Chapter One- The Beginning Of The End

I pushed the door open, stepping into the quiet house. Exhaustion clung to me like a second skin, the weight of the day pressing down on my shoulders. All I wanted was to find Miro, to sink into his embrace and let him chase away the tension knotted in my chest.

“Miro?” My voice echoed through the stillness. No response.

A frown tugged at my lips as I slipped off my heels. He had promised to wait for me. Yet, something felt off. The air was too still, the silence too thick. A shiver crawled up my spine.

I took another step inside—and then I saw him.

Saint West.

He stood near the window, hands in his pockets, his dark gaze locking onto mine. There was no trace of surprise, no guilt—just quiet control.

My breath hitched. “What are you doing here?”

A slow, deliberate smile curved his lips. “Waiting for you.”

A chill raced down my spine. “Where’s Miro?”

Saint didn’t blink. “Gone.”

The single word sent ice through my veins. I took a step back, my pulse hammering. “What do you mean, gone?”

His expression remained unreadable. “He’s dead, Alina.”

The world tilted. My breath hitched in my throat. No. That wasn’t possible.

“You’re lying.” My voice barely rose above a whisper.

Saint sighed, as if this was a conversation he had already played out in his mind. “You always doubt me.”

I shook my head, trying to steady my breathing. “I want to see him.”

“You can’t.”

Something flickered in his eyes—a challenge, an unspoken dare. That’s when it hit me. He wasn’t just delivering the news. He was the reason for it.

A sharp, choked sound escaped me. “You did something to him.”

Saint remained silent, his gaze unwavering.

“You—you bastard! He was your best friend!”

His lips curled slightly. “He didn’t deserve you.”

Rage exploded inside me. My hand moved before I could stop it—a sharp crack echoing as my palm met his cheek. My whole body shook with fury.

Saint’s head barely turned from the impact, but the smirk vanished. The air between us grew thick, charged with something dark and dangerous.

"You shouldn’t have done that, Alina," he murmured.

Before I could step back, his fingers wrapped around my wrist, his grip unbreakable.

"Let me go," I hissed, my voice laced with defiance, even as my pulse thundered.

Saint pulled me closer, his presence suffocating. “You want to act like a little fighter?” His voice was low, a warning. “Fine. But don’t forget who you’re fighting against.”

I shoved at his chest. "You don’t own me, Saint."

His grip tightened for a heartbeat before he let go. I stumbled back, breathing hard.

A knowing smile played on his lips. “Not yet.”

A wave of nausea hit me. My chest ached with the weight of betrayal, grief clawing at my insides. I turned and ran.

I never made it.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me back against an unyielding chest. I kicked, I fought, I screamed—

"Let me go! You’re a monster! I hate you!"

Saint’s grip only tightened, his breath warm against my ear. "You’ll learn to love me," he murmured, his voice dripping with cruel certainty.

Saint’s grip was unbreakable, his strength suffocating. I thrashed in his hold, but he barely moved, his body solid as steel. His fingers dug into my arms as he turned me to face him.

His gaze burned into mine, dark and triumphant. Then, without warning, his lips crashed against mine. It wasn’t a kiss—it was possession. A brutal claim. His mouth moved with arrogance, devouring, forcing, taking.

I whimpered against him, pushing at his chest, twisting my face away. “No—”

He didn’t stop. His hands roamed lower, fingers tearing at the delicate fabric of my dress. The sound of fabric ripping filled the air, cold air biting at my exposed skin. Panic surged through me like fire.

I fought harder, my nails digging into his skin, my body writhing to escape. “Stop! Please, stop!” My voice was hoarse, desperate, but my pleas only seemed to excite him more.

Saint pressed me against the wall, his breath hot against my neck. “You’re mine, Alina,” he whispered, his voice thick with hunger. “You always were.”

Saint’s grip on me was unbreakable, his strength overwhelming. I twisted in his arms, thrashing with everything I had, but it was useless. A cruel chuckle rumbled from his chest, sending a shiver of dread down my spine.

Before I could scream again, his lips crashed against mine—hard, forceful, nothing but pure possession. I gasped in shock, my hands pushing against his chest, but he didn’t care. His fingers tangled in my hair, forcing my head back as he deepened the kiss. It wasn’t love. It wasn’t passion. It was control.

I bit down on his lip, hoping to make him let go, but it only fueled him. His grip tightened, his body pressing against mine. His scent, dark and intoxicating, suffocated me. His hands moved to my waist, fingers tracing over the fabric of my dress before gripping it harshly.

With one swift motion, he tore the material, the sound of ripping fabric echoing in the room. My heart pounded against my ribs, my breath coming in frantic gasps. “No, please,” I begged, my voice barely above a whisper.

Saint ignored me. His own shirt hit the floor, his toned chest illuminated under the dim lighting. His hands returned to me, trailing over my bare skin, claiming every inch. His lips moved to my neck, kissing, biting—leaving his mark.

He proceeds to strip me of my panties and remove his trousers, leaving us both bare-naked.

"Please don't! No! Instead of moving, he covered my lips with his hands and inserted his dick into my pussy. He continued to move in and out until ten minutes later, when he cummed inside of me. As soon as he tried to go for another round, I kicked him and fled.

I ran.

The cold air stung my skin, but I didn’t stop. My legs burned, my lungs ached, but fear pushed me forward. I didn’t care that I was exposed, that my body trembled with exhaustion—I just needed to get away.

Saint’s voice rang out behind me, furious, relentless, but I refused to look back. If I looked back, I might fall. If I looked back, he might catch me.

Faster. I had to run faster.

The night blurred around me, streetlights flickering like distant stars. My breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, tears streaming down my face. My mind screamed for an escape, for safety—but I had nowhere to go.

Then, out of nowhere—blinding headlights.

A deafening honk shattered the silence.

I barely had time to react before something slammed into me, hard.

Pain exploded through my body, sharp and unbearable. My limbs went weightless as I was thrown backward. The world spun, sky and pavement twisting into one. My head hit the ground with a sickening crack.

Everything blurred. My thoughts faded into nothingness.

Darkness swallowed me whole.