MasukLILIAN'S POV The impact of those words hit me more fiercely than the assault itself. "They've captured Marcus." For an instant, I remained frozen, gazing at Noah, certain that I must have misheard him. When I departed, Marcus had been secured within the mansion's walls, surrounded by guards. Darian had commanded a complete lockdown of the estate, with every entry point under strict surveillance. How was it possible for anyone to reach him unseen? A heavy dread began to settle in my chest as a disturbing comprehension took hold. This was not merely another offensive. It had been a diversion. The blaze at the archives, the cloaked figure guiding me into the woods, the mercenary wolves that ambushed us—each element had been meticulously orchestrated to lure Darian, Noah, and the mightiest warriors away from the mansion, paving the way for someone else to execute the true objective. Marcus was targeted not for his identity, but for the knowledge he possessed. My gaze shifted to th
LILIAN'S POV As soon as the guard wrapped up his words, Darian sprang into action. There was no pause. He didn’t take a moment to ask another thing. With a swift turn, he dashed toward the front entrance, his elongated strides allowing him to traverse the mansion with an Alpha’s unmatchable speed. Close on his heels was Noah, issuing commands to every guard that he encountered. Within moments, the once tranquil halls transformed into a managed frenzy. Fighters scrambled in all directions, while servants rushed to clear the paths, and the sharp sound of yet another warning horn reverberated through the estate. For just a fleeting heartbeat, I found myself frozen, but instinct soon urged me to follow. The journal—my father's journal—was still in the possession of Marcus. If the archives had been set ablaze immediately upon our discovery, it meant they were already aware we held damning evidence against them. Just the thought of it sent chills down my spine. This was not an act of
The emergency horn reverberated throughout the mansion, its deep and eerie tone resonating against the stone walls, settling heavily in my chest. Conversations came to an abrupt halt. Each servant in the hallway became still. Even the guards stationed outside the holding room instinctively grasped their weapons. My heart raced as I faced the doorway, fully aware that such an alarm never heralded anything positive. Darian promptly released my hand, yet before moving away, his thumb delicately traced my knuckles, offering silent comfort. The subtlety of this gesture went unnoticed by everyone else, but it grounded me amid the panic that threatened to engulf me. In a split second, his expression shifted, the warmth evaporating behind the cool facade of the Alpha once more. "Report," he ordered. The guard who had sounded the alarm rushed inside, panting heavily, sweat streaming down his brow. He dropped to one knee without hesitation. "Alpha, the council has summoned almost all senior
Liliana'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 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







