LOGINMaelis’s POVI scrubbed Ryan's blood from my knuckles, the cold water of the cell block washing it away as the rust-colored water swirled down the drain. The water kept running.I told myself it was to rinse the blood away properly, but the truth was, I couldn’t bring myself to turn it off.My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.I stared at them and suddenly, they didn’t feel like my own.For a split second, the wall around me was gone.I felt heat instead. Skin. Breath against my throat.My stomach flipped violently.I gripped the edge of the sink as the memory surged uninvited, sharp and intrusive.I swallowed hard, bile burning my throat.Whatever happened means nothing.I repeated it in my head like a command. Like a shield.But my body didn’t listen.Rosa would have buffered this. Filtered it. Give me distance.Now there was nothing between my instincts and the truth clawing its way out.I turned the tap off abruptly.Enough.I straightened, forcing my breathing to even out, forcing th
Ryan’s POVIt was cold and smelled freaking disgusting in this cell. It was even worse being tied up to a chair, all chained up like an animal.My teeth gnashed hard as I cursed inwardly, pulling uselessly against the heavy chains. I stopped for a second when I heard the sound of footsteps coming nearer.And it was true. Someone was coming.Who else is it going to be? Lucian's beta?I hated seeing that guy. So much that once I got out of here, he would be among the first people I’d deal with.But contrary to my expectations, it's Lucian, looking put together, though wrecked, just not totally as wrecked as I hoped he would be.But then I saw who was behind him.“You did survive after all,” I sneered, throwing my head back for a dry laugh. Then I turned the same attention to Lucian, asking him, “How was the fuck? Didn't I do a great job prepping her? So bad I wasn't the one who got to have the taste.”I expected a reaction from her, tears, screaming, maybe hiding behind him. But she pri
Maelis POV“Maelis!”Anna screamed at the top of her little voice as she rushed inside the room. She jumped on me almost immediately, cooing like she was going to melt right into my arms.I couldn't help but pull the little one closer despite myself. The warmth of her small body was grounding.She clung to me for a while, just breathing, before she pulled away, looking up at me with big, worried eyes.“Are you sick?” she asked, tilting her head. “Daddy said you're not feeling fine and wouldn't let me come see you.”“Your daddy?” I asked. That was the only word that rang in my ears and really mattered right then.“Yes. Daddy.” She pouted, sparing a glance at Melanie, then turned back to me, whispering loudly, “Do you have a new friend now?”A new friend? I suppressed a smile and ruffled her hair. “This is Melanie, and yes, she is my friend. However, she is not a new friend. We've known each other since we were this…” I demonstrated with my hand, lowering it to knee height. “Little.”S
Maelis POV I woke up feeling heavy, like my brain was stuffed with cotton. I was dizzy as I tried to push myself up on the bed, but a sharp discomfort between my legs made me wince out loud before I could stop myself.What the...I was just about to curse, but then the flashes started hitting me. The mist, the feel of Ryan’s hand on mine, the darkness and the fright of my situation.Oh my God. Did he??Panic seized my chest, clearing the fog instantly. I sat up, heart hammering against my ribs. But before I could spiral, I felt a warm hand wrap around my wrist.“Calm down, Sel. It’s okay.” I knew that voice and it somehow grounded me in the chaos as I looked over.“Melanie?” I called out in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”My voice sounded uncharacteristically hoarse, like I’d been screaming.I hope this isn't what I’m thinking. Did she come looking for me? Has she been caught too?I took a quick, frantic glance around but this didn't look like the dark warehouse. Where is thi
Melanie's POV When we reached the door to the medical suite, Lucian stopped with his hand hovering over the handle.Even if it was just for a moment.I saw it then. Not the Alpha. Not the cold bastard who broke Selene’s heart.A man who was terrified.“If she wakes up and says no,” I said quietly behind him, because someone had to say it out loud, “you walk away.”His fingers curled into a fist.“Yes.”“And if she doesn’t wake up at all…”He closed his eyes.“Then I’ll live with that,” he said hoarsely. “Or die with her. I promise she's never going to be lonely anymore.”That was the moment I knew there was no stopping this anymore.Lucian opened the door and he entered, followed by me, though Ethan didn’t come inside.He stayed outside the suite, his back pressed flat against the wall beside the door, head bowed, fists clenched so tight his knuckles had gone white, though his face was turned away to hide the moisture in his eyes.Lucian twisted the knob then and he entered, Though
Melanie’s POVEthan was restless throughout the ride back to the Moonflower pack house. He was vibrating with tension, but at least I was grateful he was more stable than the person I saw back in that already trashed room a few hours back, sniffing fruitlessly and breaking everything in his path.But I couldn't just stand back and do nothing. That was the reason we drove here, unbeknownst to me that Selene had miraculously been found.At least Lucian was useful for once in his entire life.****I left the cell with my feelings all over the place. I could kill that guy right then and there for hurting Selene, but I know acting rashly might just be the last thing I'll need right now. For her sake.I walked back to the house, leaving Lucian to catch up with me.Ethan was waiting in the house now, though he stood unmoving as we walked closer to him.“So... what happened now?” he asked, his full attention was on me, as if the other person didn't even exist.I swallowed hard, trying not to







