KAREN’S POVTime moved so slowly it felt like hours. Every tick of the clock was loud in the quiet room. My hands fidgeted with the sheets, my whole body restless, craving the one thing that could calm me down—him.Then—finally—the door creaked open softly. I held my breath.I sat up fast, my heart pounding, as Jackson walked in. The light from the hallway shone behind him as his eyes quickly searched the room before finding me.He let out a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing like he’d been carrying something heavy all day. The door shut behind him, closing us in together."Hey," I whispered, already slipping off the bed, my bare feet touching the cool floor.His voice was rough and tired but so warm—like coming home after being lost for years. "Hey, baby."Two steps. That’s all it took before his arms were around me, holding me so tight I could feel his heartbeat against my chest. I pressed my face into his neck, breathing in his scent, and suddenly, everything inside me felt calm,
HANNAH’S POVAs soon as I pulled the band out of my hair, it felt like the whole day finally let go of me. My dark curls fell loose over my shoulders, still smelling faintly of strawberry shampoo.I grabbed a cleansing wipe from the dresser, my fingers shaking just a little. The cool cloth felt good against my skin as I wiped my face clean—but it wasn’t just makeup I was scrubbing away. It was the heavy feeling in my chest that I’d been ignoring all day.Behind me, the bed creaked softly. Xavier was lying there, propped up on one elbow, the sheets barely covering his waist. Moonlight spilled over his bare chest, highlighting old scars and the hard muscle he’d earned from years of fighting. But his eyes… they weren’t here. They were somewhere far away, dark and troubled.With him, silence was never just silence. It was a warning.I turned on the stool, the wood groaning under me. “Time really flies, huh?” My voice came out softer than I meant, like I was afraid to break the quiet betwe
Hannah’s POVMy fingers curled into fists. His pack doesn’t fight fair. “They go for the throat when no one’s looking,” I said, my voice tight.Xavier nodded, that grim expression he wore before battles settling over his features. “Jackson knows. He’s already sworn to protect her.”I stood abruptly. My boy—my fierce, reckless boy—was just like his father at that age. All pride and protectiveness, with more courage than sense. “What if he—”Xavier closed the distance between us, cutting me off with that quiet certainty of his. “He’s not just my son, Hannah.” His calloused hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing the curve of my jaw. “He’s yours too. That means he’s got your brains and my stubbornness. He’ll keep her safe.”I searched his face—those dark eyes that had seen so much, the scars he wore like medals. The absolute faith in our son shining through. My breath left me in a slow exhale. “…You trust him that much?”“With my life.” His thumb traced my cheekbone. “And Karen? She’s tough
KAREN’S POVI woke up slowly, blinking against the morning light coming through the curtains. The bed was cozy and warm, the sheets wrapped around my legs. Still half-asleep, I reached out, expecting to feel Jackson's solid body beside me, his arm draped over my waist like usual. But my hand only found empty sheets.The spot where he'd been was still warm, though—the mattress keeping the shape of where he'd slept. I took a deep breath and could still smell him—that wild, woodsy scent that was all Jackson.He was gone.Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and noticed a folded note on his pillow with my name written in Jackson's messy scrawl. I smiled as I opened it:"Went to pack training. Didn't want to wake you—you looked too cute sleeping. Left clothes from Laila's closet for you. Thought you'd want something comfy. See you soon. —Jackson"My chest got all warm and fuzzy reading it. Of course he'd think of something like this.Next to the note was a neatly folded green hoodie
KAREN’S POVThe sound of heavy footsteps faded upstairs as the boys disappeared to shower. I wrapped my hands around my coffee mug, letting the warmth soak into my skin while Luna Hannah worked at the stove. The smell of sizzling bacon mixed with the rich coffee aroma, the fat popping like little firecrackers in the pan.Just as I was relaxing into the cozy kitchen atmosphere, Laila's voice cut through the air—sharp and full of attitude."Ugh, boys."She marched in, her long braid swinging behind her like a whip. Her workout clothes were covered in dirt and grass stains, like she'd just come from war—though knowing Laila, a simple training session might as well be a battlefield.She flopped onto the stool next to me with an exaggerated sigh and grabbed a cookie."You'd think Jackson would learn by now not to steal someone's victory cookie just because he got the last hit in," she grumbled, taking a big bite.I hid my smile behind my coffee cup. "So you let him win?"Her grin turned wi
KAREN’S POVThe dress fit me like it was made just for me—soft as clouds, light as air, the fabric swirling around my knees when I moved. It wasn’t just clothes. It felt like becoming someone new. Or maybe... finally becoming myself.I stepped out of the dressing room, smoothing the fabric with shaky hands. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it. Would Jackson like it? Did I care? Yeah. I cared way too much—more than I was willing to admit.Jackson’s head snapped up the second I walked out. His lips parted slightly. For a long moment, he didn’t move or speak—just stared at me with those dark eyes growing even darker.“Damn.” The word came out rough, like it got stuck in his throat. He shook his head slowly. “You look...” He took a step closer. “Perfect.”My face burned. “You have to say that—you’re my mate,” I teased, but my voice cracked.His fingers brushed my cheek as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, so gentle it made my chest ache. “I’m saying it because it’s true
JACKSON’S POVThe door clicked shut behind us, sealing away the warmth of the evening sun. Karen’s fingers slipped between mine, her skin humming with the lingering thrill of our time in town. She swayed slightly, her laughter still fresh in the air between us—sweet and light, like the scent of wildflowers clinging to her hair.We’d barely taken three steps into the house when I felt it—that shift in the air.Karen stilled beside me. “Jackson…” she whispered.My eyes snapped toward the living room.That’s when I saw him.A man stood there, right in the center of the room like he fucking belonged here—like this was his house and we were the guests. His presence was wrong. Not rogue-wrong. Not Alpha-wrong. Something older. His aura curled around the room, heavy and dark, sending a ripple through my wolf.Tall. Lean. Silver threads streaked through his black hair, but his back was straight, and his presence screamed danger. His eyes, though—those eyes were the same deep green as my fathe
XAVIER’S POVThe study door closed behind me with a quiet click, but nothing could quiet the storm raging inside my head. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat, each beat screaming one name: Silas.After twenty years of nightmares, after decades praying to forget him—he was back. And this time, he was staying.I ran a shaky hand through my hair, gripping it tight. My study usually calmed me—the smell of old books and leather—but now the air felt too thick to breathe. My heart pounded inside me, restless and angry. The fire crackled like it sensed danger too.Then I heard the door open softly.Hannah.She stood there in her robe, gripping it so tight her knuckles were white. Her face was pale, but her eyes… her blue eyes burned with quiet fury."He can't stay, Xavier."No begging. No questions. Just steel in her voice.I braced myself against the desk, my fingers digging into the wood. "I know," I rasped.She stepped closer. Normally, her strawberry scent soothed me. No
LAILA’S POVDinner used to be warm. Loud. Filled with laughter, teasing, and the occasional scolding when Jackson or Liam tried to sneak an extra dessert before finishing their veggies. But tonight? Tonight, dinner was cold—despite the food being hot.I sat stiffly at the end of the table, picking at my potatoes like they had personally offended me. My eyes flicked around the room, noting the tension in every set of shoulders, the silence that weighed heavier than any words could. And then there was him.Silas.He was seated directly across from me, already on his third helping, eating like he hadn’t had a meal in years—which, to be fair, might not have been too far from the truth. Still, the way he shoveled food into his mouth with so little shame made my stomach turn."Mmm!" he said between bites, slapping the table like this was the best restaurant in town. “Now this is what I missed! A good home-cooked meal. Not that processed crap they serve in exile.”No one responded.Jackson k
XAVIER’S POVThe study door closed behind me with a quiet click, but nothing could quiet the storm raging inside my head. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat, each beat screaming one name: Silas.After twenty years of nightmares, after decades praying to forget him—he was back. And this time, he was staying.I ran a shaky hand through my hair, gripping it tight. My study usually calmed me—the smell of old books and leather—but now the air felt too thick to breathe. My heart pounded inside me, restless and angry. The fire crackled like it sensed danger too.Then I heard the door open softly.Hannah.She stood there in her robe, gripping it so tight her knuckles were white. Her face was pale, but her eyes… her blue eyes burned with quiet fury."He can't stay, Xavier."No begging. No questions. Just steel in her voice.I braced myself against the desk, my fingers digging into the wood. "I know," I rasped.She stepped closer. Normally, her strawberry scent soothed me. No
JACKSON’S POVThe door clicked shut behind us, sealing away the warmth of the evening sun. Karen’s fingers slipped between mine, her skin humming with the lingering thrill of our time in town. She swayed slightly, her laughter still fresh in the air between us—sweet and light, like the scent of wildflowers clinging to her hair.We’d barely taken three steps into the house when I felt it—that shift in the air.Karen stilled beside me. “Jackson…” she whispered.My eyes snapped toward the living room.That’s when I saw him.A man stood there, right in the center of the room like he fucking belonged here—like this was his house and we were the guests. His presence was wrong. Not rogue-wrong. Not Alpha-wrong. Something older. His aura curled around the room, heavy and dark, sending a ripple through my wolf.Tall. Lean. Silver threads streaked through his black hair, but his back was straight, and his presence screamed danger. His eyes, though—those eyes were the same deep green as my fathe
KAREN’S POVThe dress fit me like it was made just for me—soft as clouds, light as air, the fabric swirling around my knees when I moved. It wasn’t just clothes. It felt like becoming someone new. Or maybe... finally becoming myself.I stepped out of the dressing room, smoothing the fabric with shaky hands. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it. Would Jackson like it? Did I care? Yeah. I cared way too much—more than I was willing to admit.Jackson’s head snapped up the second I walked out. His lips parted slightly. For a long moment, he didn’t move or speak—just stared at me with those dark eyes growing even darker.“Damn.” The word came out rough, like it got stuck in his throat. He shook his head slowly. “You look...” He took a step closer. “Perfect.”My face burned. “You have to say that—you’re my mate,” I teased, but my voice cracked.His fingers brushed my cheek as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, so gentle it made my chest ache. “I’m saying it because it’s true
KAREN’S POVThe sound of heavy footsteps faded upstairs as the boys disappeared to shower. I wrapped my hands around my coffee mug, letting the warmth soak into my skin while Luna Hannah worked at the stove. The smell of sizzling bacon mixed with the rich coffee aroma, the fat popping like little firecrackers in the pan.Just as I was relaxing into the cozy kitchen atmosphere, Laila's voice cut through the air—sharp and full of attitude."Ugh, boys."She marched in, her long braid swinging behind her like a whip. Her workout clothes were covered in dirt and grass stains, like she'd just come from war—though knowing Laila, a simple training session might as well be a battlefield.She flopped onto the stool next to me with an exaggerated sigh and grabbed a cookie."You'd think Jackson would learn by now not to steal someone's victory cookie just because he got the last hit in," she grumbled, taking a big bite.I hid my smile behind my coffee cup. "So you let him win?"Her grin turned wi
KAREN’S POVI woke up slowly, blinking against the morning light coming through the curtains. The bed was cozy and warm, the sheets wrapped around my legs. Still half-asleep, I reached out, expecting to feel Jackson's solid body beside me, his arm draped over my waist like usual. But my hand only found empty sheets.The spot where he'd been was still warm, though—the mattress keeping the shape of where he'd slept. I took a deep breath and could still smell him—that wild, woodsy scent that was all Jackson.He was gone.Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and noticed a folded note on his pillow with my name written in Jackson's messy scrawl. I smiled as I opened it:"Went to pack training. Didn't want to wake you—you looked too cute sleeping. Left clothes from Laila's closet for you. Thought you'd want something comfy. See you soon. —Jackson"My chest got all warm and fuzzy reading it. Of course he'd think of something like this.Next to the note was a neatly folded green hoodie
Hannah’s POVMy fingers curled into fists. His pack doesn’t fight fair. “They go for the throat when no one’s looking,” I said, my voice tight.Xavier nodded, that grim expression he wore before battles settling over his features. “Jackson knows. He’s already sworn to protect her.”I stood abruptly. My boy—my fierce, reckless boy—was just like his father at that age. All pride and protectiveness, with more courage than sense. “What if he—”Xavier closed the distance between us, cutting me off with that quiet certainty of his. “He’s not just my son, Hannah.” His calloused hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing the curve of my jaw. “He’s yours too. That means he’s got your brains and my stubbornness. He’ll keep her safe.”I searched his face—those dark eyes that had seen so much, the scars he wore like medals. The absolute faith in our son shining through. My breath left me in a slow exhale. “…You trust him that much?”“With my life.” His thumb traced my cheekbone. “And Karen? She’s tough
HANNAH’S POVAs soon as I pulled the band out of my hair, it felt like the whole day finally let go of me. My dark curls fell loose over my shoulders, still smelling faintly of strawberry shampoo.I grabbed a cleansing wipe from the dresser, my fingers shaking just a little. The cool cloth felt good against my skin as I wiped my face clean—but it wasn’t just makeup I was scrubbing away. It was the heavy feeling in my chest that I’d been ignoring all day.Behind me, the bed creaked softly. Xavier was lying there, propped up on one elbow, the sheets barely covering his waist. Moonlight spilled over his bare chest, highlighting old scars and the hard muscle he’d earned from years of fighting. But his eyes… they weren’t here. They were somewhere far away, dark and troubled.With him, silence was never just silence. It was a warning.I turned on the stool, the wood groaning under me. “Time really flies, huh?” My voice came out softer than I meant, like I was afraid to break the quiet betwe
KAREN’S POVTime moved so slowly it felt like hours. Every tick of the clock was loud in the quiet room. My hands fidgeted with the sheets, my whole body restless, craving the one thing that could calm me down—him.Then—finally—the door creaked open softly. I held my breath.I sat up fast, my heart pounding, as Jackson walked in. The light from the hallway shone behind him as his eyes quickly searched the room before finding me.He let out a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing like he’d been carrying something heavy all day. The door shut behind him, closing us in together."Hey," I whispered, already slipping off the bed, my bare feet touching the cool floor.His voice was rough and tired but so warm—like coming home after being lost for years. "Hey, baby."Two steps. That’s all it took before his arms were around me, holding me so tight I could feel his heartbeat against my chest. I pressed my face into his neck, breathing in his scent, and suddenly, everything inside me felt calm,