STEPHEN'S POV It took a while, but Ardyn finally finished getting ready. And when he did, he came running out with an oversized jersey and jorts. The jersey was customised, clearly. It had the numbers zero and seven on the front and nineteen on the back. Also on the front, at the top left corner, was Ardyn's name in gold block letters with “ARD” being on top and “YN” being underneath. It was somehow done in a way that they were all still within the same space, regardless of the extra letter. At the back, on top of the number nineteen was “Goldberg” in all capital letters, and in gold just like the number. The main colour theme for the jersey was black and gold, but the gold numbers were outlined with white a bit. His jorts were mid blue, and they were slightly baggy as well. Ardyn had a pair of black Naked Wolfe sneakers on, and they were the type that was all black except for the brand name on them that was written in white. He had white socks on as well. He had his hair down, t
DENZEL'S POV“P-Please.” I clicked my tongue, annoyed and tired at the same word repeated at us by the same person. It was a new girl I had seen the others dragging in about two days ago. I wasn't sure of her age, but if I were to guess I would say she would be around sixteen or seventeen years. Worst case scenario, maybe fifteen years old. I was seated on one of the only chairs in the basement dungeon of the mansion. For some reason, I was on guard duty for the new girls today. I figured it was the best punishment Nightshade could think of when I told him what I did to Andrew. Of course though, I left out the details since I didn't want to be asked questions that I wouldn't know how to answer properly. It wasn't so bad. I had received a slap or two, and then I was choked against a wall for taking actions like that without permission. I think he decided I would be more useful being kept alive or something, but he must've felt that I still needed to be punished for my, quote on quote
DENZEL'S POV I was never really the kind to share things with people. Except it was food, of course. I loved my things, and anything labelled as my property was simply just that: my property. It wasn't like I was obsessed with things or anything crazy like that. I simply just didn't like it when people touched things that belonged to me. I didn't like the fact that I had to stay and stand still upright as another man — a disgusting one that just happened to be my boss at that — fondled with and touched my woman. Nightshade's hand slid up higher and higher, and I was starting to wonder if he would finger her or do something sexual — or at least more sexual than this — right in front of me. I wasn't the kind of person to beat around the bush, nor was I the kind to make empty threats. When I said something, be it out loud or in my head, I would follow through with it for sure, under any circumstance and without taking possible consequences into consideration. So, as I continued to
DENZEL'S POV Sometimes in life, or well, mine specifically, there were certain stages you would reach where you had to do things you didn't want to. I would like to honk that I had once again reached that stage, If you looked back, and thought of where you started from and how far you've come — be it down a negative path or a positive path — sometimes you would be proud of yourself, other times though, you would wish your mother had truly aborted you when she had the chance. I grew up wrongly, and I was a strong believer in the self quotes that say that I shouldn't have grown at all. I should've killed myself, and I should've jumped off the bridge that day. All hopes and future aspirations be damned. I could remember that day like it was yesterday. It was merely a few weeks after my parents had sold me and I was living here with Nightshade. It was the day he'd first made me kill someone, and I was self aware enough that I could admit that I wasn't taking it well at the time. It a
DENZEL'S POV I took her hand in mine, rubbing circles into the back of it. Her skin was somewhat wrinkly, and her skin was so pale I could see her veins even without her having to flex her palm. Cynthia had soft skin, I had to give her that. My hands were bigger than hers by a lot, and it was almost cute. It was bordering on irritating how much she reminded me of my mother. I sighed, briefly looking at Miguel Angel as he tied the handkerchief over her mouth. There was already a bucket filled with warm water with a clean towel on it so Miguel Angel could clean her up and take her back to the cage when we were done. Well, if she didn't die from blood loss at least. I normally didn't gag my toys when I played with them, but I had enough fun with her today, and I would like to believe I had relieved enough stress. So, it was time to get that gift for Devina, and I was pretty sure the pain from whatever I would end up doing would shock her awake or something like that. The problem wa
BAEKALIS’ POV I sat in my room, well I was trying to sit at least. I went from pacing around, to sitting down for a bit and then back to pacing around again. Cyrus was still in the living room the last time I checked, but that had been a while ago. I was sure he would've already gone back to his own room by now. I felt a pang in my chest at the thought. Cyrus hadn't been to his own room in months, ever since we got together. Even if he did go, it was only for a few seconds to grab some clothes that he hadn't moved over to my room yet. I felt bad, and as if I was mad at him for no reason. But I wasn't. I needed Cyrus to understand the fact that he couldn't just not tell me stuff and I would be okay with it. It was demeaning and it made me feel…unimportant in some way. Like he could just replace me anytime he wanted to. He had already proposed, and we were supposed to start talking about wedding plans once this whole thing with Nightshade was over. But that didn't mean he had to push
STEPHEN'S POV “I don't think this is a good idea,” the man said for the umpteenth time that night. I kicked my feet from where I was seated at the back of the unfamiliar car, sighing as I went through the plan in my head over and over again. Was this really worth it? “You don't think anything is a good idea, except it's yours. And yours usually suck ass, by the way,” the only woman among us scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Shut the fuck up, Denzel.”The aforementioned placed a hand on his chest, his mouth falling open as he acted offended. “I'm sorry? I have great ideas. Right, Miguel Angel?”We all turned to the guy that was seated beside me, who was quietly playing with his fingers. He visibly shrunk at the glares he received, probably wondering who he was going to please. “Y-Yes, sir…” he finally said. Denzel cheered, smiling at the female cheekily. “See? I told you. You're just a hater, Devina.”“Oh, please. He just said that because he's scared shitless,” Devina huffed, rolling h
CYRUS’ POVI yawned tiredly as the sun shone into my eyes, turning over as I felt for Baek, wanting to give her a good morning kiss.I patted the space beside, me feeling for her small frame before I groggily sat up.I sluggishly made my way to the bathroom, my feet refusing to move with each step I took as I yawned tiredly.“Darling?” I called out, peeping into the bathroom as I moved my hair out of my face.I moved to the corridors, calling out as the maids paused what they were doing briefly, giving me confused looks as I shouted out the name of my fiance.Clyde trudged out of his room, his eyes full and droopy from sleep.“What's going o…on?” He asked, yawning as he walked toward me, hands deep in his pocket as he leaned onto the wall, closing his eyes again.He never was a morning person.“Do you know where Baek is?” I asked, worry seeping into my tone as I craned my neck around his slender frame, his caramel scent gently wafting into my nose as he mumbled in his sleep.“Clyde!”
BAEKALIS’ POVI stood nervously in the dressing room, turning around so I was faced away from the mirror as I played with the rings that adorned my fingers. My wedding ring shone the brightest among them all, the gem glowing in a way that I had never seen before. It amazed me every single time. Sadly, this wasn't one of the special times that the glimmer managed to calm me down. “Sweetheart, you're overreacting. It's not that deep.”I snapped my neck around again to glare daggers at Natalia, folding my arms across my chest as she flinched at my look. She stared at me pointedly for a few more seconds before deciding to call me a bluff. She mirrored my look, hers accompanied with the same subtle eyebrow raise that Cyrus did all the time. “Mhm, don't look at me like that. You also know you're overreacting.” Natalia turned to look at Ardyn who was seated on the couch next to her, his attention fully directed at his switch.Clyde had finally gotten him one for his tenth birthday a few
DEVINA'S POVI sighed, soaking myself in the water even more as I let myself sink. My muscles were aching, and for the first time in a while, I felt relaxed. My face felt smooth, and my hair was neatly tied in a bun and my whole skin was tingling. Soft classical piano resonated around the room through the speakers situated at the four corners of the walls. The speakers were connected to my phone, and I genuinely wouldn't mind being murdered here. Sonata No. 14, “Moonlight” in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: I. Adagio sostenuto. It was a particular favourite of mine ever since I had started listening to classical music. Which was, admittedly, only quite recently. Although, I didn't think my opinion about it being one of my favourites would be changing any time soon. I heard footsteps echoing from down the hall, sounding louder and louder as the owner of the two feet approached the bathroom. I only sighed louder, letting my eyes flutter close as I rested my head against the edge of t
Cyrus POV.The alpha rogue howled outside as if calling me, red filled my vision as I transformed, stepping over bodies as I made my way outside.The cool breeze blew our fur, his beady black eyes glinting wickedly in the moonlight. We both detransformed.“Ending your parents was just the beginning, I'll kill you then proceed to end the rest of your pathetic pack.”“Your father was a weakling who never deserved to rule.”“What's shocking is he had an even weaker son who succeeded in being a worse Alpha than he was.”I cut him off, sending an uppercut to his stomach as he lurched backwards, clutching his stomach.He lunged at me, his claws gleaming in the moonlight, I bent as low as I could, kicking him from under and sending him flying towards the entrance.He fell on the tiles with a large this, the stood up, limping as he wiped blood from his mouth, a sinister look in his eye as he transformed.I transformed too, slowly advancing towards him, howls and battle cries distant as his gre
CYRUS’ POV Baek switched between happy and depressed over the next fortnight. Her moods went from immense joy to overwhelming sadness in a matter of days. Her mother had holed herself up in her room ever since the night of the announcement. Thomas was cremated and his ashes were kept in a jar in Cynthia's room, the jar kept in a glass case which hung decoratively over her bed.We– especially I– were all worried for Baek, tiptoeing on eggshells around her all the time, careful not to upset her for fear she'd breakdown.“Hey,” I whispered softly, coming out the bathroom as I tightened the sweatpants which hung low on my waist.I went to her and softly kissed the top of her head, sitting behind her as I massaged her shoulders.“How are you holding up?” I asked, burrowing my fingers deeper into her shoulder, fighting the knots there.“It all still feels unreal. It's like trying to balance being the mother of twin newborns while mourning the death of my father and trying to be there for m
DEVINA'S POV“We have to strike now!” Nightshade boomed as he turned towards the pack of rogues…the same rogues who murdered Alpha Cyrus' parents.“Why? It's not the designated time yet. Our soldiers aren't fully trained yet and your top soldier just recovered from a fatal injury…”“I hardly think we are in any position to ‘strike now’.”“Oh, but we are dear Alpha. Cyrus' father in law was murdered in the same battle that my Denzel was wounded.”Your Denzel?“Combining the death of her father with the birth and kidnapping of her children, Baekalis is weak and emotionally unstable right now. And if she is, automatically her husband — Cyrus — is too.“Now is the perfect time to strike because they are so downcast and fucking disoriented.”“B-but–”“But what?!” Nightshade boomed, his voice echoing through the night, the distant cry of the birds echoing through the dense forest.“Lower your voice.” The alpha commanded, growling as he faced Nightshade.Nightshade sighed in exasperation, ru
Cyrus POV.I don't know how long I lay there, I turned my neck, the stiffness making it hard as I took in the bloodiness of my surroundings. I looked at Denzel again, his eyes were closed so just to be sure I pressed my ear to his chest.It rose and fell slowly, a calming rhythm to his breaths. I pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose as I stood up gingerly, stretching as I reached for a makeshift first aid box in the corner of the room. I poured alcohol on a semi-clean rag and silently apologised as I pressed the rag to his thigh. He winced and woke up, he saw me and his frantic eyes softened as he clenched my cloak. I slowly wiped the blood off the surrounding areas and cleaned his wound as best I could, I then tore an piece of my cloak and used it to wrap the injury.That would help for now.I snuggled into his chest, not caring whether nightshade would see us anymore. He groggily turned and pressed a kiss to my forehead, falling asleep quickly after. ~•~I slowly sat up, rubbing
CYRUS’ POV I kicked the stone I had been fixated on for the past half hour away from me. Stephen had been gone for a while and we were all losing hope. Of course none of us said it directly, but with each passing day, our shoulders slumped more, we became more sluggish and the vigour which had been there days ago slowly died.I don't even know who was more affected by the kidnapping of Ciel and Lyra– me or Thomas, my father in law.I stood up, dusting myself off as Stephen rushed towards me, looking more anxious than usual if that was even fucking possible.“Cyrus, we need to move…now!” he ordered, rousing the others from their resting places. “What…why?” I questioned, rubbing my temple as I arched my back, the satisfying crack it made as I stretched.“The twins…I know where they are…” he trailed off, picking up his gun and putting out the fire he and Thomas had struggled to ignite mere hours before.My eyes shot open at that, my somewhat calm psyche thrown into another frenzy as b
Devina's POV.The morning sunlight filtered softly through the heavy curtains, casting a warm, golden hue across the room. I was still half-asleep, drifting between dreams and reality, when I felt Devina stir beside me. Her warmth was a comforting presence, and I wanted nothing more than to stay wrapped up in her embrace, blocking out the dangers that waited beyond these walls. But even in this peaceful moment, there was an unspoken tension in the air, a reminder that our time together was always fleeting.I slowly became more aware of the world around me, the softness of the bed, the gentle rise and fall of Devina’s breath. But I kept my eyes closed, savoring the feeling of her fingers threading through my hair, the tender way she touched me. It was rare to see her like this—calm, unguarded, and not weighed down by the burdens she carried. I wanted to hold onto it, just a little longer.But reality had other plans.I felt her movements slow, the gentle strokes of her hand in my hair
As the door closed behind Nightshade, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The tension in my shoulders slowly unwound, though the heaviness in my chest remained. His presence was like a cold, suffocating fog that seeped into every corner of the room, and even after he was gone, the chill lingered. I walked over to the window, pulling back the heavy curtain to peer out into the night. The sky was pitch black, with no stars to offer comfort, just the same oppressive darkness I had grown accustomed to.I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, my breath fogging the glass as my thoughts spiraled. It was always the same when Nightshade left. Relief mingled with dread, the uneasy calm before the storm. I was his lover, his confidante, but only because I had to be. The mask I wore in his presence felt like a second skin, a permanent skin I could never fully shed. I was trapped in this role, suffocated by the lies I told myself and him. There was no escape, not without payi