LOGINThe house is still mostly empty. With bare walls, uncovered windows, and the faint scent of fresh wood and plaster in the air, but I’ve never loved a place more.Sunlight spills across the light oak floorboards, warming the space like it’s already lived in. There’s no furniture yet, just a few unpac
** Harper’s POV **Back at our apartment on the military base, I start to pack up our few belongings. It feels surreal that we will be back at the academy by evening. Although our academy apartment is so much nicer, I’m still kind of sad to say goodbye to this place. We may not have been here long,
**Harper’s POV **We pick our way back through the decaying house, and I hope I never have to step foot in a place like this again.The air is thick with the scent of mould and blood, and just ahead, I see the rectangle of light that is our freedom. The open doorway, where there’s fresh air. I’m abo
** Harper’s POV **“Your fear doesn’t justify the blood you spilled,” I say, stepping forward, voice steady even though my hands are shaking. “You tried to erase people to fix a mistake you made, but we are not your mistake.”“You don’t understand,” he says weakly.“I understand more than you think,
** Harper’s POV **“How are you alive? Didn’t you die like hundreds of years ago?” Finn asks.“I did,” Elias nods. “They executed me for my actions, and it was just. I was messing with things I never should have touched, but the damage was already done. When they found me and took all my research, i
** Harper’s POV **“Is this our location?” Deacon asks, stepping up to study the screen.“That’s where I saw him. He’s bleeding, weak, and alone. This is our chance to finish this,” I say.Finley, Luke and a few of Raff’s men than have filed in step up to study the screen. Getting a good look at the
** Archie’s POV **Harper’s sudden shift in mood has us all on high alert as she whispers that it’s time to go. Chase’s demeanour shifts from relaxed to tense, and a low growl rumbles in his chest. I follow Harper’s gaze to the cliff top above us, but I can see anything but the rocks silhouette agai
** Finley’s POV **When I’d received a message late last night to attend the academy this morning for a meeting, I'd thought it would be a great opportunity to surprise Harper. I’d grovel to her dads, convince them I’d learnt my lesson, apologise for running my mouth when they had excluded me, then
Chapter 41**Harper’s POV **Finley’s mum leaves the room and I feel a little embarrassed about blurting out what I had seen, but it had been such a profound connection between mother and son that I’d almost burst into tears at the pure love I’d felt.“So that wasn’t awkward at all,” Finley laughs.
“Do you know her?” I ask Chase when I see him notice her.“Unfortunately,” he sighs. “That’s my adoptive sister, Abbie.”“I don’t like her aura,” I say, watching her carefully as she moves further in the queue.“I’m not going to pretend I understand what you just said, but she doesn’t like me,” he s







