_Leah's POV_I waited until Tariq’s breathing deepened. His body relaxed beside me as he drifted into sleep. I lay still, heart pounding, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. Every instinct told me to run, but I knew I needed to be cautious. Moving slowly, I slid my hand under my pillow and pulled out the old leather-bound diary.The weight of the book in my hands felt heavy, almost as if it were pulsing with dark secrets. I slipped out of bed, careful not to make a sound, and crept toward the bathroom. Once inside, I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, breathing heavily. The only light came from the dim bulb overhead. It was casting a soft glow over the room. I placed the diary on the bathroom sink. My fingers brushed over its worn cover. That strange symbol embossed on the front, a triangle with three circles inside, seemed to mock me.With trembling hands, I opened it to the pages I had already read. The chilling entries about the Alpha and his rogue mate, S
_Leah's POV_I felt a thrill of excitement mixed with fear as I slid the key into the lock of the chest. The heavy, ancient metal felt cold and solid in my hand, and I took a deep breath, steadying myself. With a slight twist, I felt the lock give way, and the lid creaked as I slowly lifted it open. My eyes widened with anticipation, but inside, I found only a thick, leather-bound book.The cover was faded and worn, with the strange symbol embossed on it; a triangle with three circles inside. I ran my fingers over the symbol, a chill creeping up my spine. I had no idea what it meant, but it seemed significant, almost sacred. With hands that trembled, I lifted the book from the chest. The pages were thick and yellowed, and an old, musky smell filled the air as I carefully opened it.The first page held strange symbols and intricate drawings that looked almost like a map or code. I squinted, trying to make sense of them, but they were unlike anything I had ever seen. I flipped the page,
_Leah's POV_I felt my stomach twist as I made my way down to dinner with Tariq. I could still feel the weight of the key hidden in my purse, and the anticipation made it hard to act calm. My mind was miles away, thinking of the secrets that might be waiting for me. But I had to keep up appearances, so I put on a smile and took a deep breath, hoping to make it through the evening.When I walked into the dining room, Tariq was already seated, his eyes lighting up as he saw me approach. “There you are,” he said warmly, pulling out my chair. “I was starting to wonder if you had changed your mind about joining me.”I forced a smile, settling into my seat. “Of course not. I just needed a few minutes to freshen up,” I replied, hoping my voice sounded calm and normal.Dinner was laid out before us, and I felt my stomach rumble slightly. The meal looked delicious; a roast chicken with golden-brown skin, seasoned vegetables, and a side of creamy mashed potatoes. Tariq poured me a glass of red
_Leah's POV_After breakfast the next day, I followed Susan out of the packhouse and into the bustling heart of town. As we walked along the wide streets lined with high-end shops, my eyes took in the displays through large windows. My unease was growing. The gowns and dresses behind the glass sparkled under bright lights, and every item screamed luxury.I hesitated and glanced at Susan. "Are you sure we’re in the right place? These shops look… expensive. Maybe we should look somewhere else."Susan only laughed and waved off my concern. "Oh, don’t worry about the price, dear. It’s all covered. This wedding is important for the entire pack and you should look the part."I nodded, though I felt my stomach tighten. I forced a small smile, hiding the real reason for my nerves. It wasn’t the cost of the dresses, but the key hanging around Susan’s neck. As much as I wanted to slip away from this outing, I needed to keep my focus on that necklace and on how to get it.Susan led me into one o
_Leah's POV_That evening, I sat stiffly at the dinner table with Tariq and Susan. I forced myself to smile, though my mind was far from at ease. Every time my gaze landed on Tariq’s face, it only reminded me of the secrets he kept. The betrayal was still fresh in my mind. Across from me, Susan’s cheerful demeanor felt jarring, like nails on a chalkboard, adding to the weight of my dread. I knew I had to hold myself together, to keep up appearances, but inside I was struggling.Susan’s voice broke my thoughts. “Leah, dear, we were just discussing the timing for the wedding. It seems like three weeks from now, there will be a full moon.” Susan beamed, her eyes warm and excited. “It’s such a perfect symbol, you know. A time of strength, unity…just imagine, a night like that to mark the beginning of your life together.”I felt my heart thud heavily. Three weeks? That was so soon. I struggled to keep my voice steady. “Three weeks… I suppose that could work.” I hesitated, searching for any
_Leah's POV_My heart pounded as I moved back to the closet. I felt like I was playing with fire, but I needed answers. I took a breath, sliding the closet door open and carefully moving the shelf that hid the secret entrance. Darkness met me again, and I flicked on my phone flashlight and slipped inside the hidden room.Once inside, I turned to shut the closet door. I pushed the shelf back into place. If anyone opened the closet from outside, they would see nothing unusual. The hidden room was small and still, with a silence that felt almost heavy. My hands shook slightly as I located the light switch, filling the space with a dim and pale glow. My gaze quickly found the chest on the table. It was the very thing I had come back for.The chest was even more intricate up close, covered in dark wood carvings that felt both beautiful and ominous. I reached out, fingers grazing the cool surface as my eyes caught a symbol in the center of the lid. It was a triangle with three circles insid