Anna's POVThe framed picture of Ghost stared back at me from Damon’s desk, I could see the striking resemblance between them, especially the piercing eyes. I’d come looking for him, but he wasn’t here. The room felt hollow without him. I lingered anyway, unable to leave, drawn in by the faint scent of him that clung to everything. My fingers brushed the edge of Ghost’s frame, a restless energy humming through me as I wandered deeper into the space.This wasn’t how I’d pictured things since we got back from Mexico. I’d imagined us wrapped up in each other, a blur of tangled sheets and breathless nights, orgasm after orgasm until the world outside didn’t matter. Instead, there was this gap between us, a distance I couldn’t bridge no matter how much I wanted to. I sank into the chair at his desk, the leather creaking under my weight, and let out a shaky breath. My body felt alive in a way it never had before, a constant drum of sexual need pulsing through
Anna's POVThen instinct kicked in, and I jerked back, stumbling a step away. “Bonnie, what the hell?” I gasped, my voice shaking, my lips still tingling from her touch.She didn’t answer, just stared at me with those deep, unreadable eyes, her chest rising and falling fast. Then, without a word, she turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her. I stood there, my heart hammering against my ribs, my thoughts a tangled mess. What had just happened? Why would she—?And then it hit me, a slow, shattering clarity. The way she’d held me, the protectiveness in her voice, the way her eyes lingered on me too long—it wasn’t just friendship. Bonnie was in love with me. She’d been in love with me this whole time, and I’d been too blind to see it. Now she was leaving, walking out of my life without explanation, leaving me with the weight of her kiss and the chaos of my own feelings.My legs gave out, and I sank onto the edge of my bed, my hands trembli
Rose POV I sat alone, my fingers tracing the edge of a crystal glass, the amber liquid inside untouched. My reflection stared back at me from the polished surface of the desk—a woman with sharp green eyes and red hair spilling over her shoulders, a far cry from the broken girl I’d once been. I’d come a long way from the orphanage, from the life that had tried to crush me. But even now, with all this power at my fingertips, there was an emptiness gnawing at me, a void I couldn’t fill.I didn’t know where I came from. No mother, no father—just a crib in a gray-walled room, surrounded by other forgotten kids. The nuns at St. Patrick’s Home for Lost Souls had been kind enough, but they couldn’t give me answers. My earliest memories were of cold floors and whispered prayers, of wondering why no one came for me. As I got older, I begged for clues—anything to tell me who I was. I’d had my DNA tested more times than I could count, scraping together every pen
Damon rolled up to the Manzoni mansion alone, his sleek black car humming to a stop in front of the iron gates. He stepped out, smoothing his black jacket—his favorite color, always had been—and took a deep breath. No backup, no crew, just him. He didn’t want this new Donna, whoever she was, thinking he was scared or uneasy. Showing up solo was a power move, a way to say he wasn’t rattled, even if his gut told him this could go sideways fast. Scarlett Manzoni’s death had hit him like a curveball—he hadn’t seen that coming, and now he couldn’t stop wondering how she’d gone down.The security guys at the gate gave him the side-eye, a mix of suspicion and nerves flickering in their stares. They’d heard the stories—Damon Lockwood, the ruthless Don of the Lockwood Clan, a name that carried weight and a shiver down the spine. But seeing him in the flesh? That was new. He caught a couple of them whispering, their hands twitching near their guns, like they weren’t sure if they should bow
Rose took steps toward him, the she stopped just short of touching him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath, smell that spicy perfume that always seemed to linger around her. “I want you, Damon,” she said, her gaze locking onto his, unflinching. “I want you all to myself. No one’s ever shown me what it means to be cared for like you have.”Damon’s chest tightened, her words hitting him like a punch. He’d pulled her out of a dark place years ago, given her a new life, but this—this was something else. His mind flickered with memories of her gratitude, her loyalty, but now it twisted into something deeper, something he wasn’t sure he could handle. He chuckled, the sound rough and tinged with disbelief. “You’re serious?”Her eyes flared, a spark of frustration cutting through the longing. “I killed the Manzoni Queen for you, Damon,” she said, her voice steady despite the weight of her confession. “I took out Scarlett, climbed to the top of this clan, and all I’m a
Anna's POV"My mother used to say, when there’s a heavy downpour of rain, it means the Earth is mourning dead souls."The sharp crackle of lightning lit up the night, followed by a rumble of thunder that seemed to shake the car. The sound jolted me back to reality. I hated thunderstorms—the noise, the darkness, the way my chest tightened every time it struck.I took a shaky breath, trying to focus. "Can you go any faster?" I asked the driver, my voice sharper than I intended.“Sorry, ma’am, but I have to drive carefully. The roads are slick with rain,” he replied, his hands steady on the wheel.I bit my lip, drumming my fingers anxiously on my thigh, feeling like something was clawing inside me. I tried blaming the weather or the pace of the drive, but deep down, I knew there was something else, something I couldn’t shake.Desperate to distract myself, I reached into my bag, searching for my phone. Maybe scrolling through the internet would ease this gnawing
Anna's POVMy head pounded as I came back to consciousness, a dull ache throbbing behind my eyes. I blinked, my vision clearing just enough to catch sight of a man standing over me, his expression as cold as stone. Panic set in, but I tried to keep it hidden, my eyes darting around the room. There were more men, rough, brutal-looking, and then my gaze landed on a particular one amongst them.He sat apart from the others, watching, calm and unreadable. Unlike the others, he didn’t look at us with hostility. Instead, he seemed almost bored, a quiet authority radiating from his relaxed posture. “Get up,” the man in front of me barked, grabbing my arm and yanking me to my feet. My heart raced, but I forced myself to stand steady."Please..." I wanted to speak but a stinging slap to my face stopped my words. The man grabbed my chin, "You don't utter a sound unless you are asked." He said, shoving his scarred face in front of me."Wake the others," he commanded, h
Anna's POVI slept through the night in a room he’d prepared for me in his mansion, but it felt more like a prison than a sanctuary. The memory of my father’s lifeless body, drenched in his own blood, haunted me. What about my sister? My mother? Were they safe? Did they even know I was gone?A fierce anger bubbled within me, directed at the man who had taken me against my will, my so-called “savior.” He was nothing but a demon in disguise, dragging me into a world I wanted no part of.A sharp knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. Before I could even gather my rage, it swung open, and two young maids stepped in, their heads bowed.“Good morning, miss,” one of them said softly. “We’ve brought breakfast. Master requests that you put this on and join him in the main hall when you’re ready.”“Requests?” I spat, “More like demands. Why should I even think about doing anything he says?”They exchanged worried glances, but I didn’t care. I crossed my arm
Rose took steps toward him, the she stopped just short of touching him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath, smell that spicy perfume that always seemed to linger around her. “I want you, Damon,” she said, her gaze locking onto his, unflinching. “I want you all to myself. No one’s ever shown me what it means to be cared for like you have.”Damon’s chest tightened, her words hitting him like a punch. He’d pulled her out of a dark place years ago, given her a new life, but this—this was something else. His mind flickered with memories of her gratitude, her loyalty, but now it twisted into something deeper, something he wasn’t sure he could handle. He chuckled, the sound rough and tinged with disbelief. “You’re serious?”Her eyes flared, a spark of frustration cutting through the longing. “I killed the Manzoni Queen for you, Damon,” she said, her voice steady despite the weight of her confession. “I took out Scarlett, climbed to the top of this clan, and all I’m a
Damon rolled up to the Manzoni mansion alone, his sleek black car humming to a stop in front of the iron gates. He stepped out, smoothing his black jacket—his favorite color, always had been—and took a deep breath. No backup, no crew, just him. He didn’t want this new Donna, whoever she was, thinking he was scared or uneasy. Showing up solo was a power move, a way to say he wasn’t rattled, even if his gut told him this could go sideways fast. Scarlett Manzoni’s death had hit him like a curveball—he hadn’t seen that coming, and now he couldn’t stop wondering how she’d gone down.The security guys at the gate gave him the side-eye, a mix of suspicion and nerves flickering in their stares. They’d heard the stories—Damon Lockwood, the ruthless Don of the Lockwood Clan, a name that carried weight and a shiver down the spine. But seeing him in the flesh? That was new. He caught a couple of them whispering, their hands twitching near their guns, like they weren’t sure if they should bow
Rose POV I sat alone, my fingers tracing the edge of a crystal glass, the amber liquid inside untouched. My reflection stared back at me from the polished surface of the desk—a woman with sharp green eyes and red hair spilling over her shoulders, a far cry from the broken girl I’d once been. I’d come a long way from the orphanage, from the life that had tried to crush me. But even now, with all this power at my fingertips, there was an emptiness gnawing at me, a void I couldn’t fill.I didn’t know where I came from. No mother, no father—just a crib in a gray-walled room, surrounded by other forgotten kids. The nuns at St. Patrick’s Home for Lost Souls had been kind enough, but they couldn’t give me answers. My earliest memories were of cold floors and whispered prayers, of wondering why no one came for me. As I got older, I begged for clues—anything to tell me who I was. I’d had my DNA tested more times than I could count, scraping together every pen
Anna's POVThen instinct kicked in, and I jerked back, stumbling a step away. “Bonnie, what the hell?” I gasped, my voice shaking, my lips still tingling from her touch.She didn’t answer, just stared at me with those deep, unreadable eyes, her chest rising and falling fast. Then, without a word, she turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her. I stood there, my heart hammering against my ribs, my thoughts a tangled mess. What had just happened? Why would she—?And then it hit me, a slow, shattering clarity. The way she’d held me, the protectiveness in her voice, the way her eyes lingered on me too long—it wasn’t just friendship. Bonnie was in love with me. She’d been in love with me this whole time, and I’d been too blind to see it. Now she was leaving, walking out of my life without explanation, leaving me with the weight of her kiss and the chaos of my own feelings.My legs gave out, and I sank onto the edge of my bed, my hands trembli
Anna's POVThe framed picture of Ghost stared back at me from Damon’s desk, I could see the striking resemblance between them, especially the piercing eyes. I’d come looking for him, but he wasn’t here. The room felt hollow without him. I lingered anyway, unable to leave, drawn in by the faint scent of him that clung to everything. My fingers brushed the edge of Ghost’s frame, a restless energy humming through me as I wandered deeper into the space.This wasn’t how I’d pictured things since we got back from Mexico. I’d imagined us wrapped up in each other, a blur of tangled sheets and breathless nights, orgasm after orgasm until the world outside didn’t matter. Instead, there was this gap between us, a distance I couldn’t bridge no matter how much I wanted to. I sank into the chair at his desk, the leather creaking under my weight, and let out a shaky breath. My body felt alive in a way it never had before, a constant drum of sexual need pulsing through
Damon's POVThe rooftop of the mansion was my last refuge, a place where the chaos of the world below couldn’t quite reach me. The night was cold, the air sharp with the scent of distant rain. I stood near the edge, hands gripping the iron railing, staring into the void. My room had felt too small tonight, its walls closing in with every unanswered question, every festering doubt. Up here, at least, I could breathe—even if every breath tasted like fear.I’d never been in this position before. Me, Damon, the guy who always had a plan, always knew the next move. Now? I was teetering on the edge of something I couldn’t name, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure I’d make it out alive. The Manzoni Clan lingered in my thoughts like a shadow I couldn’t shake. They had to be behind this—the deaths, the chaos, the unraveling of everything I’d built. But who was their mole? Someone close, someone I’d let into my circle. The betrayal gnawed at me, a dull ache tha
Anna's POVThe mansion stood tall ahead of us as the car slowed to a stop, the tires crunched against the gravel driveway, a sound that grated against my already disturbed nerves. Damon’s hand was warm in mine, his fingers laced tightly with my own, but there was something off—something I couldn’t ignore. Even though we were touching, he felt distant, detached, like a wall had sprung up between us. His jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed straight ahead, avoiding mine. I squeezed his hand, hoping for some reassurance, but he didn’t respond. He was here with me, physically, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.We stepped out of the car, and the cool evening air hit me like a slap, sharpening my senses. The mansion’s heavy wooden doors swung open as we approached, revealing a group of Damon’s men waiting inside. Their faces were etched with determination, and the tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. I clung to Damon’s hand a little tighter,
Anna's POVMy hand pressed harder against my mouth, muffling the gasp that tore out of me. The room tilted, the edges blurring as my knees wobbled beneath me. Damon’s men stood there, their pale faces carved from stone, waiting for me to say something, do something. But I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Ghost—Damon’s sister, the one he’d spoken of with that quiet reverence—was gone. Murdered. And Damon… where the hell was he?“Where did he go?” My voice came out sharp, cracking at the edges as I lowered my hand. My fingers trembled, and I clenched them into fists to hide it.The taller man—the one with the buzz cut—shifted his weight, his jaw tight. “We don’t know. He got the message, went silent, then grabbed his keys and left. Told us to get you to the mansion before he drove off.”“When?” I demanded, stepping closer. “When did this happen?”“About an hour ago,” he said, his eyes flicking away from mine, like he couldn’t stand the weight of my stare.An ho
Anna's POVRelief hit me like a punch to the chest when Damon stepped into that alley, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. But then I saw his eyes—glowing red, and my breath caught, snagging on a spike of shock. Relief twisted into something else, something jagged and raw, as the reality of what I was seeing sank in.“Two alphas?” one of the men yelped, his jaw dropping so fast it might’ve hit the pavement. The others gaped, their faces slack with disbelief, but I barely registered them. My eyes were locked on Damon.“I told you to leave her alone,” he roared, and then his body… changed. His shoulders broadened, his limbs stretched, fur sprouting over his skin as he towered into something massive—a Lycan, a werewolf straight out of a nightmare. My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a scream. I’d known he was different—odd, secretive—but this? This was beyond anything I’d ever imagined. I’d faced a vampire in Mexico, felt its cold breath on my