FAZER LOGIN~ ROSELLE ~With Ronan gone, I don't know what becomes of me in this pack.My biggest fear is running into Ravenna after she told me to leave… or crossing paths with Mara. I'm not scared of her exactly. I'm just trying to ignore the whole "I slept with your man, I'm his mate, and you're nothing more than a placeholder" situation. I keep hoping Ronan's investigation will prove it isn't true. That it was all a cruel lie.I already have my day planned.I'll have breakfast with Celeste, who's probably already waiting for me in the dining room. I'm actually looking forward to the day I'll be able to cook my own meals. Celeste has been teaching me, and I can't wait to get good at it.After breakfast, I'll head to the library to pick out a few books and work on plotting my own story. I always think more clearly in the library. It's easier to focus there than staying in this room… where every corner, every piece of furniture, every lingering scent reminds me of him.I move to the table, helpi
~ ROSELLE ~My eyes prop open when I hear a soft knock on the door. The morning light slams into my eyes, making me squeeze them shut immediately. I slowly rise from the bed, half-blind, as I make my way to the window and shut it.Hell, how did I end up sleeping without closing the windows?Oh well, that's another sign of how much I miss Ronan. He's always right there, taking care of the little things I need before I even ask. He seems to know me better than I know myself.My lashes flutter as my eyes finally adjust, relieving the ache from the blinding light. I yawn and stretch before my morning nature calls. My bladder reminds me that I need to relieve myself.Another knock.Oh hell, that's what woke me up. Someone's at the door.I drag myself to the door, my hand already reaching for the knob before I even question who's standing outside or take a second to think.I almost feel my heart stop when I see Ronan standing there. He's already dressed, ready to leave the pack.My heart ac
~ RONAN ~Even though I'm leaving her in Nikolai's care, I can't just walk away like that. The last two times I trusted him to watch over her, something went wrong. The first time, Mara got into her room. The second time, those two pack guards cornered her because they wanted their little revenge. I can't afford to make that mistake again.Even though I'm exhausted, I change my destination. Instead of heading to my room to sleep, I make my way to the Seer. Maybe she can help me. Maybe she can create some kind of connection that lets me know the moment Roselle is in danger.Entering her quarters, I find her seated before the temple, an incense stick burning beside her. Wisps of smoke curl through the air. She stills as though she senses my presence before her eyes slowly lift to meet mine.I bow my head in respect."What brings you here, Alpha?" she asks, her calm voice echoing softly through the temple.I hesitate for a beat before stepping closer. "I need your help," I say quietly,
~ RONAN ~The training ring, just as I expect, is usually empty at this hour.The late evening shadows stretch across the padded floor, reminding me why I'm here; A place where people test their strength and push their limits.Nikolai is already in the ring, leaning against the ropes. His eyes stay on me, and I can already see the question in them before he even opens his mouth."Let me guess," he says the moment I step into the ring. "You're here because you're bored and think it'd be fun to get your ribs broken by your Beta. Sounds like a great way to spend your last evening before the three-day Council meeting."I don't answer. Instead, I pull off my shirt and toss it onto the bench beside the ring."Or," Nikolai continues, watching me with narrowed eyes, "we could go run some laps. How many would you like? Fifty? A hundred?""One hundred and fifty," I say coldly, rolling my shoulders to loosen them. "And we both know you're going to hate every single one of them."Nikolai's entir
~ RONAN ~I was out of the room before anyone could change my mind. The door slammed shut behind me with a resounding thud that echoed down the hallway like a final declaration. I'd made my choice, and I didn't see Mara in my future.Mom might not see past the sweet facade Mara was trying to put up, but deep down, it was only a matter of time before I exposed the truth — that Mara wasn't the innocent girl she pretended to be, or at lease she was, but not anymore.I strode down the hallway toward my office, intending to wrap up whatever work I could for the day, then find Roselle. If she'd let me. I understood her need for space after the bomb Mara had dropped. The accusation was enough to make any woman retreat. Especially Roselle, with the trauma she'd endured. I wouldn't push her. I'd give her time. But Goddess, it hurt like hell knowing she was hurting because of me.Standing outside my office was a young courier, a warrior barely out of his teens, waiting patiently with a sealed
~ RONAN ~I push open the heavy wooden doors to my mother's chambers without knocking, my jaw clenched so tightly it aches.I need to have this conversation. I need to establish boundaries that should have been set long ago. Because if I don't do it now, if I don't make it crystal clear that she needs to stay the fuck out of my relationship with Roselle, she's going to keep crossing lines, keeps interfering and she's definitely going to keep trying to control my life and my choices.And I'm done with it.My mother is sitting at her vanity, examining her reflection in the ornate mirror. She looks up when I enter, and surprise flashes across her features."Ronan," she says, setting down her jewelry with slowly. "What an unexpected visit. Did the sky fall today? Is there some catastrophe I'm unaware of that would prompt you to seek me out without me extending an invitation?""We need to talk," I say coldly, crossing the room to stand before her. "About you and Roselle, and about your in







