*Poppy*
As we trailed behind Easton, the weight of our earlier encounter lay like a heavy cloak on my shoulders. The corridor of the underground Palace tunnel felt eerily empty, as if Easton never walked through it, even though his scent lingered heavily in the air, despite the smoke odour we reeked of. My heart raced, and every fledgling doubt I had about our path ate at my resolve. Logan walked beside me, holding my hand gently yet firmly, sending the sparks of matebond and comforting warmth through my slightly trembling body. His presence was a small comfort amidst the chaos, the memory of our happy bubble seeping away like sand through my fingers.
"Just hold on to that feeling, Poppy," he whispered, his voice low and steady. "We'll get through this together, baby." My heart skipped a beat at the endearment he used, and an involuntary satisfied smile crept up my face as the blus
*Poppy*As we trailed behind Easton, the weight of our earlier encounter lay like a heavy cloak on my shoulders. The corridor of the underground Palace tunnel felt eerily empty, as if Easton never walked through it, even though his scent lingered heavily in the air, despite the smoke odour we reeked of. My heart raced, and every fledgling doubt I had about our path ate at my resolve. Logan walked beside me, holding my hand gently yet firmly, sending the sparks of matebond and comforting warmth through my slightly trembling body. His presence was a small comfort amidst the chaos, the memory of our happy bubble seeping away like sand through my fingers."Just hold on to that feeling, Poppy," he whispered, his voice low and steady. "We'll get through this together, baby." My heart skipped a beat at the endearment he used, and an involuntary satisfied smile crept up my face as the blus
*Poppy*"Hold on, Logan. I'm going to get you out!" My heart raced wildly in my chest as I turned, desperate to find the keys that clinked with the promise of freedom. I could hear him grunting, a raw symphony of strength and determination, straining against the cruel iron bars that held him captive. Each echoing sound reminded us of the darkness surrounding us, and the door remained firmly shut, mocking our desperation.I stumbled through the dimly lit dungeon, shadows clinging to me like a suffocating shroud. Frantically, I searched for the keys hanging on the cold stone wall—a haunting reminder of our oppression. Time elongated in this hellish space, feeling like sticky molasses as I battled my thoughts, imagining the horrors Logan must have endured alone in this damning, dismal place.Finally, my trembling fingers brushed against cold
*Poppy*The chaos enveloped us, a whirlwind of panic and fear swirling around the grand Palace like a malevolent specter. Breaths came in hurried gasps as the acrid scent of smoke began to creep slowly through the halls, weaving its tendrils through the opulent architecture like a thief in the night. It was the kind of moment your instincts screamed at you to fall, yet the gravity of our current situation held me in place.As the first wisps of smoke blurred my vision, I felt a tight knot of dread settle in my stomach. "Is anyone else noticing this?" I shouted to Andrew, coordinating the evacuation with Queen Anastasia's steely determination. But it was too late. Confusion erupted like a sudden wave. People began to move, shoving past one another in a desperate scramble for safety."Get the civilians out!" Anastasia ordered, her voice rising abo
*Allegra de Gallo*The air in the room was stifling, thick with the weight of unshed tears and the lingering scent of loss. I stood by the window of my room in Brantford's Palace, my heart a churning tempest of grief and fury. The sun hung low in the sky, casting an ominous orange hue over the mourning courtyard where my brother's coffin lay. Wrapped in white silk, encircled by calla lilies and black roses, the elegant facade was a cruel joke - a mockery of the vibrant life he had once led. With each passing moment, the reality of his absence clawed at my insides like a wild beast, and I felt my pulse quicken, each heartbeat fueling the fire of my rage.Poppy - a name that now echoed like a taunt in my mind. She was the one who had failed him; she was the one who brought him to his fate. In my eyes, she wore the crown of betrayal like a dark halo. I clenched my fists until my
*Poppy*How did it happen that I am standing in the grand hall awaiting the arrival of the King of the European Lycan Royal family? I have no idea, but my knees are about to buckle as I sense the grave, dangerous aura approaching us.Two days had passed since Andrew and I had brought the body to the Palace. The air was thick with tension, and dark clouds loomed ominously outside, mirroring the storm brewing in my heart. I sat in my room in the Palace, staring out at the distant horizon, the sun struggling to break through the gray.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Dante's face. His laughter, his kindness, and the sparkle in his eyes felt like a cruel mirage, a memory I could no longer touch. The weight of what we had done felt unbearable. Andrew had assured me repeatedly that there would be no repercussions for our actions, that we had acted i
*Poppy*The air in the car felt heavy as we bounced along the dirt road, the rhythmic bounce of the wheels barely covering the chaos swirling in my mind. I couldn't shake the image of Dante's lifeless body, now shrouded in white silk and adorned with calla lilies and black roses. Each flower seemed to mock the tragedy, a haunting reminder of our failure. I gripped the edge of the seat, trying to steady my raging heart. The news we carried was more than just the death of a warrior; it was a ticking time bomb, threatening to ignite a war between kingdoms.Andrew sat behind the wheel, his face set in grim determination, yet I could see the worry flickering in his eyes. "We have to tell them, Poppy. They deserve to know.""I know," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But how do we explain that the snakes... the venom... it was all engineere
*Poppy*The morning light filtered through my bedroom window, casting long shadows on the wall as I sat on the edge of my bed, gripping my phone. My heart sank when I heard the unwavering knock at the door. Who could it be this early? I rose cautiously to answer, my mind racing.As I opened the door, I found Alpha Albert standing there, his expression grim and urgent. The usual warmth in his eyes was replaced by a chilling seriousness that sent a ripple of fear down my spine. I had seen that face before, when the news was never good."Poppy, we need to talk.It'sabout Andrew and Dante,"
*Andrew*The narrow passageway I navigated felt like a dreamscape turned nightmare. Each footfall echoed, reminding me how far I had strayed from safety into this oppressive darkness. My instincts, honed through years of hardship and survival, screamed at me to return. The realization that my audacity had led me to a blind alley weighed heavily on my conscience. I had left Azize and Dante unguarded, and now those decisions gnawed at me relentlessly.In the distance, the air was thick with dread, punctuated by horrifying screams that clawed at my psyche. They resonated like the cries of the damned, reverberating off the crumbling walls, igniting a primal fear within me. I pressed forward, adrenaline coursing through my veins, bracing myself for what lay ahead. Whatever tragedy had befallen my sister and Dante, I felt it, like a shadow hovering just out of sight; there was something
*Dante de Gallo*The ruins loomed ahead, a forgotten relic wrapped in shadows and whispers. The air was thick with anticipation, and with it came an unsettling scent that danced around us - a potpourri of damp earth and something foul, like decay lingering just beneath the surface. Andrew, his face set with determination, led the way, his footsteps echoing eerily off the ancient stones."Over there," he pointed, his voice barely above a whisper as if even the air within these walls had ears. "That's where I spotted the traitors last night. I had left their remnants here, but burned them to ashes." He pointed to a scene that I could compare to a horror movie, considering the splattered blood and bits of skin stuck to the stones.Azize and I exchanged a wary glance, the unspoken concern settling heavily in our chests. We checked the nearest spots