MargaretThe black car Susan arranged pulled up to the university. I hated being dragged along on this pointless errand, but here I was. Catherine stared out the window, suddenly alert after spending the entire two-hour ride either babbling about genetics or staring into space like an idiot."We're here," I said unnecessarily. The driver opened Catherine's door.I got out and wrinkled my nose. Humans everywhere. Too many smells, too many bodies, all of them talking and laughing, completely unaware of the predators walking among them. I hadn't been around this many humans in years. Forgot how they reeked—sweat mixed with chemicals they called perfume, food residue, and that underlying scent that was uniquely human. Vulnerable. Prey."This way." Catherine was already walking ahead. "Life
Robin"This is where it ends for you," Hilda rasped, her thighs locked around Damon's throat.I stood at the doorway of the holding cell, trying to process what I was seeing. Mere minutes ago, this woman had been beaten to a pulp, her face unrecognizable beneath blood and swelling as they loaded her onto a stretcher. Now she was somehow back here, pinning Damon to the ground with inhuman strength.My guards stood frozen beside me, weapons half-drawn but hesitant to approach. One of Damon's men lay dead on the floor, throat opened so wide his head was nearly severed. Another wolf was backing away slowly, terror plain on his face.Cole caught my eye from across the room, where he stood with the remaining Moon Pack guards. His expression clearly said: Don't get involved. But how could I not? This was happening in my territory, in my holding cell."You think you're untouchable?" Hilda leaned closer to Damon, putting more pressure on his windpipe. "Big man. Alpha. The one everyone fears."
RobinAuthor's Note: All errors in the previous chapter have been fixed. Sorry for the inconvenience.I stood before the wall of monitors in my office, arms crossed, watching the largest screen. The security feed showed Damon circling Hilda in the holding cell. Her hands were cuffed, but she stood straight-backed, face blank. Damon was talking, his mouth moving rapidly, finger jabbing toward her face."You know putting them in the same holding cell is a mistake, right?" Levi said from the couch, not looking up from his tablet.I nodded. "I know."Levi shook his head, tapping something on his screen. "Why do you care so much?""I don't," I snapped, too quickly."Not this." Levi finally looked up, eyes sharp. "About her."I turned, brow furrowed. "What did I tell you about asking adults questions they don't want to answer?"Levi met my gaze, unflinching. "You are my father, are you not?""You don't respect me enough for that to matter," I muttered, turning back to the screen."You haven
EvelynI have been humiliated and blessed by the goddess with a child that was able to see me...I hugged Ava tighter, my body shaking so hard my teeth rattled. Words caught in my throat, trapped behind sobs that hurt coming out."Thank you," I finally whispered, my lips brushing against her hair. It smelled like pine and sweet shampoo.Ava pulled back just enough to look at me, her small hands bunching up my hospital gown. "For what?""For remembering me." My voice cracked. A tear dropped onto her cheek and mixed with hers.Ava reached up, her tiny fingers warm against my wet face. "I always knew.""For seeing me." I touched her face, her skin baby-soft under my trembling fingers. "Really seeing me.""Your eyes are the same," she said simply, studying my face like she was memorizing it. "I could always tell.""For still wanting me." This came out as barely a breath.Ava's chin trembled. She pressed her forehead against mine. "I waited for you. Every night."I clung to her like letting
AvaThe bench was hard under my butt. I kicked my legs back and forth, watching my toes swing above the floor. Not tall enough yet. Miss Hilda said I'd grow into my shoes someday, but right now they just dangled in the air while I waited.I thought Father would be here when I came out. Or maybe Alpha Robin. Nobody was around though. Just people in white coats rushing past, too busy to notice me.I sighed. Adults were scary. I remembered watching Father during training with his wolves back at Moon Pack. His face changed when he gave orders. His voice got deeper. None of the other wolves looked him in the eye when he was mad.Father had cried today.I'd never seen that before. Not when we found out Aunty Susan was sick. Not when Aunty Margaret fell down the stairs that time and couldn't walk for days. Father was always strong.But today, tears came out of his eyes. Real ones. When he found me. He made this sound like something was breaking inside him. Even though he'd been really sad, h
Hilda"Why do you have pictures on your arm?"We were in the garden, Ava picking wildflowers while I watched from under an oak tree. Shade felt good after a week of brutal heat.I glanced down at my tattoos. "Because they look good.""Oh." Ava thought about this for a second. "Can I have some?""When you're older."That was enough for her. She went back to her flowers, humming something under her breath.Later, walking back to the house, we ran into trouble. Jeremy. Pain-in-the-ass beta who never knew when to shut up."Hey princess," he called to Ava, making it sound dirty somehow. "Your father's looking for you."Ava stuck close to me. Said nothing."What's wrong?" Jeremy smirked. "Alpha's spoiled little girl is too important to speak?"I stepped in front of her. "Move."Jeremy looked me up and down, sniffing the air to catch my less privileged scent of an omega. "Or what?"I sized him up. He was young, maybe eighteen or so. I had years on him, but that didn't mean shit in pack hiera