LOGINHis voice was soft when he asked, “Are you mad at Daddy?”My breath caught.I didn’t answer right away. I just held him tighter, brushing my lips against the top of his head, breathing in the familiar scent of shampoo and dreams.“No, baby,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “Just sad
ELENAHe said it. Just like that."Because I was a coward."And for a moment, I didn’t breathe. Didn’t blink. I just stared at him, this towering Alpha, folded in on himself like the weight of everything he’d done was finally more than he could bear.It wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t defensive. I
DEREKI was more nervous than I had ever been in my entire life.And that included some truly horrible moments. Moments when life and death had been in the balance.Worse than when Aiden had been in the hospital, his little body limp and pale against white sheets, machines screaming at me that I mig
ELENA"I’m strong enough to travel," I said.The words came out firmer than I expected. My voice still felt like it didn’t quite belong to me—too quiet, too dry—but I forced strength into it anyway.My mother narrowed her eyes at me across the hospital room, arms folded, posture stiff with tension.
ELENAThe first thing I felt was cold.Not the kind of cold that settled into your bones. Not the chill of snow or wind. It was sterile, dry, antiseptic. The kind of cold that came from machines humming, filtered air, fluorescent lights. A hospital.I blinked slowly, and the world came into focus in
DEREKToday was going well.Which, lately, felt like a miracle.The meeting room was warm with early sunlight, and the Stormfang delegation finally looked less like they wanted to skin me and more like they might—possibly—listen. The Icelandic pack had been guarded since our arrival, especially with
ELENAI couldn’t breathe.Dawn was grinning like she’d just won the lottery. Aiden was bouncing beside her, clapping like it was the best day of his life.And the bouquet?Firmly in my hands.The damn thing had sailed through the air like it had a tracker locked onto my scent and landed squarely aga
Joe didn’t leave. He knew better.“You think it was someone we know?” he asked after a while.“Yes.”“You think it was someone close?”I stared into the flames. “I think someone in our pack wanted Elena dead before I ever knew who she really was.”He didn’t respond, and I didn’t ask him to. I needed
“What’s going on?” I hissed. “They’re questioning your leadership.”He didn’t answer, just stared out the window at the courtyard below.“Mason.”“I heard them,” he muttered. “Loud and clear.”“Then talk to me. Where have you been? Why have you missed meetings? You’re the future Alpha—”“I didn’t as
CASSANDRAI sat curled up in one of the velvet chairs in my father’s study, legs tucked beneath me, the rim of my wine glass resting lightly against my bottom lip. The press conference played across the flat screen mounted above the fireplace, illuminating the room in hues of blue and gold.I twirle







