OsirisI pace the length of my room, phone in hand, dialing Eva’s number for what feels like the hundredth time. Every time I hear the line go dead, a new knot tightens in my chest. It’s like something’s squeezing the life out of me, and I can’t explain it. I’ve called her cell. I’ve called the landline. Nothing.“Come on, Eva, pick up…” I mutter under my breath as I hit redial again, holding the phone to my ear.This time, it rings three times, then... nothing. Just silence, followed by that dull, monotone disconnect sound that grates on my nerves. My mind is racing, and the anxiety building up is too much. It’s not like her to just disappear without a word. Not after everything we’ve been through, after that kiss we shared, after…Something’s wrong.I feel a sharp pang in my chest, like my instincts are screaming at me that something’s seriously messed up. I toss my phone on the bed and rake a hand through my hair. I’ve got two options: I can stay here, stick with the plan of findin
OsirisAs I get closer to Darius’ pack lands, the air feels thicker, like I’m walking into a place where the darkness has taken root. The more I dig into this guy, the worse it gets. His name pops up in all the wrong places—rogue dealings, packs disappearing, even rumors of his involvement in trafficking. It’s enough to make my blood boil, knowing that Eva and Sophia are trapped in his world.I pull over by the side of the road, far enough from his pack’s borders that I won’t trigger any alarms, but close enough that I can feel the buzz of his territory’s energy. I’ve found it. I pull out my phone and hit Nero’s number.He picks up after the first ring. “You found him?”“Yeah,” I say, glancing in the direction of the pack’s lands. “I’m close. I know exactly where his pack is. How do you want to play this?”Nero exhales on the other end. “Good. Come back to the pack house. We need to regroup before we do anything rash.”I grip the steering wheel, frustration prickling beneath my skin.
OsirisI move through the shadows of Darius’ pack house, slipping past the guards with ease. The place reeks of fear and dominance, a stench I know all too well from packs like his. But right now, all I care about is finding Eva. The thought of her being in here, under his control, makes my blood boil. I clench my fists as I move, forcing myself to stay focused. I can’t afford to lose it now.Nero’s in the meeting with Darius, keeping him distracted. It was a good setup, buying me enough time to find her. But I’m on a ticking clock here. The moment something feels off to Darius, this place will lock down, and getting out won’t be as easy as getting in.I push through another hallway and finally spot the room. It’s tucked away at the far end of the house, isolated, guarded by two wolves. I watch them for a moment, sizing them up. They’re not paying attention—arrogant, lazy. I could take them out quietly, but that would raise suspicion. No, I need to be smarter than that.A few minutes
OsirisAs I walk away from Darius’ pack house with my head’s spinning. Every instinct I have is screaming to go back, to take her and Sophia, and get the hell out of this place. But I know that’s not how this works. Eva’s too scared to make that kind of move right now, and pushing her will only make things worse.I step outside, the air cool against my skin, and head toward the SUV I parked a couple of blocks down. My hands are shaking, and I clench them into fists, trying to steady myself. She’s so close to breaking free, but Darius has her trapped in a fear so deep, it’s hard for her to see a way out.And there’s Sophia. That little girl deserves better than growing up under the control of a twisted Alpha like Darius.I reach the SUV, pull the door open, and slump into the driver’s seat. My breath comes out in a sharp exhale as I lean back, staring at the ceiling. The anger I’ve been trying to bury bubbles up again, and I smack my hand against the steering wheel, the sharp sound ech
EvaI watch Sophia as she runs around the backyard, her laughter filling the air. It’s one of the few moments of peace we get in this place, and I cherish it. Her dark hair bounces with each movement, and her face lights up every time she glances back at me.“Look, Mommy!” she calls, twirling around with a big smile. “I’m a princess!”I smile, trying to push aside the gnawing anxiety that’s been living in my chest ever since we were brought back to Darius’ pack lands. “You’re the most beautiful princess, baby.”Sophia giggles and runs back over to me, her little arms reaching up to wrap around my neck as she climbs into my lap. Her innocence is the only thing that keeps me from falling apart. As long as she’s happy, I can endure whatever Darius throws my way. For her, I have to stay strong.“Mommy?” she asks, tilting her head up to look at me. “When are we going to see Osiris again?”My heart clenches at the sound of his name. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him, not since
OsirisThe SUV is parked a good distance from the pack house, hidden under the cover of trees. My fingers drum impatiently on the steering wheel as I watch the road, waiting for the signal. My gut is twisted into knots—this whole situation is fucked. I know she’s terrified, hell, I’d be scared too if I were in her shoes. But there’s no time for hesitation. Darius is a ticking time bomb, and we have to act before it’s too late.I glance at my phone for the hundredth time, waiting for another text. Every second feels like an hour. She said she’d come. She has to. I can’t even imagine what’s going through her mind right now. All I can do is trust that she’s doing what she needs to, for herself and for Sophia.Suddenly, I catch movement by the tree line. My heart skips a beat, and I grip the steering wheel tighter as I see them. Eva, holding Sophia’s hand, rushing toward me. It’s not the happy reunion I was hoping for. They’re running like hell is on their heels.I jump out of the SUV, t
OsirisAs Eva and I walk out of the house into the backyard, I can feel the weight lifting off her shoulders with every step. It’s subtle, but it’s there—she’s finally free of Darius. The rejection vow is done, the bond is severed, and now it’s time to move forward.I spot Nero and Camellia sitting by the edge of the yard, watching Nereo and Sophia play. Nereo is running around with a soccer ball, and Sophia is chasing after him with that carefree laughter that only kids can muster. For a moment, everything feels … normal. Like this could be our life—one where the shadows of the past don’t hang over us.As we approach, Nero and Camellia look up, their expressions shifting to concern when they see us coming. Camellia stands first, worry creasing her brow, while Nero remains seated, his usual cool, assessing gaze fixed on me.“Everything okay?” Camellia asks, glancing between Eva and me. Her tone is gentle, but there’s a clear undertone of worry, especially for Eva.I give a nod, squee
EvaI lie in bed beside Sophia, her small body curled up against mine, her soft breathing steady. It’s late, much later than she should still be awake, but I don’t blame her for being restless. It’s been a long day, and everything has changed so quickly. I run my fingers through her hair, trying to soothe her, though I can tell by the way she’s fidgeting that her little mind is working overtime.It’s been a few days since we got here—since we left Darius behind—and I can already feel the weight of everything lifting off my chest. But Sophia … she’s starting to ask questions. Questions I’m not sure I’m ready to answer, but I know I can’t keep dodging them forever.“Mommy?” Sophia’s soft voice breaks the silence, and I glance down at her. Her big eyes are wide open, staring up at me.“Yeah, sweetie?” I brush a few strands of hair away from her face, trying to keep my voice steady.“Why did we leave Daddy?” Her voice is innocent, but the question cuts deep. I knew it was coming, but it