LOGINFive's POVI sat in the dungeon, awaiting my punishment.If seventy strokes was the price to pay for spreading the rebellion, then I would pay it a thousand times.I bit my lip.I wasn't afraid.But not being afraid didn't mean the thought of that much pain didn't make my stomach hurt.I should've known what they were after. Should've known better than to underestimate Rebecca and Elvis.I thought of Lucien and his blank expression.My stomach tightened.He had warned me. He had threatened consequences himself if he had to. He was still king and still an accomplice in everything happening to humans.So why did the thought of him hurt?Why did I feel a tightening in my chest when he had given them the go ahead to punish me?I let out a low laugh."What's funny?" One of the guards stationed outside my cell asked.I pressed my lips together. It was dark.Almost too dark.But my sight had always been sharp in the darkness.So I could see him clearly as he turned to face the bars, could se
Five's POVHe led me through the corridors, through the same place I had passed earlier, his steps calm and steady.The warmth in my chest was still present, along with it that steady hum of my powers.There were only four guards.I could use my powers to get out of their hold, probably even get out of this place.But then what?I had no place to go. I didn't have enough allies to become a runaway.My only option was to stay and watch what would happen next."You did exactly as my sister described," the lord hummed.I frowned, but didn't ask what he meant.The corridor opened into a wider hall.And I saw them.Rebecca stood to the left, composed and immaculate, her dark hair pinned back with the precision of someone who had dressed for exactly this occasion. She looked at me the way she always looked at me — with that careful contempt. The realization settled heavy in my chest.The lord behind me was her brother. And she had anticipated this. Anticipated that I would find my way he
Five’s POVShe glanced behind her.Then at me."The east quarters," she answered, her voice was barely audible. "When lords visit, we're — we're kept there. During the proceedings.""Kept," I echoed, a small frown on my face.She pressed her lips together."Until they're done," she explained. "In case we hear something."I looked at her, disgust settling in my chest. Humans here were caged incase they heard something. Not because they were resting, or for their benefit. Because they were a security risk.The Castellan estate confined its human staff during political proceedings the way you confined something you were afraid of."How many of you?" I asked."Forty, maybe fifty," she responded. "The estate's regular staff plus the facility girls Lord Castellan received last month."Last month.I scoffed. "Are they alright?" I asked, my mind already moving.I didn’t know exactly how much time I had to gain the ally I needed before Lucien finished.She looked at me for a long moment.Th
Five's POV The vehicle stopped. I had been counting time in the dark by the quality of the road beneath me. I felt the citadel's smooth stone giving way to rougher ground an hour out, then a long stretch of what felt like maintained road, then gravel, then the particular crunch of an estate's formal approach. The engine cut. I heard muffled voices outside. The cadence of formal greeting — not warmth, procedure. I heard Lucien’s low voice, felt my heart skip in fear, and that other thing I refused to name. I waited, my heart pounding. If his wolf sensed me… I heard the sound of retreating footsteps, heard doors. The sound of the travelling party moving away from the vehicles, growing distant, then gone. I waited longer, giving my breathing time to catch itself. Five minutes. Ten. The garage — or whatever this estate called its vehicle storage — settled into silence. I found the interior release. Ninety had described it — a recessed handle on the boot
Five's POV The vehicle stopped. I had been counting time in the dark by the quality of the road beneath me. I felt the citadel's smooth stone giving way to rougher ground an hour out, then a long stretch of what felt like maintained road, then gravel, then the particular crunch of an estate's formal approach. The engine cut. I heard muffled voices outside. The cadence of formal greeting — not warmth, procedure. I heard Lucien’s low voice, felt my heart skip in fear, and that other thing I refused to name. I waited, my heart pounding. If his wolf sensed me… I heard the sound of retreating footsteps, heard doors. The sound of the travelling party moving away from the vehicles, growing distant, then gone. I waited longer, giving my breathing time to catch itself. Five minutes. Ten. The garage — or whatever this estate called its vehicle storage — settled into silence. I found the interior release. Ninety had described it — a recessed handle on the boot's inner wall,
Five's POVThe vehicle stopped.I had been counting time in the dark by the quality of the road beneath me. I felt the citadel's smooth stone giving way to rougher ground an hour out, then a long stretch of what felt like maintained road, then gravel, then the particular crunch of an estate's formal approach.The engine cut.I heard muffled voices outside. The cadence of formal greeting — not warmth, procedure.I heard Lucien’s low voice, felt my heart skip in fear, and that other thing I refused to name. I waited, my heart pounding. If his wolf sensed me… I heard the sound of retreating footsteps, heard doors. The sound of the travelling party moving away from the vehicles, growing distant, then gone.I waited longer, giving my breathing time to catch itself. Five minutes.Ten.The garage — or whatever this estate called its vehicle storage — settled into silence. I found the interior release.Ninety had described it — a recessed handle on the boot's inner wall, positioned wher
549’s POVI curled up in my bed, my head heavy, my throat sore from crying. The higher ups would punish me for not looking after myself. But I couldn’t bring myself to care. Not when everything was crumbling around me, not when my fate had been sealed. I hated it, hated the breeding facility, th
549’s POV"You’ll never return to us." Twelve’s words echoed in my head. The dread tinged with melancholy made it sound more like a sentencing than a prediction. I stood on the far end of the line, my gaze on the floor, my shoulders squared, chest pushed out—just the way we were taught. My body
549’s POV “What did they say?” Twelve asked as she twisted the cap of her water bottle. I shrugged, trying to act casual. “I passed.” She froze, then her eyes snapped to mine. I looked away, unable to bear the pity that swirled in those grey orbs. “Oh five forty nine,” she sighed, droppin
549’s POV The buzz of my alarm clock brought me back to life. It was 6:45am on the third moon day. Which meant— My room door burst open, and a familiar head of brown hair walked in. My reaction was instant, almost instinctive. I wrapped my arms around my body, trying—but failing to cover my br







