Penelopeâs POVEdwardâs handsome face appeared on my phone screen as I answered his call. The background behind him showed what looked like an expensive office.âPenelope,â he said pleasantly. âItâs wonderful to see your beautiful face. How have you been managing all your new responsibilities?ââIâm well, thank you,â I replied, forcing a smile that felt more natural than Iâd expected given my emotional turmoil moments before. âHow are you holding up during this difficult time? I canât imagine how stressful this must be for your entire family.ââIâve just returned from a lengthy expedition,â Edward explained, adjusting his position in what looked like a leather chair. âPack business that unfortunately couldnât be delayed, even with everything else happening. Now Iâm handling most of our territorial affairs as my fatherâs proxy while he deals with these ridiculous accusations.âHe paused, his gaze growing more intent as he looked at me through the screen. A smile spread across his featur
Penelopeâs POVThe words struck a nerve, but I fought to keep my face calm. Inside my chest, my heart hammered against my ribs while my mind conjured up unwanted images.âI told you about that before, remember?â I said carefully, surprised by how steady my voice sounded despite the chaos in my head. âIce Cream Uncle is starting his own family now.âBut even as I spoke, memories crashed over me like waves against a breaking shore.Five years ago, stumbling through the dark forest alone, my belly huge with pregnancy, while Dominic remained completely unaware that he had created a child. Iâd been terrified, exhausted, and heartbroken, believing he would reject both of us if he knew the truth.Now he was tenderly accompanying Kelsey to prenatal appointments, holding her hand through medical checkups, probably discussing baby names and nursery colors.The considerate, caring partner Iâd desperately wanted him to be was finally emergingâjust not for me or my daughter.The irony burned in my
Penelopeâs POVAs Debbie spoke, I noticed how her fingers unconsciously drifted toward the gauze on her forehead, touching it lightly before she caught herself and dropped her hand. Her small lips pressed together in a stubborn line, refusing to acknowledge any discomfort despite what must have been a painful wound.âYou were very brave to help your friend,â I said carefully, studying her face for any signs of serious injury the doctors might have missed. âBut sweetheart, I need you to understand something important.âDebbie tilted her head, waiting for my words with the serious attention she reserved for what she considered grown-up conversations.I placed both hands gently on her narrow shoulders, looking directly into her eyes. âEven though your abilities are much stronger than other children your age, you must still learn to protect yourself first. You canât help anyone else if you get seriously hurt.ââBut Tommy was crying,â Debbie protested, her voice rising earnestly. âThe bigge
Penelopeâs POVI sat cross-legged on the living room floor, thick research folders spread across the coffee table in neat rows. Statistics, charts, and training manuals created a paper landscape of data that told a damning story about female werewolf education across the territories.My finger traced along a particularly egregious graph showing skill distribution among female pack members. âLook at this,â I muttered, highlighting another section with my pen.Dad approached quietly. He settled into his favorite armchair and leaned forward to examine the papers Iâd arranged.âSeventy-three percent of female werewolves are only permitted to learn throwing weapons,â I explained, pointing to the relevant chart. âKnives, small spears, slingsâanything that allows them to fight from a distance.ââAnd hand-to-hand combat?â Dad asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.âCompletely prohibited in most packs,â I replied, flipping to another folder. âThe official reasoning is that
Kelseyâs POVI turned my face away sharply, irritation flaring hot in my chest. âI donât know you,â I said coldly, taking a step backward. âWhatever you think youâre doing, I suggest you stop before you get yourself in trouble.âThe man chuckled, a low sound that made my skin prickle with unease. His gaze remained fixed on my protruding belly, and that malicious smile widened until I could see too many teeth.âCome now, donât be like that,â he drawled, moving closer despite my obvious retreat. âIâve been looking for you for quite some time, actually. Didnât expect to run into you here, of all places.âMy pulse quickened, but I kept my voice level and threatening. âI donât know who you think I am, but youâre mistaken. My mate Dominic is right over there, and if you continue harassing me, he wonât hesitate to deal with you.âI gestured toward the parking lot where Dominicâs silhouette was visible beside his car, hoping the threat would be enough to make this stranger back off.Instead, t
Kelseyâs POVMy heart sank like a stone dropping into dark water, but I forced my lips into what I hoped looked like a genuine smile. The muscles in my face felt stiff and unnatural as I arranged my features into an expression of joy.âThatâs wonderful news, Dominic!â I exclaimed, my voice pitched higher than usual to mask the bitter disappointment in my stomach. âDebbie finally has a father who can love and protect her properly.âDominicâs eyes were still bright with shock and joy, completely absorbed in processing this life-changing revelation. He didnât notice the effort it took me to maintain my fake smile.âSheâs been mine all along,â he said wonderingly.Dominicâs eyes still held that dazed, euphoric look of a man whoâd just discovered his entire world had shifted. He stared at me as if seeing me for the first time, and I realized with growing panic that my position in his life had just become infinitely more precarious.I needed to act quickly before he started questioning every