(Brielle’s POV)“Help!”My heart hammered in panic inside my chest, beating so fast it hurt that when I opened my eyes, I could not breathe. I got up in bed, clutching the collar of my shirt and breathing hard as I looked around. It took me a while to realize where I was, and then I recalled we arrived late at night at the headquarters, did some paperwork for our report about Monty and Raven, and separated ways. Only Giles remained in the camp since he had no family to come home to. When I arrived home, I went straight to my bedroom, curled my body in my bed, and cried in silence. Closing my eyes, I breathed in and out, relaxing my heart and convincing myself it was only a dream. I squeezed my eyes tighter to remember the details, but I only got bits, and everything about it was vague. The only vivid memory of that nightmare was the tormenting screaming of voices, and I recognized one, my own.I hugged my knees for a while, and when I thought I was ready to face my parents, I clim

(Cole’s POV)“You’re crazy!”Lucilla snorted, jumping fluidly to the tree branch and sitting beside me, not minding that we were almost on top of a 100-foot-tall tree. We were done scanning the woods, a task we have been doing since the hunters of the Order of the Orion left while our siblings were busy clearing their things. Kione and Xian spent the entire night in the infirmary last night, placing their important documents, equipment, and medical specimen of their experiment in the boxes and bags. Aarush and Ichiro did the same thing with their computer equipment. Despite that, no one complained, just brokenhearted about our sudden plan to depart San Rafael.“You should not have let her go,” Lucilla muttered quietly when I didn’t say anything.“You confused me, Lucilla. The first time you saw her, you disliked her, and now you’re telling me I should not have let her go,” I smirked.“Yeah. It was before you stupidly completed your union,” She rolled her eyes and then her lips curved

(Brielle’s POV)“Brielle!”I growled but had to stop, to turn around to face mom. “What else do you want from me?” I cried, suppressing a scream, but my heart got stuck in my throat.She looked around the hallway, then grabbed my hand as if I were a toddler running away from her.“Your dad and I want nothing-”“Stop it, mom,” I cut in. “Don’t give me those crap, telling me you want nothing but the best for me. By what? Agreeing with dad and letting me marry Bryce?”“Bryce is a good man,” She muttered in a hushed tone but looked like she was holding her patience at me. “He will take care of you.”“I don’t need someone to take care of me, mom. I’m very much capable of doing that for myself.” My nostrils flared as I breathed hard, brushing off her hand.Her eyebrows knitted, and her eyes narrowed. “Is this because of the Kirkwood?”I cringed like my mom had stabbed me with the truth. Whether it was Gen or me, I thought we would be the first in the daughters of the officials to react this

(Brielle’s POV)A chance of a lifetime…The waves lazily lapped on the shore, and strangely, it was like a piece of music encouraging me to run away from home. I lifted my hand, touching my neck, remembering Cole’s bites. I closed my eyes, thinking how glorious our lovemaking was that it connected not only our bodies but also our hearts and souls. I licked my lips, recalling the sweet taste of his blood.A chance of a lifetime…Sighing, I opened my eyes, thinking of what I wanted because I did not want anything, only Cole. To everyone living on this island, they thought being born as Gabriel’s daughter was a privilege. If only they knew that my birthright was a curse, already dictating my fate on my first cry to the day I die.If Bryce didn’t ask for my hand for marriage, I knew another man would pop into my father’s office to propose to me, not because they love or care for me, but because marrying me would be an opportunity to step up in the Order. What I didn’t understand was how o

(Brielle’s POV)“Let me drive,” Gen said.She beat my hand in opening the car’s handle, stopping me from opening the door on the driver’s seat as soon as the ferry crossed the island. When I didn’t move, she blinked, showing me her puppy eyes while her mouth was downturned.“Don’t do that, Gen. You looked weird,” I chuckled, giving her the key.I walked quietly to the other side of the car, hoping to shush my heart from hammering in my chest and creating a deafening sound as I thought of how to escape later. I wished to tell Gen about it, but it was better that she didn’t know anything. If I tell her my plan, she will surely share it with Kione, and what will stop her from mentioning it to her brother?“Find me an ATM first,” I reminded Gen as I entered the passenger’s seat.She grinned amusedly. “Of course, rich kid,” she teased me. “God, if my father would do that, I’d be ecstatic. The last time he transferred money into my account was for my tuition in College… and that was… ages a