LOGINDaphne’s POVA hand suddenly closed around my neck so tight that all the air rushed out of my lungs at once, and before I could even understand what was happening my eyes flew open and the first face I saw was Mallory’s. She was not alone. Her friends stood around her in a circle, their faces hard and full of hate, and before I could move they were already on me. Mallory’s fingers dug deep into my neck as if she wanted to crush my throat, while her friends hit me again and again, my face, my legs, my stomach, everywhere they could reach. Pain exploded through my body in waves, and my head rang as if the world was spinning too fast for me to hold on. “Let go,” I tried to scream, but my words never made it out because someone shoved a cloth into my mouth, stuffing it in so roughly that my jaw hurt. Panic rushed through me as I struggled to breathe, my chest rising and falling fast. I was already so tired. I had not eaten since last night. I had barely rested after everything that ha
Daphne’s POVLater that night, I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Merilyn’s words kept repeating in my head, each one cutting deeper than the last. I hugged my pillow tightly as if it could ground me, but nothing helped.I thought about Theo and the times I had seen him look tired, distant, like he was fighting something no one else could see. I remembered how his eyes sometimes carried sadness even when he smiled, and how careful he was with everyone around him. Was this the reason? Was this the monster he kept locked inside? Oh goddess, I wanted to help him so badly, but everything about this felt like a trap with no clear end. If I died, then what was the point of all my struggles? What was the point of fighting to be seen, to be chosen, to become something more? This was too much for my heart to hold. I turned on my side, pulling the covers closer as memories of him flooded my mind. The warmth of his touch, the way he called me his Cherry with a softness t
Daphne’s POVAfter I left Theo’s room, my heart would not slow down no matter how hard I tried. Every single time I thought I had him figured out, he surprised me again, and it left me feeling soft and shaken in ways I did not know were possible. If anyone had told me that this was the same Theo people feared, the same man whispered about as ruthless and dangerous, I would have laughed and walked away. That version of him felt like a lie now, because the man I had just been with was gentle in his own quiet way, careful even when his strength filled the room. Going to his room was the best choice I made today, and I did not regret it for a single second. Even if I had been caught, even if punishment had followed, I would still make that same choice again. The way he touched me, the way he kissed me, the way he held me close like I was something rare and precious, it all stayed with me as I walked away. The thought of his fingers inside of me….ughhhh. My lips tingled every time I re
Theo’s POVI was satisfied, yes, but not fully, because a part of me still wanted more than I should want, wanted to pull her closer and forget the world for a while longer. Still, for the first time in a long time, I felt calm and light, like something heavy had finally lifted from my chest. We lay on the bed, her head resting against me while my arm stayed around her back. The room was quiet, and the slow sound of her breathing filled the space between us. My mind, however, was not quiet at all, because too many thoughts were moving at once, each one heavier than the last.She had seen me.She had seen my eyes turn red, had seen my fangs, had seen the part of me I spent years hiding from the world. And yet she was still here, still touching me, still breathing against my skin like nothing had changed. That alone felt unreal, like I would wake up any moment and find myself alone again. “I know you saw me, Daphne,” I said softly, my fingers moving through her hair in slow strokes.
Demetrius’ POVHer mouth fit against mine too well, and when I kissed her back, my hands moved on their own, resting on her waist as if that was where they had always belonged. For a short moment, everything else disappeared, the noise in my head went quiet, and all I could feel was her breath, her warmth, and the pull between us.Then I pulled away.“You’re so possessive for a woman,” I said, trying to joke, trying to breathe.“I don’t back down when I want something,” Christy replied, her eyes steady on mine, like she was daring me to challenge her.“Like Theo?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.“Let’s not ruin the moment, okay?” she said calmly. I nodded, because she was right, and because I did not want to talk about him when she was standing this close to me, looking at me like that.That was when my eyes dropped to her shoulder. There was an injury there, nothing big, but enough for a thin line of blood to show against her skin. My chest tightened the second I s
Christabel’s POV“Alpha Demetrius!” the crowd kept shouting, their voices rising like thunder as he stepped into the field, and I could see it clearly in the way they looked at him, the pride in their eyes, that this was a leader they loved with their whole hearts. He moved with calm strength, every step steady, every breath controlled, like the ground itself respected him. “The great Alpha Demetrius of the Ice Stone pack,” someone yelled, and the cheers grew louder.He stopped in front of me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body even with the cool air around us, and he smiled in a way that made my chest tighten without warning.“You had the chance to pick anyone,” he said softly. “Why did you choose me?”I lifted my chin, gripping my spear tighter, refusing to let him see how much his presence was affecting me. “I want to see how strong you are,” I replied, then added with a small smirk, “and if you can truly handle me later.”His brow lifted. “What did you say?”“I d







