TRISTANIt’s fucking ridiculous how clearly I remember it—every moan, every gasp, every goddamn twitch of her hips against mine.The way Eleanor had looked up at me last night, lips swollen, hair a mess of curls splayed across my pillow. That soft little whimper she made when I pushed deeper into her, slow and deliberate, like I was trying to memorize the shape of her from the inside out.And maybe I was.I rub a hand down my face and groan, still half-hard just thinking about it.Because now, even in the bright morning light, with the hum of the pack stirring outside, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. My fingers ran along my jaw as I leaned against the doorframe, watching her move around the garden like nothing in her world had changed. But mine had. Fuck, mine had.She'd let her guard down. Really down. And I was selfish enough to want more.She bent over to adjust a flowerpot, her shirt riding up just a little, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the curve of her lower back
ELEANOR"You keep doing that, and I’m not letting you out of this bed today."His voice was still thick with sleep, warm and rough in a way that sent tingles across my skin. Tristan nuzzled into the curve of my neck, his breath hot, his lips dragging lazily along my pulse point. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing."Doing what?" I asked, barely able to get the words out as he nipped gently at my skin."Squirming like that," he murmured, one arm tightening around my waist, pulling me flush against him.Oh Gods.Every inch of my body was tangled with his. Skin to skin. Breath to breath. The memory of last night still danced across my body like fire, and yet here I was, already aching for more.I should run. Say something snarky. Deflect. That's what I did best, wasn’t it?But I didn’t move. Tristan shifted, his leg sliding between mine, his fingers grazing the curve of my thigh. "You always try to run from this. From me. But you’re not going anywhere today, Eleanor."His voice w
EleanorThe moon’s silvery light creeped through the curtains, illuminating Tristan’s room in a quiet glow. I stood just outside the door, the weight of my thoughts pressing heavily on me, my heartbeat echoing in the silence. I could hear him moving inside, the soft shuffle of his steps, the almost imperceptible sound of him breathing."Eleanor?" His voice was soft but urgent, a low call that seemed to pull me closer.Taking a steadying breath, I pushed past my nerves. "Can I come in?""Always."I turned the knob, stepping into the room, my gaze immediately locking with his. Tristan stood there, framed by the dim light, his presence as strong and magnetic as ever. For a heartbeat, the world outside this room faded. I felt a pull toward him, a connection that was both familiar and terrifying.“Hey,” he said, his tone warm but laced with concern. I could see the tension coiled in his shoulders, the way his muscles tightened with every passing second. “You okay?”I nodded quickly, my voi
TRISTANThe halls felt colder than usual. Even with the mid-morning sun slipping through the windows, there was a chill I couldn't shake.I kept my steps even, casual, but my mind was anything but calm.Someone had gotten inside our walls. Someone who had gotten close enough to Kate to whisper poison in her ears.And Eleanor...Eleanor was pulling inward again.I could see it—the way her shoulders tensed even when it was just me, the way she glanced over her shoulder like a hunted thing.I gritted my teeth.I had promised myself—I wouldn’t lose her again.Not to fear. Not to Cedric. Not to anyone.I rounded the corner toward the Beta residence, my heart beating a little faster. Eleanor had Kate moved there after the incident, both of them tucked deeper into Nightshade's heart where it was harder for strangers to even breathe near them.I agreed with the decision, but it still felt like a cage.A necessary one.As I approached, the sound of Kate’s soft laughter floated through the h
ELEANOR"Mom!" Kate's voice rang out as she burst into the infirmary, her hair mussed from outdoor play and cheeks flushed pink from the late afternoon sun. "Guess what happened today!"I laughed, setting down the clean linen I was folding. "You beat everyone at tag again?""No," she grinned, missing a front tooth. "A man talked to me! He said he’s your friend. From Moonclaw!"My hands stilled."What?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light, but something cold had started dripping down my spine.Kate twirled around, carefree. "He said he missed you. And he said... he said Daddy Cedric misses me too."I shot up from the cot, my heart thudding painfully. "Kate. What exactly did he look like? What did he say?"Kate blinked up at me, innocent and unbothered. "He was tall. Brown hair. Smelled like the woods. He said you and Daddy would be happy together again soon."The world tilted slightly.I grabbed Kate’s shoulders, forcing myself to stay calm. "Did he touch you?"She shook her head.
BEATRICEIdiotic boy.Whispers had already started.The council members hadn’t wasted a moment before spreading Cedric’s little outburst like wildfire, each retelling growing more exaggerated than the last.“Unstable." "Emotional." "Unfit." I could almost hear them sharpening their knives.And all because my son couldn't keep his damn temper in check for five minutes.I stopped before the massive mirror hanging at the end of the hallway, glaring at my own reflection. Regal. Composed. Not a single strand of hair out of place. A queen, not a mother of a reckless fool.Aurora's voice floated down the hall, crisp and cold. "Beatrice. We need to talk."I turned, already smoothing my features into something neutral. She approached, her white dress fluttering slightly with each step, a vision of icy perfection. But I knew better. Beneath that polished exterior was a mind sharper than any dagger."We can't afford another spectacle like yesterday," Aurora said without preamble. "They're alrea