“And that’s not the only issue,” another Luna chimed in. She pointed to a section of forest. “This area was decimated by fire three years ago. It’s no longer the valuable hunting ground it once was. The real value now is in the eastern section where the forest has regrown and the deer population has
I worked 15-hour shifts every day at the restaurant, barely enough time to catch my breath. Parties and banquets? They felt like they belonged to a different world—one I’d never be a part of. I was just a waitress who was hip-deep in debt, a nobody in the eyes of most people. Therefore, when the A
My heart pounded as I held his steely gaze. I’d never seen him before in person. Still, he embodied every physical descriptor I had heard customers give him at the diner: extremely fit, tall, dark, and handsome--with ice-blue eyes.The type of eyes a girl could get lost in. Those eyes narrowed.“Ye
Alpha Elijah had once again firmly sent me back to my rooms while he went to console his daughter, probably to ask her what had happened without any onlookers. Now in my room, my mind still whirled as I thought of the encounter. Not with Elijah or Ava, but with her.Thea.She must have been a clever
The night of the ball had arrived. My heart thundered as I stood at the front of the line of Mate Trial girls outside the large ornate doors of the ballroom, waiting to be let in. I could hear Ava’s loud laughter from her place near the back of the line, obviously wanting to be the last girl in beca
Alpha Elijah led Thea and me out of the ballroom as Thea clung tightly to both of our hands. My mind swirled around the events of the night, continuing to land back on the birthmark on Thea’s neck.It sent shivers down my spine, the prospect that it really could be her—my daughter, the child that I
ElijahThe moment Agnes had walked down the stairs in the ballroom, I had been captivated. It was like she had been made to captivate all my attention. Even now, sitting in my study in her plainclothes, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.From our very first encounter, my gaze had been drawn to hers
Gloria’s demeanor instantly changed when Elijah appeared.“Alpha Elijah, I am so sorry. I just assumed—”“Your assumptions were incorrect, Gloria. Thank you for your time employed here, but offending the Alpha’s mate is an offense that cannot be rectified. You’re fired.”My eyes went as wide as saucers as the housekeeper began sobbing. “Bu, bu, but—”“Leave,” he simply ordered. The woman scuttled away, but not without first sending a sour glare my way.I didn’t know what to say other than, “You didn’t have to—”“She’s been stealing cash from my office for weeks,” he said with a wave of his hand. “And besides, I won’t set such a precedent here. You deserve respect.”Those words took me by surprise, but before I could respond, Thea grabbed my arm.“Let’s go see your actual room! It’s right next to mine, and Daddy’s is right across the hall!”Thea was practically skipping as she pulled me down the hallway toward my new room, already chattering about tea parties and the like. I cast a glan
“And that’s not the only issue,” another Luna chimed in. She pointed to a section of forest. “This area was decimated by fire three years ago. It’s no longer the valuable hunting ground it once was. The real value now is in the eastern section where the forest has regrown and the deer population has
AgnesThe men all stared at us with expressions ranging from shock to outrage. But I wasn’t about to be intimidated.I scanned the room quickly, spotting a door at the far end. Without hesitation, I marched across the conference room, ignoring the disapproving glares from most of the Alphas. I flung
We freshened up quickly and headed downstairs, the elevator delivering us directly to the lobby. The conference area was located in a separate wing of the hotel, connected to the main building by a glass-enclosed walkway. I could already see groups of werewolves gathering, the men in suits and the w
AgnesOur flight landed around noon. The airport was smaller than I expected—just a handful of gates and a single baggage claim carousel. I’d been to plenty of small airports during my life, but this one was particularly humble.“Welcome to Hunter Creek,” Elijah said as we made our way through the t
I stuck my pinky finger out and wrapped it around hers. “Pinky promise. And you can call us anytime, day or night. And Lena will be with you. She’ll take good care of you.”Thea glanced up at Lena, who was standing a few feet away, giving us space for our goodbyes. “I know,” she whispered. “But it’s
AgnesThe next two weeks flew by more quickly than I expected. Between preparing for our trip, handling work, and making sure Thea was settled with the new nanny, I barely had time to think about the incident with the paparazzi.Lena fit into our household routine as if she’d always been there. She
“Are you okay?” I asked. “After what happened at the restaurant, I mean.”She nodded. “I’m fine. It was just... unexpected.”“The paparazzi can be brutal,” I said. “Try not to take it personally. They’re just looking for their next story.”“Of course,” she agreed. “Good night, Agnes.”“Night,” I rep
AgnesMy stomach dropped the moment those words left the photographer’s mouth.“Alpha Elijah! Is this beautiful woman your next romantic conquest?”The flash of the camera was blinding, but not as blinding as the sudden rush of emotions that flooded through me. I felt like I’d been punched in the gu
“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