Farren's Point of View I knew something was wrong the moment we drove into the estate. My mother stood on the porch. Foot tapping. Eyes narrowed in slits. Arms crossed over her chest. Benicio stood a ways behind her. He refused to look anywhere but at the car. Yes, something was definitely wrong. When I came back from my years-long trip, as they had put it later on, no one had come out to greet me. I had to get out and find them one by one. The house had been foreign and strange. But they had remained in their designated spots. Refused to come to greet me at the door when they knew I was coming. "What did you do now?" Louisa asked with an exasperated sigh. I glared at her but slid out of the car. The lingering fear from my stalker had vanished. Dulled into a smooth rock that sank to the bottom of my stomach. Seeing them out on the porch, there was a different kind of fear. Had Priamos passed? Or Nerezza? Or any one of her mates? The thought was stifling. Brought new heights to my
Camilo's Point of ViewGetting back inside the mansion without anyone spotting me took more out of me than I had thought. If someone saw me, they would tell mama in a heartbeat. Sometimes I wondered who truly ran this operation. The woman was formidable. Strong-willed. The best mother on this side of the planet. But she was also nosey. Judgemental. Strict. And sometimes I wondered if she still saw me as a child to be scolded. That's why I snuck out. Snuck back in. Tried not to make a single sound as I walked down the hallway.Some part of me got angry at the fact that my men didn't notice me enter. If I could move about so easily, their don, then who was to say someone else couldn't? At least my secret for the night was safe. I wasn't in the mood to explain to my mother why I had gone out. Or wanted to tell her that I had found my mate. That conversation would go over difficult.Reaching the top of the stairs, I took in a breath. Steadied my hand on my knees. I might have been the bo
Farren's Point of ViewSteam billowed out of the shower as I stepped out. Trailed behind me when I walked to the mirror above the basin. There was something rather soothing to having scalding water hit you with force. Massage away some of the lingering tension. But it couldn't wash away the dread I had for the rest of my stay here.It was no secret that my mother had cancer. That she refused treatment. We kept it quiet, though. Acted as if nothing was out of place. At night, I would bring her food when the servants weren't there. Hurry a bowl to her when she wanted to throw up.Cancer was a horrid thing. Even more so to wolves, seeing as we healed much faster than humans. Our bodies would cave in sooner than humans' as well. Blame our genetics. A blight on our race. I was here to help my mother. The last thing I could do for the woman who had given birth to me. Nerezza had been more of a mother than Elizabeth ever had. When my father left her, she never quite recovered. Or so Priamos
Farren's Point of View My mother had glared at me when I had come down the stairs. She had been waiting with Benicio and Louisa. Leon stood more to the back. Had his arms crossed over his chest. Glared silently at Camilo walking behind me. He looked less menacing than my mother or brother. But still not pleased that his baby sister was going with his boss somewhere. For all they knew, I could be kidnapped and murdered. Louisa was the first to speak up. Made her voice heard when no one asked for her opinion. "I don't think this is right, Benicio. She should stay home and tend to her mother for us. That's why we called for her. Not to run around with," her eyes swept up Camilo's body as she sneered. "Him." "If you simply called her to tend to your mother, why not just hire someone qualified to look after her. I pay you more than enough to sustain it, Benicio. But if money is the issue, let me increase your salary. I only want to help my dear mate." Camilo said from behind me. Glanci
Farren's Point of View My lungs squeezed out every bit of air I had inside of them. The pit in my stomach grew into a black hole. This was what nightmares were made of. Without thinking, I let go of his hand. Leaned a bit back so as to not be any closer to him than necessary. This was the worst possible outcome of all. Camilo found out about Rafael before I had gotten the chance to flee. From the look in his eyes, I knew what he had in mind wasn't pretty. Or acceptable anywhere else but in Lupitum. "How did you find out?" I breathed. I could feel my eyes widen. Hands tremble on my lap. The moment we had had before this was shattered. Gone with the wind. There was no getting it back and the minuscule amount of honesty he had given me was shattered. Camilo smirked. Tossed a grape into his mouth with one easy movement. Swallowed it down after chewing a few times. This was the man who controlled this city. The man who could have people vanish in the middle of the night. And I had cros
Farren's Point of View"Benicio!" I screamed as I threw open the doors to the Amador mansion. Camilo was behind me. Trailed in lazily with his hands in his pockets. I had ended the picnic when he had tried to play his mind games. Demanded he took me home. Like a gentleman, he had, which was very out of character. Or so I assumed. Camilo looked like the type of man to take what he wanted and never apologize for it. If he had wanted to keep me there against my will, he would have.Flying to my left, I stormed into the break room. Their den of sin. All eyes turned to me. Camilo followed silent but observing. There was no doubt in my mind that he was smirking whilst walking. Took in the room of men and thought to himself how powerful he was. How much control he had over all these lives.I didn't care. Trudged through the mess of men who gawked freely at me. "Benicio, I know you are here! Come out!" I screamed again and rounded a poker table. Men stopped throwing their cards out. Turned t
Farren's Point of ViewMy mother was back in her bed by the time I arrived. Leaned against her headboard, a book clutched between her hands. Her reading glasses sat on the tip of her nose. Made her look older than she actually was. Or maybe that was just the cancer eating at her body. Either way, every day I spent here she changed little by little. Her hair had started falling out. Thinning. She wore a scarf over her head for most days. Tucked the hair into a bun the few other times. You could see her scalp by now. The raggedness of her split ends. She was nothing compared to the woman I had come to know as I grew up. Knocking gently on her door, I took a step inside. Her eyes roamed up her glasses. Peeked over the rim at me. A small smile tugged her lips. Showed just enough teeth that I knew at least that hadn't changed. They were still white. The largest front teeth still had a slight chip in them. "I didn't expect you back so early. Was everything alright?" She asked. Looked at
Farren's Point of ViewNone of my brothers spoke to me once they got home. Barely nodded my way and headed into the dining room. Only Nicolas smiled encouragingly. Or tried to make it seem that way. All their shoulders were slumped forward. Hollowness had crept into their cheeks. I was their last priority. My confrontation from earlier was trivial to them now.Benicio had specks of blood on his shirt. On his neck. I expected as much. Their line of work was a bloody one. My brothers were murderers. Plain and simple. That was no secret. But to see it for myself was different than imagining it. Thinking of it. As if those specks slapped me across the face. Forced my attention to them. It made my perception of this city and this family slip into an even darker shade of grey.As always, Louisa flocked to her husband. Clung to his arm whilst sending me a glare as they passed. I gripped the banister tightly between my fingers. Felt my earlier rage rise slightly. Then I remembered not being