When his mask cracks Novels & Stories

And he didn’t know which mask would crack first—the one he wore at the office, or the one Evan forced onto him every night. Either way, Adrian was certain of one thing: when it broke, it wouldn’t just be him who paid the price.

Then I glanced up and froze… All the masked men had the same crystals in their hands, and, at once, they all smashed them against the ground.

“You’re reaching. This is pathetic.” “Is it?” I tilted my head. “Because I think you know exactly how close I am to pulling off your mask. This persona you’ve spent so long building, the loyal soldier, the obedient friend, the perfect mate-in-waiting. It’s starting to crack.”

He stopped, his gaze fixed on a particular line, his eyes unmoving. When he finally looked up, the man who looked back at us was a stranger. The mask of the Alpha had shattered completely. His eyes were no longer sharp or commanding; they were wet, shimmering with unshed tears that caught the light of the candles. He looked old. He looked broken.

With a brusque motion, he tore off the black mask that had always hidden his face. It was the first time I had seen the true face of the Cursed Alpha since I arrived here. He always wore that mask, a barrier that separated him from the world. But now, with his eyes fixed on me, the truth was exposed. His skin was marked by dark spots, deep scars, and burns that deformed a part of his face—the marks of the fire I believed had taken his life.

“I can’t stand him.” The words hung in the air, raw, stripped of pretense. For once, the mask was cracked. And though I should have let it pass without response, my heart—still heavy, still rancid with unspoken things—tightened at the sound.

He sighed and brushed his hand in his hair the other hand resting in his pocket and he stopped smiling and said in a deep voice, “Seeing you now is risking my life, you know my first name and for the first time I am not afraid to take such a step.” He turned to me and this time he looked straight in my eyes and he continues, “I will try and come back here to see you. But if I can’t and you can recognize me without my mask when we meet once again, then I won’t hesitate to be yours forever. This I promise.”

he instructed, gesturing to the masks that were lying in front of us. "Dad, mine broke," I said, holding up the broken mask for him to see. "What the fuck did you do?" he asked, shaking his head in exasperation. But then, seeing the disappointment on my face, he softened. "Here, take mine," he said, handing me his mask. Gratefully, I took the mask from him and placed it over my face, feeling a sense of excitement building inside me as the lights in the room began to dim. Suddenly, a voice came over the speakers from the front of the room, and I felt a thrill of anticipation run through me.

I threw my shoulders back and walked past them, acting like my heartbeat wasn’t hammering like mad. Because I had seen the ugly truth showing through the cracks and weaknesses Mira prayed we’d ignore. And once you spot the cracks? Well, it’s just a countdown until the whole mask shatters.

respect. I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled slowly. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could wear this mask before something cracked.