Novel-novel oleh Benita Abel

Maya Pov But my mind kept drifting back to Leo, to the desperation in his eyes, to the word brother that had shattered everything I thought I knew about my family. Marcus had shown me a birth certificate listing different parents, scientists who'd allegedly experimented on me. If that was true, if my whole life had been built on lies, then who was I really? Where did I come from? And why had Leo been raised by Marcus while I'd been hidden away?At eleven forty-five, I changed into dark clothes suitable for a midnight meeting in a garden. Ryker armed himself with a knife hidden in his boot, insurance against the worst-case scenario. Kade and Owen would stay in the room, monitoring security cameras they'd hacked earlier to track our movements."If anything goes wrong, if I signal for help, you run." Ryker's voice was firm as he checked his knife one final time. "Don't try to fight, don't try to be brave. Just run back here and let Kade call for Council intervention.""I'm not leaving y

Maya Pov "You're lying." I found my voice again, found the strength to stand and face him across the table. "You're twisting the truth, manipulating evidence, creating a narrative that justifies what you did to me. Those medical records we found today—that's the real evidence. That's proof of your crimes, not mine.""Medical records of me trying to help genetically modified wolves control their violent impulses." Marcus's expression was patient, understanding, the picture of a misunderstood savior. "Records of treatments designed to suppress the dangerous aspects of their modifications before someone else got killed. Yes, some of those treatments were painful. Yes, some patients complained about abuse. But would they rather I did nothing? Rather I let them become murderers like you?"The logic was twisted, horrifying, but I could see it working on the assembled pack members. Fear flickered in their eyes as they looked at me, fear of what I might be capable of, what violence might lur

Maya Pov The note burned in my hand beneath the table, those words replaying in my mind over and over. *Meet me in the garden at midnight. Come alone. -L. Leo wanted to speak with me privately, away from his father's watchful eyes and the pack's curious stares. Every rational part of me knew this could be a trap, another manipulation in Marcus's twisted game. But something deeper pulled at me, something I couldn't explain or ignore.I looked up and caught Leo's gaze across the table. He wasn't smiling or threatening. He just looked desperate, like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline. His eyes held something familiar, something that made my chest ache with recognition I couldn't quite grasp. When Marcus turned to address a pack elder about territory disputes, Leo mouthed two words that made my blood freeze: *Please. Brother.*My fork clattered against my plate, the sound sharp in the momentary lull of conversation. Ryker's hand found mine under the table, steadying me, grounding m

Ryker POV "Tell Alpha Marcus we accept his invitation." I kept my voice steady and calm, projecting confidence I didn't entirely feel. "We'll be there at eight."The servant's footsteps retreated down the hallway. Owen locked the door again, then turned to face me with concern written across his features."You know this is a trap.""Of course it's a trap." I returned to the documents spread across the table, studying them more carefully now that the immediate danger had passed. "But refusing would show weakness. Marcus would use it against us, claim we're hiding something or afraid to face scrutiny.""So we walk into his trap and hope we can survive it?" Kade shook his head. "That's a terrible plan, Alpha.""We walk into his trap with conditions." I pulled out my phone, composing a carefully worded message. "Marcus wants a dinner, he gets a dinner. But Maya sits beside me at all times, surrounded by our people. No separated seating, no opportunities for him to corner her or poison he

Maya Pov "Father, what's happening?" Leo's voice carried clearly down the hallway. "Why are there armed guards surrounding our guests?""This doesn't concern you, Leo." Marcus didn't take his eyes off me. "Return to your quarters."But Leo didn't move. He stood there in the hallway, looking between his father and the trapped guests, and I saw something shift in his expression. Decision, maybe. Or defiance."Let them go." Leo spoke quietly, but with unexpected firmness. "They're under Council protection. If you harm them or detain them, you'll answer to more than just Alpha Ryker."Marcus's head snapped toward his son, genuine shock breaking through his controlled mask. "What did you say?""I said let them go." Leo moved forward, pushing through the gathered pack members until he stood beside me. "I'll vouch for them. Whatever they found, I'll testify it existed. I'll tell the Council everything I saw."The gathered pack members murmured their agreement, a ripple of support spreading

RykerI heard the commotion before I saw it. Raised voices, the heavy thud of boots on wooden floors, the sharp command of guards moving into position. Every instinct in my body screamed danger, and I was running before my mind fully processed what was happening. Maya was in trouble. I could feel it through the bond we shared, that invisible thread connecting us across distance and walls.The hallways blurred past me as I ran. Pack members pressed themselves against walls to let me pass, their faces confused and alarmed. I didn't stop to explain. I just followed the pull toward Maya, toward the escalating tension I could feel building like pressure before a storm. Owen and Kade were supposed to be with her, supposed to keep her safe, but something had gone wrong. Something had drawn Marcus's attention and anger.I rounded the corner into the old servant quarters section of the packhouse and stopped. Six guards in black uniforms blocked the narrow hallway, their bodies forming a wall b