Chapter 1

Veronica’s POV

“It’s time,” Ginny whispered as she brushed past me and walked ahead.

I made no indication that I’d heard her, except I stood up straighter. I dumped the tools I was holding and dusted my hands on my work clothes. I had very little opening before the next shift took their place.

I walked ahead, slowly, as I scanned the large expanse of the field, keeping an eye out for any overzealous guard.

The Bloodmoon workforce consisted of members of neighbouring packs they had raided, though I could find no one from my pack and I've searched, since the first day they released me into the fields.

When I had first woken up in that makeshift bed, inside a ramshackle– I later found out it was called Clinic for the Saved–alive and hurting, I had fought to die. The doctor had stood over me, his eyes glassy as they focused on me.

“Where am I?” I had managed to ask as my memories slowly trickled in. “What’s this place?’

“You’re in the Bloodmoon’s clinic,” he answered, his hands jammed inside the pocket of the white coat he had on. “They saved you.”

I shot out my hands, aiming to pluck out his eyes for his words, but they felt heavy and weak. I let them drop back, glaring at him. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“The damage to your body was superficial,” his croaky voice made the ache at the back of my head worse. “No internal organ was damaged, but we couldn’t save the baby. You’d lost too much blood by the time you arrived.”

The room spun before my eyes for a second as the ache in my head and heart intensified a thousandfold. I’d lost the love of my life and my child.

He rested his hand on my shoulder. “You should be thankful. At least you don’t have to be burdened by a child while you do your work here.”

I pushed past my pain, let my head drop to the side and sank my teeth into his hand, biting down hard till I tasted blood. He screamed and I smiled. I heard a shuffle of feet before a striking pain across my face loosened my grip on him. The fist landed again, this time on my stomach and I recoiled in pain, letting it drag me back into darkness.

For the next month, I tried everything I could to end my miserable life. All plans failed. I was either caught before I could get to it or saved while in the act. I would have kept trying but then, I found Ginny, on my first day on the fields. She had been assigned to work beside me, teaching me the ropes. She did as much while venting about the Gray brothers.

Finally, she looked me in the eyes and said. “You’re in so much pain. Don’t give them that satisfaction.” Then a little quieter. “We can make them pay… together.”

She had said it with so much conviction, I knew she wasn’t bluffing. I nodded and that was all the confirmation she needed. She spilled out her half-baked, almost crazy plan and for three months we worked together to polish and make it work.

Finally, five months after the Bloodmoon pack ruined my life and wiped out every joy of my existence, I was going to have my revenge.

I made my way to the farmshed where we were allowed to change out of our clothes after a day's work. Ginny had given me directions to where she had hidden the stuff. I headed straight to the corner where a pile of clothes sat. I started my search there, ransanking till I found the outfit I was looking for–a guard outfit to grant me access into the mansion.

Hurriedly, I stripped and put on the guard outfit. It was slightly bigger than I expected, but it hid my scrawny form so well which was on the good side. I gathered my unruly curls and buried them under the hat.

A sound from outside startled me and I pulled the hat lower over my face, making my way to the door. I paused, taking in the environment. From the corner of my eyes, I spotted a guard leaning against the shed, his eyes on the tiny rock beside his feet.

Mother goddess. He was earlier than I had expected. This was bad, real bad.

He shifted on his feet, his gaze slowly leaving the object of his fascination. I had to get out now… It was only a matter of time before he spots me. I pushed away from the door and out into the open, walking as fast as my legs would carry.

“Hey,” his voice halted my movement as I walked past him. “Staying out late again, Mikey? Found something you like this time?”

The hairs on my back prickled as I watched him pull away from the shed from the corner of my eyes. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I quickly bopped my head up and down in response.

“Good for you man, though I don't know what you see in their dirty clothes.” I heard a sneer in his voice, but his voice grew distant. “There are better women out there willingly to let you have them for a bedspace and bread…”

His voice trailed off and I heaved a sigh of relief. What in the goddess name was he ranting about? I quickly pushed the thought aside, this wasn’t the right time. Straightening my shoulder, I started my journey towards the house.

My near exposure gave me the confidence I needed and I marched towards the mansion. I spent last night memorizing the layout of the house. How Ginny had gotten a map of the mansion’s entrances, exits, hidden tunnels and stairways remained a mystery to me. She was good like that.

I took the servants’ entrance as we had discussed and headed straight to the brothers' private quarters which were on the third floor. No one questioned or stopped me as I ascended the stairs. The floor was dimly lit, with only a few wall sconces lighting the hallway and there was no guard on sight. Doors adorned both sides of the hallway.

Which rooms are yours, pigs? I stared at the doors hoping they would provide me with answers. Nothing was forthcoming.

I sighed, resigning myself to the earlier plan— wait them out. I had to hide in one of the rooms till they retire and one by one snuff the life out of them in their sleep.

I made to reach the nearest door on my right just as laughter floated into the hallway. I moved towards it, straining my ears to pick out where it was coming from. I halted beside the third door just as the conversation ebbed out.

“Nothing is working,” a man’s voice, calm yet detached, reached my ears. “We are running at a loss and are out of time. There will be no more compensation until you’ve fulfilled your end of the deal.”

“I held up my end of the deal.”

My hand stilled on the handle of the dagger around my ankle at the sound of the second voice. A man’s voice also but this one sounded familiar.

“Not to the end,” the first man spoke. “You promised me a cure, not a burden in a dress.”

“Patience, Klaus, you’ll get what you paid for. But patience is something my pack cannot afford to have.” the familiar voice came again, scratching the back of my mind.

My heart lurched in my throat as realization dawned on me.

The voice… it was impossible! It can’t be! It was someone else…had to be. But the prickling sensation in my heart told me otherwise.

My heart pounded painfully against my chest as I jumped up, grabbing the doorknob, half conscious of what I was about to do. All i had to do was open the door and satisfy my delusional mind, but that would blow my cover.

The familiar voice spoke again and I stared hard at my knuckles as they turned white, taking every willpower from me not to barge through the door. I stood still, weighing my options.

But a decision was made for me as someone shoved me head first against the door. I stumbled forward, hands flaring, looking for support but only grasping air. I ended up falling flat onto the ground as the big oak doors gave way.

“Guess who I found eavesdropping?” a voice spoke from behind me. “A very dedicated guard. Had to invite him to the party.”

The conversation died around me and I sighed. The plan was going to shit...Ginny will have my hide. How do I take on these men with just my dagger? I should have stuck to the plan

“What’s this about?” the familiar voice spoke, this time angry. He sounded so much like Dever. “I thought this was a private meeting, Klaus. What is he doing here?”

Blood rushed through my body at the sound of the voice, pumping me with adrenaline. I pushed myself on all fours, raising my head to seek out the voice. A shadow fell over my eyes, blocking my view.

“This is my house. I go where I like." The shadow stretched out a hand, grabbing my jaw and tilting my head upward until I was staring into golden eyes. The hat slipped quietly off my head, making a noisy landing. “My, my. Who would have guessed?”

His mouth twisted up to a crude smile as he stepped aside, finally giving me access to the view of the room. I inhaled sharply as my eyes fell on the person sitting on the couch close to the fireplace. It was the carbon copy of the person standing over me, except his eyes which were the colour of gold and blue.

“I see,” the man with the mismatched eyes grunted, his eyes briefly meeting mine before moving away and resting ahead of him. I followed his eyes, trying hard to push down the panic that was beginning to gather at the back of my throat.

A whimper stole out of my lips as my gaze rested on the man who was now half way out of his seat. A man I had presumed dead.