MasukHis 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
“Nevertheless,” I said through my teeth. “I want her gone.”The Priestess turned.Started to walk into the trees.“Will you do it?” I called after her.She stopped. Looked back over her shoulder.“It’s too late,” she said.My heart dropped. “What do you mean?”“By coming here,” she said slowly, “by
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
CASSANDRAThe numbers weren’t adding up, and Father was livid.I sat stiffly at the table in the packhouse’s formal office, a fan of expense reports and ledgers laid out in front of me like a criminal record. My criminal record, apparently.“You bought what?” he barked, his voice bouncing off the wa
My lungs forgot how to work.Oh Moon above. He knows.He knows.Panic surged through me like wildfire.He knew. About Maggie. About Elena. About the wedding day.I opened my mouth, but my tongue felt thick. Dry. My mind raced for something—anything—to grasp.“Is… is that what he said?” I stammered.







