Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Lottie POV

Sitting on the sofa, I tried to focus on Chase's words, but they seemed to drift past me like a distant echo. Confusion swirled in my mind like a thick fog. How did I end up downstairs? One moment, I was in bed, and the next, I was in the kitchen with Kane. The memories were hazy and fragmented. Why could I only recall from the moment Chase burst in? None of it made sense.

I felt as if someone was playing a cruel trick on me. For a fleeting moment, I even suspected Chase. But when he scolded me, the raw concern in his eyes told me otherwise. Deep down, I knew what I'd said to him was unfair. He was just trying to protect me. Yet, an overwhelming sense of loneliness pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. Standing up abruptly, I shook my head.

"You're not helping," I uttered, my voice barely above a whisper. The room felt stifling, and I needed to escape, to clear my head.

"Lottie, wait," Chase pleaded, his eyes reflecting a pain that mirrored my own. "I can't lose you."

I paused, the weight of his words hanging heavily between us. I could hear the sadness trembling in his voice, and for a moment, I considered lashing out to tell him he already had. But I swallowed the bitter words. Despite everything, I loved my brother. Hurting him wouldn't ease my own pain.

"I'll just be in the library," I said softly, trying to steady my voice. "I need some space, Chase. This was my home. I grew up here. No one is going to hurt me. I carry the Alpha's grandbabies-it would be... unthinkable for anyone to try." Although true, the words felt like ash in my mouth; I might carry the twin's pups and his grand pups, but really, what effort had he made to reach out to me? None. Chase studied me for a moment, the conflict evident in his eyes. Finally, he sighed and gave a reluctant nod.

"I'll be here if you need me," he called out as I turned away. I walked down the dimly lit hallway, the familiar creaks of the old floorboards echoing beneath my feet. The house was quiet, the silence only broken by the distant ticking of a grandfather clock. As I passed by a doorway, a cool draft brushed against my skin, causing me to shiver. I paused, glancing toward the slightly ajar door leading to the basement.

"What is that?" I asked the cold night air as an inexplicable pull tugged at me. Something about the darkness beyond the door beckoned, stirring a curiosity I couldn't ignore.

"Keep walking," Sage urged softly in my mind, her voice laced with unease. "There's nothing down there for us."

"But what if there is?" I countered. "I feel... I don't know, compelled."

there? The thought of anyone suffering in silence spurred me into action. Ignoring Sage's protest, I pushed the door open wider. A musty scent wafted up from the depths, tinged with something foul-an undercurrent of decay that made my stomach churn. Carefully, I began my descent, each step

just as I remembered it: a sprawling space with low ceilings and walls lined with old shelves cluttered with forgotten items. Reaching

Just rows of dusty boxes and cobweb-covered furniture. Perhaps my mind

I heard it again a faint, pitiful whimper, this time more distinct and

hear

but I couldn't ignore the pull. Something-or someone

wall; my footsteps hurried yet cautious. Pressing my ear against the cold surface, I strained to listen. Beneath the silence, I detected the

we need

fear lacing

to my surprise, there was a soft-click. A section of the wall slid open with a low groan, revealing a dark passageway beyond. A putrid smell assaulted my senses-stronger now, causing me to gag. Covering my mouth and nose with

in there," Sage pleaded. "Something

quiet suffering spurred me forward. Summoning

corridor. The air

each breath a struggle.

I moved I moved

to a

deeper, the darkness

from a