LIANAI tried to focus on the story, but the sudden jumps and creepy visuals were too much. I found myself squeezing my eyes shut, gripping Zaylen's hand for comfort.He noticed and leaned in, his voice soft and concerned. "Liana, you don't have to force yourself to watch this. We can leave if it's too much."I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "No, it's okay. I want you to enjoy the movie. I will just... take a small nap in the meantime." I offered him a reassuring smile, though I wasn't sure how convincing it was.Zaylen hesitated, his worry evident. "Are you sure? I don't want you to be uncomfortable."I nodded, resting my head on his shoulder. "I am sure. I want you to have fun. Besides, you are with me, so I will be fine."He sighed, wrapping an arm around me. "Alright, but if it gets too much, just tell me, okay?""Okay," I whispered, closing my eyes and trying to relax. The sound of his steady breathing and the warmth of his embrace were comforting, helping me to ca
LIANAOnce again, our date was cut short by an emergency. The relaxed, happy atmosphere we had been enjoying shattered instantly. Zaylen's expression was a mixture of shock and urgency."I have to go to the hospital," he said, his voice strained."I am coming with you," I replied immediately, standing up and grabbing my things.He shook his head, his eyes filled with concern. "Liana, you don't have to. This is—""I insist," I said firmly, cutting him off."You don’t have to come," he said, his voice strained, but I shook my head firmly."You shouldn't be alone right now. I am coming with you," I insisted, a bad feeling gnawing at my gut. There was something in his eyes that made me uneasy, a tension I couldn’t ignore.Finally, he relented with a sigh. "Alright, let’s go."As we rushed to the car, a sense of dread settled in my stomach. Something about this felt wrong. I couldn't shake the bad feeling engulfing me.Zaylen's hands shook as he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles
LIANA“Who is this girl you brought, huh? Your Luna?” Ryan spat, his eyes blazing with fury. “You think you can take over my pack by pushing me to the side? You can never do that! I will never let you take my place!”I averted my gaze, trying to block out his hateful words, and looked back at Zaylen. His eyes were filled with pain and resignation, his shoulders slumped. My heart ached for him.“Zaylen, we need to get your wound treated,” I said softly, my voice trembling with concern. “Come on, let’s go outside.”He nodded solemnly, and we turned to leave. But as we moved toward the door, Ryan’s voice rose again, filled with venomous rage. “That bastard doesn’t deserve treatment! He doesn’t even deserve to live! He thinks—”I slammed the door shut behind us, not bothering to hear the rest of his rant. The venom in his words echoed in my mind, but I pushed it away. Ryan was clearly not in his right mind. His accusations were wild and filled with a madness that seemed to consume him.W
LIANAZaylen’s face was ashen, his eyes wide and filled with a fear I had never seen before. He looked traumatized, his whole body trembling as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him. The usual confidence, the strength I admired, was gone, replaced by an overwhelming vulnerability.I took his hand, feeling the cold sweat on his palm, and guided him gently towards the elevator. The silence between us was heavy, laden with unspoken fears and questions. We needed privacy, a place where no one else could hear the conversation that was about to unfold. The rooftop would provide the solitude we needed.The elevator ride was agonizingly slow. I kept glancing at Zaylen, his blank stare fixed on the floor, his breathing shallow and erratic. When we finally reached the rooftop, I led him to a chair and gently pressed him to sit. His body seemed to collapse into the seat, as if all his strength had left him.I knelt in front of him, placing my hands on his knees, trying to ancho
ZAYLENAfter I had pushed my dad off the railings, I went into deep denial. I orchestrated the entire event to seem like a tragic accident, even though my intention was cold and calculated. The truth was too heavy, so I altered my own memories to the point I genuinely believed it was an accident. I convinced myself that I was innocent, allowing myself to live without the crushing weight of guilt.Once he fell into a coma, I had to step up as the alpha. My dreams of escaping this suffocating life evaporated. The university I longed to attend became a distant fantasy. Instead, I settled for one in the neighborhood, a compromise that kept me shackled to my responsibilities. It felt like a punishment, a self-inflicted sentence for my crime. Every lecture, every mundane day at that local university was a reminder of the future I had sacrificed. It wasn’t all bad. I managed to take care of Noelle and myself, proving that we could survive without our father.I finished recounting my conf
ZAYLENThe rain started as a light drizzle, tapping gently on the roof of the hospital where Liana and I had been sitting. The sky, once a dull gray, now seemed to weep, urging us back inside. As we moved inside, Liana's words sliced through the sound of raindrops pattering against the windows."Zaylen, your dad must have been awake for more than a few days now."I turned to her, shock flooding my system. "What? How can you say that?""Think about it," she said, her voice calm but insistent. "A long-term coma patient shouldn't have the strength to even stand up, let alone throw a vase at you"A chill ran down my spine as her logic sunk in. "That... makes sense," I admitted, my mind racing back to the celebratory party weeks ago. I recalled Edgar's cryptic words, the ones that had seemed odd at the time but now fell into place with an unsettling clarity."Edgar," I said, almost to myself. "At the party, he said something strange. Something that didn't quite fit. He knew about what I
ZAYLENI hesitated, my mind filled with a thousand scenarios, none of them good. But still, I knew I had to go. I gave Liana a small nod, appreciating her support, and walked towards the hospital room where Ryan waited. She stayed outside, giving me a reassuring smile before I opened the door.Inside, Ryan looked calmer now, but he still maintained a noticeable distance, facing the window, watching the quiet rain. "You came back," he greeted, his voice even. "You got that bandaged, huh? Did you need stitches?" he asked, gesturing towards my head."Why are you asking that?" I replied, my voice sharper than I intended, each word laced with the frustration and confusion swirling inside me.Ryan scoffed, a sound filled with frustration and regret. He turned around and faced me. "I am sorry for hitting you. I got angry when you asked why I had to wake up from the coma and why I didn't just die."The memory of my words stung. A lump formed in my throat, and I fought to keep my voice stea
LIANA I sat at my desk in the bustling office, surrounded by the familiar sounds of typing, running coffee machines, phone calls, and coworkers chattering. My best friend, Lara, sat in the cubicle next to mine, her blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun as she focused on her computer screen. We had been friends since college, and I couldn't imagine working in this office without her. Her sweet, comforting words always made everything much easier. I glanced up from my work and caught a glimpse of my diligent boyfriend, James, walking toward me. He flashed me a quick smile before disappearing into his own cubicle across the room. James and I had been dating for over seven months now, and I was grateful that he also worked in the same office. I have heard people say it's a bad idea to date your colleague, but I, on the other hand, thought it was nice to have a beloved someone to share lunch breaks and vent about work with. There were so many topics we could relate to, and we just