Gladys returned from her meeting with a triumphant grin, her mind brimming with sadistic plans for Allegra. She practically skipped to Allegra's cell, eager to unleash her latest torment, only to find it empty. Confusion twisted her features as she stormed to her office, where Cora and another woman were engrossed in paperwork.
"Where is she?" Gladys demanded, her voice dripping with fury.
Cora glanced up at Gladys, her expression betraying a hint of concern at the woman's evident agitation. However, it was the other woman who responded, her tone casual and indifferent.
"Be specific," she advised, her attention fixed on the paperwork in front of her.
Gladys ground her teeth in frustration. "Allegra," she snapped.
The woman looked up, her gaze finally meeting Gladys'. "Who is that? A staff member or one of the slaves? Because if it's one of them, you seem to have a great memory," she remarked, her tone laced with subtle sarcasm.
"A slave you dimwit!" Gladys screams.
"First, I'm not a dimwit." She says. "Second, let me check the file." She looks through the files with a slow motion to irk Gladys further "A slave you dimwit!" Gladys screams.
"First, I'm not a dimwit." She says. "Second, let me check the file." She looks through the files a tad bit too slowly to irk Gladys further.
Gladys seethed with impatience as the woman's deliberate movements grated on her nerves.
"Just check the file already!" she demanded, her voice tight with frustration.
The woman ignored her, taking her time as she rifled through the papers with exaggerated slowness, her expression one of mock concentration. Finally, she pulled out a document and scanned it casually.
"Hmm, here we go," she drawled, her tone dripping with nonchalance. "Allegra... Ah, yes, she's been sold. Two days ago, actually."
Gladys's eyes widened in disbelief, her hands trembling with panic as she absorbed the shocking news. "Sold?! No, no, no, this is not good," she muttered frantically, pacing back and forth in her office.
The woman, still sitting at her desk, watched Gladys with a mixture of amusement and irritation. "What do you mean? There's one less headache for you," she remarked, her tone tinged with indifference.
But Gladys shook her head vehemently, her mind racing with dire possibilities. "The person who sold her said she didn't want Allegra to get sold, no matter the cost," she explained, her voice strained with fear. "She knows where we live, she knows about our families... she'll kill us all."
The woman's eyes widened in shock at the gravity of the situation, and without hesitation, she rose from her seat and slapped Gladys across the face. "And who gave you the right to make that kind of deal?!" she demanded angrily.
Gladys winced at the sting of the slap, her cheek throbbing with pain. "It was a good price, and it didn't seem like a hassle at the time," she replied weakly, her voice filled with regret.
Cora's eyes widened in shock as the gravity of the situation sank in. "Where is Allegra?!" Gladys demanded, her voice trembling with urgency.
"We don't know... she was sold by a wealthy man who bought her for fifty thousand gold coins," the woman replied calmly, though a hint of concern flickered in her eyes.
"Fifty what?!" Gladys exclaimed, her mind reeling at the exorbitant sum.
The woman nodded solemnly. "That's more than enough... we will run away and start a new life in another city," Gladys declared, her voice tinged with desperation.
Cora and the woman exchanged a glance, their expressions conveying a mixture of disbelief and disdain towards Gladys's suggestion.
"Run away?" Cora scoffed, her voice laced with incredulity. "Sorry, but this is all on you. I quit." With a final, decisive stroke of her pen, she signed a document she had prepared years ago, grabbed her bag, and sauntered out of the office without a backward glance.
The woman regarded Gladys with a mixture of contempt and disappointment. "I never liked you... but this? You are despicable," she declared, her voice heavy with disapproval, before following Cora out of the room.
Left alone, Gladys slumped to the floor, overcome with a flood of tears and the weight of her own actions.
—
(Music recommendation: War of hearts by Ruelle)
As Allegra sat in the courtyard, she found solace in the serene surroundings of Declan's manor. The gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the rhythmic sound of the servant's pruning shears provided a calming backdrop.
Lost in her thoughts, Allegra traced the delicate petals of a nearby rose, marveling at its beauty despite the thorns that adorned its stem. She couldn't help but draw parallels between herself and the flower – outwardly beautiful, yet harboring hidden defenses.
The servant's movements were methodical, each snip of the shears adding to the meticulously sculpted garden. Allegra admired their dedication, finding comfort in the simplicity of their task.
As the afternoon sun bathed the courtyard in a warm glow, Allegra closed her eyes, allowing herself to be enveloped by the tranquility of the moment. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, grateful for the refuge that Declan's manor provided.
As she hummed the unfamiliar tune, Allegra couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu that washed over her. The melody was hauntingly beautiful, weaving its way through her thoughts like a long-forgotten memory resurfacing from the depths of her mind.
Stopping abruptly, she furrowed her brow in confusion, realizing that she had never heard a song quite like this before. It was as if the melody had materialized out of thin air, captivating her with its ethereal notes and stirring her soul in ways she couldn't explain.
Unable to shake the sense of intrigue that the mysterious melody evoked, Allegra leaned back against the stone bench, closing her eyes and allowing herself to be swept away by the enchanting music that seemed to linger in the air around her.
With a furrowed brow, Allegra paused midway through the humming, feeling a sudden emptiness as the melody abruptly ceased to flow. Try as she might, the lyrics that had hovered just beyond her grasp refused to emerge, leaving her feeling strangely unsettled.
Frustration welled up inside her as she struggled to reclaim the elusive melody, but no matter how hard she tried, the words remained stubbornly out of reach. It was as if the song itself had slipped away, leaving behind only a lingering echo of its presence.
Confused and disheartened, Allegra opened her eyes and glanced around the tranquil courtyard, searching for some sign of the melody that had captivated her so completely. But all she found was silence, broken only by the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze, leaving her with a sense of longing for something she couldn't quite name.
"You look like you're having a bad day, care to join me on a little adventure?"
Allegra's gaze lifts to meet Declan's, finding him standing before her with an inviting smile gracing his features. His hair tousled in a casual manner, partially obscuring his left eye, lent him a rugged charm, while his crisp white button-up shirt accentuated his toned muscles, adding to his allure. Paired with slim-fitted pants, he exuded an effortless elegance that drew her attention despite her preoccupied thoughts.
She couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity at his offer of adventure, the prospect of breaking free from the confines of her own mind momentarily enticing. With a faint smile playing on her lips, she nods in agreement, ready to embrace whatever distraction he had in store.
With a playful grin, Declan stretches his arms out, offering his hands to Allegra as she rises from her seat. She accepts his gesture, intertwining her fingers with his as he pulls her up with a gentle tug. His cocky grin widens as he challenges her, teasingly he says, "Bet wolves can outrun vampires."
"You're on," Allegra responds, her own smirk mirroring his defiance. Without further ado, they dart off into the depths of the dense forest, their figures blending seamlessly into the shadows as they race with the speed of light, the thrill of the chase igniting their spirits.
As they pause to take in the breathtaking scenery, Allegra finds herself mesmerized by the beauty of their surroundings. The vibrant hues of green foliage and the shimmering light dancing off the nearby streams create a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
Suddenly, Declan's voice breaks through the tranquility, pulling Allegra from her reverie. "I want to show you something," he says, his tone filled with a hint of excitement. Intrigued, Allegra turns to face him, her curiosity piqued by his mysterious demeanor.
With a graceful step backward, Declan's form begins to shift and contort before her eyes. Bones crack and realign, white fur sprouts from his skin, and his features elongate and sharpen into those of a magnificent wolf. Allegra watches in awe as he transforms before her, his body morphing into that of a powerful Lycan.
The wolf that stands before her is a majestic sight to behold, its pure white fur shimmering in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. Its piercing blue eyes lock onto Allegra's, radiating intelligence and understanding.
Though Allegra is aware of Declan's true nature as a Lycan, witnessing his transformation firsthand leaves her feeling both awestruck and wary. As Allegra stares at the majestic wolf before her, a mix of awe and caution fills her. She takes a step back instinctively, her heart racing at the sight of Declan's transformation. The wolf's blue eyes gleam with intelligence as it regards her, a silent invitation to join him in his world.
Despite her initial apprehension, there is a sense of familiarity and trust that blossoms between them, bridging the gap between their two worlds. Allegra can't help but feel drawn to the creature before her. She takes a hesitant step forward, her hand reaching out tentatively towards the wolf's fur. The softness of his coat beneath her fingertips reassures her, calming the nerves that had threatened to overwhelm her just moments before.
With a gentle smile, Declan nudges her hand with his snout, a silent reassurance that she has nothing to fear. Emboldened by his gesture, Allegra steps closer, her fear giving way to curiosity and wonder. Together, they stand beneath the canopy of trees, two beings from different worlds brought together by fate.
In that moment, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the bond between them, Allegra realizes that she has found a kindred spirit in Declan, one who understands her in a way no one else ever could. And as they stand together beneath the sun, she knows that she is exactly where she is meant to be.
Declan, now in his majestic wolf form, strides forward with purpose, his movements graceful and fluid. As he reaches a clearing ahead, he pauses and lowers himself to the ground, a silent invitation for Allegra to join him.
Eagerly, Allegra approaches and climbs onto his broad back, feeling the warmth and strength of his fur beneath her fingertips. With a gentle nudge from Declan, they spring into motion, the Lycan's powerful hind legs propelling them effortlessly into the air.
The sensation of weightlessness envelops Allegra as they soar through the forest canopy, the rush of wind against her skin exhilarating. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, a genuine smile graces her lips, the burdens of her past momentarily forgotten in the sheer joy of the moment.
As they descend back to the forest floor, Declan lands with a graceful thud, his blue eyes shining with pride at having brought such happiness to Allegra. In this fleeting moment of connection, amidst the towering trees and whispering leaves, Allegra finds solace and comfort in the presence of her unlikely companion.
As Declan reverts to his human form, Allegra feels a familiar wave of anxiety wash over her. Hastily, she turns away, unable to bear the sight of his transformation.
"Where are your clothes?" She asks. As he searches for something to cover himself. With a hiss of frustration, he retrieves a pair of shorts from a nearby corner, his fabric stretched and torn from his recent shift.
"Darling, did you think that after that stunt my clothes would be fine?" he teases, his British charm evident even in the midst of their awkward exchange. As he hastily dons the shorts, he explains, "When someone grows big, they outgrow their clothes. Imagine it like that, and the clothes are torn to shreds."
Allegra's cheeks flush with embarrassment as she realizes her oversight. "I don't understand," she murmurs, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground.
With a reassuring smile, Declan assures her, "You can turn around now." And as she does, she finds herself meeting his gaze once more,
Her gaze trails to the intricately drawn tattoo adorning his left chest, its intricate designs extending down to his left arm. The lines and shapes seem to dance across his skin, adding to the allure of his already captivating presence. As her eyes continue their journey, she can't help but notice the perfectly chiseled contours of his chest, the smooth expanse of his abs, and the impressive strength evident in his biceps. Despite her efforts to avert her gaze, she finds herself drawn to the mesmerizing sight before her, captivated by the raw masculinity and undeniable allure emanating from his form.
"Are you hungry?" he asks, his voice soft and reassuring. She casts her eyes downward, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as she nods in response.
"Alright, I'll send someone to get you some food. I need to step out for a bit; Dante wants to have a word with me," he explains, a sense of urgency in his tone as he hurries off to his wing to get dressed.
The fleeting moment leaves Allegra feeling a mix of emotions, her heart racing with anticipation as she waits for his return, her thoughts swirling with the events of the evening.