“What are you going to do?” I whispered, my voice sounding unfamiliar. The guard unlocked my cell for Jack to enter and I felt my heart falling into my stomach. My body trembled violently as he made his way closer to me. A wicked grin spread across his face. “I need answers, and you are going to give them to me,” he told me, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “I told you everything already,” I said in return. “I don’t believe you for a second,” he hissed. He motioned for the guard to grab me; he did without hesitation. He grabbed my arms, pulling me to my feet and lifting me in the air like I was nothing. He treated me like a rag doll as he walked me to the other side of the cell and toward the chains on the wall. Fear was overcoming me as he placed the chains around my wrists and my legs, keeping me bound to the wall. The chains tightened, making it impossible for me to move despite how hard I tried. Jack waited patiently for the guard to finish with the chains and back
Hannah’s POV“Get up, thief,” a guard said from the doors of my cell.I opened my swollen eyes and tried to peer through the darkened atmosphere; I could almost make the shape of the guard standing before me. He was bulky and towered over me in an intimidating manner. His aura was darker than the room itself; I knew he wasn’t one of Sebastian’s guards. He had to have been Jack’s.I struggled to stand to my feet; my entire body was bruised from when Jack beat me earlier that day. I grabbed the edge of the concrete wall and pulled myself to my feet.The guard stared at me, shaking his head with disgust.“I’m too weak…” I muttered, trying to keep the weakness out of my tone, but I failed to do so. I coughed immediately after speaking and I tumbled back to the ground as blood escaped through my lips.He must have damaged my ribs if I was coughing up blood.“Your trial is starting soon, you need to get to the courtroom,” he ordered; there were no emotions in his tone. He had zero compassio
Sebastian’s POVRosalie was the girl that was screaming in the kitchen when she found her brother’s dead body. Magnolia killed her brother and tried to frame Sebastian for the crimes. He hadn’t seen this girl since so he assumed Magnolia allowed her to take a leave of absence, or maybe even let her go. He couldn’t believe she was standing before them as Magnolia’s key witness though.Surely Magnolia didn’t pay her to go against him like this?Rosalie looked nervous as she scanned the courtroom. Her eyes found Magnolia and her entire body tensed. Something was going on that Sebastian didn’t know about and the thought was irritating. One look at Hannah’s confused face showed that this whole thing had to have been a giant lie from the beginning.“Please state your name,” The judge ordered her.“Rosalie…” she said. Her voice was soft and quivered as she spoke. “Rosalie Parker.”“And what is your business at the palace?” He asked.She was hesitant for a moment; she was really nervous.“I’m
Hannah’s POV“What?” I breathed.My heart stopped in my chest as I stared at Dr. Davis’s serious expression. My body trembled and it took everything in my power to not run from the courtroom.My brother was missing. How could this have happened? He wouldn’t have just run away like that. Would he?No. My father must have done something. He must have gotten to Liam’s room and taken him once he found out that he was no longer on his visiting list. That must have been what happened.My heart was squeezing tightly to the point where it was too painful, I could hardly breathe. Nora was impatient and we needed to get out of here. We needed to find my brother.“What do you mean he’s missing?” Sebastian asked for me.“I went to check on him this morning and he wasn’t in his room. We searched everywhere. Nobody saw anyone go in there,” Dr. Davis explained; his eyes never leaving my face.I felt like my entire world was crashing down around me.“Why are we delaying the sentencing any further tha
Sebastian’s POV“Where are you going to go?” Arnold asked as Sebastian stormed out of the courtroom.Everyone was beginning to disperse from the courtroom to resume their duties for the days. He knew Magnolia wasn’t happy about the delay in the trial, but he didn’t care. He needed to buy himself some time so he could prove Hannah was innocent and convict the ones who were really guilty.As he walked through the foyer, toward the front door of the palace, Arnold appeared closely behind him with his new mate, Hannah’s friend, Raya, trailing behind. She looked nervous and terrified of everything that was going on around her.He didn’t blame her. He almost felt guilty that she was thrown into such trouble.He paused at the front door to turn back to Arnold so he could answer his question.“I need to find Liam,” Sebastian told him. “You and Raya need to stay here. I told the guards to allow visitors. I don’t want Hannah to be alone for long. You saw how she looked…”Raya grimaced as Sebast
Sebastian’s POV“What is this?” Sebastian asked as he left Hannah and Liam’s old room.Alpha Steven was waiting for him in the living room, staring at the picture Sebastian was holding in his hands. There was a moment of confusion that crossed his face.“I don’t know,” he answered. “A picture. It must have belonged to Hannah and Liam.”“It says that it was their little paradise. Do you know what that means?” Sebastian demanded to know.Steven shook his head, but then he thought about it for a moment.“They didn’t have a lot growing up,” Steven told him. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they thought of that river as paradise. Like their favorite place or something.”Before Sebastian had a chance to say anything more, someone knocked on the door. Steven looked even more confused and alert; he glanced over at Sebastian worriedly.“Expecting more people to search my home?” Steven asked.He didn’t wait for Sebastian to answer before he opened the door. Arnold and Raya stood before them; Sebasti
Sebastian’s POVSebastian dove into the cold oasis of the river. He was a strong swimmer and was able to swim with the current and quickly reach Liam before he traveled too far down the river and into the ocean. Liam looked to be unconscious and was bobbing up and down the water.He wrapped his arms around Liam’s limp body and held him close as he began swimming against the current. It was a lot harder to swim against the current and took him a little longer, but with the strength of Eric, he was able to get toward the edge of the riverbed where Arnold waited for him with a large branch.Sebastian grabbed onto the branch, keeping Liam tucked under his arm, and pulled Liam towards the shore. Raya helped pull Liam out of the water as Arnold helped Sebastian get out of the water.He took in a few steady breaths, trying to catch his breath as he knelt before Liam. He wasn’t breathing. He was pale and his body was pruned and raisin-like.“Is he dead?” Raya asked tears in her eyes.Sebastia
Hannah’s POVLiam’s dead.That’s all I could think about as blackness clouded my vision. My body was numb to any attacks. I knew of the damages done and I couldn’t shield myself. I saw the anger portrayed in his features as he leaned over me; every punch to my stomach, every swipe to my face, it felt like I was immune to them. I kept waiting for the pain to set in, but it never came. My already weakened body faded from me together and I could no longer feel the faint presence of my wolf.My breathing became shallow; I typically would have tried to gasp for breath. I would have tried to stay alive. But I had nothing more to live for. My brother was dead, and I was dying alongside him. I wondered if he was alone when he died. I wondered if it was painful or if it was quick. I wondered if he thought of me at all as he took his last breath.I was losing grip on reality. Jack was stained with my blood. I wanted to spit into his face and tell him to take the rest of my life. But I knew he w