LOGINVioletAs consciousness ebbed back, it felt like breaking the surface after a deep dive. My skin still quivered, and my mark tingled—Derek's permanent claim. His scent wrapped around me, warm and safe, and I instinctively burrowed closer to his chest."Awake?" His voice rumbled at my ear, low and satisfied.I opened my eyes and fell into his dark gaze. I'd never seen that kind of tenderness there before—heat, devotion, a possessiveness that burned. Sunlight spilled across his face, making him look like a god stepped out of a painting."How do you feel?" His fingers skimmed my cheek, heat sparking under my skin."Good." My voice was hoarse, scraped raw by last night. "Never better."That wasn't a line. The mark had snapped a bond into place. I could feel him—love, contentment, the way he treasured me. Wholeness swelled in my chest until it hurt in the best way."My Luna." He brushed a kiss over my mouth, voice dipping, wicked. "You were so damn beautiful under me last night."My face w
VioletTwenty minutes later, we were in the office. My heart slammed at the sight of them. Leon's left cheek was swollen. Theodora's uniform was rumpled, eyes watery."What happened?" I was on them, checking hands, faces.Olivia looked pained. "During recess, a few kids from other classes argued with Leon and Theodora. It escalated."Derek frowned, crouched, and cupped Theodora's cheek. "Hey, baby. Tell me what happened. I always believe you."He didn't scold. He listened. That simple trust stung my eyes.Theodora hiccuped. "They said... we don't have a dad. They said Derek is a fake dad."Leon's fists knotted, anger burning. "They said Mom found a fake dad to trick people. Said nobody wants us."The words cut like knives. The thing I feared most. The thing that always finds a way to happen."So you fought?" I asked quietly."I won't let anyone talk trash about Mom," Leon said, chin up. "Or about Derek. He acts like our dad. Who are they to call him fake?"Theodora nodded, tears still
VioletTwenty minutes later, we were in the office. My heart slammed at the sight of them. Leon's left cheek was swollen. Theodora's uniform was rumpled, eyes watery."What happened?" I was on them, checking hands, faces.Olivia looked pained. "During recess, a few kids from other classes argued with Leon and Theodora. It escalated."Derek frowned, crouched, and cupped Theodora's cheek. "Hey, baby. Tell me what happened. I always believe you."He didn't scold. He listened. That simple trust stung my eyes.Theodora hiccuped. "They said... we don't have a dad. They said Derek is a fake dad."Leon's fists knotted, anger burning. "They said Mom found a fake dad to trick people. Said nobody wants us."The words cut like knives. The thing I feared most. The thing that always finds a way to happen."So you fought?" I asked quietly."I won't let anyone talk trash about Mom," Leon said, chin up. "Or about Derek. He acts like our dad. Who are they to call him fake?"Theodora nodded, tears still
VioletTwenty minutes later, we were in the office. My heart slammed at the sight of them. Leon's left cheek was swollen. Theodora's uniform was rumpled, eyes watery."What happened?" I was on them, checking hands, faces.Olivia looked pained. "During recess, a few kids from other classes argued with Leon and Theodora. It escalated."Derek frowned, crouched, and cupped Theodora's cheek. "Hey, baby. Tell me what happened. I always believe you."He didn't scold. He listened. That simple trust stung my eyes.Theodora hiccuped. "They said... we don't have a dad. They said Derek is a fake dad."Leon's fists knotted, anger burning. "They said Mom found a fake dad to trick people. Said nobody wants us."The words cut like knives. The thing I feared most. The thing that always finds a way to happen."So you fought?" I asked quietly."I won't let anyone talk trash about Mom," Leon said, chin up. "Or about Derek. He acts like our dad. Who are they to call him fake?"Theodora nodded, tears still
Derek"For wolves, the pack is everything," he snapped. "An individual never stands apart from the pack."He wasn't wrong. I know that. I'm strong enough now to find another way."Give me two weeks," I said finally. "Let me set things here. I'll return in a week. But my stance on Liriel won't change."Elder Elvin took in my face, read the steel there, and sighed. "I hope you don't regret your stubbornness. The pack needs a rational leader, not a man blinded by love.""I've never been clearer," I said, calm as ice. "I know what matters most."He shook his head and left.When the door closed, the weight settled back onto my shoulders. I know what's coming—the pressure, the fights. But my choice is made.No matter the cost, I'll protect this family I finally found. Violet and the kids are my whole world. I'll take every hit for them.Upstairs, Violet's soft steps crossed the hall. She was tucking them in—they always sleep like little tornadoes. That small, ordinary sweetness is exactly
Derek"Theodora, do you have a wish?" I didn't know my voice could be this soft.She set down her brush and nodded solemnly. "I do.""What is it?""I want to go to an amusement park with my family." Her cheeks pinked. "Like on TV—Mom and Dad take the kids on the roller coaster and eat cotton candy together."My heart lurched. Because I was gone, they've never had that. The guilt nearly swallowed me."I want the amusement park too!" Leon burst out. "I want the Ferris wheel and to see the whole city from the top!"My mouth beat my brain to it. "Then we'll go tomorrow. I'll be your Dad for a day.""Really?" they said together.I stalled. I wanted it. But what about Violet?I pushed through. "I'll be your dad, if you'll have me.""Yes!" Theodora barely hesitated. "The dad in my head looks just like Derek!"That almost broke me. I turned away so they wouldn't see my eyes."Okay. I'll ask your mom."I found Violet and explained, then looked at her, asking without pride, "Can I?"She hesi
Natalie The hotel room, arranged and paid for by the Titans’ media rep, is quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint noise of traffic below.My heels are sprawled on the floor. They are black, five-inch high, red-bottomed Louboutins that were supposed to crush Jaxon’s ego
Natalie God, those online pictures don’t do him justice. The bastard is still obnoxiously handsome in person.That’s my first thought when I see him, because the moment Jaxon walks through those doors, I know I'm in trouble.At thirty-nine, he's grown into his features in a way that makes my mout
JaxonAdjusting my cufflinks in the hallway outside the media conference room, trying to get this interview over with as quickly as possible, I watch as my assistant Liza approaches.She’s clutching her tablet with that look she gets when she thinks she needs to sell me on something.“I really thin
Jaxon The afternoon air is thick with the metallic scent of sweat and cut grass.I run through the practice drill, my arm snapping forward and launching a tight spiral thirty yards down the field.The ball rockets through the air, landing right in the corner of the end zone, where my receiver wou







