LOGINRIVER"I'm back!"The door creaked softly as I pushed it open, stepping intot the small house that had somehow, become our home."Kael, I'm home," I called out again, my voice carrying through the space. "And if that sink is still broken, I'm leaving again."There was a loud clatter from the kitchen as something that was definitely metallic hit the floor, followed by a muttered curse.I couldn't help but smile.Three months ago, I wouldn’t have believed this. Wouldn’t have believed I’d be walking into a home that smelled faintly of wood smoke and something Kael had definitely tried... and failed... to cook. Wouldn’t have believed I’d be calling out to my mate like this.So casual and easy.Wouldn’t have believed Kael would stand in front of an entire pack and choose me.But here we were.The sound of footsteps approaching was all I could hear, before Kael appeared in the doorway, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly damp with sweat, and a smear of something dark across his jaw.He didn’t
STORMRiver didn't stop moving until his body forced him to.And even then, it wasn't really stopping.He started pacing. Taking these sharp, and restless steps back and forth across the small clearing we had ended up in, his hands dragging through his hair, breathing uneven, like he couldn't quite get enough air into his lungs.I watched him do this for some time before I finally spoke up.He looked… wrong. Not physically. He was still the whole, the powerful, and very much the prince he was meant to be. But it was very clear that something had cracked inside him.It looked even worse than when he first came to the village and missed his mate a lot."We are not going to that pack ever again," he said abruptly, his voice rough and final, cutting through the quiet of the forest."Why? Did something happen?"He didn't stop pacing, not even to look at me. "I can never go back to Blackthorn," he snapped. "Cannot go back to that place or him."Oh.I straightened myself slightly, wrapping m
KAELRiver left.That was the first thing that settled in my mind when I turned around and saw that River had left with Storm, without a word, or even a glance my way. He didn't even spare me thr dignity of an acknowledgement.And I... I had no idea what I was supposed to say.So I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, staring at the empty space where River had just been, like if I looked long enough, the man would come back.News flash, he didn't. Of course he didn’t.What did he want me to do? Apologise? But apologise for what exactly? For my hesitation? For trying to think things through and not rush an answer.For not immediately throwing away everything I had built... my pack, my title, my people... without a second thought?Or worse…For proving that River wasn’t wrong?I dragged a hand down my face, letting out an exhale. I didn't even understand it myself.That moment, that pause. It wasn't doubt in River. It wasn't. How on earth was I even supposed to explain that
RIVER"What is it going to be, Alpha?"The silence that followed was the first thing I noticed. Not the tension, or the danger, or even the way Drayven still looked like he owned every inch of the room.No.It was the silence because Kael was supposed to be speaking now, but he wasn't. I slid my gaze to him, studying the man that had crossed hell just to find me, standing there and not saying anything. Why was he not answering?He looked like he was thinking... actually thinking of what to say.My fingers twitched at my sides. For a second... just a second... I continued to watch the man. I watched as his hand went to the back of his neck, his shoulders tensing up, and his eyes moved around like he was trying to weigh the consequences.Weighing it.Goddess dammit.Is he... actually thinking about it?That question slipped to mind, unwanted and uninvited. And it fucking burned. That fucking answer should be immediate and not a pause. There shouldn't have been a second where Kael, my m
KAELThere were certain times where I think I heard wrong whenever someone said something, and this was certainly one of those times.Drayven calling Moon his daughter. Lyria being here.No, no... this was all wrong.I locked my gaze onto Lyria, keeping it there even as my entire body went rigid in a way that had nothing to do with the fight we had just been in.There was no way.Absolutely no way.My mind rejected the thought of it immediately, and violently, ejecting it like there was something poisonous trying to force its way in.Drayven was lying. That was the only explanation. This was another one of his games. Another sick, twisted attempt to get inside our heads, and break us without lifting a finger.I clenched my jaw as my eyes flicked from Lyria... to the child in her arms... and then nack to Drayven."You fucking kidnapped her," I told him, the words laced with certainty. "And the child."That was the only explanation. The only one that made sense.Drayven’s busted up lip
RIVER"Hello, motherfucker."The powers came back to me like wild fire, licking at my skin violently and unforgiving.One second, I had just been standing there... breathing very hard, with my heart pounding and my body still trying to adjust to the sudden freedom from those suffocating chains, and the next minute, it hit me.My power.It hadn't been buried for that long, but it sure felt like it.I let out a gasp, my body locking up for half a second as the heat rushed through me, flooding every vein and very nerve. It wasn't gentle in the slightest."Oh," I breathed, everything suddenly so loud and clear again. "There you are."Drayven didn't waste a single second. He lunged and I moved out of the way, instinct making me sidestep smoothly, twisting just enough to avoid the incoming strike before driving my elbow straight into Drayven’s ribs.Hard.The impact echoed.Drayven staggered slightly, surprise flashing across his face for the first time since this whole nightmare started.T
RIVER"Asshole Alpha."The bottle hit the table with a dull thud, the sound sharp in the silence of my kitchen. A few of the drops spilled over my fingers, before sliding down to the wood.I stared at them for a long time... long enough that they blurred into one shimmering trail.Then I laughed.I
KAELThe room was a fucking mess when I stepped forward, glass crunching under my boots. The crowd had begun to disperse, though not as far as I would have liked.Their whispers hummed through the air."Blackthorn wolf.""An omega!""Savage, all of them."I kept my jaw locked.At this point, I didn
RIVERThere was someone in his house.Again.I froze just as I reached for the light switch, my senses and whole body catching the familiar scent before the blub even flickered on. There was no reason for me to guess who it was because who else would enter my apartment without an invitation and sta
RIVERThe scent of herbs and dried blood hung thick in Zach's little infirmary that had turned into a small training room now. The air stung my nose... too sharp, too full of everything I didn't want to think about at all.Which was fine.I wasn't here to think. I was here to work. And mindless wor







