ROYCE. My heart thuds as I turn sharply to look at Skyla as gasps flitter through the room. ‘You raped me.’ Those words echo violently on repeat in my mind. There are tears in her eyes as she stares at me, “You forcefully marked me…” “How is that possible? Child, think, you were both happy. I was witness to that when you came to America!” Grandad says, but I know it’s futile. She shakes her head, clutching her neck. “No. Even now, do you guys not see the state of my dress?! The state I’m in… He did this to me! He tried to assault me again. Aleric protected me.” Her voice breaks and she's clearly distraught. Fuck. To be accused of that… It’s… “Skyla!” Charlotte shouts, shocked, but I raise my finger, shaking my head at her to remain silent. “What have you done to her?” I hiss, squeezing Aleric’s neck. My claws dig into him, the smell of his blood only fuelling my rage. It overpowers anything else and I have never felt the intent to kill someone so strongly as I do right now.

LEO. That was a fucking shitshow. We’ve all returned to Alejandro’s mansion, and Sky’s gone storming to her bedroom. But it’s being fucking watched and right now, Kataleya and Azura are with her. The door to the bedroom is open and I’ve also wired up some cameras, which the women will keep an eye on to see if she does any weird shit. I don’t trust her unattended, not at all… there was some fucking communication that the bastard had with her before he left. Delsanra’s busy casting spells around the place, although I don’t know how strong they will be. I mean, what went down at the venue made It fucking clear that there is bigger shit involved. Raihana and Chris are at the coven with the Arden twins, with four of my most trusted men. Alejandro also sent some of his own men, including Azura’s brother Atlas. Catherine and Charlotte are also here since Winona asked them to come and with everything going on, I think her mom needs the support. Ken’s in the fucking cells here at this p

ROYCE. It isn’t hard to find where Aleric is being held. The power that I can feel radiating from the northern side is intense and when I burst through the entrance of a hallway similar to the one where I was held, I can smell him. Past the witches that are watching him, and despite the commotion, as some try to stop me and others on edge at the sound of Raihana’s scream that travels through the halls, the emotions and nerves are heightening. I come to an abrupt halt, raising my hand to show them I’m not here to fight, but what truly gets to me is the fact that nothing is out of place. Nothing is going on here. Aleric is simply sitting there, past the barriers that hold him hostage, with his head in his hands. “Royce Arden, surrender!” Magdalene’s voice comes from behind me. Even the sound of her approaching was silent. I glance back at the woman that stands in the entrance but doesn’t respond, before looking back at Aleric, who now raises his head. Curiosity in his eyes. Wha

SKYLA.Chris is dead.The voices are a blur as they all try to hold things together.The emotions that are seeping off everyone are overwhelming. Giving birth to a restlessness that I cannot get rid of.I can still see Mama Mari’s face when she learned about her daughter losing her mate…The way Heaven froze before she ran from the room…The way Tatum’s eyes filled with tears before he walked to his Mama’s side and hugged her, telling her to stay strong…Trying to be the man of the family now that his father was gone.He shouldn’t have to. He’s still young.Rayhan’s pain, Sienna’s… Ahren’s… Dad’s…The pain in my chest is becoming suffocating, and it takes my all not to shift into my Lycan and let it all out.This is happening because of me… I sided with Aleric and because of me, he was able to do this…I’m no fucking Lycan. I’m a fucking excuse for a werewolf.Useless.Pathetic.I slowly walk up the stairs, unable to take any more of the painful atmosphere of the room downstairs. I see

ROYCE. I’m shaking, and it’s not from the injuries but the broken state of her wrists, legs and ankles. The darkness disappeared the moment she fell unconscious and Delsanra’s magic slams through. “Royce, you're hurt!” She murmurs as she begins healing me, but can’t they see she’s hurt more? “Heal her,” I say quietly as I pick up her slender hand. She’s broken several bones, and her wrist is mangled. This is the result of her fighting it. “We can’t expect her to fight it on her own.” My eyes sting, and the pain in my chest as I see her like this is killing me. I wish her pain was mine. Why her? There’s silence as Kiara and Scarlett rush in and both women and Alejandro kneel beside Skyla. Kiara’s hands go to both of us as I gently snap my goddess’s bones back into place. “She’s trying to fight it,” Alejandro says quietly, and I nod. “At what cost?” I ask, looking into his eyes. It hurts too much seeing her like this. “We need to do something else, we can’t let her carry on li