Iris' POVI sort of found my way back into the dungeon after passing out in Gustav's room. Not that I fainted on my own volition, but he had pressed the button on the device controlling the collar around my neck. Well, it wasn't exactly an explosive device as he had earlier said, it was a bluff to scare me into doing his budding. The collar induced electric shock into my brain, zapping me out immediately. Gustav thought I did a reverse healing spell that killed Lois. I was too shocked to answer anyone of his questions, neither was I strong enough to contest his allegations. Telling him I did nothing would be a total waste of time. I was the last person to hold her, which made me the prime suspect.The sudden death of Lois snatched the air in my lungs, bringing back the gnawing fear that pervaded me when I first lost my parents. All the people I ever loved; all the people I cared so much about die, leaving me behind to face my monsters alone. First, it was my parents, now, it's Lois.

Monica's POVThose who don't know my story, without second thoughts, would call me the villain; a heartless one at that. From my teenage age, I'd learned to fight for what I wanted without backing away. The world doesn't give you your right easily, so you have to take it by force- a cliché from my father I'd grown to know.When I thought Ludovic was mine right from high school, he'd deliberately robbed it on my face that we could never be more than that. Friendships was all he wanted...with no strings attached. But I wanted more than just a platonic relationship. I wanted more than just 'Best Buddies For Life', as we fondly called each other.I'd tried swaying into the arms of some other guys, with the hope that I'd one at forget Ludovic, only for me to find out in the long run that they they cheated on me with another girl, or the werewolves among them stuck with me because of who I am. Some even did both; cheating on me and hoping they'd one day become the heir to the throne of the

Ludovic's POV"Shut that damn thing off, werewolf. Are you trying to scare me or what?" I snickered."I know I'm no match for you..." He reached for a hose, attached to a gas cylinder, and slipped out a lighter from his pocket. "But let's see if your supernatural body can withstand ordinary flames."Damn! I'm not the silver type. I'm not immune to fire.He clicked on the lighter, pointing the hose at me. The yellow and blue flames whistled over me, as I shielded my face with my arm, falling on one knee with my eyes tight shut. I waited for the fire to scorch me to crisp, but it was as if a barrier was built between me and the fire.I parted one eye open, and saw Iris in front of me, her back against me, hair floating like wings in the cloud. She raised her right hand against the flames, feet parted shoulder-width. Only the heat brushed past my face, while she withstood the flames without a singe on her hair.What is this girl,anyway? What other surprises does she have under her bushe

Iris' POVLudovic and I zoomed out of the mansion in Amber's station wagon early the following morning, after I got him a change of clothing from Gustav's wardrobe. A pair of royal blue sweatpants and sweatshirt, over a pair of black Nike sneakers to match. He looked just as delectable in it, with his long brown hair packed being his head. It was a good thing no one accosted me in the mansion. The last thing I wanted was an interrogation that'd slow me down. I wasn't ready to indulge myself in lengthy explanations.Before I exited his room, I took one last glance around, sniffing in the mixture of our scents that lingered on the bed, walls and the bathroom, as the good and unsavoury memories I had of Gustav flooded my mind. The mansion, without mincing words, was a turning point for me. But leaving was necessary. I was not welcome there anymore.Gusav had made sure of that when he accepted Monica as mate.At the back seat of the truck was Amber's remains, wrapped with the blanket from

Ludovic's POVThe funeral took place around a lawn beside the royal grave yard, two kilometers east of the castle. Foldable plastic chairs were arranged in two rows of five columns each behind an open coffin. I couldn't bear to look into the coffin. With shivering hands, I sat between father and Iris, fighting the tears burning my socket as the blond violinist with red blazing lips, dressed in a simple white tee and a tight fitting black jeans, played a soft music that reminded me of her. She played mother's favorite song, China Roses, by Enya. Father must have chosen that piece, and I knew why.I remember the way her smile lights up her summer skin whenever she played the violin; she was good at a lot things. She knew just the right tune to string to lull me to sleep when I fell ill with recurring migraines. Before I shifted for the first time at fifteen, before Odin growled for the first time inside me, I used to come down with blithing migraine.Some nights, it would seem as thoug