KAEL.“Was she sad when I was in a coma?”“She was miserable.” Landon glanced at me and gave me a weak smile before turning his attention back to the road. “Her eyes were always puffy by morning, so I knew she was crying herself to sleep. But she would still do her duties, running the household and making decisions for the pack. She lost weight. The colors in her eyes were gone. She would smile, but not the same smile she carried before. She kept her agony to herself, but she made sure the surroundings looked happy. She added more flowers around the house and your room so when you wake up, the house wouldn’t look dull.”The flowers that Miranda said were Desiree’s doing. This was, of course, a lie, as since Adessa left, the house had never had any fresh flowers around. “And you know what’s funny? She would dress up every day in blue because that’s your favorite color. She wanted to look pleasant in your eyes once you wake up.”“And I told her to fuck off when I did,” I mumbled under m
MIRANDA. I was supposed to be at my friend’s housewarming party, but I had to cut short my presence because my incompetent mate failed his task again. Dexter had only one job—to eliminate Kael before he realized who was running the show in his life—but he couldn’t do it perfectly. I was getting frustrated.He was supposed to eliminate Kael and Landon in the accident that took Kael's memory. For some reason, Landon didn’t drive Kael that day, and poor Onald became the victim. But Kael survived. Again.This was not the first time Dexter staged an accident for him. Dexter also attempted to set fire to one of the warehouses he and Kael visited. Kael was in the middle of the warehouse and was far from the exits when the fire broke out, but someone noticed it right away before it reached an explosion. No one was harmed, and Kael didn’t get even a scratch.Today, again, he failed.Dexter made sure he had an excuse to stay behind and let Landon drive them to their deaths, but like a cat wit
DELTA LANDON.“Adessa is in danger.” Alpha Kael said, and I wanted to jump out of my seat. What the fuck happened to his statement: “I can’t trust anyone at the moment?” I wanted to laugh, but the seriousness on the Alpha’s face made me swallow my chuckle. I had no idea what he planned to do, as he didn’t tell me anything, but I guess I just had to wait and see. “What do you mean Adessa is in danger?” Dexter asked. “Where is she?”“I thought she left.” Desiree butted in, her arms crossed against her chest. “Did she accidentally trip on her own feet and land face down on the ground full of shattered glass so she looks so awful that she became a danger to herself?”“Enough, Desire…” Miranda cut her off, and Desiree just rolled her eyes before letting out a huff.Miranda then turned her attention to the Alpha. “Where is she? And why is she in danger?” She sounded so concerned that I wanted to laugh again.If anyone here didn’t like Luna Adessa, Miranda would be the first on the line.
MIRANDA. I couldn’t believe Kael’s revelation!How on earth did he find Adessa? And why did Alpha Draco not call me to inform me that Adessa had escaped him?I was not sure if Adessa knew or met Alpha Draco when she was kidnapped or if she was able to run away before she realized where she would be taken. So I had to be careful, as she might have told Kael about him. Even if I wanted to confront Alpha Draco, I knew I shouldn’t do it, as Kael might be watching him closely if Adessa dropped his name. This was getting messier! Everything was spiraling out of my control. If Dexter had driven with him to Bayson City instead of planning the failed car accident, then he could have known where he had taken Adessa. But he was stupid to think the car accident timing should be today.Aah!I was fuming mad, and even if Dexter wanted a word with me after we left Kael’s office, I pushed him away as I thought Landon would come out of the office and might realize we were talking or had gone off som
KAEL.After my conversation with Landon, I asked him to drive me to the center. I bought a new phone and called Rasmus. It took three transfers before I was finally able to catch him. "Holy shit! Is that you? Damn, Kael, I thought you're already dead." He began as soon as our lines connected. I chuckled. "What do you mean?""I haven't heard from you for a long time. The last time I called you, Dexter said you went out hunting. I called three times that day, and you were still out hunting. I called a week later and was given the same reason." He snickered.It must have been during the time I was in a coma. I wondered why they didn't tell my closest family about my condition. "I didn't know hunting has been your new favorite pastime." He continued. "I thought no one can beat fucking, especially when you have a Luna...""I need help." I cut him off. As much as I wanted to joke around with Rasmus, I had no more energy today. Not when I had many things in my head."Should I feel hurt?
KAEL.“I don’t know. I can’t remember anything about her, but…” I paused.“But?” she asked.“But I crave her.” I didn’t know why I let those words slip out. I couldn’t even admit that to myself, but for some reason, it flew out of my tongue as if it were the general truth. Desiree’s chest heaved as her nose flared.In just two steps, she was in front of me. Her hand flew and landed on my cheek. She slapped me hard, and it sting. But it didn’t break anything within me. It didn’t rattle my senses, unlike when we were younger, whenever she was fuming mad at me. So I knew this was the end of us.I didn’t want to hurt her, but I also didn’t want to shower her with words she would rather hear. “Shame on you, Kael! Adessa tricked you into marrying her once, and she’s doing it all over again! And you’re just letting her! Who knows, maybe the danger she's in is just a game she's playing to get your attention!" She stopped to take a deep breath, but then she continued. “Oh, how I wish she was
ADESSA.It had been a week since I got here, more than two weeks since I left Kael, but the sickening feeling of someone watching me all the time had never faded. Being grabbed in a place I considered home and safe was traumatizing, and ending up killing two people was a never-ending nightmare I was still trying to get away from.Most nights, I would wake up sweaty and shaking as they invaded my sleep. The men I killed would crawl up from the ground and reach for me with their bloody hands. I had no idea what I feared most lately: being found by Alpha Draco’s men or dying from my nightmares.Why did it all come to this? All because I let Kael into my life. I didn’t see anything wrong with loving him. And whatever I did as his Luna was all done with a good heart. I never took advantage of my position nor talked down to anyone like how Miranda had always made it seem. Miranda. I wished I could tell people how badly she treated me. But of course, no one would believe me. She was the s
ADESSA.“Kael…” I had no idea how I was able to speak as my throat felt dry.I felt like I would collapse—tired from all the running and shocked upon seeing him before me. Was I imagining things? But the warmth of the hands that went up to my arms and began rubbing them was real. I could feel him. “Did you sell me to Draco?” I asked him in a hoarse voice. I could say many other things, but I wanted to know if I was right that I was feeling relieved to see him. That he wasn’t the person behind the mess I was in.“What? Why would you think that?” He asked back, but before I could respond, he was already cursing. “Fuck!”My body was abruptly turned around, and I ended with my back slammed against the cold, rough wall. Kael pressed his body against mine with his hand resting on the wall beside my face and our foreheads touching each other’s. My eyes grew wider when I realized the position we were in. He was hovering over me, covering almost my whole body, and if you were looking from
ADESSA.“Desiree quit her job because she came back. I was giving her money for her apartment and for everything her child needed. Without me, she had no way to work and take care of her child at the same time…”Miranda was still talking, but nothing was sinking in except the part where Desiree had a child. I didn’t even question that she was Desiree’s mother because all I heard was about the child. “Is it Kael’s son?” I asked, unaware that I had already reached out to hold Esmaeel’s arm for support. My brother held me, supporting my body so I could remain standing.“No, no, no…” She said as she shook her head. “It’s not his son.”“Don’t lie to me.”“Desiree has a child from another man whose name I don’t even know. The same man that Kael caught her in bed with.” My hand went to my mouth, suppressing myself from gasping. Rasmus. Desiree had a child with Rasmus. “I’m not lying, Adessa… You can ask me anything now, and I will tell you the truth in exchange for my freedom. Please le
ADESSA.I had no idea there was a Beta task that happened last night. I couldn’t believe Draco won this part, and I had to see him for breakfast. But if anything, at least I wouldn’t be dining with him alone. I was told the whole family would, so I didn’t need to coerce myself to talk with him. I hadn’t forgiven him for all this mess, and I never thought I would. I was also only informed last night that the current task would last for three days, and we would never hear from the participants unless they got out and finished the challenge. I kept bugging Esriel about what task lay ahead, but this time, he kept his mouth shut and avoided me, which made me worry more.I woke up early despite not being able to sleep at all, because aside from breakfast, I was finally meeting Miranda. She was captured a few days back, and Father wanted me to face her.As much as I would rather not deal with her, I had to. I also wanted my father to find out that she sold me to Draco as a slave. But if I
KAEL. I was still trying to digest the information I witnessed when another surprise was presented.After the crowd toned down from greeting and celebrating with the Royal couple, the Game Master stood before us in the middle of the arena—with more breaking news. “The fourth task had already begun last night from the moment you stepped back into the manor. The food you ate and the drink you consumed were illusions, so if you thought that food was enough and skipped meals the whole day, then you are already at a disadvantage. You will feel the hunger later on.”I swallowed—grateful that I didn’t consume a lot last night and that I went to the kitchen and asked for food when I woke up today. “And the naked women you found in your rooms last night…” He added, and I immediately saw Adessa shift in her seat.She looked mortified. She had no idea about the women.“...were not who they seemed to be.” The Game Master continued. “ You met our first creatures. The faeries of the Eternal Fore
KAEL. Before I could think more, the speaker already announced our entrance. Draco walked ahead of us while the rest were in a straight line behind him. “Where is Randolf?” I heard Constantin ask as we walked, and when I tilted my head to the right, as I was the first on the left, I counted only three: Vaidas, Constantin, and Nicholas.I didn’t notice he was not there as we all left the manor in our own cars with just our Betas. And I didn’t notice him. In fact, I hadn’t seen him the whole day. “I’m sure they will tell us soon,” Nicholas said, and no one discussed it until we stopped in front of the stage. Everything went fast after that. Draco was congratulated for winning the last task and was asked to join them on the stage. I was right, he was to sit next to Adessa. I made every effort to remain unaffected. This was what they wanted, not what she wanted. I would not let it destroy my confidence and focus for the next game. I would use this as my motivation to win this round
KAEL.As soon as the Game Master dismissed us, Landon and I headed back to our room. The rest did as well, except for Draco and Roman, who headed toward the open bar of this manor. Of course, they had no task to think about and wanted to celebrate.I couldn’t be happy for them, not only because I loathed the man but also because Landon told me he was cheated, maybe not by Roman but by the game itself. “Tell me what happened,” I said after I heard the door lock while I leaned on the windowsill, looking at the garden below. I heard him let out a deep sigh before he began talking while I remained in my position. “The game wasn’t hard. It was all about how well you know your Alpha. From the first car to the age you shifted and the many names connected to you to the farthest place you’d been. Roman and I were both doing well. We were acing all the questions, and Beta Samuel was just right behind us. Then the fucking final question came, and I was so confident about my answer.” I could h
KAEL. I left the French balcony door slightly open, letting the crisp air in while I lay awake in bed. Sleep would surely not come tonight. Not when I had no idea what was going on with my Beta. The balcony of our room faced southward, toward the forest, but I could see part of the driveway from here. When it was too quiet, like tonight, I was sure I would hear if there were any commotion going on.After a long while, I could feel my eyes drooping, and just when I was about to lose consciousness, the sound of an approaching vehicle reached my ears. I immediately jolted up from my bed and checked the balcony. I saw a light getting closer. It must be them. I went back inside to grab a shirt and put it on. I already had my sweatpants on, so I went ahead and rushed out of my bedroom. Like the scene earlier, I was not the only one in the corridor. The other Alphas were also heading downstairs. No words were spoken between us as we hurriedly trod the way down. I could only assume they we
KAEL. We were the first to arrive and were asked to surrender our treasures. It didn’t take long before a vehicle came, and the challenger team, led by Alpha Randolf, stepped out. And with the smirk plastered on his face, I could tell they were able to snag a treasure. I thought we were waiting for the rest or at least one more team, but the Game Master told us everyone who was supposed to be here was already here and requested Randolf to surrender the treasure they got. They didn’t get just one treasure; they got six. All six treasures of the two teams. I was certain they found the obsidian necklace and Liam’s team still tied up. It was the only explanation for their treasures, but it seemed they also wiped out Alpha Leon’s.I couldn’t believe it, as I thought Leon’s team was stronger than them, but maybe I just didn’t know their full strength. In the end, the twelve became six in an instant. But it didn’t matter to me. In fact, I was grateful. The fewer the contenders, the faste
KAEL.When I turned to Draco, the necklace was not around his neck anymore. Gunner was gripping it tightly, but before I could do anything to help him, Draco shifted, ripping his clothes apart and landing exactly on top of Gunner. I shifted back into my human form and grabbed the necklace from Gunner’s hand while Draco still had his teeth on the side of his shoulder, near his throat. One wrong move, and Draco could snap the vein on his neck, so the fucker stayed paralyzed under his hold. Vaidas, on the other hand, was already dragging forest vines. I helped him, and it didn’t take long before we were able to tie the three of them together under the tree with their hands bound as well. We were about to leave them when Draco returned and took Gunner’s treasure from his pocket. They lied—no one stole his treasure. “You started this game. It’s only fair we play along…” He tossed the ring in the air before catching it, clutching it tightly in his hand and smirking at them. “I don’t thi
KAEL. Deciding what to do with the cloak was making me uneasy. If I were Superman, this would be easy to handle, but how the fuck do I move and kick ass with this thing around me? I could take it off, but I didn’t have the luxury of time to work on the fucking zipper to take out the citrine. And I had nowhere to hide it. They were coming closer. “No matter what happens, we can’t trust anyone. Except for the three of us.” I told them. It was hard to let those words pass my throat because Draco was part of the team, but at this point, with all our fates in this game entwined, it was all or nothing. The sounds of leaves rustling and twigs snapping at the other side of the trees became louder, and the three of us moved into position, ready to leap and attack. But when the faint light beaming from the canopy of the trees as the moon and sun shared the dawn fell on the forms that emerged from the bushes, I heard the sighs of relief from the two men with me.It was Alpha Liam with his tea