LOGINChapter EighteenFirst Person’s PerspectiveBelleBelieve me when I tell you, Madam Lorraine went all outAnd by all out, I mean she turned the entire main hall into a party space complete with decorations, catered food, and enough champagne to drown a small army“Is this really necessary?” I asked as she adjusted a banner that read “Congratulations Belle!”“Of course it is! You cleared your name, sweetheart, that’s worth celebrating”“It’s a little much, don’t you think?”“Nonsense” She waved me off “Besides, I only invited people we’re close to, It’ll be intimate” Intimate apparently meant about thirty peopleI recognized some faces from around the pack house—council members, high-ranking wolves, a few people my age that I’d seen trainingAnd Wilde, of course, who was already at the food table loading up a plate“Your mom knows how to throw a party,” he said when I approached“She’s extra like that”“Hey, I’m not complaining, this food is amazing”I grabbed a glass of champagne from
Chapter Seventeen First Person’s PerspectiveBelleThe dungeon felt colder the second time aroundOr maybe that was just me, still reeling from what I’d just done with Reign on that balconyOr, could be the fact that Rowan was sitting soaking wet from head to toe on the chair, and I couldn’t tell if it was water, sweet or bloodWilde was leaning against the wall by the side of the room, hands crossed, looking very bored as he eyed Rowan “Took you long enough,” he said when he saw us approaching“What do you do?” I asked, mouth slightly agape with purely undisguised amusement “What I know best” he winked at me and we both laughedReign’s expression didn’t change, I don’t think he shared in our amusement “Is he still….alive?”“Yeah, he hasn’t moved even a bit from his spot, but he’s been crying though” Wilde grinned “It’s kind of pathetic, but yeah….definitely alive”“Good,” I said, satisfaction curling up in my chestThen I looked up and notice how Wilde’s eyes flicked between Reign
Chapter Sixteen First Person’s Perspective Belle“Satisfied?” Reign asked as we came out of the dungeon doors and all I could manage was a sigh“I’m not, the main thing has not been settled yet, and you seem to be in a hurry to goddess knows where” I said, I got no response “Thank you though” I said however “For letting me do that” if he hadn’t helped me, then even this little interaction — to which I enjoyed every bit of — would not have been possible “You didn’t need my permission” he responded with a small chuckle “Maybe not, but you gave it anyway, so I still need to show my appreciation”We stared at each other for a long moment after that, neither saying anything to the otherWhen it started to become akward, I ran my palms down my jeans“You said… we’d talk,” I started “About what I owe you?” At the mention of that, his eyes darkened, and I saw something like excitement dance in them, but only for a second, then he cleared his throat “Oh! Yeah, we will, but not here” I lo
Chapter Fifteen First Person’s Perspective BelleHe was laughing on the recording, very relaxed and loose ljke he was telling a funny story over drinks, which was exactly what he’d been doing, he and his fellow psychopathsI stopped it“Marcus Webb’s birthday party” I said “You had a lot to drink and someone just happened to have had their phone out” I tilted my head “You talked…a lot, for almost ten minutes and you seemed very proud of yourself”“That was…” he stopped, jaw working “That was supposed to be private”“Oh!” I feigned cluelessness and pouted “it was?”“Belle…”“Well my step father got it for me,” I kept my pout “Funny how things find their way to the right people eventually,”I glanced back at Reign briefly. He stood near the door, arms folded, expression giving nothing away, then my gaze turned back to Rowan“So here’s your choice,” I said, holding up my phone again, this time switching to the camera“You can look into this lens right now and say everything you did to
Chapter FourteenFirst Person’s PerspectiveBelleFifty minutesThat’s how long I had to figure out what the hell I was going to do to RowanI paced in my room, Isla practically vibrating with anticipation*We should rip his throat out*, she suggested cheerfully*what? No, We’re not ripping anyone’s throat out… not yet**Fine, then break his legs… both of them**Also no**Ugh! You’re no fun*The truth was, I didn’t know what I wanted to do to himI just knew I needed to see his faceI just needed him to know that he hadn’t wonJust then, I received a text from Reign*Reign: He’s here in the dungeon… come now*My stomach flipped, turned and sank with both excitement and uneaseSo this was itI took a breath, checked my reflection in the mirror, and headed outThe house was quiet, save for the guard who was showing me the direction, as I made my way through the halls and down a set of stairs I hadn’t noticed beforeThey led deep underground, to a part of the estate that felt colder, dar
Chapter ThirteenFirst Person’s PerspectiveBelleMy entire day was spent pacing, plotting, and slowly losing my mindBy the time 6 PM rolled around, I was ready to either fight Reign or fuck him…..Maybe both, he-heI showed up at his office right on time, pushing through the door without knockingHe was behind his desk, as always. But this time, he looked… tired and stressed upAll the controlled mask he always wore had a few cracks showing through“Close the door,” he saidI did, then walked over to his desk “Did you change your mind about Nora?”“No” came his very fast and firm response, my heart sank, I was somehow expecting some positive news “Then why am I here?” My voice didnt do shit to hide the disappointment that I feltHe leaned back in his chair, studying me “You’re angry”“Of course I’m angry, my best friend is homeless because of Rowan, and no one will help her, even though all you all have literally preached to me since I got here, Is helping each other”“I didn’t say
Chapter EightFirst Person’s Perspective BelleIt was another night, and yet again…I couldn’t sleep“Fuck you Reign” I cursed under my breathMy body was exhausted but my mind wouldn’t shut up. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him. Felt his hands on me. Heard him say “this can’t happen again” wh
Chapter Ten First Person's Perspective Belle I arrived at the East Gardens fifteen minutes early, because, why not? To my utmost surprise, Reign was already there, leaning against one of the stone pillars near the fountain. The moonlight made him look even more dangerous than usual, lighting a
Chapter TenFirst Person's PerspectiveBelleI arrived at the East Gardens fifteen minutes early, because, why not?To my utmost surprise, Reign was already there, leaning against one of the stone pillars near the fountain. The moonlight made him look even more dangerous than usual, lighting all s
Chapter ElevenFirst Person’s PerspectiveBelleI practically ran back to the house, my pulse still hammering in my chestMy lips were still swollen from his kisses. My body still hummed with the aftershocks of what we’d done on that bench. And the guilt—oh god, the guilt was trying to claw its way







