323RD POV.Kyle drags his feet weakly as he nears Kade, who’s found a branch within the woods to sit on while he sips his coffee.“I wonder how you’re peaceful here, mute and static.” Kyle speaks out with a sense of pain in his voice. “I feel bored.”“Well, brother, there are a lot of wildlings in this wildness. Why don’t you go kill some of them, or maybe just chase them for the fun of it? I’m sure you’d find yourself in a happy mood sooner than later.” Kade advises before he goes back to his coffee.Kyle snorts as he puffs out his lips. “That’s such a bad idea. We’ve been waiting here for more than an hour.”“Yes, because we are the world’s most dangerous predator. We wait and wait till the ones who think they are predators as well—but nothing but prey—show a soft spot. That’s war. That’s winning. That’s triumphant.” Kade speaks with an odd tone, one taken from carefulness. It makes Kyle brush his hands into his hair in frustration. This is not his forte or his kind of thing, so he

34Kaya’s POV.I expected the air to hit me on the face, sprawling my hair and notifying me that this is my last second on this planet.My eyes are tightly shut, expecting my consciousness to fade away within a split second.Except neither of those came.Gravity didn’t take its course.I don’t feel like I’m falling.Then my brain comes back to reality. There’s a sharp sting in my elbow, and I hear the voice of a male, “are you okay?”The person taps me, but I don’t open my eyes, even though my eyelids flutter. I’m scared to open my eyes because I already know what has just happened.I am still awaiting my death.The male keeps hitting me on the shoulder till I finally open my eyes, and he cups my face in his hands. “Are you okay? Can you say a word to me?”I hit his hands away from my body and turn to the sides, looking around to see that I’m still on the roof.No, how could I not be dead?Now that the fear is sipping away, I recall feeling someone wrap their arms around my waist and

36Kaya’s POV.From afar, my ears pick up on the sounds of cheering coming from a great crowd. I wonder what is happening that’s caused the guards to march to the center room where I was chained a few hours ago.Aiden is in the front, watching out for the both of us. We cannot afford to be caught, unknowing whatever could happen, especially for someone like me.I can’t see the triplets in this state. Just thinking about their existence alone is a fear that sends chills down my spine. My palms suddenly perspire from the trauma that I’ve faced in their hands, knowing that as long as I remain alive, I cannot escape it.But then, at least for now, I’m with Aiden, and I shouldn’t spoil the good mood. His whispering voice calls my attention before a wave from him.“Here, Kaya.” I raise my face to meet his and hurry to the side of the wall where we’ve hidden.Blinking profusely, my lips part at the sight in front of me, and my heart resumes its hammering, clanking against my sternum.I grip

38 Kaya’s POV. My smile brigtens at the sight of the morning light, radiating into the room to beautify the interior decor. Ever since I’ve been captured by the triplets, I really thought it was the end for me, that is, enjoying the sight of the morning sunlight. It was so for some time, but Aiden turned out to be the guardian angel I needed in my life. He really did help me out. I roll out of bed and stretch, my bones releasing a crunchy sound almost inaudible to the ear. I go to the other side of the bed, stopping in front of the cabinet to pick up a robe, which I throw over my shoulder. Sighing, I make my way to the balcony. It’s been over two weeks since the triplets called on me; it’s as though they’ve forgotten me. They don’t even ask for anyone to check up on me or keep me confined to the room, a

40 Kaya’s POV. My senses come alive, and a groan is released through my throat as I try to pick myself up from the ground. I can’t make sense of where I am for a while, as it is all dark. My hands rub a side of my head, wincing at the pain resulting from the action. “What...” My voice is a whisper that trails off into the air as my orbs shift around to make sense of my surroundings. Following the rays of the dim light from the candles, I hear a rattle in the distance—no, close to me. Before is Aiden, chained to the wall. His hands are above his head, tucked into the chains. My eyes flare as my brain reels back to what happened earlier, just before I got sucked into the darkness. We were taken by the sex slaves. Clara hurled me off, and my head hit a tree, which made me pass out. “Ho