AgnesI arrived at the office earlier than usual the next morning, my mind already racing with the plans I’d formulated during my restless night. Sleep had been impossible—every time I closed my eyes, I saw those tiny bones illuminated by flashlights. So instead, I’d channeled my grief and anxiety i
“The items would be completely legal,” I explained to one particularly cautious supplier. “We’re talking about safety whistles, not switchblades. And the pepper spray would be the standard strength allowed for civilian use in our territory.”I wanted these bags to provide real protection, not just a
AgnesMy heart lurched painfully in my chest. Thea’s violin recital. How could I have forgotten something so important?Elijah’s eyes swept over my chaotic office, taking in the scattered sketches, fabric samples, and prototypes. Then his gaze returned to me, and I saw the concern etched into the li
But when I turned to face the mirror, disappointment washed over me. The dress hung from my frame like a child playing dress-up in her mother’s clothes.Frowning, I tugged at the fabric, trying to make it sit right. Had I really lost that much weight? I turned sideways, studying my reflection. My ri
AgnesI stared at my father, momentarily stunned into silence. Of all the people who could have stopped to help me, of course it had to be him. The man hadn’t been there to help me with a damn thing in seven years, and yet he’d shown up over a fucking flat tire.Recovering quickly, I straightened my
AgnesThea’s violin bow glided across the strings, her face so sweet and innocent and utterly concentrated that I found myself blinking back tears.When Elijah and I had slipped into our seats just moments before the recital began, she had spotted us immediately. The brief flash of relief in her eye
By the time we arrived home, Thea was half-asleep. Elijah carried her up to bed while I poured us each a glass of wine.We met back in the living room later, settling onto the couch with a record playing faintly in the background. For a few minutes, we just sat in silence, sipping our wine.“So,” El
AgnesThe next few days passed in a whirlwind. I threw myself into finalizing the survival bag prototype, making the last adjustments to ensure every feature worked perfectly. The panic button compartment had been the biggest challenge, requiring three complete redesigns before I was satisfied with
“Please, Daddy? I’ll keep it forever and ever!”Elijah, never able to resist Thea’s puppy-dog eyes, relented immediately. I just shook my head as he handed over his credit card for the ridiculously overpriced stuffed animal.“You’re spoiling her,” I whispered to him. She just got a whole new playroo
Agnes“Thea, please slow down,” I called after my daughter, who was racing ahead of us toward the giant shark tank. “The sharks aren’t going anywhere!”“But I want to see them up close!” she shouted back, already pressing her face against the glass of the massive tank.I sighed and quickened my pace
Lena looked at me for a moment, blinking as if dazed by my sudden diversion, but shook her head. I showed her around my workstation, pointing out different fabric types and explaining my design process.“I’d be happy to make you something sometime,” I said. “As a welcome gift.”Lena’s eyes widened.
AgnesThree days after the interviews, I found myself arranging fresh flowers in the guest bedroom that would soon belong to the new nanny.The room wasn’t massive, but it was comfortable—a queen-sized bed, a small writing desk by the window, and an en-suite bathroom that I’d made sure was stocked w
I watched carefully as the candidates interacted. Some immediately gravitated toward Thea, crouching down to her level and asking about her interests—sometimes too aggressively, and a couple even talked to Thea like she was a toddler.Others were more reserved, focusing on impressing me with their q
AgnesThe following morning, after breakfast, I headed to my study and got to work on finding a nanny right away. I sat down at my desk and pulled up the pack database on my computer. All pack members were registered with their educational backgrounds, employment histories, and special skills. It wa
The moment he stepped out, Thea launched herself at him. He caught her effortlessly, spinning her around before setting her back on her feet. I approached more slowly, although I couldn’t help but grin. I’d missed him, even though it was just a few days. It seemed that the scraps of my wolf returnin
AgnesThe silence in my living room was deafening.I had told Evelyn and Gertrude everything—about my elemental abilities, about Thea being my biological daughter, about Olivia’s deception and my father’s machinations. The story had taken longer than I expected, and now the clock was ticking well pa
The elevator was at the far end of the lobby, requiring me to walk past the entrance to the hotel. As I approached, I noticed the guy from the bar, the one who had been with the woman, hurrying after me. He wore a blue hoodie and had a pair of glasses on.“Excuse me,” he called, “Alpha Elijah? Sir?”