ROSALINE’S POV:This cannot be. This has to be some sort of dream.Why couldn’t I move? Was it fear? Or possibly paralysis?I was surrounded by darkness. There is this uncomfortable chill that goes up my spine, and goosebumps erupt all over my skin. My eyes searched around, but there was nothing to be seen for miles. It was as though I had fallen into an abyss. I could not even see the ground I was standing on; all I saw was darkness.But all that changed in a second. I was still surrounded by darkness when a mirror suddenly appeared before me. I couldn’t take my eyes off my reflection, maybe because I was too scared to. The woman staring back at me was so different and so scary. She wore a long white gown that pooled around her feet. Her hair was down and messy; some even stuck to her face because she was sweating profoundly. But that was not the only thing that terrified me most about her.No.It was the smile on her face. It almost stretched to her ears, and the look in her eyes wa
DAMIEN'S POV:The flames burned my skin as I ascended the stairs on all fours. My head felt dizzy, and the smoke became intoxicating, but I couldn't stop now. It wasn't even an option.I didn't care if I got burned alive, as long as my daughter got out of here alive.I knew making her room fireproof would be a good decision. Back when I was talking with the architects that would be handling this house, I told them I wanted one room, which would be my kid's room, to be fireproof while the rest of the house would be bulletproof.I did so because I knew kids could be careless and cause havoc. That was why I had to get Rosaline out first; she was the one in more danger. I never once thought that the entire house would be set ablaze. What the hell could have possibly caused this?Well, that wasn't important right now; all that matters is getting my daughter out of here.I jumped over the flames and braced myself to kick down the flaming door.Pain shot up my entire body as I kicked down th
DAMIEN'S POV:"ROSALINE!"She was nowhere to be seen. It was only a few minutes ago that reinforcements, along with my mother, arrived. My first order was for them to take Ariana to our former home and guard her at all costs.And then I gave my second order.Find my queen.We searched the rubble and the forest surrounding my home, but there was nothing. I heard footsteps coming up from behind me and immediately recognized them as my mother's."I dreamt of her; I saw her immediately, and I passed out. She was being tortured by someone, but I couldn't find out who it was," I said, my fists clenched in rage."It was your wolves calling out to each other; they showed you where she is," I heard my mother say as I continued to search the premises, for only the heavens knows what. I don't know why I got this feeling that there was a clue lying around here. Somewhere."What am I supposed to do with the image of a torture room? It could be anywhere," I snapped, picking up a piece of burnt wood
ROSALINE'S POV:Pain.That was all I felt. Nothing more, nothing less. I didn't have the slightest bit of strength; even breathing was a mighty chore. There were times I was able to open my eyes, but even that took a lot of energy from me.When my eyelids managed to part, my vision was impaired, and it hurt when you tried to squint my eyes. There was nothing but a bright light. I would occasionally hear some sounds, but the ringing that had been going on in my ears was the loudest; it wouldn't stop. It was driving me mad.I don't think I can take it anymore.How did I even get here? One moment I was staring at my father while my husband's dream house burned to ashes with them inside, and the next I was enveloped in nothing but darkness. The scariest and most hurtful part about all of this is that I don't even know if they made it out alive.No. They had to. My heart and brain couldn't comprehend them not escaping that fire.When I woke up in this cell, I opened my eyes to see my fathe
ROSALINE’S POV:They say there is a level of pain one can stop feeling—a certain line. Once a person crosses that line, it could mean that every nerve in their body has been destroyed, they are unable to send this pain to the brain, or they are dead.I think I am a little bit of both.It was a miracle that my nose was still working, even though it is now broken. It was incredibly hard for me to breathe; it was so strenuous. I am just tired of it, and this smell? God, I hate this smell. I never knew something of mine could smell so bad, and yes, I mean my blood. It splattered on the majority of the floor and had become the new paint for the walls.How long have I been down here? I have no idea. There were no windows, no sunlight, and no fresh air. Just my recycled oxygen keeps me alive. It was hard for me to count the number of days I have been trapped down here; all I know is that Lucian came and went as he pleased. Once he felt like I had suffered enough, he would wipe his hands and
DAMIEN’S POV:“Just kill me,” Gio said, spitting out the blood that filled his mouth. I watched his pathetic form with disgust and honestly almost wanted to grant his wish. I had his wrists and ankles chained to the wall; his chest and face bled profusely, but I was just getting started. My men watched in silence, and I know sometimes a few of them tried to be strong and hide their disgust, but I was only just getting started.Tonight, I was going to teach them how to bleed a wolf dry while keeping him alive.Not even someone like Giovani deserves just death. No, he deserves all the pain this world has to offer before I send him to the other side for the devil to handle for all eternity.I instructed one of our guards to hand me my brass knuckles, and he shakily did. While I put it on, I circled Giovani and sized him up. From childhood, I never liked him; all of this is just a way to release all the pent-up anger and resentment I have been building up for the past two decades and a ha
DAMIEN’S POV:All sixty-seven of my men armed themselves to the teeth while we waited for reinforcements; they should be here any moment from now. I checked the vans and cars to make sure that all the snipers were locked and loaded, as well as our backup weapon, the bazooka. I know this baby could be a bit extreme, but it can be useful.“I want to come too,” a voice I knew all too well said, and I froze.“No, you can't, Ariana.” I looked at the little girl as she pouted her lips, and tears brimmed her eyes. I sighed and picked her up in my arms. I wiped her tears away and added, “It’s too dangerous. You can get hurt.”“No, I won’t. We are going to save Mommy, and I can help; I want to be there. And if you are with me, then no one will hurt me,” she said, and I admired how much faith she had in me, but I was not God.“Princess, I need you to understand that what we are about to do is very dangerous. Everyone here is aware that they might not come back. And they are all big enough to pro
ROSALINE’S POV:Whatever look I had on my face must have amused him, because he chuckled dryly. He began to walk up too slowly, and I screamed at my body to move, but it wouldn’t. not because I was scared, but because I physically could not move.As if he could read my mind, he raised his hand and said, “Don’t bother. Most of your bones are broken, and even though the doctor gave you a shitload of painkillers, it does not exactly stop you from dying if a bone shifts and punctures the wrong organ.” He explained.Now he stood right beside me on the bed, and my heart felt as though it would burst when he sat beside me. That was when I got a good look at Him and his eyes. The damage that I had done all those years ago to his eye is still very evident to this day.Instead of a dark brown iris, there was nothing but white. He must have noticed that I was staring at my marvellous work done on him because he pointed at it and said, “Ah, yes. My eye. It healed, but I never got to see it again,