LEONARDO's POV At first her kiss is sweet, scared, almost careful. Then she deepens it.She smiles against my lips. "I'm in love with you, Leo." "Then we’re even, because I’m ruined for anyone else." She tastes like rebellion, desire and hope. I drink it in like I’ll never get another chance. She groans my name against my lips, and I pour every ounce of myself into the kiss. I never want this to end. But then, a guard breaks us apart. "Hey! What the hell are you two doing there?!" His voice sounds awfully familiar. Is that not.. Lara finishes my thought aloud. "Mateo?" "Shhh!" he hisses back. "Yes, it's me." "Cool costume," Lara jokes, tittering at the helmet bigger than his whole body. He increases his voice to the loudest bass. "Rebel! You're supposed to stay at your corner! Not with the girl!" I pretend to move as Mateo hands me a key: to unlock the chains. Another guard's voice cuts sharply. "You! You've been there for too long! Is everything good?" He's heading to us,
LEONARDO's POV. For the bajillionth time, the soldier’s baton hits my jaw. I spit out more blood, laughing, as if this is just another Tuesday in my life. Roman, seated at his throne, stops his soldier to ask me. “Is something funny?” The soldier forces my head up as I reply, "Everything about you is fucking hilarious, Sinclair. Did you really have to chain me at the center of the palace?" His sadistic smirk answers before he even opens his mouth. "How else do I use you as a scape goat to warn other courageous idiots?" "Ah, so I’m not just a prisoner—I’m exemplary punishment. Lucky me." Roman leans back, fingers tapping against the throne arm. "Exactly. You make people think twice before stepping out of line. It’s quite effective, wouldn’t you agree, buddy?" "If your goal was to terrify everyone, congratulations. I’d be scared too... if I weren’t so busy plotting how to turn this throne room into a disaster zone." His eyes narrow, half-amused, half-offended. "There he is.. th
Before morning hits, Mateo successfully sneaks me into the Gemini Moon territory. A few hours has passed since midnight, and only the chirping crickets are awake. The Gemini werewolves are asleep in their tents. "What exactly happened to Leo?" I question, lowering my voice to a small whisper. "We were planning a revolution to overthrow Roman's reign," he replies as we walk. "But Roman somehow got word, and sent soldiers to our tent. I escaped... Leo didn't. My knees weaken and I stumble back, grasping for something, anything, to hold onto. "Shit. Are.. are you sure they got him?" "When I came back, all I found was... blood." I press a trembling hand to my mouth. "Roman has him. God, Roman has him." "I'm afraid so," Mateo mutters, his gaze fixed ahead. "You seem to have a plan," I murmur. "What is it?" "Leo had been building an army of werewolves who hate Roman too. So I set up an emergency meeting with them. We're gonna strategize and work out a plan." "Tell what I can do
"How dare you call us poison?""No, I didn't say anything, mi hermano," I lie."Yes, you did. And my little sister was never such a smooth liar. Unless you've let Hollywood folks change you," Antonio challenges with his usual condemning glare.His father steps in, before the glare turns to a punch. "Let's allow your sister off the hook. Just this time. She probably didn't mean it."I meant it. Every word.They let down the net, remove the body, and prepare the trap for the next unlucky, lone wolf.Soon enough, another man begins to tread the same dangerous path. The knot in my chest feels tighter as I watch him. He keeps looking around warily like he knows he's being watched.Yet..His feet draw closer to the tripwire. I should jump out, and warn him. "Three crazy people with a savior complex set a trap for you! Run!" I should scream. But what would that lead to? Two careless preys in a net, fighting for their lives?I lived with these people for about two decades. I should know how t
"Mi hija," my father breathes heavily, standing behind the destroyed window."Papa," I whisper, taking in his appearance.He looks like a stranger from another lifetime, not the man who raised me for 20 years. I left Spain knowing him as an hardworking, honest farmer... only to find out that..."You look completely different, Lara," he says, walking closer to me. "Did you dye your hair?"My fingers instinctively reach for the tip of my hair. Alyssa had convinced me to dye some part light brown, but I like it. It flatters my skin tone.But dad, judging from his disgusted grimace, doesn't feel the same way."Your hair is naturally black. Did you change it because Hollywood folks made you feel inferior?" he asks, eyeing the tip of my head in disdain."Nobody made me. I did it on my own. But that's what you're concerned about? Not the fact that you've been lying to your daughter for her whole life??" I cry out."I told you going to school in Hollywood was a bad idea. I warned you. And you
BACK TO PRESENTLARA'S POV"So..." I blink as a nervous laugh bubbles in my throat."Let me get this straight. Mom and Dad aren’t farmers. They're..." I swallow hard. "..werewolf hunters?""That's the truth," David replies.My laugh dies. That has to be the most unbelievable thing I've heard this year, and believe me, the standard was already pretty high."Are you fucking with me right now?" I retort."Do I look like I am?" He maintains his stern look in the dead silence of the room."But that's wild and evil. I'm their daughter! I would know if they were doing that.""Diego and Rosa have always been great at lying."I take another step back, eyes wide. "You even know their names!""They killed many brothers in my pack. I know everything about them."My heart does another backflip. I snort out a bitter laugh as everything starts making sense in my head. No wonder I remember Dad and Hermano would stop talking whenever I entered the cottage. It always felt like I was the outsider in