LOGINYELENA 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
YELENA I stood up slowly, the joints in my knees popping after hours of sitting. I closed Marie’s medical file with a definitive thud, the sound echoing in the quiet ward. The crisis had passed, leaving behind a heavy, sleepy stillness."Rest well now," I told her, checking her IV line one last time. "If Daniel is sneaky enough to get past the guards, fine. If not, you sleep. Tomorrow is when we start the hard work which is getting Tyler’s blood and refining it for you."Marie looked up at me, her face pale against the white pillow, but her eyes were filled with a light I hadn't seen in a while. "Thank you so much, Yelena. You really did it. You saved us."I paused, looking at her with a soft, tired expression. "I only saved you, Marie. You’re the one who saved Daniel. You fought to come back for him."She shook her head, a small, knowing smile touching her lips. "If I had died, Daniel would have died too. I felt it, Yelena. Not just in my head, but in my soul. Like a thread snappin
YELENA Tristan's left hand slipped down, resting gently on the curve of my belly. The touch was so tender it made me chuckle softly, but I knew I had to use this moment of softness."Tristan," I said, placing my hand over his. "Let her see him. She asked for it. She needs that peace to heal."The softness vanished instantly. He pulled his hand back, his face hardening into a mask of Alpha authority. "I knew you’d take his side." He looked back at Marie, who was watching us with hollow, pleading eyes. "Can she eat?"I shook my head, frustrated by the subject change. "No. Only liquids for the next twelve hours. I’m going to get her some water and a nutrient flush now.""Fine. Then I’ll go get you something to eat," he said, already turning on his heel and walking toward the door."Tristan! I know what you’re doing! Come back here!" I called out, but he didn't even slow down. He was a man on a mission to avoid the truth. He didn't want to hear Daniel’s name, and he certainly didn't want
YELENA The air in the room was thick with the scent of sterile alcohol and the lingering warmth of a miracle. We were still caught in that fragile, happy moment.Marie had opened her eyes, and though she couldn't speak yet, her gaze held a lifetime of unspoken relief. Then, the gravel outside crunched under heavy tires.Several cars were pulling into the hospital compound with an aggressive speed that could only belong to one person...Tristan.Daniel heard it too. He stood alert, his body tensing like a predator sensing a rival. His clothes were still rumpled and stained from the way he had been punishing himself, his knuckles raw and his spirit exhausted. He looked at me, a flash of genuine fear crossing his face, it was not fear for his life, but fear of being torn away from her again."He can't see me here," Daniel whispered, his voice jagged. "He warned me. He told me if I came near her again, he’d end me."I nodded quickly, glancing at the door. "Go now."He didn’t want to le
NYRAI woke before the sun.The room was still dark, the air was heavy with that quiet that comes before morning truly begins. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to Jackson’s slow breathing beside me. His arm was thrown over my waist, heavy, warm, and possessive even
YELENAI never thought Nyra would be the one to break me like this.Not her.Out of everyone in this city, filled with enemies wearing smiles and wolves hiding behind human skin, I never thought it would be my best friend, like my own sister.The house felt too quiet that morning, too still. Even t
NYRAI don’t think there was a word strong enough to explain what was happening.I was supposed to be back at the pack yesterday. The moment I heard that Alpha Tristan had picked up his pup, my heart nearly burst. I should have been there. I should have stood beside Lena. But I had one last patie
YELENAI forced my wolf to calm down. I couldn’t let him see me lose it. Not here. Not now. We needed to be steady. Right.Right?He had to be kidding. There was no way he thought he could just waltz in here, claiming her like she was some prize.“You don’t get to decide that,” I said finally, tryi







