MasukMargot A sharp itch hit the back of my nose, and I sneezed before I could stop myself. Dorian didn't hesitate, pulling a folded linen handkerchief from his pocket and sliding it across the wood toward me. “Thank you,” I said, keeping my head down as I pressed the cloth to my face. The linen was smooth, completely blank without any monograms. I used the small delay to steady my breathing, forcing the tension out of my jaw before I looked back up at him. “Wait… what were you asking again? If I am the one?” Dorian’s fingers locked over the edge of his phone, his thumb freezing above the dark screen. Then his shoulders dropped, and he shook his head quickly. “No, no, no. I’m not talking about that. I’m so, so sorry. I was trying to send a message to someone and I accidentally said it to you.” My lungs finally expanded, a long, quiet breath slipping past my teeth. For a split second, the whole game had felt like it was crashing down around my ears. I squeezed the handkerchief in my l
Luciens’ povThe truck engine cut out, leaving the front yard in complete shadow. I stepped onto the gravel, staring up at the unlit windows of the house. Not a single light filtered through the glass."Where is she?" I adjusted my jacket, keeping my eyes fixed on the porch. "Do you think Margot is even home?"Richard closed his door with a dull thud. "It’s past midnight, Lucian. Where else would she be?"I didn't move toward the porch right away. The stillness of the place ground at my nerves. "Every light is out, Richard. That isn't like her."He waved a hand dismissively, stepping past me. "You're reading too much into it. She’s probably asleep."I followed him up the steps, the wood creaking under our boots. Richard reached out and knocked on the wooden door, but the impact sent it swinging inward. The lock hadn't caught. We exchanged a look, the silence between us instantly sharpening, before we moved inside.The living room was stripped of life. We moved through the dark space,
Margot The car pulled up to a massive glass structure set back from the main avenue. I sat straight in my seat, staring up at the tiered stone terraces and the sleek line of vehicles parked along the curved driveway. I had never crossed the bridge into the northern district before today. This was the kind of architecture that only existed on the glossy pages of magazines the older pack girls brought back from the city. Dorian cut the engine. “We are here.” I kept my face toward the glass, tracking a group of people dressed in tailored suits walking through a set of high glass doors. Dorian shifted in his seat to look at me. “What? Why are you staring like that?” “Where is the restaurant?” I asked, keeping my tone tentative. He gave me a puzzled look. “This is the restaurant.” I turned my head slowly to meet his gaze. “What?” “I own this place,” he said, reaching for his door handle. “Come on, let’s go.” My grip tightened on the strap of the garment bag in my lap. The Lycan K
MargotDorian leaned back against the leather seat, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm on the steering wheel. “Sit back down. You don't have to do that.” He studied my face, his eyes searching for something behind my expression. “You shouldn't just accept an invitation because of a title. If you want a restaurant first, we'll go to a restaurant. You can have whatever you need.” He paused, looking out the windshield before turning back to me. “But how do I reach you? I have your number now, but if I drop you off, where do I pick you up? Or will you just wait for me somewhere?”“You don't need to drop me off or wait,” I cut in, keeping my voice soft but firm. “I’ll come to you. I’ll meet you right here at the same bridge. I won't run away.”Dorian’s gaze hardened slightly, the skepticism clear in the line of his jaw. “For some reason, I don't trust you. Promise me you'll actually be here.”I forced a reassuring nod, maintaining the gentle demeanor he expected from my sister. “I promise.
MargotThe stranger by the bridge stood with a posture that didn’t belong to these docks. His trousers had a sharp, tailored crease, and his dark shirt hung with the heavy drape of expensive silk. My eyes tracked down from his shoulders to his wrist.The metal band of his watch caught the gray light.Lucian used to keep a magazine clipping of that exact watch pinned to his wall, talking about the millions it cost and the waitlists required to even see one.I looked back up at the man's face. A small silver ring pierced his bottom lip, contrasting with his sharp jawline and cold eyes. He was watching me, waiting for a reaction.Everything clicked.He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at Margaux.A heavy silence stretched between us until he finally broke it. “Have you remembered me now?”I tilted my head, letting a slow, familiar mask settle over my features. “Yeah. I remember you.”The tension in his shoulders dropped instantly. He stepped forward, closing the distance between us.
Her name was Margaux. She was twenty-four years old. She had arrived in this town with no family, no pack affiliation, and nobody beside her. She was entirely alone in the human world.I walked back to my car and gripped the steering wheel, staring out at the small town. My wolf was quiet now, its focus locked entirely on the name. Most people sought my presence for security or gain. She had nothing, yet she chose the dark hallway over my wealth. What is she running from?I put the vehicle in drive. No matter where she was, I would make sure that I didn't stop until I had found her.~~~~~~Four months had passed.Every single day followed the same exact sequence. I woke up, handled the minimal administrative tasks required to maintain my title, and then left my compound. If I chose to rest, the beast inside my chest made the choice impossible. By pacing back and forth. The only thing to keep the wolf in control was to continue the search.We would drive for hours, scan the faces on th







