_______________________________BLAISE"Ow."My eyes slowly flicker open. And I'm surprised to see that I'm in my own kitchen, my head tucked between my hands and chest leaning against the island table. I'm seated on the high chair, but in the opposite way so I'm practically hugging the back of the chair.How in the world had I gotten into this—"Don't move."Christian?!I twist around in surprise. But the moment I do, pain streaks up my spine and I nearly tumble off the chair."Ah!"Strong hands wrap around my shoulders, righting me back on the chair again. Christian sounds absolutely pissed."I told you not to move.""What are you even—"I look down to see that he's wrapping bandages around my stomach. My shirt, soaked completely in blood, is thrown in a messy pile on the wooden floor.I'm only in my bra.My face goes paler than before."Christian!""Relax." He says, and I can practically hear him roll his eyes even when I can't see him. "Should I have let you bleed to death then?"
__________________________________Great.This was just all fucking great, dammit.The moon is already high up in the sky. And I'm wandering in the dark, empty streets of Seoul, my stomach turning with the guilt of having said all that to him.I'd just run. I'd run away from him, without even thinking where I'd go.Would he still be there, at my apartment?I had no idea.And the regret is just growing by the second, slowly pressing down on my chest.I'd acted so childish just now. Like a childish little brat, out to get revenge. I could've just held it all in. Held it in, like I'd always done.I don't know why I'd gotten so emotional when I'd seen Christian's face.I'd just completely lost my composure. I'd just lost it in front of him, not even thinking what was going to happen next.And I'm so deep in my own thoughts I don't even look where I'm walking.My shoulder crashes into someone."Ah!"A surprised yelp bursts from my lips as I tumble backwards onto the sidewalk. And I complet
________________________________BLAISEAfter that day, I hadn't seen a trace of Christian. Now it had almost been a full week, and I had lost most of the confusing thoughts with what had happened. The first three days I hadn't been able to get him out of my mind. But by now I'd convinced myself that he'd probably realized he didn't feel that way about me. We hadn't had contact for years. There was just no way he could have fallen in love with me. My fingertips hover above the keyboard of my laptop. Great. I was thinking about him again, wasn't I? Leaning back into the chair, I take a sip of iced coffee and start typing again. Half of my mind is still occupied with Christian. It wasn't good to think about him. He did this, to me. Always. He made me wonder. He would always leave me so confused and lost, always leave my head so full of him. Then he'd leave for years and not come back. A bitter expression passes by my lips. It was better to just forget it entirely. "Miss?" "M
Blaise I used to love my voice. I was called an angel for it. A healer. I’d found my happiness singing pups to sleep, humming a sweet melody as I rocked them between my arms. I’d loved watching their eyes slowly flicker close. I’d loved every single thing about them, from their soft breaths to the way their lashes fluttered. Now, I wish I never had this damn thing at all. “You will sing the Alpha to sleep every night,” The Beta growls. His violet eyes are narrowed down to daggers, almost as if he’s repulsed by being in the same space that I am. And I stay motionless, refusing to even look at him. “Omega.” Pale fingers grip my chin, jerking my head upwards. Ezra Lord. I’d heard rumors about the cold-blooded, ruthless Beta of the Shadow Pack even when I was back in Senna. About how he had once killed an Omega just for standing in his way. Maybe he’ll kill me now and save me from this hellhole. For a still second, his eyes search mine. Everything about him is all angles and
I wake up to the soft churn of sunlight against my cheeks. The Alpha’s room is lit with the traces of early morning, slowly making its way through the curtained windows. I hear lively chirping, muffled past the glass. It’s so uncomfortable. My tongue sits heavy in my throat, full of an ashy taste that I can’t stand. My neck and back are stiff from keeping upright in this position for hours, against the cold metal backing of the chair. The relief from the ointment is long gone. It’s back to itchy, rough skin, too tender from rubbing against the chains. I can’t even itch it, bound like some donkey. I’m annoyed as hell. I’d barely slept five minutes, the entire night. My hungry eyes look for a target. And they immediately land on the Alpha, sleeping ever so peacefully in the massive bed. I look at the plush, silk covers, and then back to my chair.Now I’m actually pissed. Not even caring that he looks like he’s sleeping through one of the best nights of his life, I lift m
Did he not discipline you? The Beta’s words echo in my mind, as my eyes flicker to his empty spot on the meal table. Beside him sits the Alpha, whose golden eyes I meet as my gaze wanders to him. The fork freezes in my fingertips. I’d been poking at the deliciously cooked portion of steak in front of me with no appetite, for the past thirty minutes. Only now do I feel the sharp glances coming from the other wolves around the table. Their glances alternate between me and the Alpha. I can feel the scorn, first. For not touching the food so generously provided for me. Curiosity, as to why the Alpha was not giving me the punishment I deserved. Just like the Beta. But then the Alpha suddenly lowers his fork. Then he looks at one of the warriors next to him, his voice completely different from the softer tone I’d heard yesterday in the bedroom. He’s noticed the murmurs as well. He’s probably noticed them from the start. “Bring in the prisoner.” And I should’ve realized, the moment
The moment shatters. Rough fangs bury into the scruff of my neck. There’s an earsplitting roar, as I’m hurled back at least fifty feet away from the Edge. The adrenaline dissipates, as I crash into the snow. The momentum takes me another twenty feet back. And I’m nothing but a sopping-wet, weak Omega once again. The Alpha is upon me within seconds. Gold flashes. “Are you out of your fucking mind?” I laugh, the moment I see the twisted expression marring his face. He pins me down to the snow, a massive dark figure swallowing up my tiny, white body. His rage is unmistakable. And I laugh, knowing that I’m the one who drove him to this point. “Why,” I say, laughing still. “Scared that you’re going to lose your only hope of sleeping well at night, Alpha?” I had nothing to be afraid of anymore. But then the sheer fury in his golden eyes fades, the longer he looks down at me. It turns into something like pity. And the moment I see it— myself, reflected in the pools of his eyes— I
Something’s happening in the Shadow packhouse. An Omega maid slams into me when I turn around the corner, murmuring out a quick apology before scurrying down the corridor with a basket full of freshly-picked cherries. This had already happened five times, and both my shoulders ache at this point. I’d seen things from cherries to baked loaves of bread and even a massive platter of the richest chocolate cake I’d ever seen. The cake had come pretty dangerously close— it had nearly landed straight on my face. I wrap the scarf that Noel had left me tighter around my cheeks as I head out into the frigid cold outside. I’d found it this morning next to me, neatly folded into a stack and with a note on top that read his kindness. It’s even more of a chaotic mess outdoors than indoors. Silver lanterns hang on the brittle branches of wintergreen trees, glowing faintly with the flame protected beneath silken, insulated covers. I hear the chirping of birds, in this cold. They fly close t