MasukConrad.I heaved a sigh, turning my head downward at the dark brown hardwood floor we were standing on. When I looked back up, Skylar’s eyes were still glued on me. She’s a stubborn one and I’ve always known that. That didn’t mean I’d always know how to outmaneuver her queries.“What exactly did you hear from Clyde?” I asked, resting my elbows upon my knees to watch her expression change.Tilting her head, she said, “What he said doesn’t really matter. It’s about the truth, and I want to know it.”I chuckled and stood.“Don’t walk away. Just answer the question. Is it true you have someone detained in your safehouse? And who is the person?” she asked, her tone rising.“Why do you even care, even if it’s true?” I said, genuinely concerned by her unreasonable determination to know about this.She only went mute but kept her eyes on me. I furrowed my brows. What did Clyde tell her?“I assure you,” I said, holding her hands, “whatever he said isn’t true. His words will only keep your hear
Conrad. I finished speaking to Leah on the phone and strolled back into the living room, where Atlas and Skylar sat adjacent to each other. Their faces held worry, mirroring what I was feeling. “Is she okay?” Skylar asked, concern attached to her tone. I nodded, “She'll be fine. I'm worried about her and Ridgewood pack members—my grandfather's warriors are ruthless, they won't hesitate to maim anyone that stands in their way. And I'm sure that dictator old man has asked them to slay as many as they can to send a message to Ace.” I said, pacing around the living room. I heard Skylar sigh heavily. Shit, what do I do? “Master Conrad, we need to take action now. From the reports, the men I sent won't be enough to hold off what's coming for them, even with Ridgewood warriors on their side!” Atlas pointed out and I raised a hand. “Let me think!” “I don't know if you noticed it, sir but we don't have much time!” He persisted and sprang to his feet. Anger surged through my veins, I mo
Conrad.I rubbed the towel hard on my head as I walked out of the bathroom, wiping water off my hair and face. One week in my grandfather's dungeon could turn one into a pig. Or worse.Standing in front of the mirror in a room inside the hidden apartment disguised as a container, I heaved a sigh. I watched the water drop down my body as flashes of myself and Skylar's escape from grandfather filled my mind. It was a narrow escape, I won't lie. We could have been caught or worse, killed but I had to take the chance. Besides, I didn't want to waste Atlas's efforts in breaking us out although I still didn't know how he snuck me a wolfsbane spray can.I swept my gaze around the room I was in, a cozy place that felt like we were safe but we were certainly not. Grandfather would still be looking for us, harder this time. We've escaped twice and no one had a track record of doing that thrice. That's why we had to remain here until something—a window of opportunity maybe—came and we'll take it
Skylar.I took a step back as the wolves closed in around us. All sounds had zoned out, leaving the echoes of my heartbeat for me to hear—thundering underneath my chest. I couldn't even feel my left hand because Conrad's grip was so tight around it.A loud snarl escaped the wolves and I reached for Conrad's arm with my free hand. I gave him a worried look as he faced me. But he, surprisingly, gave me a warm smile and held the back of my hand reassuringly.What was he so hopeful about? Couldn't he see that this was the end?The revving of engines filled the air, stealing my attention and that of the wolves. In an instant, a car drove in, its tires spraying off sand and debris as it drifted along the woods. It turned sharply and hit the first wolf before it could react. I gasped sharply as the wolf was sent flying into a tree bark and a bone-snapping sound erupted.It didn't stop there and hit the next wolf who made a little attempt to jump but still got hit, ending up in the same predi
Skylar..“What are you talking about?” I asked, my tone high-pitched.He gestured for me to come to him and I heaved a sigh before doing so. I rolled my eyes as he grinned at me.“What is it?”“Would you relax and listen! There's a wolfsbane spray can in here, meaning we have a chance of escape.” He said and I narrowed my eyes on the cereal-laden plate. There was an obvious bump that showed there was truly something beneath.“So? How do we get out of here with one spray can? I may not be from your pack but I'm pretty sure there are about a million guards lurking around!” I pointed out, my tone dropping with sarcasm.Conrad chuckled and I was hit with befuddlement.“We're not going to fight the entire pack guards. We just need to get past a few—the ones who'd be present at the ritual in about an hour.” He said and I breathed, my nervousness heightening.He slid his hand over mine through the bars and looked straight into my eyes. I felt calmness wash over me even though I didn't want
Skylar.“Look at you, still as weak as you used to be, a worthless reminder of your insignificance in my pack all those years.” Alpha Caleb said, his lips upturned in pure disgust. An expression I was so familiar with.“To think you'd have grown to steer away from trouble after all these years. Pfft, I can't believe I overestimated you. You'll never be sensible, always jumping from one trouble to another. I cannot even begin to fathom how you got yourself into trouble of this magnitude!” He chided, his eyes blazing.He moved closer to my cell, glaring into my eyes. I gasped, fighting off the tears that danced at the edge of my eyelids.“You remember how useless you were back in my pack? How we had to put you to warriors’ quarters cleaning duty just so you could earn your place in the pack.” His tone dripped with taunt, reminding me of my painful days.“You couldn't even do that without causing more trouble. You had to walk in on your superiors in their private moment. Not just private
Skylar..The dim light in the dungeon cell flickered, making my head spin and the space feel even smaller, more suffocating.Conrad's expression had been that of concern earlier but it turned to stormy the moment I dropped the news about Alpha Griffith’s plan. His jaw tightened like he'd been hit
Conrad..“Oh goddess! That's Master Conrad!”“He's back!”“He's unbelievable! After abandoning his pack, he just waltzes in?”I ignored the voices of my pack members as I walked through the massive compound towards the pack house. My home.I had pushed down every ounce of apprehension in my heart
Skylar..My heart continued to pound like a war drum in my chest, Clyde's words resounding in my ears like a horrible tale I couldn't shake off."And did he tell you he holds your mother captive?" It couldn't be true. Conrad would never do that, he just wouldn't. How was I supposed to believe that
Conrad.The wind whipped through my hair like icy claws as I rode the stolen bike faster up the rough mountain path. I'd swiped it from a shabby old garage on the edge of Ridgewood Town.The rest of the pack had seemed calm, unbeknownst of the silent invasion that was going on in their stronghold.







