Mag-log inRainI wasn’t tired anymore. At least, not enough to sleep.After leaving Ryan outside by the balcony earlier, I’d gone back to my room hoping I could calm down and clear my head, but instead I just ended up pacing around for what felt like hours.Everything irritated me lately.My emotions kept changing too quickly, and I hated how little control I had over it.One second I wanted to cry. Next, I was angry for no reason.Then there was Ryan.Even thinking about him annoyed me.Part of me still felt hurt every time I remembered him kissing Priscilla. I sighed and left my room, deciding maybe walking around would help clear my head.The estate was unusually quiet at this hour. Most of the servants had already disappeared into their quarters, and the few people still awake moved carefully through the halls like they were afraid of disturbing something.As I turned down one of the side corridors near the back of the estate, I suddenly heard a voice.“…you said I’d be safe.”I slowed imm
RyanMorning came with a strange kind of tension hanging over the estate.It was in the silence of the hallways. In the way servants avoided eye contact and moved too quickly whenever they passed by. Even the air felt wrong somehow, heavy enough that it irritated me more with every passing minute.I barely slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Aaron standing in that field talking about Rain’s death like it was some necessary sacrifice. Then I’d remember waking up locked inside that room, and my mood would worsen all over again.Something was seriously wrong.I stood near the window of my room staring out at the cloudy skies beyond the estate while absently rubbing my jaw. The bruise there still ached faintly.I needed answers.And right now, the only person I trusted enough to help me think straight was Malcolm.I grabbed my phone from the table and dialed his number.The call failed immediately.I frowned and tried again.Nothing.A third attempt.Still nothing.That annoyed me i
RyanWhen I woke up, I felt a sharp, splitting pain behind my eyes that made it feel like someone had driven metal straight through my skull.I groaned quietly and pressed a hand against my forehead, trying to steady the violent dizziness twisting through me. For several seconds, I couldn’t even remember where I was.Then like a flash, I recalled Aaron punching me in the field and my eyes snapped open immediately.The room around me was dark except for a single lantern burning weakly near the wall. I was lying on an old couch inside what looked like one of the unused studies in Aaron’s estate. Dust covered most of the shelves, and the air smelled faintly of old paper and wood.Why was I here?Slowly, I pushed myself upright, only for another wave of dizziness to slam into me hard enough that I nearly fell back down again.“What the hell…”Even my wolf senses felt strange, somehow dulled and sluggish like something was interfering with them.That part bothered me most.I’d taken worse
Ryan Ever since arriving at Aaron’s estate, I had barely accomplished anything. Every lead I tried to follow somehow disappeared. Every important discussion got interrupted. Every time I brought up a concern, Aaron either redirected the conversation or convinced me to focus on something else.Now that I had this conversation with Aaron, it almost felt intentional.Like he didn’t want me paying attention.This irritated me immediately because the idea itself sounded ridiculous.Aaron had been Sapphire’s friend. One of her closest friends. That's why I trusted him. Or at least, I used to.So why was he acting like this?And why did he accept so quickly that Rain could be the wild wolf?Fine, I’d thought the same thing briefly. But that's because I’d noticed Rain changing.But what does Aaron know about Rain? Nothing. So how does he know she's acting differently? Why was he so willing to believe Priscilla’s accusation?Especially after everything Priscilla had already done.Why trust
RyanThe moment Aaron said Wilde’s name, something cold and familiar moved through me.Hatred.It was immediate, sharp enough that I had to consciously unclench my jaw before Aaron noticed.The evening air had turned cooler around us, the kind of cold that crept in slowly after sunset and settled over the fields in a thin silver mist. Normally, it would’ve been the kind of view people admired.Right now, I barely noticed it.We kept walking side by side through the tall grass beside his house, but my thoughts had already shifted far away from Rain, from Priscilla, from the wild wolf.They had landed squarely on someone I had spent years trying not to think about.Wilde.Aaron seemed relaxed after saying Wilde’s name, like he hadn’t just reopened a part of my past I had no interest in revisiting.I kept my expression neutral, even though irritation was still crawling beneath my skin.Then I forced myself to sound casual. “How is he?”Aaron glanced at me briefly, probably surprised I as
RyanThe moment the thought entered my head, I couldn’t get rid of it.No matter how badly I wanted to.I stayed outside Aaron’s study, staring at the closed door while my mind kept replaying everything that had happened over the last few days.Rain’s sudden anger.Her mood swings.The way she snapped one moment and became soft and uncertain the next.And now Priscilla accusing her of attacking her.It didn’t make sense.None of it did.Because whenever I looked at Rain, I still saw the same girl who used to flinch whenever someone raised their voice too loudly around her. The same girl who hesitated before speaking her mind because she was afraid of saying the wrong thing.But lately…Lately it felt like something inside her was changing.And I didn’t know whether I should be worried for her…Or worried about her. And I didn't want to have to kill her if she indeed had become a wild wolf. Inside the room, Aaron continued speaking quietly.“Rain, look at me.”Silence.Then Rain answe
Ryan The moment the kiss ended, I knew the problem had been solved. Not in the way I expected, perhaps. But solved all the same. Rain stood a few steps away from me, her breathing uneven, her eyes wide with shock. Her fingers hovered near her lips as if she could still feel the imprint of mine t
RainThe next morning came too soon.I had barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the dark trees of Nightshade pressing in, heard Ryan’s voice telling me I had no value if I failed, felt the weight of eyes on me.When I finally gave up on sleep, I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at my
RainBy the time my father finished speaking, my heart was beating so hard I could barely hear anything else.Hannah stood beside him, her chin lifted, her eyes fixed on me with a look I knew too well. Not quite a smile. Not quite pity. Something in between.I knew she was waiting for what I'd say
RainThat night, I stood outside his door for a long time before I could bring myself to knock.My hand hovered in the air, my heart beating so loudly I was sure anyone passing by would hear it. The corridor was quiet now. The celebration was over. The whispers had died down. Everything felt still,







