LOGINKali's POV I was standing. I wasn't sure how or when I rose to my feet but I was standing, staring Maduro right in the face. I stood there, frozen, trying to understand what Maduro meant by taking me back home.Home.The word felt heavy to even think about. Have I ever had a home? He wanted to take me back to Redpeak.Back to the place where fear had been my way of life and pain my daily routine. Where silence was the only way to survive and obedience did not stop me from getting beaten.Where I had been beaten, starved, broken down piece by piece until I barely knew who I was anymore.I couldn't go back there.It wasn't any better here in Shadow clan, but at least I could speak. I wasn't overworked like a dog. I had friends.I couldn't go back to Redpeak.Besides, why did he want me back now? They never wanted me.“No,” Ike said firmly, rising to his feet. His voice echoed through the room.Maduro’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. It made my skin crawl. “You see,” he
Kali's POV I have felt anger. I'm sure I must have felt anger at a point in my life. Only that I may not recall when exactly. But it was nothing compared to the anger that I felt now. It was brewing hot in my chest, spreading all through my body with such speed. I could feel the rage up to the root of my hair. I wanted to hurt him. To set him ablaze and watch him burn and scream for help. And nobody would help him. Just like no one ever came to my aid whenever he beat him. I hated Maduro. Maduro's cheeks widen as he grinned opening his arms wide. "Kora, my darling daughter. Come to your father." I remained frozen in place, just staring at him. Emmett's gaze flicked to me, I didn't look back him, so he wouldn't see the hate and anger in my eyes. But I was sure he felt it. At the same time, I didn't want Emmett to suspect anything. So I dragged in a deep breath that did nothing to calm my raging nerve. Only then did I realize I had been clenching too tigh
Kali’s POVA throbbing pulse hammered at the back of my skull, dragging me up from the heavy darkness like a hook snagging the edge of consciousness. I groaned and forced my eyes open. The ceiling wavered at first, then steadied, and as the room slowly came into view.My heart lurched.This… this wasn’t my new room.This was my old one. I was no longer at Aiden's warm house, I was back at Emmett's.But how?My breath stuttered as panic tightened around my ribs.A face leaned into view.“Miss Kora, you are awake,” Ura whispered, relief softening her voice.Panic was already crawling up my throat.“What..” My voice cracked as I tried sitting up. Pain stabbed the back of my head, blurring my view. I hissed and pressed my fingers there, blinking severally.Bandage.There was a bandage wrapped around my head.How?I tried to replay the last event I could remember. Zara’s face, her trembling voice as she asked me to come back to the house with her. I refused. I remember turning away… then
Kali's POV "Okay." I muttered, bobbing my head repeatedly. Cecil's face lit up in a wide smile. "Perfect." Then she walked up to me, took both my hands and gave it a tight squeeze. "We are definitely going to be friends for life. I smiled back. Friends for life. Everything seemed to be happening so fast, o could barely breathe from the excitement bubbling inside my chest. "My things... I would have to go back to get my things," I said. Cecil shook her head almost immediately. "If you go back, you might never come back. Emmett would not let you leave." I pursed my lips. By now he would definitely have noticed that I wasn't at home. "Cecil is right," Aiden said, his brows furrowed in a small frown. "By now they would be looking for you." "But my things..." my voice trailed off. There were important things in my bag, like the ugly necklace Enzo had given me and the only photo of my mother. Soraya had given it to me on her death bed. I had almost thrown it away
Zara's POV Kora was missing? No. No. No. This was bad. This was very bad. I... Ike needs Kora. "Are you sure she isn't at your place?" I asked. Emmett gave an impatient snort. "If she were, I would have found her scent. But she isn't there!" He dragged his fingers through his hair. "Ike thinks she ran away." I blinked. That can't be possible. The Kora I know was far too timid to even think of doing something as crazy as running away. "I really hoped she would be here with you." My brows furrowed as I thought for a while. "You're sure she hasn't been kidnapped?" Emmett shook his head. "Ike assured me that the compound had not been breached." Emmett was clearly panicking, even though he was trying to play it cool. "We will find her," I muttered. "Give me a moment to get changed." I whipped around and hurried to my room. Quickly, I discarded my nightwear and slid on a pair of boyfriend jeans, a tee shirt and a pair of brown boots. I was packing in my hair into a pon
Emmett's POV Her room was empty. My jaw tightened. The bed was untouched, the air stale, too still. A ripple of irritation shot through me. Where the hell was she? “Ura!” I barked, my voice slicing through the silence. Footsteps scrambled outside, and a second later Ura appeared in the doorway, breathing hard, head bowed so low her hair hung forward like a curtain. “Yes, Alpha?” she whispered. I stared at the empty room again, a strange, unwelcome clench tightening in my chest. I ignored it. “Where is Kora?” Ura flinched. My tone had been harsh, hasher than I intended, but I didn’t take it back. “I... I don’t know, Alpha,” she stammered. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday.” Something cold slid through me, quick and unsettling. But anger rose faster, smothering it. "Since yesterday?"I repeated as though I hadn't heard her right the first time. Ura nodded. "Yes alpha." The clench in my chest tightened. Where could she be? “Find her,” I snapped. “Yes, Alpha!”







