I wake up, my hands ache, a silent reminder of the events of the previous night. Nickolas has removed the blindfold, but my hands remain bound to the headboard above me. I turn my head to the other side of the bed, searching for any sign of him, but it's empty.  A pang of emptiness washes over me, though I can't say I'm entirely surprised. I knew deep down that waking up to an empty bed was inevitable after last night. Part of me longs for his presence, even as I remind myself that his touch was born out of duty rather than desire. Tears well up in my eyes as I grapple with the harsh reality of my situation.  I sniffle softly, a single tear escaping as I come to terms with the fact that this is now my life—a life filled with longing and unfulfilled desires. I wish things could be different, but I know deep down that t

I walk to the dinner table with Lily holding a bowl of salad. She has just finished making dinner, and we are about to sit down and eat. Luckily for me, Nickolas didn't tear into me earlier, as I feared he might. Instead, he simply glared at me for a few seconds before leaving with Eric to go somewhere. Lily assures me they should be arriving back any minute, and I'm surprised to hear her mention that Nickolas will also be joining us for dinner.   Speaking of the devils, I hear them enter the house and catch a whiff of their scent as they approach Lily and me. Despite my relief, a sense of uncertainty still lingers as I wonder what Nickolas's mood will be like during dinner. Eric walks over to Lily and pulls her into a deep kiss upon reaching the dinner table. I can't help but smile as I watch them; they are so happy and in love. My cousin wasn't unlucky like me. Despite having a lycan for a mate, her fate seems much brighter than mine.  

NICKOLAS I twirl my bourbon glass, captivated by the intricate dance of ice cubes within, each movement offering a temporary respite from the weight of reality pressing down on me. Shifting my gaze upwards, I observe Amelia sleeping soundly in her bed a few feet away. Her golden locks cascade over the pillow, and a subtle pout graces her lips, an endearing sight that unexpectedly tugs at my heartstrings. Images flash through my mind with vivid intensity, relentless and unyielding. I envision my hands entwined in her hair, gripping it with a fervor matching the intensity of my desire. The thought of her lips wrapped around my hard-on ignites a surge of arousal coursing through me. I moisten my lips, hoping the bourbon hasn't dulled the taste of her juices lingering on them. I hadn’t intended to punish her at Eric’s, but seeing her moving to sit next to him after spending the whole dinner like they were a couple on a date, I lost it.

I kiss Beatrice goodbye as we prepare to part ways. She mentions she's headed to the flower shop to pick up flowers for Nickolas's mom before visiting her grave. I hadn't realized it was the anniversary of his mother's death. I inquire about Nickolas's mom, and Beatrice doesn’t hesitate to share. She reveals that Nickolas's mother, Holly, was a human sex slave who was adored by Nickolas's father. Beatrice explains that Holly vanished for a time, and 18 years later, Nickolas was brought to the castle by Leo, who was searching for his mate worldwide. It's speculated that Holly may have realized the dangers of being pregnant before Jane and escaped to her home in England. This revelation sheds light on why Nickolas has a British accent.As much as I consider accompanying Beatrice to visit Holly's grave, I ultimately decide against it. Nickolas and I share no semblance of a relationship. He would probably throw a fit if he saw me visiting his mother’s grave. Moreover,

With a ferocious leap, I pounce on Adam, bringing him crashing to the ground beneath me. Ignoring his screams of pain, I sink my teeth into his shoulder blades, tearing through flesh and muscle with relentless force. His cries grow louder, his pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears as I continue to savage him without remorse. Adam's screams reach a fever pitch as I bite down harder, determined to inflict as much damage as possible. With a savage twist, I rip his arm from his body, blood gushing from the wound and splattering across my fur. A grin spreads across my muzzle as I gaze down at my handiwork, relishing in the sight of Adam's blood staining my claws and coating my face. But I'm far from finished. With a predatory gleam in my eyes, I prepare to unleash further torment upon him, tearing him limb from limb until he's nothing but a broken shell of a man, begging for the mercy he'll never receive.  Adam bo