LOGINElla.That evening, I told Kyle about the conversation. We were in our bedroom, the door closed so Maya wouldn't overhear."We teach her to be strong. To be proud of what she is. To never apologize for her nature.""And when people reject her? Hurt her?""We hold her. We remind her of her worth. We make sure she knows she's loved.""Is that enough?""It has to be."I wanted to do more. To protect her from every cruel word, every fearful glance, every closed door. But I couldn't. This was part of being a werewolf in a human-dominated world.The next day at school was worse. Three human children told Maya they couldn't sit with her at lunch anymore. Their parents' orders.She came home holding it together until she reached her room. Then she cried. Deep, heartbroken sobs that shook her small body.I held her. Let her cry. Didn't try to fix it because some things can't be fixed with words."I just want to be normal," she whispered."You are normal. Your normal is just different from thei
Ella."Watch this, Mommy!"Maya stood in the training yard, facing three teenage werewolves. She was only seven. They were fifteen, sixteen, maybe seventeen. All of them shifted into wolf form.She didn't move. Just stood there, small and human.Then she spoke. One word. "Sit."All three wolves dropped to their haunches immediately. Their eyes glazed. Completely under her command.Kyle whistled low beside me. "She shouldn't be able to do that for another six years at least.""Is it normal?" My voice came out higher than intended."No. It's extraordinary."Maya released them with a giggle. The teenagers shifted back, looking dazed and slightly embarrassed that a seven-year-old had just dominated them completely."Sorry!" Maya said cheerfully. "I just wanted to see if I could.""It's fine, little Alpha," one of them replied. "That was actually pretty impressive."They walked off, shaking their heads. Maya skipped over to us, grinning."Did you see? I did it just like you taught me, Dadd
Ella.Maya was brought up from the safe room. She ran to Kyle, crying. He held her, whispering that everything was okay.But everything wasn't okay. Our home was damaged. Pack members were injured. Derek might be captured, but who knew how many more enemies we had out there?Dad stayed with us while contractors came to assess the damage. The south wall would need to be completely rebuilt. Several windows replaced. Marble floors repaired."At least a month of work," one contractor estimated. "Maybe longer."Kyle nodded. "Whatever it takes. Just make it secure."That night, we all stayed together in the main house. Too shaken to separate. Maya slept between Kyle and me, her small body pressed against mine.I couldn't sleep. Kept replaying the fight. Derek's eyes when he saw me. The dart hitting his shoulder. The fear that it wouldn't work fast enough."You were incredible today." Kyle's voice, soft in the darkness."I was terrified.""Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's acting despi
Ella.The alarm system screamed through the mansion. Red lights flashed in every hallway. I jerked awake, disoriented.Kyle was already up, pulling on clothes. His phone pressed to his ear."How many?" he barked into the phone.I couldn't hear Ethan's response, but Kyle's face told me everything. This was it. Derek was here."Wake Maya. Get her to the safe room. Now." Kyle's voice was steel. No room for argument."What's happening?""Derek's at the south border with at least six others. They've already taken down two patrol units."My heart stopped. "Are they...""Alive. Unconscious. But Derek's moving fast. He's heading straight for us."I ran to Maya's room. She was sitting up in bed, clutching her stuffed bear. Tears streaked her face."Mommy, what's that noise?""Just a drill, baby. We need to go somewhere safe.""I'm scared.""I know. But Daddy will protect us."Kyle's mother appeared in the doorway. "Come with me, sweetheart." She held out her hand to Maya. "We're going to play
Kyle.My wolf surged forward. Protective. Furious. Every instinct screaming to hunt. To eliminate the threat before it reached my family."He's coming here.""That's why I needed to tell you immediately. I wanted to warn you earlier, but I needed confirmation. I needed to be sure."Ella sank back onto the couch. Processing everything. The color had drained from her face completely."He's coming for me because of something that happened before I was born. Something I had no control over. Something my mother did."I knelt in front of her. Took her hands. They were ice cold despite the warm room."He's not getting anywhere near you. I promise.""Kyle, he's dangerous. He almost destroyed your pack once. He knows how you think. How you fight.""And he failed. He'll fail again. We're stronger now. Better prepared."Thomas stood. Paced to the window. "I should have told you sooner. As soon as I found the documents. But I wanted to verify everything first. I thought maybe I was overreacting."
Kyle.I excused myself from the conversation and stepped away from the crowd. Ella followed, concern crossing her face."Thomas?""Kyle." His voice was tight. "I need to talk to you and Ella. Privately. It's urgent.""What's wrong?""Not over the phone. Can you come home tonight?"I glanced at Ella. She was watching me with worry in her eyes."We're in DC. We can catch the first flight tomorrow morning.""Make it tonight if you can. This is important."The call ended. I turned to Ella."Your father needs to see us. Now.""Is he okay?""He sounded scared."We left the reception immediately. I called the driver while Ella gathered our things from the hotel. The drive to the airport felt endless. Traffic crawled. Red lights seemed to last forever."What do you think happened?" Ella asked."I don't know. But Thomas doesn't scare easily.""Maybe something with Jane? The baby?""He would have said that over the phone."We caught a late flight home. The plane was nearly empty. Just us and a
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







