LOGINSERIS I pulled Caleb against my chest, shielding his body with mine as the metal above us groaned. "Hold onto me, sweetie! Don't let go!"Before I could force Xena to the surface and trigger a shift, a deafening screech of tearing steel shattered the air. The roof was brutally ripped off like paper. Strong, clawed hands reached into the ruined cabin, dragging both of us out into the open before we could fight back.We were tossed into the air, falling toward two massive, dark wolves waiting below. They caught us effortlessly—one snapping its jaw around the back of my collar, the other snagging Caleb by his jacket."Mama!" Caleb's terrified cry cut through the roaring wind."Caleb!" I screamed, thrashing wildly, but the grip on my collar did not budge.In a flash, the wolves turned and bolted, disappearing into the dense, dark woods at breakneck speed. Caleb’s sobs echoed behind me, growing faint as the trees swallowed him whole.Panic flooded my veins. Xena, move! Shift! We have to g
SERIS“We need to talk, Seris,” Sylus’s tone made me pause. I whirled and faced him from the place I had taken in front of the stove.My eyes darted from his eyes down to his clenched jaw.“What is it?”He seemed to study me for a beat too long. “You might need to sit for this.”Anxiety curled in my gut. Caleb was still fast asleep after his late-night rendezvous with his father.We had some time to risk another argument when Caleb would not be able to hear.I flipped off the stove and let him gesture me to a seat. When we were both seated, I folded my arms so he would not see them shake.“It is about the pack, about the curse.”“The shifter’s curse.”He nodded. “And about you.”The lead in my gut grew heavier. “Me?”“You might be the answer.”My mind began to spiral. “What the hell are you talking about?”“The first case of the shifter’s curse was six years ago, four days after you left.”His words dropped like a bomb and all I could do was burst out laughing from the absurdity.His
SYLUS Touch disgusted me, the contact of skin against skin irked me in ways that forced bile up my throat. Even my father's rare embrace had been no different.But only two people had been exceptions—Seris and Caleb. My son sniffled, muttering about all the ways he felt odd among his classmates."I feel like something is hiding…under my body. And I want it out." He whimpered. "It is scary."I patted his back, soothing him, letting him pour it all out."I am scared Mama will leave me too," he cried."She would never," I said, overtaken by the extreme urge to shield him. "She loves you too much.""But I am not like all the other kids. I am not good.""You are the best," I assured, pulling back so that I could hold his gaze. "You are the best for your Mama.""Am I?"I forced a smile despite the rolling wave of grief that curled in my gut. "The bestest."He broke into a shaky smile, wiping awkwardly at his tears. I took over for him, dragging my handkerchief over his wet, flushed face.I
SYLUSI flipped through page after page of loss. My body still thrummed with the earlier tension, my shoulders stiffening with every counted death in the report sent to me.My jaw clenched so hard, the bone was a second away from cracking. More hearts stolen, more resources squandered, and even without being there, I could smell the horror from the wolves of my pack.They did not deserve this terror—no one could.I slapped the file closed, my heart hammering so hard that it could have bruised my ribs. And it did not fully have to do with the pack. It was Seris, too.Our aggravating conversation still weighed on me like lead. She betrayed me, she shattered my trust and my life, hiding my son from me while I wallowed in agony after her deceit.Then she acts like she was the one wronged.A foolish part of me wanted to believe her claim to innocence, but I remained forever haunted by the pictures. Those were all too real.Yet, I wondered why she had not just gone to Darkpine after she esc
~SERISCaleb was cuddled up with the stuffed toys that Sylus had miraculously provided, and I did not have it in me to wake him up. Even if every second in this house made my pulse skitter.So I watched him, fighting back the urge to call Sylus. Ever since he had stepped past me and out of the office corridor, he had not returned.The entire day had been a complete, nerve-wracking ordeal. The lingering moment in the car still sat like a sour taste at the back of my throat. My chest was still tight.Then Robert’s attempt at blackmail, and then Sylus—I recalled how I had counted down the seconds until he came out of that office, fully prepared to see blood staining his crisp suit. Sylus had always been lethal; mercy was not a word in his vocabulary. But instead of a corpse, Robert had been left a sniveling mess until he could finally gather himself and crawl away. Whatever had happened between them in that room had utterly broken the man. He couldn’t even look me in the eye when he
~SYLUS“Take a seat, Mr. Lane,” I said, sitting on the corner of the desk, dangling one leg over the edge while the other remained firmly rooted.“This is my office—”“Sit,” I ordered, not raising my voice.But by the way his knees buckled, he could feel the absolute weight of my Alpha aura.His mouth twisted into a tight scowl, but he obliged. “What can I do for you, Mr. Hawkins?”I shrugged, nonchalant despite the fire scorching my blood. “Plenty.”“Oh, really?” His gaze sharpened.“Tell me about Penelope.”I watched his face drain of all color. “Wh—what?” he stumbled over the singular word.“Or Louisa. Maybe Angie,” Disgust rippled through me, Varg growling in my head, begging me to rip him in half. I had poured over the egregious details of each case the moment I realized Robert would be a problem. Only for me to find out the man might as well be the devil himself. “Oh, I almost forgot Roena.”With every name I mentioned, the whiter he became. Still, the bastard dared to
~SerisThe words hung in the air like a death sentence, my stomach lurching so hard that bile sprang up my throat.Sylus went utterly and terrifyingly still.I watched his countenance shift, but it didn't give way to horror. The grief, the shock—all of it was locked away behind a wall of ice. His
~SERISSoft music wove through the grand hall, crystal chandeliers casting golden light over silk gowns and polished marble. Every wolf in attendance held a champagne flute; the air was thick with conversation and gossip.“You really outdid yourself, Seris,” Lenore gushed, gesturing at the great
~SERISDarkness swallowed everything. The blindfold tightened at the back of my head, anchoring me to the void. My breath came faster, shallow and ragged."Sylus—""Don't speak." His voice was ice against my ear, a freezing contrast to the heat radiating from his body. "Just feel me.”My dress p
~SERISI blinked; the heir had called his father by his title.Even the Alpha halted—stunned. “What do you think you are doing, son?” he snapped. “You dare challenge me for a vermin?”“The Goddess made a choice, Alpha, and I will uphold it.”My breath hitched, the pack gasping in shock.The Alp







