Pain. That was the first thing that greeted his body as soon as his mind drifted back into consciousness. So much, that even opening his eyes came at a cost he wasn’t able to pay immediately, so he just kept them close.Instead, he let the pain engulf his body, like molten magma spread through his entire body. The pain ate its way through his joints, muscles and flesh. It felt like the most painful way to go yet he knew this wasn’t his time. With great effort, Cullen opened his eyes.A hospital.The harsh fluorescent lighting made him wince. The sterile white ceiling stared back at him, unfamiliar yet unmistakably medical. He tried to shift, but his muscles refused to cooperate. That’s when he noticed the IV in his arm, the heart monitor attached to his chest.His mind raced. How did he get here?Sylvester. There was no denying it.The place he had ambushed him was lonely…too lonely for anyone to have come across him by chance. Heck, they had a lot of time to fight, and no authoritie

The preparation chilled everyone.First, there was the laughter and the light jests as the men suited up. They poked at one another and made jokes about how one looked awkward in their gear.They played around with unloaded firearms and had a great overall time in general.Until Sylvester came to announce to them that they would be leaving. The whole room went dim, and it was almost as though the realization hit everyone at the same time. This was the real deal. There was the possibility of some of them coming out of this with injuries.There was the possibility of some of them not coming out at all.“I'm coming with you,” Otto announced, his voice firm despite the slight tremor in his hands.Sylvester barely spared him a glance. “No, you're not.”Otto's jaw clenched. “I deserve to be there. You promised I could fight when I was ready.”“Yes. Exactly,” Sylvester countered. “When you’re ready. I’ll tell you when you are.”“I am ready.”“No, you're not.”Otto's fists curled. “I am. I w

Most of them still had the shock frozen on their faces – the victims. Usually, in situations like these, you do not get rescued. Each of them had already sealed their fate. Either their organs were going to be harvested, or they were going to be forced into a lifetime of servitude (mostly sexual and drug related). It was staple that when you went missing, you never returned. And yet, here were some men promising them that they would be returned to their families as soon as possible. It felt surreal. Some of them that had made friends in their captivity clung to each other, not knowing what else to say. Braver ones whose tongues had loosened up, offered words of thanks to Sylvester and his men. Sylvester exhaled, rolling his shoulders. The mission was dicey…especially via the path where he had to use Otto as bait, but it had been a success. Gerald wiped his blade on a discarded cloak and gave Sylvester a nod. “So, what do we do with the clan leaders and their minions?” Sylvest

Sylvester had won countless battles, conquered enemies, and faced impossible odds without flinching. Needless to say, his life was one big adrenaline-filled storyline. Yet, nothing on earth came close to the rush he felt when Emily said those three words. Surreal. “I love you,” He had replayed the moment in his mind a hundred times over the past week. No matter how many times he thought about it, he still couldn’t bring himself to believe it was what he heard. Maybe a lucid dream? He ran with it, though. If she truly felt tat way about him, then it was his responsibility to reciprocate. He loved her a thousand times before she loved him. She must have known that ever since. Now that the traffickers had been handled, Sylvester shifted his focus. The war was a storm gathering on the horizon, and every day felt closer to a catastrophe he didn’t feel quite ready for. He couldn’t afford to be complacent. But before it reached them, before another fight threatened to pull him

Katherine had always trusted her instincts.She didn’t survive as long as she had by ignoring the warning prickle at the back of her neck or the way the air felt just a little too still before an attack. Tonight was no different.It started as a whisper of unease. She had just returned to her private quarters, a small yet elegantly furnished home tucked away from the heart of the city. The day was tense, and she was trying to ease it all off. Usually, on days like these, she would just calm herself down and try to unwind in the best ways she could.Watching a movie, playing some video games or binging a snack and doomscrolling social media.But this evening was different.The tension clung to her skin like wet linen, and it caused her to ditch every relaxation motif.Then she heard it.A shift in the air. A presence.She didn't hesitate.In one fluid motion, she spun around, snatching the dagger she had left on the table and flinging it toward the darkened doorway. The blade sliced