LYRICI passed out and couldn't even tell for how long. All I knew was, after the call with Jaris, Caden still beat me some more, just for the sake of it. It became too much to handle that I passed out. I didn't even know how he managed to bring me awake just now, but I sure didn't want to stay conscious. It made me aware of the pains and the fact that I was between life and death. "Feeling better?" Caden asked with a smirk, his face in mine. My stomach churned at the sight of him. Gods, I hated this man. He was a monster who deserved to rot in hell.Right now, however, I was at his mercy. I wanted to beg him some more to let me go, but my mouth wouldn't open. My eyes could barely stay open either. The pain was unbearable. "Don't worry, we're done here. One of my people will take you to the drop off location."I was so relieved I wanted to cry. This...this was over? I wasn't going to die?"But you wouldn't mind delivering a message to Jaris, would you?" His finger came t
LYRIC I tried to protest and only then did I realize my tongue had gotten too weak to move.He brought the phone behind me and lifted my finger to the fingerprint sensor, unlocking it.I watched helplessly as he scrolled through the phone."Hm. A. Jaris, with a love emoji," he pronounced Jaris' name the way I saved it. "Is he aware you saved his name with a love emoji?""Don't..." I tried to tell him, but I wasn't even sure he could hear me, my voice being too weak.He wore a smug smile as he went ahead with the call.****††**** JARISI had a long stressful meeting with the Elders. They were very worried about Caden and wanted to know how to deal with him.I told them to leave him to me. If there was someone Caden wanted revenge against, it was me. All the attacks him and the Feeders have been doing lately was an act to get my attention. I knew it.By the time we finished the meeting, it was too late to fly back to Darkspire. Moreover, I was exhausted and just wanted some s
LYRIC"Please! Please, just stop."I couldn't take anymore. I had been cut all over. The pain was excruciating.He lowered his bloody knuckles, and I wanted to puke knowing it was my blood."Why are you doing this?" I sobbed. "How can you... How can you do this to someone?"His mouth formed a sarcastic smile. "No hard feelings, love. I'm merely trying to mark you." His claw came to my throat again, cutting a fresh line across it. "I need my brother to see the proof that you and I were together."I I could hardly make out his voice amidst the shrill scream that escaped me.Long after he released my throat, I continued wailing. It hurt. All over. I was afraid I would die soon if he kept up with this.The monster kept staring at me, waiting patiently for me to stop screaming."Initially, I'd been conflicted between taking you or the kids," he spoke again when I stopped screaming.My wet eyes rounded in disbelief. "But then, I decided it'd be more fun having you around."This guy wa
PLEASE NOTE!!! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS PHYSICAL ABUSE. LYRIC "You've been out for a long time," he tilted his head to the side. "I want to believe your memory is still intact?"An intense, biting acidity flooded my mouth, making me wince with its harshness. He didn't recognize me. Back then, when his eyes opened, he'd only seen the ugly girl.I shivered at my situation. I was sure those men behind him were Feeders. But what was he doing with them? And why did they give him so much respect like he was their leader or something?"Over here, Lyric," he spoke again. He and Jaris had almost the same voice. The silver eyes were the same—even Maddy had it."When I ask a question, you're meant to answer." He took his hand to my throat, and I winced when he cut me with his claw to prove his point."Please," I whimpered, attempting to pull my neck away."I told you to give me answers." His claw was out of my neck already, but his hand was still close enough to make me fear he would cut me
JARISThe Elders were already waiting in the meeting room before I arrived. The look on their faces wasn't good at all.I expressed concern when I noticed Luca's state. The man was badly bruised, like he had gotten into an accident or something.A hint of what the problem might be crossed my mind, and I didn't like it."What's going on?" I remained standing at the head of the table.Somehow, Luca looked angry at me. But it seemed he was too scared of me to act it."I was attacked, Alpha Jaris. And you wouldn't believe who it was."I said nothing, prompting him to continue."Someone from the dead." My hand slowly curled into a fist. "Your brother."I experienced a profound chill deep inside, like frost settling over the warmth of my heart. I'd seen it coming. But getting to confirm it was another feeling on its own.My expression remained impassive. The Elders might easily think I don't care, but they didn't know the war taking place in my head."What is this, Alpha Jaris?" Anot
LYRICLuna Isolde was right.Jaris and I could never be a thing.I couldn't put a name to what we had between us of recent, but I was sure it could never go beyond this. We could never have real feelings for each other.As I shut the door after his departure, I slid to the floor and wept.It hurt that maybe; just maybe my life would've been different if I wasn't 'this.'Perhaps, I'd have been able to accompany him to the Capital and even get to know what the problem was.I'd have kept him company while he navigated whatever challenges he was going to deal with.Maybe we would've cracked a joke or two and shared a laugh.Maybe, just maybe, we'd have even held hands at some point.But none of it could be real.I was a dangerous forbidden thing; a murderer.I needed to be far from him and everyone else.I wiped my face as I got on my feet.My handbag was already set. Since the place was still full and busy, I didn't want to risk moving around with luggages to avoid drawing attentio