Se connecterTRISTAN "No fighting, Tristan," she said, her voice turning serious. She knew exactly where I was going and who I was going to see. She knew the beast that lived inside me might roar for blood. "Please.""I'll try," I promised, though we both knew it was a thin vow.I walked out of the house into the cool morning air. Two of my guards were standing by the black SUV, their heads snapping down in a bow as I approached. I considered driving myself. I wanted solitude, but I changed my mind. I needed to arrive with the weight of my power. I tossed the keys to the driver. He caught them mid-air without blinking."Let’s go," I commanded.The ride was suffocatingly quiet. Usually, when Yelena was in the car, the space felt alive.She’d talk about the hospital, or the weather, or something she’d read, and the world felt manageable. Without her, the interior of the car felt like a tomb. My mind kept drifting to the prison, to the man sitting in a cage who held the key to my sister’s sur
TRISTIAN I stood before the mirror, my fingers trembling slightly as I tried to unbutton my shirt. I had to get a grip. I couldn't go where I was going looking like a man unraveled. I needed to be calm as cold and immovable as stone.I turned away from the glass and stepped into the bathroom, the spray of the shower hitting my skin like a thousand needles, grounding me. When I stepped out, the steam followed me back into the bedroom, where my wardrobe stood open. I didn't just need clothes; I needed armor. I reached past the casual wear and pulled out a pair of charcoal trousers that cost more than most people made in a month, pairing them with a crisp, white shirt. This was about more than fashion. This was about presence. I needed to look like the Alpha I was born to be, the kind of man whose silhouette alone commanded silence before a single word left his lips.I pulled on a heavy wool coat, the weight of it settling on my shoulders like the mantle of leadership. I walked
YELENA I turned my head away, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me, then he walked back to the dishes.I wanted to sit on the counter, to be at his level so I could watch him work, but as I glanced at the height of it and then back at my heavy stomach, I realized I wasn’t exactly in jumping condition.Before I could even sigh in frustration, I felt large, warm hands wrap firmly around my waist.I looked down and saw Tristan right there, his chest nearly brushing my knees."I'll help you," he murmured.With an effortless lift, he hoisted me up. I felt weightless for a split second before I was sitting successfully on the cool marble of the counter. I stared at him, my heart doing a little flutter. How did he know that? It was like he was tuned into my every thought, every clumsy intention."Damn," he chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're getting too heavy, Yelena."I laughed, swatting at his shoulder. "That’s what happens when you’re growing a person!
YELENA I had to fight the urge to turn around, grab him by the collar, and kiss him until neither of us could breathe. He was rubbing his face against my shoulder now, like a giant, needy cat, and it was breaking down every wall I had left."You're heavy in a good way," he countered, his hands moving slightly on my belly, feeling the baby move. "And you're sexy as fuck. You have no idea how much I'm holding myself back right now, Yelena."The air in the room felt thick, charged with an almost unbearable tension. I swallowed hard, my hand moving instinctively to his hair. I gripped the soft strands, pulling slightly. He froze. I think he expected me to say something... to give in, to invite him closer. When I realized what I was doing, I yanked my hand back as if I’d been burned.Yelena, get hold of yourself! I screamed at myself internally. Don't let him back in that easily.'You don't need to be so guarded,' Lena’s voice echoed in my mind, sounding annoyed. 'Just be free with h
YELENA The heaviness of my body was the first thing I felt when I opened my eyes, but the sharp, stabbing pain from the day before had retreated into a dull, manageable hum. The painkillers I had used were a godsend. I felt strong... stronger than I had in weeks. I lay there for a moment, listening to the silence of the room, feeling the life kicking rhythmically inside me.I pushed myself up, my muscles groaning slightly under the weight of my belly, and navigated my way to the bathroom. When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I didn't see the tired, haggard woman I expected. I saw someone glowing. I stared at myself for a long time, a slow smile spreading across my lips. Soon, I wouldn't be looking at this reflection alone. Soon, my baby would be here, joining us in the world outside. I rubbed the tight skin of my stomach, a silent promise passing between the little soul and me inside, then splashed cold water onto my face.The water woke up my senses.I scanned the counter
YELENA His presence was overwhelming, the scent of woodsmoke and rain filling my nose. He looked down at my hands. "Then why is your hand gripping the door handle like you’re afraid I’m going to rip it off?"I looked down. My knuckles were white, my fingers clamped tightly over the cold metal handle. I yanked my hand away immediately, tucking it behind my back."No... I was just... using it to balance myself. I’m tired, Tristan."He stepped closer, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. His tall figure completely blocked out the hallway lights, casting me in his shadow. My heart started racing for an entirely different reason."Your whole weight is on that weak handle," he murmured, his voice vibrating in his chest. "As heavy as you are right now? Come on, Yelena. Give me a better lie than that."Two nurses walked past us, slowing their pace to gossip and steal glances at the Alpha and the doctor in such an intimate position. The heat in my face flared. I rea
JACKSONWe had two tests to run on Tyler, it was not because we wanted to but because we had to.Nothing about his business made sense, there were no clear records or steady flow that showed where his money came from. It was all smoke and mirrors, numbers that danced but never landed. The kind of t
YELENA“Lena."The word snapped like fingers in my face.I blinked and the walls of my office rushed back in... white walls, glass window, the faint smell of disinfectant and wolfbane tea. My fingers were curled tight around my pen like I had been holding onto it for dear life.I hadn’t even notice
MARIE“MARIE!”The voice cut through everything.Tyler froze.Not fully just enough, his body was still close, his grip was still there, his breath was still burning my skin. But the second his head snapped up, I knew that voice that called meMy heart leapt straight into my throat.I looked past T
YELENALast week had been… fun, really fun. Especially seeing my friend get her spark back, her fire shining through again. She wasn’t fully herself yet, but at least it was better. That was enough to make me smile, enough to make me think maybe things weren’t always going to be so dark.Today, tho







