Everyone's eyes were fixed on Jenny as she sat there, immobilized and speechless. An uncomfortable silence enveloped the room, hanging heavily in the air like an oppressive presence that everyone felt but couldn't see.With a smirk and her sparkling dark eyes, Malia taunted, "Cat got your tongue?" raising an eyebrow in amusement.Dolf chimed in, mirroring Malia's cocky tone, "Yeah, Jenny, what do you have to say for yourself?"Lemuel and Malia exchanged glances before nodding at Dolf, who scrutinized Jenny with narrowed eyes as he looked her up and down.Jenny braced herself for their harshness. Despite her longing for their friendship, she was painfully aware that they might never forgive her. And why should they? she wondered.The three of them continued to glare at her in silence.In that moment, Jenny turned her pleading gaze toward Alexander, silently asking him what she should do.But Alexander remained quiet. He folded his hands, sighed, and looked away.Wow, okay. Tough crowd.
Alexander's instinct has always been to shield his loved ones, keeping their whereabouts secret and secure. It's what he's attempted with his mother, despite her frequent travels, and with Luther, who has had limited experiences out in the world—perhaps when he's older and more capable of self-defense, that will change. He gently places his hands on Jenny's knees. "I need to know you're safe," he says. "I can help," Jenny replies, shaking her head more gently as she sits up straighter. "I know the tavern inside out. I've been in the basement countless times. I also know about Eduardo's place. I can help you. I've just learned new details about the layout. Sending me away means losing valuable intel, Alexander." "Let her stay," Dolf suggests as he enters the room, unwinding the scarf from around his neck. Shedding his coat and hanging it, he adds, "She's her own person. You can't just put her away." Jenny tenses slightly at Dolf's presence, understandable given that he had caught h
Alexander raised his arms high, declaring, "Tonight, we'll drag them from their beds and tear them from their homes and tavern, bringing them into the night to face our wrath!" The room erupted in applause and shouts of "That's right!" echoed throughout."We will repay their cruelty, inflicting pain and misery just as they've done to us. We will unleash our rage upon them as we roar!" The crowd erupted in cheers. "We lurk in the shadows once more, my Wolves. The night is ours, and with the full moon at our backs, WE GO WILD!"Alexander tilted his head back, inhaled deeply, and released a haunting howl that resonated across the room, spilling into the wilderness beyond. The rest joined him, their voices merging into a chilling chorus.Jenny felt a shiver run down her spine. As the howls faded, she noticed others motioning for silence, their faces painted with astonishment. Straining to listen, she was amazed to hear a real pack of wolves nearby responding with their own howls.Indeed,
As Jenny emerged from the bathroom, Dolf let out a burst of laughter. His hearty chuckles filled the air, more animated than she had ever seen him. Placing her hands on her hips, Jenny shot him a glare."What's so funny?" she demanded, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "What's worth laughing at?""Why do you..." Dolf wheezed between chuckles. Then he added, "You look like a ninja. I mean, you did earlier, but now with the hair? Why are you dressed like that, Jenny?""We're going on a mission!" she replied indignantly. Glancing down at her outfit, she couldn't understand what was so amusing. She wore fitted black tactical leggings, a breathable black turtleneck, and sturdy black leather boots. Black seemed like the best choice for the mission, and with Amalia's closet at her disposal, this was the ensemble she'd put together."Oh, man," Dolf said, swinging a sleek backpack over his shoulder. "That's exactly what I needed right now. Jenny, please don't ever change."Jenny grumbled
After a moment, she peeked through the window and saw that it was Julius. He was sitting on her bed, pressing one of her old nightgowns to his cheek and inhaling deeply. She stepped back again, a wave of revulsion churning in her stomach."We can't go in this way," she said. "We have to go around to the side. Get the vehicle and take it there.""Why?" Dolf asked, trying to lean around to get a better look inside. Jenny placed a hand on his chest, locking eyes with him to convey the seriousness of the situation."Do you want to go down first, or should I?" she asked, striving to keep her tone as firm as possible. He rolled his eyes and grumbled at her, but they quickly scaled down the building, making their way toward the vehicle they had hidden. This diversion cost them some time, but she hadn't anticipated anyone being in her room; she had assumed it had been converted into a gym or storage area.As soon as Dolf's feet hit the ground, he sprinted back toward the greenhouse, sticking
Jenny catches a glimpse of Dolf and Julius still clashing across the room but disregards them as she lunges at her father's legs, knocking him down hard. She hears the sound of his chin hitting the ground along with a muffled curse before scrambling back on top of him. This time, she aims for his eyes, but he raises his forearms to block her fingers. A primal rage surges through her, a tidal wave of anger.As she lashes out, the memories of all he's put her through flood her mind: Julius's assault, the constant surveillance from the bodyguards, his refusal to believe her even when the truth was self-evident, blaming her for her mother's death, and punishing her by sending her to work for the Bloody Sapphire as if it were an appropriate response.Jenny rains down her fists and elbows upon him, aware that she's screaming but feeling disconnected from the sound escaping her throat. She feels like a whirlwind, a tornado, a storm poised to engulf him. She wants him to experience every ounc
The Bloody Sapphire were taken completely by surprise when Alexander and his team arrived at their location shortly after three in the morning. They had sent two men ahead to release poison gas into the tavern, with Lemuel assisting the team in fitting their sleek gas masks securely before they entered, allowing the gas time to disperse.Inside, nearly every man in the main area of the bar was found slumped over tables or crumpled on the floor. Alexander's team swiftly eliminated them with silenced bullets, avoiding any unnecessary delays. True to his promise, Alexander ensured the women were left unharmed. He noticed them collapsed over the men, some unconscious with a man's hand inappropriately placed.The women were carefully removed from the pile of bodies and moved to the side, where they were handcuffed to a radiator, in case any harbored loyalties to their group. After the situation was controlled, they planned to bring Jenny in to speak with them, hoping they would recognize h
"Yeah," Alexander replies, moving behind the bar in search of a good bottle of whiskey. Lemuel settles onto one of the barstools. Meanwhile, their team continues rolling up bodies and taking them to the incinerator they had discovered—likely used by the Bloody Sapphire for disposing of their unwanted. It's a more discreet option than transporting truckloads of bodies to the river with dawn approaching."He must have caught wind," Alexander speculates, shaking his head as he pours their drinks. Even though the operation went as smoothly as planned, he can't shake the feeling that something is missing. He knows he won't rest until the head of this adversarial group is found and eliminated.Just then, Alexander spots a shadow moving stealthily through an upper area of the tavern he hadn't noticed before. Without a second thought, he raises his gun and fires, certain that none of their men would move with such secrecy. If they had discovered access to a concealed upper floor, they would h
One year later."Thank you for coming," the lawyer said, glancing down at his paperwork while adjusting his predictably dull brown suit. Alexander sat beside Jenny, comforting her with a squeeze of her hand. Both were dressed more formally than necessary for the occasion, as they had a significant event to attend afterward."I understand it's been nearly a year since the passing of Eduardo, Jessica, and Julius Swift. We appreciate your patience while we collaborated with the police and other authorities to settle the estate. We are now prepared to proceed with the distribution."Alexander offered Jenny a reassuring squeeze of her hand and exchanged a supportive glance before she turned her attention back to the lawyer, eager to hear what she stood to inherit from her parents."Eduardo Swift's will stated that his entire estate was to be passed on to his wife, Sharon. However, due to her absence during the initial sorting, the estate was set to enter the public domain. Fortunately, a r
As Alexander finally stepped into the room, he laid eyes on Jenny for the first time in days. Guilt had overwhelmed him, fearing she might not survive the attack. He was both shocked and awed by Jenny's bravery when she pushed him aside and took those bullets with such courage. Never before had he witnessed such an act of selflessness, especially from someone so close to him.Alexander replayed the day's events repeatedly, haunted by the memory of Jenny being shot three times by Jessica, who was supposed to be her sister. But then again, Alexander considered, no one in her adoptive family had truly been family to her, except perhaps her mother.He often wondered if he could have acted differently but always arrived at the same conclusion. Jenny was unpredictable—a trait he admired but which also made it difficult for him to protect her from those who wished her harm, particularly Bloody Sapphire and her adoptive family.He could never grasp their family dynamic. How could they treat h
Consciousness rushes back to Jenny like a tidal wave. It's as if she's awakened in the midst of a snowstorm, or as if her body is engulfed in flames. Every nerve in her body screams, reminding her she's alive. Alive.Once the initial flood of overwhelming sensations subsides, she begins to notice the details in the room. First, she feels a smooth, small hand in hers, then hears the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor to her right. The scent of antiseptic fills the air, and she suddenly realizes her mouth is incredibly dry."Water?" she croaks, managing to pry her eyes open, finding Malia standing above her, her hand shaking in Jenny's."Oh my god," Malia exclaims, turning and shouting into the hallway. Jenny flinches back into the pillow, unable to catch all of what Malia says, but it results in a swarm of medical professionals entering, all looking perplexed. Jenny feels like joking about the gunshots being a surprise to her, too, but her dry mouth prevents her from speaking properly
"But—" Jenny began as Jessica lifted the gun toward her. She raised her hands in a gesture to halt Jessica. Her plan would fail miserably if Jessica shot her now, something she might actually do. Jenny glanced at Nancy and Luther, the guilt almost overwhelming. If they hadn't met her, they wouldn't be caught in this tragedy. Drawing a deep breath, she steadied herself."Let them go.""What?" Jessica said, her tears momentarily halting as unkempt hair fell across her shoulder. It was nothing like her usually impeccable style."Listen," Jenny urged, closing her eyes. "There's a safe behind that painting. It holds enough money to give you the life you dream of."Jenny had discovered the safe one day while cleaning and had hurried out to keep Alexander from knowing she saw it. She had once watched him access the safe, revealing stacks of cash and gold."If you release them," Jenny continued, sensing Jessica was listening intently. "I'll tell you the code. Alexander shared it with me in ca
Meanwhile, Jenny arrived back at the sprawling log mansion, which served as Alexander's secluded retreat for himself, his most trusted allies, his mother Nancy, and Luther. Her heart tightened with worry at the thought of innocent, defenseless Luther. It was her fault he was caught in this predicament. She needed to act quickly to save that precious boy; otherwise, nothing would ever be the same for anyone involved.She hurriedly stepped out of the car she had commandeered and sprinted along the path toward the mansion's entrance. Gazing up at the moon, she whispered a silent prayer for Luther, recalling the sparkle in his eyes and his sweet, warm smile, before stepping into whatever chaos awaited beyond those doors.A wave of dread washed over her as she entered. The mansion was littered with fallen guards. Moving quietly into the foyer, she navigated around Alexander's fallen crew, careful and respectful of the somber scene.A soft, choked sob emanated from the center of the mansion
"As soon as I'm done with work," Alexander had reassured him, wrapping Luther in a warm embrace. "I'll come right back. You and me, we'll go fishing, okay?"Luther nodded, hugged him tightly, and told him to enjoy his fishing trip. Alexander kissed his head, oblivious to the idea that someone might find Luther there. He reproached himself now for not fortifying security, knowing he had plenty of enemies. What had he said to Jenny about it?"People with a lot of enemies are usually crushed under that weight. People with a lot of enemies sometimes get set on fire."The vision of his home, his son, and his mother in flames filled him with blinding rage and anxiety. He shoved past a few allies in his haste, knowing he'd apologize later, once he knew Luther was safe. Few in the Dark Wolves, apart from Lemuel, Malia, and Dolf, even knew of his son. Rushing past Anton on a stretcher, Alexander couldn't focus on anyone other than Luther.He skidded to a halt in front of his SUV just as his ph
"Yeah," Alexander replies, moving behind the bar in search of a good bottle of whiskey. Lemuel settles onto one of the barstools. Meanwhile, their team continues rolling up bodies and taking them to the incinerator they had discovered—likely used by the Bloody Sapphire for disposing of their unwanted. It's a more discreet option than transporting truckloads of bodies to the river with dawn approaching."He must have caught wind," Alexander speculates, shaking his head as he pours their drinks. Even though the operation went as smoothly as planned, he can't shake the feeling that something is missing. He knows he won't rest until the head of this adversarial group is found and eliminated.Just then, Alexander spots a shadow moving stealthily through an upper area of the tavern he hadn't noticed before. Without a second thought, he raises his gun and fires, certain that none of their men would move with such secrecy. If they had discovered access to a concealed upper floor, they would h
The Bloody Sapphire were taken completely by surprise when Alexander and his team arrived at their location shortly after three in the morning. They had sent two men ahead to release poison gas into the tavern, with Lemuel assisting the team in fitting their sleek gas masks securely before they entered, allowing the gas time to disperse.Inside, nearly every man in the main area of the bar was found slumped over tables or crumpled on the floor. Alexander's team swiftly eliminated them with silenced bullets, avoiding any unnecessary delays. True to his promise, Alexander ensured the women were left unharmed. He noticed them collapsed over the men, some unconscious with a man's hand inappropriately placed.The women were carefully removed from the pile of bodies and moved to the side, where they were handcuffed to a radiator, in case any harbored loyalties to their group. After the situation was controlled, they planned to bring Jenny in to speak with them, hoping they would recognize h
Jenny catches a glimpse of Dolf and Julius still clashing across the room but disregards them as she lunges at her father's legs, knocking him down hard. She hears the sound of his chin hitting the ground along with a muffled curse before scrambling back on top of him. This time, she aims for his eyes, but he raises his forearms to block her fingers. A primal rage surges through her, a tidal wave of anger.As she lashes out, the memories of all he's put her through flood her mind: Julius's assault, the constant surveillance from the bodyguards, his refusal to believe her even when the truth was self-evident, blaming her for her mother's death, and punishing her by sending her to work for the Bloody Sapphire as if it were an appropriate response.Jenny rains down her fists and elbows upon him, aware that she's screaming but feeling disconnected from the sound escaping her throat. She feels like a whirlwind, a tornado, a storm poised to engulf him. She wants him to experience every ounc