"Are you ready?" Malik whispered, noticing my tension. I nodded in response, trying to steady my nerves. To my surprise, Malik squeezed my hand gently in reassurance. As we made our way down the grand stairs that led into the ballroom, a voice echoed from behind us, startling me and almost making

'Come on, Ezinne, what is wrong with you?' I scolded myself silently. 'This isn't real. None of it is real. You shouldn't care about his trust or lack of it. You don't care about this man or this pack or these people. You're here for a reason, and once it's fulfilled, you'll leave. Nothing else matt

Malik! Light flooded the room, revealing Malik standing among the fallen men, his chest smeared with their blood. The man holding me quickly snaked his arm around my neck, using me as his shield as he pulled back. My hands were now securely tied behind me. Then he began a low, cruel laugh, a

"Midnight snaking?" I asked. He nodded eagerly with a smile. "I'm all for it." "Good. So, how do you like your eggs?" he asked again. "Scrambled," I answered, feeling a bit surprised but glad for the distraction. He nodded, then walked over to the fridge. "First, let's make you a c

"Why?" I asked, my indignation flaring. "Why do you keep seeing me as a threat?" "Because you're a threat," Rafe countered bluntly. "You lured those beasts here." I couldn't believe Rafe was saying that to me. "How can you blame me for their attack? I don't see how—" "Enough," Malik