It was supposed to be a fun party. Drinks, dances, and laughter… Yes. That’s what I thought. What we all thought. So why is my dress drenched in Roman’s blood? Why is he dying in my arms? - EARLIER THAT NIGHT The golden double doors creaked open and a man in a pristine white uniform marched through with military precision. His voice boomed through the hall, silencing chatter in an instant. “Attention! Introducing… the Vaynes. Alpha Roderick Vayne and his son, Alpha Roman Vayne.” The announcement echoed like a decree. The doors swung wide, and light from the chandeliers above spilled across the threshold in a flood of gold. Father and son stood there, backlit as if carved from legend, every inch of them radiating authority that made the air thrum. They stepped forward. Roderick Vayne was the older, sharper reflection of his son. Both bore the same ink-black hair that seemed to devour light, the same pale, sculpted features that looked cold enough to cut, and those infamous
Inside, the mansion was no less magnificent. Gleaming marble floors stretched beneath our feet, the veins of silver and green in the stone catching every flicker of light. Portraits of Vayne ancestors lined the walls—stern eyes that seemed to watch every guest pass. Crystal chandeliers spilled light like waterfalls from the vaulted ceiling, and the scent of roses and wine lingered in the air. At the end of the corridor, two gilded double doors stood open, spilling laughter and music into the hall. We paused there. Aunt Irene fussed with my collar, even though I knew it sat perfectly. Her hand brushed through my hair as if rearranging a strand that wasn’t out of place. “Are you nervous?” I bent slightly to whisper. Even in her heels, I still had an inch or two on her. “For you? Yes.” she said softly, straightening the nonexistent flaw. “Make sure you mingle. But if you need anything, link me.” I know she dabbled with the idea of whether it was safe to bring me. What if someone reco
After that day, life slipped into a subtle rhythm. Training, classes, whispers of danger that never quite reached me directly. Weeks drifted by until, almost suddenly, it was time for Roman’s banquet at the Vayne Residence in Veldora. But this was no ordinary celebration. On the surface, it was a glittering birthday party in honor of Roman Vayne, heir to one of the most powerful Alpha lineages. However because of the recent events from the rogues, Aithon and the disastrous Alpha games, it doubled as something far more crucial, a summit. The leading Pack Alphas from across the states were gathering, each expected to carry news and decisions back to the lesser Alphas in their regions. A party disguised as diplomacy, or diplomacy wrapped neatly in champagne and chandeliers. ‘It is a smart idea,’ Ezra had murmured the night Aunt Irene explained it to me. And he was right—what better way to mask the scent of strategy than with perfume and music? “It’s the first party you’ve gone to i
I flee into the woods, into solitude, gasping for air. My back burns. My invisible scars blaze like fire. My chest aches worse than the wounds. I thought I was fine. I thought I was fine. But one encounter, and the illusion shatters. He reminds me exactly why I’m here. Why I can never forgive. Why revenge is the only path left. Leaning against a tree, I slide down, nails clawing at the bark. Ezra’s voice is faint, distant, as though I’m underwater. “It hurts…” I gasp, body shuddering. “Someone… please… help…” The world tilts. My eyes roll back. The last thing I sense is the faintest trace of roses and ice—sharp, clean, unmistakable—and the gleam of red eyes before the dark swallows me whole. - “Please…” I beg, my voice breaking. “Someone help me. Don’t let them do this!” Branches tear at my dress as I stumble through the woods, barefoot, bleeding, blind with terror. The cold bites, the moon mocks me with its brightness, and yet I can barely see beyond the blur of my tears and
I hate Fredrick with every fiber of my being. He is filth. A parasite in human skin. The most despicable thing I have ever had the misfortune of knowing—across both my lives. I never want to see him again. Not his face, not his smile, not even his shadow. And yet… here he is. Every cell in my body revolts in his presence. My skin crawls because he breathes the same air as me, even more so when he dares to look at people like he’s kind or gentle. I want to laugh at the performance, but all I feel is the burn of disgust. What a fraud. What a monster. If they knew, they’d tie a noose around his neck and string him up like the criminal he is. My fingers tighten around the metal flask in my hand. I imagine throwing it—imagine the hollow clang as it cracks against his skull. He’d die from it, and the world would be cleaner for it. But instead of blood, I swallow rage. I only came here to see Phineas, to watch Level A’s training. Instead, I was greeted by the foul stench of Fredrick
I let my hair fall around my shoulders in soft waves, the kind of effortless style I hope looks worthy of him. I chose a sundress that feels far too fancy for lunch, but this isn’t just lunch—it’s with Fredrick. My heart leaps just thinking his name. Fredrick. Who knew the moon goddess would bless someone like me with a mate? I had prepared myself to spend all my life alone… then he appeared. The center of my universe. I reach for the bouquet of sunflowers he gave me yesterday, pressing my face into them. They smell sweet, but only because he touched them, only because he chose them for me. Everything connected to him feels sacred… I never want to be apart from him. I lingered too long picking the perfect outfit, and now I’m running late. Clutching my purse, I slide into my Range Rover, my pulse quickening with every mile that closes the distance between us. When I finally arrive at the restaurant, I’m the last one there. The boys are already mid-conversation. But the moment I st