INICIAR SESIÓNYELENAThe past seven days had felt like walking through a sunbeam. Everything... the air, the shifting of the pack members in the corridors, the very ground beneath my feet seemed lighter, charged with a genuine, humming joy. My heart felt full, stretched wide by the news that had dominated our conversations for the last week: Marie said YES.Our beta, a man of quiet strength and immovable loyalty, had knelt before her, and the pack was still vibrating from the excitement of it. I hadn't imagined he would move so quickly, but seeing the radiant glow on Marie’s face made me realize that some souls don't need time to recognize their home."I liked him for sure; he meant business," Nyra’s voice cut through the soft morning quiet of my room, pulling me away from my thoughts.She was sitting on the edge of my bed, her presence a constant, grounding force. She had come over yesterday for a visit and refused to leave, curling up in the guest room as if we were back in our teenage years,
MARIEI took a steadying breath, my heart performing a nervous, rhythmic dance against my ribs. Slowly, I withdrew my left hand from my pocket and held it out, letting the sunlight stream through the windows and catch the facets of the stone."Well," I said, my voice barely whispering, "it came as a surprise to me, too."Yelena’s reaction was instantaneous. She let out a half-strangled gasp, her hands flying to her mouth. Realizing she had to keep her excitement contained for the sake of her pregnancy, she swallowed the rest of her scream, dropping the expensive shopping bags onto the rug with a soft thud.She stepped closer, her eyes locked onto my hand as if hypnotized. She reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as she traced the band. "It’s… it’s breathtaking! How could you hide this from us? Oh, Marie, I am so incredibly happy for you!"While, Tristan stood frozen, his eyes widening as he registered the meaning of the shimmering ring. He seemed paralyzed by the shock, his
MARIEI turned back toward Claire, my left hand instinctively shifting as I tucked it behind my side.The weight of the diamond ring against my finger felt like a secret burning hole, a physical manifestation of a promise I wasn't quite ready to voice aloud. Before Claire could fixate on it, I scooped her up into my arms.She squealed in delight, wrapping her small, sticky hands around my neck as I stood, my pulse quickening.Yelena followed us, her eyes reflecting the soft, warm light of the living room.I felt a sudden, inexplicable hesitation. How was I supposed to just say it? With Livia, our dynamic had been fraught with tension and judgment, but with Yelena, it was different. She was a breath of fresh air, a woman I genuinely admired, yet the shyness clung to me.Perhaps I simply wasn't used to being the center of such happy, uncomplicated attention.We reached the shopping bags resting on the rug. I knelt, shifting Claire to my hip so I could reach into the first bag."This
MARIE"In fact, she just asked of y..." My brother’s voice trailed off, cut short by the frantic rhythm of small, thudding footsteps barreling down the staircase. It sounded like a stampede of tiny hooves. A moment later, larger, more measured footsteps followed, though they were careful to navigate the steps with the caution of someone carrying the weight of a second life."Claire! I told you, no running on the stairs!" a voice echoed, it was softer, breathless, and laced with that unmistakable, loving maternal exasperation.Claire didn’t listen. She was a blur of energy, her little hair curls bouncing wildly as she plummeted toward the bottom. I exchanged a glance with my brother, who just offered a lopsided shrug. He looked entirely content, his eyes softening as he watched the chaotic display. Even Daniel shifted, turning his head with a faint, indulgent smile as the mother-daughter pursuit spilled into the grand entryway.Claire reached the landing, her face flushed with pu
MARIEThe drive to my brother’s estate was short, the familiar winding roads of the city giving way to the imposing, high-walled sanctuary he called home. His estate was a testament to his status, a sprawling modern fortress of stone and glass nestled among ancient, whispering oaks. The iron gates were intricate, etched with the pack’s crest, and they swung open with a smooth, hydraulic hiss the moment they sensed the specific, powerful signature of Daniel’s car.Daniel navigated the manicured driveway, lined with imported stone and glowing lanterns that hummed with a low, magical energy. He pulled to a halt near the grand entrance, the engine falling silent. I didn't reach for the handle; I simply waited, watching the way his jaw set, the way he moved with that quiet, lethal grace that was all his own. He rounded the car, and just as I’d expected, he had the door open before I could even unbuckle, his hand offering a steady anchor as I stepped out into the cool, crisp air.He tu
MARIEThe man’s eyes lit up. "That is beautiful! That means I haven't missed the big event yet." He began gesturing toward the wider showroom, his excitement palpable as other staff members began to notice us, bowing their heads and offering quiet, respectful greetings as we passed.The sudden influx of attention felt heavy. I looked at the polished floor, then leaned in close, my lips brushing against the shell of Daniel’s ear."Moon," I whispered, the words barely audible over the soft background music, "I wish we were somewhere where no one knows us. Just for a while."He pulled me closer to his side, his arm wrapping securely around my waist. He chuckled, the sound low and steady in the quiet boutique. "And you know," he added with a playful glint in his eyes, "the very first person who would drag you back by your ear if you tried to disappear is your mother."I let out a startled laugh, shaking my head. "That woman! She truly has eyes everywhere, doesn't she?""Here we are," the
TRISTANMy eyes darkened instantly.“Stop,” I said, my voice low. “Just stop.”She didn’t. I don’t know if she meant to provoke me or if pain simply made her reckless, but she opened her mouth again.“It’s just tha...”“Yelena!” I half-yelled.She flinched and closed her eyes, her lashes trembling
NYRAThis was the third time.The third time a message like this slid into my phone like a knife under the skin.(Unknown: Stop searching for Tyler or you’ll weep over Claire.)My fingers shook as I read it again, then again, like the words would change if I stared long enough. They didn’t. They on
YELENAI had missed my parents so much it hurt quietly. The kind that sat in your chest and pressed down slowly until breathing felt different. Since we arrived, they barely left my side. My mom followed me everywhere, watching me like I might disappear if she blinked. She kept begging me not to w
TRISTANI didn’t think of my birthday at all.If this had been when we were still together, maybe my fingers would have gone there without thought. But now? Now that we were divorced, now that everything between us was broken and messy and bleeding? I never imagined she would still use my birthday







