Mag-log inFor a beat, no one spoke. Then, he lowered Kaelani gently until her feet touched the ground, but he didn’t let go—his fingers slipping into hers, holding on like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kaelani’s gaze dropped to their hands. The contact stilled something inside her. No one ha
“You do.” He let his gaze drop—just for a second—to the space between them, the inches that still separated them. Then back to her. “But I meant it when I said I’d never leave you again… that was real.” A brief pause—not for effect, but because he meant it. “Not when it’s hard. Not when it’s me
Kaelani’s smile hit him harder than anything else had. For the first time, it was meant for him. Julian stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind him and shutting out everything beyond it—the chaos, the noise, all of it. In here— was his peace. His heart. His whole world. He move
The room. The light. The faces. A breath caught in his chest. “Kaelani…?” His focus sharpened. His room. His packhouse. Familiar walls and scent. But something was wrong. His gaze moved quickly—his mother at his side, Jace by the window. No Kaelani. Julian pushed himself upright, pain tear
She didn’t look at him. “Julian Hale… fugitive status removed.” Another keystroke. “Jace Romano… fugitive status removed.” Her fingers paused for a fraction of a second before continuing. “Garrick Blake… charges dropped.” A quiet tap followed. “Release scheduled for… tomorrow morning.” Then—
A brief pause. “Am I wrong?” Councilor Voss didn’t answer. He simply watched her for a moment longer before speaking. “What is it that you want?” Kaelani held the room for a moment. “What I wanted the day I stood before you in the Chamber of Elders,” she said. “What I asked for then.” “To liv
“How could you?” she seethed, her voice cracking. “You lied to me. To our family. You’ve made a mockery of everything we built.” Garrick stepped forward in his glass enclosure, palms pressed to the barrier. “Brielle, no—you don’t understand. I was tricked! It’s not what you think.” His voice pitch
The silence was deafening. A stillness so absolute, it rang louder than any outcry. Not a breath stirred. Not a rustle of cloth or scrape of boot against the floor. Just the weight of anticipation pressing down on every soul in the chamber. And then — finally — Alpha Garrick looked at her. Kaelan
“According to this record, Miss Kaelani opened a personal bank account on the day that you claim she went missing—her eighteenth birthday.” Whispers stirred again. The Elder continued, unfazed. “What raised further concern was a transaction made into that account on the exact same day. A deposit
A long silence followed the Elder’s opening declaration, stretching over the chamber like a held breath. Then, the one seated at the center of the semicircle rose to his feet. He was the eldest among them—his presence calm but commanding. Silver at his temples, a single braid trailing down his shou







