LOGINGinnie**Kenna’s fingers tightened around my throat like iron bands, crushing every single airway in my lungs as I gasped, clawing uselessly at her wrist, my nails scraping against her skin but doing nothing. My back slammed painfully into the stone-cold wall as she pinned me there, her face inches from mine.“You’re so fucking pathetic,” she spat. “So…you really thought you could fight me? A weak little human who spreads her legs for power? You took everything from me and now…now I’m going to enjoy taking it back!”She slammed me against the wall again, my head cracking against the stone wall so brutally that the sheer force sent stars bursting behind my eyes. LilyVarkosI had to get to them. I couldn’t die here…not like thisWith the last of my strength, I brought my knee up, slamming it hard between her legs. Kenna stumbled back a step, but the blow barely did anything to stop her. She was Lycan — stronger, faster, deadlier. My human body was nothing against hers.“You bitch!” s
Ginnie**The rope bit deeper into the raw skin of my wrists with every desperate twist. I had been struggling against it for what felt like an hour — maybe more. Time had lost all meaning in this dark, windowless room I was locked in.My fingers were numb and slick with blood from where the thick robes had torn my skin open from struggling stubbornly, sweat dripping into my eyes, blurring my vision, but I didn’t stop.I couldn’t stop.Varkos was somewhere held hostage in this hellhole, bleeding from the wolfsbane poison…and from whatever wound they had given him. He was weak, vulnerable, and Kenna—“That fucking bitch” I muttered more to myself than anyone. The thought of what she might be doing to him right now sent fresh panic surging through my veins. But worse…so much worse…was Lily.My baby girl After all these years I had finally told Varkos the truth—that Lily was his daughter. And now, because of my secrets and my mistakes, she was in danger. I had to find her. I had to mak
Varkos**Maria stepped fully into the dim light, and the woman I had known as gentle and quiet all these years vanished completely right in front of my eyes.There was nothing good about the look in her eyes, the same eyes that had once cared for the Draven family were gone now, replaced with something I couldn’t quite figure out.“What…you..?” I rasped, pain shooting through my side where the wolfsbane poison still burned inside my veins. Blood continued to seep through the wound, soaking my shirt and dripping onto the cold stone floor.“Yes. It’s me,” she shot back, her voice trembling with raw, unfiltered hate. “I wish you could see the look on your face right now? The loyal servant who has served your family for years…and you never saw this coming, did you?”Maria’s lips curved into a smile that held no warmth as she took another step closer, her eyes locked on mine. “All these years I’ve harbored nothing but deep hatred for you, Varkos. How dare you sit there and act all innocen
Ginnie**I tightened my grip unconsciously on my dress as I walked beside Varkos, ignoring the dull ache running through my body. I still feel every step hurt through me with a sharp ache, but it didn’t matter right now the only thing that mattered was Lily.“Lily?” I called, my voice echoing faintly through the space. “Lily, where are you?”No sound came back in return.“She has to be here…” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. “You said she was here.”Kenna doesn’t respond.I shoot a glance at her, noticing something uneasy stir inside me as she walks ahead of us calmly, her posture straight, her steps steady without hesitating or looking back.“Kenna…” I called carefully.She stopped.For a second, she didn’t move. Then, slowly, she turned around to face us, a sly smirk tugging at the corner of her lips the moment my eyes landed on her.Something was off.Terribly wrong.Before I could say anything else, a sharp sound echoed through the building.Click!“What was that…?”
Varkos**The second I slid my eyes open, darkness was the first thing that greeted me, pressing in from every side, like I had been buried beneath something I couldn’t fight my way out of. For a moment, my mind goes blank, lost somewhere between pain and confusion as I struggle to catch up with reality.Then an agonizing pain hit me, spreading through my body in sharp, burning waves, dragging a low groan from my chest as my eyes forced themselves open. Ginnie!My body reacts before my mind can fully process it. I try to push myself up, but the movement sends a violent surge of pain through my chest, forcing the air out of my lungs. I clenched my teeth, breathing hard as I forced myself to stay conscious.Then my eyes snapped down, noticing the blood, soaking through my clothes, still flowing steadily from the wound in my side. The arrow was gone now but the damage remained. The wolfsbane had done its job, because I could feel it spreading through me, dulling my strength, weakening
Varkos**Kenna spins round in a flash, her words stuck mid-way through her throat before they get the chance to spill.I moved before she could breathe, my hand shot forward, gripping her by the arm, and with a force I didn’t bother to control, I flung her across the room. Her body slammed hard against the wall, the impact echoing sharply as she crumpled to the ground.A weaker wolf would have stayed down.But Kenna wasn’t weak.She pushed herself up, gasping—But I was already on her.I grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground, my fingers tightening around her neck as her feet kicked uselessly in the air.She clawed at my wrist instantly, her eyes wide with shock, but I didn’t loosen my grip.Not even a little.“Where is she?” My voice came out low, deadly, barely controlled. “Where is my daughter?”The words hung in the air like a blade.Kenna froze.For a second, the struggle in her body stilled, her eyes searching my face as something close to disbelief flickered ac
Ginnie**“I came to remind you of your place, human.” Her voice echoes with a sharp edge as she steps closer, the sound of her heels clicking softly against the worn floorboards. “You see, I’ve been patient... I’ve watched you slink around this villa as if you belong here. I stood at that altar in
Varkos**I step into the living room and find them seated like vultures around a carcass. The Council of Elders. Five of them.Clothed in dark and ceremonial robes, silver badges pinned at the collars. Their ancient faces were carved from years of authority and arrogance. Lady Ravena sits among t
Varkos**The heavy doors of my bedroom close behind me with a soft, final click that echoes through the entire room. I stand there for a moment, my shoulders locked, jaw clenched so tighly I swore I could hear the crack of my teeth.They dared speak those words in my own house.And yet here I am, f
Kenna**I couldn’t stop the laughter that ripped out of me the moment Maria said those words. Not because it was funny…but because if I didn’t, I might scream until my throat bled.“AH—HA!” The sound ripped out of me sharp and humourless, echoing too loudly off the walls as I dragged a hand through







