“What happened wasn’t your fault,” he insisted for what felt like the hundredth time since it had all happened.I nodded silently. Even if I didn’t believe his words, I couldn’t bear to disappoint him further, so I made a quiet vow to quit complaining and buck up.“I promise I’ll try to help with th
Agnes“We’re here for you, Thea! Always and forever!”The recorded sound of mine and Elijah’s voices filled the hotel room for what had to be the hundredth time today. Thea was sitting cross-legged on the bed, pressing the button on her new stuffed pig’s stomach over and over, a small smile on her f
“Sure,” I agreed, letting her lead the way.Shopping with Thea was always an adventure. She had strong opinions for a seven-year-old, scrutinizing every item with a critical eye before deciding if it was worthy of her closet. Today was no exception.“No, Mommy, not that one,” she said, shaking her h
ElijahAfter two months in prison, Olivia looked… different. I’d expected her to be haggard and half-insane by now, but the person I saw was nothing at all like that.If anything, she looked better than she had on the outside. Her hair, no longer that fake bleached blonde but back to its natural lig
For months, that threat had been my trump card. The mate mark on my neck gave me the power to end her life if I chose to. All I had to do was concentrate on breaking the bond, and she would die.Agnes had begged me not to, insisting that we find another way, but right now, with Olivia playing games
AgnesElijah had been gone all day, still at the prison with Olivia, and my anxiety was getting worse by the minute. I knew if I didn’t distract myself soon, I’d drive myself crazy. Or maybe even burn the hotel down; in fact, my palms had been itching all afternoon, warmth sparking through me like f
“I…” I hesitated, unsure of what to say. My inner monologue had been so cruel that I wasn’t used to hearing someone actually be… excited about my powers. “I don’t know about being a superhero, but maybe I’ll be able to light a candle without a match.”“Or make a campfire without matches! Or keep us
AgnesMy knees buckled. The hallway seemed to sway around me, and for a moment, I thought I might collapse right there on the hotel carpet.“What?” The word came out as a choked whisper.Elijah reached out, steadying me with his hands on my shoulders. “Let’s sit down,” he murmured, guiding me to the
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?”
ElijahHotel rooms always felt the same to me: sterile, impersonal, and far too quiet. This one was nicer than most—the pack I was visiting had surprisingly put me up in their territory’s best accommodations despite our trade disagreement—but it still felt wrong. The bed was too soft, the air condit
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Thea bounded down the stairs, racing me to the door.“I got it!” she cried, yanking it open before I could reach her. “Miss Evelyn!”Evelyn swept in like a hurricane, bringing with her the scent of expensive perfume and a veritable horde of what looked like gifts in
AgnesI was buried in sketches for the next season’s line when a knock at my office door pulled me from my concentration. I glanced up, surprised to see Elijah standing in the doorway. He hadn’t mentioned stopping by my office today.“This is unexpected,” I said, setting my pencil down. “I thought y
“What do you think it was like for her?” I said after a moment. “My mother, I mean. Living her whole life afraid that someone would find out what she was.”Elijah’s thumb traced circles on the back of my hand beneath the water. “Lonely, I imagine.”“She never told me,” I whispered. “My own mother, a
AgnesThe saltwater felt like heaven against my overheated skin. I’d been soaking in my in-ground pool for nearly an hour now, but the heat that had built in my body still hadn’t completely subsided.Honestly, I was surprised that I hadn’t burned down the entire bar earlier. My finger had certainly
“Yes,” he insisted. “Because Elemental Enterprises is owned by your stepmother’s family.”The world seemed to tilt beneath me. I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself. “What?”“I’ve been keeping your true nature from your stepmother all this time,” he continued, the words coming out of him