LOGINNiko POV:I reached the border, expecting the presence of warriors, but nothing. There was not even a faint scent of any. The only scent lingering was of a set of rogues, but it wasn't fresh. So, the girl was telling the truth so far about the pack not being safe. Why would he not have patrols out? He should know better than that. I don't care if he has changed or not. He knows the enemies he's made over the years. It's as if he wants to hand the pack over to another alpha. I crossed over, not worried about leaving my own scent behind. Thanks to my dear friend, I don't have a scent at all right now. I grinned as I made my way deeper into pack territory. Not once have I even so much as heard anyone else out here. How pathetic they had become. You would think the members would have risen up against him and demanded a new leader. My steps slowed before coming to a halt. I crouched down behind a bush and watched as a group of three men walked through the woods back toward the pack. I w
Niko POV:I hadn't planned on bringing Justice with me, and honestly, I wasn't expecting to return now either. But seeing the pack's condition firsthand is crucial, and if the witch's words are true, I might have to take control sooner than I thought. This uncertainty weighs on me, making me question my next move. I didn't need to call and book a room, because the top floor will always be mine. Technically, the pack owns the hotel and not me, and it's a good source of income for them. I couldn't tell her all of that, though. The hotel employees know that humans are the most common visitors and that they shouldn't act weird. Well, they are supposed to know that anyway. When I arrived, I made sure to put the order out not to speak of me being here and a gag order on anything about Justice. The last thing I need is word getting out that not only am I back, but back with a human female. The hotel looked the same; no updates had been done since the last time I was here. Seeing as how it'
Justice POV:"Hey, we're here," Niko told me softly. I rubbed my eyes as I looked around, noticing the faint scent of fresh linen and polished wood. The hotel in front of us looked luxurious to say the least. The valet stood patiently beside the car, his head bowed in polite greeting, waiting for us to exit, and the bellhop stood with a solid-gold cart at his side, his eyes never leaving the ground. "Any luggage, sir?" he asked with a hint of an accent. "No," Niko told him without ever looking his way.I unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed Niko's outstretched hand. I felt a little out of place in my old sweats, but I did my best to play it off. I followed beside Niko, a little surprised when he didn't even stop to check in at the front counter. The young lady sitting behind the desk didn't even look up or say a word as we passed. She looked nervous about something."Did you already check in?" I questioned Niko curiously once we entered the elevator."No need to," he told me with a shru
Justice POV:I pulled on my comfiest pair of grey sweatpants, a solid black tank top, and a matching grey hoodie. I looked at myself in the mirror, not too surprised to see dark circles under my eyes and my skin pale and dull. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail and quickly brushed my teeth before heading to the living room and calling Niko. I stared at the empty walls and packed boxes while I waited for him to answer. Any time I've called, he's answered by the second ring at the latest, but this time he didn't answer at all. Doubts started filling my mind, making me wonder if he was avoiding me. Maybe he decided I'm not worth the trouble. That would be okay, I thought to myself. In reality, I knew I wasn't the easiest right now. I met him at the worst time possible, I think. In the midst of drama and heartache. A few minutes later, my phone rang, Niko's name flashed across my screen, and suddenly, my palms grew sweaty. I wasn't nervous when I called him the first time. I was read
Niko POV:Well, I feel confident saying that Pixel has learned a valuable lesson tonight. I smiled proudly as I wiped the blood from my hands. He will never so much as look or drive anywhere near Justice again, and he also will not ever try to collect owed debts from family members...the children of the adult addicts specifically. He should never have done that in the first place. I doubt he'll front anyone again after tonight. I left Dale to deal with him with strict orders to keep him alive. He is one of my best sellers after all, so I don't want to have to replace him. I hopped in my car, debating on what I should do. My wolf wanted to go to Justice; part of me did too, but I wasn't sure exactly where we stood after the incident. I never got to take her out for her birthday, and I doubt she'd want to now. I don't even want to anymore. I'll give it to her, though. It seems she's trying to be braver lately, as if she's got something to prove. Who she's trying to prove anything to,
Justice POV:I walked through the house, turning off every light after ensuring all windows and doors were locked. I peeked out the blinds carefully and spotted Niko sitting and watching from his car. I couldn't help but wonder how long he planned to stay out there. He's done so much for me since meeting him. But something is screaming at me to pump the brakes. It just doesn't make any sense. While he's been nothing but nice, mostly, there is something about him that I can't quite put my finger on. I get this feeling that there's a whole other side to him that I have yet to find out about. He's young and has money that most older adults don't have. Sure, young adults can become rich or well off, but it's not common, especially in this small town. He keeps his family a secret, yet he already knows so much about mine. My phone dinged, alerting me to a text.Niko: If you need anything, let me know.I couldn't help the smile that crept across my face. While I had my doubts about him, my







