It is my first time waking up in Stella’s Soul—inside the Honeymoon House—without the scent of rain and forest and mist welcoming my senses. Tyler taking off his shirt and going inside the bath was the last thing I remembered before I cuddled with my pillows, eventually occupying the whole bed with my snore. I should apologize to Tyler. But what am I going to apologize for? I don’t even know what I did wrong. I don’t even know what triggered Tyler to act coldly towards me. “You’re awake.” There, by the threshold of our room, Tyler leans by the door. Shirtless and unzipped pants beckoning me to reach for his dick. My breath thickens with every step he takes, closer and closer to where I am sitting at the edge of the bed. “Are you feeling nauseous?” I shook my head. “Aren’t you going to vomit? Shriek because you have a migraine? Go back to sleep because of your pregnancy sickness?” I keep shaking my head with every que
“It’s been a while since you dined here,” Meah commented as she placed my food beside hers. I glanced at her sidelong and smiled wryly. “How’s Greece?” I shrugged. My expression immediately shifted upon remembering the Greek Alpha’s face and his tension with Tyler, “Great. It’s my first time abroad and Tyler didn’t disappoint me.” ‘Not really, just a little bit disappointed.’ I’d like to add that phrase. But judging by her look, I suppose Meah has already read it in my face even if I did not voice it out. “Where’s Melissa?” I asked, scooping a spoon of butter corn soup as I felt its warmth enter my mouth. “She's due in two weeks’ time. Melissa is on a bed rest now.” “I see.” I looked at Meah, but she didn’t look at me. So I continued eating my brunch of roasted beef and barbecue ribs with a side of mashed potato and rice. It took me a lot of strength not to burst into tears at what happened an ho
Rowena was smiling towards me; a sweet, unfeigned motherly smile that I could easily fall for if I was not on my right mind. I blinked, hoping that I was just imagining things, that I never found this gallery hall and never heard Rowena’s voice under the bright light of day. Yet she was there, still grinning as if it’s the only expression she knew. If a smile could kill, I have already dropped dead seconds ago due to my eyes not peeling away from the image of her smiling a few moments later. “Rowena…” I breathed, touching the frame, the names engraved on it. Rowena Cruz and Alpha Bryant. Year 2000. “So you have found me,” her eerie voice echoed in my ears. “I know that you have always been a smart girl, Elaine.” I couldn’t hide my blush though. It has been a long time since I’ve heard a compliment from someone other than Tyler. Speaking of which…he has not come home yet even though it’s past four in the afternoon, the time that he p
“You finally admitted that you are annoyed by those facts about you,” I hoisted my chin, eyes staring straight into hers. “You are indeed just like me, Elaine. Always interested in other people’s life so that we may forget ours that are as fragile and broken as a shattered glass.” Eliane waved a hand when she noticed I am no longer looking at her. “Fine, fine. But I cannot completely swear my word, especially when the things I’m saying are actually what you never wanted people to know.” “Just stop it,” I sneered. Eliane chuckled, one that made me realize that evil never hides in the dark. Sometimes it’s more visible under a bright light. “You know what, Elaine. Girls in glass houses should never throw stones.” Eliane circled me, a predator slowly letting its prey know that it has nowhere to go to. “You are as perfectly imperfect just as I am—and was. So stop turning your back, it will just hurt your feet even more.” I swe
“Yes, I am a Hearteater myself…” I read silently, disregarding the knitting of my brows. “…and so I must continue our bloodline, the original Hearteater’s bloodline as what my Hearteater father suggests—commands.” ‘Oh, Selena!’ I huffed. Even though I badly wanted to crawl beside Tyler and sleep, I must know more. Perhaps that’s why Rowena—Eliane—whoever that is, led me to this journal that still reeks of dried blood. I bowed my head, letting truth after truth just crowd and swirl within me. Even Rowena has secrets. Maybe even Tyler has secrets, too. “With my life,” her handwriting becomes different this time. From bold to cursive, I knew this part will be more emotional than the rest. “I could only grasp the remnants of the dreams me and Mikhail wished. I never fail to miss the gratitude that softened in his eyes. But life is no fairy tale, and light eventually left Mikhail's eyes in the hands of my father, Rowan—the first and leader of Hearteaters.” I was
“Why are we having pasta for breakfast again?” Tyler sighed, his muscles tensing. “For carbs and to give us energy, I guess.” Even if he’s going to feed me a bucket of Carbonara, it will still not give me enough energy to face Eliane. To face all of these shenanigans and bullshits that has been causing chaos in my head. I thought being here in Stella’s Soul is just being a wife to a werewolf, pleasing the Alpha, being good to other Stella’s Soul residents, fucking my Alpha husband and giving birth to his heir. Those were the things I have expected ever since I’ve learned about their world. Until I learned about the Hearteaters. And Rowena and dark magic, Eliane and this fucking bitchcraft which involves the fact that I must die so that the latter can resurrect. “Why Elaine? You don’t like pasta for breakfast?” I nodded. I forced my feet to stand when he blocked me, eyes burning with emotions I couldn’t fathom
Several full moons have passed, distress is still whispering in my mind. I have finished reading Rowena’s journal as far as I can remember—before the moment my eyes burned upon Tyler seeing a bloody blade in the trash, forcing me to make up excuses believable enough for a pregnant, powerless eighteen-year-old woman like me. I never felt sadder than today. It felt like, since I already knew enough from Rowena’s journal, I no longer felt the need to live. And I…I remained prepared for whatever unexpected might happen. What unexpected things I might let happen. I stared at the she-wolf doctor’s face. She’s calm and gorgeous compared to me. I might still look beautiful on the outside. But deep inside, I’m panicking. Quivering and anxious about what may happen in any minute now. I’m ready to die, yet still afraid of death. “You must be extra careful, Elaine. Since you’re in your final trimester, you’r
Tyler’s POV I parted my mouth from her trembling lips. She was cold and pale despite the balmy breeze here in the spring. Something is wrong with her. I can smell it. Feel it. My hands immediately reached for her bag even before she could protest. And there was only gasoline and matches, a torch and a lighter. “So we’re going to have a barbecue and you didn’t bring any meat?” She chuckled, eyes looking straight at the body of water before us. “I hope you can teach me how to hunt. A rabbit will do.” She’s been speaking all along without looking me in the eyes. Something is very wrong here. The doctor just called me minutes ago that Elaine is acting suspiciously, disturbingly. Asking questions about burning and suicide, says it’s about a book she’s reading. The once joyful Elaine, my Elaine, has suddenly become cold and distant. Scared and worried. “What’s wrong, my snow flower?” She