INICIAR SESIÓNMariana’s POVWeeks passed like a long exhale.The Silverthorne pack won the battle decisively while Victor Phillips perished relinquishing his indictment in the council for me. In my heart, I was a bit disappointed because I wasn’t able to clear my name for him. He died thinking that it was Mariana Rose who killed his beloved mate. I underwent another plastic surgery to restore my real face while Rozen cleared my name before the council, having found out that it was Evan who killed Victor’s former mate. Jezebel has been locked up while Glenda formally left the pack seeing that she cannot turn Rozen's affection back to her. Silverwood healed slowly and the whole pack worked side by side in rebuilding.When they saw me, they stopped not to whisper rumors but to acknowledge me. “Greetings, Mariana Rose,” they said in unison. The name felt a bit strange but it also felt liberating hearing them say my real name for the first time. I nodded and smiled back. Children ran around the p
Mariana’s POV“There is no escaping from me, Mariana.”Empress’ voice had been living inside my skull for the past days that her silence felt like violence.But then again, she’s back controlling my mind and body. She jumped in the air and pulled me back to the ground.“You and your wolf are mine, Mariana!”I was kneeling on the cold marble of the tower, my hands trembling while she stood before me, holding my body down until my spine bowed before her without my permission.“That’s right, Mariana! Kneel before me just like that night when you asked me to help you!” Nirvana screamed inside me and a wild, ripping sensation tearing me through bone and memory. I gasped, my fingers digging into the stone when I remembered exactly that night. “I was not the one who asked for your help first. You gave me the idea! You manipulated me! Now, tell me who is really the desperate one between the two of us?”I lifted my head laughing at her frowning face.“You are weak, Mariana. You cannot even
Mariana’s POVPain only worsened its grip on me when I woke up.The chains bite into my wrists when I shift even a little and the mark carved into my shoulder burns into my flesh straight into my nerves at the same exact time of my pulse like they are counting my heartbeats.I try to reach for Nirvana but the deafening silence answers me back. My throat tightens and I feel empty knowing that Empress successfully took my wolf from me. I press my forehead against the cold stone beneath me, teeth clenched too hard that my whole mouth started bleeding. “I cannot afford to break,” I gritted my teeth while trying to fight off the dizziness. “Not now. I will never let them watch me lose myself.”The door creaked open and Empress came in delighted to see that I was up. “You are finally awake. Good thing because we can start again.”I lift my head just enough to see her standing beyond the iron bars. Her gaze drags over me, assessing how weak I am. I snorted and spat blood. I hate that loo
Mariana’s POVBut still I deceived him. The one he has been waiting all his life manipulated him in the end. If that is not the worst thing to do, then I don’t know what is. I staggered as my knees hit the floor, the chains dragging with me. My breath shook uncontrollably.The memories that I got to peek inside his head due to the mate bond is replaying in my mind over and over again. He was never blind. He was never indifferent. He was never fooled the way I thought.He wanted me long before he ever admitted it to himself.The realization hollowed me out. He isn’t someone I can handle. “Rozen,” I whispered. “I never meant to hurt you. It’s just that…”I took a long breath. Am I ready to tell him everything? Can I tell him that, ‘oh, I went into prison for Evan’s murder but he betrayed me so I need to have my revenge with the use of your sister’s face and identity’. He stared at me with empty eyes and hidden animosity. For a second, I thought he would walk away but he inched close
Mariana’s POVHe didn’t say or do anything after hearing that. He just summoned me back to my room for the rest of the night. Sleep is scarce but I still fell down when midnight came. My dream was horrifying because it felt a bit too real. I am standing on a hill with the sky bruised purple with an endless full bloodied moon hanging up on the sky.Wolves kneel in the wide field, their heads bowed before dead bodies below in a world that is too quiet before something terrible happens.Rozen stood at the center while on his knees. Blood runs down his chest against the cold red glow of the moon. And then he moved his head slowly meeting my eyes, finding mine with a calm that made my stomach twist.“This is the only way,” a voice spoke behind me.I turned around to see Empress standing behind me, her red eyes reflecting the moon. She placed a dagger in my hand and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “He will never stop the war,” she says carefully. “He will never release you. Kill him and
Mariana’s POVAfter the enforcer left, Rozen looked away into the window which hurt more than if he had shouted at me. He stands near the fireplace, his shoulders tense like he is holding back a storm on his back. I know Rozen is used with the ways of the war. In fact, he is known for being the wolf alpha who has never lost any single battle. “We need to talk,” I started despite feeling his coldness seeping towards me. His reflection in the polished metal around his room told me that he’s not in the mood for more conversation. “Do we?” he asked coldly. “Yes,” I answered as sincerely as I could. “We need to talk about this mark, about that scent from your enemy.”That got his attention.He grinned, eyes dark and cold, and every inch of him is controlling the surge of his anger. “You mean you want to talk about Empress’ leash burned into your skin.”“It is not a leash,” I say a bit too quickly. “At least, I do not think it is but I think you are right. It’s a leash.”He laughs bitt







