LOGINYELENA“Oh yes, right!” Tristan pulled back suddenly, stepping away from me as he’d just remembered something urgent. His hand reached the gas, switched it off, and immediately a rush of steam escaped from the pot, filling the kitchen with that warm, rich scent that made my stomach growl despite myself. I didn’t even realize when I had walked closer, drawn in by the smell.It was… inviting. Even though it had burnt a little, the aroma wrapped around me, soft and strong at the same time, like him.He stirred the pot gently, and I watched, fascinated, wondering… how did he know how to cook? I didn’t know he could cook at all. And then he turned, wiping his hands on a napkin, and before I could even react, he grabbed me by the waist and lifted me easily, carrying me to the kitchen table.“Tristian!” My voice squeaked, caught somewhere between shock and fear, but also awe.He didn’t even stumble. My body was safe in his arms, but my heart was racing anyway.He set me down, his smile sl
YELENAI woke up tired.Not the normal kind of tired.This one sat deep in my bones, heavy, like something inside me refused to move. My eyes stayed on the ceiling for a long time, blank, empty, like I was still trying to remember how to feel.Work.I was supposed to go to work.I let out a slow breath and turned my head to the side. No… I couldn’t. Not today. My body wasn’t ready, my mind even less though I didn’t even tell the director. I would send a message later.Just today.I needed today.Tomorrow, maybe I will be strong again. I had to be. I wasn’t the type to stay down. I never was. Even now, with everything going on… with the baby growing inside me… with him…I swallowed.Soon, I wouldn’t even be able to go anymore. The third trimester would come, and I’d have no choice but to stop. Rest. Sit still. Wait.I didn’t like that.I liked moving. I liked working. Even when it stressed me, it made me feel alive.Slowly, I pushed myself up. My body protested, but I ignored it. I pla
YELENAMy eyes stayed on the screen like maybe I read it wrong. Like maybe if I blinked, the words would change.Life imprisonment.My breath caught in my throat as I got hold of myself, “Tyler was… what?” I whispered, my voice shaking.Why?Why that?Why not death?Why something slow... something that would eat him little by little?Tears blurred my sight before I even realized they had started falling. One dropped on my hand, then another, then they wouldn’t stop.My chest tightened painfully.I had thought about this moment before. Prepared myself for it. Told myself I wouldn’t feel anything. That I was done with him. That he was nothing. But this… This was worse. Much worse.Death would have been quick.Over. Done.But this?A life locked away, with his curse crawling under his skin every day… twisting him, breaking him, driving him mad slowly…I covered my mouth, my shoulders shaking. “No…” I choked out.I didn’t want to picture it. I didn’t want to see him like that in my head.
YELENA I leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling again.His company.Of course.It had been falling because he kept staying around me. Following me. Ignoring everything else.I sighed softly. “I hope you fixed it…” I whispered.Because I didn’t want people talking. I didn’t want fingers pointing at me. Saying I was the reason.Even when I had pushed him away again and again.Even when I told him to leave.And he never did.I locked my phone and closed my eyes for a moment.The room was quiet again.Night came faster than I expected.The hospital lights dimmed slightly, the halls growing calmer, though never truly silent. I pushed myself up from the chair and went back to check on the patient.He was awake now, weak, but awake. His voice was low as he spoke to his mother, who held his hand like she was afraid he would disappear if she let go.I stood by the door for a moment, watching. Something about it made my chest ache.The way she looked at him.The way he tried to smile
YELENAI dropped into my chair the moment I stepped into my office, the door closing behind me with a dull thud.My whole body ached.The smell of antiseptic still clung to my skin, sharp and cold, mixing with the faint metallic scent of blood that never truly left a hospital, no matter how clean it looked. My fingers twitched slightly as I rested them on the armrest, like they still remembered every cut, every stitch, every second of the surgery.It had been a long one but it worked.I let out a slow breath, tilting my head back against the chair. The ceiling stared back at me, blank and silent, like it didn’t care how close things had been.Selene had been there the whole time watching, waiting, and looking for one mistake. Just one.Her eyes had followed every move I made, sharp like a blade, like she was ready to tear me down the second I slipped. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not with the patient’s life hanging by a thin thread.And somehow… I didn’t.I closed my eyes for a second
NYRA Selene was waiting for a mistake, even if it was just one, but she wouldn’t get it, not today.I turned back.Jackson’s face was set in concentration, his jaw tight, his eyes sharp.He loved this. You could see it.Feel it, just like Lena and together… They looked perfect.It hit me again. The truth. The thing I kept pushing aside. They were mates, though not together, not even close, but still… They fit.Like fate didn’t make a mistake.It knew exactly what it was doing.Maybe…Maybe this was what they were meant to be.My chest tightened slightly but I pushed it away. Now wasn’t the time.Lena’s forehead was covered in sweat. Same with Jackson and I stood there, fighting the urge to wipe it away for both of them.Two people I cared about.Two people I would do anything for.“Nyra.” Lena’s voice came low. I leaned closer. “You’re sick in love.”My eyes widened behind my mask.“I wasn’t looking at him, was I?”She didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, you were.” Then she added, softer, te
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
NYRAThree days.Three whole days and everything still felt broken.I didn’t go back to the hospital. I couldn’t. Every time I tried to wear my coat, pick up my bag, step out the door, something inside me pulled me back. My wolf was restless. My chest felt heavy. I couldn’t even breathe right in t
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
MARIEI still could not believe it.I was an aunt.An actual aunt.When my brother told me he had a child, I thought he was joking. Alpha Tristian? A father? My cold, serious, always-in-control brother?Moon really has a sense of humor but the moment I saw her, I understood everything.Claire.Our







