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
That brought me up short.I turned toward him fully now, curiosity piqued, and in doing so, my knee brushed his—briefly, accidentally—and I stiffened. His gaze didn’t flinch. If anything, I thought I saw the faintest flicker of amusement behind those storm-colored eyes.“Were you serious,” he asked,
DEREKThe city of Solmire was built from stone and steel, but the Alpha Council’s central compound stood like a fortress of polished ivory, untouched by age or nature. Every time I approached it, I felt that subtle twist in my gut—the reminder that no matter how high an Alpha rose, the Council alway
“Thank you. For all you’re doing. For the rogues. For me.”Elena nodded, and I saw the glassy sheen in her eyes before she blinked it away.The Sentinels stepped forward. Maggie didn’t resist. She walked with them, back straight, out of the chamber and into whatever came next.The rest of the room s
ELENAI hadn’t expected to be called so early.The defense had barely finished their opening remarks when Tessa Harrow turned to the Council and said calmly, “We call Princess Elena Hart of the Moonstone Pack as our first witness.”A sharp intake of breath sucked the air from the room. Whispers bur







