LOGINLyon’s POVI turned to walk out of the study, my mind a mess of conflicting emotions. I needed to breathe, to get away from the heavy atmosphere of the room and the crushing weight of Nima’s gaze. But as I reached for the handle, the door swung open from the outside. Raynka stood there. She looked almost exactly as I remembered her. She had the same large, doll-like eyes and the same perfect, blonde hair that never seemed to have a single strand out of place. She looked like a Barbie doll—beautiful, but entirely superficial. That was the reason our relationship had lasted only three months. I had been deep in mourning back then, looking for a distraction from the pain of losing my first mate. Raynka had been a ready company, but she was a woman who cared more about the label on her dress and her social status than the actual heart of the pack or anyone else for that matter. I had never seen her as someone of true value, and the momen
Lyon’s POVI had spent the entire drive from the city building a wall around my heart. I had rehearsed the cold, clinical words I would use to demand DNA tests and legal proof. I was an Alpha; I was supposed to be governed by logic and the safety of my future with Christie. But as I stood in the doorway of the study, every bit of that resolve seemed to crumble into dust.Looking at Callum was like looking into a mirror that reached back twenty-five years. It wasn’t just the hair or the jawline; it was the way he sat—with a natural, quiet gravity that only the children of Alphas possessed. My chest felt tight, a strange, overwhelming affection washing over me that I wasn't prepared for. This wasn't a problem or a situation. This was a person. This was my blood.The boy suddenly slid off Nima’s lap, his small boots thudding against the rug. He didn't seem afraid of my size or the dark energy I usually carried. He tottered across the floor with the clumsy determination of a two-year-old
Lyon’s POVThe drive back to the North felt like a journey into a storm. Every mile that took me away from Christie felt like a mistake, but every mile that brought me closer to my estate felt like a confrontation with a past I couldn't escape. By the time I reached the main gates, the sun was high in the sky, reflecting off the jagged stone walls of the pack house. I didn't need my Alpha senses to tell me that the atmosphere had changed ppl. The sentries didn't just bow; they watched me with a curious, expectant look. They were waiting to see what their leader would do about the sudden appearance of a royal heir.Ren was waiting for me just inside the gates. His face was grim, and he didn't offer a smile."Tell me everything," I said, not slowing my pace as I headed toward the main entrance. "Where is she? Where is Raynka?"Ren walked beside me, his voice low. "She is in the estate, Lyon. Your mother intervened the moment she arrived. Nima asked for Raynka to be given a high-qualit
Lyon’s POVThe room was bathed in moonlight, making Christie’s pale skin glow against the dark sheets. She sat up slowly, her eyes wide with shock and lingering exhaustion. I had been sitting here for an hour, watching her sleep. The information from Ren was still keeping me restless. I hadn't gone back yet. I couldn't leave things like this."How did you get in here?" she whispered, her voice still thick with the remnants of her tears."I’m an Alpha, Christie. A locked door isn't going to keep me away from you," I said, my voice low and rough. I stood up from the armchair and walked toward the bed, sitting on the edge. "I came back because I couldn't let you go home thinking what you were thinking. I need to explain."She shook her head, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "What is there to explain, Lyon? You have a son. You have a past that has caught up with you.""I don't know that for sure,
Christie’s POVThe drive back to the Graves estate was a blur. The steering wheel of the Bentley felt cold under my hands, and my vision kept blurring as tears spilled down my cheeks. For the first time in my life, I had allowed myself to believe that I was special, that a man like Lyon could truly love me without any strings attached. Now, everything was covered in a thick layer of uncertainty. I had given my heart and my body to a man whose world I didn't even understand. What did I know about heirs and Lunas? I was just a doctor. I wasn't ready for the drama of a werewolf pack.By the time I pulled into the driveway, my chest was aching from the quiet sobs I couldn't hold back. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, but I knew my eyes were red and puffed. I just wanted to crawl into my bed and disappear.As soon as the engine died, I saw them. Anna and Diane had been sitting on the porch, probably waiting to see if I’d return with
Christie’s POVThe elevator chimed, but I didn't move. I stood there, waiting for Lyon to answer my question. My heart was beating so hard it hurt. I needed to know if I was already losing a battle I hadn't even realized I was fighting.Lyon reached out, trying to take my hands, but I stepped back. He looked pained, his amber eyes searching mine. "Christie, listen to me. It is not as simple as you think. Our laws are ancient, yes, but they are not a cage.""Then tell me," I demanded. "Is she your Luna now?"Lyon took a deep breath, his chest heaving. "In our world, an Alpha is only tied to the woman who bears him his first heir if he does not have a mate at all, or if he has been rejected by his mate and is truly alone. In those cases, yes, the first woman to give him a son would be recognized. It is to ensure the bloodline continues."My heart sank. The room seemed to spin for a second. "So, if she has your son, she has a claim to your throne. She has a claim to you.""But I have
Christie's POVI didn't sleep well.I kept reading that text over and over in my head even with the phone face down on the nightstand. *We know where you are.* Every time I closed my eyes it was right there waiting for me.At some point past midnight, there was a knock on my door.I sat up. "Yes?"
Christie's POVI didn't hear him come out.One second I was alone on the steps talking to myself like an idiot, and the next Lyon was sitting beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth coming off him in the cool evening air.I straightened up quickly."How long have you been standing ther
Lyon's POVThe elders were already seated when I walked in.Seven of them around the long table, all wearing the same expression. I sat down at the head of the table and looked at each of them without speaking.Elder Cass started."The human girl has been inside this house for over twenty four hour
Christie's POVLyon didn't answer my question.He just looked at me across the kitchen table with a steady expression that gave nothing away, and then he stood up and took both our plates to the sink. I let it go. For now.I went back upstairs to check on Nima. She was still sleeping, her vitals h







