MasukElara's POV "Leave?" I repeated, my voice cracking slightly. "What do you mean, leave?"My chest tightened, and my mind immediately went to the worst possible place. Had I done something wrong? Was I too much of a burden? Did they regret bringing me to their home?"Did I do something?" I asked, hating how small my voice sounded. "Is it because of what Rowan is doing? I know it's a lot but we can—""No, baby," Kael interrupted, his voice firm. "That's not it. It could never be.""Then what is it?" I demanded, my voice rising. "Why are you suddenly asking me to leave?"Draven's jaw tightened, and he glanced at Kael before taking my hand."Come on," he said quietly. "Let's go upstairs."I wanted to argue, to demand answers right there, but something in his tone stopped me. I nodded, letting him lead me up the stairs. Kael followed close behind, his presence, heavy at my back.When we reached their room, Draven closed the door behind us, and I turned to face them, crossing my arms over
Kael's POV She chuckled, though the sound was weak."Why are you laughing?" I asked, a smile tugging at my lips despite the worry churning in my chest."I'm so happy to see you again." Her voice was soft, but the warmth in her eyes made my heart clench.I moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Draven's in the bathroom," she said.I reached out, cupping her face gently, careful not to touch any of the bandages. "I missed you so much, baby," I said, my voice low. "I thought I'd lost you.""You didn't." She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing for a moment. "You never will."I kissed her then, soft and slow, pouring every ounce of fear, relief, and love into it. Her lips were warm, and when she sighed against me, something inside me settled."Don't ever do that again," I muttered against her mouth. "Don't leave like that. Not without us.""I didn't leave," she whispered. "I was taken.""You shouldn't go to Rowan alone. I'm sorry we didn't tell you what happened, but this is w
Elara's POV I turned toward the voice. She was stunning. Black hair that fell past her shoulders in a glossy sheet, lips full and curved into something that wasn't quite a smile, and eyes that dragged over me like I was something she'd already decided wasn't worth her time.She was tall. Built lean with muscle that showed even through her fitted training gear, and she carried herself like she knew exactly how dangerous she was."Hara," Prisca said, her voice measured.Hara didn't acknowledge her. She walked straight toward me, stopping so close."So this is what all the fuss is about," she said, looking me up and down with her arms folded. "The kings drag an outsider onto our training grounds and everyone is supposed to act like it's normal."I opened my mouth."I'm not exactly an outsider," I said carefully.Hara's lips curved into a slow, condescending smile."Right," she said. "You seduced them both, didn't you? Got them wrapped around your fingers and now you want to collect both
Clara's POV My coffee had gone lukewarm by the time Elara finally got to the part about the training ground and I sat up straighter on the couch, tucking my feet under me."Wait, wait, wait," I said. "Back up. She just walked up and decided she wanted to spar with you herself? Out of all the people there?""Out of all the people there," Elara confirmed."And she insulted you.""And hit me.""In front of everyone."A pause."Clara.""I'm just clarifying the facts," I said, setting my mug down on the coffee table before I dropped it. "So this woman, this Hara, with her little superiority complex, decided that the best welcome she could give you was a smack to the head?""She called it a lesson.""I'll give her a lesson." I pressed my back teeth together. "I will fly out there and give her a full curriculum. I will teach her things about herself she never knew."Elara laughed on the other end and even though I could hear that she was tired, it was a real laugh, and that settled me down
Draven's POVThe moments the shot was heard, I was already moving.Behind me I heard Kael hit the ground beside Josh, his voice dropping to something low. I heard him bark orders at the security detail. I heard the sharp intake of breath from one of the doormen. They all knew Josh. He was their former boss.I rushed into my car and I drove.The car was already three blocks ahead by the time I hit the first intersection, and I pushed the accelerator to the floor. A delivery truck lurched out of a side road and I swung the wheel hard, clearing it by nothing, straightening out and pressing harder, my eyes fixed on the car ahead.'Draven.' Kael's voice arrived in my head. 'Come back. Josh needs—''No.''Draven, I need you here—''Handle it. You know what to do. I said that I wouldn't let it go if this ever happened again.'He paused. He didn't try again. He knew me well enough to know that nothing he said right now was going to reach the part of me that was still capable of listening.Th
Elara's POVI stood there, staring at the door they'd just walked through, my chest heaving with a mixture of rage and guilt.How dare he.How dare Draven blame me for all of this, as if I'd asked Rowan to become a psycho stalker, as if I'd wanted any of this to happen.But even as the anger burned through me, another feeling crept in.Guilt.Because he was right, wasn't he?If I hadn't run to Rowan's place, if I hadn't left the house that day, none of this would have happened. They wouldn't have had to worry about me, wouldn't have had to risk their lives to save me over and over again.I pressed a hand to my chest, the weight of it crushing. I didn't mean to hurt them.I just wanted to help, wanted to do something instead of sitting here like some damsel in distress while they handled everything.I wanted it to end.I pulled out my phone with shaking hands and dialed Clara's number.She picked up on the second ring."El, baby? Are you okay? I saw the news about the company opening a
Elara's POV The door locked with a definitive click that made my stomach drop. I turned back to face Rowan, trying to keep my breathing steady.He stepped closer, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. His face twisted in disgust."You reek of them," he spat, his eyes darkening. "Those Lycan b
Elara's POV"There's no one out there."Kael's voice was calm, reassuring, but I saw the tension in his shoulders as he walked back inside. His jaw was tight, his eyes scanning the room like he expected someone to jump out from the shadows."Are you sure?" I asked, my voice small.He pulled me into
Kael's POVI pressed down harder on the accelerator, weaving through traffic like the world depended on it. My jaw was tight, my knuckles white against the steering wheel."Slow down before you kill us," Draven muttered beside me, but his voice lacked its usual bite. He was staring out the window,
Elara's POV I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Panic gripped me as I realized my voice was bouncing off the walls. No one would hear me. I fumbled for my phone again, my fingers shaking as I tried to dial Draven. Before I could hit call, something sharp slapped the phone out of







