m. Suspiciously perfect. My fingers curled against the sheets. I didn't want to open my eyes. I just wanted to sleep forever. The

y mouth watered at the scent. I inhaled deeply. But there

. I wiggled my toes. One minute more, I told myself. Two minutes more, as I

seconds before she came and dragged my misera

amiliar people, all wearing the same black dress that hugged their waists, with white aprons tied neatly at the back. They were dressed l

y doing? Wha

large enough to fit five maids, a queen-sized bed, and a massive wardrobe. The walls were painted

place? Where

le

I?" Louder

no res

f nervous laughter i

em to hear. They were like robots. Didn't move, did

es-the wolves, the shadow, Aunt's corpse, Dad, the black beast, the car accident

ng was a

ir of arms that caught me. The black wolf. It sent chil

lf had kidnapped me. Was I in a pack of wolves waiti

o idea if he w

he maids again

y were shapeshifters. They could turn into humans an

ld literally hear it echo

Dad...

I bawled like a little kid who

is happeni

t too mu–ch to ask for? Why am I being punishe

ver. My nose was stuffed with mucus, and something

ds said in unison, with their heads still bowed. H

ar-stained fac

ey locked onto mine, and the world stopped spinning. M

ey'd never smiled, and eyes that saw too much. Devilishly handsome. He looked majestic in a black

toward me. Every step sent mad shivers of fear through me but at the same t

e devil incarnate, I could tell. His hand reached for my chin and gently lifted it. His touch was warm and rough, but I didn't mind. His gaze locked on mine, and I just stared into his

d flatly. I sensed a hint of

y throat. Probably from the cryin

ed my head away from his grip, wiping

Wipe it."

been slammed into a door. Embarrassment. I nearly co

that I regretted instantly. His gaze gave me the look people give to broken things. H

rgot I was supposed to be scared. I didn'

to do to me? Are y

lly found my voice, just

Did Nuel no

e been waiti

waiting for

ern-but it didn't match his

you mean? I do

this evening. T

must be some kind of misu

he slowly released his grip and sat on the bed, very close to me. Our gaze

lla, sweet perfume clouding my senses. His hand bru

you will

le to tell what he was thinking. My heart was beating so fast. My palms, still sweaty, tightened their grip on the blankets. I lost all sense of thought. I was in a place

s perfect lips melting softly into mine-despite the inte

the corner of his lips. He pulled away sli

And your dad-don't worry. He's

questions that needed to be answered. But amidst my confusion, deep down, I couldn't deny what he said. That I was his mate.

s a nightmare I'd eventually wake up from. But at the