LOGINHope could still feel the tension Perry had left behind.The kitchen was quiet now, but Perry’s proposal had changed something. No one had dismissed the idea of Valduz becoming the Rogue King. Hope had not dismissed it either.She dried her hands beside the sink. “King Nathan Valduz Ryker,” she said, trying out the title.Valduz laughed behind her. “I could take your last name instead. My father would hate that.”“Spite. A beautiful reason to marry someone.”He laughed again. Hope liked hearing it. Lately, he had begun to show her more of himself beneath the guarded answers and sharp jokes.She picked up the empty plates, but Valduz took one from her hand.“Thank you for feeding my difficult friends. I’ll wash these.”Hope let him. Standing beside him like this felt easy, even after the argument at the shelter and everything Perry had said.“What would her plan mean for us?” she asked.Valduz set the plate in the sink. He came back and wrapped his arms around her waist. His hands were
Hope was still looking at Perry when she said, “I want to open the program again.”Violetta turned toward her. “What?”“We run it ourselves this time,” Perry said. “Properly.”“You’ve lost your mind.”Valduz set down the device he had been holding. He had spent the morning worrying about Hope’s approaching shift. Perry’s words gave him a new reason to worry.“Why would you want to reopen it?” he asked.“What happened to us was wrong,” Perry said. “But we changed things because of it. The Wolf Bait laws are gone.”“You helped end those laws,” Valduz said.“We all did. Whether we wanted to or not.”Perry looked around the kitchen. Hope was sitting beside Valduz, while Violetta stood across from them with her arms folded.“None of us is happy with where we ended up,” Perry continued. “Violetta, they made you a Luna so they could display you beside someone else’s power. And I was never going to be happy smiling politely while other people decided what mattered.”Violetta’s face hardened.
“Yes,” Hope said into the phone. “Midnight feels eager.”Valduz watched her from across the kitchen while his father asked about the twins.“Zoey is doing well,” Hope said. “He loves being here.”“And Zenep?”Hope hesitated. “She’s having a harder time. She doesn’t like being apart from Zoey.”“She’s the older twin,” Mr. Ryker said. “She may feel responsible for him. Spend some time with her alone when you can. Let her enjoy herself without worrying about her brother.”Hope considered it. Zenep often watched over Zoey even when no one had asked her to.“I think she knows something’s wrong,” Hope admitted.The line went quiet.“Is she having nightmares again?” he asked.Hope’s chest tightened. “Yes.”“Keep an eye on her. Zenep has a strong instinct for danger.” His voice softened. “She must get that from you.”Hope glanced at Valduz. She was surprised by how easily she had told his father about the nightmares. She still did not know how much she could trust him.“What do you need the B
Valduz caught Hope’s wrist before she could walk away.“Don’t you dare.”She turned. Her eyes glowed bright red, and his wolf surged in answer.Hope pulled her arm free. He let her.“It’s one thing to leave me,” he said roughly. “It’s another to turn to someone else just to hurt me.”“From now on, everything I do will be to spite you.”The words struck harder than her punch had. Hope headed up the path toward the greenhouse.“Pay attention, Alpha Valduz Ryker.”The title was full of contempt. She had seen exactly what he feared becoming.If he let her leave believing he did not want her, she might never trust him again. Valduz had tried to protect her by hiding the worst of his past. He could see how much that secrecy had hurt her.“Six thousand two hundred eighty-four,” he said.Hope stopped.“That’s how many people I’ve killed. Those are only the confirmed ones.”She turned slowly. Valduz made himself continue.“I started when I was fifteen. Anyone who threatened my mother or me, I
“These are good,” Hope said, lowering the handgun. “But if these rooms are meant to keep people alive, they need weapons that won’t make noise.”Valduz was still watching the way she held the gun.“Bows,” she continued, looking around the shelter. “Crossbows. Knives in more than one place.”“You’ve thought about this before.”“I paid for school with archery competitions. My dad taught me to hunt too.” She checked the weapon once more before setting it down. “And how to stay hidden.”She spoke as if those were ordinary things to learn growing up.Valduz did not like imagining what had made them necessary. “I’m glad you know how.”Hope glanced toward the other weapons. “Do you use these?”“No. My mother and siblings do.” He moved farther into the room. “That’s why there are several shelters. If one is found, they can get to another.”“Are they all set up like this?”“Yes.”“Then they all need first aid kits. Flashlights, spare batteries, and rope too.”“I’ll add them.”“And more knives.
“Doesn’t your family want something from us?” Hope asked. “Don’t they expect us to take their place one day?”Valduz looked out at the ocean. “Yes. They do.”Hope thought about the pack laws on her tablet and the question she had asked him about his family’s help. A house could be a gift and still carry expectations.Valduz gave a quiet laugh. “I used to think we were completely different.”“We are,” Hope said. “Except for one thing.”“What’s that?”“We both want our freedom.”He turned toward her, then looked back at the dark water. “I’ll see how much time I can buy us.”“Would we have to leave?”“No. This place is ours.” He pointed toward the land beyond the house. “Everything from here to there is in Zenep’s and Zoey’s names. I made sure of it, just in case.”Hope tightened her grip on the tablet.Just in case.She opened Perry’s research again. The files traced bloodlines, missing heirs, and laws Hope had barely begun to understand.“There are eight bloodlines,” she said. “Accordi
The question slipped out before Azerbel could stop it."Who is she?"Her voice trembled.Not because she didn't want the answer.But because a part of her was suddenly terrified of hearing it.Luna Lorraine's hand tightened around hers.And somehow...that made everything worse.The grip was gentle
Azerbel’s Point of ViewI felt it before I saw him.A gaze.Heavy.Sharp.Unmoving.It slid over my skin and made me shiver.Slowly, I lifted my head...and froze.A man was staring at me.Not just looking.Watching.Like he was studying me.Like he already knew something about me that I didn't.My
Azerbel’s Point of ViewSkylar's words helped.Just a little.It felt...comforting.To know someone understood.She gave me a soft smile.Relieved."I've been telling her the same thing, Luna Lorraine," she said lightly.But I heard it.The sadness hidden beneath her voice.I lowered my gaze.I co
The man she loved was finally coming home.So why did it feel like her heart was warning her instead of celebrating?Azerbel stood at the entrance of the Hellfire Pack, pressing her trembling hands together as she tried to steady her breathing.Beside her stood Luna Lorraine.On Lorraine's other si







