Chapter 1

Valerie’s POV

My feet were rooted to the ground and my eyes fixed on the place I once called home, burning aggressively with blood-curdling screams of the people still alive and inside of those flames, ringing loudly in my ears and ready to haunt me for the rest of my life, if I was spared though.

I shifted my gaze back to the man standing before me, dressed in a white shirt and black leather jacket. Stains of blood all around his shirt, the blood of my people. This man standing right before me was my supposed mate, the one I had stupidly spent the last six months, sneaking out of the pack to see, unknowingly making him know the ins and outs of our clan. Closing my eyes tight, I struggled to hold back a sob as my heart clenched tightly in pain at the betrayal of my mate.

I knew I couldn’t blame it on anyone but myself, ‘cause even knowing very well that the vampires and werewolves weren’t in a good relationship, I thought it could be different since we were mates and bonded by a powerful love. That we could probably change the next chapters of our lives and that of our clans, but the only thing that did change was that I led our enemies right into the clan and had my parents killed.

I felt deep regret and hated myself for being an adventurous teen and dreamer who thought she could change the world. I hated myself for not listening to my parents and believing in such hopeless love.

My eyes wandered around as soon as I remembered Eve, my best friend who always had my back each time I sneaked out. I felt my heart shatter into pieces again after I realized she might just be dead. I couldn’t hold back the sob in my throat anymore. I lost everyone, well except April, my little cousin, who was clutching tightly to my waist, visibly shaking in fear. What the hell have I caused?

“I’m not gonna ask you again Valerie, where did your father keep all of his money?” Tyler, my mate, asked in an almost unrecognizable voice, different from the sweet, charming tone I had always known him for. His deadly gaze pierced into my skin and unexplainable hate evident in his eyes.

“Why don’t you go ask him?” I spat out, glaring hard at him as I sniveled.

He scoffs and stares at me for a while before turning to the man beside him. “Grab the little kid.”

“What-” Before I could react and take a stance, he forcefully yanked April from my grasp, pushing me to the side. “Stop! Let her go!!”

“You tell me what I want to hear or I kill her,” Tyler spoke with a devilish smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“I don’t know what you want! Let her go!” I screamed, breathing frantically as my heart began to race faster than ever.

“You and I know that's a lie. You’re the vampire leader’s daughter, and you know everything about your father.”

“Stop, I don’t, and even if I do, you already burnt the whole place to the ground. Please, don’t hurt her.” I clasped my palm together as a cry tore from my throat and I fell to the ground on my knees.

“And that’s another lie. Your father was wise enough not to keep any of his important documents in the house, so where is-”

“I have it.” A feminine voice coming from behind me caught him off, sounding familiar- too familiar. I swiftly turned back, a wave of confusion and disbelief washing through me when I watched Eve walk past me wearing a broad smile on her face.

“Eve?” My voice came out as a whisper and I felt my heart sink into my stomach when he wrapped his hand around her waist and his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came, just the repeated almost unbearable tight painful clenching of my heart.

“Eve, what is going on?” My voice quivered as I spoke, fresh tears streaming down my cheeks.

“What does it look like, dumbass?” She retorted with a chuckle, a sly smile curving on the corner of her lips. “Let me help you. I’m not on your side, get it?”

“Eve,” My lips trembled as I called, placing my hands over my chest as pain from the betrayal struck me. “My family,” I whispered, tears cascading freely from my eyes.

“Doesn’t matter Valerie. I don’t think that hurts more than seeing you all over my man for the past six months.” She waved her hands dismissively and rolled her eyes. “We do not have all the time in the world. Finish them.” She moved back, going to stand hand in hand with my supposed mate.

“What are you gaining from this?” I couldn’t help but ask, though trying to buy myself and April a little time, maybe I could still get a chance to rescue her.

“You don’t have to know. You’d be dead in a few minutes.” She replied in a cold, emotionless tone. “Come on, don’t give me that look, Valerie, you have no idea how much of a pleasure it is to watch your execution,” Eve spoke with a cocky smile and crouched before me, letting out small giggles. “You had a tough reputation. It’s disgusting to see you toss that away at your death.”

“Alright, that’s enough. Finish them now.” She walked away as soon as she said that, standing some meters away with a wide smile. I should’ve seen this coming. How stupid and too trusting I had been. A drop of tear slipped from my eyes and I glanced back at the place I once called home, going down to nothing and here I was, utterly dumbfounded and at the mercy of my supposed mate and best friend, waiting for my death. There was nothing I could wish for, there was nothing to regret. I just watched those flames soar higher and our clan buried in it. It was too late to regret. I had been the stupid one. I got my family killed.