EvaI’m sitting on the edge of my bed, staring out the window as the moonlight filters through the trees. The house is quiet, and Sophia is finally asleep after what felt like hours of her tossing and turning. My heart is still racing from earlier, from the tension and fear I’ve been trying to keep at bay.Darius. He’s not going to give up, and the thought of him lurking out there, waiting, makes my skin crawl.I’m startled out of my thoughts when I hear a soft knock on the door. My heart skips a beat, and I sit up a little straighter.“Eva?” Osiris’ deep voice comes from the other side, gentle but laced with something heavier.I stand, smoothing down my shirt and walk over to the door, opening it slowly. “Hey,” I say, offering him a small smile even though the worry is still etched across my face. “Come in.”Osiris steps inside, his broad shoulders taking up most of the doorway before he closes it behind him. His expression is hard, but his eyes soften when they meet mine. I can tell
OsirisThe night is perfect—clear sky, a soft breeze, and the moon shining bright overhead. I’ve been planning this for days now, trying to create the perfect evening for Eva.She deserves a break, a few hours to forget everything that’s been going on. After everything with Darius, I want her to have something that feels normal, something beautiful.A small picnic blanket is spread out on the floor with some food and wine. It’s simple, nothing too over the top. Eva doesn’t seem like the kind of person who needs grand gestures; she just needs someone who’ll take the time to be with her, to make her feel like she’s worth the world.I rub the back of my neck, glancing over everything one last time. I don’t want to mess this up. She’s been through hell, and I know she’s not ready to jump into anything heavy, but I want her to see she’s got more than just Darius’ bullshit. She deserves to feel safe, to feel cherished.I pull a few strings with Nero to set up the observatory for tonight. He
OsirisThe morning starts off with a strange tension I can’t quite shake. When Nero called me into the war room, I thought we’d be discussing strategy regarding Darius or maybe something to do with the Vega pack. But when I walk in, it’s not the usual meeting at all.Orion is sitting at the long table, arms crossed, his jaw set tight. He’s staring straight ahead, but there’s something off about his posture. It’s too rigid, too controlled, like he’s trying to keep something bottled up. Aeron is next to him, but my heart drops when I see him. He doesn’t look like the brother I knew. He’s thinner, paler, his eyes hollow. There’s no spark in them, no sign of the witty, sharp kid we all grew up with. He’s just … blank. Empty. He stares down at the table, not acknowledging me as I walk in, and I feel a stab of guilt. I’ve been so caught up in my own shit with Eva and Darius that I haven’t been here for him. But it’s not just that. There’s something more.Nero stands at the head of the tab
OsirisThe word “bait” hits me like a fucking truck, and for a second, I can’t even breathe. My younger brother, the one we all looked after and who never wanted to be part of the pack drama, was used as bait. For what, I can only imagine, but nothing good ever comes out of that word.Bait in the shifter world means one thing — you’re prey. Something to be hunted, tortured, used.“They used you in a fighting ring,” I growl, my voice coming out harsher than I intend, but I can’t help it. The idea of my baby brother being used as fucking bait for a wolf fight makes my blood boil.Aeron’s eyes are glassy, lost in whatever hell he’s been through, and his hands tremble on the table. His voice is barely a whisper when he speaks again. He nods, tears spilling over his cheeks as he tries to keep it together. “I was tied in chains and shot with silver bullets if I… If I fought back and — I... I couldn’t shift back. They did something to me, something that kept me trapped in wolf form, but I w
EvaCamellia sits across from me in the sunlit kitchen, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her mug. Her eyes, warm and kind, are focused on me, waiting for me to speak. I’ve been trying to say something for the past five minutes, but every time I open my mouth, nothing comes out. Instead, my mind races with all the doubts, the fears, the feelings I’ve been burying deep inside for weeks.“You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready,” Camellia says softly, her voice steady but reassuring.I shake my head, taking a deep breath. I need to talk about this. I need to get it out, even if every word feels like it’s a weight on my chest. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk,” I finally say, my voice a little hoarse. “It’s that I don’t know how to explain how I feel. It’s … it’s all just a mess.”Camellia gives me a small, patient smile. “Life tends to be messy, Eva. Trust me, I get that.”I nod, chewing on my bottom lip. “I just don’t know if I belong here. With Osiris… with this pack
OsirisOrion was never one to show weakness, not to me, not to anyone. But before he left for Vegas, something was different. His usual armor, the one he wore so well, was cracked. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do a damn thing to help him. The look in his eyes—the weight he was carrying—haunts me even now as I sit in the war room, running my hands through my hair.I think back to that conversation we had before he left.“Are you sure you’re good to do this?” I asked him, watching him shove clothes into his duffel bag, his movements mechanical, almost lifeless.Orion didn’t meet my eyes. “I don’t have a choice. Creed and Arkyn need me to get this shit sorted since I know Zane better. Besides, it’s not like I can sit here doing nothing while Zane’s out there.” His voice was tight, like he was trying to keep everything from spilling out.I leaned against the doorframe, my arms crossed. “You’ve been off ever since you saw him, and now you’re heading straight into his territo
EvaAs I walk into the council building, every step feels like my heart is going to beat right out of my chest. My palms are slick with sweat, and I can feel the tremble in my hands as I grip Sophia’s tiny one tightly. She clutches her teddy bear to her chest, wide-eyed, but calm. I’m anything but calm.I’m terrified.The thought of seeing Darius again—of standing in front of the council and having to plead my case—makes my stomach churn. I can still feel the weight of his threats hanging over me, even though Osiris and Nero have assured me they won’t let anything happen.But what if they can’t stop him? What if the council sides with him?I squeeze Sophia’s hand a little tighter, trying to ground myself. I can’t afford to think like that right now. I have to do this for her. For us. There’s no going back.“Mommy?” Sophia’s voice pulls me out of my spiral. She looks up at me, eyes full of trust. “Are we going to be okay?”I force a smile, nodding even though I’m not sure if I’m convin
OsirisI follow Nero into the council’s chamber, trying to steady my breathing. My fists are clenched, knuckles white, and the anger boiling inside me is barely contained. Every time I think about Darius, about what he’s done to Eva, I want to tear him apart. But now isn’t the time for bloodshed. We need to make our case here, in front of the council, and ensure they understand just what kind of monster we’re dealing with.Nero’s beside me, his usual brooding expression firmly in place. He’s calm, at least outwardly, but I know he’s just as pissed as I am. He’s already warned me to keep my cool, but fuck, it’s hard when I think about that bastard crossing into our territory to try and take Eva back like she was his goddamn property.The council members are seated in their high-backed chairs, their faces cold and unreadable. I hate these meetings—the politics, the bullshit—but they’re necessary. If we want to keep Eva and Sophia safe, we need the council on our side.We approach the