Chapter: Chapter 209Hope could still feel the tension Perry had left behind.The kitchen was quiet now, but Perry’s proposal had changed something. No one had dismissed the idea of Valduz becoming the Rogue King. Hope had not dismissed it either.She dried her hands beside the sink. “King Nathan Valduz Ryker,” she said, trying out the title.Valduz laughed behind her. “I could take your last name instead. My father would hate that.”“Spite. A beautiful reason to marry someone.”He laughed again. Hope liked hearing it. Lately, he had begun to show her more of himself beneath the guarded answers and sharp jokes.She picked up the empty plates, but Valduz took one from her hand.“Thank you for feeding my difficult friends. I’ll wash these.”Hope let him. Standing beside him like this felt easy, even after the argument at the shelter and everything Perry had said.“What would her plan mean for us?” she asked.Valduz set the plate in the sink. He came back and wrapped his arms around her waist. His hands were
Last Updated: 2026-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 208Hope was still looking at Perry when she said, “I want to open the program again.”Violetta turned toward her. “What?”“We run it ourselves this time,” Perry said. “Properly.”“You’ve lost your mind.”Valduz set down the device he had been holding. He had spent the morning worrying about Hope’s approaching shift. Perry’s words gave him a new reason to worry.“Why would you want to reopen it?” he asked.“What happened to us was wrong,” Perry said. “But we changed things because of it. The Wolf Bait laws are gone.”“You helped end those laws,” Valduz said.“We all did. Whether we wanted to or not.”Perry looked around the kitchen. Hope was sitting beside Valduz, while Violetta stood across from them with her arms folded.“None of us is happy with where we ended up,” Perry continued. “Violetta, they made you a Luna so they could display you beside someone else’s power. And I was never going to be happy smiling politely while other people decided what mattered.”Violetta’s face hardened.
Last Updated: 2026-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 207“Yes,” Hope said into the phone. “Midnight feels eager.”Valduz watched her from across the kitchen while his father asked about the twins.“Zoey is doing well,” Hope said. “He loves being here.”“And Zenep?”Hope hesitated. “She’s having a harder time. She doesn’t like being apart from Zoey.”“She’s the older twin,” Mr. Ryker said. “She may feel responsible for him. Spend some time with her alone when you can. Let her enjoy herself without worrying about her brother.”Hope considered it. Zenep often watched over Zoey even when no one had asked her to.“I think she knows something’s wrong,” Hope admitted.The line went quiet.“Is she having nightmares again?” he asked.Hope’s chest tightened. “Yes.”“Keep an eye on her. Zenep has a strong instinct for danger.” His voice softened. “She must get that from you.”Hope glanced at Valduz. She was surprised by how easily she had told his father about the nightmares. She still did not know how much she could trust him.“What do you need the B
Last Updated: 2026-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 206Valduz caught Hope’s wrist before she could walk away.“Don’t you dare.”She turned. Her eyes glowed bright red, and his wolf surged in answer.Hope pulled her arm free. He let her.“It’s one thing to leave me,” he said roughly. “It’s another to turn to someone else just to hurt me.”“From now on, everything I do will be to spite you.”The words struck harder than her punch had. Hope headed up the path toward the greenhouse.“Pay attention, Alpha Valduz Ryker.”The title was full of contempt. She had seen exactly what he feared becoming.If he let her leave believing he did not want her, she might never trust him again. Valduz had tried to protect her by hiding the worst of his past. He could see how much that secrecy had hurt her.“Six thousand two hundred eighty-four,” he said.Hope stopped.“That’s how many people I’ve killed. Those are only the confirmed ones.”She turned slowly. Valduz made himself continue.“I started when I was fifteen. Anyone who threatened my mother or me, I
Last Updated: 2026-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 205“These are good,” Hope said, lowering the handgun. “But if these rooms are meant to keep people alive, they need weapons that won’t make noise.”Valduz was still watching the way she held the gun.“Bows,” she continued, looking around the shelter. “Crossbows. Knives in more than one place.”“You’ve thought about this before.”“I paid for school with archery competitions. My dad taught me to hunt too.” She checked the weapon once more before setting it down. “And how to stay hidden.”She spoke as if those were ordinary things to learn growing up.Valduz did not like imagining what had made them necessary. “I’m glad you know how.”Hope glanced toward the other weapons. “Do you use these?”“No. My mother and siblings do.” He moved farther into the room. “That’s why there are several shelters. If one is found, they can get to another.”“Are they all set up like this?”“Yes.”“Then they all need first aid kits. Flashlights, spare batteries, and rope too.”“I’ll add them.”“And more knives.
Last Updated: 2026-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 204“Doesn’t your family want something from us?” Hope asked. “Don’t they expect us to take their place one day?”Valduz looked out at the ocean. “Yes. They do.”Hope thought about the pack laws on her tablet and the question she had asked him about his family’s help. A house could be a gift and still carry expectations.Valduz gave a quiet laugh. “I used to think we were completely different.”“We are,” Hope said. “Except for one thing.”“What’s that?”“We both want our freedom.”He turned toward her, then looked back at the dark water. “I’ll see how much time I can buy us.”“Would we have to leave?”“No. This place is ours.” He pointed toward the land beyond the house. “Everything from here to there is in Zenep’s and Zoey’s names. I made sure of it, just in case.”Hope tightened her grip on the tablet.Just in case.She opened Perry’s research again. The files traced bloodlines, missing heirs, and laws Hope had barely begun to understand.“There are eight bloodlines,” she said. “Accordi
Last Updated: 2026-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 164“Nihan, I want you back on the team,” Ivy said after their tears finally calmed. “All right?”Nihan searched her face.“Is it really okay?”Ivy stared at her in disbelief.“Of course it is. It is more than okay.” She reached for Nihan’s hands. “I’m even willing to increase your salary.”Nihan’s eyes widened.“Did you know the team suffered fewer injuries this season than last season?” Ivy continued. “You’re excellent at your job, Nihan.”She glanced at Calix with a knowing smile.“And I’m not offering you the position only because our star player refuses to work with anyone else.”Calix remained seated with his arms crossed, looking completely unashamed.Gratitude filled Nihan’s chest. She was about to thank Ivy when the office door suddenly flew open.Lia and Jazzper stood out
Last Updated: 2026-09-30
Chapter: Chapter 163“Nihan, we’re here.”A gentle squeeze on her shoulder slowly pulled Nihan from sleep.She released a soft hum and opened her eyes. For a moment, she stared through the car window without understanding where they were.“We’re here, Nihan,” Calix repeated.She blinked and finally recognized the arena outside.After waking up together at the hotel, they had struggled to leave the penthouse. Every time they tried to get ready, Calix found another reason to pull her back into his arms.By the time they checked out, Nihan’s hair was a mess and several marks remained visible on her neck.Of course, that was when they ran into Carmen and her friends.The women had taken one look at Nihan and immediately understood what had happened after the reunion.Their embarrassment had only deepened.None of them tried to insult her again.Nihan no longer cared what they thought anyway
Last Updated: 2026-09-29
Chapter: Chapter 162Sleeping peacefully had never come naturally to Calix.But lately, he had been waking up feeling truly rested.When he opened his eyes, he immediately saw the reason.Nihan slept against his arm, breathing softly. Her face tightened every few moments as if she were reacting to something in her dreams.The sight made Calix smile.Unable to resist, he reached over and gently pinched her cheek.A quiet groan escaped Nihan. Her eyes slowly opened.Calix continued smiling at her.“Go back to sleep. It’s still early.”Nihan closed her eyes and snuggled closer to his chest.“What time is it?”“Around noon.”Her eyes flew open.She pushed him back and quickly sat up.“Noon?” she exclaimed. “How is that early? I didn’t tell my parents I was staying out all night.”“I already told them.”Nihan froze.
Last Updated: 2026-09-28
Chapter: Chapter 161“Calix, I don’t think this position is right,” Nihan whispered between unsteady breaths.“What’s wrong with it?”His lips moved across the sensitive skin of her neck.Nihan sat across his lap with her back pressed against his chest. The mirror above the bed reflected everything, from her flushed face to the way Calix held her close.“This is too much,” she admitted. “I can see everything.”“Then look at yourself.”“No.”But her eyes moved toward the mirror anyway.For a moment, Nihan barely recognized the woman staring back at her.Her cheeks were flushed. Her lips were parted, and several strands of hair had fallen across her forehead.She looked nervous and overwhelmed.But she also looked happy.When her eyes moved toward Calix’s reflection, her breath caught.He was watching her.His dark gaze
Last Updated: 2026-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 160Calix tapped a card against the elevator sensor and pressed the button for the highest floor.The moment the doors closed, he pulled Nihan into his arms and kissed her.Her eyes widened as her back gently touched the wall. Calix kissed her as if he had been waiting far too long to taste her again.“Calix,” she whispered when their lips finally parted. “We’re still inside the elevator.”“This elevator goes directly to the penthouse,” he murmured before kissing her again.His kiss deepened, drawing a soft sound from Nihan before she could stop it.She quickly placed one hand against his chest.“If someone sees us, I’ll never recover.”Calix did not seem concerned. He kissed her again as though they were the only two people in the world.Then Nihan suddenly remembered something.“Have you even eaten?”“No.”She pulled ba
Last Updated: 2026-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 159The uncomfortable silence that had filled the hall while Carmen insulted Nihan changed into complete shock.Even Nihan could not believe Calix had arrived at that exact moment.His hand slipped into hers, pulling her back to reality.“You’re here?” she managed to ask.Calix nodded.“I’m sorry I’m late.”“You shouldn’t have rushed.”Nihan instinctively patted his shoulder.The moment her hand touched him, Calix flinched.It was a small reaction, but she noticed it.Her eyes narrowed.“I became stiff from driving for so long,” he quickly explained.“Calix,” Nihan warned softly.She did not believe him.Before she could question him further, Carmen hurried toward them.“Calix Godwin, hello!” she greeted with a bright smile. “I’m Carmen Madden. I’m the woman who sent you
Last Updated: 2026-09-25
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