*Poppy*
Another hour passed, and I could feel Logan's eyes on me, although he did not need to watch me. Seamus didn't show up. There was neither him nor his Beta nor the fake woman he exchanged me for. To tell you the truth, I felt devastated. I was sure that Seamus would not let go of such an opportunity to shine in the salons, especially if it involved the royal family and the possibility of obtaining their support.
I glanced to my left, where Alexander and Anastasia were accepting another gift from another couple, showing their gratitude for the invitation and their support and devotion to our leaders. Anastasia looked phenomenal in her black and scarlet dress with quite bold gold lace along the entire length. Her warm but trained smile never left her face, and her eyes shone with happiness and joy, although this was probably due to the champagne her waiter supplied her with hec
*Poppy*I stood at the edge of the palace courtyard, the morning sun casting a gentle glow on the sprawling gardens. My heart raced, knowing that today would hold answers to many unspoken questions. Pacing slightly, I surveyed the looming structure of the palace, its tall spires and ornate details reflecting its historical weight. This was where decisions were made, but today felt different—both monumental and fragile.Suddenly, I spotted Easton striding toward me, his familiar frame a comforting sight amid the uncertainty. Logan and Andrew followed closely behind. "Are you ready?" Easton asked, tension evident in his voice. I nodded, willing myself to be brave.Our meeting with Queen Anastasia felt like standing at the edge of a cliff, the winds of change strong and unnerving. As we entered the grand hall, the lavish decor struck me anew&
*PoppyAs I approached the meeting room, the heavy oak doors loomed ahead, each step echoing with an unsettling sense of dread. My heart pounded in my chest like a drum, the sound of it almost drowning out the whispered conversations of the palace staff as I passed by. I could feel the weight of their stares, laden with concern and curiosity, resting heavily on my shoulders.I took a deep breath and pushed the doors open, finding the familiar faces of Prince Easton, Andrew, and Dr. Kyle gathered around the ornate table. Their expressions painted with worry, each of them caught up in the circumstances that had unfolded in the last few days, were a stark contrast to the vibrant decor of the room."Poppy!" Andrew rushed toward me, enveloping me in a tight embrace before I could register my surroundings. The warmth of his reassurance seeped into my
*Poppy*That morning, the palace felt like a fortress of shadows as I navigated its familiar yet oppressive halls. The relentless night had left a mark on all of us—an echo of dread and uncertainty gripping the air. I knew I needed to gather my strength for what lay ahead. I found the others gathered in a dimly lit meeting room, their faces wan and taut with anxiety."Thank you for coming," Prince Easton said, his voice steady, belying the worry in his expression. His dark eyes flicked to each of us, weighing the atmosphere that charged the room. Allegra sat beside Logan, their hands entwined, her bright spirit struggling to shine through the pall in the air."Logan," I noted, my heart aching at the distance he held between himself and the world. He stared blankly across the room, lost in thought as if the weight of his brother's condition
*Poppy*The heavy oak door slammed shut behind them, the muted sounds of chaos fading into a distant echo as I knelt beside Gemma on the cold marble floor of the dining room. Her petite frame shook with sobs, her fingers clutching at the fabric of my dress like it was a lifeline. I could hardly breathe, my heart racing in sync with the anxious beats of my mind."Mommy, I didn't mean to hurt Uncle Alexander!" Gemma cried, her voice barely whispering through the torrent of tears. I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her like a protective cocoon, trying to shield her from her fears and the growing menace surrounding us. "Shh, sweet girl. It's not your fault. It's going to be okay," I murmured, even though my heart was unsure.Outside the dining room, the commotion continued, and I could hear hurried footfalls—Logan, Easton, and Anastas
*Poppy*As I settled into the back seat of Dante's sleek black car, the familiar hum of the engine melted into the glimmering excitement of the evening ahead. I glanced at Gemma, who sat bouncing in her seat like a bit of spring loaded with enthusiasm, her golden curls gleaming under the interior lights. She was dressed in a flowing lavender gown that twinkled in the soft glow, the perfect outfit for a night at the palace."Are you ready to see Uncle Lex and Auntie Nastia?" Gemma chirped, her voice full of warmth. She had called Queen Anastasia "Auntie Nastia" as if she were a beloved family member rather than royalty."Absolutely!" Dante replied, flashing a bright grin. The anticipation in his eyes held a warmth that made me smile as he looked forward to his sister Allegra, who now stood legally bound to Logan. I couldn't help but feel a twinge
*Poppy*The early morning chill settled around me, wrapping the room in uncertainty. Tanner's words echoed in my mind, stirring fear and urgency. Seamus's involvement in crafting a poison so potent it could kill even the mightiest beast was a revelation that sank like a stone in the pit of my stomach. This was not just a threat; it was a race against time. My fingers trembled slightly as I traced the patterns on the tablecloth, the dread amplifying with each tick of the clock.I exhaled deeply, trying to ground myself, and reached for the phone on my desk. My fingers were shaking, and my palm was sweating at the thought that something so unholy could happen in the world. I had to talk to someone at the palace, and Anastasia's name rang in my head. I dialed her number and listened to the signals between my quickly beating heart."Poppy," she gree
*Tanner*I sat cross-legged on the bedroom floor, a fortress of dictionaries and leather-bound tomes piled around me like barricades in a battle of knowledge. Each title whispered of ancient wisdom as Rose and I pored over the texts, our fingers tracing the intricate symbols that danced across the pages like shadows in the flickering candlelight. The air was heavy with the scent of old parchment and the faint aroma of herbs we had gathered, remnants of our brewing experiments that had turned our space into a chaotic study.Days had blended into nights, our world shrunk to the dimensions of this room, and our determination fueled a feverish urgency. If we hoped to combat the darkness lurking in our pack, we needed to decipher these secrets that had been buried for too long.Rose, furrowed in concentration, leaned over a particularly worn page. "T
*Tanner*The office was cloaked in a half-light, the heavy drapery pulling down the sunshine that attempted to break through. I slumped over the desk, my frustration pulling deeper into the hardwood surface. The diary lay sprawled out before me, its pages filled with scrawled notes and symbols that felt more like a list of ghosts than potential secrets. Tanner. Just the thought of my name echoed in the hollow emptiness of the room.I had spent countless hours poring over the contact list the older man had handed me, a detailed compilation of individuals who once walked among us, full of vigor and knowledge. I'd entered their names into my phone, convinced that one of them might throw me a lifeline in this growing tide of uncertainty. But one by one, I'd hit dead ends—only to find that each number led to a burial plot or a grave marker, an epitaph singing of lives long extingu
*Tanner*Days bled into one another as I navigated the labyrinth of contacts I had scoured together in the hopes of finding anyone who could help me decipher the diary. Each morning, I woke with determination, armed with my notebook and a growing list of potential translators. I was the dogged hunter on the trail, but every time I arrived at a meeting spot, I was left alone, standing under the weight of my unanswered hope.I brushed it off the first few times—perhaps I had gotten the time wrong, or they had run late. But as the days turned from bright mornings to dim evenings and back again, the empty chairs at the chosen cafes and corners turned into a haunting echo of disappointment. I tried calling every number I had written down, my voice filled with desperation as I left messages explaining who I was and what I sought, but every attempt was silent. It felt like the unive