LOGINNICHOLAS POV:I sat behind my desk, fingers tapping slowly on the dark wood.The office was quiet except for the low hum of the air conditioner. I stared at the map spread out in front of me, red circles marking old territories, old burial grounds, old secrets my father never wanted anyone to touch."How do I do this…" I muttered under my breath. "How do I lay my hands on it?"Aurelian had taken everything from me, my pride, my control, even the illusion that I was untouchable in my own pack. He walked into my office like he owned it and told me I wasn’t fit to be Alpha.He slammed my face into the wall and walked away with her. This is actually unacceptable.I wasn’t going to let that stand.I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my jaw where the bruise from our last encounter still ached. Aurelian is a monster, but monsters have weaknesses."I just hope I get the location. It'll be over for him, that I promise," I muttered.I shook my head, and then there was a soft knock on the door.I
IRIS POV:"Nice to see you again, Dad," Aurelian said.Aurelian’s father stepped closer. For a moment, it looked like he was going to hug his son.Then his hand flew up, and he gave Aurelian a hard slap across the face.The sound echoed in the sitting room.Aurelian’s head turned slightly from the force, but he didn’t flinch. He stayed standing straight.His father then pulled him into a tight hug right after."You stupid boy," his father said, his voice thick. "Do you have any idea what you did? Out of everyone, it had to be the Council. We thought you were dead."Aurelian hugged him back, closing his eyes for a second."I'm sorry," he said quietly.His father pulled back and held him by the shoulders, looking him up and down."What happened in that Council?" he demanded. "Tell me the truth."Aurelian took a deep breath and explained everything to his father while I watched.He talked about the tether, Cassian’s lies, the fight in the chamber, how he shifted to save me and my mother.
IRIS POV:A loud bang came from the door, and I jerked awake.Aurelian's eyes opened instantly.The morning light was bright in the room.Rowe ran inside, his eyes wide, and he was breathing heavily.The moment he saw me, he stopped.I pulled the sheet up to my chin.Rowe turned around so fast he almost hit the door frame."I am so sorry," he said to the wall. "I am deeply, deeply sorry. I should have knocked. That was completely unacceptable, and I take full responsibility, and I will never...""Are you out of your damn mind?" Aurelian shouted."Sorry, sir. I didn't know you were here. I looked everywhere and thought I should come ask Madam Iris..." he explained."So you didn't think you should knock first?" Aurelian said, shaking his head in surprise.Rowe's hands were already clenched tight at his sides like he was trying to say something."It's important, sir.""What's so important that it can't wait?""Your family is here," Rowe said immediately."What the fuck did you say?" Aure
IRIS POV:The kiss was slow and heavy.His hand cupped the side of my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. I kissed him back, but my heart was still racing from everything that had happened today.When he pulled away, his forehead stayed pressed against mine. His breathing was uneven.“I choose you,” he whispered. “Every single day. Every single time.”He pulled me closer, wrapping both arms around me until my body was fully against his. His chest was warm and solid. I could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, matching the rhythm of my own racing heart.We stood there on the balcony for a long time, holding each other in silence. The cool night air moved around us, but his body heat kept me warm. His hand slowly rubbed up and down my back, gentle and soothing, like he was trying to take away every heavy thing I had carried today.I closed my eyes and rested my head on his chest. His fingers moved to my hair, stroking it softly, carefully untangling the strands.He leaned down and kis
IRIS POV:The jet landed smoothly and quietly.Aurelian carried my mother off the jet himself. He wouldn't let anyone else touch her. Rowe walked ahead clearing the path and two of the facility staff were already waiting at the entrance with a stretcher and equipment I didn't have names for.I walked beside her the whole way in.Fiona walked on the other side.They took her into a room that was cold the moment you stepped through the door. The walls were white, and the lights were blue, a unit in the center that looked like a long glass bed. The staff moved around it quickly and professionally and I stood against the wall with my arms folded and watched every single thing they did.Aurelian stood beside me, close enough that his arm was against mine, and watched with me.When they finally lowered her in and the glass began to close I took one step forward.Aurelian's hand caught my arm."She can still hear you." he said quietly. "For about thirty more seconds."I stepped up to the gla
IRIS POV:“It's alright mom, everything is gonna be alright.”“Iris…”“I don't want to hear it mom, just hold on.” I cried.“Iris… it's okay.” she said softly, rubbing my cheeks. “It's alright, I got to see my two daughters one last time… it's all that matters.”“No… please don't say that.” Fiona sobbed.“Aurelian!” I shouted.He turned, and the moment his wolf saw my mom on the ground, his eyes suddenly changed from glowing gold to human eyes. His claws pulled back into his fingers, and his fur slowly started sinking into his skin. He stood up fully, but fur still covered his body.He rushed and appeared beside my mom.He looked at the wound.“Tell me she's going to be fine.”He didn't answer immediately and that was more terrifying.“Aurelian.”“Let me look,” he said quietly.He moved her hand gently away from her side and looked at the wound, and something shifted in his face.“What.” I said. “What is it.”“The bullet,” he said. “It wasn't a standard round.”“What does that mean?”
IRIS POV:I stayed in the sitting room for a while after turning off the television, just standing there with the blank screen and the quiet of the house around me.Then I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door and went outside.I didn't have a destination. I just needed air and movement.The
IRIS POV:My eyes opened and my sight was still blurry, but something felt different.As my sight cleared, I noticed I was in Aurelian's apartment.I didn't know how I got there, but I was there, lying on the bed. I stood up immediately, standing in the middle of the room.Looking around, everythin
IRIS POV:I walked down the porch steps slowly.Fiona watched me come toward her with an expression I recognized because I had seen it in my own mirror. My face. But the way she was wearing it was nothing like me.She looked almost amused."What is this?" she said.I stopped a few feet from her.Sh
IRIS POV:Sarah came back ten minutes later with two mugs and set one in front of me without a word.She sat cross-legged on the bed and wrapped both hands around hers and looked at me."How long before he gets here?" she asked."He said he was coming," I said. "He didn't say when."Sarah looked at







