Sweat trailed down the back of her neck; she was panting like she was being chased by a bull.Her eyes flashed from one end to the other; a sudden interruption eloped from the silent corridor outside the door.A tiny, shanky voice echoed down the silent night, growing louder with each passing moment."What was that?" the maid asked, shaking and clutching close to Arya. Fear gnarled through her veins, and her heart dropped into her stomach."What is that noise that is coming in this direction?" All eyes were fixed on the door, which was closed but wasn't locked. They both held their breaths when the footsteps stopped at the door.Arya shut her eyes, silently praying that her baby shouldn't woo, not at this time of the moment. Was this a hunted place or just her imagination? But it was crystal clear; she was just the only one hearing the voices. No one will ever think she was crazy.Arya's heart was pounding within as both she and the maid hugged each other, their hearts throbbing aud
Vivian stepped into the pack house, her head straight with confidence. She held a file in her hand while she walked in.She never thought of meeting Alice along the line; she highlighted the Lamborghini that was packed in front of the pack house. She adjusted her dress and took a deep breath. She walked into the tall building.She's been here countless times and knows exactly where to find what she wants.Her mind was all focused on meeting Damian. She couldn't wait to see the expression that would be painted on his face.Memories flooded her head back then, when she was just 10. "I can't breathe whenever I'm around you," she voiced out on the day she came visiting."Don't you think you need to get the doctor to check on you?" Vivian squeezed her eyes in frustration, throwing her fist into the air when Damian looked away.Can't you get the gist? Can't he see I care much about him? She felt shy professing her love to get childhood friends; fear of rejection was more prevalent, and by
Vivian stepped out of her room, her footsteps echoing softly in the corridor as she made her way towards Alice's room. With each step, she pondered whether she should continue on this path. Doubts swirled in her mind and she thought of going back. But like autumn leaves caught in a gust of wind, unsure of where they would land she was undecided for a few moments before stealing her mind. “I'll just have to hurry and get done with it.” she muttered to herself before hurrying towards the direction of Alice's room. As she approached Alice's door, her heart quickened, uncertainty tightening its grip. Should she knock and confront whatever lay beyond, or turn back and retreat to the safety of her own room? The decision hung heavy in the air as she paused, her hand hovering inches from the door, her breath caught in a moment of indecision.Vivian's mind raced with a mix of determination and trepidation as she approached Alice's chambers. She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, a
Arya jolted awake, her heart racing as if she'd been sprinting through a nightmare. She lay there, disoriented, unsure when or how she'd succumbed to sleep.But her dreams lingered, etched in her mind like freshly carved scars. The memories felt tangible, as if she'd lived them mere moments ago. The blood, the death, the unrelenting terror seemed too real to be mere fantasy.A nagging sense of unease settled in her chest, whispering that there was more to her experiences in the safehouse than met the eye. The enigmatic woman, the lurking shadow, the disembodied voices, gripped her with a paralyzing fear.Arya's mind raced, searching for answers, as the shadows in her room seemed to deepen, twist, echoing the darkness she'd faced in her dreams. Her thoughts swirled, a maelstrom of uncertainty, as she struggled to distinguish reality from the horrors her mind had conjured.She tried to shake off the feeling of dread, telling herself it was just her imagination playing tricks on her. But
Alice led Vivian out of the house, her eyes never leaving her friend's face. She could sense the guilt and nervousness radiating from Vivian, like a palpable aura surrounding her. Alice's mind whirred with suspicions, her instincts screaming that something was amiss. But she pushed those thoughts aside, choosing to let the matter simmer on the back burner for now.After all, she had bigger fish to fry. Her focus was on reclaiming her rightful place, and she wouldn't let Vivian's antics distract her from that goal. Alice came to a stop in the garden, her heels sinking into the soft grass as she settled into the chair beneath the umbrella. The gentle burble of the fountain and the graceful dance of the fish mesmerized her, a welcome distraction from the turmoil brewing in her mind. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the scene, and Alice couldn't help but envy the carefree existence of the fish, their worries limited to the confines of their watery world.Her thoughts, however
Arya sipped her tea, still seated in the delicate chair in her bedroom, surrounded by elegant furnishings and soft candlelight. “How does one tell the time here, though? We're supposed to be underwater, right?” Arya joked.The maid poured some more tea from the teapot and smiled in response to Arya's words.The maid's eyes twinkled as she replied, "When you've stayed here a while, you'll find that your heart becomes the clock and your dreams the sign of a passing in time." Arya's gaze drifted away, her mind stirring as she heard the word "dream" again. Memories of her dreams, long forgotten, began to resurface, and her mind grew unsettled. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she wondered what secrets her subconscious held, and what signs her dreams might be trying to convey. The maid's enigmatic words only added to the intrigue, leaving Arya with more questions than answers.Arya's eyes locked onto Celine's, her hesitation evident before she took a sip of tea, set the cup down,
Damian's senses were on high alert as he approached Alice in the garden. He could pick up a foul scent emanating from her, like a pungent odor that clung to her skin. It was a scent he had never smelled before, but it screamed deception. He could tell she was trying to hide something from him, her entire countenance shifty and evasive since he had joined them.As he looked at her, he realized there was a huge memory gap between his lunch and the present. He couldn't remember how he had gotten there or why he had slept at all. Last he remembered, he had been with his mate, Alice, and now, looking at her, he tried to decipher the secrets she was trying to keep away from him. "What's going on, Alice? What are you hiding from me?" The scent of deception only grew stronger, and Damian's instincts screamed warning. Something was very wrong. He eyed her suspiciously, his mind racing with questions, but he didn't voice them out loud, not yet.Alice's voice was sugary sweet as she offered, "M
Damian squinted his eyes and closed the distance between himself and Tristan, his voice low and menacing. "What did you just say?" he repeated, his eyes boring into Tristan's.Tristan remained silent, his gaze unwavering. Damian could tell that his trusted adviser and beta hadn't told him a lie. The truth was written plain on his face, and Damian was left to grapple with the weight of the new revelation.From all appearances, all his suspicions about Alice's strange behavior were confirmed. The unease, the evasions, the secrets - it all pointed to one thing: his arranged mate was hiding something from him, something big. Damian's gaze swept around him, his instincts screaming for a change of environment. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was eavesdropping on their conversation, and he couldn't afford to take any chances. Not now, not after what Tristan had just revealed."Let's discuss this where there'd be no audience," he said gruffly, already turning to leave the garden.