MasukLiliana's POVThe photograph quivered in my grasp as an oppressive silence enveloped the meeting room. Not a single word was uttered. It felt as if no one dared to exhale. I looked at the image once more, wishing it would transform if I studied it intently enough. It remained unchanged. The cloaked figure loomed only a mere few feet from me, their features obscured by the dark fabric, while it appeared as though I was fixing my eyes directly upon them. This perspective created an illusion of an intimate exchange. It was a perfect deception, resembling the truth so closely. A sickening twist formed in my stomach. The person behind the camera clearly understood their positioning. They skillfully crafted a seemingly innocent moment into one of guilt. Gradually, I shifted my gaze toward Darian. Since relinquishing the photo to me, he hadn’t glanced at it again. Instead, his focus was locked onto my face, meticulously analyzing each reaction as if searching for something only he could p
LILIANA'S POVThe words of the guard reverberated across the garden, freezing everyone in place for a brief moment. My father saved his life? That didn't seem feasible. It had been twenty-one years since he passed away. I glanced at Darian, hoping to find clarity in his expression, yet he appeared just as bewildered as I felt. Noah moved closer to the guard, asking, "Where is he?" The guard gestured toward the front gate. "We have him waiting outside the walls. He refuses to come in until he receives permission from the Alpha." Darian nodded slightly. "Bring him to the meeting room." The guard rushed off. My heart continued to race. "Do you believe he’s being truthful?" I whispered. Darian met my gaze. "We’re about to discover the truth." Moments later, the three of us stepped into the small meeting room adjacent to Darian's office. Two guards were stationed at the entrance while another conducted a search of the newcomer before granting him entry. The man appeared to be around si
LILIANA'S POVThe sound of the explosion reverberated throughout the mansion, causing the windows to rattle violently. My heart raced as Darian sprang to his feet. Just as I was about to inquire about the cause, another resounding blast echoed through the night. Though quieter, it was close enough to elicit cries from every servant in the corridor. "Stay put," Darian commanded, reaching for the sword that hung adjacent to the library door. I promptly shook my head. "I’m going with you." His gray gaze locked with mine. "Liliana." "No." I stepped nearer. "If that noise came from the cemetery, I need to be involved." Just then, Noah burst into the library, interrupting our exchange. "Alpha! The blast originated from the cemetery." My heart sank. Without pausing, Darian instructed, "Mobilize all available guards immediately." Noah nodded and dashed off, issuing commands even before he reached the entrance. I trailed behind Darian as guards piled into vehicles while others transformed
LILIANA'S POVThe atmosphere turned eerily silent as soon as the guard completed his statement. Darian and Noah shot a glance at each other that made it clear this was something far more serious than just another burglary. “When exactly did this occur?” Darian inquired. “It happened less than thirty minutes ago,” the guard replied. “The librarian had already secured the archives when he detected someone inside. By the time our team arrived, the intruder had vanished.” Noah began moving toward the exit. “Did anyone catch a glimpse of the person?” The guard shook his head in response. “No, Beta. However, one of the windows had been pried open.” Without saying a word, Darian grabbed his jacket from the chair. “We’re heading out.” He met my gaze before I could even rise. “You’re staying here.” I instantly shook my head in protest. “No.” He exhaled softly, clearly having anticipated my response. “Liliana, this isn’t safe.” “Neither is remaining here while someone continues to exploit
LILIANA'S POVSilence enveloped us for what seemed like an eternity. My gaze remained glued to the ancient map laid out on the table. It appeared so delicate that even a gentle touch might cause it to disintegrate. The red X marking the northern forest felt almost alive, as if it were challenging me. I started to reach for the map but hesitated midway. My hands trembled uncontrollably. Darian observed my struggle and quietly drew the map closer to his side. "Wait to touch it," he said softly. "The ink's quite old." I nodded in agreement, too preoccupied to disagree. My thoughts raced, grappling with the implications of the discovery. My parents had lost their lives more than twenty years ago in an attack by rogues. At least, that was the explanation I had always received. Turning to Noah, I asked, "Who discovered this?" He shook his head. "A guard from the cemetery search." My brow furrowed. "No, I mean who placed it there?" Noah exhaled deeply. "We don’t know." Those words fille
LILIANA'S POVMy hands shook as I gingerly retrieved the necklace from the guard's grip. Its chill stung my skin, yet its familiarity was unmistakable. A silver crescent moon dangled from the delicate chain, a tiny blue gem embedded at its core. In my childhood, I adored playing with it during my mother’s embraces. She would chuckle and warn me that one day, I would snap it. I never did. The last memory I held of that necklace dated back to my parents' funeral, after the rogue attack. I recalled standing alone by their twin graves, tears streaming down my face, nearly choking on my grief while the elders reassured me that my parents would forever be my guardians. My mother had been laid to rest wearing that very necklace. With a glance at Darian, I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. "It was buried with her," I managed to whisper. Noah rose slowly, his expression mirroring Darian’s gravity. "Are you certain?" he asked. I affirmed with a resolute nod. "I am." Darian took the neck
LILIANA'S POV I turned around so quickly that I almost slipped on the polished floor, whispering, "Oh my God." As soon as my gaze returned to him, my face began to burn. A few paces away, Darian had a towel draped loosely around his waist and a smaller one around his neck. Drops of water trickled
LILIANA'S POV My shoulders stiffened at the sound of his voice and I stayed still hoping that he would just walk by. Maybe he'd thought I was some sort of statue. The idea sounded dumb the moment my brain processed it and I let out a small breath turning slowly, like a criminal caught red hande
LILIANA'S POVI couldn't remember how long I sat at the foot of what was once my home waiting for Taryn. My eyes stung from how long I have been crying and I might dozed off along the line. Unfortunately what dragged me back was a voice of someone i never wanted to speak to—Taryn not only that bu
I had barely slammed the door behind me when Mabel’s voice cracked through my phone. She had that overly dramatic tone, as if the world were moments from falling apart. “Liliana, just come back! Pop a pill, drink some orange juice, I don’t care, get your butt over here. This night is tragic withou







