Their Hatred

For a second, my whole world stopped.

I waited for the impact—for the bullet to tear through my skull and end it. My body had already braced for it… already accepted it.

But it never came.

Instead, an empty, hollow click echoed.

My eyes flew open at the sound—

Locking with his.

“Alpha Alexander—” the blonde man gasped a second later.

“Alexander…”

The name sank deep.

I had heard it before… somewhere within these walls. In whispers.

Penelope had fainted, her body lying limp on the floor.

The other alpha straightened slowly, like a predator uncoiling. “The gun’s empty,” he said coldly, as if stating something trivial. “Why not put the dagger to use?”

His voice held no emotion.

As if he wasn’t talking about ending a life.

“No, Lorenzo,” Alexander murmured, low and controlled—his gaze still locked onto mine, suffocating. “Maybe she doesn’t deserve an easy death.”

A faint pause.

“That’s why she got saved… don’t you think?”

Lorenzo…

I had heard that name too.

In whispers.

Who were they?

And why did I see hatred in their eyes?

Realization crossed Lorenzo’s face before he stepped closer, a slow, dark smile forming. “Oh, how I love you, brother.”

He moved without warning.

The dagger pressed against the side of my neck—cold, unforgiving.

I held my breath.

“It would be a waste,” he murmured, almost amused, “to kill her too quickly.”

And then—

Pain.

A sharp burn tore across my skin as he dragged the blade down. A thin cut—but deep enough for warm blood to spill, sliding slowly along my neck.

“To watch her bleed…” he added thoughtfully.

Then, softer—

“Step-sis.”

I froze.

Step-sister…

I looked at Lorenzo, fear clawing up my throat. “W-what?” I stammered.

“Surprising, isn’t it?” Alexander chuckled, humorless—something dark and hollow beneath it. “That bastard kept your identity hidden all along…”

He stepped closer.

“…and now you’re here.”

His gaze dragged over me.

“Fresh… and alive.”

“You do have a beautiful body,” Lorenzo murmured, his eyes lingering in a way that made my skin crawl. “I could use you in so many ways.”

I wanted to disappear under that gaze.

“Your daddy dearest must think you’re somewhere in the crowd he escaped with…” His lips curled. “But he doesn’t know…”

“You’re trapped.”

My heart pounded violently.

“What a sad little story…” he added softly. “Antonio’s precious jewel… with us.”

Precious jewel?

He had wished me dead.

“Look…” I finally forced the words out, my voice trembling, “I don’t know what my father did, but—”

“Please—!”

A sobbing voice cut through the air.

From the doorway, pushing past the others, Stella rushed in—half-injured, blood staining her forehead, her breathing uneven.

She dropped to her knees instantly.

“Alpha Enzo, Alpha Alex… please spare her life,” she begged, her voice breaking. “She has nothing to do with any of this. Please—I beg you.”

“Stella…” A trembling whisper left my lips.

She was the closest person I had in this pack.

Not just a maid.

Family.

“She looks familiar…” Lorenzo muttered, his tone shifting slightly. “Stella… that name…”

He stepped closer, lowering the dagger—only to lift it again, pressing the bloodied blade beneath her chin and forcing her face up.

“Do I know you, old hag?” he asked.

Stella’s eyes filled with fear—but she said nothing.

What was she hiding?

“That’s one of the old maids of the pack, brother,” Alexander said, stepping forward. His broad back turned to me, blocking my view. “She used to work here… in our time.”

“Oh really?” Lorenzo scoffed quietly. “Pretty traitorous then, I’d say. Despite knowing everything… you’re still taking that bastard’s daughter’s side?”

What did she know?

What didn’t I?

“Have mercy, Alpha…” Stella pressed her head to the floor, her voice shaking. “She knows nothing. She is innocent. She—”

“My mother was killed by her father.”

Alexander’s voice cut through everything.

My eyes widened.

“He married my mother,” Alexander continued, stepping closer, each word heavier than the last, “pretending to love her…”

Another step.

“…only to kill her.”

The air turned suffocating.

“And then he banished us.”

He stopped in front of her.

My breath hitched.

“And you think we should spare her… because she is innocent?” His voice dropped, deadly quiet. “She is his blood.”

“And blood,” Lorenzo finished calmly, “always shows its true colours. And you,” he added, glancing at Stella, “have shown yours by siding with her. There’s no place for you in this pack anymore.”

My heart dropped.

“Throw her out,” Lorenzo barked.

The guards moved immediately.

My eyes widened. “No, please—” I rushed forward, dropping to my knees. “Please, I beg of you—”

My hands trembled as I pressed them together.

“Don’t send her away. I have no one except her.”

The twins watched me.

Same eyes.

Same coldness.

Tears blurred my vision.

“Please…”

Alexander slowly crouched before me, pressing the barrel of the gun beneath my chin and forcing my face up. The cold metal dug into my skin.

“Don’t worry, step-sis,” he murmured, voice low—almost gentle, but empty. “You have us now.”

“The loss of a maid won’t bother you so much,” Lorenzo added lazily, mockery lacing his tone. “Maybe daddy’s little princess can’t live without her maid. More reason to send her away.”

“No, please, I beg—”

My words broke into a gasp as Alexander suddenly grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me forward.

Pain shot through my scalp.

I hissed, but he didn’t let go.

He leaned in—too close—his breath ghosting over my skin.

“This is just the start, dear step-sister,” he murmured, a faint, twisted smile pulling at his lips. “There’s so much more we’re going to take away from you.”

Lorenzo watched from the side.

Silent.

But his gaze burned through me.

“And when we’re done…” Lorenzo finally spoke, quieter now—darker.

My eyes shifted to him.

“We’re going to hang you…” he paused, letting the words settle, “…just like he hanged our mother.”

My breath left me.

God… Dad…

How many more sins of yours do I have to pay for?

“Please, listen to me—” I tried again, desperation cracking through my voice—

But Alexander shoved me away.

Hard.

My body hit the floor, the impact knocking the air from my lungs.

“Take her away!”

The command rang sharp.

The guards moved.

They grabbed Stella.

“Stella, no!” I cried, scrambling up, stumbling forward as they dragged her away.

Her eyes were filled with tears—wide, pleading—as she looked back at me again and again.

“She didn’t do anything, Alpha!” she cried, struggling against their grip. “Please spare us! You don’t know the truth!”

I forced myself up, trying to follow, my legs shaking—

But suddenly—

A hand wrapped around my wrist.

Lorenzo yanked me back.

My body slammed against his chest.

A sharp breath left me as I looked up—

And met his eyes.

A shiver ran down my spine.

But Stella—

I twisted, trying to pull away, trying to reach her—

But he dragged me back again, harder this time.

My chest collided with him once more.

“Throw this one in the dungeon, Daniel,” he said coldly, not looking away from me. “We’ll deal with her later.”

The dungeon…

The word alone made my stomach drop.

“No… not the dungeon, please,” I begged, panic rising as I searched desperately for Stella. “Stella—!”

They had already taken her.

She was gone.

“Stella!” A sob tore from my throat.

“Oh, the dungeon is far kinder than where you’re going to end up,” Lorenzo murmured, leaning closer, his lips curling into a slow, dangerous smirk.

“In our bedroom.”

My eyes widened.

Terror flooded through me.

I looked at him—

Then at Alexander.

“No… please—”

He released me with a shove.

Before I could react, two guards seized my arms, their grip iron-tight.

“Take her away,” Alexander commanded.

And just like that—

They dragged me away.