Alexanders povI spun around to see Adam standing in the doorway, his eyes wide with terror. A masked figure, clad in black, loomed behind him, a knife protruding ruthlessly from Adam's chest. Time seemed to slow as Adam crumpled to the ground, his lifeless body blocking the entrance. Olivia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Alexander, who is that?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Stay behind me," I commanded, gently setting Olivia down and stepping forward, my body poised to protect her at all costs. My heart pounded as I locked eyes with the masked figure, trying to gauge their intent. Even from a distance, I sensed the danger emanating from him. Their eyes, visible through the slits of the mask, bore into mine with an intensity that made my blood run cold. For a moment, neither of us moved, like two predators sizing each other up. "Who are you?" I demanded my voice a low growl filled with authority. The figure tilted their head slightly as if considering whether or n
Olivia's POV As the cold night air hit my face, my mind continued to whirl with questions that seemed impossible to untangle. Alexander's grip tightened around me, protective and unwavering, but the weight of uncertainty pressed down relentlessly. Cassandra followed closely, her steps silent but her presence loud in the back of my mind. Every time I glanced at her, a gnawing suspicion grew stronger. How could she have shown no fear amidst all this chaos?Everything screamed at me that Cassandra had been working with Adam, and there was no way I would let her get away with it. She needed to be stopped before she hurt anyone else. I wanted to tell Alexander right then and there, but I knew that now wasn’t the time. We still weren’t out of danger, and if I told him in front of her, then there was a chance that she could escape, or worse, Alexander wouldn’t believe me. So I pushed the thought down and told myself that I would tell him everything I knew as soon as we found Reed and Ethan
Victor's POV The forest air was thick with tension, each breath tasting of fear and pine. My heart pounded fiercely in my chest as I followed Olivia's scent, an unnerving dread twisting in my gut. I moved swiftly, the pads of my paws sinking into the damp earth with every step. Olivia's scent grew stronger, pulling me deeper into the forest. I prayed silently, begging the Moon Goddess for her safety. Going alone was a risk, but I couldn’t afford to leave Lidia and the twins unguarded back at the hotel. The thought of them helpless if something went wrong gnawed at me, so here I was—alone. The scent was leading me toward an old, decrepit building. It stood hauntingly against the backdrop of towering trees, its walls cracked and windows shattered. I shifted back to my human form, ignoring the rush of cold air against my skin. Picking out a worn pair of shorts from my emergency pack strapped to my leg, I slipped into them for the sake of decency. A faint light glowed from one of the
Olivia's POV "We're close," Alexander whispered, his tone both reassuring and alert. The shed loomed ahead of us, partially hidden by thick underbrush and shadow. The air felt charged as though it held its breath, waiting for us to make our move. Every sound made my heart beat faster in my chest. Aura was on full alert. I could feel her stirring within me, ready to show herself at any second. "Stay behind me," Alexander repeated, moving with grace and assurance. I nodded, swallowing hard as we neared the shed's entrance. The moonlight cast a silver glow on the rough wooden door, and my heart pounded louder with each step. Just as I was about to follow Alexander inside, his hand shot out, gripping my arm with a strength that was both tender and unyielding. "Let me go in first," he commanded, his eyes scanning the area for any hidden dangers. I hesitated, feeling the buzzing tension in the air, but ultimately, I relented. "Okay," I whispered back, stepping aside to let him enter. He
Olivia's POV A figure stepped out, shrouded in darkness. My muscles tensed, ready to spring. But as the figure came into the moonlight, my heart leapt with recognition. "Victor?" I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding. The relief was nearly overwhelming. Victor's eyes were wide with equal parts worry and relief as he hurried towards me, pulling me into a tight embrace. "Olivia! Are you okay?" His voice was filled with desperation, his arms wrapping around me protectively. "I'm okay, Victor. Really," I said, my voice muffled against his chest. His scent was familiar and grounding, a reminder that we still had a chance to survive this nightmare. Victor turned his attention to Alexander, Ethan, and Reed. "Thank you," he began, his voice thick with emotion. But Ethan, struggling to stand, shook his head and stopped him. "We failed. I failed," he muttered, eyes downcast. The weight of his perceived failure was evident in every line of his body. I turned to Ethan, seeing t
Olivia's POV Returning to the hotel was a mixed relief: we had survived the ordeal, but the dark shadows of the past still haunted us. Lidia came rushing out to greet us, and as soon as she saw Ethan, she rushed towards him, fussing over him. "Ethan, you should rest," she urged, concern etched on her face. "I'm fine, Lydia," Ethan replied, his voice rough but steady. As I watched them, I couldn't help but smile. In this chaos, they had found solace in each other. It warmed my heart to see their connection growing stronger. A shiver ran down my spine, and I turned to see Cassandra standing across the room. Her eyes bore into mine, an unsettling mix of malice and intrigue. Her lips curled into an evil smirk, twisting her features into a mask of malcontent. Without a word, she turned and walked away, leaving me with a sickening feeling in my gut. Alexander strode over, his presence instantly calming. "I need to clean up. I'll come see you later," he whispered, brushing a strand of
Cassandra's POV As I stormed away from Olivia and Alexander, I allowed my mask of calm to slip, replaced by a scowl that twisted my features. I was seething with anger, a tight coil of rage that throbbed in my chest. Oliveless and her endless meddling made me want to scream. Every fibre of my being screamed for vengeance. Without wasting another moment, I closed my eyes and let my senses extend outward, seeking the familiar connection. **"Meet me where we always do. Now,"** I mind-linked my mate, my thoughts laced with urgency. Almost instantly, his voice resounded in my mind, **"I'm already waiting, Cass. Hurry."** I didn't need any further prompting. Storming through the dimly lit halls of the hotel, I rushed out into the night. The crisp air did little to cool my fury as I headed towards our clandestine meeting place. My steps were swift and purposeful, the shadows of the city passing in a blur. When I arrived at our meeting place, he was tall and dark, and his presence comman
Alexander’s POV It had been a few days since everything happened, and I spent as much time as I could watching over Olivia and the twins, too scared to take my eyes off them in case something happened to them. I still hadn’t had the chance to talk to Cassandra. I'd hardly seen her at all, and I knew that she wouldn’t be so stupid to do something right now, not when everyone was on high alert. I made my way to Victor's room. I had told him this morning that I needed to talk to him about something. He greeted us with an expression that bordered on relief and curiosity. "I need to talk to you, Victor," I said, trying to keep my voice steady while the power within me surged. Victor nodded, "Of course. What’s going on?" Walking into his room, I took a seat. "Something happened when Adam made me stab myself. The wounds should have killed me, but they didn’t. Instead, this symbol appeared," I said, holding up my hand for him to see. Victor stepped closer, eyes narrow with scrutiny. The