Chapter Fifty Thalina Professor Maverick? I pinched myself, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might crack my ribs. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him. He stepped forward with the kind of calm authority that seemed to command attention even in the chaos. My breath hitched. What was he doing here? What would he say to me? The last person I needed to see at this moment was him. I was about to get caught, about to be exposed, and I didn’t want that to be in his presence. What would he think of me? That everything I’d done from the beginning was just to get to the alpha? He’d think I’d never been sincere with him when I hadn’t been that sincere about anything in my life than I was with him. I truly needed him, I truly wanted to be with him, and spend every single second of the day with him, but would he even believe that now? After seeing me this way? Fear curled around my throat like a tightening noose, and I tried to take my eyes off him, but I couldn’t. I
Chapter Forty-nine Talon Maverick (Hours earlier) I stared at the phone, my thumb hovering over the screen like some invisible force was holding me back. The message was there, typed and ready. Just three words. Words I shouldn’t have to say, words I wasn’t supposed to feel. ‘I miss you’. The admission felt foreign, weak, but my chest ached, the weight was really unbearable. Thalina. She’d carved herself into me, and no amount of logic or denial could push her out. And the worse past? I didn’t want her out. I let out a frustrated groan, as I tossed the phone onto the bed. I couldn’t believe I’d sunk this low, missing her, wanting her like I’d never wanted anything, thinking about her night after night whenever I get woken up by the damn faceless beast. I was unable to think straight, unable to breathe without her invading every corner of my mind. The door creaked open, jolting me out of my thoughts, and Kaedros strolled in, his presence immediately grating on my nerves. I
Chapter Forty-eight Thalina I’ve stepped into something I might not come out of. The Luna’s voice still echoed in my ears, fierce, strong and unyielding. No wonder she was able to lead the kingdom for years, all by herself, and she did that effortlessly. When her voice came at us again, my legs felt like they were made of lead, but I forced myself to move back into the cluster of pack members, who looked as worried and scared as I was. The other maids huddled together near the corner, their faces pale with fear. I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper, and joined them, clutching my skirt so tightly my knuckles began to turn white. I couldn’t afford to draw any sort of attention to myself, I had to be calm and composed even though there was a huge storm raging inside of me. My breathing came fast and shallow, and every muscle in my body screamed at me to run, but the guards had already sealed off every exit, and any step I took could take me to my d
Chapter Forty-seven Thalina Today was the day. The day I’d been dreading for the past three days. The day I was supposed to prove to my father—Lord High and Mighty—that I was worthy of bearing his name. That I wasn’t just some mistake, but a true member of the Noir family. Unlike my perfect stepsister, Ember, who never had to lift a finger to earn his approval, my existence seemed to require constant justification. I wasn’t his favorite—not by a long shot. If I wanted to compete with Ember, I had to go above and beyond. Always. And today? Today was the Howling Festival. The last twenty-four hours had been absolute hell. No sleep. No peace. Just me, tossing and turning, giving this whole thing way too much thought. I kept running in circles, but no matter how many times I tried to find another option, I always ended up with the same conclusion: I had to do it. Do this. End this. Once and for all. Maybe, just maybe, if I went through with this and finally gave my father
Chapter Forty-six Talon Maverick Toss a few coins here and there for the juiciest pussy alive, sounds like a great deal, doesn’t it? That’s what I told myself this was—no strings, no mess, just pleasure and good sex. But, hell, the way she pulled at something deeper in me felt like a contradiction I didn’t sign up for. I never gave a damn about anyone’s smile before, yet hers was something else entirely. Sweet, almost innocent, and it twisted me up inside. I wanted to keep it there, permanent, and I hated myself for it. Hours ago, I caught sight of her dragging her feet out of the college gates, pale and fragile, like the wind could knock her over. It did something to me, seeing her like that. I didn’t even know this... women’s thing could make them look like death warmed over. All my life, I thought it was just an excuse—Vaelora, my sister, always used hers to dodge lessons and responsibilities. But watching her like that, I realized I’d been dead wrong. Then she disappe
Chapter Forty-five Thalina The night air was cool against my skin as I stood frozen on the sidewalk, staring at him. Professor Maverick leaned casually against the sleek black car, his signature cocky smirk tugging at his lips, though his eyes held a softness I wasn’t sure he was even aware of. What was he doing here? At this hour? "Hey, baby girl," he drawled again, his voice low and velvety, making my heart stutter in a way that was both infuriating and exhilarating. I crossed my arms, trying to appear unfazed. "What are you doing here?" He straightened and closed the distance between us with measured steps, his height and presence effortlessly commanding. Before I could process it, his hands were on my waist, pulling me close, so close that I could feel that intoxicating bulge pushing against my stomach. "I couldn’t get my mind off you," he murmured and stopped, his lips brushing my ear as his warm breath sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t just his breath, but th