Beatrice’s POV My back hits a tree. I didn’t even realize I’d been retreating until the rough bark digs into my skin. Raphael keeps closing the distance, step by agonizing step. His eyes are nothing like the friend I used to know. They're darker, colder, almost glowing with something… unnatural. “I don’t understand,” I say, my voice trembling. “What are you talking about? You were my friend, Raphael.” He stops, a shadow of pain flickering in his expression. “I am your friend. I was your first protector. Your first partner. You just don’t remember, not yet. But it’s all still in there, locked away in that pretty little head of yours.” “You’re not making sense,” I whisper. “You're scaring me.” “That’s because you’re still clinging to who you think you are,” he growls. “Beatrice, that name doesn’t belong to you. Not really. That was your cover, your leash. But me? I know what you are.” My breath catches. “What am I?” He smiles, slow and twisted. “Mine.” No. No, no, no.
Beatrice’s POV As beautiful as this moment is, it can’t last, duty calls. He’s the Beta, second in command, and his responsibilities are endless. Caleb presses a soft kiss to my forehead before he leaves, his lingering scent and the gentle creak of the door closing behind him the only reminders of his presence. Before leaving, he brings me everything I might need: my clothes, my books, even the small wooden comb I left behind its my favorite, since I made it myself. The fact that he remembered something so small makes something stir in my chest. He’s kind, thoughtful, patient. So incredibly patient that it unsettles me. Because that’s how it starts, right? Mason, too, was kind once, gentle, charming. He knew exactly how to look at me, how to hold me, how to make me feel like the only girl in the world, before he ripped my heart out without remorse. But part of me was to blame, he first treated me horribly, and then he acted sweet. I should have known it was all an act. But how
Caleb’s POV When we finish eating, Raven leans back slightly, her hands resting on her stomach. “I feel like I’m going to explode,” she says with a soft laugh. “That was amazing.” I chuckle, reaching over to take her plate and place it back on the trolley. “I’m glad you liked it. You needed it.” She stretches her arms above her head, letting out a quiet sigh as her body settles. There’s something about seeing her like this, safe, full, a little sleepy, that pulls at my chest. The walls she always keeps up are finally lowered, just a little, and I don’t want this moment to end. “Do you want to lie down?” I ask gently. It's not nightfall yet but I figure she might still be tired. She nods, brushing a stray curl from her face. I rise and pull back the covers for her, patting the bed lightly in invitation. She hesitates for only a second, then climbs in, curling up on one side of the bed. She looks so small beneath the blanket, her hair spread across my pillow, eyes slowly
Caleb’s POV "Where were we before Raphael interrupted us..." she murmurs, her voice low and teasing. Before I can even form a response, she rises onto her toes and presses her lips to mine in a soft, fleeting kiss. She awakens something primal inside me. "Raven..." Her name escapes my lips like a prayer as my hand instinctively wraps around her waist, pulling her closer. I want to taste her again, to savor every second of this moment. I tilt my head slightly, eyes tracing her face, the pink tint on her cheeks, the way her lips part just slightly. She’s flushed and stunning, and all I can think about is how she’s finally in my arms. I lower my head to meet her halfway, steadying her gently with one arm. My lips crush against hers, desperate and hungry. She responds instantly, her lips parting, inviting me in. My tongue finds hers, and we melt into each other. She moans softly, and I close my eyes, letting the sensation consume me, every motion, every touch, pulling me deeper. My
Raphael’s POV "Trice! You’re awake!” I slam the door open, heart racing, not from panic, but possession. She's been mine, ever since we kissed, I made a vow to myself. My eyes lock on her instantly, her form framed by the rays. She's standing far too close to Caleb. She’s even wearing his shirt. Her hair is tousled, cheeks flushed, lips parted, like they’d just... No... I don't even want to imagine it. I clench my fists. I want to remain the only guy she kisses other than that moron Mason. “Raphael?” she blinks in surprise, stepping back from Caleb instinctively. Good. At least a part of her still hesitates when I enter the room. Caleb turns, his jaw set in a hard line, eyes flickering with annoyance, but not surprise. He knows. He knows I’ve been watching her. Hovering around the edges. Acting like the doting friend. If only he knew the truth. If any of them knew... I smile, warm, friendly, and genuine. The mask I’ve worn for so long it almost feels real. But it isn’t.
Caleb’s POV I won’t allow it, no,no, She’s not evil. She’s not some cursed thing born of darkness. She’s light. She’s warmth. She’s everything I never thought I’d find in this cruel, twisted world. She’s… an angel. The purest soul I’ve ever encountered. So real it terrifies me. So bright I feel like a fraud beside her. And I’ll be damned before I let some shadowy creature try to taint her. She belongs to no darkness. She belongs to no curse. If anything… she belongs to me. And I’ll fight everything in between to protect her. I promised her I'd protect her with all my might. That wasn’t just a vow I made out loud it was the kind you make deep in your soul, the kind that shapes who you are. And godess help me, I intend to keep it. I storm out of the suffocating study, the corridor feels endless, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls like war drums. I don’t care if I look frantic. I am. After everything that’s happened, the creature, her scream, the way I found her limp in my