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
OsirisThe sun is beginning to set as Eva and I walk through the pack lands. Eva’s hands are in her jacket pockets, and her eyes keep darting to the ground like she’s deep in thought. I know she’s been through a lot. Hell, I can see it in the way she carries herself, like she’s ready to bolt at any moment. But I can’t rush her.“How’s Sophia been adjusting?” I ask, keeping my voice light, knowing how much she likes to talk about her daughter.Eva’s face softens at the mention of her little girl, and she gives me a small smile. “She’s doing well. Better than I thought, honestly. She’s made a couple of friends already, and Camellia’s been amazing with her.”“That’s good. I’m glad,” I say, kicking at a stray pebble on the path. “Sophia’s a strong kid, just like her mom.”Her smile fades a little, and I can feel her walls start to come up again. It’s like she’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something to go wrong. And I get it. After everything with Darius, trust isn’t som
OsirisWhen we reach the pack house, I gesture for her to go inside while I walk to where Nero is waiting on the stone steps, pacing back and forth. He looks up when he sees me, his face grim.“Darius is at the edge of the western border,” Nero says without preamble. “He’s brought a few of his men with him, but nothing that looks like a full attack.”I grit my teeth, my hands balling into fists. “What the fuck does he want?”“We know what he wants,” Nero growls, his eyes flashing. “But we’re not giving it to him.”I nod, my mind already working through possible scenarios. “What’s the plan?”“We meet him head-on,” Nero says, his voice low and dangerous. “He’s not stepping foot onto our lands.”“And if he tries?” I ask, already knowing the answer.Nero gives me a cold smile. “Then we send him back in pieces.”I nod, my pulse racing with adrenaline. This is it. Darius made the first move, and now it’s time to end this once and for all.But even as the thought of taking him down fuels me,