LOGINKyle.The water tasted like relief.I stood at the kitchen sink, letting the cool liquid slide down my throat while dawn painted the sky outside. Every muscle in my body screamed protest at the simple act of standing, but lying in bed had become unbearable.The nightmares wouldn't stop.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those four teenagers charging at us. Saw the moment they realized they'd made a fatal mistake. Saw the light leave their eyes.Their faces haunted me. Young. Scared. Believing in Dominic's lies until it cost them everything."Kyle?"I turned to find Ella in the doorway, her hair messy from sleep, eyes wide with fear."Just getting water," I said quickly. "I'm fine.""You're not fine. You're standing here at five in the morning because you can't sleep."She crossed the kitchen and wrapped her arms around me. I leaned into her touch, letting her warmth chase away the cold memories."The nightmares?" she asked softly."Yeah.""Want to talk about it?"I shook my head. Wha
Ella.I was out the door before it fully stopped. Maya ran after me, calling for her daddy.The back door opened. Kyle stepped out slowly, favoring his left side. Bandages covered his shoulder and wrapped around his ribs under his shirt. His face was pale, tight with pain he was trying to hide.But he was alive. He was home.I crashed into him, sobbing. Kyle caught me with his good arm, holding me tight despite the obvious discomfort it caused."I'm okay," he murmured into my hair. "I'm okay, Ella.""Don't lie. I can feel how much you're hurting.""Then you can also feel that I'm alive. That I made it back."Maya reached us, wrapping her arms around Kyle's legs. He winced but didn't pull away."Daddy!""Hey, baby girl." Kyle ran his hand over her hair. "I missed you.""You're hurt.""Just a little. Nothing serious."Jason climbed out of the driver's seat. He looked exhausted, with his own set of bandages visible on his arms."Get him inside," Jason said to me. "He needs rest and pain
Ella.The pain hit me at three in the morning.Not my pain. Kyle's.I bolted upright in bed, gasping. My chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing my ribs. My shoulder burned with phantom agony that wasn't mine but somehow was.The mate bond. Something was wrong.I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand, hands shaking. No messages. No calls. Just the crushing sensation of Kyle's distress bleeding through our connection."No, no, no," I whispered.Maya stirred in her room down the hall. I forced myself to breathe slowly, quietly. She didn't need to wake up to her mother panicking.But inside, I was screaming.The pain faded slightly but didn't disappear. Kyle was hurt. I knew it with absolute certainty. The bond never lied about these things.I threw off the covers and paced the bedroom. Each step felt wrong without Kyle beside me. The empty space in our bed mocked me, reminding me he was out there somewhere, bleeding, hurting, fighting.And I couldn't do anything to help him.The c
Kyle.I turned to leave. The other Alphas followed. Dominic's wolves parted to let us pass, but their eyes tracked our every movement.Outside, the sun was setting. Long shadows stretched across the camp. More wolves had gathered, watching silently.The older wolf who'd escorted us in reappeared. "This way."He led us back to where our team waited. They'd been surrounded the entire time, but no violence had occurred."Well?" Rick asked."He refused," I said quietly. "Completely.""So what now?"I looked back at the camp. At the crude shelters. The young wolves preparing dinner. The children playing near the fire."Now we call the Council."We hiked back to our campsite in silence. Once there, I pulled out the satellite phone and dialed Vincent's direct line.He answered immediately. "Torres. Report.""Negotiation failed. Dominic refuses to surrender or stop attacks. He's prepared to fight."Vincent swore softly. "You're certain?""Absolutely. He's ideologically committed. Won't compr
Kyle.Dominic's stare could cut glass.I settled into the chair across from him, keeping my posture relaxed but alert. Jason sat to my right, Luca to my left. David and one other Alpha flanked the doorway."You came a long way to talk," Dominic said. "So talk."His voice was younger than I expected. Smooth. Almost friendly. But his eyes told a different story."The Council wants peace," I began. "They sent us to offer you a way back.""Back?" Dominic laughed. "Back to what? Pretending to be human? Filing taxes? Following their laws?""Back to civilization. Safety. Legal protection.""We have safety here. We protect ourselves.""By attacking innocent people?"Dominic's expression didn't change. "No one's innocent. Humans have hunted us for centuries. Burned us. Hanged us. Shot us with silver. Now we're supposed to smile and be grateful they tolerate our existence?""Things are different now," I said carefully. "Integration gives us rights. Recognition. A future where our children don't
Kyle.Later, lying in bed, Ella traced patterns on my chest. "Tell me about the team. Who's going with you?""Jason. Luca Stone. David Kim. Two others""Good fighters?""The best.""And these trackers Vincent mentioned?""Ex-military. They've done this kind of work before. Finding people who don't want to be found.""How dangerous is Dominic really?"I considered lying. Making it sound safer than it was. But Ella deserved the truth."Very dangerous. He's killed humans. He's organized. He has followers willing to die for his cause.""So this could go very wrong.""Yes."She was quiet for a moment. Then, "Promise me something.""Anything.""If it comes down to your life or his, you choose yours. You come home. Maya and I need you more than the Council needs Dominic stopped.""Ella...""Promise me, Kyle.""I promise."She kissed me then. Deep and desperate. I kissed her back with everything I had.The next morning came too quickly. I packed light. Clothes, supplies, weapons. Everything I
Ella.The graduation cap felt ridiculous on my head.I adjusted it for the third time, trying to get the stupid tassel to stop swinging into my face. Around me, the entire senior class of Riverside High buzzed with excitement. Parents filled the bleachers. Camera flashes went off constantly."Stop
Ella.Kyle stood and crossed to where I sat. His hands found my hips, pulling me up to face him."I just hate that he's the one helping you," Kyle admitted quietly. "I should be the one you turn to.""You are. You're my mate, Kyle. My Alpha. But you're also overwhelmed with duties because Marcus is
Kyle.The whiskey burned going down, but not enough to drown out the look on Ella's face when I'd walked out.I sat in my truck at the edge of pack territory, staring at nothing. The engine was off. The night was cold. I didn't care.The primary bond throbbed in my chest. Ella's pain bled through,
Jason.I ended the call and hurled my phone across the office.It exploded against the wall. Glass and metal scattered across the floor.My chest heaved. My wolf clawed at my insides, demanding to be let out.Coming for her. I'd actually said that. Like some desperate fool who couldn't control hims







