VALERIE I walked swiftly into the field, my heart skipping beats. “Beta!" I called out when I saw him. The beta turned around and looked at me, anger darting across his orbs. He narrowed his eyes and faced the confused trainees standing before him. “Let's kick off with some warm-ups!" He chanted, clapping his hands. The boys formed some lines and began to do some push-ups. “Beta, please can we talk?" I asked, glaring at the boys, who turned to look at me. “Let's go!" He shouted and began to walk around the lines, observing the boys and reprimanding those who seemed weak, threatening to kick them out. I clenched my fist, aware of how furious Michelle would be by now. Though I didn't care about her feelings, I didn't like the idea of standing in a training area filled with boys who wouldn't stop feeding their eyes on me. I bit my lips, watching him as I thought of ways to get this done quickly. “I am sorry, Beta Neil!" I screamed, feeling my throat knot as all heads turned in
VALERIE I was beyond shocked when Michelle wrapped her hands around me. “Don't worry, you can cry on my shoulder," she whispered and my brows raised in astonishment. The tears ceased to flow and the pain in my chest vanished, replaced by abashment and curiosity. “What are you doing?" I muttered, still paralyzed by shock. "Trying to comfort a sister,” she muttered. I whisked out of her supposed comfort grip and scoffed loudly. "Comfort? I wonder if you know how to use that word,” I groused and she narrowed her eyes. "As far as you're no longer the crybaby I saw some minutes ago, then it definitely means that I used the word right,” she said, and my eyes dimmed in confusion. Wasn't she supposed to be hating me? I wiped the streaks of tears on my face and tilted my head, getting the annoying encounter out of my mind. “Let's go," she muttered in a calm voice, throwing me into deeper confusion. I wanted to ask her questions about her changed attitude but couldn't. Was it my m
VALERIE How many days did I roll down that dark endless abyss? I couldn't calculate.But one thing was certain at a point. I saw a light. It was dim at first, piercing my lifeless eyes with a single ray and rushing hope and life to my dead body. The closer I got to the dim light, the brighter it got, and the greater my hope heightened.“Valerie!" A familiar voice snapped into my mind, setting my dead brain cells back in order.“V!" That nickname sounded familiar but I couldn't place where I had heard it.The light flashed into my eyes, causing me to gasp and slam my eyes shut.“Valerie, can you hear me?" The voice muttered in my head and I fluttered my eyes open.The surroundings seemed strange and full of light, unlike the dark vacuum I had been stuck in.“You're finally awake?" That was a feminine voice, but it definitely didn't sound like my mom's voice.Who owned it? Michelle?I swerved my head around and the face that smiled down at me made my brows raise in surprise.I tried
VALERIE I stood by the window, resting my weight on the crutch, staring at the running kids in the field.A day had passed since I woke up and yet no sign of them or Michelle. This was enough, wasn't it?I had made up my mind to leave whenever these invisible wounds healed up and whenever I had gotten my revenge on Michelle.I swore to make her pay, and relenting was no option for me. I was going to be a monster, I had to get ready for the sacrifices, and that included locking up my feelings.“How are you feeling?" The last voice I wished to hear echoed behind me.I took a deep breath and turned around, staring blankly at Damion's face.Sadness darted across his eyes when he glanced at the crutch I held onto.“I heard…" he paused and bit his lips, that innocent action causing my heart to flip.“Yeah, we fell, and she was the only one that ended up with a serious injury. Stupid, right? I chuckled, hoping that the pain in my voice didn't reach his ears.He sighed and tucked his hands
VALERIE The cheerful chatter in the kitchen made me stretch my lips into a smile. Two days have passed since that passionate kiss with Damion on the rooftop. It seemed that the kiss was the real reason for my quick healing. Michelle hadn't woken up or she wasn't satisfied with her pretense and the Lycan kings' endless care for her “How are you feeling now?" Monica asked as she ran her curious eyes over my body. “Better than before," I grinned and she giggled. I and Damion had decided when to kick off with our plans of running away. However, I still felt worried about the risky decision that we had made. But life is all about risk, isn't it? So, I was ready to take the risk for the one that I love. “You are making a mistake, Val," Jade's weak voice sneaked into my mind, and I scoffed, narrowing my eyes. “No, I'm not!" I snapped at her and she slid back into her shell. Ever since I decided to leave the Lycan Kings, Jade had refused to talk to me. Though I didn't care about be
VALERIE “Are you sure you want to do this?” Bianca asked as we tiptoed across the corridor that led to the room where Michelle was.“I have to. This is the only way to clear my name," I muttered, unwavering from my decision to get the truth out of her and get her punished.“But—" I stopped sneaking towards the room and looked at Bianca's face which had worry etched against it."You don't have to do it. I will get this done by myself to avoid implicating others in my mess,” I said.Guilt washed across her pale face and she quickly shook her head in disagreement."No, I will come along with you,” she muttered and my lips stretched into a smile.“I am not upset with you. I just don't want you to get hurt,” I said, and rubbed her shoulders, smiling warmly at her."Are you sure that you want to do this?” She asked again and I nodded firmly.She sighed and rubbed my cheeks before stepping back."I wish you all the best,” she whispered, and I nodded before spinning around and heading toward
VALERIEMy grip around her hair slackened when my eyes fell on Lucian. Michelle cried out, and flung my hand off her hair before rolling over, grasping her leg and belly as she faked bitter tears.Lucian's fist clenched in fury as he watched her pretend to be hurt by me.“Michelle!" He snapped and walked fully into the room, rushing towards her.He dropped to a knee beside her and turned her over, muttering words that I couldn't hear to her.My heart twisted in pain at the betrayal that was happening before me. I was astonished that he could care for a woman that way, yet he never seemed to care if I was dead or alive.He cupped her into his arms and dropped her carefully on the bed, sitting beside her and he took her hand into his.“Oh, Lucian, why does she hate me that much?” She muttered and faked a sob.I turned up my lips in anger and scoffed.Lucian craned his neck backward and glared at me.I narrowed my eyes at him and began to stride to the door, filled with anger.“Stop righ
KILLIAN “Will she be fine?" I asked the Pack's doctor and she nodded her head, taking a step back.I stared blankly at Adriana's face which was slowly getting some life into it."If Lady Michelle was okay, Miss Adriana would have been awake by now," she muttered, and my fist clenched in indignation.“Well… she is still alive," I muttered and ran my hands through Adriana's hair before getting up from the couch I sat on.“Take care of her. I will be back," I instructed, and she bowed slightly as I walked out of the room.The thought of Valerie pushing Michelle off the hill still amazed me. It was hard to believe as Valerie would never do such a thing. If it was the other way around, then it would have been believable.I pushed the door open and walked in without announcement.Michelle, who was seated on the bed, flinched, almost throwing the cup she held to the ground.“You scared me!" She snapped and narrowed her eyes, drinking from the cup again.“You seem to recover your voice quick
VALERIE We swerved our heads in the direction of the scream, and my eyes dimmed when they fell on Michelle. I narrowed my eyes, the worry that sprang up in my heart slowly settling down."Shit!" Garam spat in rage and let go of my neck. Michelle marched towards us, her eyes blazing in anger and her clenched fist swinging beside her. "You bastard!" She growled and grabbed his collar, throwing him off me. His back slammed against the wall and it cracked while he groaned out in pain. "What the fuck did you do to Damion?" She groused and slapped him hard on the face. My brows raised in surprise as I watched her land hit after hit on him. She raised her fist to slam his fist for the umpteenth time but he grabbed her fist, shoving her back. He staggered up and wiped the blood that dripped from the cut on his lower lip. "You are no different from me, bitch!" Garam spat at her. She was taken aback by his outburst, and for a moment, they stood still, fuming in anger and glaring at e
VALERIE I watched her pour the tea in silence, a smile plastered against my face. She straightened up after pouring the tea and sighed loudly, a smile on her face. "Here," she chipped and pushed the teacup closer, grinning widely. I chuckled, grazing my finger over the tip of the cup. "Anything else?" I asked. "Of course not, I just want to make sure that you are alright," she said. I raised my head and forced a smile into my face to please her. "Well… as you can see, I am fine," I replied in a sharp tone that made her brows raise. "Why do you talk that way with me, Valerie?" She asked. The happiness in her voice slowly faded away. I tilted my head to the side and folded my hand over my chest. "You're just a maidservant? How else do you want me to talk to you, huh?" I taunted, adding a mocking laughter at the end. His brows knotted, and I saw shock dart across her flushed face. "I can't believe this," she muttered, scoffing loudly. I felt happiness swell up in me as I st
KILLIAN My breath hitched the moment the cold metal got pressed down on my neck. A pair of pitch-black eyes glared down at me, and a pair of gloved hands gripped tight unto the blade. "You sent you?" I asked between clenched teeth. The face was masked, making it impossible to view the expression on his face. "My lord says your time is up. You shouldn't have dared mess with him," he muttered in a throaty voice that shook at the end. My eyes dimmed and I began to wonder which of the Alphas would dare try to assassinate me. I slowly reached for the gun I had on me and pulled it out. "Well… tell your boss you tried your best to accomplish the task," I mumbled, and before he could slit my throat with the blade, I pulled the trigger into his abdomen. He froze and his eyes widened in horror. Drops of warm liquid fell on my thighs, causing me to groan in disgust. I pushed the rogue off me and snatched the blade out of his slackened grip before reaching for the mask over his face. I
KILLIAN I gripped her shoulders and forced her to look into my eyes. "What did you just say?" I asked in an alarmed tone. Her lips stretched into a wide smile, an unknown glee floating in her eyes. "Should I say it out loud? Should I say what I saw in there?" She muttered, her head tilting to the side. My heart clenched and confusion and disbelief settled down within me. Was she truly possessed? "Should I?" She whispered in a chilling voice that sounded more like someone else's voice. "See—" I raised my hand, cutting Michelle off, my eyes still fixed on Valerie's grinning face. "Leave us, every one of you," I muttered, daring not to take my eyes off her. I waited till everyone had shuffled out of the room before gripping her shoulders again and glaring into her eyes. "Tell me the truth, what did you see in the secret room," I asked. She threw her head and laughed loudly, sinking her nails into my arm. I didn't care about her nails that sank into my skin, all I cared about
KILLIAN I called her name multiple times with a trembling voice but got no response. "Shit!" I cursed loudly and reached for my phone. I fidgeted as I scrolled through the list of my contacts, trying to put my distorted mind in order and call someone who would help.My mind clicked Michelle's name when her words echoed in my mind. I dialed her number, and her voice boomed out the second ring with mocking laughter. "Need help now?" She mumbled. My eyes dimmed in suspicion and I clenched my fist, fuming in fury. "What did you do to her?" I snapped. "You didn't even let me get close to her," she chuckled. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed in despair. "If I walk into your room, I'll have your head on a stake," I stated and ended the call, throwing the phone onto the couch. I grabbed her cold hand and rubbed it against mine to warm it up while I waited for Michelle. The door opened and my jaw clenched. "What the hell took you…" I paused when I saw the Pack's doctor stan
KILLIAN I paced around the room with my hand in my disheveled hair, pausing briefly to glance at her pale face. "What happened to her, my lord?" The Pack's doctor asked for the umpteenth time while she examined her. "Are you going to treat her or not?" Lucian growled in indignation. She flinched, her lips trembled as she darted her eyes from Lucian's face to Valerie's pale face. "I would do my best to find out what the cause of her unconsciousness is," she mumbled even though the chance of her finding out the cause was impossible. Lucian sighed and ran his hand through his hair, ignoring the constant calls from his phone. "It doesn't seem to be something ordinary, my lord," the Pack's doctor said as she opened her eyes with her fingers and gazed at the lifeless eyes. I sighed, knowing that it was true. She turned and stared at us suspiciously when our silence lingered in the room. "Is there something I must know, alpha?" She asked. I and Lucian exchanged glances and kept mu
KILLIAN The sound of the lighter clicking on and off filled the dark room, dividing my attention from the courtyard below. "You said you would meet little Val tonight, right?" Lucian muttered, causing me to turn away from the window. I trudged towards the couch he was lying on and slumped down into it, picking up an open pack of cigarettes. "Yes, do you want to join me?" I asked with a smirk laced against my face. He took a long drag at the cigarette and chuckled, puffing out smoke. "I have something important to attend to in town. I'll be leaving in an hour," he muttered. My eyes darkened and my fist clenched as I stared at him. "Doing business without me, huh?" I groused. He sat up and playfully smacked my back, grinning sinisterly. "Get some rest, Killian, get some rest," he replied before taking a drag at the cigarette again. I sighed and grabbed the lighter, but the question from Lucian stopped me from lighting the cigarette trapped between my lips. I looked at Lucian
VALERIE My heart tightened and I gasped in surprise. "What?" I snapped. Bianca nodded and moved closer to me as if I was attempting to do something stupid to myself."Yes, she was killed by rogues while trying to protect master Damion. Even up to today, no one has dared talk about her death for Damion's sake," she muttered Rachel's laughing face flashed before my eyes and a sickening feeling filled the pit of my belly. I staggered back and lost my balance. Bianca caught my wrist before I could touch the ground and pulled me up to my feet, wrapping her hand around me."Calm down, just calm down," she whispered, patting my hair slowly.I broke into tears, sobbing loudly.I couldn't believe that she died that terrible way despite her kindness and good heart."She never deserved that kind of death, Bianca!" I blurted out, unable to subdue the pain within me anymore."I know, but what can one do? It's all in the hands of fate and destiny—""Fuck fate and destiny!" I screamed, pushing
VALERIE My trembling hands slowly slipped away from the edges of the stone, fear bubbling in me. His cold hand was still wrapped around my wrist as he waited for me to get up and explain the act I was caught in. I couldn't dare imagine the disgusted look that would be on Lucian's face, worse, Killian's. I gulped hard and slowly turned, but the fear tightening in my chest eased up as my terrified eyes fell on the person clenching my wrist. "Damion!" I sighed in relief. His lips turned up in suspicion and his eyes darted to the fake flagstone on the ground before he released my wrist."What are you doing here?" He asked, nodding towards the spot he found me squatting down. "Uhm…" I trailed, fixing my eyes on the flagstones on the ground with the true intention of avoiding his prying eyes. "Are you scared of saying the truth to me?" He questioned. I remained silent, my eyes still fixed on the ground. I shivered slightly as he wrapped his hand around my chin, turning my head to