INICIAR SESIÓNNick~ One month later: I'm tired of the same grinding monologue day after day. My father's voice seemed to filter through the floorboards, and every note tasted like ash. For him, the pack was the only thing with a pulse; the safety of the pack, the purity of the bloodline. The law. It was always the pack, the same mindless, unfeeling machine that devoured everything else. Harley stood by the bed, putting our toiletries in her bag. "This is it," I said, raising my arms to the sides. She smiled back at me. "Yes, it's almost over; never again will I complain about the weather." My hand rubs over the back of my neck. "I know I keep apologizing for my father, but I'm sorry for these last 30 days. I'm gonna make it all up to you, to all of us." Harley puts the last of her load inside the bag and goes back to the bathroom. "Titus is doing his duty, I suppose; nothing else matters." She's right; now, heavy politics had him recycling the reasons for Harley's exile. Since Ponzi
Harley~ "You're exactly right, Titus," I said, keeping my voice level despite the adrenaline spike making my fingers tingle. "No one wins when we take justice into our own hands. However, I did not kill Delilah." A dry, breathless laugh huffed out of Ruby. "But we all saw you, dear. The entire pack did." "No. What you saw was your pissed-off granddaughter." I leaned back, letting the memory's heat flare behind my eyes. "It was my failure to control it, but the power belonged to Etta." Titus and Ruby exchanged a look as the air in the room suddenly felt twice as heavy. Their divided front fractured, giving way to a sudden, rigid stillness. Ruby's hand flew to her collarbone, her chest hitching. "Do the Elders know?" The question felt like a slap to the face, over and over. Why did everyone keep repeating the exact same words? I let out a long, slow breath through my nose, forcing the rising frustration down. "No," I said, dropping all pretense of patience. "It was only rece
Harley~ Once I got started on the eggs and sausage, my body aggressively demanded more. By the time I was done, the plate was clean, and we were fat, happy puppies. At the same time, I watched the nurses begin the delicate geometry of arranging Nick's IV lines. Their hands blurred as they passed things back and forth and separated the tubes. In the end, they looped and cleared them all, so I could safely slide in beside him. An urgent, animal impatience thrummed under my skin; my muscles literally twitched with the need to be close to my mate. When they finally stepped back, I eased onto the mattress, surprised by how thick and plush the foam was for a hospital bed. Ponzie stepped up to the monitor beside Nick's bed."Your presence is the best thing for him right now." He said, his eyes shifting over the green, glowing lines of Nick's vitals before he gave a small, satisfied nod. Grace snapped a fresh, heated blanket over us. The heavy warmth instantly settled in. "I'll be ba
Harley~ The trek through the hospital stretched into an agonizing eternity before the elevator doors finally parted. They released us onto a floor that swallowed our footsteps in absolute silence. Grace stepped toward the reception desk, her nurse's clogs squeaking against the polished linoleum. She exchanged a few hushed words with the receptionist. Next, the sharp click-snap of plastic badges being assembled cut through the quiet. Grace returned a moment later and handed me an ID as the overhead speaker crackled to life. A monotone voice droned, "Code Blue, ICU, Room 412." My shoulders shot up at the noise, and my whole body flinched. "It's not Alpha Nick," Grace murmured, her hand briefly resting on my arm. We rounded the last corner to the OR recovery unit. Etta is not a fan; the air here is heavy with the chemical sting of antiseptic. It didn't mask the raw copper scent of blood; I forced air into my lungs. My pulse raced as Grace pressed her hand against the heavy
Harley~ In the past thirty minutes, my boots have clicked a frantic rhythm against the sterile linoleum. Above, the fluorescent lights of the OR waiting room buzzed a low, clinical hum that seemed to track the relentless circle. Just before my knees gave out, I sank into a vinyl chair, the material cold and stiff beneath me. 'Breathe, Harley,' Rae offered quietly. 'No news is good news.' 'I'm trying, Rae; why is it taking so long?' 'Who's saying? Our Alphas are strong.' Straight in front of me, the heavy double doors swung open, and Ponzi emerged. His steps were too quick as he closed the distance; he wasn't carrying the update I'd been praying for. "Sean is asking to see you," he said. His jaw was a tight line, his brow pinched as he claimed the empty space beside me. "How is Nick, Rich?" My throat tightened as the words scraped out, leaving the taste of panic sharp on my tongue. "He's still in surgery." Ponzi expanded his chest and shoved his hands into his pock
Harley~ A deafening roar shattered the room, followed instantly by the sharp sting of sulfur and burnt gunpowder. Titus lunged forward to disarm Delilah, his shadow in my peripheral vision. But the bullet was already moving through the air. Nick's fingers dug into my shoulders as he pushed me to the floor. Silk and tulle bunched around my knees as I shielded my belly from the impact. Nick stumbled and gasped, a wet, choked sound. He reached for me with fear in his eyes. My hands slid on the floor runner as I scrambled to my feet, but it was too late. "No." The word tore from my throat, raw and breathless; his hands were pressed flat against his midsection. Dark, thick crimson seeped through his turquoise vest, staining his fingers. "Nick!" Volatile heat ignited beneath my skin, starting deep in my heels and surging upward. It clawed at my throat as the surge of pure energy rushed through my veins.Though terrifying, the fire's allure claimed me, and I surrendered. Wisps of thick
Harley~ 'His name is Nick, and don't accept that I believe he will come back for us.' 'I wouldn't have him if he came back!' 'Sure, you're right, Ms. Patty Pillowcase.' My phone rings as I put the car in reverse; it's Belinda, and she tells me that my presence is required as soon as possible.
Kyle~ For quite some time now, I've been standing in the middle of Harley's bedroom without the first clue of what to bring her other than the basics. Becky's voice is high-pitched and fast when she calls for me, insisting that I return to the hospital. The beach bag from the bottom of Harley
Harley~ My heart leaped, causing me to sit up straighter in bed. Nick, entering the room, put an ear-to-ear grin on my face. 'I missed you, Wolfman.' 'I missed you, too, Amante.' He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me his best stern eye. "What did you find at Steve's?" "We found t
Nick~ "Sorry, I forgot about calling you back, Kyle." I paused, but this would not get any easier. I took a heavy breath. "The police have confirmed that the stalker has Harley, only they don't know who he is yet." Kyle cursed profusely. "Does the name Steve mean anything?" "Yes, Steven Bala







