CHAPTER 42
UNKNOWN P.O.V
"Is she dead yet?"
A feminine voice echoed through the dim room—soft, elegant… yet terrifyingly cold.
"I'm sorry, Boss… she's still alive."
Silence fell.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Then—
"You're an incompetent fool. Get out of my sight."
Before he could beg again, three men cloaked in black appeared like shadows, grabbing him roughly.
"No—please! Please, just one more chance! I won't fail again, I swear—!"
The door slammed shut.
His screams filled the hallway…
Then abruptly—
Nothing.
Silence.
"I'll leave it to you now," the voice continued, calm as ever. "Don't fail like the others."
A man knelt before her, head lowered.
Slowly… he raised it.
Amber eyes.
Dark. Glowing. Dangerous.
"I won't fail you, Boss."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"That's my vow to you."
ALEXIA P.O.V
I stayed in the hospital for a few days just to keep up appearances, but the moment I was discharged, I went straight to the warehouse.
The air inside was heavy.
Too quiet.
"Where is he?" I demanded the second I stepped in.
"He's here."
They pointed toward a figure lying on the cold concrete floor.
My chest tightened.
"Pete…"
I rushed to him, dropping to my knees as I checked his pulse.
Weak.
Fading.
"Pete, can you hear me? Please—hang on, help is coming."
A dry chuckle escaped his lips.
"Raven… you and I both know… I'm not going to make it…"
"Don't say that. What happened?"
"We… cough… we didn't expect it…"
His breathing became uneven, his chest rising and falling sharply.
"It's okay. Don't talk."
But his grip on my hand tightened—desperate, urgent.
"Something big is coming…" he forced out. "They're planning something… bigger than dominance… something we've never seen before… it's… it's—"
His words cut off.
His grip loosened.
My breath hitched.
"No… Pete…"
I felt it.
His heartbeat… stopped.
The world went still.
I stared at him, unmoving, forcing the tears back down.
Pete… stubborn, loyal, unbreakable Pete.
He stayed when everyone else would've left.
He trusted me—even when I didn't trust myself.
And now…
He was gone.
Because he stepped into enemy territory without my permission.
Because I wasn't there to stop him.
My jaw tightened.
"I won't let this slide…"
My voice came out low. Dangerous.
"Who killed him?"
"We weren't there," Margaret the Irish girl said carefully. "But we got a name… Magnus."
"…Magnus?"
My eyes narrowed.
"From the villa?"
"Yes."
A cold smile tugged at my lips.
"Find him. Bring him to headquarters."
My voice dropped further.
"Let's see if he enjoys pain… slowly."
"Yes, Raven."
I looked back at Pete one last time.
Softly this time—
"Give him a befitting burial."
"Of course."
I got into my car and drove off, my mind still heavy—
But then I noticed it.
A black Mercedes.
Following me.
I didn't react.
Instead, I changed direction casually and drove into a mall parking lot.
If they wanted to play…
I'd play.
I walked inside, pretending to shop, my senses fully alert.
They followed.
Of course they did.
When I stepped back outside, they were still there.
Persistent.
Predictable.
I stopped walking.
Slowly turned.
Two guns were pointed at me instantly.
I raised my hands calmly.
A signal.
A second later—
Gunshots echoed.
Both men dropped instantly.
Dead.
I exhaled softly.
"Tyler really thought I wouldn't notice the bodyguards he had on me,I was just too busy to give a damn about it…"
I walked closer to inspect them—
Beep.
Suddenly, dozens of bodyguards surrounded me, shielding me from the gruesome view. Blood splattered everywhere
They explode?!!.
I didn't see it but I knew and was in deep state of shock.
"What's going on?" I murmured, confused.
"Thank you," I said quietly as they escorted me away—straight into my car.
They even drove me home.
Strange…
Very strange.
Back home, I sank into a hot bath, letting the warmth wrap around me.
Snowy padded in, and I picked her up absentmindedly.
"Why does someone want me dead this badly?" I murmured.
She meowed.
"I know… it's messed up, right?"
I sighed, placing her back down before sinking deeper into the water.
The past three weeks had been too quiet.
Naomi was busy.
Clara was still in the hospital.
Tyler came and went.
Dylan… disappeared.
"…Is he mad about the hospital incident?" I muttered, shrugging it off.
I grabbed another sachet of blood—my fifth—and drank it in one go.
The hunger had been worse lately.
My teeth ached.
My body restless.
Tyler said it was because of the full moon.
I hated it.
Then—
The door burst open.
"I'm out of sausages! If you want some, go get it yourself!" I shouted without looking from the tv I was watching.
"Aww, I was really looking forward to it," Tyler said casually. "But that's not why I'm here."
I sighed.
"Then why are you here?"
"I need your help."
That made me look at him.
"I'm listening."
"I need you to help me win a bet."
I rolled my eyes.
"Come on, Alexia. It's important. You're good at gambling."
"What's the catch?"
"The winner gets to ask anything from the loser."
I frowned.
"…And?"
"Just help me."
"I can't risk being recognized."
"You'll be in disguise."
"No."
"Please?" He gave me he's sincerest puppy eyes
I stared at him.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
He grinned.
"Oh—and Alexia?"
"What now?"
"Promise me. Whatever I ask tonight… you'll do it."
"That's weird."
"Just promise."
"…Fine. I promise."
3 HOURS LATER
We arrived at a massive casino.
"You better not make me regret this," I muttered, linking my arm through his.
My disguise was perfect.
Blonde bob wig.
Brown contacts.
A beauty mark.
French accent.
No one would recognize me.
We stepped into the private section of the casino—
—and I froze.
Asher.
What was he doing here?
Before I could even process it, his eyes locked onto me.
Not just a glance.
A stare.
Sharp. Focused. Unmoving.
For a second, my chest tightened.
Impossible… he can't recognize me.
I looked nothing like Alexia right now.
Different hair. Different eyes. Different aura.
And yet…
He didn't look away.
Tyler pulled me forward, completely unfazed, and guided me to the seat directly opposite Asher.
The moment I sat down, his scent hit me.
Stronger than ever.
Heavy.
Intoxicating.
Distracting.
It wrapped around me, making it hard to think, to breathe, to focus.
I forced myself to stay composed.
Then—
A voice from the corner broke the silence.
"Wait… isn't that the lady they've been talking about?"
Another man leaned forward, eyes narrowing at me.
"The one who's never lost a game… the so-called Queen of Hearts?"
A low murmur spread across the room.
"So it's true… she's real?"
"How did you even find her, Tyler?"
Tyler smirked beside me, clearly enjoying the attention.
"I have my ways."
I remained quiet, keeping my French persona intact, but inside—
I smirked.
Back in high school, this was my escape.
Dressing up.
Winning.
Destroying egos at tables like this.
Over time, the name spread.
Queen of Hearts.
Undefeated.
Untouchable.
And even till now…
They remembered.
"Where have you been all this time?" another man asked me, curiosity laced in his tone. "You disappeared."
Before I could answer—
Tyler cut in smoothly.
"Let's start the game."
His timing wasn't accidental.
He didn't want me talking.
Didn't want me slipping.
Interesting.
I leaned back slightly, crossing my legs with effortless confidence.
"Shall we?" I said in a smooth French accent.
My eyes flicked to Asher.
He was still staring.
Still watching.
Still… reading me.
Something about that look made my skin prickle.
Like he knew.
Like he was waiting.
The game began.
First round—
I won.
Second—
I won again.
By the third, the atmosphere had shifted.
By the fifth—
The room was completely silent.
Every move calculated.
Every breath watched.
But Asher…
He didn't fold easily.
He matched me move for move.
Calculated.
Precise.
Dangerous.
Tyler, on the other hand, had gotten… clingy.
Too clingy.
Each time I won, he cheered, grabbed my hand, leaned closer than necessary.
I didn't like it.
But I had promised.
So I endured it.
Still—
Something felt off.
Very off.
Final round.
Me.
Asher.
The tension in the room was suffocating.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Even the air felt heavy.
Our eyes locked.
A silent battle.
Then—
He made a move.
Wrong.
Too wrong.
I stilled.
…No.
I played my final card.
"I win."
A wave of murmurs filled the room.
But I didn't react.
Because something didn't feel right.
I looked at him.
"…Why does it feel like he let me?"
And then—
Everything went wrong.
A dagger was placed in his hand.
My breath caught.
Then—
He stabbed himself.
"Ash—!"
I tried to move, but Tyler held me down.
"Don't interfere!"
His voice echoed in my head.
That's why he made me promise.
Rage surged through me and without caring about the stares of others I stormed out of the casino.
"Alexia, wait!"
"Don't you dare talk to me!" I snapped. "You used me!"
"It was for your own good!"
"How?! You made me sit there and watch someone die!"
"At least let me drop you—"
"No. Leave."
"Alexi—"
"Leave Tyler" I demanded,my eyes darkening
He hesitated…
Then left.
I was about to head home myself but I forgot my phone inside the casino and headed back for it.
The place was empty.
Too empty.
Then—
That scent.
I turned.
Asher.
Alive.
Bandaged.
Smoking.
Before I could react—
He grabbed me.
Lifted me onto the table.
Pinned my hands above me.
His body pressed close.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I snapped, keeping the accent.
He didn't answer.
Instead—
He blew smoke into my face.
I coughed.
"Do you hate the smell of smoke… Alexia?"
My heart skipped.
"My name is Annabell."
"No," he said, voice hoarse. "It's not."
His head dipped.
His breath brushed against my neck.
Warm.
Slow.
Deliberate.
My body reacted instantly.
His hands slid along my thighs, firm, possessive, pulling me closer to the edge of the table.
My breath hitched.
"Asher…" I whispered before I could stop myself.
"Hmm" he hummed
His lips brushed my skin.
Then again.
Then deeper.
Slower.
Like he was testing how far he could push me.
My thoughts blurred.
Heat pooled low in my stomach.
I didn't want him to stop.
I pulled him closer.
Our lips crashed together.
Fierce.
Hungry.
Addictive.
His hand tightened on my waist while the other pinned my wrists effortlessly.
Our breaths mixed.
Our bodies pressed closer.
The kiss deepened—
Until it consumed everything.
"You are mine," he murmured against my lips.
Then—
Sharp pain shot through my shoulder.
I gasped, gripping him tightly.
The pain faded quickly…
Replaced by something warm sensation.
Intoxicating.
My vision blurred.
My body weakened.
Then—
Darkness.
ASHER P.O.V
She collapsed in my arms.
And reality hit me instantly.
"…What have I done?"
I didn't mean to mark her.
But Ethan…
He took control.
He claimed her.
I carried her to the car, where Felix stood frozen.
"Sir… won't this cause trouble?"
"No questions. Drive."
As the car moved, I looked down at her.
She looked nothing like Alexia.
But I knew.
Her scent gave her away.
If I wasn't her mate… I would've been fooled too.
My gaze dropped to the mark.
Mine.
I didn't like how it happened.
But I couldn't deny it—
I didn't hate it either.
Seeing Tyler touch her…
That pushed me over the edge.
I brushed my fingers over her lips.
Soft.
Tempting.
Dangerous.
"If she hadn't fainted…" I muttered.
I leaned back, exhaling slowly.
"The full moon… is making everything worse."