Chapter 4

Bloom approached her father’s study with a knot in her stomach. She had rehearsed her words all morning, hoping he would understand. She knocked softly and stepped inside. Henry looked up from his papers with irritation, as if her presence alone offended him.

“I wanted to talk to you,” Bloom said quietly. “I would like to move back to my apartment. I work now. I can support myself. I do not need anything from the family.”

Henry’s expression darkened. He stood abruptly and struck her across the face. The sound echoed through the room. Bloom staggered back, her cheek burning, her eyes wide with shock.

“You ungrateful girl,” he hissed. “You think you can come and go as you please? You think you can embarrass us?”

Samantha appeared in the doorway, drawn by the noise. She placed a hand on Henry’s arm and gave Bloom a cold smile.

“I will speak to her,” Samantha said. “Go cool your temper.”

Henry left without another word.

Samantha turned to Bloom, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “You need to learn your place. Jenna, take your sister to the garden. I will join you shortly.”

Jenna arrived moments later, her expression smug. She led Bloom outside, her heels clicking against the stone path. The garden was beautiful, but Bloom barely noticed. Her cheek still throbbed. Jenna walked ahead, tossing her hair dramatically. She turned to say something, but her foot slipped on the wet grass. She fell with a sharp cry. Servants rushed over at the sound. Jenna pointed at Bloom immediately.

“She pushed me,” Jenna said, her voice trembling with practiced innocence. “She is jealous of me.”

Bloom stared at her, stunned. “I did not touch you.”

But no one listened. The servants whispered. Samantha arrived moments later, her face twisted with anger.

“You will not eat tonight,” Samantha said. “Perhaps hunger will teach you respect.”

Bloom felt the words like ice in her veins. She could not understand how her own family could treat her like this. She had done nothing wrong. She had only wanted to go home. She slipped away and called Samuel, her voice shaking as she told him everything. He rushed to the mansion, but the guards stopped him at the gate.

“No outsiders allowed,” they said.

Bloom hurried outside to meet him. They walked toward the river, hoping the fresh air would calm her.

The sun was setting, painting the water in shades of gold and crimson. Bloom tried to breathe, tried to steady herself, but her heart felt heavy. That was when the growling began. Shapes emerged from the trees. Wolves. Their eyes glowed unnaturally, their bodies twitching with a strange, corrupted energy. These were not ordinary animals. They were hunting.

Samuel stepped in front of Bloom. His body tensed, and something strange flickered in his eyes. He moved with sudden strength, shoving one of the wolves back with a force no human should possess. Bloom stared at him. The wolves circled closer.

On the bridge above them, Damon paused mid-step. He sensed the corruption instantly. Rabid wolves. The same pattern he had been investigating in the underworld. His eyes narrowed. He leapt from the bridge without hesitation.

One of the wolves lunged for Bloom’s throat. Before its teeth could touch her skin, Damon appeared in front of her. His hand closed around the wolf’s neck, snapping it with effortless strength. The creature fell limp at his feet. Bloom gasped, frozen in shock.

Samuel cursed under his breath. He had been the one meant to save her. He had to marry her. He could not let Damon interfere. Damon turned toward Samuel, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Something about the boy felt wrong. It was too familiar.

Samuel wrapped his arms around Bloom protectively and kissed her cheek, as if staking a claim. Damon felt something sharp twist in his chest. Jealousy. It was unfamiliar and unwelcome. He had never felt it before. Not for any woman.

Why her? Why now? Especially when his mother had already arranged for him to marry another human.

Damon looked at Bloom one last time. Her green eyes were wide with fear and confusion. Her hair glowed like fire in the fading light.