CHAPTER 2
ALEXIA P.O.V
"Please inform the cook to prepare spaghetti for dinner," I said, glancing briefly at the butler.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a slight bow before turning to leave.
I watched him walk away.
And just like always—
That feeling returned.
A quiet, persistent unease settled in my chest, making it hard to fully relax. I couldn't explain it, and no matter how many times I tried to brush it off, it never really went away.
Something about him felt… off.
Not wrong enough to accuse.
But not right enough to ignore.
I let out a slow breath, rubbing my temple.
"Maybe I'm overthinking it…" I muttered under my breath.
Clara and Naomi always said I had trust issues.
They weren't entirely wrong.
Still—
My head suddenly throbbed sharply, forcing me to wince.
"Ugh… I really need to sleep," I murmured, making my way upstairs.
Each step felt heavier than the last, exhaustion finally catching up with me.
Knock. Knock.
"Mmm… go away…" I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow.
"Dinner is ready!" Clara's voice came through the door. "And how are you feeling?"
I let out a small sigh before forcing myself to sit up.
"I'm feeling much better," I said, though my voice still carried a hint of fatigue. "Thanks for asking."
"Good. Now come on, I'm starving," she replied, her usual energy returning.
"I'll be there in a minute," I groaned, stretching slightly.
"Fine—but be quick! I have something important to say," she added before walking away.
Something important?
That immediately caught my attention.
With a reluctant sigh, I dragged myself out of bed and headed downstairs.
At the dining table…
The atmosphere felt… different.
Quieter.
Heavier.
"So," I said, taking a seat and glancing between them, "what's the plan for capturing Magnus?"
Clara and Naomi exchanged a look.
A silent one.
The kind that already told me I wasn't going to like what came next.
"…Actually," Naomi began carefully, "there won't be a plan."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Clara exhaled softly before speaking.
"My brothers found me," she said. "They're coming tomorrow… to take me home."
For a moment, I just stared at her.
Then I turned to Naomi.
"Don't tell me—"
"My grandfather contacted me," she said. "He wants me to return and take over the business. I'm leaving tomorrow too."
Silence.
Thick.
Uncomfortable.
"So…" I said slowly, leaning back in my chair, "that leaves me."
Neither of them spoke.
I let out a quiet laugh, though there was no real humor in it.
"Well," I said, picking up my glass, "I guess it's about time anyway."
A pause.
Then I raised it slightly.
"This is for one year of freedom," I said. "One year away from responsibilities, expectations… and everything else we were running from."
I glanced at both of them, a small smile forming despite the heaviness in my chest.
"To our rebellion."
"Cheers," they said together, raising their glasses.
"CHEERS."
—
The rest of the night passed in a blur.
We talked.
We laughed.
We played games like nothing was changing.
Like tomorrow wasn't going to take everything back.
But eventually—
The night came to an end.
And sleep…
Didn't come for me.
With a quiet sigh, I stepped out onto the balcony.
The night was calm.
Too calm.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over everything, making the world feel almost… unreal.
Peaceful.
For a moment, I just stood there, letting the silence settle around me.
Then—
A howl shattered it.
Loud.
Sharp.
Echoing from the forest beyond our yard.
I froze.
Slowly… carefully… I stepped closer to the edge and looked down.
And then—
I saw it.
Eyes.
Deep brown.
Glowing faintly in the darkness.
Locked onto mine.
My breath caught instantly.
Something about them wasn't normal.
It wasn't just the glow.
It was the way they looked at me.
Like they could see through me.
Like they knew me.
My heart began to pound violently against my chest.
I couldn't look away.
Didn't want to.
It felt like I was being pulled in—slowly sinking into something deep and endless.
"What… are you?" I whispered.
The creature didn't move.
Didn't blink.
It just watched.
Patient.
Waiting.
I tried to focus, to see its full form—
But suddenly—
It disappeared.
No sound.
No movement.
Just… gone.
I stepped back, my pulse racing.
"That… wasn't normal," I murmured.
And deep down—
I knew it wasn't my imagination.
The next morning…
The deafening roar of helicopter blades ripped me out of sleep.
"What the—"
A loud crash followed.
Wood splintering.
Breaking.
"They broke the door?!" I snapped, already storming out of my room.
I made my way downstairs, irritation boiling over.
"What kind of maniac wakes people up like this and destroys—"
"The kind of maniac who doesn't appreciate his sister being abducted."
I froze.
Slowly, I turned around.
A tall figure stood behind me.
Masked.
Silent.
Danger radiating off him in waves.
"What sister?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"If you don't pay for that door," I shot back, "you're about to deal with someone who didn't get enough sleep."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His presence felt… heavy.
Oppressive.
"Make me," he said quietly.
That was it.
My fist connected with his jaw before he could react.
He hit the ground.
Hard.
Silence filled the room.
"…You should've thought that through," I said calmly.
"ALEXIA!"
Clara's voice rang out as she rushed downstairs.
"What are you doing?!"
"Handling a problem," I replied.
She helped the man up.
And then—
She said it.
"That's my brother."
I blinked.
"…Your brother?"