"Watch out!" Thalia yelled.Arabella swirled just in time to deflect the large boulder hurled towards her. She narrowed her eyes, glaring at Sandro, who smirked and shrugged before turning to Thalia, her sparring partner.They had received yet another letter hinting at the impending war from Paolo, and they were preparing by training. Although Arabella believed training alone wasn't sufficient, it was better than nothing.Sandro was also training, aggressively beating anyone who dared spar with him. Arabella knew he was stronger, and those who sparred with him were foolish. Yet, she wished he could be kinder. However, she doubted he cared.Approaching her with hands in his pockets, Sandro brushed his longer hair, now reaching almost to his shoulder into a ponytail."What, Sandro?" Thalia asked."I'm not here for you," Sandro replied."I don't want to speak to you," Arabella mumbled, but Sandro wasn't taking no for an answer. He stood between her and Thalia, disrupting their activities

No sooner had Sandro reached the pack house and his room, then he staggered. Fortunately, Arabella wasn't on his back anymore."I thought I weighed nothing," Arabella remarked dryly."Yeah, you weighed nothing," he said, clutching his side. Straightening, he started forward but stumbled again."What's wrong?" Arabella frowned, stepping towards him."I think I took a hit from one of the rogues," Sandro lifted his hand, eyes widening as he saw the blood that coated it."What the hell?" Arabella exclaimed, catching Sandro just in time as he stumbled for the third time. She dragged him towards the bed, setting him down, only to find he was unconscious.Removing his hand that was still gripping his side, she grimaced. "This looks awful." The injury wasn't that deep, and it wasn't something he wouldn't be able to heal from, but it stunk.Arabella wondered if it was normal for an injury that wasn't even up to an hour old to stink. Walking to the bathroom, she filled a bowl with water, graspe

Sandro's condition hadn't improved; if anything, it had worsened. Arabella doubted it was due to the injury, which had already closed up two days since it happened. She had returned only yesterday to the room and found him sprawled on the bathroom floor.Initially, she thought he had stopped breathing, given his lack of movement, until she checked his pulse. Though she wouldn't admit it, she felt relieved. As much as she detested his behavior towards her, she was relieved he wasn't dead."I hate this," Sandro groaned, snapping Arabella from her thoughts. His lashes fluttered against his cheeks, and he opened his eyes slowly.Frowning, he murmured, "Bella?""Yes," Arabella said, placing her palm on his forehead to check his temperature. "How do you feel today?""Worse," Sandro mumbled, attempting to sit up. His eyes stayed on hers for a long time, making Arabella conscious of what she was wearing. She had opted for one of Sandro's T-shirts as she hadn't had time to do laundry. Now, she

TWO DAYS LATERThinking all plans would come easily as they were all gathered together, however, the reverse was the case. It was even more difficult to agree with all that was said, especially since it was the last day.Still, there was no attacker in sight, and it didn't seem like anything was going to happen. It was almost noon, and Arabella, Thalia, Elisha, Janice, and Annalise were in the meeting room.Some members were on guard, watching for any activity to report to those inside. However, Sandro, Arabella didn't know where he had gone. He said nothing to her and left the house."He should be here; at least, he's the alpha, and many of these people can listen to him," Elisha said, eyeing the other members in the room, acting as if they were bothered by the current situation."They listen to Bella, too," Thalia said. "She should say something to them."Say something? Arabella didn't know exactly what she was going to say. They weren't the phoenixes, and even though Orga and the r

Goodness!Sandro pressed the gas pedal, driving over the speed limit. Relieved that the road was empty, he was aware that if someone had been there, a collision was inevitable, and he wouldn't have cared.His sole focus was reaching Arabella."Is she foolish enough to go to that guy without telling me?" Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.He had only left to settle some business deal with another pack that he had an alliance with, and it was to get them to fight in the war with him.Of course, he had done all he needed to do, albeit too late.Arabella, that he was trying his best to protect, wasn't even in the villa anymore.His phone rang, and glancing at the screen, he swiped to answer. "If you harm her, Paolo, I'll make sure you regret it. I won't hesitate to take you down with me!""She's still alive, De Luca. Why not come see her condition for yourself?" Paolo replied.Just then, a scream erupted from Arabella, further unsettling Sandro. "Let her go,"