Dominic picked up the bracelet, letting the frayed threads run between his fingers. He turned it over in his hand, brows furrowing, eyes narrowing as a memory tugged at him.โThis was mine,โ he murmured. โBut I gave it toโฆโ His voice trailed off, his mind sifting through the haze of distant days. โSasha. I gave it to a friendโSasha. Sheโs dead. How did you get this?โReginaโs voice trembled as she wiped away the tears threatening to fall. โBecause you gave it to me. I am Sasha, Nico.โHe took a step back. โThatโs impossible. You want me to believe that? Sasha is dead.โโThe poems and stories we read in the forest,โ Regina said softly. โThe stories we made up beneath the pine trees. The restaurant you took me to, the raw meat you snuck to my people. The playground where you taught me how to swing, remember?โHe said nothing, the silence swelling between them.โIf you need more proofโฆโ She took a breath. โThe song. The one I taught you. The one my mother sang to me every night... Close
Dominic sat hunched at the bar, nursing a half-empty glass of beer cradled in his hand. The amber liquid shimmered in the dim light, but his eyes were distant, lost in thought, unfocused.Freya stepped behind the counter, her apron slung over one shoulder, ready to start her shift. She spotted him immediatelyโalone, shoulders heavy, hauntedโand quietly made her way over."Hey..." she said softly.Dominic glanced up, his voice flat. "Starting your shift?""Yeah," she replied with a small smile. "Thanks for asking."As she leaned on the bar across from him, a weight settled in her chest. His silence was loud, thick with pain. The kind you didn't need to name to feel. She could feel the weight of his sadness like a fog pressing down around him."Dominic," she said gently.He looked at her, eyes tired. "Do you need something, Freya?" His voice was rough, like he hadn't spoken to anyone all day.She shook her head. "No. I just... wanted to say something."He raised an eyebrow, waiting.She
Two men dragged a bound, struggling woman down a cold, dimly lit stone hallway. Her face was concealed beneath a coarse black sack, and her wrists were shackled in silver-laced chains that clinked with every step. When they reached the centre of the chamber, they shoved her forward. She hit the ground hard, falling to her knees, breath ragged beneath the cloth.โWell, wellโฆโ a man drawled, dressed too neatly for someone so casual, his voice smooth and mockingโlike velvet laced with venom. โLook what we have here. My future mistress.โ He gestured lazily. โTake that ridiculous thing off her.โOne of the guards yanked the sack away. Elena blinked rapidly against the sudden light, her face paleโher mouth was gone, just smooth skin where her lips should have been. Slowly and painfully, it began to reform, the skin shifting unnaturally. Her golden eyes flared with fury.โAh, there she is,โ the man purred, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. โOur little guest of honour. Still got some fight in
Dominic stepped into the clearing, the soft rustle of leaves beneath his boots the only sound. The air smelled of memoryโearth, pine, and the faintest trace of something old. He stood at the edge of the forest clearing, the place he and ReginaโSashaโhad once called their secret spot, where they used to meet long before everything changed. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying memories that felt both distant and close.He turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Regina stood there, her expression unreadable.โYouโre angry because I couldnโt love you the way you wanted,โ Dominic said, his voice low but steady. โAnd I canโt change that, no matter how much I wish I could. But what we hadโwhat we wereโwas real. I wasnโt blind to how you felt back then. I just thoughtโฆ I hoped time would heal it. I never imagined it would twist into this.โRegina didnโt speak. She only stared at him, her eyes flickering with emotions dancing just behind the coldness.Dominic walked toward her,
Dominic entered the apartment, each step echoing in the silence. It was too quiet, too still. There was no sound of her voice calling from the kitchen, or laughter, just a heavy, suffocating silence.He moved to the dining room, where her presence lingered like perfume, clinging to every surface. He sat down, eyes fixed on nothing until he saw her.She walked toward him, radiant and smiling, a plate in her hands. "I just created a recipe," she said, that familiar light in her eyes. "Can you taste it for me?"He reached for her, but his fingers met only air.His heart dropped as he stood quickly, breath tight in his chest, and moved to the living room. And he saw them.They were wrapped in each other in the glow of the fireplace. Firelight danced across their bare skin, her laughter ringing like music through the room. Their love burned as fiercely as the flames. He moved within her as she arched beneath him, completely lost in each other.He smiled softly, painfully, until it faded a
Dominic lay on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, thoughts churning like a storm, regret pressing hard against his chest. The silence was deafening, thick with the echo of choices he wished he hadnโt made. He shouldโve never left her sideโno matter how angry heโd been. Thatโs exactly what Regina wanted. She needed him out of the way. She needed him blind.Thatโs exactly how she workedโwait for a crack, then tear everything apart.He had called Athenaโonce, twice. No answer. No guidance. Just more silence.And Elena? Still gone. Out there in the dark, and he couldnโt even feel her presence anymore. Regina mustโve done somethingโsomething to sever the connection between them.His fingers clenched the bedsheet as his mind spiraled. A sharp pain pulsed behind his eyes. He winced, gripping the edge of the mattress as the room tilted around him.He squeezed his eyes shut, gasping. Thenโlike a vision tearing through the fogโhe saw her.Elena.She stood far ahead in the forest, bathed in sil
Morning light spilled through the curtains as Dominic sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. A dull ache throbbed behind his templesโa leftover echo of the dream, or vision, that had haunted him through the night. Something felt off. He could sense it. He dragged himself out of bed and padded downstairs barefoot, raking a hand through his hair. A soft clatter came from the kitchen."Elena...?" he called, stepping into the doorway.The figure at the stove turned.But it wasnโt her."Good morning," Regina said sweetly, her voice smooth as honey.Dominic stopped cold. She wore Elenaโs robe. Her damp hair curled just the way Elenaโs did after a shower. But the smile she gave himโit didnโt reach her eyes.His jaw tensed. "How did you get in?"She didnโt answer.Before he could move, she was already crossing the room. Her arms slipped around his waist, and before he could react, her lips were on his.For a split second, confusion and resistance rose inside him until a bolt of sharp, blind
Cameron slid the key into the lock and pushed unlocked the door to Dominic and Elenaโs place. He stepped inside with Jasmine, Meg, and Sean close behind, all of them quiet with worry.As they entered the living room, they stopped in their tracks.Dominic was on the sofa, shirtless, tangled with a woman in a heated kiss.โE-Elenaโฆ?โ Jasmine called out, stunned.Dominic looked up at the sound of her voice, calm and unfazed.The woman beside him turned.But it wasnโt Elena in his arms.It was Regina.A tense silence filled the room. Everyone stood still, eyes wide with shock, too surprised to move.โWhat the hell is going on?โ Cameron asked, his voice sharp as he moved forward.Dominic stood, running a hand through his tousled hair while Regina leaned against him with a lazy smirk, wrapping an arm protectively around her.โGuys, relax,โ Dominic said. โNothingโs wrong. Regina and I are in love.โJasmine scoffed. โIn love?โSean let out a dry laugh. โWhat the heck?โCameron stared at Domin
They arrived at the apartment, the silence inside unsettling. Cameron unlocked the door and pushed it open. They slipped in cautiously. The living room was empty, with no sign of anyone downstairs.โUpstairs,โ Elena whispered.They crept up the stairs, each step echoing their racing hearts, bracing themselves for whatever they might find. The bedroom door creaked openโand there they were. Dominic and Regina, tangled beneath the sheets, sleeping.Elena didnโt hesitate. She rushed to Dominicโs side, brushed the hair from his face, and gently pressed her lips to his.Regina stirred, eyes fluttering open. Her expression twisted from confusion to horror in an instant.โWhat the hellโ!โ she gasped, bolting upright just as Jasmine and Margaret yanked her from the bed. Her legs tangled in the covers, sending her crashing to the floor.She shrieked in surprise, disoriented, her eyes darting toward Dominicโthen widened in panic when she saw Elena kissing him. โNo! Donโt kiss him!โโShut up. Lis
Cameron led them through the maze-like dungeon. As two guards came into view, he didnโt hesitateโmoving swiftly, he hurled two sharp daggers. They flew cleanly through the air, lodging perfectly in the guards' throats before either could make a sound.They hurried onward, following the faint but unmistakable scent of Elena, growing stronger with each step. Rounding a corner, they spotted three more guards stationed outside a heavy iron door.Without hesitation, Cameron unleashed three more daggers. Each struck with lethal precision, burying deep into the guards' necks. The guards collapsed silently to the ground.Margaret rushed to one of the bodies, yanked a heavy iron key from the belt, and jammed it into the lock. The door creaked open.Inside, Elena stoodโweak but defiant. She took an unsteady step forward just as they rushed in.โYou guysโฆโ she breathed, her voice rough but alive, trembling with relief.Margaret ran to her, wrapping her arms around her tightly. โHow are you feeli
Alpha Gabriel stood at the center of his lavish foyer when the heavy double doors creaked open, golden light casting sharp shadows across his face. Athena strode in, draped in a slinky blood-red dress that clung to her every curve like a second skin.Gabrielโs lips curled into a slow smile. โAthena,โ he greeted, his voice rich with curiosity as he extended his hand.She offered hers with a soft, calculating smile, and he brushed a kiss across her knuckles, lingering longer than necessary.โTo what do I owe this... surprise visit?โ he asked, eyes roaming over her.Without answering, Athena leaned in and captured his mouth in a deep, burning kiss. Gabriel responded instantly, pulling her closer as she murmured between kisses, her voice low and sultry.โI was restless... and you came to mind.โGabrielโs hand slid from her cheek down to her bare shoulder, fingers gliding over her exposed skin. โYou just let the feeling take over...โ he murmured.Athena smirked wickedly, gripped his arms,
Cameron slid the key into the lock and pushed unlocked the door to Dominic and Elenaโs place. He stepped inside with Jasmine, Meg, and Sean close behind, all of them quiet with worry.As they entered the living room, they stopped in their tracks.Dominic was on the sofa, shirtless, tangled with a woman in a heated kiss.โE-Elenaโฆ?โ Jasmine called out, stunned.Dominic looked up at the sound of her voice, calm and unfazed.The woman beside him turned.But it wasnโt Elena in his arms.It was Regina.A tense silence filled the room. Everyone stood still, eyes wide with shock, too surprised to move.โWhat the hell is going on?โ Cameron asked, his voice sharp as he moved forward.Dominic stood, running a hand through his tousled hair while Regina leaned against him with a lazy smirk, wrapping an arm protectively around her.โGuys, relax,โ Dominic said. โNothingโs wrong. Regina and I are in love.โJasmine scoffed. โIn love?โSean let out a dry laugh. โWhat the heck?โCameron stared at Domin
Morning light spilled through the curtains as Dominic sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. A dull ache throbbed behind his templesโa leftover echo of the dream, or vision, that had haunted him through the night. Something felt off. He could sense it. He dragged himself out of bed and padded downstairs barefoot, raking a hand through his hair. A soft clatter came from the kitchen."Elena...?" he called, stepping into the doorway.The figure at the stove turned.But it wasnโt her."Good morning," Regina said sweetly, her voice smooth as honey.Dominic stopped cold. She wore Elenaโs robe. Her damp hair curled just the way Elenaโs did after a shower. But the smile she gave himโit didnโt reach her eyes.His jaw tensed. "How did you get in?"She didnโt answer.Before he could move, she was already crossing the room. Her arms slipped around his waist, and before he could react, her lips were on his.For a split second, confusion and resistance rose inside him until a bolt of sharp, blind
Dominic lay on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, thoughts churning like a storm, regret pressing hard against his chest. The silence was deafening, thick with the echo of choices he wished he hadnโt made. He shouldโve never left her sideโno matter how angry heโd been. Thatโs exactly what Regina wanted. She needed him out of the way. She needed him blind.Thatโs exactly how she workedโwait for a crack, then tear everything apart.He had called Athenaโonce, twice. No answer. No guidance. Just more silence.And Elena? Still gone. Out there in the dark, and he couldnโt even feel her presence anymore. Regina mustโve done somethingโsomething to sever the connection between them.His fingers clenched the bedsheet as his mind spiraled. A sharp pain pulsed behind his eyes. He winced, gripping the edge of the mattress as the room tilted around him.He squeezed his eyes shut, gasping. Thenโlike a vision tearing through the fogโhe saw her.Elena.She stood far ahead in the forest, bathed in sil
Dominic entered the apartment, each step echoing in the silence. It was too quiet, too still. There was no sound of her voice calling from the kitchen, or laughter, just a heavy, suffocating silence.He moved to the dining room, where her presence lingered like perfume, clinging to every surface. He sat down, eyes fixed on nothing until he saw her.She walked toward him, radiant and smiling, a plate in her hands. "I just created a recipe," she said, that familiar light in her eyes. "Can you taste it for me?"He reached for her, but his fingers met only air.His heart dropped as he stood quickly, breath tight in his chest, and moved to the living room. And he saw them.They were wrapped in each other in the glow of the fireplace. Firelight danced across their bare skin, her laughter ringing like music through the room. Their love burned as fiercely as the flames. He moved within her as she arched beneath him, completely lost in each other.He smiled softly, painfully, until it faded a
Dominic stepped into the clearing, the soft rustle of leaves beneath his boots the only sound. The air smelled of memoryโearth, pine, and the faintest trace of something old. He stood at the edge of the forest clearing, the place he and ReginaโSashaโhad once called their secret spot, where they used to meet long before everything changed. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying memories that felt both distant and close.He turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Regina stood there, her expression unreadable.โYouโre angry because I couldnโt love you the way you wanted,โ Dominic said, his voice low but steady. โAnd I canโt change that, no matter how much I wish I could. But what we hadโwhat we wereโwas real. I wasnโt blind to how you felt back then. I just thoughtโฆ I hoped time would heal it. I never imagined it would twist into this.โRegina didnโt speak. She only stared at him, her eyes flickering with emotions dancing just behind the coldness.Dominic walked toward her,
Two men dragged a bound, struggling woman down a cold, dimly lit stone hallway. Her face was concealed beneath a coarse black sack, and her wrists were shackled in silver-laced chains that clinked with every step. When they reached the centre of the chamber, they shoved her forward. She hit the ground hard, falling to her knees, breath ragged beneath the cloth.โWell, wellโฆโ a man drawled, dressed too neatly for someone so casual, his voice smooth and mockingโlike velvet laced with venom. โLook what we have here. My future mistress.โ He gestured lazily. โTake that ridiculous thing off her.โOne of the guards yanked the sack away. Elena blinked rapidly against the sudden light, her face paleโher mouth was gone, just smooth skin where her lips should have been. Slowly and painfully, it began to reform, the skin shifting unnaturally. Her golden eyes flared with fury.โAh, there she is,โ the man purred, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. โOur little guest of honour. Still got some fight in