"Dad, stop!" The anguished cry resonates through the room, originating from the depths of Elena's desperation. With a sudden surge of strength, she managed to wrench her father away from Charlotte.On the other side of this harrowing struggle, Charlotte, her tenuous grip on life slipping like fine sand through her fingers, clutches her throat in agonizing torment. Gasping for the precious breath she had so nearly lost, her eyes widen with the stark realization of how close she had come to death."I'm deeply sorry. I let my anger get the better of me," Leo confesses, his words laden with the crushing weight of remorse. Elena, embodying a remarkable gesture of compassion, enveloped her father in a tight and comforting embrace, offering solace through her mere presence."I comprehend your feelings, Dad," she says, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. "No one harbors a stronger desire for her demise than I do, but we must allow the authorities to handle this matter. I have alrea
~~2:47 pm~~Watching Leo crumble under the weight of grief over Alice's death, caused Elena's heart to ache, as tears flowed freely from her eyes.Elena realized how fortunate Astrid had been to spend precious moments with their mother before her untimely passing. It was a privilege she couldn't ignore, considering the stark contrast to her life without motherly love. The thought of this left a deep, gnawing ache in her heart.Just as Leo was on the verge of suggesting that Astrid call her sister from her room, Elena made an entrance into the dining room."Please, join us," Leo invites, his warmth radiating through the room."Alright, dad," Elena took a seat beside Astrid. Their meal commenced in solemn silence, a reflection of the heavy thoughts that loomed over them.Upon concluding their meal, Leo and Elena disclosed the sinister truth about Charlotte's evil actions. Astrid's reaction was a maelstrom of emotions—shock, fury, and a heart-wrenching sadness—as the horrific reality of C
"I—" Leo's mouth was agape as he desperately tried to articulate the thoughts that swirled within. Yet, the crushing weight of the terrible news rendered him momentarily mute, and it dawned on him that everything he had painstakingly built over countless years hovered on the brink of impending collapse."Dad, you need to stop the car now!" Astrid's voice rang out in a frantic plea, her eyes wide with concern as she observed her father's visibly distraught state. She couldn't fathom what kind of news could have caused this sudden transformation in him, but the urgency of the situation demanded immediate action.Leo, trembling with despair, guides the car to the side of the road with trembling hands, swiftly turning off the ignition. His forehead came to rest heavily against the steering wheel. His mind raced through countless scenarios and potential solutions, but a cruel emptiness seemed to engulf his every idea. It was as if the universe had conspired to rob him of his ingenuity at
Elena ventures into Astrid's room with precise timing, the clock hands aligning perfectly at 6:00 AM. In that serene hour, the morning light filters through the curtains, infusing the room with a tender, almost poetic luminosity. It was as if the dawn itself had decided to paint a masterpiece within those four walls.Astrid lay swathed in her bed, the tendrils of sleep still caressing her like a lover's gentle snuggle. Elena, determined yet mindful of her sister's need for rest, initiated her wake-up mission with the lightest of taps on Astrid's shoulder. Astrid, in response, emits a soft, raspy grumble, the initial protest of one reluctantly torn from the snuggle of sleep. Elena, unperturbed, issues her roguish morning warning, "Wake up, sleepyhead, while I'm still in a good mood!""It's still early… just a little more sleep, please."Elena couldn't help but tease, "How can you become Queen when you adore sleep so much?"With a hint of regal sassiness, Astrid retorts, "Well, a queen
"Are you feeling alright?" Elena inquires, genuine concern in her voice as she watched Astrid's furious expression. "Maybe, just this once, you could consider skipping training?"Astrid's resolve flares in response to Elena's suggestion. She shakes her head firmly. "There's absolutely no way I'm skipping training today, Elena. Blaze is mine, and I won't back down. Anyone who doesn't like it can go fuck themselves!" Her voice rose with conviction, ensuring her declaration echoed throughout the training area. However, her defiant words seemed to elicit even more disdainful glances and the occasional scoff from fellow trainees.Elena couldn't help but tease Astrid, a puckish twinkle in her eyes. "No need to raise your voice, you know. Remember, they have superhuman hearing?"Astrid's response was a dismissive roll of her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Besides, they are humans here too, right?""Yeah, you are right. You do need to scream."With that, the rigorous training session commenced,
"Elena, please refrain from interfering. Our training session isn't complete yet, and it's a mandatory part of our routine to engage in a ten-minute sparring match. Currently, we've only gone through eight minutes. You, of all people, are well aware of the established protocols," Kael firmly reminds Elena."Rules? What fucking rules? Assuming, of course, you don't end up endangering my sister long before that time."Kael heaves a weary sigh, he hated it when they argued. "Your sister possesses remarkable strength; she's far more capable than you might realize."Summoning an impressive surge of energy, Astrid propels her upper body gracefully off the ground, her every motion exuding a blend of grace and controlled might. The rest of her body followed in a fluid motion, her legs pushing against the ground as she rose to her feet.With tenacity in her voice, Astrid confides in Elena, "Elena, I've got this."Elena, her teeth clenched with worry, counters, "No, you can't handle this. You're
"You pervert! You promised to call, but you didn't, and I'm seriously mad at you right now," she protests, making a valiant effort to extricate herself from his grasp, though her struggles proved futile."I apologize," he mumbles, and a collective gasp of astonishment swept through the onlookers. Had the Alpha just issued an apology? The Alpha, renowned for his tenacious authority and commanding presence, was not known to apologize, at least not in public. This woman seemed to be chiseling away at his steely exterior, making him soft."I did call you last night," he continues, his voice softer. "But your phone was switched off."Her battery had drained while she was out with her dad, and sleep from the exhaustion had claimed her before she had the chance to recharge it.Her expression remained somewhat stern as she counters, "You should have called me earlier," she scolds, crossing her arms in a display of mild exasperation."I'm sorry, baby." He tenderly planted a kiss on her cheek a
"Blaze!" Astrid's exclamation pierces the room for what felt like the umpteenth time, finally succeeding in snapping him out of his lascivious daydreams. His cheeks flushed with a telltale hue of embarrassment as his mind shifted away from its indecent reverie. A frustrated, inner expletive escapes his lips. Fuck!"What on earth were you thinking about? I've been calling out to you countless times," Astrid inquires, her gaze dropping provocatively to the bulge straining against his trousers.Inwardly, she couldn't help but label this man as a libertine. He wasn't seriously imagining screwing her? Her sly smirk conveyed her certainty that he had indulged in salacious fantasies. She leaned back in his plush office chair, crossing her enticing legs in a manner designed to taunt."You don't honestly believe I invited you to your office with the intention of having sex with you, do you?" She folds her arms and regards him, a mixture of astonishment and amusement dancing in her eyes."No? I