Chapter: 137LAJLA/STELLEZAThe muffled sound of gunshot still rings aloud in my brain, hours after I’d bathed and settled on my bed. Sleep refused to take over and now I’m left to stare at the ceiling and wonder what next.A gentle knock has me sitting up. Red comes in with two mugs of something steamy. Perfect for the cold weather. I grab one, then immediately go to work distracting myself and trying not to look in her direction. If I don’t, then maybe she won’t recall the calamity that happened at the club.Again, this is Red we’re talking about. Nothing goes past her nose without deep scrutiny. Better than I am who would rather pretend not to see it. I don’t care about a lot of things.“Let’s talk about what happened earlier tonight.”“Hmm hmm, this tastes better than all the others you have made, don’t you think?” That’s my pathetic attempt at diverting the topic, of course this will make her prod for words.She gives me a serious look that strips away every trace of amusement from my face.
Last Updated: 2025-05-02
Chapter: 136LAJLA/STELLEZA“Table four in the aisle next to Bri.”“Got it.” I pick the tray, trying to keep the drinks from spilling as well as maintaining my balance on the killer heels on my feet. The place is teeming with hyped, drunk men enjoying the show that the dancers give them.Although there’s a no-touching policy enforced here, some of these men have no idea what it means to keep their hands to themselves at all times.I smile at the customers around the table and they return it as I serve their drinks. They’re still nice and friendly until the booze kicks in. On my way back, I find myself looking at Red as she glides around the pole in that lingerie set I got her. She’s magnificent when she dances and that’s probably why she’s at the centre where most men are spraying her so much cash with reckless abandon.They all love her.She’s Fin’s golden ticket and I’m proud of her. I walk into a hard wall the moment I turn. The apology falls out of my lips before I can stop it. The stranger
Last Updated: 2025-05-02
Chapter: 135LAJLA/STELLEZA“Who is that?” Red asks, with a squint at the woman.Ignoring the dread which has now pooled down at the bottom of my spine, I straighten my posture and tug on her hands. “No one. Come on.”Red complies thankfully. But she still has that thinking look on her face. One where her lips curled into her mouth in thought.“You can’t ignore me forever, Lajla. Me and you have to talk and we have to do it now.” The woman’s stern voice commands again, rattling me in my steps. “Or she gets it.”On another thought, I change my mind about ignoring her. “Um, Red? I’ll need you to be on the lookout for the uber. I’ll be with you in five minutes tops.” I’m already on the move before she can voice her protest.The woman’s lips are curled into a sneer when she sees me approaching. “I knew you’d be a fool to not answer your mother’s call.”“My mother’s dead.” I reiterate, cold and calmly. “I don’t have all night, Arbana. What do you want?”“It’s been what, eight months? Six? You left with
Last Updated: 2025-05-01
Chapter: 134UNKNOWN POVIt’s been one hell of a week running around, bussing all these tables and getting these drunk men to keep their wandering fingers to themselves. How can they even when the only things Phineas lets us wear is some shiny, barely-there silver slip that clings like a second skin. The hem barely brushes the tops of my thighs, and the neckline dips low enough to tease but not reveal it all.Just enough to keep the tips flowing. Thin spaghetti straps dig into my shoulders, sometimes falling off and keeps me wondering when my shift comes to an end. The stupid uniform keeps flashing skin from the right side of me where there’s a high slit.“This is bait, Fin,” I complained one day. “The shoes are killing me. Can we switch to maybe sneakers or something?”“It’s what keeps this place running, honey.” He patted my hand and batted artificial eyelashes at me. “You’re doing just great in them. A few minutes more and I’ll let you off.”So, I suck it up and take it like a good girl. Not
Last Updated: 2025-04-29
Chapter: 133LILIANAI can’t bring myself to look at Theodore as he sits opposite me with legs apart, elbows on knees and head bowed. Is that supposed to be the posture of remorse? What the hell did I walk into?He sighs and raises his head. “Lily, what happened? How did you escape that monster?”I say nothing. Just sit there and stare, wondering if I’m in my right senses if I decide to trust him once more. However, I’d be a fool. Time should have taught me better.“You knew my husband sold me off to the Russian mafia, didn’t you? You were aware of it all. You listened to me get kidnapped by the men Kyle used to mingle with and you did nothing.”His features scrunch up in anger. He shakes his head. “Sold you off? Kyle sold you off?”Irritation flares hot. “Don’t try to make me look foolish, Theo. If it worked in the past, doesn’t mean it can happen again. Tell me the things I need to know. Did you know Kyle was involved in dirty dealings with these men?”He opens his mouth to say something, then s
Last Updated: 2025-04-26
Chapter: 132LILIANA“Don’t feel bad, Liliana. Certain things happen and we have no control over them.” Those are my sister’s words that I try to console myself with. It didn’t matter what situation we were in, she knew the right things to say.But as I sit in this car and gaze at the house I have abandoned for months, I feel like I have lost everything all over again. What words would she have for me if she were still around?Eric gives me a look from the mirror. “I’m sorry if you had to be caught up in the middle of the heat like this. But if there’s anyone to blame, it should be Kyle.”“I don’t think I need that information anymore. Kyle is dead and I’m back home.” Even if it doesn’t feel like one. “You don’t need to apologize. We are all tethered to something one way or the other and owe dues.”He shrugs. “I guess you can put it like that.”Squaring my shoulders, I open the car door and step out. Before I can take more steps, Eric halts me. “I’m not in the best position to say this but you sho
Last Updated: 2025-04-26
Chapter: 87As Seraphiel and Orionis floated into the sky, Orionis glanced at Seraphiel with curiosity. “Why didn’t you take away Damien’s powers? That was the price for Matilda’s life, wasn’t it?”Seraphiel smiled, his gaze fixed on the stars above. “I saw something in him. There’s no one more deserving of the title of the chosen one than Damien.”Orionis chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. “I suppose you’re right.”“Just don’t tell Astrid yet. I hate it when she’s right. She’ll rub it in my face.”With that, the two celestial beings ascended higher, their forms disappearing into the night sky, leaving behind only the faint shimmer of their presence.The wind was harsh against Damien’s face as he walked back home. The air heavy with the scent of rain. The sky was an inky black, clouds hanging low, blotting out the moon and stars. A faint drizzle started to fall, tapping lightly on the ground, and he pulled his coat higher on his shoulder. His boots crunched against the gravel as he strolled
Last Updated: 2024-10-24
Chapter: 86The end?The family of four walked slowly through the familiar streets of Riverdale, but this time, it all felt different. The trees seemed taller, the air crisper, as if the town itself had transformed while they were gone. Claud glanced at the cobblestone streets, feeling a sense of nostalgia pull at him. It was as if each house they passed, each flower blooming in a neighbor’s yard, held a memory waiting to be rediscovered. Lupa’s hand brushed against his, her eyes flicking around, taking it all in with a quiet smile. They hadn’t been gone for long, not even up to a week but somehow, coming back made it feel like an eternity had passed.Damien, walking just behind them, was unusually silent. Normally full of chatter, he now took in everything with wide eyes, as if seeing their hometown for the first time. Clary had fallen behind to inspect a cluster of daisies on the roadside, twirling one between her fingers before skipping back to the group.When they finally reached the fami
Last Updated: 2024-10-24
Chapter: 85The Challenge of the ChosenDay 4As dawn broke on the fourth day, the sun’s rays pierced through the thick canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air was crisp, and the sounds of chirping birds filled the space around them. They packed up their campsite, the smell of charred wood still lingering in the air, a remnant of the stories shared around the campfire.After a quick breakfast of rations, they set off once more, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. Wulfric led the way, his expression serious as he felt the shift in energy around them.“Today will be different,” he warned, his voice low. “The trials will test the chosen one in ways we haven’t encountered yet. The challenge ahead will require not just strength but also wisdom and courage.”“How do you know so much about the chosen one and these trials?” Damien asked.“I’ve been studying these things for a long time because I’ve always craved having a place that we wouldn’t have to hide but be free to be ourselv
Last Updated: 2024-10-24
Chapter: 84Journey to the unknown IIDay 3The morning fog hung thickly in the air, enveloping the forest in an eerie shroud. Unlike the gentle morning mist that usually lifted with the sun, this fog felt heavy and charged with ancient energy, as if the very trees were watching them. Each footstep Damien took sank slightly into the ground, a reminder of the trials ahead, testing their resolve as they ventured deeper into the woods.He glanced at his companions. Claud moved ahead, ever vigilant, his sharp gaze scanning their surroundings. Tara walked closely beside him, her posture alert and tense.“This feels different today,” Damien muttered under his breath.“It is,” Wulfric replied, glancing back. “We’re getting close.”As they continued, the path twisted and changed, narrowing in some places while expanding in others, as though the forest was shifting to confuse them. The trees seemed almost alive, their bark rippling subtly, pulsating with a rhythm that hinted at something deeper below.“Ke
Last Updated: 2024-10-24
Chapter: 83Journey to the unknown.Day 1The pack moved in near silence as they walked through the dense forest, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves beneath their boots and the occasional rustle of branches in the wind. The forest was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, though none seemed to draw near. The air was cool, and the smell of damp earth and pine needles lingered as they pushed deeper into the woods.Damien led the way, Wulfric walking close beside him, while Claud, Tara, Lupa, and Clary flanked the rest of the pack. Wolves prowled in their animal forms, eyes glowing faintly in the shadows, while others remained human, their hands never far from their weapons.The further they walked, the more the forest seemed to change. The trees grew taller, their trunks wider and older, and strange glowing fungi dotted the bases of the trees, casting eerie light across the ground. The pack moved cautiously, alert but undeterred.After several hours of walking, the group suddenly c
Last Updated: 2024-10-24
Chapter: 82ReunionsDamien moved through the dense forest, his footsteps muffled by the thick bed of leaves underfoot. The trees stood tall and imposing around him, their branches twisting like gnarled fingers above his head. Sunlight flickered through the canopy, casting scattered patches of light that danced across the forest floor. The air was cool and fresh, carrying the earthy scent of moss and pine. Every now and then, the sound of a rustling branch or distant bird call made his heart race, but he pushed the anxiety aside, determined to keep moving.The deeper he ventured, the more familiar the path became. He had been here before—just days ago. This was where he had encountered Wulfric, the mysterious figure who had saved his life and then disappeared into the woods. But Wulfric was more than just a savior. He was family. Damien’s grandfather, though that fact had only recently come to light. And now, after days of wrestling with the truth and the destiny Wulfric had spoken of, Damie
Last Updated: 2024-10-24
Chapter: ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOURNEILLA'S POV "You were saying, sweet uncle?" I smiled sweetly at him, enjoying the look on his face. For the first time ever, he bore an expression other than arrogance and it thrilled me to no end. Setting the book down without taking my hands off it nor my eyes off him, I ripped each page disregarding how it scalded my palms. I would heal eventually so it bothered me less. "No! Anything but that, please." He crumbled to his knees, as he begged. "Anything but that. That is all I have of my mate." "Wrong! She did not ask you to avenge her or go taking packs forcefully." I debated in an anger that led me yanking off more pages in quick succession. "If you have lost a mate, you would understand." That touched a sore spot in me and I paused in the middle of my actions. "Lies!" Nia spat out for the first time since I came back to life. "In that book is all the secrets of his existence as a hybrid alongside all the monsters that do his bidding. Do not fall for his wi
Last Updated: 2024-07-08
Chapter: ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE NEILLA'S POV I broke down, in shameful admittance of my failure to her. Everyone spoke of my mother in reverence in awe and when they knew I was her blood, they had exalted expectations of me. Even I had expectations of myself only to be slapped with the wicked truth. I was nothing compared to who my mother was before her death. "That's where you got it wrong, my daughter." My mother cooed, as she framed her face again with her soft hands. "You don't compare to me, I don't compare to you. I let sentiments get me into a trap that cost me my family, that cost me you." "If I had killed Vincent a long time ago, when I should have, you won't be in this mess. But I didn't, because he was family to me. He was my only sibling." She revealed, avoiding my face but laying strict attention to my hair. Was it something about my hair or something about the words she was saying? I wondered, pulling out of her hold. "Vincent was your brother and he killed you?" What kind of blood relation was h
Last Updated: 2024-07-08
Chapter: ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO NEILLA'S POV"That's not true!" Nia pulled my arm, trying her best to dissuade me from confronting Vincent by myself. "You can't be the Alpha's daughter, you don't know what you're saying!" We turned to her, a buzz of energy humming around us as we replied her. "It is true. If you hadn't said that lie, we wouldn't have been brought to our fate."We turned our focus back to Vincent who slowly descended the short flight of stairs, hands behind his back and that cynical smile on his face.The model definition of a psychopath. "No, Neilla. Let me handle him. Save the kids." Lykos ordered as he appeared by us in the blink of an instant. "I said this is my fight!" We roared suddenly. Frightened, the triplets scampered to Lenora quickly. "Stay out of my business and go be with them!" We warned with our voice ringing out clear.The vein in his neck ticked, his jaw did the same. He was angry with us but who cared? We wanted to get things done with once and for all. "Now, now." Venn's faux
Last Updated: 2024-07-08
Chapter: ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE NEILLA'S POV"I can't." Nia said, stopping us in our tracks. Before we started to raise our claws, impatient to strike her down and let ourselves out of the cell, she quickly filled in her reasons."If we do so together, Vincent might discover a little too early of my betrayal to him.""Like you haven't betrayed your own people already."Nia all but snapped at us. "We have already established that, Neilla. You don't have to bring it up everytime." She sighed, "As I was saying, you have to be in here for a few minutes while I go up alone. If the coast is clear, I'll send one of my trusted persons to come get you.""Let's hope they don't betray you too." My wolf spat out cynically before retreating back into the backseat of my head as I took rein now.I felt no remorse for my wolf's words. It was the truth anyway.She said nothing else in reply, went out of the room. Lenora proceeded to secure the locks from within and together we sat in the dim light of the lamp, waiting for her arriv
Last Updated: 2024-07-08
Chapter: ONE HUNDRED AND FORTYNEILLA'S POV My ears picked up on the sounds of commotion from way above us. Nia must have as well because she paused briefly so she could tilt her head to the side and listen. "What is that?" I asked in alarm. She shook her head, rose from her seat. "I cannot say for sure." She ventured close to the heavy doors. "If my guess is right, then Vincent, or should I say Lonnie, has lost his mind yet again." "Tell me, does this happen frequently?" I quizzed, my eyes following her every move even as I paid attention to the distant commotion. "You don't want to know how many times he loses his mind in a day. Whatever character he might have been displaying to you was a faux." She added, finally coming back to sit. The noise had all but stopped. However, it was reduced. I found that the kids were no longer playing with their toys. They probably heard the commotion too. I thought back to the short time Vincent add I spent in each other's presence. I found it almost impossible to
Last Updated: 2024-07-04
Chapter: ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINENEILLA'S POVNia arose from her position to give I and the triplets a moment to ourselves while she stepped to the darker room with the human girl, Lenora. The kids made sure to talk my ear off with half baked stories of their adventures, the friends they made who were just the fake servants that abducted them that day "I told them about our birthday." Jade was saying. She found a spot in the curve of my arm and settled there. "How aunt Nia told us to follow some people so she could have time with us."Her story drew my interest, same time repelled me. Did I really want to know how they were abducted? The truth of how it really happened?I decided against it. "That's enough, Jade. I'm glad you're here with me, alright?" She nodded and as she did so, the tendrils that were peeking from her crown, bounced."When mean uncle said you wouldn't come back to us, it hurt my feelings so much. I yelled at him and told him he was wrong. He was laughing at me." Juno said, his face reflecting t
Last Updated: 2024-07-02
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