LOGINAURELIAN POV:I was still hanging there.I looked up at my hands. They were bleeding. The chains had torn them apart.The hunger wasn't the problem, but the pain in my whole body from hanging on a sharp-edged chain wrapped with wolfbane, and now it was dripping into the open wounds. Each drop felt like acid burning into my flesh, eating away at me little by little.Every small movement sent fresh waves of pain through my shoulders and back.The ancient dagger Nicholas had driven into my back was still lodged there, the wound refusing to heal.I didn’t know how long I had been like this. Days? A week?Time had lost all meaning in this dark stone room. The only light came from a small bulb hanging from the ceiling, swinging slightly whenever I moved.“I am getting bored of only talking to you,” I said inside my head.‘Good thing I don't get bored. Many people stay weeks or even months without talking to their wolf,’ he said. ‘It's like their wolf doesn't exist to them.’“I'll consider t
AURELIAN POV:I was still hanging there.The chains dug into my wrists, and the wolfbane water kept dripping slowly down my arms. Every drop felt like fire eating into my skin.My body was weak, and the pain in my stomach from the dagger wound was constant and burning.I didn’t know how long I had been like this. Hours? Days? Time had lost meaning.The door opened with a loud creak.Cassian walked in.He stopped a few feet away and looked at me. His eyes moved over the chains, the wet floor, and the empty drum lying on its side.He raised an eyebrow.“Nicholas really poured the whole drum on you?” he said, almost amused. “I told him to be careful. Looks like he got a little too excited.”I didn’t answer. I just stared at him, breathing slowly through the pain.Cassian stepped closer, circling me like he was inspecting a wounded animal.“I know you want to kill him so badly,” he said calmly. “Why don’t you tell me where Fiona is, and I’ll let you down? You can get back at that spoiled
IRIS POV:“What way?”“You said we can't get it done by power, but it could be done by agreement or reasoning. What if I go…”“Nope… you won't make Aurelian kill me from where he is.”“You don't understand, Rowe. Aurelian has taken different risks for me and it won't be a problem taking the same risk for him,” I said.“I'll go to the mountain on my own and see what can be done, and it's final,” I stated.Serah looked at me.“But even if it were possible, even if you could go there safely, you still need Aurelian to be there to unbound his wolf,” Rowe explained.“I'd rather hear that at the top of that mountain than being told down here,” I said.“We move now,” I commanded.Rowe nodded and walked away.“But Iris, is it safe?” she asked.I shook my head. “Serah, nothing is safe anymore, not even the air we breathe. Every day is a risk we take.”“Since when did you become a philosopher?” Serah laughed.“Since the day you started asking questions that are pissing me off. I mean, you liter
IRIS POV:“The only information we have on that mountain is that it's haunted, and people go up and never come down.” Rowe said, folding his hands.“But Aurelian came down.” I said quietly.“He's a Lycan, and we both saw the blood stains and blade cuts on his body even though we didn't say anything.”“But even if there's danger, we could go with twenty men. I mean, even a jet or a helicopter… there are different possibilities, Rowe.” I murmured.“First of all, the men at this mansion are here for basic security. If Aurelian wanted to do something like that, he'll get men from the Virx Security quarters, hundreds or even thousands.” he explained.My eyes widened in awe.“But even then, a Lycan who is more powerful than Aurelian can take the breath of all of them in an instant with ease.” he said.“With ease?” I asked in shock.“I once told you and I'll tell you again, the version of Aurelian you created is a version I never knew was possible for him to have.” He paused briefly, staring
AURELIAN POV:Suddenly, cold water splashed across my face.I jerked awake, gasping for air.My eyes opened, but I felt pain exploding through my wrists.My arms were chained high above my head, pulled tight so my feet didn’t touch the ground. The chains were dripping with wolfbane water. It burned into my wrists and forearms like acid, eating slowly into my skin.I was hanging in the middle of a dark stone room.Cassian stood in front of me with his arms folded, watching with a cold smile.Beside him was Nicholas, his face covered in bandages from the slap I had given him earlier.Cassian stepped closer.“Where is Fiona?” he asked calmly.I didn’t answer. I just stared at him.He waited a few seconds, then shrugged.“Fine.”He picked up a silver whip, dipped it into a large drum of wolfbane liquid, and swung it hard across my back.The pain was brutal. The silver and wolfbane mixture burned deep into my flesh. I clenched my teeth and didn’t scream.He did it again.And again.Each la
AURELIAN POV:“It actually does make sense. I mean, you knew your wolf was no match for mine, so you wanted him out of the equation.” I smiled, shaking my head.“Well played, brother,” I said. “Well played.”“But keep in mind that I will still whoop your wolf’s ass.”His face changed. He shifted fully into his massive brown wolf, pawing the ground slowly, saliva dripping from his jaws.I stood facing him fully.His wolf growled.I turned to Rowe. “Have the men secure the area.”“That won’t be necessary,” someone whispered.Then Nicholas slowly walked out from the shadows behind Cassian.And behind Nicholas were my own men.Their eyes were completely white. They were fully compelled.Rowe’s face hardened. He quickly pulled Lyra back inside the mansion and shouted at the guards with him.“Take them down, but don’t kill anyone.”Chaos exploded.The men with him charged forward, clashing violently with the compelled ones.Fists flew. Growls and shouts filled the air. The courtyard turned
IRIS POV:I didn’t get to answer.Aurelian’s mouth was on mine before the last word left his lips, no hesitation. His hand cupped the back of my neck, pulling me into him as he walked me backward through the quiet corridor. My spine hit the cool marble edge of the wide sink counter, the white porc
IRIS POV:My mother was dressed neatly, bag on her arm, her good shoes on.She looked at me properly, then crossed the room and kissed me once on the cheek."Hold your head up in there," she said quietly.Then she picked up her keys and walked out the door, and I heard her car start and pull away f
IRIS POV:We were still upstairs going through my wardrobe when I heard the front door open downstairs.My mother's voice called out from the hallway."Iris? Sarah's car is outside, are you both home?""Upstairs, Mum," I called back.Her footsteps came up the stairs, and she appeared at the bedroom
IRIS POV:My eyes opened and my sight was still blurry, but something felt different.As my sight cleared, I noticed I was in Aurelian's apartment.I didn't know how I got there, but I was there, lying on the bed. I stood up immediately, standing in the middle of the room.Looking around, everythin







