MasukTheoThe air shifts. I can feel movement in the hallway. Someone is here in my apartment.It’s not Greta. She knows not to come here unless I send for her. That leaves—“Hello partner.” Rowan calls from right behind me. I turn around quickly and I find him leaning against the wall, grinning at me. Greta’s magic really did a number on him. He looks less like a corpse and more like his old self.“Is it done?” I ask him. No need beating around the bush. “Is she dead?He chuckles. “Not only is she dead, Aiden was right there when it happened.”I smile at that. “Really? He must have been furious.”“He’s probably coming after me now.” He shrugs, getting off the wall. “I can stay here, right?”I nod. “Stay as long as you like. Oh and I meant what I said. You’ll be generously compensated for your troubles. Once you’ve taken your revenge and I’ve succeeded in being named my father’s heir, I’ll have you set up for life. Anywhere you wish to go in the world, I’ll make it happen.”“You know,” h
Aiden“Did you miss me, Aiden Cross?” Rowan laughs out loud, eyes glowing crimson, flashing hatred and fury. “I definitely missed you, buddy.”He hurls the severed heart at me. In a desperate move, I reach out to catch it. My mother’s heart. It’s a chunk of lifeless flesh now. Rowan comes at me from the side, slashing at me with his claws. If I wasn’t wearing skates, I would be missing a heart right now. The moment he makes contact with my chest, I slide down the slope, back on the rink. Everything is happening so fast. My mind is taking too long to catch up. Again, Rowan cackles. He brings his bloodied fingers to his lips and licks them.There’s commotion in the hallway. Someone is coming. Rowan notices. Then, he blows me a kiss. “I’ll see you around Aiden. Until then, I hope you’ll be thinking about me.”He lunges for the overhead window, bursting through the glass. He disappears seconds before Vincent comes barreling in. Willow appears right behind him. I don’t know why b
Aiden“They are still at the palace?” I growl. “Why? What else is left to talk about? I heard Cary Thompson made a tempting offer to the crown.”“Unfortunately, princess Yvette turned down the offer.” Vincent growls. I don’t need to see him to know that he’s fuming. “She still insists on going ahead with the wedding. At this point, it seems there’s nothing that can change her mind.”“I’m no longer S & G’s successor,” I inform him. “I turned it all down earlier.”“You what? Aiden, that’s risky. If the lycan king hears about this, he’ll know that you’ve done it because you do not wish to marry his daughter. Imagine the world of trouble that could cause for your family.”“I don’t want to talk about my family right now. Vincent. I’m standing at the bottom of the palace hills. I’m thinking of coming in to talk to Yvette. I need to make her understand the reasons why I never intend to marry her.”“Please don’t. If you do that, I’m afraid you’re only going to make this worse.”“I don’t see a
TheoWhat the hell just happened?He’s giving up, just like that? Because of Thompson?“No,” Grace is storming towards the door, no doubt going to find her son and bring him back.“Stop,” dad grabs her by the waist. “Leave him.”“He can’t be serious.” Grace yells in my dad’s face. She’s trembling in his arms. “Listen to me, Gary. He’s not thinking clearly. He didn’t mean any of this. Let me go to him. I’ll find him and talk some sense into that thick skull of his.”“There’s nothing either of us can do anymore,” dad finally turns to me. He hands me the contract, the one relinquishing Aiden’s claim to the Spencer dynasty. But before I can take it, Grace seizes it.She holds it close to her chest. “Are you not listening to me, Gary? Would you really deprive our son of everything that should be his by right?”“His son?” I sneer at her, having had enough of the disrespect. “I’m his son as well. What makes me any less worthy of being Spencer’s heir. Aiden doesn’t seem to want any of it. Why
WillowCary Thompson is handling negotiations at the palace. I just got off the phone with Vincent and he assures me not to worry. Cary Thompson is making an offer to the crown, one that not even the lycan king can refuse. That’s good news. If Lycan King Lucien accepts the deal, Willow will be released from confinement. We can go ahead with our wedding plans whenever we feel like it. “Aiden,” Theo greets me at the front door. The manor no longer feels like home to me. Standing in the foyer, I feel like a stranger, staring blankly at the expensive fixtures on the shiny walls. The crystal chandeliers feel like a mockery statement in this glamorous prison.“You’re pissed,” Theo states the obvious, eyeing me with a curious expression. “What’s happened this time? I mean, you just got engaged to the werewolf of your dreams? Shouldn’t you be celebrating?”I wish I was. I clench my fist around the folder in my hand. “Theo. I’m glad you’re here. Where’s father and mother?”“In the drawing
Willow“Your highness, I’m not.” This is taking a turn for the worst. “Please. I’m begging you. Try to be reasonable about this.”It’s like talking to a wall. I’ve hurt her pride and she’s doing everything she can to save face, even though it makes her look like a tyrant on a power trip. I wonder where my dad is. What’s Aiden doing right now? And Vincent?“Your highness!” A guard bursts into the drawing room. He sees Yvette glaring at me and shifts uncomfortably. “Forgive me for barging in here. His majesty has asked me to fetch you. He’s in the throne room. And he’s not alone.”Again, he gives me that uncomfortable look. “Who is father with?” Yvette prods, tapping her foot impatiently.The guard nods in my direction. “Her father.”“Just him?” “Yes princess.”“Huh. And here I was, hoping that Aiden would show up to cause a scene.” She sighs wearily. Nothing about her behavior makes any sense. But of course, I should have known, from the moment her fancy car slammed into mine that
WILLOWViolet is the first one to shop up. I haven’t seen her in forever and it’s quite dramatic, our reunion. We squeal like a pair of banshees and then, we fall on each other, hugging and saying ‘I miss yous.’“You look prettier,” Violet declares. “I don’t know what it is but there’s a glow about
WILLOW“What? Dad, what are you talking about?” For a moment there, I think i may have misheard my dad. There’s no way he just said what I think he said. Aiden is silent. It means my dad has managed to take him by surprise as well. “Isn’t it true?” Cary looks between us. “Am I wrong in saying tha
WILLOWThe last time I had spoken to Aiden was at an Omega party. He had smiled at me flirtatiously, pouring me a beer. That was a year ago, few weeks after I’d started dating Theo.And because I knew how hostile both brothers were towards each other, I didn’t let myself linger at the alcohol stand
WILLOWI grew up in an orphanage. Poor. Never having enough. Always depending on the goodwill of the state system. Because I believed I’d been dealt the short end of the stick, I made sure to do everything the state expected of me.I poured all my energy into school. Got straight As. Scored a schol







