AndrewThe days in the villa passed in a quiet, dull kind of way. Time moved slow, but I didn’t mind. Mornings were always calm. The sunlight came through the windows, hitting the floor in that warm, lazy stretch. I kept to the same few places. I wasn’t hiding, but I wasn’t exactly inviting company either.Still, Charlotte always found me.She started showing up every day. At first, I figured she’d get bored. Maybe after two visits, three at most. But she didn’t stop. She came with something different each time—sometimes a book, sometimes pastries, once a ridiculous paper swan she claimed a kid folded for her at the market.Today, Charlotte brought some strawberries and a book about war. She didn’t waste time but to set the books on the table and asked a bowl for the fresh fruits. She set them on the table against the wishes of the omegas around. Charlotte insisted on doing it herself. “I thought you might like this one,” she said as she handed me the book. “It’s about a man who loses
AlexanderRain threatened the horizon.I stood by the window in my study. My arms were crossed over my chest as I watched the clouds move and gather like they were waiting to break. The sky grew darker by the minute making the air felt heavier. The glass under my hand felt cold. And surprisingly, the chill sank into my skin as I leaned forward a little.Outside, the estate looked calm.The garden had clean paths. Meanwhile, you could see the grass was cut short. The trees stood still like they were holding their breath.From here, everything seemed quiet and perfect. But I knew it wasn’t real. That view was a lie made of sunlight and silence. My life had never been simple or good. It always came with blood, silence, or something I had to give up.Behind me, Liam stood near the wall. He looked relaxed, one ankle crossed over the other, arms resting lazily at his sides. But I knew that look too. Casual on the outside, alert underneath. That was how he always carried himself. Delta. My cou
EmmaThe clapping hadn’t even died down when I hustled offstage. I tried to look all cool—shoulders back, chin up, you know the drill. But inside? My muscles felt so tight. I felt like I could’ve snapped in half if someone poked me. My heart was thumping in my ears. But not because I was scared. It was all that focus of trying to keep it together while a hundred strangers stared at me down, watching every move.Cameras fired off near the exit, popping like fireworks. Those flashes darted around the lobby, desperate to catch a last shot, like hungry pigeons fighting over bread crumbs after the main event.I tugged at my sleeve and pretended I was chill—spoiler. I was absolutely not. My jaw was locked up, fighting the urge to just let out a huge sigh. I just kept going, didn’t look back, and didn’t breathe easy ‘til I ducked into the back corridor. Finally, some space away from the pack of press hounds.Ara met me there with a bottle of water already uncapped, bless her.“You were brill
EmmaThe convention hall was buzzing. It was like being inside a hive, but with fancier shoes. People everywhere, clacking around, trying not to spill their coffee or say anything too weird. The chandeliers were overkill, honestly. They hung there like they were dripping diamonds, which I guess was the point, but all it did was make the floor look like a disco ball exploded.Banners were flapping around, advertising every company’s “Miracle Cure” or “Next Big Thing.” I'd thought we were at the Olympics for a moment for corporate bragging. I was parked by our booth. The Merisi Enterprise’s navy backdrop making me look way more professional than I felt. There I was, answering questions for the hundredth time, sounding way more confident than I actually was—fake it ‘til you make it, right?“Yes, we’re diving into those sustainable elixirs, aiming for less kaboom and more chill,” I told this healer who was scribbling notes like she was decoding hieroglyphics. “We dropped side effects by 2
EmmaI leaned back against the leather seat of the cab and opened my messages. Nothing urgent. A few follow-ups from the office, a calendar ping for a meeting tomorrow, and a meme from Logan that made me snort quietly. For a second, I forgot where I was until the traffic began to slow.The air outside shifted. I felt it even before I saw the gates.We were entering the Southern District. The domain of the Lycan King.The streets here were wider, the sidewalks spotless, the architecture carved in sharp, deliberate lines. Even the air smelled richer. Cleaner.I tore my eyes away from my phone just as the cab lurched and slowed to a snail’s pace. Right in front of us? A freaking parade of matte-black tanks-on-wheels hogging the intersection, engines purring like they owned the place. “We’re not going anywhere fast,” the driver grumbled, twisting in his seat to get a better look, like that’d magically make the road clear up. “Official movement.”I didn’t need him to explain.Through the
AndrewDays passed quietly in the villa. Time, for once, moved without a knife to my back.Charlotte visited often. She was always bringing something in her arms. Sometimes it was books she figured I’d vibe with. Sometimes pastries she whipped up at 2 a.m.. Sometimes these random doodles scribbled on napkins when insomnia hit her hard. I never asked for any of that stuff. She just showed up with it. Like it was the most normal thing in the world. If I were to be asked, the girl could talk an ear off. I swear, she acted like a minute of quiet might actually kill her.She filled the space with stories. Her childhood memories, favorite books, palace rumors, and dreams of leaving the kingdom just for a day to explore the world without guards trailing her. She had a voice made for poetry. It was soft, unsure, and too trusting. The kind of voice you wanted to protect, even if you didn’t understand why.I listened more than I spoke. When I did say something, I picked my words like stones acro