LOGINAZREN There are exactly six reasons I no longer know peace. Six. Not five or seven. Six. I push open my dad's study door without knocking. Dad is exactly where I expected him to be, reclined like a king in his ridiculously expensive massage chair, his eyes half-lidded, one hand lazily resting on the armrest like he doesn't have a care in the world. Traitor. I walk in, holding up the bottle like an offering to a very dangerous god. "Peace offering," I say. One of his eyes cracks open suspiciously. "...That's my favourite wine." "Yes." He studies me now, fully alert. "...what did you do?" I drop into the chair opposite him and place the bottle on the table between us. "I need you to reverse it." He sits up slightly. "...reverse what?" I stare at him. "The curse." He says nothing at first. Then he smiles. "What curse?" he asks, his voice calm. I lean forward. "The one where you apparently cursed me to pass down my worst traits to my children like it was a fam
NOELLE The mall is too bright, or is it just me? I'm standing in the middle of it with one hand braced against my lower back and the other wrapped around a shopping bag I absolutely did not need."I'm just saying," I mutter, shifting my weight, "bed rest was a suggestion. Not a prison sentence."Beside me, Danika hums in a way that tells me she does not agree even a little."It was not a suggestion," she says calmly, adjusting her sunglasses as she scans the corridor. "It was a very clear instruction."I snort."From people who panic if Azren sneezes too hard."She lowers her glasses just enough to give me a look."...they watched him stop breathing for sixty seconds.""...okay, fair," I mumble.I roll my shoulders."I feel fine," I insist. "Better than fine, actually.”Danika's lips twitch."You are glowing," she admits. "But that doesn't mean you should be wandering around a crowded mall like you're indestructible."I gesture vaguely at myself."I literally helped close the
AZREN The evening air is warm and gentle as I walk slowly beside Noelle, one arm wrapped securely around her waist while she holds onto my other arm with both hands. Every step I take is careful, not just because my body is still recovering but because I refuse to rush a single second with her.Her very round belly brushes against my side with each movement, a constant, beautiful reminder of the life we created together."Are you okay?" I ask softly.She smiles up at me with that radiant glow only pregnancy seems to give her. "I'm perfect as long as you're here."We're heading towards the small, quiet ice cream stand at the edge of the pack gardens. Our little escape for the evening. An ice cream date. After everything we've been through, it feels like the most romantic thing in the world.When we reach the stand, I order her favourite—strawberry swirl with extra chocolate chips—and my usual dark chocolate. The vendor hands us the cones with a knowing smile, but I barely notic
NOELLE Tears well up instantly in his beautiful blue eyes. "Az—" My voice cracks as I grab his hand, pressing it to my cheek. "I'm here—I'm here—" He exhales as if he'd been drowning and just broke the surface. "I thought you were—" His voice cracks. "I saw—" "I'm not," I whisper quickly, tears slipping down my face. "I'm right here. I didn't go anywhere." He stares at me, dazed. "...you're real," he gasps. "I'm real." He stares at my face for a moment, then he tries to move. "Hey—easy," I say, sliding an arm behind his back. "Don't rush—" "I need to look at you," he croaks, stubborn even through the weakness. A smile tugs at my lips. I help him anyway, easing him up against the pillows. "There. Take it slow—" But his gaze has already dropped. And then, he goes dead still. His eyes lock onto my belly, silence setting in. "...what the hell...?" he breathes. I wince slightly. "Okay—so—before you spiral—" He doesn't even blink. Then, very slowly, his tongue drags a
NOELLE I surface like I've been dragged up from the bottom of the deep blue sea. My body feels... heavy and wrong. Like it doesn't belong to me. There's a warm, familiar weight on my hand."...Noelle?"The voice is close. It's warm and motherly. Something soft brushes my face. A damp cloth."Sweetheart... come on. Wake up for me."My lashes flutter. The light stings my eyes.I groan softly, my throat dry. "Mmm...""There you go," she breathes, relief flooding her tone. "That's it—open your eyes, darling."I force them open. Everything is blurry at first. Then it sharpens.Danika is hovering over me, her eyes bright and wet at the same time, her smile trembling as she dabs my face again with the cloth."You're awake," she whispers. "Oh, thank the gods—you're awake."My head feels heavy and my thoughts are sluggish."Mum?" I rasp.Her smile widens instantly. "Yes, sweetheart. I'm right here."I swallow, wincing slightly. Everything feels... off."How long..." My voice crack
NOELLE Blaze erupts inside me as Azren begins to fight back, but Nyxara refuses to let him go. Heat floods my veins so abruptly it almost blacks my vision out. My heartbeat becomes a war drum. Haden barely has time to react before I'm on him. My clawed hand drives straight into his chest, the exact same way Nyxara did to my husband. Flesh parts under my fingers. He howls in agony. When I rip out the beating organ in his chest, I don't hesitate, purely driven by animalistic instincts. "NO—!" Nyxara screams. The sound cracks through the chamber just as she wrenches her hand out of Azren and throws him aside. My heart lurches, but Kaziel is already moving. He catches Azren before he hits the ground. Azren's body convulses. Blood oozes from his mouth in uncontrollable bursts. Haden is still in my grip. "...you—" he chokes. I tilt my head. "This is for all the nights you humiliated me," I whisper. Then I tear his throat open. Blood sprays across my skin. His body jerks twice
NOELLE A shiver runs through my body as he ravages my lips like a hungry beast. This kiss is different from the ones from that night. My knees are shaking, my legs barely holding me up. "Fuck," he breathes against my lips, his deep voice ragged. I clutch at his shirt for dear life, moaning as
NOELLE Hours later, the door shuts behind Azalea and their mother, Danika. Apparently, they had somewhere important to go and couldn't wait to hang out with me soon. She had insisted that I call her, like we were already family. And now, the penthouse suddenly feels too small. Too full of him. A
AZREN "Not tonight," I repeat, my voice softer.Sabrina's jaw drops. Her green eyes dart between me and Noelle, lingering on the way my arm is wrapped protectively around my wife's waist."Azren," she says, and there's that soft, coaxing note she always uses when she thinks I'm being stubborn
NOELLE "Azren, wait, we're going to be late. Can you not confront him now?" I croak, my voice shaky. The mere thought of seeing Haden again has me trembling in pure terror. I can barely breathe. The memory of those cruel pitch-black eyes clouds my mind, making it difficult to think. It fee







