Vienna's POV:I was humming to myself as I prepped dinner in the kitchen. The familiar routine was helping me settle into my usual self again. Maybe, Kai and Fynn were right. Maybe all Gemini had were empty threats, and she was trying to play mind games by planting suspicioun in my mind, because she also knew that she couldn't do much apart from that. And by thinking about her or associating any sort of meaning with her words, I was allowing her to mess with me. I slid the rotisserie chicken into the oven behind me, the satisfying click of the door closing giving me a sense of accomplishment.But the moment I turned back to the counter, my breath stuttered.Gemini was there.Leaning against the counter, arms crossed over her chest, and a tight smile on her face.I flinched inwardly. My eyes narrowed before I could stop myself. “What are you doing here? Do you need something?” I kept my tone neutral, but I could feel my hostility kicking against my ribs like a caged animal, demand
Vienna's POV:I had been following Zeke around the house like a shadow all day. Wherever he ran, I followed. If he turned left, I turned with him. If he disappeared into a room, I was there two seconds later. He seemed thrilled by the attention, thinking I was playing some long, silly game of chase. Every time he looked over his shoulder and saw me trailing behind, he giggled and picked up speed.But I wasn’t actually smiling. My chest felt tight, my head buzzed with restless thoughts. Every few seconds, my eyes would automatically wander off to check the windows, the doors, the corners of the rooms. I knew I was being irrational, but that didn’t stop the feeling that if I so much as blinked, Zeke might disappear from my field of vision once again.I couldn’t bear it.Gemini’s words were still haunting me. The way she sat there calmly with him in the study and had the gall to even act innocent afterward, as if I had overreacted... it was driving me crazy. I couldn’t tell anymore
Author's POV:Gemini looked up, startled by the sharpness in Fynn’s voice. Her expression held a trace of confusion, as if she had no idea why her presence in the study, beside a child she didn’t give birth to, had caused such a storm.Fynn stood frozen in the doorway, fists clenched. Behind him, hurried footsteps approached, and Vienna’s voice rang through the corridor, desperate and breathless.“Fynn, let’s track the Azuremist Pack first, maybe someone there…”She halted mid-sentence.Her eyes landed on the scene inside the study: Zeke sitting quietly beside Gemini, his small head resting against her side while she calmly shut a children’s book in her lap.Vienna didn’t stop to process. She rushed forward like a storm breaking, all panic and fury rolled into one. Her hands scooped Zeke into her arms before anyone could react.“What were you trying to do?!” she cried, her voice trembling with a mother’s rage. “How dare you take him without my permission! Do you have any idea how scar
Vienna's POV: I couldn't breathe. My knees hit the floor as the world tilted, air refusing to enter my lungs properly. “Zeke…” I whispered, and then louder, “Zeke!!” Footsteps thundered down the hallway, the sound of multiple feet pounding towards the door. My heart pounded in my ears, and I turned around just as the door burst open. “Vienna!” Fynn was the first one who dashed inside, cracking with alarm. Kai was right behind him, eyes scanning the room with razor-sharp focus. “What’s going on?” Fynn knelt beside me, gripping my shoulders. “What happened, Enna! Why are you screaming?” Kai asked, rushing to my side. “Everything!” I cried, the words spilling out, torn straight from my soul. My body shook as I finally said it aloud. “Zeke is missing! He's gone… I don't know where…” Fynn blinked, trying to make sense of what I was saying. “I just came back from the pack house, and I didn't see him on the way back.” He turned to look at Kai. “Did we see him anywher
Vienna's POV:The cool morning breeze drifted across my cheek like a ghost’s breath, pulling me towards consciousness. I reached out blindly in my sleep, fingers searching for the warm and familiar bundle next to me. Zeke’s small frame was usually curled beside me, but this time, I touched only air.My heart stuttered.Still feeling groggy, I patted around the bed, expecting that he had rolled over to the other side. My eyes fluttered open, only to find the blankets tossed, empty on the bed. A hollow chill climbed up my spine.I sat up sharply.“Zeke?” I called, my voice cracking.No answer.The silence in the room pressed in like a weight.I stumbled out of bed, heart beginning to pound. “Zeke! Come out baby, don't tease mumma too much!”I called louder, rushing to the other side of the bed, pulling the covers back, checking under it, although I knew better. He wasn’t hiding… he wasn’t here at all. My son was gone.My breath came in short, panicked bursts.My chest tightened, and
Vienna's POV:The moment the thought crossed my mind, that Gemini was probably playing me again, the monitor beside her bed started to flash a red light, along with a robotic alarm. BEEP! BEEP! BEEEP!!The alarm continued to ring and I jolted, my heart hammering in mu chest as nurses rushed into the room like a sudden wave of white coats.“Her blood pressure’s dropping!” One of them shouted.Another adjusted the IV drip while a third began checking her vitals, muttering something to herself. I backed away instinctively, my eyes glued to the flurry around Gemini’s still form. My pulse pounded in my ears, feeling like every beep from the monitor was a response from the Moon Goddess, taunting me for the doubt that I had allowed into my heart. What if she wasn’t pretending?What if the smirk I thought I saw had been a twitch of pain instead?I might have forgiven Gemini, or maybe forgotten her actions… but would I ever be able to forgive myself for thinking this way about someone in n
Vienna’s POV:I was still holding the half-full cup of tea Fynn had brought me when Kai burst onto the balcony, his expression grim and urgent.“We have to go,” he said, breathless. “Now.”Both Fynn and I turned to him, alarmed.Kai continued, “I just got a call from the prison. Gemini fainted… collapsed right after she returned from the courthouse. Apparently, she hit her head getting out of the van. The guards panicked. She’s being rushed to the hospital.”I froze. “What?”“She listed you as her only emergency contact, Vienna,” he added, eyes locking on mine. “Her maternal uncle severed all ties with her and Tessa after the arrest.”Fynn and I exchanged a long, heavy glance. I could tell he was as reluctant as I was. Whatever emotions I’d felt earlier—shock, betrayal, guilt—started twisting into a tight knot in my stomach.Kai looked between us and softened his tone. “Whatever happened between you two… she still helped us. She testified. She got you home. We owe her that much.”I cl
Vienna's POV:I stood there, rooted to the marble floor of the now-empty courtroom, long after the doors closed behind Gemini and the guards. Her words rang in my ears like a cruel lullaby — one that lulled not into sleep, but into a spiral of dread.This is just the beginning… I’ll clear all our dues before either of us leaves this world.My chest ached. Not with fear, but with disbelief. How could someone wear such a convincing mask, speak so sweetly in front of everyone, only to peel it off the moment we were alone? I had genuinely believed she had changed. I had wanted to believe it. For once, I had wanted the story to end in healing.But I was wrong.The courtroom door creaked open again, and Kai stepped in, followed closely by Fynn. I didn’t look up immediately, but I felt them. Kai’s storm-like presence moving toward me, Fynn’s steady heartbeat echoing like a grounding rhythm in my ears.“Vienna,” Kai said softly, voice laced with concern. “What happened?”I blinked, swallowing
Vienna's POV:I pulled back from the hug, frozen for a second as Gemini’s words rang sharply in my ears.“What did you say?” I asked, my voice coming out sharp and loud.The remaining council members, guards, and even a few pack members turned their heads toward us. There was a moment of utter silence. I could feel Kai’s presence beside me, alert and protective, as if he was on his guard, ready to step in at the first sign of trouble between us.Gemini blinked at me with wide eyes, a look of confusion on her face. “I asked if you liked my testimony?” She repeated, her voice soft. “I mean, didn’t I act so put together and confident? On the inside, I was really freaking out and nervous to face so many high-ranking officials at once, you know?”A rush of breath escaped my lips, and I gave a soft laugh, the tension slowly draining from my shoulders. Oh Moon Goddess, I had misunderstood her words in this context. “Yeah, you looked really calm and collected,” I said, managing a smile.