Freya’s POV
Maya flung me through the air like I weighed nothing, and I crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Pain shot through my body as I gasped for breath, but I clenched my fists, forcing myself to rise.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Maya sneered, brushing dirt off her hands. “Honestly, I expected more from you, Freya. Such a disappointment.”
Her words stung, but the rage bubbling inside me was stronger. My vision blurred for a moment before my eyes shifted to a dark, glowing gold.
Maya raised an eyebrow. “Oh, looks like someone’s angry now. Come on, Freya. Show me what you’ve got!”
She barely had time to finish her taunt before I charged at her with supernatural speed, landing a solid punch to her face. The satisfying crack of bone echoed in the air, and she stumbled back, touching her lip. Her fingers came away stained with blood.
Her smile faded. “Enough of these games. It’s time for you to die.”
Before I could react, she lunged, grabbed me by the throat, and slammed me against a nearby tree. The bark scraped my back as I struggled to breathe.
She leaned closer, her voice dripping with venom. “I’ll rip out your heart, just like your brother did to my father.”
Her grip tightened, and my vision darkened. Suddenly, a powerful swoosh filled the air, and Maya was yanked away from me, flying several feet before hitting the ground.
“Liam…” I croaked weakly as my knees buckled.
Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground. “Are you okay?” Liam’s voice was low and steady, but his glowing blue eyes radiated fury.
I nodded faintly, clinging to him as my strength waned. He glanced around, scanning the area, but Maya was already gone.
“She won’t get away with this,” Liam growled, his voice sharp like the edge of a blade. “Stay here. I’ll-”
“No!” I gripped his arm tightly, stopping him. His glowing eyes flickered before returning to normal.
“Freya…”
I stared at him, my voice trembling. “Your eyes… they were blue.”
His jaw tightened. “Let’s get you back to the mansion.” He moved to lift me, but I pulled away, forcing him to face me.
“Why did your eyes glow blue, Liam?” I demanded.
He hesitated, then shook his head. “You must have seen wrong. My eyes don’t glow blue.”
“I know what I saw. Your eyes were golden as a child. What happened? Did you… did you kill someone who didn’t deserve it? Someone innocent?” My voice broke as I raised my voice.
“It was my mother!” he roared, his anguish slicing through the air.
I froze, the weight of his confession sinking in.
“It was all part of her twisted training,” he said, his voice hollow. “She forced me to kill, over and over. Servants who disobeyed, people who begged for mercy. I was only nine, Freya. Nine!” His fists clenched, and his voice cracked with the memory.
“Every time I refused, my father would punish me by abandoning me in the dark forest for days. I’d cry until my voice was gone. But eventually… I couldn’t take it anymore. I started doing what they wanted, no matter how much it hurt.”
“Liam…” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes.
“She made me a monster,” he said bitterly. “And in the end, I killed her. My own mother.”
I swallowed hard, unable to process what I’d just heard. “But I thought Steven-”
“He took the blame for me, so no one would know the truth,” Liam said, his voice trembling. “But now you know what I am. A monster. Let’s go home.”
*******
Ashley’s POV
Steven and I walked side by side down the lonely road. The darkness pressed in around us, and the only sound was the crunch of gravel beneath our feet.
“I don’t understand,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “Why isn’t a single cab passing by?!”
Steven smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “This is an old road. No one uses it anymore. But I’m sure your brilliant human mind didn’t think of that when you decided to wander here at dusk.”
I rolled my eyes. “And here I thought you were finally being nice. Guess not.”
He stopped abruptly, turning to face me with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
My breath caught. Did I go too far?
“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered, stepping back instinctively.
He took a slow step forward, his tone low and mocking. “You’ve grown fearless, haven’t you? Let’s see if you can handle the consequences of that courage.”
“Steven… you’re scaring me,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
He leaned in closer, his lips curling into a sly smile. “Duck.”
“What?”
Before I could blink, Steven’s hand shot up, catching an arrow inches from my face. The speed and precision of his movements left me stunned.
“What the-?” I gasped, my heart racing.
Steven growled, tossing the arrow aside. “Do you not know what *duck* means?!” he snapped.
Up ahead, five massive figures emerged from the shadows, armed with bows and arrows.
“Steven…” I whispered, panic rising in my chest.
“I’ll count to three,” he said calmly. “When I get to one, run. Don’t stop. Don’t look back.”
I nodded, fear knotting in my stomach as he turned to face the men.
“What’s up, guys?” Steven called out, his tone casual but his stance unwavering. “You on a hunting trip?”
One of the men stepped forward, his voice cold. “You’re the prey tonight.”
Steven smirked. “Five against one? That’s not even a challenge.”
The men raised their weapons, aiming at him.
“You won’t be laughing for long,” one of them sneered.
Steven’s eyes glowed with an icy blue light, and a chilling grin spread across his face. “I’ll make you regret those words. Let’s dance.”
Then he turned to me, his expression fierce. “Run, Luna. Now.”
I didn’t wait for another warning. I turned and ran, the sound of his laughter echoing behind me.
******
Steven’s POV
One of the attackers sped after Ashley, but I intercepted him easily, ripping his arm off in one swift motion. His scream pierced the night as he fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
“Well, come on then!” I shouted to the others, adrenaline coursing through me. “Show me what you’ve got!”
They charged, but they were no match for me. I moved like a blur, ripping out one man’s heart before tossing another into the trees with enough force to shake the ground.
Two of them tried to ambush me from behind, but I grabbed their throats, lifting them off the ground effortlessly.
“Tell Alpha Calix I said hi,” I growled before snapping their necks and letting their lifeless bodies fall.
The fight was over in seconds, but when I looked around, Ashley was nowhere to be seen.
“Luna!” I yelled, sniffing the air to catch her scent. My heart pounded as I raced into the night, determined to find her before anyone else did.