Mag-log inWHAT IT COSTNina’s POVAxel didn’t leave like I’d expected him toThat was the first thing I noticed after the silence stretched too long between us.He just stood there. Waiting. Like he expected me to say something.Anything at all, but I didn’t. Because I didn’t trust myself to.Because if I opened my mouth right now, I wasn’t sure what would come out, anger, hurt, or something worse.“You’re not going to say anything,” he said quietly.It wasn’t a question. “No,” I replied.He nodded once.Like he expected that too.“Then I’ll say this,” he continued. “I’m not your enemy.”“I know.”That wasn’t the issue.“Then why are you treating me like one?”I let out a slow breath. “Because right now, I don’t know what you are.”That hit. I saw it in the slight tightening of his jaw. But he didn’t look away.“Then let me prove it.”“How?” I asked.“By staying.”I frowned. “Staying?”“Yes.”“You mean like you should’ve done before?”His gaze held mine.“Yes.”The honesty in that answer caught
LINES YOU DON’T CROSSNina’s POVI didn’t slow down until I reached my apartment. And even then, it wasn’t because I wanted to.It was because my body forced me to. The adrenaline from the fight was still buzzing beneath my skin, my pulse too fast, my thoughts even faster.I shoved thoughts about Axel away the moment they tried to settle. I didn’t want to think about him.Not right now. Not when anger still burned too hot in my chest.I pushed through the doors and headed straight for my office, ignoring the guards who straightened at my approach.The moment I got inside, I shut the door harder than necessary. I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair.This was too much. Everything felt like it was collapsing into one tangled mess of half-truths and secrets.A knock sounded at the door. I closed my eyes briefly.“Go away.”The door opened anyway, and Ryan walked in. “I said go away.”“Yeah,” Ryan said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. “I wasn’t really listenin
WHAT HE WON’T SAYAxel’s POVThe moment Nina turned and walked away, I knew I’d lost something. Enough that the weight of it settled deep in my chest like a bruise I couldn’t touch.Her footsteps were sharp against the dirt path, each one carrying her further from me, from this clearing, from whatever fragile ground we’d managed to stand on before tonight.I didn’t go after her. Not because I didn’t want to. Because I knew if I did, it would only make things worse.“She’s pissed.” Ryan’s voice cut through the silence.I didn’t look at him. “I noticed.”“Good,” Ryan said. “At least you’re not completely blind.”I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through my hair.Around us, the aftermath of the ambush was still settling. Guards were regrouping, checking injuries, scanning the treeline for any sign of Nate’s return.But the real tension was right here.Kieran stepped forward, his expression tight. “What the hell was that?”I finally looked at him. “What do you mean?”He let out a humorles
THE ONE WHO LEFTNina’s POVThe impact of Nate’s attack rattled through my bones.His speed was precise. Controlled. Calculated. Like every movement had been studied, perfected, and repeated a thousand times before this moment.My arm came up just in time to block his strike. Pain shot up my shoulder.We collided again, claws flashing, the sound of impact sharp against the chaos erupting around us.Behind me, I could hear the chaos of the fight going on, but right now I had a singular focus.“You’ve improved,” Nate said, almost conversationally as he circled me.“You talk too much,” I shot back.His lips curved. “And you’re still angry.”“Good,” I said. “You should be worried.”He moved again. I twisted to the side, barely avoiding his strike as it cut through the air where my neck had been.My wolf surged beneath my skin, rising stronger than it had in weeks.“Still holding back,” Nate murmured.“I’m not holding anything back.”“Then you’re not trying hard enough.”Rage flared hot in
WHEN THE MASK DROPSNina’s POVThe air shifted the moment Nate finished speaking.It wasn’t just tension. It was something deeper. Primal.Ryan didn’t hesitate. “Yeah,” he said flatly, rolling his shoulders. “I’ve heard enough.”Before I could stop him, he lunged. Ryan moved fast, faster than most wolves I’d seen in full combat, but Nate didn’t even flinch.He stepped aside at the last second, and Ryan’s fist cut through empty air.“What the…”Nate drove his elbow into Ryan’s ribs with brutal precision. The impact knocked the breath out of him. Ryan staggered back with a sharp curse.“Careful,” Nate said calmly. “You’ll hurt yourself.”The two guards moved instantly, flanking Nate from either side.“Don’t,” I warned.But it was already too late. One guard charged. Nate caught his arm mid-swing and twisted sharply. A sickening crack echoed through the clearing.The guard screamed as his arm snapped.The second guard lunged from behind, but Nate ducked low, swept his legs out from under
THE SILENT WITNESSNina’s POVThe forest was too quiet.The only sound was the steady crunch of tires over gravel as Ryan drove the patrol vehicle down the narrow forest road.Kaiden sat in the passenger seat, studying a small digital map on his phone while Kieran and three other guards followed behind us on motorcycles.Ryan broke the silence first. “Still think Nate’s watching us?”“Yes.”Ryan smirked faintly. “Good.”Kaiden didn’t look up from the map. “You’re enjoying this too much.”Ryan shrugged. “What can I say? I prefer enemies who finally show themselves.”I stared out the window, scanning the dark tree line. Kieran’s voice crackled through the radio from behind us.“We’re two minutes out.”Ryan grabbed the radio. “Copy that.”He slowed the vehicle slightly as the road curved sharply ahead. Then the headlights caught something lying in the middle of the dirt path.Ryan braked hard. The tires skidded against gravel before stopping.“Well,” he muttered.“Guess we found him.”Th
BLOOD AND WHAT IT OWESNina’s POVRyan drove like he always did, with one hand tight on the steering wheel, jaw clenched, music turned low enough to serve as background noise. The city lights streaked past the windows, blurred by the thin drizzle that had started halfway through our drive.I’d aske
THE WEIGHT OF WORDS UNSAIDNina’s POVI didn’t go back to my room right away.If I did, I knew I’d pace. Replay Axel’s words over and over in my head, and I’d lie awake with Lina restless beneath my skin, prodding every thought like a bruise you can’t stop touching.So I walked.The path curved awa
BLOOD AND BROTHERSAxel’s POVI found Ryan where I expected him to be.He stood in the center of the ring with his jacket tossed aside, shirt clinging to him with sweat, knuckles raw as he'd already been hitting something. Or someone. The air around him was tight with anger, sharp enough that even
WHAT HE CARRIES IN SILENCENina’s POVI wasn’t looking for Axel.I told myself I was just walking.Letting my body unwind. Letting Lina stretch and breathe without the constant pressure of being watched.He’s nearby, she murmured.“I know,” I whispered back.I felt him before I saw him. That pull,







