Se connecterVivienneThe pain didn’t ease, dull or give me even a second to breathe, instead it kept spreading under my skin like something alive, hot and vicious, tearing through me from the inside out while my body tried and failed to keep up, and for a moment I understood exactly why silver was feared, why it was used the way it was, because this wasn’t just injury, it was destruction, slow and deliberate, meant to break you before you even realized you were losing.But I wasn’t done.That thought stayed steady in my head even as my vision flickered and my legs trembled, even as my fingers pressed hard into the ground just to keep me upright, because if I stopped now, if I gave in even a little, then everything I had just fought for would mean nothing, and I refused to let him take that from me again.Seeing me staring daggers at him, something in him shifted at that, his eyes narrowing as the last bit of amusement drained away, replaced by something sharper, more dangerous, and then he moved
VivienneThe pain didn’t ease, dull or give me even a second to breathe, instead it kept spreading under my skin like something alive, hot and vicious, tearing through me from the inside out while my body tried and failed to keep up, and for a moment I understood exactly why silver was feared, why it was used the way it was, because this wasn’t just injury, it was destruction, slow and deliberate, meant to break you before you even realized you were losing.But I wasn’t done.That thought stayed steady in my head even as my vision flickered and my legs trembled, even as my fingers pressed hard into the ground just to keep me upright, because if I stopped now, if I gave in even a little, then everything I had just fought for would mean nothing, and I refused to let him take that from me again.Seeing me staring daggers at him, something in him shifted at that, his eyes narrowing as the last bit of amusement drained away, replaced by something sharper, more dangerous, and then he moved
VivienneThe courtyard was already packed by the time I stepped into it, the noise low but heavy, and I felt every single gaze turn toward me the moment my boots touched the stone, the weight of it pressing down but not slowing me, because if I stopped now, even for a second, I knew I wouldn’t move again.The sun sat high, too bright for what this was, lighting everything clearly, no shadows to hide in, no darkness to soften the edges, just truth laid bare in front of everyone, and I walked straight into it, shoulders back, head high, even though my chest felt tight and my pulse was already picking up.Across the courtyard, I saw them.Marcus’ men.My men or at least… they used to be.They stood in formation behind him, armored, sharp, eyes cold, but I knew those faces, knew the way they held themselves, the discipline I had drilled into them, the loyalty I had built from nothing, and seeing them there under him, wearing his mark, following his lead… it twisted something deep in my gu
Vivienne“You… you want to fight me for your freedom?”Marcus’ laughter exploded through the room, loud and mocking, the kind that made people shift where they stood because it carried too much arrogance and certainty, like he had already won before anything even started, and I just stood there watching him, face blank, hands relaxed at my sides even though I could feel the tension crawling under my skin, because reacting to him was exactly what he wanted.“The match will be held tomorrow. Be on time.”Dante’s voice cut through the noise, calm and controlled, and it didn’t matter that Marcus was still smiling like this was all a joke, the authority in that tone settled things, pulled the room back into order without effort, and for a second even Marcus paused before turning back to me, the amusement fading from his face as something sharper replaced it.“You’re serious about fighting me,” he said, studying me now, really looking at me like he was trying to peel me open and see what wa
Vivienne“Ouch, that hurts!” I cried out as Kane’s punch sent me crashing hard against the mat, my back slamming into the ground in a way that knocked the air clean out of my lungs, and for a second all I could do was lie there staring at the ceiling, trying to remember how breathing worked while pain spread through my ribs like fire.“Well, Marcus won’t go easy on you,” Kane said, not even sounding sorry as he stood over me, arms loose at his sides like he hadn’t just hit me across the room, his expression flat and unimpressed. “So don’t expect me to go easy on you like Asher or Ryker.”I sucked in a breath, rolled onto my side, and glared up at him, irritation rising fast despite the ache in my body.“Hello? They weren’t easy on me,” I shot back, pushing myself up on my elbows. “Do you think I was dancing in the field with them?”He scoffed, rolling his eyes like I had just said something stupid, and before I could even get fully to my feet, he moved fast, it was actually too fast.
VivienneI held the book tight against my chest as I moved quickly through the corridor, my steps uneven but fast because my mind was already ahead of me, replaying the lines I had read over and over again until they made sense, until they stopped looking like old useless words and started looking like a weapon I could actually use, and even though my body was tired from staying up all night in that dusty library, I didn’t feel it much right now because something inside me was lit up, sharp and alive.For the first time since Marcus walked in and turned everything upside down, I wasn’t guessing or reacting or waiting for someone else to fix it.I had something and it felt damn good.I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed the office door open and stepped in, already breathing a little faster than normal, and just like I expected, they were all there.Dante stood by his desk with a file in his hand, Kane near the window looking like he hadn’t moved from that spot in hours, Ryker leaning aga
Vivienne’s POVI woke up feeling energetic and I grinned, the healers had healed me completely, I wasn't feeling any pain anymore and that felt good… back to Shadowcrest… well… I don’t even know how to feel.The sheets were soft, too soft, expensive and smelling faintly of cedar and smoke, Kane’s s
Vivienne’s POVThe limo was too big, too dark, and too quiet at first and then it wasn’t.We were already moving, tires eating up the mountain road, Blackwood territory shrinking in the rear tinted windows like a dream I was being ripped out of.The partition was up. The driver was a ghost. Just us
Vivienne’s POVThe limo was moving fast now, tires eating up the mountain road, engine purring low and steady like it knew exactly what kind of chaos was happening in the back. The world outside was reduced to streaks of trees and moonlight. Inside, it was another story entirely.Ryker’s mouth was
Vivienne’s POV“Her wolf lives,” the shaman said calmly, voice steady like he was talking about the weather. “She’s not dead. Just… sleeping. Deeply.”The world tilted.I staggered back like someone had punched the ground out from under my feet, air leaving my lungs in a sharp, broken gasp. Before







