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
DEREKThe phone clicked as the line disconnected.I sat back in my chair, staring at nothing for a beat. That had been the fifth call this morning—same story as the others. A smiling denial, a deflection, or worse: radio silence. All tied to the Rogue Foundation permits.You’d think someone was purp
ELENAI had really looked forward to tonight.I’d picked out my dress earlier in the week—something soft, not too formal. Light blue, with flutter sleeves and a cinched waist. I even dabbed on perfume, something floral and subtle—nothing I would’ve dared wear back when I was a rogue, when every scen
“One dinner,” I said finally. “One.”She smiled, sharp and polished. “I’ll make the reservation.”***Dinner was at one of the old high-end places in the Silverclaw business district. Not the kind of restaurant you pick at random. The kind with leather booths, linen napkins, and too many forks.I pi
JACOBWhen she threw herself into my arms, I knew—without a doubt—that the entire insane, overpriced, bureaucratic nightmare of this venture had been worth it.Not for the headlines. Not for the tax advantages or the PR optics or even the potential leverage in Council politics.No.It was her.The w







