BLAISE "You did what?" Richard asked, his voice filled with shock as he gazed at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. I gulped down another drink, the harsh liquid burning my throat, and remained silent, my gaze fixed on the amber depths of the bottle. The bar's dim lights cast long shadows, reflecting my turmoil. I was feeling worse than I had ever felt in my entire life. "Let me get this straight," Richard said, leaning in. "You struck her the other night simply because you suspected her? Then you roughed her up today?" "What else was I supposed to do?" I snapped back, refilling my glass with a shaky hand. My voice was tinged with anger and regret. "I was livid." Another swallow of the fiery drink. "And bitterly disappointed that she was aware of it all." "She only learned about it the day you caught Erick, and to be fair, she hadn't seen you for two days and couldn't reach you. How could you know if she intended to tell you or not?" Richard's tone was accus

LILA The true threat here isn't Markus but the Ghost. You must uncover his identity... Erick's ominous words echoed relentlessly in my mind. Those haunting syllables reverberated throughout my day, and when night draped itself across the sky, sleep remained a distant elusion. Nestled under the blankets, I lay awake, my gaze fixed on the blankness of the ceiling. My thoughts whirled in a stormy dance, pondering the unfolding events until the early hours of morning, when slumber finally overtook me. Awakened by the distant hum of a car, I blinked into a world bathed in the vibrant shades of morning. The sun, a radiant orb, cast its golden glow through the window, and I glanced at the clock, realising it was almost noon. My eyes drifted to the empty space beside me on the bed, a pang of longing twisting in my chest. Blaise's absence left a cold void; his warmth was a memory now tinged with melancholy. But despite my yearning, I think neither of us wanted to be in each ot

LILA Several hours after my explosive outburst, I found refuge in a dimly lit bar, my identity concealed beneath a shroud of a scarf and dark shades. I had regained my composure, sitting in solitude, my fingers dancing over my phone, engrossed in the compromising photos that had arrived via an anonymous sender. With each passing moment, the truth etched itself deeper into my consciousness. Though my instinct screamed for Blaise to shoulder the blame, the images revealed unsettling loopholes. I zoomed in on a photo, the one capturing a moment between Amanda and Blaise. Their lips locked in what seemed like a forbidden kiss. Yet, as I delved deeper, the truth unfolded. Blaise's hands rested not possessively but, on her shoulders— a silent but forceful attempt to push her away. Another picture drew my attention. Amanda, scantily clad, positioned atop Blaise in a compromising embrace. But as I magnified the image, details emerged from the blur. Despite the blurry image upon zo

BLAISE In the dimly lit confines of my study, Agatha's voice, tinged with desperation, floated towards me. "Alpha, I'm certain he's not the culprit. He might have been threatened by Lila's brother. Have you considered the possibilities?" Her words were a plea, laced with concern and conviction. She had trailed me persistently, from the door of my room to the confines of my library. Her relentless determination to free Erick from prison perplexed me. She had been relentless in her pursuit, even going as far as to weep and threaten to die if I did not intervene. In her heart, she believed in Erick's innocence, that he posed no threat to our pack. Her room had become her self-imposed exile since Erick's capture, and she refused any replacement for her guard. But this was not time to be sentimental or time to please anyone, not even Agatha or Lila. I had witnessed the crumbling of everything I had worked tirelessly to build, consumed by the unforgiving flames of t

LILA I observed with a keen eye as Richard tended to Blaise's battered body. Blaise had regained consciousness, but he remained tight-lipped about his whereabouts and the details of his harrowing experience. Dr. Richard, with his usual calm authority, diagnosed his injuries as the result of aggressive wolf bites and deep scratches, and an apparent impact from an unknown source. Once the doctor had departed, I settled beside Blaise on his bed, stroking his hair, my touch gentle, unwilling to bombard him with questions until he had recovered fully and was ready to speak. Time passed in a tender silence until Blaise finally spoke. "I paid an unexpected visit to Drax's park, but he managed to escape," he confessed in a hushed tone, his voice heavy with emotion, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Puzzlement creased my forehead. "Why would you go alone? You should have taken some warriors with you." He shook his head before responding, his eyes distant. "Bringing others along w