KAREN’S POVThe living room looked like a design store had exploded in it—paint chips everywhere, fabric swatches covering every surface, and an absolutely ridiculous stack of home décor magazines that Laila had somehow summoned in under five minutes.I flipped through one with golden accents and floaty, boho vibes. Okay, but seriously, how did you even carry all this over here?Laila shot me a smug grin. “Easy. I have Sarah. She’s the muscle, I’m the brain.”Sarah rolled her eyes from the other end of the couch. “Excuse you. I’m both, thank you very much.”Over by the kitchen counter, Jackson leaned back with his arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold with a look that was somewhere between entertained and mildly alarmed.I held up a soft, sage-green swatch. “What about this for the bedroom?”Laila made a face. “Too peaceful. You two aren’t going to be sleeping much in there anyway.”“Laila!” Sarah choked, scandalized.Jackson just about spit out his drink. I turned bright red.He sa
KAREN’S POVThe door creaked open, its sound soft but deafening in the silence of the moment. The second I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat, my lungs refusing to work.It wasn’t enormous, but it didn’t need to be. The space was alive—sunlight spilled through wide windows, painting the cream-colored walls in streaks of gold. The hardwood floors gleamed under my feet, still smelling faintly of polish, and the air carried the crisp, clean scent of pine from the new furniture.A small but perfect kitchen stood at the back, its countertops bare but waiting, while the living room held only a single loveseat and a fireplace, a neat stack of unlit wood resting beside it like a promise.And then—the hallway. There were three doors. Which meant three bedrooms.My throat tightened so fast it hurt.Jackson’s arms slid around my waist from behind, his chest warm against my back, his chin settling on my shoulder. His voice was a low hum in my ear, rough with emotion. “It’s not fully do
JACKSON’S POVThe meeting room buzzed with quiet tension, every face around the table set and focused. The scent of ink, leather, and fresh paper filled the air, mixing with the undercurrent of stress that clung to all of us.I sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, listening to report after report of rogue sightings along our southern border. It wasn’t just one or two incidents anymore. This was a pattern—and it was getting worse.“Five attacks in ten days,” Liam said grimly, his voice low and steady as he pointed to a map spread across the table. “Always in the same area. Same time of night. They’re smart. They’re not staying to fight—they hit and vanish.”“They’re watching us,” one of the patrol leaders added. “They’re testing our response time, our numbers, our tactics.”Another council member leaned forward. “It’s not random anymore, Alpha. This is organized. Coordinated. Someone’s directing them.”I nodded slowly. My jaw clenched as the words I’d already been thinking echoe
KAREN’S POVThe morning sunlight spilled through the curtains, warm and golden, painting lazy patterns across the rumpled sheets. The scent of buttered toast and fresh berries lingered in the air, mingling with Jackson’s familiar, comforting musk—something uniquely him.We sat cross-legged on the bed, knees brushing, the world outside our little sanctuary forgotten. Jackson held out a piece of toast, his fingers brushing my lips as I took a bite. His eyes, dark and playful, never left mine."Better?" he murmured, that stupid, irresistible smirk tugging at his mouth.I rolled my eyes, but my traitorous lips curved into a smile anyway. "It’s just toast.""No," he corrected, leaning in until his breath ghosted over my skin. "It’s Alpha-blessed toast. Totally different."I shoved his shoulder, laughing. "You’re ridiculous.""And you love it," he countered, stealing the last strawberry from the basket before I could.I did. Stars help me, I really did.When the last berry was gone, Jackson
KAREN’S POVThe steam from the shower still clung to my skin as I stepped onto the plush bathmat, my fingers brushing the soft, folded towel on the counter. The scent of lavender and vanilla from my body wash lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a second skin.The moment I reached for my towel, strong arms wrapped around me from behind, lifting me off the damp bathroom tiles with effortless ease. A startled squeal burst from my lips as my feet left the ground, water droplets cascading from my skin onto the floor."Jackson!" I laughed, my fingers instinctively gripping his broad shoulders for balance. His bare chest pressed against my back, warm and solid, his familiar scent—woodsmoke and something uniquely him—filling my senses.He grinned down at me, boyish mischief dancing in his dark eyes, like he’d just pulled off the world’s greatest heist. "What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t carry my wife out of the bathroom on our first morning together?"I arched a brow, fight
KAREN’S POVI woke to the soothing sound of Jackson’s soft snores the next morning. Next to me, my mate’s chest rose and fell with each peaceful breath, his broad shoulders and chiseled features relaxed in slumber. Smiling, I brushed a stray lock of his dark hair from his forehead.“You’re even handsome when you’re snoring, you know that?” I whispered, knowing he couldn’t hear me.The memory of last night sent a shiver through me. Our ceremony, the unexpected guest who came to celebrate with us, the way Jackson’s voice had cracked when he spoke our vows—it all played back in vivid detail. And then there was the way he held me afterward, as if trying to erase every worry with his touch. His kisses, his hands, the way he knew how to ground me—it still left me breathless.Unable to resist, I leaned down and pressed a feather-light kiss to his lips, lingering for a moment to drink in his scent—pine and a hint of smoke, uniquely him.“Wake up soon, love,” I murmured, my voice soft with aff