THIRD POVCarlton stepped out of his dark SUV, straightening his jacket as the cool night air brushed against his face. He paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the looming structure of the Estate before heading toward the entrance. Two guards moved forward at once, their posture stiffening. When they saw it was him, they inclined their heads respectfully and fell in on either side, escorting him inside without exchanging a single word.Soon, he was guided into a waiting room that was filled with images of council members. He sat down but couldn’t keep still. His foot tapped against the floor, and his mind wandered back to Kade and Blair, and more importantly, to Robert.Earlier that day, Robert had stood before the Council and agreed to the mate test without a second thought. Even when his title was put at risk, he hadn’t backed down. That alone made Carlton uneasy.Could they really be mates? The question slipped out under his breath. The idea unsettled him deeply. If it was
Blair’s POVI was lying right next to Kade, my fingers brushing over his cheek as I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. I’d missed this so much… lying here, kissing and cuddling like there wasn’t a single care in the world.I let out a soft moan, and Kade suddenly pulled back just a little, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.“I want to get out of this bed,” he murmured, voice low, “so we can shower together.”I arched a brow at him, pretending to think it over. “So that’s your big motivation for getting well, huh? You just want to shower together?”He smirked, leaning in to plant another kiss on my lips. “This isn’t going to be just any shower. I miss your body.”I laughed, shaking my head as I kissed him again. “You’re ridiculous.”Our mouths met again, the kiss deepening, heat building, when the door suddenly flew open so hard it slammed against the wall. I jumped, heart lurching, and Kade groaned in pure annoyance.It was Robert. He stepped inside without so much as a k
Third Person POVThe council hall was tense even before the meeting began. The double doors opened from both ends of the chamber, and Robert entered with the Alphas of the Northern packs at his back. Carlton entered from the opposite side, flanked by his own men. And neither side acknowledged the other.The council members began arriving, taking their seats at the long table in the center. There was obvious grudges in the air and the older men in the room cleared their throats hoping to ease the tension. “We’re gathered again to address the issues between the Kings of Northvale and Southvale," the oldest began. “We will now listen to both parties to plead their case.”Carlton was the first to speak immediately the floor was opened. He stood, resting both hands on the table.“My son still lies in a coma because of Robert’s son,” he said, pointing his finger at Robert who was wearing a straight face. “The evil boy didn’t just attack my son. He meant to kill him. And while my child figh
KADE’S POVI couldn’t be more thankful for having someone like Blair beside me. She wasn’t doing well herself, but she was stubborn about staying close, refusing to leave even when her own body was clearly begging for rest.She even cracked jokes just to keep me entertained, like she was on a mission to make sure I didn’t fade into my own thoughts. I tried to come up with riddles of my own, even though every word left me a little weaker, because I didn’t want it to seem like I was just lying here taking from her without giving anything back. I needed her to know I saw how much she was doing for me.When she finally gave in and agreed to change into something clean, the door opened and her mother walked in. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but warmth wasn’t high on the list. I’d pictured cold words, maybe even that usual look in her eyes that could slice a person to size in seconds. But… she didn’t look like that at all.She paused just inside the doorway, her gaze landing on me. There wa
BLAIR’S POVFeeling stronger, I pushed myself out of the clinic bed the moment I could and went straight to see Kade. The sight of him lying there, still unconscious, made something twist hard inside me. I couldn’t think straight for hours, pacing, sitting, pacing again, until I finally decided I wouldn’t leave his side until he opened his eyes.Mom tried to reassure me over and over, saying he was in the best hands, but it didn’t matter. My heart wouldn’t settle. I knew my body still needed rest, but how could I lie in bed knowing Kade hadn’t woken up?The doctor came in several times, urging me to go back and recover, but I refused. My place was here. If Kade could fight through the pain, I could fight through the fatigue.I dragged a hard wooden chair so close to his bed it pressed against the frame. I held his hand tightly, almost desperately, afraid that if I let go for even a second, he might slip away. Just the thought of it filled my chest with dread. But I didn’t lose hope. I
Blair’s POVThe ride home felt endless, every bump in the road making me grip Kade’s hand tighter. My eyes stayed on his chest, silently counting each breath, terrified one might be his last.When the car finally stopped in front of Robert’s house, the doors swung open and my mother came running out. Relief and shock lit her face until she saw Kade.She froze mid-step, eyes widening. “Oh, Moon Goddess…” Her voice broke into a strangled cry before she screamed, “Help! Somebody help him!”Robert was already barking orders. “Get the medics here now!”Men rushed forward, pulling the door open and carefully lifting Kade out. I had to let go of his hand, and the sudden emptiness in mine made my chest ache.Robert stepped down and reached for me. His grip was steady as he helped me out, but the moment my feet touched the ground, my mother was there wrapping me in her arms so tightly I could barely breathe.“Blair… my baby,” she whispered into my hair, her voice shaking. I clung to her, too c