RAINI LAVERNE I couldn't believe it when Bianca told me the masters wanted to see me. Fear coursed through me as I tried to imagine what they had in store for me. I looked over at Layla, who was now hiding in the hole again, and I wished I could have asked her for advice. But I knew I was on my own.As Bianca led me out of the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The halls were dimly lit, and there was an eerie silence that seemed to hang in the air. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.Finally, we arrived at a large door, and Bianca pushed it open, gesturing for me to enter. I stepped inside and found myself in a lavish room with expensive-looking furniture and an ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling. But my attention was quickly drawn to the two men sitting at a table in the center of the room.One of them was a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression on his face. The other was shorter, with a round face and a jovial expression that seemed
ZAVIER CROSS My heart was pounding in my chest as I watched the movements of the guards outside the abandoned warehouse. My team and I had been staking out the place for hours, waiting for the right moment to make our move. We couldn't afford to mess this up, not when there were lives at stake.Damon and Caleb were just as anxious as I was, their eyes fixed on the guards as we huddled behind a stack of crates. We knew we had to be patient, but the tension was almost unbearable.And then, as if by some stroke of luck, we saw an opening. The guard at the door walked away, leaving the entrance unguarded for just a moment. We seized our chance and made a run for it.But our luck was short-lived, as we soon ran into another guard. I tensed, ready for a fight, but to our surprise, the guard seemed friendly. He told us to go inside, that his boss wanted to see us.I exchanged a look with Damon and Caleb, but we didn't have much of a choice. We couldn't risk blowing our cover now. We followe
ZAVIER CROSSWhen we got home, I was skeptical of her claims, but I knew that since Giselle was my business partner, I could use that to my advantage and get more information out of her."So what's our plan now?" Caleb asked, breaking the silence in the room."We need to keep investigating," I said, "and I think Giselle is our best lead at the moment. We'll have to approach her carefully, though. We don't want to scare her off."Damon nodded in agreement, "I think we should split up and see if we can find any other leads while someone talks to Giselle. We need to cover as much ground as possible.""Sounds like a good plan," I said, "River, do you think you can keep an eye on Giselle and see if she leaves her house? Maybe follow her and see where she goes?"River nodded, "I can do that. But what should I do if she catches me?""Make up an excuse," Trinity Fay spoke up, "say you're lost or something. You're good at thinking on your feet.""Alright, I'll do my best," River said, determin
CALEB JOHNAs I approached River, I felt my heart racing in my chest. Seeing her always had that effect on me. I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous around her, despite how long we've been together."Hey," she said, smiling at me."Hey," I replied, trying to play it cool. "What are you doing out here?""I needed some fresh air," she said. "I've been cooped up inside all day."I nodded, taking in her appearance. She looked beautiful as always, but something was different about her today. She seemed more vibrant, more alive."I've been helping Zavier with the case," I said, wanting to impress her.River's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's amazing, Caleb. I didn't know you had it in you."I felt a twinge of disappointment at her comment. It was clear that she didn't have much faith in me, and I didn't blame her. I hadn't exactly been the most reliable guy in the past.But I was determined to change that. I wanted to prove to her that I could be someone she could depend on."I've
ZAVIER CROSSI stood nervously at the doorstep of the Rogue wolf family, my heart pounding in my chest. Damon was by my side, his jaw clenched tightly, indicating his own nervousness. The door creaked open, revealing a woman who looked at us with suspicion."What do you want?" she asked, her voice laced with caution.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "We're here to see Blake," I said, my voice firm and confident.The woman's eyes narrowed, and I could sense her wariness. "And who are you?" she asked, her tone challenging."I'm Zavier," I replied, stepping forward. "And this is Damon. We're friends of Blake."The woman studied us for a moment, her gaze flickering back and forth between Damon and me. "I don't know you," she said finally. "And I don't have any money to pay for his debt."I felt a surge of frustration and desperation wash over me. "We're not here for money," I said quickly. "We just need to see Blake. It's urgent."The woman hesitated, her eyes still fille
ZAVIER CROSS I sat in the living room with Damon, planning our approach to the kidnappers' hideout. We had to be careful, and I knew I had to go in alone to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. Caleb would stay outside, ready to provide backup, while Damon remained on standby, ready to spring into action if needed.River and Trinity wanted to help, but I knew it was too risky. I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to them. But they were persistent, and River even called me out for not letting them be a part of the plan because they were women. I couldn't help but laugh at her boldness. I smiled at River's tenacity, admiring her spunk. "Believe me, ladies, I would love nothing more than to have you by my side," I said, looking at both of them. "But this isn't a game. It's dangerous, and I can't risk your safety.""But we can handle ourselves," Trinity chimed in, crossing her arms."I know you can," I said, nodding. "But this isn't just about being able to fight. There ar
ZAVIER CROSS Grief mess with people a lot. I sat in my room, staring at nothing in particular, feeling an emptiness inside of me that I couldn't shake off. Nate's death weighed heavily on my conscience, and I couldn't help but feel responsible for it. He was my Gamma wolf, my friend, and now he was gone, taken from us too soon.I couldn't help but think about the times we spent together, the laughter we shared, and the bond we had as wolves. I remember when I first met him, he was so eager to join our pack, and I could see the fire in his eyes. He was ambitious, determined, and had a heart of gold. He reminded me of myself when I was his age, and I knew right away that he was going to be a valuable member of our pack.And now, he was gone, and I couldn't help but feel responsible. If I hadn't asked him to meet me at the steakhouse, maybe he would still be alive. Maybe I could have done something to protect him, but I failed. I failed him as his Alpha, and I failed him as his friend.
RAINI LAVERNEAs I stirred from my sleep, I couldn't believe that I was still here in this wretched place. It was like a bad dream that I couldn't shake off. As I slowly opened my eyes, I couldn't help but feel the heavy weight of my surroundings. I was trapped in this room, this prison, with no way out. Then, out of nowhere, Layla appeared from the hole behind the chest. She was like a breath of fresh air, someone I could talk to and share my thoughts with."Good morning, Raini," Layla said with a smile. "How did you sleep?""I slept alright, considering the circumstances," I replied, feeling grateful for her company.We started talking and I found myself opening up to her in a way I hadn't done in a long time. We talked about our lives before we were brought to this place and what we would do if we ever got out.My initial reaction was shock and surprise, but then I realized that I wasn't alone anymore. and I was relieved to have someone to talk to. It was like a breath of fresh ai