CHAPTER THIRTEEN
1447 Words
Jayden is watching Laura through the window.
She’s out in the garden, but she looks unhappy, distant. He can see the pain in her even from here.
Something in him snaps. He doesn’t go to her. Instead, he uses his power. The flowers around her start to light up, glowing softly, and then they lift off the ground. Petals and light drift through the air, floating around her like the garden itself came alive just for her.
Laura notices. She stands up, confused at first, then her face changes. She’s happy, amazed. She looks around at the floating flowers, completely caught up in the beauty of it. For a moment, the sadness is gone.
Jayden stays hidden, watching her reaction. And that’s the weird part for him: he’s known as a wicked person, cold, dangerous. But seeing her like that — happy, amazed, alive — it hits him hard. His heart reacts before his head can stop it.
He doesn’t know why she does that to him. He doesn’t know why, even now, she makes him smile just by looking at her.
An abandoned warehouse, late night. The air is cold, damp, and heavy with silence except for the drip of water somewhere in the distance.**
The room is pitch black except for a single flickering light overhead. Madam Evelyn’s wrists and ankles are bound tight with chains, cutting into her skin.
A blindfold covers her eyes, so every sound feels amplified - footsteps circling her, the scrape of a chair, low breathing that isn’t her own.
she is been here for months.
Her voice shakes as she pleads. “Please… let me go. You don’t have to do this. Name your price, I can pay it.”
But her words hang in the air and drop into nothing. No one answers.
Instead, a low laugh cuts through the silence. Then another. The sound moves around her, circling like a pack. One of them crouches just out of reach, close enough that she can feel the shift in air.
“Beg louder,” a voice says, mocking and bored. “Maybe we’ll pretend to care.”
Her breath comes faster. She can feel her heart hammering against her ribs. Every instinct screams to run, but her legs won’t move. The rope holds her in place, and the blindfold makes the unknown worse than anything she can imagine.
"Who sent you"? madam Evelyn asked in a frightened voice.
“Do you know what it feels like,” another voice says, amused, “to have everything you control ripped away in a second?”
She doesn’t answer. She can’t. Her throat is dry, and the only sound she makes is a choked sob.
The captors don’t touch her. They don’t need to. Their power is in the waiting, in the way they stretch out every second, letting fear do the work for them. They laugh again, low and cruel, clearly entertained by how small and helpless she sounds now compared to the woman they knew before.
Madam Evelyn realizes something cold and sharp: they don’t want her money. They want her broken. And the worst part is, she doesn’t know why.
The light above flickers once, twice, and the room goes dark for a heartbeat before it returns. In that moment of blackness, all she hears is her own breathing - ragged, panicked.
Torchlight flickering over the stone courtyard. Swords and practice dummies line the edges. The air is heavy with sweat, rivalry, and unspoken tension.
Laura stands at the back of the mid-practice. She’s tired, but she has to stay. She’s a maid ,she has to hold unto the six alphas, arrows strapped to her back, a training blade in hand. She can’t just walk off.
Henry walks up first.
“You’re pushing too hard. Take a break.” Henry spat out.
Laura glances at him, keeps her eyes on her stance. She pretends she doesn’t know him. No smile, no answer. Just a nod and she resets her guard.
Then Nathan steps in, closer. Too close..
You’re distracted. Here, let me.”
Nathan said
He reaches out, thumb brushing across her cheek to wipe her sweat. Laura freezes for half a second, then lets out a low laugh. She smiles, real and easy this time. She hands him the cloth, their fingers brushing. They stand there talking, heads close, both discouraged by the day’s drills but smiling anyway. For a moment, it’s just them.
That’s when it hits the others.
Henry’s jaw tightens. Desmond stops mid-stretch, watching. Jaden’s eyes narrow. Raymond crosses his arms, his expression darkening. All of them notice how close Nathan is, how Laura’s smiling at him and not at anyone else. The air shifts. Jealousy settles in, sharp and quiet.
And then they start.
“You two done flirting?” Henry said
“She’s supposed to be waiting, not charming.” Raymond interrupted
“Yeah, save it for after hours.” Desmond spoke out
Their voices overlap, sharp, possessive. Nathan doesn’t back down. He steps half in front of Laura like it’s automatic.
“Maybe she just prefers people who don’t glare at her.” Nathan said quietly.
Laura looks between them, caught in the middle. She opens her mouth, but no one lets her speak.
And that’s when Alexander moves.
All night he’s been up on the steps, watching. Silent. He never comes onto the field. He never trains with anyone. But now he walks down, slow, deliberate. Every step makes the others shut up.
People stop. People stare.
Whispers “Alexander? Here? On the field?”
It’s the first time. The first time he’s stepped into the training circle. The first time he’s picking up a blade .
He stops between them, not touching Laura, not looking at Nathan directly. His eyes are calm, but cold.
“If you’re going to argue over her, do it properly. Not with words.” Alexander words echoed through.
The courtyard goes dead quiet. Laura’s breathing changes. She knows what this means. Raymond and Henry look furious, not at Alexander, but at the fact that his presence resets the whole fight.
Alexander’s gaze flicks to Laura for one second. That’s all. But it’s enough to make it clear who he walked down for.
Laura’s still at the back, blade in hand, caught between them. She hasn’t moved since Alexander stepped down.
Nathan scoffs, stepping forward.
“You want to make this about steel now? Fine. why do you guys care so much about what I do with her" Nathan spoke out.
Henry snaps, turning on Nathan.
“You’re the one who started this. Getting in her space, touching her face like she’s yours.” Henry spoke out
“And you’re the one who’s been watching her all Day like a hawk."
Nathan voice came through
Raymond cuts in, voice sharp.
“Enough. Both of you. She’s not something to fight over.” Raymond spoke out angrily.
Desmond mutters from the side, arms crossed.
“But I was the first who loved her ? Don’t lie to yourself Nathan she is mine”
Jayden ,who’s been quiet until now, finally steps in.
“Look at her. She hasn’t said a word this whole time. And you’re all talking like she doesn’t get a say.” Jayden said
Laura’s jaw tightens. She finally speaks, low and firm.
“I’m still here. And I’m not choosing sides right now.”
That only makes it worse.
“Then choose to stop. You’re pushing yourself too hard because of them.”
Henry spoke out
“ Don't choose anymore, why are you so invested in what I want go look for your mate ,the one goddess talk about I don't care about that.and I’ll make sure no one else bothers her.” Nathan spoke out.
“ That’s not how this works.” Raymond words followed suit.
“None of this works if you don’t listen to her. I loved her first and I know her heart is already mine " Desmond voice seconds Raymond.
“And none of you are listening.” Jayden said.
The five of them are now arguing with each other, voices overlapping, each one possessive in their own way. Nathan with charm, Henry with protectiveness, Raymond with anger, Desmond with quiet resentment, Jaden with frustration.
Laura stands in the middle of it, breathing hard, " am invested in this.
my bunch of enemies" she gave a low smile.
Alexander hasn’t said another word. He just watches. And the moment he takes one step forward, all 5 of them fall silent.
Because they all know — if Alexander decides to get involved, the argument stops being about words.
- Writer
