MasukCHAPTER 17~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~The class dragged on for exactly two hours, but we didn’t even get a proper break. One teacher left and another walked in like it was some kind of relay. By the third period, I was barely hanging on—tired, hungry, and still sore from my stupid escape attempt the night before.I snapped back to the present when I heard my name.“F… R… E… Y… A.”Every letter was dragged out by a short, pot bellied teacher, who had somehow appeared right next to my desk. The whole class turned to stare. Heat rushed up my neck and flooded my cheeks.“He’s been trying to get your attention for the last two minutes,” Theo whispered beside me.I swallowed hard and forced a small smile. “Mr. Windster,” I said, reading the name off the plaque on his chest.“Care to answer the question I asked two minutes ago?” His voice was sharp, his face already twisted in a scowl.“I… I got distracted for a second,” I mumbled.His eyebrow shot up. “Distracted by what?Thoughts about the murderou
~~FREYA~~I stood under the shower, allowing the cold seep into my skin.They had challenged Damien, yet again. “We stay and she stays” Quinn had said with a finality to his words.. “The Blackthorn pack will not wage a war. I can assure you”“You seem to be unnerved by the chaos you blindly caused!” Damien had spat with irritation. I hadn’t missed the pure loathe that crossed Damien features as his gaze landed on me. His eyes had screamed. “It’s your fault” before he stormed out.None of them had said a word to me that night. They had only assigned a maid to see me off to my room and placed more guards right in front of my room windows. When I peaked out this morning, two guards still paraded the spot.The idea of escaping had died.I couldn’t afford to, not anymore. I’d stay and see how the moon goddess decides my fate but one thing, I would never accept to be Luna to my brother. I will not be part of such incest. I scrubbed the dirt off my skin, mentally preparing myself for anoth
CHAPTER FIFTEEN~~QUINN ASHWOOD~~I skidded to a stop, my heart hammering frantically against my ribs. I scanned the surroundings where her footstep trails had just led us into. The grey pillars, the massive black gates. They told me all I needed to know. “The Black Thorn Border” I muttered. “Why here?” I heard Ryker ask benind me, his voice tight with frustration.. “..of all places”“She crossed the borders. They’ve taken her hostage” Xavier said, stepping forward. “We have to go around, get to the southern gate and negotiate…” I started, my mind already trying to salvage a tactical solution.“No.” I turned to face Xavier who just said the word. “Xavier, think,” I snapped, grabbing his shoulder. “This isn't a small pack. If we trespass, the Alpha will make an issue out of it especially since we are rivals”.“I don’t have time to be logical, Quinn.” Xavier growled, shaking my hands off as if I were a nuisance. He lunged across the line, his boots thudding onto the soils. “X
CHAPTER 14 ~~XAVIER ASHWOOD~~ Nothing more was said.. The air in the dining hall was already screaming with the tension between us. "I’m going to lose my mind” Ryker muttered, reaching for the grapes on the table. I was about leaving after Quinn when we all heard the crash. The doors burst open. Martha, the maid, stood there, dropping a pile of linens. She was trembling. "Lords," she gasped, her voice thin with terror. "I... I went to deliver the new bedding. The Alpha’s orders for the morning." "Not now, Martha," Quinn snapped, stopping on his tracks as his eyes flashed dangerously. "Get out." "But Lord Quinn..." She swallowed hard. "The door was unlocked. I went in to lay the sheets, but... the window is wide open. The vanity has been pushed aside." My heart stopped. "What are you saying?" I demanded, my voice calmer than I felt. "She’s gone, Lord Xavier," the maid whispered. "The room is empty. Freya is gone." The silence that followed was a thousand times more te
CHAPTER THIRTEEN ~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~ The word rejection hung in the air. Quinn didn’t just flinch; he went deathly still. All the fake politeness vanished. The silver fork in his hand snapped in two with a sharp crack. "You don't get to reject me," he said. His voice dropped into a low, animal growl that made the hair on my arms stand up. "The bond isn't a choice, Freya. It’s a command. One from the goddess herself” "The Goddess is a sadist, then!" I yelled. I pushed my chair back so hard it screeched against the floor. "You are my brother, Quinn! We have the same father. What you’re saying is sick. It’s an abomination I will never abide by." He moved faster than I could blink. One second he was across the table; the next, he was looming over me. He slammed his hand onto the table next to my head, making the plates rattle and dance. His eyes weren't green anymore. They were a dark, glowing emerald, his pupils blown wide with the beast inside him. "You don't have the right to say
CHAPTER TWELVE ~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~ The instant we got to the manor, I kept my head down, my eyes fixed on the floor and hurried towards the stairs with my heart hammering â frantic beat against my ribs. I didn’t wait for my brothers to deliver any more barbs about my appearance. Once inside my room, I threw the bolt and released the deep breath I had been holding all along. I turned toward the full-length mirror, my breath hitching as I smoothed the fabric of the navy skirt. From this angle... it didn't look that short. It was a bit above the knee, sure, but the way they had reacted made it all feel exaggerated than it actually was. I dumped my bag on the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress, my hands shaking. I looked at the window. The sun was setting, giving way for the moon to rise. *Escape.* The thought was the only thing keeping me upright. If I could just stay invisible for a few more days, I could find a way. I could disappear into the human lands where I would n
~~FREYA~~"Please" I whispered again. "You don't understand. He hates me. He will kill me"My croaked pleas fell on deaf ears. "Don't make this harder than it already is" he said grumpilyMy "saviour" and the silver haired brother who looked a lot like father just stood there, uttering no words as
~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~His expression hardened. “You think that it is still your decision to make?. You will come with us. You will stop this act of escapade. It’ll be the last time you ever try to run from me… from us”My throat bobbed in a hard swallow. I opened my mouth to protest but before I could,
~~XAVIER ASHWOOD~~I reached her room in a blur, the door swung wide open to reveal a sight that turned my blood to ice.She was sprawled on the floor, spilled blood right beside where she laid. A cold shiver ran down my spine and I felt the rage flooding my veins.In my head, Luka let out a snar
~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~I'm not sure what happened during the hours I passed out or what happened right before then. I'd stare at my saviour and mate blankly when they asked me what really happened with the meal… when they asked if I recall the face of the maid who had served me the food..I had no reco







