Penelope’s POVI stepped into Sophia’s room, rummaging through the luxurious wardrobe.A deep burgundy wrap dress caught my eye. I pulled it free, the hanger scraping against the wooden rod. I’d just lifted it over my head, standing in my underwear with the new dress clutched to my chest, when footsteps sounded.I spun around. Dominic stood in the doorway, eyes widening as they met mine.“Get out!” I snapped, pressing the burgundy fabric against myself. “I don’t need any help.”His jaw tightened. Without a word, he turned toward the door, his hand closing around the brass knob. He twisted it sharply.Nothing happened.Dominic’s shoulders tensed. He tried again, jiggling the handle harder. His eyebrows drew together, confusion replacing his previous indifference.“It won’t open,” he muttered, yanking the handle with more force.I quickly slipped the burgundy dress over my head. “What do you mean it won’t open?”“I mean it’s locked.” He rattled the door again. “From the outside.”I rus
Penelope’s POV“It’s just biology,” I said, pushing against his chest. “My heat cycle is starting.”The lie tumbled out, my only defense against his knowing smirk. I forced myself to sound detached. “Hormones. That’s all this is.”Dominic pulled back slightly, his weight still pinning me to the bed. “Your heat cycle? Now?”“Yes,” I lied again, seizing the opportunity to create distance. “Surely you can smell it.”His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, testing my claim. Uncertainty crossed his features. “It’s…different than I remember.”“The years changed many things,” I said coldly. “Including how my body functions.”I took advantage of his hesitation to slide out from under him, standing on shaky legs. “I stopped loving you long ago, Dominic. Whatever physical reaction you think you detected is purely biological.”His eyes narrowed, and I saw the doubt and desire on his face. The room suddenly felt too small, the air thick enough to be cut with a knife.“You expect me to believe t
Penelope’s POVThe crash turned out to be Kelsey, standing at the shattered doorway with an axe in hand. Her eyes burned with rage and jealousy as she glared at me. Splinters of wood littered the floor around her feet, and the door hung from a single hinge, completely destroyed by her attack.“I knew it!” she shouted, her hands shaking around the axe handle. “You planned this, didn’t you? Trapping yourself with Dominic to seduce him! You couldn’t stand that he finally moved on, could you?”Dominic stepped between us, facing Kelsey. “Put the axe down,” he ordered firmly, his Alpha voice slipping into the command.“Why? So you two can continue whatever you were doing?” Kelsey spat, looking past him at me. Her makeup had smeared under her right eye, giving her a deranged appearance. “I saw how she looked at you at the banquet. This was her plan all along!”“We weren’t doing anything,” I said, adjusting my dress and keeping my voice even. “And if I wanted to seduce someone, I wouldn’t ne
Penelope’s POVThe scent puzzled me, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I gripped the steering wheel, started the engine, and pressed the accelerator. The car rolled forward, gradually leaving Dominic’s pack territory behind. The headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the road.“Years of training have made me extra sensitive to scents,” I murmured to my wolf as I drove. “But why would Kelsey’s scent be in my car? When would she have had access?”A trace of unease crossed my mind. Kelsey had always been vindictive, but tampering with my car seemed extreme even for her. I quickly pushed the thought aside, reaching for the stereo knob. Music blasted through the speakers, temporarily drowning out my concerns.The road curved, descending a steep slope toward the valley that separated Darkwood territory from the main highways. I pressed my foot on the brake pedal to slow down before taking the turn.Nothing happened.I pressed harder. The pedal went straight to the floor wit
Edward’s POVI stood in my laboratory, surrounded by equipment most wolves would never understand. Half-empty containers littered the counters. Many were crusted with dried residue. The room stank like a chemistry accident, like acidic fumes mixed with something rotten underneath.“Perfect,” I murmured, holding a serum up to the light. The viscous liquid shimmered green and blue, throbbing like it might jump from my hand. “Almost ready for mass production.”The body on the floor groaned softly. Not just anybody—Edward’s body. The real Edward, heir to Northern Crescent Pack.Or what remained of him.“Quiet now,” I scolded, kicking him without looking down. “The sedative should have kept you under longer. How disappointing.”I set the vial down and turned to my unwilling guest. The man’s face was a bloody mess—I’d removed most of his skin already, carefully preserving it for my own use. His muscles twitched beneath the exposed tissue, nerves firing randomly in his agony. He wouldn’t s
Penelope’s POVSunlight stabbed through my eyelids, forcing me awake. Pain throbbed in my head, my neck, everywhere. I blinked against the brightness, trying to make sense of unfamiliar surroundings.Not my bedroom. Not a hospital.I lay in a large four-poster bed draped with rich burgundy curtains. The room had expensive furniture that was minimalist but clearly high-end. It looked expensive but soulless, like a hotel room nobody lived in.Panic shot through me as memories flooded back. The car crash. The brakes failed. That monstrous plant-wolf creature attacking me. And then, Edward appeared from nowhere.I sat up too quickly, making my head spin and my vision darken momentarily. My body protested every movement with sharp reminders of yesterday’s trauma. My hand went to my throat, finding tender spots where the creature had gripped me.I slid from the bed, wobbling slightly as I made my way to a nearby mirror. In the reflection, I caught sight of strange marks circling my neck—fain
Penelope’s POV“You know about the mutations?” I asked, surprised.“I’m just guessing,” Edward said, shrugging. “That werewolf had a very distinctive form, completely different from normal werewolves. The plant integration was unlike anything I’ve seen before.”I frowned, recalling the horrifying creature—part wolf, part plant. “It controlled plants somehow. Made vines grow to hold me down. No normal werewolf has that ability.”“Fascinating,” Edward murmured, then quickly added, “and terrifying, of course. I’ve been following news about the detention camp run by the Council. Some reports mentioned similar mutations, though nothing quite this advanced.”“The council needs to know about this immediately,” I said. “If there are more of these things out there…”“Agreed.” Edward nodded. “But first, you need to recover your strength.”He leaned closer, his eyes dropping to my neck. “Your scars are glowing. Did you notice?”I touched the marks again. “I noticed. They’ve been like this since I
Chapter 31: Secret StoragePenelope’s POVI froze at the sound of Edward’s voice. It came from directly behind me. I hadn’t heard him approach, but now he stood just feet away, his face tight with anxiety. His usually calm composure had slipped, revealing something darker underneath.“Why not?” I asked, hand still on the doorknob. “What’s behind this door?”.“Just a storage room,” he said, stepping forward quickly. He pushed the hidden door closed with a firm click and forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Nothing interesting in there—just business documents and financial records.”The swift change in his demeanor raised red flags. Whatever lay beyond that door was important enough to make him nervous.“Financial records kept behind a false bookshelf?” I asked skeptically.“Security precautions,” Edward replied smoothly. “The business attracts espionage. Can’t be too careful these days.”I nodded, pretending to accept his explanation, but my suspicion only deepened. His heartbeat
Penelope’s POVThe world stopped turning. My lungs forgot how to breathe. Edward froze beside me, his face draining of color.Dominic leaned against the doorframe, his clothes torn and bloody, his skin covered in dirt and scratches. His gray eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. Despite his injuries, he stood straight.“You’re alive?” Edward asked, his voice oddly flat.“Are you disappointed?” Dominic replied coldly.Something in his tone sent a shiver down my spine. What did he mean by that? I glanced at Edward, whose hands had tightened into fists at his sides.Edward recovered quickly, his shocked expression morphing into relief so perfect it almost seemed rehearsed. “What are you talking about? We were all worried about you.”I stood up, my body moving without conscious thought. My feet took one step forward, then stopped. Every cell in me wanted to run to Dominic, to touch him, to confirm he was real and not a grief-induced hallucination. The relief ma
Penelope’s POV“Her condition has stabilized,” the healer told me, glancing at the monitors surrounding Debbie’s small bed. “The wolf vine extract neutralized most of the silver toxin. Your blood transfusion did the rest.”I nodded automatically, barely processing his words. My body felt hollow, like someone had scooped out my insides and left nothing but an empty shell.“She needs rest now,” he continued. “The IV will keep her hydrated. With luck, she’ll wake by morning.”“Thank you,” I mumbled.The healer patted my shoulder awkwardly before leaving the room. The door clicked shut behind him. Silence settled over us.I stared at my daughter’s face. Her color had improved. Her breathing came easier now. The immediate danger had passed. I should have felt relieved, but the weight on my chest only grew heavier.Dominic. Gone.My phone rang. Ryan’s name flashed on the screen. I grabbed it, heart leaping into my throat.“Did you find him?” I demanded.“We’ve searched the area below the cli
Dominic’s POVThe wind whipped around me as I plummeted through darkness. My stomach lurched into my throat. Time slowed. Each second stretched into eternity as gravity pulled me toward certain death.I reached out, fingers grasping at nothing but air. The cliff face disappeared above me, Edward’s silhouette growing smaller against the night sky.My life didn’t flash before my eyes like people claimed. Instead, a single face filled my mind: Penelope. Her green eyes, her stubborn chin, the way she protected Debbie so fiercely.“I’m sorry,” I whispered into the rushing air.The ground rushed up. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact. This was it.Something solid crashed into me mid-air. Not the ground—something warm and alive. My eyes flew open as strong limbs wrapped around my torso. A powerful body collided with mine, absorbing the momentum of my fall.We hit the ground hard but not fatally. The breath exploded from my lungs. Pain shot through my back, but it wasn’t the shattering pain
Penelope’s POVI looked around the room, scanning for any sign of Dominic. The hallway behind Edward remained empty. My gaze returned to Edward, a hint of urgency creeping into my voice.“Didn’t Dominic come back with you?”Edward’s face fell, his expression shifting to one of dejection. He lowered his head, unable to meet my eyes for several long seconds. When he finally looked up, his amber eyes showed what appeared to be genuine sorrow.“There was an accident,” he said softly. “We were both trying to reach the wolf vine. It was growing on the cliff face, difficult to access.” He paused, swallowing hard. “We accidentally fell off the cliff while fighting for the wolf vine.”My breath caught in my throat.“I managed to grab onto a ledge,” Edward continued. “But Dominic…” He shook his head slowly. “Competition is competition, but I never thought it would turn out like this.”His words crashed in my mind, echoing painfully inside my skull. My heart ached as if physically torn in two. A
Penelope’s POVI sat in the clinic room, the wound on my arm throbbing faintly beneath the bandages. The pain medication had dulled the worst of it, but nothing could numb the ache in my heart as I stared at Debbie’s small form on the hospital bed.My daughter lay unconscious, her skin unnaturally pale against the white sheets. Tubes and monitoring equipment surrounded her, beeping steadily with each heartbeat.I stroked her little hand with my fingers, willing her to wake up, to open her eyes and call me “Mommy” again.Outside the window, the sky was darkening. Night was falling, and still no word from Dominic or Edward. The wolf vine they sought was Debbie’s only hope, according to the healers.As I watched the shadows lengthen across the floor, a strange sensation washed over me. My heart gave a sudden, painful lurch, as if something important had been torn away. The feeling was so intense I gasped, my hand flying to my chest.“Are you alright?” A nurse checking Debbie’s vitals look
Third Person POVThe question about Edward’s Rogue characteristics distracted Dominic slightly, causing him to fall behind a few steps. He immediately refocused and accelerated his pursuit, pushing his muscles harder to make up the lost ground.The two wolves reached the cliff top almost simultaneously, both panting from the exertion. They reverted to their human forms, bodies materializing from fur and muscle.Standing at the edge of the cliff, they looked down at the steep rock face below. Several emerald green wolf vines swayed gently in the wind, their silver-edged leaves gleaming in the moonlight.Dominic and Edward exchanged a glance, mutual understanding passing between them despite their animosity. They simultaneously took a step toward the cliff edge, each determined to be the one to retrieve the life-saving plant.“Wait,” Edward said suddenly, his eyes widening as he looked past Dominic’s shoulder. “Look! Penelope’s coming?”Dominic turned reflexively, his head whipping aroun
Third Person POVAfter the bandaging was done, Penelope’s body temperature dropped dramatically. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably as shock set in. The silver toxin, though removed from her wounds, had sapped her strength and left her system vulnerable.Edward reacted quickly. He slipped off his expensive suit jacket and draped it gently over her shoulders. The fabric, still warm from his body, enveloped her like a protective shield.“Thank you,” Penelope said weakly, pulling the jacket tighter around herself.Dominic watched the exchange, a pang of jealousy twisting in his chest. He stood awkwardly by the examination bed, suddenly aware he had nothing to offer her—he’d already torn his shirt into bandages.The emergency room doors suddenly burst open with a bang that echoed through the corridor. A healer strode out, his white coat stained with alarming amounts of blood.Dark circles shadowed his eyes as he removed his surgical mask. His expression, grave and exhausted, sent ice throu
Penelope’s POVI burst through the clinic doors, Debbie limping in my arms. “Help!” I screamed. “My daughter needs help!”Medical staff in white coats immediately surrounded us. A female healer with silver-streaked hair took Debbie from me.“Silver poisoning,” she diagnosed immediately, seeing the residue on my daughter’s neck. “Get her to emergency room three!”They whisked Debbie away on a gurney, leaving me standing in the hallway, my arms suddenly empty. The adrenaline that had kept me going evaporated instantly. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto a bench against the wall.Trembling overtook my body as I stared at the wounds on my arm. Blood continued to seep through Dominic’s makeshift bandages, dripping onto the white tile floor. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the crimson drops. My vision tunneled, focusing only on the blood that matched what had stained Debbie’s little dress.Edward moved first, squatting in front of me. He took my hands in his, trying to catch my unfocus
Dominic’s POVI leaned across the table, keeping my voice low enough that nearby diners couldn’t hear. “There are many suspicious points about Ruby’s death. The knife wound on her stomach didn't match the mutant’s attack pattern. Your convenient arrival at the scene. The fact that you were the only witness.”Edward’s face hardened instantly. “Are you implying I had something to do with her death?”“I’m simply pointing out facts,” I replied. “Strange coincidences surrounding you.”“That’s slander,” Edward said sternly. “Be very careful about making such accusations without evidence, Dominic. My family name carries significant weight in pack politics.”“Threats now?” I asked. “That’s telling.”Edward’s lips curved into a cold smile. He abruptly changed the subject. “Speaking of danger, I hear your pack territory has recently seen frequent occurrences of mutated werewolves. The Council has marked it as a high-risk area, hasn’t it?” His tone turned mocking. “Hardly seems like you could pro