***************CHAPTER 17~Damon’s POV~I should have known. The moment they insisted Arianna bring the briefcase, suspicion crept in, warning me that this was a set-up. I wanted Jet to bring the briefcase because I trusted his abilities, but they had already requested Arianna. Mars was on edge, his instincts sharp, but we’d been outmanoeuvred, and I knew the moment I flipped the lid of the briefcase.The artefact inside was a cheap plastic fake. My stomach twisted with irritation as I spun the briefcase around, barely biting back a growl. Just as I was about to speak, Arianna’s voice cut through, but her warning was too late.The man across from me had two guns trained at my head, his gaze cold. But my problem wasn’t him—it was sending Arianna straight into the hyenas’s den that bothered Mars and I. Just as I’d feared, one of them had a gun pressed against her temple, his other hand wrapped tightly around her neck, ready to end her in two quick moves.A calm settled over me as I
***************CHAPTER 18~Arianna’s POV~The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, but the silence between Damon and me was anything but gentle. The weight of everything that had happened pressed against my chest like a vice. Once I came over the fear, my thoughts raced, replaying the events that had unfolded—how close I’d come to dying. Twice today.One by my own risk and the other, I was tossed in the playing field like a worthless piece of tennis.Without waiting for Damon, I barged through the living room, my heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. My mind screamed at me to get as far away from him as possible. My room wasn’t sanctuary, but it was the only place I could escape him.Just as I reached the edge of the room, a firm hand closed around my wrist, stopping me dead in my tracks. His grip wasn’t harsh, but it left no room for argument.“Wait,” Damon’s voice was calm, too calm, but I could feel the underlying steel beneath it.Something inside me snapped.I s
***************CHAPTER 19~Arianna’s POV~The car ride was silent, aside from the occasional rustle of paper as Damon flipped through a file. My stomach churned with nervousness and irritation. His casual demeanour after everything that had happened grated on my nerves, and his curt instructions this morning were still fresh in my mind."Work," I muttered under my breath. "Of all things."I couldn’t help but wonder what sort of workplace would be tied to someone like Damon Dark. Not that it mattered, they ran so many businesses in the city but I never paid attention. All my mind was work, getting bills settled and a meal to help me survive to see the next day. That was how boring my life had become. The occasional joy was when I was with my boyfriend and best friend which was almost no time since I worked round the clock with barely a few hours intervals on Sunday. How I had done it? Only God knew. I was pulled from my thoughts when the car finally came to a halt and glanced out
***************CHAPTER 20~Arianna’s POV~The rest of the day passed in a blur. Damon didn’t return to the office, and for that, I was grateful. I buried myself in the tasks left on my desk, trying to ignore the lingering tension from our earlier encounter. But no matter how hard I tried, his words refused to leave my mind."The only man in your life is me."It was infuriating. Arrogant. Possessive. And yet... it stirred something I couldn’t quite put into words. I managed to focus on the tasks he left for me through email and got them done even though it was way harder than serving and waiting tables.By the time we returned to the penthouse, the sky was painted in streaks of orange and pink, the city glowing beneath us. I hadn’t seen Damon since we left the car, and honestly, I preferred it that way.I made my way to the kitchen, my stomach growling as I opened the fridge. There were all sorts of drinks there but I didn’t want wine or yoghurt. I wanted…My eyes lit up when I saw
***************CHAPTER 21~Arianna’s POV~Little fire!Tsk. I did as he asked. Usually, one would have expected him to place an order for me when the waiter came over but he barely threw me a glance until now. Regardless, I was glad to be free from that boring discussion.As I slipped away from the booth, Damon’s gaze lingered on my back, sending a shiver up my spine.The nickname—little fire—still echoed in my ears, a mix of mockery and something far too intimate for my liking. I shook it off and made my way toward the bar, grateful for even a brief reprieve from his suffocating presence.The bar was crowded, the air filled with chatter and laughter, contrasting the tension in Damon’s private booth. I ordered a simple cocktail—something light and sweet to take the edge off.As I waited for the drink, I couldn’t help but glance back toward the booth. Damon was still there, listening to the men around him. One of them leaned forward, gesturing animatedly, but Damon’s attention never
***************CHAPTER 22~Arianna’s POV~The cool night air hit me as we stepped outside, the heavy bass from the club muffled by the closed door behind us.I wrenched my arm free, glaring up at him. “What the hell was that?”“That?” he echoed, his voice dangerously calm as he turned to face me fully. “That was me keeping you from making an even bigger mistake.”“I was just dancing!” I shot back and my voice rose. “You can’t just—just storm in and punch people because you’re angry!”His lips twisted into a humorless smirk. “Oh, I wasn’t angry. Yet.”My heart skipped a beat at the dark edge in his tone. “Where are we going now?”He stepped closer, his towering presence swallowing the space between us. “To let out the anger you seem so determined to provoke.”I stared at him, my breath catching in my throat. The fire in his eyes was unnerving, but it was the restraint beneath it that sent a shiver down my spine.He turned sharply, striding toward his car parked a short distance away.
****************CHAPTER 23~Arianna’s POV~My mind barely registered the words, save for warned and fumed.Each brutal hit reminded me of dark times, of the rage-filled nights when my uncle would lash out, the alcohol fueling his violence. My stomach churned, and my vision blurred with unwanted memories.I couldn’t watch anymore. I turned and ran, passing through the crowd until I burst through the warehouse doors and into the cool night air.My heart raced as I leaned against Damon’s car, trying to steady my breathing.Minutes passed before I heard his footsteps.“Arianna,” he called, his voice calm yet commanding.I didn’t answer, crossing my arms and staring at the ground.He approached, stopping a few feet away. “Look at me.”I didn’t move.Damon growled low, stepping closer and gripping my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze.“Don’t touch me,” I snapped, smacking his hand away.His eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he said nothing.“I hate this,” I spat, my voi
****************CHAPTER 24~Arianna’s POV~I rasped on the door and stepped, my eyes glancing around the porch as I stood, arms wrapped tightly around myself against the biting cold. The chill seeped through the thin fabric of my dress, and I shifted uncomfortably, silently praying Martha was home.Footsteps shuffled inside, and her voice called out, “Alright, alright, I’m coming!”The door opened, and Martha stood there, her eyes widening in shock as they landed on me. “Arianna?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. Her gaze travelled down my dishevelled appearance, lingering on my deep red dress that clung uncomfortably to my body.I looked down at myself. The dress wasn’t one I would have chosen—not in a million years. Its neckline dipped just low enough to make me self-conscious, and the slit running up the side made me feel like I was barely dressed at all. A gust of wind sent a shiver through me, emphasizing my predicament.“Goodness me, Arianna,” Martha said, her voi
****************The moment I saw the picture, my blood boiled. Kaia was with Shawn. And not just anywhere—at a fucking restaurant.The image was clear. Shawn was kneeling, his expression desperate, while Kaia stood in front of him, looking down with an unreadable expression.Crystal’s message followed right after.Crystal: Looks like wifey’s been busy. I thought you should see this, cousin.I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening around the phone as irritation curled in my chest.What the hell was she doing meeting with him?After everything, after all the shit we had been through—why the fuck was she entertaining that bastard?The worst part? I shouldn’t have cared. I shouldn’t have felt this tight pressure in my chest, this irrational need to grab my keys, track her down, and drag her back where she belonged.But I did. And I hated it. I tossed my phone onto the table, pacing the living room.Kaia would have to explain herself. And God help her if she lied to me.****************Late
**************~Kaia’s POV~The next morning, I stretched lazily in bed, my body unusually warm and relaxed. I blinked drowsily, my mind still foggy with sleep—until my gaze landed on my phone.A notification.I reached for it, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I unlocked the screen.And then—I saw it.The picture.Blaze. Kissing. Shyne.My stomach dropped.I sat up abruptly, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs as I zoomed in on the image, my fingers tightening around the phone.The angle was perfect. Shyne’s hands were on Blaze’s shoulders, her lips pressed against his. It looked… intimate. Familiar.A cold wave of jealousy curled inside me before I could stop it.I gritted my teeth. No. No, I wasn’t going to do this.I wasn’t going to let myself feel this way. Blaze wasn’t mine.He never was.I sucked in a sharp breath and forced myself to think rationally.Would Blaze really kiss her? Just like that?I thought about last night—about how he held me. How he pulled me against him i
*****************~Arianna’s POV~My breath was ragged, my pulse thundering in my ears. My entire body trembled—not from exhaustion, not from pain, but from the sheer weight of what I had just seen.My past. My parents. My real identity.I yanked my hand away from Iris, my heart slamming against my ribs as I stared at her in disbelief.“You,” I spat, the single word laced with betrayal, fury, and shock.Iris didn’t flinch. Instead, she grabbed my wrist again, tighter this time.Before I could react, the world around me shifted—sucked into nothingness.I blinked, completely disoriented. One second, we were in the dimly lit cabin, surrounded by flickering candles. The next, I stood in a vast, endless white space, floating between reality and the unknown.Iris stood before me, her black dress flowing unnaturally, her eyes glowing with ethereal power.“I know,” she said, her voice eerily calm. “I left them. But there was nothing I could do.”My hands clenched. My wolf stirred, a low growl
*****************~Arianna’s POV~A strange whisper brushed against my mind, soft yet insistent, like a breeze carrying a secret only I could hear.I stiffened.I turned sharply to Iris, my heart hammering against my ribs, ignoring whether or not I’ll startle Damon. “You… you just mind-linked me.”Iris’s lips curled into that familiar smirk. “Of course I did.”My jaw tightened. I wasn’t stupid—witches didn’t just reach into someone’s mind for fun.She wanted something.I tried to hold back the urge not to fold my arms across my chest. “What do you want?” I asked in my mind.Her voice was light, almost playful, but beneath it lay something deadly serious. “Remember, you owe me a favour.”I narrowed my eyes. “You want it now?”Iris shook her head. “It is a promise.”A beat of silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. I knew Damon wondered what was going on but I just smiled and beckoned him to lead the way.Then she said it, mind-linking me.“Promise me you will find the ones that
*****************~Arianna’s POV~My breath was ragged, my pulse thundering in my ears. My entire body trembled—not from exhaustion, not from pain, but from the sheer weight of what I had just seen.My past. My parents. My real identity.I yanked my hand away from Iris, my heart slamming against my ribs as I stared at her in disbelief.“You,” I spat, the single word laced with betrayal, fury, and shock.Iris didn’t flinch. Instead, she grabbed my wrist again, tighter this time.Before I could react, the world around me shifted—sucked into nothingness.I blinked, completely disoriented. One second, we were in the dimly lit cabin, surrounded by flickering candles. The next, I stood in a vast, endless white space, floating between reality and the unknown.Iris stood before me, her black dress flowing unnaturally, her eyes glowing with ethereal power.“I know,” she said, her voice eerily calm. “I left them. But there was nothing I could do.”My hands clenched. My wolf stirred, a low growl
*****************~Arianna’s POV~A strange whisper brushed against my mind, soft yet insistent, like a breeze carrying a secret only I could hear.I stiffened.I turned sharply to Iris, my heart hammering against my ribs, ignoring whether or not I’ll startle Damon. “You… you just mind-linked me.”Iris’s lips curled into that familiar smirk. “Of course I did.”My jaw tightened. I wasn’t stupid—witches didn’t just reach into someone’s mind for fun.She wanted something.I tried to hold back the urge not to fold my arms across my chest. “What do you want?” I asked in my mind.Her voice was light, almost playful, but beneath it lay something deadly serious. “Remember, you owe me a favour.”I narrowed my eyes. “You want it now?”Iris shook her head. “It is a promise.”A beat of silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. I knew Damon wondered what was going on but I just smiled and beckoned him to lead the way.Then she said it, mind-linking me.“Promise me you will find the ones that
*****************~Damon’s POV~Of course, she moved again. Witches were paranoid by nature, and Iris was no exception. If anything, she was worse. Always running, always hiding.I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Send me the location.”“Already did,” Xander replied. “But I should warn you—she’s not exactly thrilled about visitors. The last guy who tried to force his way into her place is still missing.”I smirked. “Good thing I’m not just anyone.”Xander let out a dry chuckle. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t get cursed or something. See you soon.”The line went dead.I tucked my phone back into my pocket and turned toward the stairs. Arianna had disappeared into her room the moment we got back. I hesitated for half a second before pulling out my own phone and dialling her number.It rang twice before she answered. “Hello?”“Get ready,” I said. “We’re leaving in ten minutes.”There was a pause, then a quiet, “Already?”“Yes. We found Iris.”The call went silent as though Arianna was contemplat
*****************~Arianna’s POV~“Give me your hand, Arianna,” Iris commanded softly, her tone laced with authority and mystery. I hesitated, a chill creeping over me, before slowly extending my hand. The cool air of the cabin seemed to pulse with energy as Iris’s touch met mine, and she closed her eyes as if to summon forces beyond mortal ken.I watched, wide-eyed, as she began chanting in a language I couldn’t comprehend. Her voice rose and fell, a rhythmic incantation that vibrated through my very soul. Before I could steady my racing thoughts, a strange sensation washed over me. Then—suddenly—her eyes snapped open, glowing white.A startled breath escaped me. Before I could react, my own vision blurred, my body stiffening as a rush of overwhelming energy coursed through me. My fingers tightened around hers involuntarily, and then—The world around us disappeared.I saw a vision of my earliest days, a memory that felt both foreign and achingly familiar. I saw myself as a tiny inf
*****************~Arianna’s POV~A crystal ball sat atop a blackened silver stand between us, swirling with faint tendrils of mist inside. The moment Iris tapped her finger against the glass, it pulsed with a bright, ethereal glow. My breath hitched.“Give me your hand, Arianna,” Iris commanded softly, her tone laced with authority and mystery. I hesitated, a chill creeping over me, before slowly extending my hand. The cool air of the cabin seemed to pulse with energy as Iris’s touch met mine, and she closed her eyes as if to summon forces beyond mortal ken.I watched, wide-eyed, as she began chanting in a language I couldn’t comprehend. Her voice rose and fell, a rhythmic incantation that vibrated through my very soul. Before I could steady my racing thoughts, a strange sensation washed over me. Then—suddenly—her eyes snapped open, glowing white.A startled breath escaped me. Before I could react, my own vision blurred, my body stiffening as a rush of overwhelming energy coursed th