Kasia's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling. She was lying in a large four-poster bed with silk sheets instead of the stiff hospital cot she last remembered. As she slowly sat up, a pounding headache throbbed behind her eyes. She pressed a hand to her temple, trying to rub away the pain as fragmented memories from the night before surfaced. She had been with Ethan. He had come to her hospital room, his piercing blue eyes full of concern as he asked her to take a walk with him. She had resisted at first, but something in his gentle voice and warm smile had lowered her guard. What happened after they left her room was a blur. She remembered his hand on hers, his woodsy scent enveloping her as they walked outside under the moonlight. Then nothing, just waking up here in this lavish bedroom that was clearly not her own. Kasia's fist clenched around the silk sheets. Had Ethan done something to her? Drugged her? She trembled with anger at the thought, cursing herself for letti
Kasia made an effort to concentrate on the food that the omegas were offering her. She pushed her eggs around her plate while Janet stirred her coffee. The snickering of the women was making it hard for her to focus on the food. "Stop frowning," Janet scolded, her disapproving tone like a sharp slap to Kasia's psyche. Her expression tightened into a scowl, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. She felt as though she were in a pressure cooker, ready to explode at any moment. But Janet's warning rang true- if she kept this up, they would surely come over to investigate. Kasia took a deep breath, trying to calm the tumultuous emotions swirling inside her. She forced her features into a neutral mask, but her fists remained clenched at her sides, ready for action. "Tell me, Janet," Kasia said. "Why is Lana being bullied? What is going on?" Janet hesitated, her gaze shifting away from Kasia's intense stare. "It's not for me to tell you. Lana should be the on
Aimee stood in the shadows, her heart pounding in her chest, as she watched Janet saunter into the dining hall with Kasia. After listening to Janet introduce Kasia to Miraya, Aimee frowned. So, it was true. This was the woman Ethan had been seen with. Aimee frowned, as Kasia was beautiful, so it didn't surprise her that she captured the Alpha King's attention. A bitter taste filled Aimee's mouth as she realized her chance to be the Alpha Queen was fading away. "Damn her," Aimee muttered under her breath, clenching her fists at her sides. She couldn't stand by and watch this unfold any longer. 'No. We just need to put her in her place,' Aimee's wolf, Lial, said within her. Determination fueled her actions as she waited for the opportune moment to confront Kasia, away from the prying eyes of their peers. When Kasia excused herself from the table and headed towards the restroom, Aimee followed close behind, careful not to draw attention to herself. The restroom door creaked op
Ethan couldn't focus as he felt a sharp pain on his left side. Resisting the urge to yelp, he wondered, 'What the hell was that?' As the pain subsided, thoughts of Kasia flooded his mind. Was this connected to her somehow? Quickly opening a telepathic link with Janet, Ethan's attempt to speak was abruptly interrupted. Janet lashed out at him. "As your advisor, I should be made aware of everything, yes?" she said. "Yes, Janet, what's..." Ethan began. "So, why wasn't I informed that Kasia is not a normal human? Is she even human?" Janet questioned. "She's human. What's happening?" Ethan answered. "She fought Aimee and won," Janet explained. "No, that's impossible," Ethan protested. "Are you sure that's what happened?" "Tell that to Aimee. They were the only two in the restroom. I intervened before it escalated, but you can see for yourself. I am sure she is on her way to complain to you," Janet explained. Without warning, the heavy doors to Ethan's office were forcefull
Kasia sat on a weathered bench, watching the lively children as they frolicked and played. A deep unease settled in her stomach, twisting and churning like a trapped animal. They were nothing like how they were explained to her. The longer she stayed here, the more and more she realized that what she was told were lies, and it had only been three days. 'Now, you're starting to understand,' the voice echoed through Kasia's mind, its mocking tone replaced with something softer. Kasia couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing her grip on reality, or perhaps this was simply her guilty conscience manifesting itself. 'So, what if I believe all of this, then that would mean they've been lying to me all these years?' Kasia's thoughts were frantic, trying to make sense of the new information. 'Of course they have. You were a vulnerable child, desperate to protect your sister at any cost,' the voice replied. 'But why? Why would they deceive me like this?' 'Why is the grass green
Kasia stood outside the pack house, her fingers smoothing over the green fabric of her dress. The early evening air held a brisk chill, raising goosebumps along her bare arms. Shivering, she rubbed her hands over the sleeves of her black leggings. This was a mistake. Going anywhere with him, especially tonight, would only lead to heartache. Denying it felt futile; this outing felt dangerously close to something she couldn't—wouldn't—put a name to. 'It's not a date,' she sternly reminded herself. But the voice in her mind mocked her naivety. 'Oh really? Then why are you dressed up and waiting for him like a smitten schoolgirl?' Kasia scowled, even as warmth flushed her cheeks. She wasn't smitten. Ethan was the enemy, and her traitorous heart fluttered at the thought of spending time alone with him. He was the Alpha King, a monster like the rest of them, and she was a hunter sworn to destroy his kind. This wasn't a date; it was a mistake. 'Keep telling yourself that, suga,'
Milo. With his sandy gray hair and the slight limp in his walk, Kasia would never mistake him. He was the one who trained her, and he was also one of the top 10 lethal hunters that the Hunters had. So, for him to be here meant only a few things: he was tracking someone, he was tracking her, or he was here for the Alpha King. None of these options bode well for Kasia. Milo turned, surprise flashing across his face, when he saw Kasia. Kasia expected his facial expression to turn into a scowl, and they would get into a fight right then and there, but Milo maintained a calm expression. He actually seemed relieved to see her. "I could ask you the same thing," he said. "It's good to see you, Kasia." "I'm here with...a friend," she said evasively. "I'm just blowing off some steam." Milo raised an eyebrow. "A friend, huh? Does this friend happen to be a certain Alpha King?" Kasia stiffened. How did he know about Ethan? "That's not really your business," she said sharply. Milo
Lana sat on the bench, her body tense, as she watched the couple with a mix of envy and bitterness. She took a sip of her smoothie, but instead of the sweet taste she craved, the liquid tasted like mud. A surge of anger rose within her-this should be her with someone, not alone on a bench. "This isn't fair," Lana muttered through gritted teeth, her hands clenched into fists. But then she felt a chilling sensation-the feeling of being watched. Without looking around, she quickly got up from the bench and began to retreat back to her room. But before she could even make it to the hallway, Lana was shoved hard against the brick wall, pain shooting through her body as rough edges dug into her skin. She whirled around in a defensive stance, only to come face-to-face with Miraya, her cold eyes boring into Lana's. "So, you're going to fight now?" Miraya taunted with a cruel smirk. "Just leave me alone," Lana pleaded, trying to push past Miraya. But Miraya only laughed at her feeble