LOGIN*Adele's point of view*I looked at Maya, my mind completely blank.A hundred questions hit me all at once. How on earth had she tracked us down? Did she sneak out here alone? Did she even bother warning Demarion that we were missing? And seriously, what was her end game here?"Ah, it must be my lucky night!" Viraj declared.A grotesque, delighted grin split his face, showing off sharp, gleaming fangs. He threw his arms wide like a host welcoming old friends to a dinner party, completely ignoring the fact that we were trapped in a dark forest surrounded by bloodthirsty killers."Both princesses in one place," he purred. "Now this... this is a moment to savor."Maya marched right past him, striding toward Cindy and me. She pointedly ignored the utterly bewildered looks we shot her. I knew my face was a picture of pure confusion, and one glance at Cindy proved she was just as lost as I was."Your fight is with me, Viraj. Not her," Maya spat, her eyes locked dead on the man who had murde
*Cindy's point of view*By the time the enemy began attacking, our ground warriors charged into the forest and crashed into the vampires waiting in the darkness. The fight did not stay hidden for long. The clash slowly bled out of the forest and spilled back into the open clearing.Vampires and werewolves slammed into each other. The sharp clang of metal rang through the night, mixing with the grunts and growls of determined soldiers. The sounds rose into the sky while bodies began to cover the ground.Young trainees moved quickly through the chaos, dragging and carrying the wounded away from the battlefield and toward the medical tent."We have another one!" One of the nurses shouted as she hurried beside two soldiers carrying a badly injured wolf. They placed him onto one of the trauma beds."I need gauze!" one of the volunteers yelled."God, this hurts!" another voice cried."We need a nurse over here!""Alright, bite on this. I'm going to put the bone back in place, and then you'r
*Adele's point of view*Just as Rio and Demarion stepped onto the pack grounds, James and I arrived from the opposite side. The moment our eyes met, everything else around me seemed to fade away and I ran. At once, Demarion opened his arms, and I threw myself into them without hesitation. His strong arms wrapped around me instantly, pulling me close as if he never wanted to let go. I held him just as tightly, burying myself against him.The fear, confusion, and pain that had weighed on me all day slowly began to loosen their grip. Demarion sighed softly as I tucked my face into the crook of his neck. His familiar scent seeped through my nose and I closed my eyes and breathing it in deeply.His warmth seeped through my clothes where our bodies touched, grounding me. The slow, continuous thump of his heart against my ear eased the tension in my chest, and for a fleeting second, everything else just dissolved.It was just the two of us."This is all very sweet, but time's up. The sun's
*Demarion's point of view*The moment Rio stepped through the trees, I sensed him. I sat alone at the edge of the overlook, motionless. The wind pushed through my dark hair as I stared out at the endless scenery below. Even from a distance, the weight on my shoulders was obvious.Rio approached carefully, his footsteps barely making a sound against the gravel path as if he was unaware that I already knew he was right behind me. However, I didn't react immediately.Or maybe he indeed knew that there was no way on earth that I wouldn't have already sensed his presence.Eventually, Rio slowly lowered himself onto the ground beside me. Only a few inches separated us. Then he said nothing as though he was willing to sit in the silence with me.Except I wasn't so sure I could share that silence with him for long. "Where's Kade?" I asked.Rio looked out over the view. "He thought it would be better if I came."I glanced sideways at him.Rio continued anyways. "Apparently, my talents are more
*James's point of view*With Adele gone, Demarion gone, and sunset less than three hours away, the pack house felt like a kicked anthill. Everyone had something to do. And somehow, everything needed to be done at once.Kade stepped forward, slipping naturally into his role as Beta. His voice got everyone's attention through the chaos before anyone could start arguing."Okay, here's the deal." He said. "James, find Adele. Talk to her and bring her back here as soon as possible."I gave him a nod. "Got it.""Rio, find the Alpha."Rio folded his arms and nodded as well, acknowledging his given task.Kade continued. "I know I should be the one talking to him, but I need to get the warriors prepared for tonight."He was right. There were too many problems and not enough people."Maddie, Cindy, Maya." The three women looked toward him. "You know what to do. Organize the volunteers, supplies, medical stations, everything.""No problem," Cindy said immediately while the others nodded in agree
*Demarion's point of view*Serenity's revelation had landed like a lightning strike, leaving everyone frozen in place.The silence stretched so long that the faint ticking of the wall clock suddenly seemed deafening. I glanced around the room. Every face wore the same expression of shock. Then finally, James broke the silence."Wait," he said, blinking rapidly. "Say that again."Serenity remained perfectly calm, as if she hadn't just ruined everyone's understanding of reality. "Adele's father was King Draco.""But... like... how?" Cindy asked. Her eyes bounced between Adele and Maya as if she expected to suddenly find some obvious resemblance she had somehow missed before.Serenity stared at her. "How do humans conceive children?" she asked, sounding mildly irritated.Cindy opened her mouth. "Well, I... I mean..." She pointed vaguely between Adele and Maya. "But..." Her face twisted with confusion before she finally gave up. "You know what? Never mind."The council members looked stun
*Adele’s point of view*I had been standing outside the Alpha’s office for at least five minutes now. Maybe more.Time felt strangely slow when my nerves were involved. Seconds stretched, dragged, crawled. Oxygen felt scarce, the hallway felt too quiet, the silence pressing against my ears like it
*Demarion's point of view* Adele came down the stairs, and the sound of her heels tapping against the steps reached my ears before I even saw her.I pulled back from Serena the moment I heard it.My eyes lifted.And there she was.Adele.For one second, the world slowed. Her body went rigid on the
*Demarion's point of view*Every single wrong I had ever done to her replayed over and over. I barely noticed when someone entered the room, barely noticed the soft footsteps crossing the floor.Diana approached slowly and carefully. She didn’t rush. She knew better than to startle a broken Alpha.
*Demarion’s point of view*Adele lay peacefully on the bed.The steady beeping of the EKG machine filled the room, each soft tone confirming what I clung to with everything I had left in me. Her heart was still beating and she was alive.I sat in the same chair that had slowly become my second bed







