look to the wolf beside me, taking him in while wondering what exactly he was thinking. And once I shift back into my human form, I wait as he stares at me.“What?” I demand, my annoyance flaring. “Don’t look at me like that.”Letting out what sounds almost like a huff of annoyance, he begins to shift until Tyson is lying on the ground in the wolf’s place.“What?” He asks as I narrow my gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”Why? Because he was the reason we were here right now. He wasn’t paying attention to where he was going when he saved me.“Do I really need to answer that?” I sigh, beginning to look around, taking in the tun
[Chanel’s POV]“Right.”I give Anthrose one last look before turning my gaze toward the creatures that are slowly making their way toward us. They’re different from the beasts that we’ve encountered until this point, but they’re also the same.These look almost like worms, but they have legs and buglike faces. I guess if I had to compare them to anything, it would be centipedes. Just watching them move gave me the heebie jeebies, but I wasn’t about to let them stop me from getting to what I wanted.Giving Anthrose one last look, I begin to shift, and once I’m in my wolf form, I move, surging forward and attacking the creepy crawly closest to me. When we clash, it immediately attempts to roll its body around me, but I leap out of the way.Landing on top of it, I watch as the rest of our group joins in the fray, beginning our first official battle since arriving on the island.‘Don’t get yourself killed.’Anthrose's voice reverberates in my mind, causing my heart to race and giving me t
[Anthrose’s POV]I don’t speak as Chanel’s question flows over me, settling into the deepest pits of my soul along with the loathing and disgust that I’ve felt since the day the thing she is asking about happened, and as much as I would like to say, I know that I can’t.“The plague.” I respond instead, deciding that was a good enough explanation. “It affected my eyes.”“You’re lying.”Chanel’s response is firm, and I know that due to our bond, there was just no way that I would be able to get away with lying to her.“How did it really happen?”How? That was an easy fucking response, but again, I knew that if I were to speak it out loud, then there was a good chance it would dig out the skeletons that I was trying so hard to not think about anymore.“Anthrose,” Chanel’s voice drifts through my muddled thoughts. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”I did. But this was something that didn’t only involve me. It also involved her, and I knew if I were to open up about it, then