LOGINKerris POVGareth starts to mindlink Zach, then seems to remember we're standing right here."Sorry, Your Grace."The moment Zach looks at me I know he has won the bet. Whatever Gareth was about to say, it's clear he was right and he's here to complain about the cottage."I see you two are out enjoying some fresh air," Gareth says."We can spare a few minutes," I reply before Zach can dismiss them. I tug gently on his hand and start toward the castle. The others follow.A few minutes later, we're seated in the guest lounge in the west wing.Gareth starts speaking without wasting any time."First, we want to thank you for the provisions you've made for Miss Blue." His voice is respectful, but there's something calculated underneath it. "She's recovering well."His gaze shifts briefly toward Zach."And, as you know, Caden is still recovering too. His wolf is... not quite back to himself."I study him.From everything Zach and I have gathered, Gareth still has no idea how different Cade
Kerris POVI'm just coming out of the woods when I spot the two of them.Gareth Stone and Linda Hyde. Caden's parents.I slow between the trees, watching them from a distance.It's not the King they're here to see. They've come for Caden. And, judging by the direction they're coming from, they've just gone to visit his mate.I can already imagine Gareth's thoughts.Marissa Blue is an omega. A convicted criminal. A girl from a background nowhere near what he would consider suitable for his son.Gareth was the Alpha of my birth pack for most of my life. He's still the Alpha. His family and mine were close for years. And his first son was the only male I ever dated before Fate gave me Zach.Those days feel like they belong to another lifetime now. They belong to a different Kerris.But I know Gareth well enough to doubt that he will easily accept the idea of Marissa becoming Caden's Luna.For all I know, he might even be disappointed that she survived.I watch the two as he says somethi
Caden POVI had a situation on my way to see Marissa that night. I couldn't make it.And she did not wait for me. She chose Gareth's money. She tried to leave. She was going to John Maxwell.Something inside me threatens to go feral as mom continues to give voice to my thoughts.The only problem is... the images that fill my mind aren't of Marissa's crimes.They're of claiming and marking her.Making it impossible for her to ever disappear from my life again.I hate that those are the thoughts my mind keeps producing.Mom continues. 'She's not the female for you, Caden. But you already knew that.'Her voice softens. 'It's why you planned to break the bond at the first sign of the Crescent.'I look away. Almost ashamed that I haven't even thought about rejecting her, not even once since we reunited. After what she did to me, that's exactly what I should be thinking about.'Now you'll do exactly that.' Mom's voice trembles slightly. 'You'll be free from her. Free from the risk of lo
Caden POVAt least Nyx is little calm now that she's no longer in that prison cell.I have no idea why I just said what I said. And I refuse to examine it.Whether or not I'll actually demand that she perform her duty is something I've spent the past few days trying not to think about.Those words had left my lips before I could stop them.And now I can't stop the images flooding my mind as I hurry out of the cozy room.What would it feel like to finally claim what is mine?In the brief, dangerous moment of fantasy, I let myself forget Gareth and everything he wants from me.Only Rissa exists. In my arms. Her warmth against me. Her naked skin, soft and willing, beneath me.I drag a hand through my hair as though I can physically clear the thoughts from my head. It doesn't work.I step outside.Gareth and Mom are waiting beneath the tree a few feet from the door.For a moment, I'm startled by the sight of the two. Not that I expect them to have left. Just that my brain doesn't seem ca
Marissa POVMaster.Not mate. The word makes my stomach turn."You will perform your duty while serving your sentence," Gareth continues. "The Queen made this special arrangement in order to keep you healthy enough to do exactly that."He turns toward the door, and all I can do is stare after him.For several seconds, I don't move.Then I catch something that makes my confusion deepen.Alpha Gareth places a hand against the small of Linda's back as he guides her toward the door.I blink.I always thought she hated him. Or that they hated each other.Abviously, I was wrong.Or maybe they're united in this. Gamma Linda must hate me now. For the crimes Gareth has just listed.They both think I'm nothing more than a problem that needs to be managed.The door shuts behind them, and whispers drift through the doorway.I hear Gareth giving instructions to Nadia Mars, the female Caden assigned to me.Or maybe it was his father who assigned her this duty.The voices soon fade. The room becom
Marissa POVFor a long time after Caden leaves, I don't move. I remain where I am just staring at the door. At nothing in particular. I know he's still out there. I hear the whispers, not his voice, but he's part of the conversation. The sound soon fades.Minutes go by as I wait for…I don't know what I'm waiting for. Then a gentle knock sounds and I just at the sound. Did he forget something? Even as this question crosses my mind, I know it's not him."I'm coming in," a familiar voice calls.Ryder Lockwood.Caden's closest friend.The male who will most likely become his Beta once his final trials are over.He opens the door slowly and peers inside."Hey, Miss Blue."It's the first time he's ever addressed me directly.He and Caden became friends a few years after Alpha Gareth separated us. But Ryder and I are from the same pack. I've known him almost as long as I've known Caden.It doesn't change the fact that, like Caden, Ryder Lockwood belongs to a world very different from m
Kerris POV"Where's the temp?" Zach catches sight of me as soon as he asks the question.“Here she is,” Mary replies.This is it. Time for the meeting I've been dreading and waiting for this past two days. I enter the reception and greet, "Good afternoon, your majesty.""Sure is," he responds, the
Tyrel (Third-person) Ty can tell he's not making any sense to the other Alphas. When Axel opens his mouth to speak, he knows the guy is about to pıśs him off some more,"You know, there's rumors that 'playboy Zee' is a little too attentive to his temp assistant. That's your girl, right? Kelsie or
Zach POVAres is no longer ill from the 'evil potion' in the wine. I can feel his strength and passion. As much as I feel the other guy's. All is well in every inch of my body and psyche.Yet I can't help thinking that the drugs have an influence in the feelings run through me. Madison had insisted
Zach POVYes. True. I should listen to her. She's pretty. She'll be Luna Qu--Ares' groans cut off that line of thought. He's struggling to emerge but can't. "Something's wrong...""Nothing is wrong," Madison insists, her eyes turning bright with purpose. I want to disagree with her but can't. H







