Chapter 8
ADELINE
“Yes. I didn’t realize what I was getting into, but now he refuses to let me go, and I can’t leave because he will kill me.”
Those were the words I thought, the ones that echoed like a dark, suffocating truth in my mind. But I didn’t speak them. Instead, I smiled at Luther. playing the role 1 was expected to.
“I understand that the circumstances are rather suspicious, but I do want to be with him.”
For a brief moment. Luther’s expression faltered, the disappointment flashing across his face before his smile returned, carefully crafted and respectful, like he’d been tramed to hide everything. He didn’t challenge me, didn’t press. Instead, he gave a slight not, as though conceding to a
decision made far above our heads.
“Okay then,” he said, the words floating in the air like they were part of an unspoken script. “I’m sure Daniella will be thrilled to have someone else to command.”
And with that, the air in the room shifted. I couldn’t explain it, but something about the atmosphere thickened, as if everyone was holding their breath. I felt a sudden weight on my chest and turned instinctively towards the kitchen door. There, standing in the doorway like some immovable force of nature, was Nicholas. His gaze was already on me cold, calculating, and very much irritated. He didn’t even need to speak for everyone in the room to know that the tension was about to snap.
I opened my mouth, ready to smooth over whatever storm was brewing, but before I could get a word out, his voice cut through the thick air like a whip
“We didn’t come here to bake cookies.” Nicholas said, his words dripping with frustration. “You asked us to come for dinner. Dinner should be happening at a table, and all of this–he gestured around the room-“is just wasting my time. His eyes slid over to me, narrowing “Come here. We’re leaving
I gritted my teeth, my blood boiling at how he managed to make it sound like I was a dog he was calling to heel. In front of all these people, no less.
Luther’s smile didn’t falter and he didn’t rise to Nicholas’s ball. Instead, his voice remained calm and even, almost teasing. “It is always straight to business with you.” He remarked. His voice shifted, softening, becoming affectionate as he added, “Cookie duties were sprung on us, so dinner won’t be ready until later. I should have informed you, and I apologize for that. And since I take the blame, I’m sure Daniella won’t mind me removing myself from kitchen duties for a while. We can go over the details in my study.”
But there was no warmth in Nicholas’s gaze, none at all. He didn’t even acknowledge Luther’s words. His attention stayed fixed on me. “Adeline
“I need to use the restroom,” I cut him off sharply, my teeth clenched, the words coming out in a strained breath.
His gaze narrowed, just the slightest flicker of suspicion in his eyes. But like a professional, he held back the bite in his voice. “Come find me when you’re done
I let my tone remain light, a false sweetness in my words. “It’s all business with you two. I think I’ll just stay here and help out. If that’s okay with you, sweetheart!”
I could feel something shift in the air, something dark and pulsing, before I felt the jarring force of his power slam into my head. His mind touched mine, a vicious intrusion
“You are really pushing it,” he growled, his voice reverberating inside my skull.
I didn’t respond. I just smiled, my mind slamming a door shut in my head, hard. I watched him flinch, just slightly, surprised by my unexpected resistance. I made a mental pose: next time, he wouldn’t invade my mental space without my permission
I could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on us, the weight of their gazes thickening the already tense atmosphere. It was obvious to everyone now–Luther was watching us, measuring our every move. And as irritated as I was, I knew I had to salvage this moment I had to make it seem like I wasn’t just some pawn in a game I didn’t want to play
I stepped forward, meeting Nicholas’s eyes for a moment before I spoke. “Tin sorry about what I said earlier. I shouldn’t have said it. You have every right to be upsel
Then, before he could respond, I closed the distance between us. I wrapped my arms around him, placing my head on his shoulder. The size of him shocked me- how massive lie was, how still he remained, like some mumovable mountain. He didn’t move. Not an inch. It made my chest
And then, just as quickly, I pulled away. I looked up at him with a smile, a little playful, a lule defiant. And then, I pressed a kiss to his check, feeling the way he froze at the unexpected contact. It was like a jolt went through hian, and I could feel the power in his body lock up, just for a second That second was mine.
Luther cleared his throat, but there was a laugh in his voice now, like he was savoring every moment of this. “Let’s get to business then?” he asked. his voice ligluly mocking. “I’m sure you two will sort out your issues later. Nicole, honey, come show ber the restroom.”
1/3
946 PM
Chapter S
I pulled away from Nicholas, his body still frozen, and walked towards Nicole, who had appeared at our corner like a shadow. She didn’t even wait for me to respond before she spoke.
“Come on, this way?
1 stayed quiet as Nicolle led me out of the kitchen, I didn’t really need to use the
to use the restroom, but the silence was starting to feel unbearable.
After a few steps. Nicole broke the silence with a casual tone. I’ve put together a theory. Want to hear it?”
I guess I muttered, eyeing her warily, “Is it a bad theory?”
She shrugged, not caring. “I haven’t decided yet. Anyway, here it goes. And I’d appreciate it if you don’t interrupt me until I’m done”
I raised an eyebrow. “Okay, shoot.”
“You were mad” she began, her voice light, almost teasing. “Extremely mad at your now–dead fiancé for what he did. And then you met our monstrous Lycan king here. He offered you a way to get back at them, and in that fit of rage, you agreed. Only, the dead fiance. well, he died. leaving you with guilt and pain. Except by then, you’d already agreed to do what the monstrous Lycan king wanted in exchange for his promise to help you get revenge. So now, here you are, scared for your life, doing everything he says. Probably playing his Luna so he can seal the alliance with my father, and when my father asked you, you wanted to say no, but you’re too scared of what the monstrous Lycan king will do to you, so you lied.”
my chest. What?
my heart slammed against my
My
Nicole flashed me a mischievous grin. “And to answer the question you’re thinking right now, I like to keep myself informed. I heard about what happened at your wedding, pieced the facts together. I was a psych major, and I have this uncanny ability to read people. Though, I’ll admit, I do tend to be wrong sometimes. Also, you don’t have to use the restroom,” she added casually. “but I’m guessing that part of the theory didn’t miss the
mark,”
My heart was racing now and I didn’t know how to respond. The panic crept in, my thoughts racing.
Nicholas was going to think I told her.
“Hey, Nicole said, reaching out and squeezing my hand, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. “Relax. I promise I won’t tell anyone. And besides my father can handle his own ground. I’ll only step in if it gets too ugly. Otherwise,” she shrugged, “I’ll just sit back and enjoy the chaos. This is a recipe for disaster, and I’m all in.”
All I could do was stare at her, overwhelmed. My mind was reeling, but somehow, her casual attitude made it seem less like a crisis and more like some odd ganse. A dangerous game.
She smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. “I know how to get your mind off things, let’s go out
“I can’t-
“You see, what you’ve got going on right now with his monstrosity?” She cut in “That’s a story that’s been written a hundred times, in a hundred. different ways. Different people, different places. And while some of those stories end with happy endings, most end in disasters. But you want to know what they all have in common? She paused, her eyes locking with mine, her voice a little too gleeful. The girl pushes past her fears. She doesn’t stay some mindless zomble for the man. He pushes, and she pushes back. I know Nicholas is wrapped in all kinds of evil, and trust me, he is, I’ve seen his work, but here’s the thing. He won’t kill you. He needs you.”
Her gaze sharpened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “So, on that note… you coming?” ||
“Yes,” I said it without thinking, my mind made up in a moment of reckless abandon.
Nicole’s face lit up, and she clapped her hands together. “Finally! Something interesting is happening”
Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the house, pulling me with an energy I couldn’t quite match.
“Where are we going?” I asked, feeling a rudi of adrenaline pumping through my veins,
Her lips curled into a sly smile, “You’ll see”
But she was wrong. Because one hour later, I hadn’t seen it coming.
chance to take control
I didn’t even have time to react. The claws came at me, slashing across the air like a nightmare, and my wolt barely had a chance to before I fel a sharp pain on my hand just before I heard the words that stule the air from my lungsi
“He asked that she isn’t killed yet. Get them both in the car. We’ll do the handover at midnight”
And just like that, my world went black.
