Semua Bab Rejected by His Brother, Fated to the Lycan King: Bab 51 - Bab 60

(Iris)We were ordered to leave at midnight. The hours ticked by slowly, each one marked by the oppressive silence of pack house. Despite the agreement we’d reached, the door remained locked, a constant reminder that we were still their prisoners. The thought gnawed at me, but neither Jasper nor I had any desire to explore this creepy place. Jasper was still on his bed, staring out the window with a hurt look in his eyes. His expression was distant, lost in some interval struggle that he refused to share. I watched him for a moment, feeling a mix of frustration and concern. What was the matter with him this time? I approached him cautiously. “Jasper, what’s wrong?” Without warning, he grabbed my forearm and dragged me down to the floor with him. We both landed in a tangled heap. “What is wrong with you?” I yelled, pushing against his chest to gain some distance. His response was to put his other hand behind my neck and kiss me, hard. This was very much our old routine, a p

(Naomi)Seeing them together still hurts. No matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, the sight of Jasper and Iris together feels like a dagger to my heart. They moved through the dense forest with a familiarity that speaks of trust, something I once shared with them but no longer can. Jasper grabbed a thorny tree branch to clear a path for Iris, his movements gentle despite the ruggedness of the task. When he saw me, his eyes filled with sadness and guilt. But now I really couldn't care less. Those emotions belong to another time, another Naomi. I need to protect myself. I can’t rely on the men in my life anymore. Jasper, father… they’ve all betrayed me in their own ways. “I gathered that he sent you back to kill Elias, right?” I started when they were close enough. My voice was steady, betraying none of the turmoil inside. “What are you doing here!” Iris doesn’t seem to hear my question, but the look on Jasper’s face told me that I am right. He knows what’s at

(Seraphina)The stronghold echoed with an oppressive stillness that weighed on my shoulders like a leaden cloak. It reminded me of the tension before a storm. Despite the flickering torches and bustling activity of the warriors, an unshakeable melancholy filled the air. It was a stark contrast to the freedom and simplicity of my rogue days, a life I now found myself yearning for in the moments of bleak introspection. When I was a rogue, decisions were mine alone and the burdens were lighter. Lucas, or Elias, had physically recovered from the wolfsbane’s poison, his strength and vitality restored. And yet, his spirit seemed to dwindle with each passing day. Mentally, he had not recovered. Today, his usual restraint snapped like a brittle branch in a storm, unleashing a fury that startled everyone around him. Even a young servant, nervous and fumbling, bore the brunt of his anger for a minor spill. It wasn’t like him. The poison had changed him. At least, that’s what everyone else

(Iris)I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves before speaking. “Seraphina, there’s a lot you need to know. Things have changed, and we can’t afford any more misunderstandings.” Her eyes remained cold and skeptical, but she didn’t interrupt me. I took that as a small victory and plunged ahead. “We found evidence of a plot against Elias,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “It involves Caden and his sister. They’ve been orchestrating fights in the woods, trying to create chaos and weaken Elias’s position.” Seraphina’s expression didn’t soften, but she leaned in slightly, indicating that she was listening. I pressed on. “Caden has his men try and kill Jasper. We ran off into the woods because they were trying to kill us. Then we got kidnapped by Caden’s men. I think he was trying to make it look like Elias couldn’t control his pack. I know they wanted to make it look like Jasper and I ran off together.” Seraphina’s eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, anger, confusion

(Iris)The night stretched on, each tick of the clock a slow drip of agony. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the hours pressing down on me. The waiting was both excruciating, boring and nerve-wracking. The room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon filtering through the thin curtains. The shadows danced on the walls, creating shapes that seemed to taunt me with their ever-shifting forms. Nervous energy buzzed through me like a swarm of angry bees, making it impossible to find any semblance of peace. I tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but the anxiety gnawing at my insides wouldn’t let me rest. Every creak of the floodboards, every rustle of the leaves outside, set my heart racing. After what felt like an eternity but was probably only thirty minutes, I felt Jasper stir beside me. He moved closer, his arm snaking around my waist from behind. His touch was warm and familiar, a small comfort in the midst