VELARA’S POV
I stood patiently at the edge of the curb, scanning the road with anticipation as the cool morning air brushed against my skin. A taxi came to a slow stop beside me, its tires crunching softly on the gravel. The door creaked open, and Elysia stepped out, her eyes squinting at the building behind me as she pulled her jacket tighter around her.She paid the driver and moved toward the trunk while I stepped in to help her unload. We pulled out a stroller, slightly scuffed but clean, and a large duffle bag that looked like it had seen better days. Elysia gave a little huff and glanced up at the towering, aging hotel behind us.“I had no idea this place even existed,” she said, her brows furrowed as she studied the gray, weather-worn facade. “It kind of gives off spooky vibes. Looks like something straight out of a ghost story.”I couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction. “Yeah, it does have that haunted charm,” I agreed.She turDAMON'S POVThe doctor’s voice was devoid of emotion, yet there was weight behind every word he spoke. His explanation came slowly, as though each syllable was a burden he hesitated to deliver. “They’re called taints,” he said, his gaze fixed but weary. “Marks of betrayal. Every time you share yourself with someone else, it stains the bond. And Velara—she’s your bond. That means every one of your encounters doesn’t just hurt her; it brands her. Deeply. Irreparably.”His words settled like lead in the air, and the room suddenly felt smaller, suffocating. I could feel a cold, heavy dread curling in my chest, winding tightly like a serpent. He continued, voice steady, “It’s agonizing, or at least it is in the beginning. But it’s been four years. By now, I suspect she’s developed a tolerance—learned to live with the pain. It’s probably dulled into something like a bruise. But unlike bruises, this doesn’t fade. It scars her. Not just her body, but the bond between you.”
DAMON'S POVDr. Ada’s voice was gentle, careful, as though he feared startling her into silence. “And how long have you been experiencing the nosebleeds?”Velara’s eyes flicked to the floor, her voice barely a whisper. “A few years.”The tension in the room thickened like fog. Earlier, she'd fought tooth and nail to keep me out, practically shouting at the doctor and shoving me away in desperation. That alone had piqued my suspicion. So I stayed. And now, watching her shrink from every question, twisting vague answers into veils of misdirection, was grating on every nerve I had. She was dodging the truth, and I was done letting her.“Answer him properly,” I snapped, voice sharp as a blade. I didn’t just speak—I let my aura slide out like a storm cloud rolling low across the ground. The force of it swept over her, curling around her limbs and into her spine. She flinched, a tremor wracking her small frame before she gasped out the truth.“
DAMON'S POVThe tires rolled to a halt in front of the hotel, gravel crunching faintly beneath the weight of the car. The sun dipped low behind the building’s edge, casting a golden hue over the entrance where Elysia stood waiting, her arms crossed gently, the breeze catching the ends of her dark hair. My eyes scanned for Velara out of habit, the familiar flicker of annoyance tightening in my chest when I didn’t see her. I had messaged her right after leaving the cinema, telling her I was on my way. With her appointment only fifteen minutes away, she should have been out front, ready. Instead, it was Elysia who met me.I stepped out of the vehicle, only to see her already moving toward the back seat. Her fingers moved with practiced ease as she leaned in, unfastening Kael’s seatbelt before I could even get a word out. The child blinked up at her, still half-lost in whatever story he’d been dreaming up in his head.“Where’s Velara?” I asked, my voice low, s
DAMON'S POVWell, that was absolutely not what I anticipated. What on earth did I just endure? I sat through a children’s musical filled with rainbow-colored trolls prancing around, farting glitter, and breaking into obnoxiously cheerful songs about sunshine and rainbows. It was an assault on my sanity. Dante, however, seemed far too amused for my liking. I, on the other hand, wanted to claw my own ears out. Kael sat there the entire time glaring at the screen, clearly not impressed in the slightest. But the girls? They were enchanted. I was surrounded by glitter, giggles, and squeals. This outing wasn’t meant for me—it was for my kid, and I was enduring it like a champ.Dante cradled Selene with a tenderness that didn’t quite match his usual energy, carefully easing her into the back seat of the car. Her head lolled softly against his shoulder, the remnants of sleep clinging to her features. She had dozed off during the final scenes of the movie, lulled by the sug
VELARA'S POVI rolled my eyes with an exasperated sigh. Alpha Damon was far from being a beloved figure among the rogues, and everyone knew it. Alaric cleared his throat, a subtle nudge for me to admit the truth, and I reluctantly gave in, realizing I couldn’t keep it under wraps any longer.“Yes,” I admitted, tension in my chest, “he’s Kael’s father. He brought him to school for me this morning.”Alaric gave a satisfied nod and crossed his arms, clearly pleased with my honesty. His reaction confused me. I had expected him to show up ready to warn me about staying away from his son, not quietly supporting this messy situation.While the woman on the other end of the call rambled on about school procedures, I barely listened. Something about forms that needed filling out, Damon's ID needing to be submitted—standard protocol. As if anyone could actually make Damon follow rules. The man practically was the law in this city. No one would dare try to s
VELARA'S POVAlaric’s gaze settled on me, sharp and observant, his brows knitting together ever so slightly. “You seem tense,” he remarked, the quiet note in his voice almost an accusation. He leaned forward, the motion deliberate, before he rose fluidly to his feet. Without a word, he extended a hand toward the chair in front of my desk—a silent invitation laced with authority. I didn’t bother to question it. With slow, measured steps, I moved to the chair and lowered myself into it. Alaric mirrored the gesture on the opposite side of the desk, folding into his seat with a composed air that only irritated me further."I’m not surprised you’re here," I said, pulling my phone from my pocket and placing it gently on the desk’s polished surface. My tone was flat, but my words carried an edge. "Let me guess—you came to issue threats? Trying to make sure I keep quiet about Lilith? Don’t want Damon finding out?"His expression tightened, lips thinning as his gaz