[Rosalie’s POV]I walk slowly, keeping pace with the tiny boy beside me. He squeezes my hand almost as though he’s afraid that I will run away if he were to let me. Behind us, Diego walks slowly, taking in the scene, and I can almost feel the desire that he is radiating.Meeting again was never part of my plan, nor was getting close to that child that he and Kate created. So how was it possible that this was happening right now?‘He wants a proper mommy.’ Hana murmurs, letting her emotions flow into me. ‘But don’t get his hopes up, Rosalie.’‘I know.’ I respond, looking down at Landon as he skips happily.Just seeing him so happy over simply being beside me makes my heart ache because it makes me certain that Kate treated him terribly. How was it possible for a mother to be so awful to her own child?As this thought hits me, I think of Geo being alone with Gil while he waits for me. I was sure that he too would love some ice cream, but my wanting to keep distance from Diego made me ma
[Rosalie’s POV]When we arrive at the ice cream shop, the street just outside of it is empty, aside from children eating ice cream cones.“Where?” I gasp, my heart rate kicking up. “Where did they...”Moving forward, I feel my panic building as I picture Diego taking off with Geo in tow.“No.” I whisper, continuing to take in the street around me. “He wouldn’t. He definitely wouldn’t…”“Rosalie.”Gil’s voice is soft and comforting, as is the hand that touches my shoulder.“Look.”Swallowing down the knot that has formed in my throat, I shift my gaze in the direction that Gil is pointing so that I can see Diego standing at the counter with Geo and Landon cradled in each arm. To my surprise, Geo even has his arm wrapped around Diego’s neck, and if I look closely enough, he wears a small smile.Instantly, I feel my heart squeeze as I realize that if Diego and I weren’t from such different worlds, what I was seeing would have already been a regular thing.‘Don’t start to feel bad for your
[Rosalie's POV]“One.”I swallow down the knot that is beginning to form in my throat.“Two.”My body comes alive in anticipation of the chase that is about to come.“Three.”I burst forward, throwing myself into the labyrinth ahead of me while the blare of trumpets ring out around me.Together with many others, I rush forward in hopes of gaining my freedom and escaping doom. From this point on it is every man and woman for themselves and if you dare get in anyone's way they'll trample you.“You better run and hide, because when I catch you, you're mine, little criminal.”I don't look back as the cold voice echoes around me. It causes my heart to leap and my stomach to churn while I continue to move further into the labyrinth ahead in hopes of evading capture.This was how it worked at the auctions. You were sold to the highest bidder, but before you went to them, you were given the opportunity for freedom. Once you are sold, you are sent to the labyrinth and set free. Then it all cam
[Rosalie’s POV]“Rosalie, sweetie, this is your father,” my mother cooes, urging me from behind her. “Come out and say hello.”In the beginning, life wasn't so bad. I lived a modest life with a loving mother who worked hard to give me the things that I needed. It wasn't bad and we had each other, but even that wasn't enough and eventually led to the start of a dark spiral into despair, lies, deceit, and a struggle for power.I was born to a maid who lived in the countryside. This particular maid fell in love with a handsome warrior who just so happened to have a secret identity that he never revealed to her. And because of that, I didn’t meet my father until I was five years old. All I knew of him were the stories that my mother told, and although I hoped one day he would return and save us, I knew deep down that he wouldn't, and I had in the end convinced myself that he was a liar who tricked my gullible mother.Slowly, I began to move while clutching my mother’s skirt so that I had
[Rosalie’s POV]“You're shaking like a limb,” Diego chuckles, finding amusement in my fear. “What exactly do you fear I will do? Do you think I will fuck you here in the open for all to watch? Or do you think I will kill you?”Opening my mouth, I prepare to respond with the latter but remain silent, knowing my response didn't matter.“Just do it!” I hiss, closing my eyes. “Why waste time taunting when you've already won?”For a moment, Diego doesn't speak, and all that can be heard are groans and guttural snarls that indicate that the hunt is over and all those who have been auctioned lost. And when he continues to remain silent, I open my eyes to find that he is looking down at me with disgust in his eyes as he too listens to what is happening around us.“Is that what you want?” He suddenly asks, taking me by surprise. “For me to rape you right here and now?”My eyes widen as I take in each and every one of his words, which are laced with venom. Wasn't that why he bought me so that h
[Rosalie’s POV]My first week in the Moon Storm pack was exactly as I expected it to be. I was treated like nothing more than a pet, as Diego promised.When I wasn't leashed to his side, I was in a cage in his room, where I had to bear witness to everything from him fucking to his daily routine—wake up, workout, shower, disappear for a few hours, return, and repeat—and even his nights alone, where he seemed to be haunted by unseen demons when he tried to sleep.It was always the same no matter how many days passed, and I couldn't help but wonder why exactly I was brought here.To this point, he didn't say another word about my being a tool, which made me question if what he said from the start was true or not, but by day seven, instead of leaving after finishing his morning routine, Diego came to get me.Remaining silent, I wait until my collar is put in place before getting up so I won’t be dragged.“You're obedient this morning,” he murmurs in satisfaction. “Are you trying to get on
[Diego’s POV]Women are all the same. From the day I was born until now. They bat their eyes at you, pretending that they’re so innocent, and when you fall for their tricks and they have you in their grasp, their real colors come out.It’s disgusting and annoying, and it pisses me off anytime I see it. Even now, staring at the shaking and sobbing woman in front of me, I feel the need to kill beginning to rise, but I can’t. Not yet.When I joined the auctions, I knew what I was doing, and I knew that this woman would be there. That was the only reason I bothered attending. What other reason could there truly be? An auction involving nothing but criminals who all deserved to die. Why would anyone waste even a penny on them? But this woman was different from the rest of them, and she possessed something that I needed.However, looking at her now, sitting there pretending to be hurt because I made her show her true intentions when she lied, I didn’t see anything special. From her long whi
[Diego’s POV]“This annoying fabric needs to go,” I murmur, hooking a claw in the slip that Chanel wears and tugging it off. “Much better.”Once it is out of the way, I begin to work my way down Chanel’s throat to her breasts, where I stop to bite and lick at her pierced nipples. Groans of gratification escape her as her hands wrap around the back of my head, urging me on.Growling, I grab both in one hand and pin them above her head.“You know the rules,” I warn, sitting up and fixing my gaze with her dark one.“No touching,” she pouts. “I’m aware of that rule, but you’re letting me touch you now,” she continues, tightening her legs around me. “So what is the difference?”“The difference is if you don’t want to fucking listen, you can get the hell out of here, and I’ll find another woman to warm my bed.”“No, no,” she sighs, rolling her eyes. “So touchy. Is that woman pissing you off so much?”“Who?” I ask, not wanting to think about the woman who was most likely crumbling in the hol