Chapter Thirty SevenFirst Person's PerspectiveElenaI hated the way my heart reacted whenever Salvatore entered a room. At first, it was small things. My eyes would follow him, even when I told myself not to look. My hands, which always shook in his presence, started to steady when he spoke to me. And then, the dreams started. They weren’t just old memories of the boy I had once known. They were new dreams, where he looked at me with warmth instead of coldness, where he smiled, and for some reason, that smile made my chest ache when I woke up alone.But none of this could be real.It wasn’t real. It had to be pity. I pitied the boy he had been, not the man he had become—the man who kept me locked away in this castle like a prisoner.The castle library was quiet except for the soft crackling of the fireplace. I sat curled up in the window seat with a book, the afternoon sun warming my back through the glass. I was finally feeling a little at peace, lost in the words on the pages. But
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe dream swallowed me whole.One moment, I was in my bed. The next, I was standing in a dark forest. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over everything. The air was cold, damp, and heavy with the scent of pine. A small fire flickered in the middle of a clearing, barely strong enough to push away the darkness. Two teenage boys sat close to the flames, their identical faces lit by the soft orange glow.Salvatore and his twin.I recognized them immediately. They had the same sharp jawline, the same dark eyes that reflected the firelight. But while Salvatore sat stiff, his shoulders hunched and his expression tense, his twin seemed more relaxed. He leaned back on his elbows, tossing small acorns into the fire, watching them sizzle and pop."Stop worrying," the twin said with a small grin, nudging Salvatore’s knee playfully. "They won't find us out here."Salvatore didn’t return the smile. He kept his gaze fixed on the shadows beyond the fir
First Person's PerspectiveElenaI found Marta in the big kitchen of the castle. She was standing by a wooden table, pressing and folding dough with her wrinkled hands. The warm smell of fresh bread filled the air, making my stomach rumble. The fire crackled in the old stone oven, casting a soft golden light across the room. I stood in the doorway, watching her for a moment. Marta had been with Salvatore since he was a baby. If anyone knew about his past, it was her.Marta noticed me and smiled, her face gentle and warm. "Child, you are up early. What is on your mind?" Her voice was calm, but I saw the curiosity in her eyes.I stepped inside, my bare feet touching the cold stone floor. The kitchen was quiet except for the occasional crackle from the fire. I hesitated, then sat down at the long wooden table. My fingers twisted together in my lap. "Marta, can we talk?" I asked softly.Marta dusted the flour from her hands onto her apron and nodded. "Of course. Tell me what troubles you.
Chapter FortyFirst Person's PerspectivePercyHot tears rolled down my face as I sat curled up on my bed, hugging my knees tightly to my chest. My heart ached so much it felt like someone had reached inside me and squeezed it with their bare hands. The beautiful white wedding dress I had been so excited to wear just hours ago now lay in a messy pile in the corner of the room. The soft fabric was stained with dirt from when I had fallen earlier and splattered with spilled wine from the awful wedding reception. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But instead, it felt like the end of everything.I used to think my father loved me. I really believed it. He would smile whenever I walked into a room, buy me expensive dresses and pretty jewelry, call me his "precious princess." But now I understood the truth. A painful, horrible truth.Love didn't matter to him. I didn't matter to him. The only thing he cared about was power. The only thing he wanted was to make sure people i
First Person's PerspectiveElenaHermione walked back and forth in the dimly lit room, her expensive dress brushing against the floor with every step. Her heels made a soft clicking sound, and her movements were fast, filled with frustration. She had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and her fingers dug into her skin. Her nails, painted a deep red, pressed hard into her palms as she clenched her fists. Her breathing was uneven, her lips pressed together in a firm line. Her face, usually composed and elegant, was twisted in pure anger.Ares stood near the wall, watching her with cold, expressionless eyes. He was relaxed, but his posture held an edge of danger. His arms were crossed over his chest, his sharp gaze never leaving Hermione. The dim light in the room made the shadows on his face look darker, giving him a more intimidating presence."I cannot take this anymore," Hermione said sharply, her voice filled with bitterness. "That human girl walks around this place like she o
Chapter Forty TwoFirst Person's PerspectiveElenaI was sitting by my bedroom window, watching the bright orange and pink colors of the sunset spread across the sky. The sun was slowly sinking behind the tall stone walls of the castle, casting long shadows across the courtyard. The cool evening air brushed against my skin, sending a small shiver down my spine as I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders. My mind wandered, lost in thought, when suddenly, the door opened without warning.My heart jumped in surprise. I quickly turned my head and saw Salvatore standing there. His tall, broad figure filled the doorway completely, making the room feel smaller. His dark eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unreadable. As always, his presence was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe."You are needed," he said in his deep, rough voice. His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.I stood up slowly, trying to calm my racing heart. My hands smoothed the wrinkles from my simple blue dress
First Person's PerspectiveSalvatoreThe smell of death hit me before I even saw the bodies. It was thick in the air, heavy like the weight pressing on my chest. It was the kind of smell that stuck to your skin, crawled into your lungs, and refused to leave.Seven bodies. Seven of my people. My pack members. They were thrown onto the frozen ground in the middle of the town square, their throats ripped open. Their eyes were still open, still filled with terror.The sound of crying filled my ears. Women sobbed as they clung to the lifeless bodies of their loved ones. Men growled in anger, their fists slamming into the dirt. Children stood behind their mothers, too small to understand, but old enough to feel the fear creeping in.I stepped forward, my boots sinking into the frozen mud. The crunch of ice under my feet was sharp in the heavy silence. "Enough!" I shouted. My voice echoed through the square.No one listened. They were lost in their pain, their grief, their rage. A man grabbe
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe trouble started with small things at first.One morning, the cooks woke up early, ready to start preparing breakfast for the pack. But when they unlocked the storeroom, they found it completely empty. Everything was gone. Every sack of grain, every barrel of salted meat, every jar of preserved fruits. The shelves were bare, as if the food had never been there in the first place.The strangest thing was that the heavy locks were still in place, and the doors showed no signs of being broken. There were no footprints, no signs that thieves or animals had forced their way in. It was as if the food had simply vanished into thin air.At first, people thought maybe it was a mistake. Maybe someone had moved the food somewhere else and forgotten to tell the others. But when they searched every inch of the storeroom, the kitchens, and the underground cellars, it was clear—the food was truly gone. And winter was approaching fast.Two days later, something eve
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe days after the big fight with Silas felt different. Everything in the pack house seemed quieter, slower, like the whole place was holding its breath. But the biggest change was Salvatore.Before, he was always distant, cold, like a shadow I could never reach. He was there, but he wasn’t really present. He barely spoke to me unless he had to, and even then, his words were short and sharp, like he didn’t want to waste time on me. But now, it was different. He was around more, and at first, I thought he was just keeping an eye on me because the pack still didn’t trust me. But little by little, I realized it wasn’t just that. He was watching me, yes, but not in the same way. His gaze was different. It wasn’t just cold observation—it was something else, something I didn’t quite understand.One morning, I was sitting by the window in my room, watching the trees sway in the wind, when the door opened without a knock. I turned, startled, and saw Salvatore
First Person's PerspectiveSalvatoreEverything in my mind finally made sense.The dead hunters we found in the woods, their throats ripped open like wild animals had attacked them. The poisoned well water that made even our strongest warriors sick, some of them vomiting for days. The mysterious fire that burned down the stables, killing two of our most prized stallions. The way my entire pack suddenly turned against Elena, treating her like an outsider, whispering about her as if she were a threat. It was all too perfect, too well thought out. Someone had carefully planned every little detail, making sure everything fell into place.And now, I finally understood why.I found Ares in the training yard just before the sun set. He was sitting on an old wooden bench, running a sharpening stone along the edge of his hunting knife. The rough scraping sound filled the air, grating against my nerves. My jaw clenched as I stood over him, waiting for him to acknowledge me."We have a big probl
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe trouble started with small things at first.One morning, the cooks woke up early, ready to start preparing breakfast for the pack. But when they unlocked the storeroom, they found it completely empty. Everything was gone. Every sack of grain, every barrel of salted meat, every jar of preserved fruits. The shelves were bare, as if the food had never been there in the first place.The strangest thing was that the heavy locks were still in place, and the doors showed no signs of being broken. There were no footprints, no signs that thieves or animals had forced their way in. It was as if the food had simply vanished into thin air.At first, people thought maybe it was a mistake. Maybe someone had moved the food somewhere else and forgotten to tell the others. But when they searched every inch of the storeroom, the kitchens, and the underground cellars, it was clear—the food was truly gone. And winter was approaching fast.Two days later, something eve
First Person's PerspectiveSalvatoreThe smell of death hit me before I even saw the bodies. It was thick in the air, heavy like the weight pressing on my chest. It was the kind of smell that stuck to your skin, crawled into your lungs, and refused to leave.Seven bodies. Seven of my people. My pack members. They were thrown onto the frozen ground in the middle of the town square, their throats ripped open. Their eyes were still open, still filled with terror.The sound of crying filled my ears. Women sobbed as they clung to the lifeless bodies of their loved ones. Men growled in anger, their fists slamming into the dirt. Children stood behind their mothers, too small to understand, but old enough to feel the fear creeping in.I stepped forward, my boots sinking into the frozen mud. The crunch of ice under my feet was sharp in the heavy silence. "Enough!" I shouted. My voice echoed through the square.No one listened. They were lost in their pain, their grief, their rage. A man grabbe
Chapter Forty TwoFirst Person's PerspectiveElenaI was sitting by my bedroom window, watching the bright orange and pink colors of the sunset spread across the sky. The sun was slowly sinking behind the tall stone walls of the castle, casting long shadows across the courtyard. The cool evening air brushed against my skin, sending a small shiver down my spine as I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders. My mind wandered, lost in thought, when suddenly, the door opened without warning.My heart jumped in surprise. I quickly turned my head and saw Salvatore standing there. His tall, broad figure filled the doorway completely, making the room feel smaller. His dark eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unreadable. As always, his presence was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe."You are needed," he said in his deep, rough voice. His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.I stood up slowly, trying to calm my racing heart. My hands smoothed the wrinkles from my simple blue dress
First Person's PerspectiveElenaHermione walked back and forth in the dimly lit room, her expensive dress brushing against the floor with every step. Her heels made a soft clicking sound, and her movements were fast, filled with frustration. She had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and her fingers dug into her skin. Her nails, painted a deep red, pressed hard into her palms as she clenched her fists. Her breathing was uneven, her lips pressed together in a firm line. Her face, usually composed and elegant, was twisted in pure anger.Ares stood near the wall, watching her with cold, expressionless eyes. He was relaxed, but his posture held an edge of danger. His arms were crossed over his chest, his sharp gaze never leaving Hermione. The dim light in the room made the shadows on his face look darker, giving him a more intimidating presence."I cannot take this anymore," Hermione said sharply, her voice filled with bitterness. "That human girl walks around this place like she o
Chapter FortyFirst Person's PerspectivePercyHot tears rolled down my face as I sat curled up on my bed, hugging my knees tightly to my chest. My heart ached so much it felt like someone had reached inside me and squeezed it with their bare hands. The beautiful white wedding dress I had been so excited to wear just hours ago now lay in a messy pile in the corner of the room. The soft fabric was stained with dirt from when I had fallen earlier and splattered with spilled wine from the awful wedding reception. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But instead, it felt like the end of everything.I used to think my father loved me. I really believed it. He would smile whenever I walked into a room, buy me expensive dresses and pretty jewelry, call me his "precious princess." But now I understood the truth. A painful, horrible truth.Love didn't matter to him. I didn't matter to him. The only thing he cared about was power. The only thing he wanted was to make sure people i
First Person's PerspectiveElenaI found Marta in the big kitchen of the castle. She was standing by a wooden table, pressing and folding dough with her wrinkled hands. The warm smell of fresh bread filled the air, making my stomach rumble. The fire crackled in the old stone oven, casting a soft golden light across the room. I stood in the doorway, watching her for a moment. Marta had been with Salvatore since he was a baby. If anyone knew about his past, it was her.Marta noticed me and smiled, her face gentle and warm. "Child, you are up early. What is on your mind?" Her voice was calm, but I saw the curiosity in her eyes.I stepped inside, my bare feet touching the cold stone floor. The kitchen was quiet except for the occasional crackle from the fire. I hesitated, then sat down at the long wooden table. My fingers twisted together in my lap. "Marta, can we talk?" I asked softly.Marta dusted the flour from her hands onto her apron and nodded. "Of course. Tell me what troubles you.
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe dream swallowed me whole.One moment, I was in my bed. The next, I was standing in a dark forest. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over everything. The air was cold, damp, and heavy with the scent of pine. A small fire flickered in the middle of a clearing, barely strong enough to push away the darkness. Two teenage boys sat close to the flames, their identical faces lit by the soft orange glow.Salvatore and his twin.I recognized them immediately. They had the same sharp jawline, the same dark eyes that reflected the firelight. But while Salvatore sat stiff, his shoulders hunched and his expression tense, his twin seemed more relaxed. He leaned back on his elbows, tossing small acorns into the fire, watching them sizzle and pop."Stop worrying," the twin said with a small grin, nudging Salvatore’s knee playfully. "They won't find us out here."Salvatore didn’t return the smile. He kept his gaze fixed on the shadows beyond the fir