Rock insisted on paying.“No arguments,” he said, jabbing a fork in my direction. “If it weren’t for you, we never even would have had a problem to solve.”We were at a fancy restaurant late into the evening. The restaurant choice and the dinner hangout had all been at Rock’s suggestion as a thank-y
“Oh, I—” I hesitated. “I’m not really the pool party type.”Ethan tilted his head, his smile gentle. “If you’re worried about werewolves, don’t be. A lot of us bring human friends. It’s totally normal.”I opened my mouth to protest, but Rock jumped in first. “She’d love to come.”“I would—wait, what
KingstonIt was a perfectly choreographed evening—until Daisy approached me. She was wearing a new pink dress over a tiny string bikini, both of which she had undoubtedly purchased on my card.“Kingston,” she said, looping her arm around mine like it belonged there, “I just had the most unfortunate
Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching.“You’re not on his level,” I added, each word precise and brutal. “You’re not on mine. Know your place.”The silence between us thickened.And for the first time, I saw something flicker in her eyes—hurt, yes, but beneath it, something stronger. Anger.
KingstonI returned to the office after a board meeting that had dragged on an hour too long. My patience was hanging by a thread, and all I wanted was five minutes of silence to reset before the next round of chaos. As I neared my office, I caught voices through the partially open door—one low and
I checked my messages. A file she was supposed to send still hadn’t come in. The last messages I’d sent her were marked “unread.”A slow, uneasy feeling settled into my gut.“Your mom said she’d pick you up after work, right?” I asked Riley.He nodded and bit his lip.Then he pulled a small smartwat
CoraEven hours later, I could still feel Kingston’s arms around me—warm, steady, unshakable. Panic attacks were something I’d lived with most of my life, especially when I was confined to small spaces, but that one had been brutal. I couldn’t shake the memory of the cold air, the locked door, the d
I looked up at her. “Daisy… this is so generous.” And unlike her, but I did not admit to that.“I know,” she said. “It’s everything I have. And I want you to have it.”My heart twisted. For all the mistakes she’d made—her selfishness, her schemes, her jealousy—this gesture was unexpectedly kind. And
At first I thought it was someone unsuccessfully burning leaves behind the fence, which in itself seemed foolish. Then I saw the crowd.The lab was on fire.I froze, heart lurching.The drug research lab—Kingston’s main project. The one we’d toured together. The one that held months of work, was the
CoraI found Ethan by the vending machines, surveying an array of werewolf snacks. He was squinting at the labels with great interest until I walked in."Hey," I said.“Hey, stranger,” he greeted, flashing a grin. “Aren’t you supposed to be glued to a spreadsheet right now?”“Not today. I was lookin
CoraFor the first time in a long while, I forgot the chaos of work, the heaviness of single motherhood, and the sharp edges of everything that had happened lately. Shopping with Daisy felt… normal. It felt like before.Before the distance between Daisy and me.Before Zach and the warehouse and all
KingstonI approved Cora’s salary advance without pressing further. She’d hesitated when I asked why she needed the money, and her silence said more than words ever could. Something was wrong, but she clearly didn’t want to share it.I respected that. For now.Still, as she walked out of my office,
I looked up at her. “Daisy… this is so generous.” And unlike her, but I did not admit to that.“I know,” she said. “It’s everything I have. And I want you to have it.”My heart twisted. For all the mistakes she’d made—her selfishness, her schemes, her jealousy—this gesture was unexpectedly kind. And
CoraEven hours later, I could still feel Kingston’s arms around me—warm, steady, unshakable. Panic attacks were something I’d lived with most of my life, especially when I was confined to small spaces, but that one had been brutal. I couldn’t shake the memory of the cold air, the locked door, the d
I checked my messages. A file she was supposed to send still hadn’t come in. The last messages I’d sent her were marked “unread.”A slow, uneasy feeling settled into my gut.“Your mom said she’d pick you up after work, right?” I asked Riley.He nodded and bit his lip.Then he pulled a small smartwat
KingstonI returned to the office after a board meeting that had dragged on an hour too long. My patience was hanging by a thread, and all I wanted was five minutes of silence to reset before the next round of chaos. As I neared my office, I caught voices through the partially open door—one low and
Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching.“You’re not on his level,” I added, each word precise and brutal. “You’re not on mine. Know your place.”The silence between us thickened.And for the first time, I saw something flicker in her eyes—hurt, yes, but beneath it, something stronger. Anger.