“I wanted to call and tell you everything earlier,” she said, her expression growing more serious, “but with all the rogue attacks, things have been chaotic.”I nodded solemnly. “Tell me about it.”“And Calista …” Denise paused, her eyes brightening again. “Well, she’s pregnant.”I gasped, putting down my mug. “No way!”She nodded, grinning. “You know they’ve been trying for years. Jaxon is over the moon. Calista didn’t want to tell too many people just yet, but she wanted you to know. For obvious reasons.”I laughed at her expression as she was attempting a big eye roll.“Well, I only made a herbal drink for her.”“Which worked like gangbusters. She told me all about it. She wanted to tell you herself, but due to circumstances, she asked me to relay the message. She told me to send her love and best wishes.“I smiled, touched. “That means a lot. I know how much she’s longed for this. Please, when you visit her again, tell her I’m praying for her, and that I’m so happy for them.”“May
“I bring greetings from Alpha Jaxon,” Luke began. “Also, he would like to call in on our collaboration.”“What sort of trouble are you in?”“Actually, it involves both our packs. That’s why I came personally to tell you about it.”“Go on,” I said, folding my arms and leaning back on the chair. He told us all about the rogue attacks on their pack and the unexpected visit of his twin brother. I was shocked and by the time he finished what he had to say, my arms were unfolded and were on my lap. I didn’t know what shocked me most. Is it that my sister was already in harm’s way a few days after going to Crewwood? Or that the man I have been looking for showed up live in that pack? Or that he is really the twin brother of my sister’s mate, and she has met the killer of our parents?“I understand now,” I said calmly, trying not to get riled up. “We are going to give you our full support.”“Good,” Luke said. “We need all the backing we can get.”“You said it involves us, too. In what way?”
I nodded, sniffling. “So… what are we going to do?”He sat beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist. “We’re going to fight back.”“But he’ll expose us …”“Let him try,” he said firmly. “We’ll be prepared. I’m already working on plans with Rowan and Elder Sean. Now that I know what he’s holding over you, I can plan better. I’ll protect you. And Leo. And your mother.”I took a deep breath. “He said… he’ll take over with force if you don’t step down quietly. That the pack will reject you for hiding a witch.”“I won’t step down,” Damien said without hesitation. “Who will protect you if I do? Who will protect Leo? No. We stay together.”I nodded slowly. “He said… If I don’t convince you, he’ll do it his own way.”Damien leaned back slightly and gave me a small, confident smile. “Then we’ll beat him at his own game.”I let out a shaky laugh. “How?”“You’re going to do exactly what he asked,” Damien said, eyes glittering. “You’re going to pretend you’ve convinced me. Tell him I’ve agree
I grabbed my phone with trembling fingers and called her.“Lyra?” she answered, voice warm but worried.I was already crying again. “He knows, Mama. He knows about us.”There was a pause. Then she sighed. “He told you, didn’t he?”“Did you know?” I asked, my voice hoarse.She hesitated. “He told me yesterday. Said he planted microphones in this house after that day in his study. He wanted to know what you’d heard. What you would say.”I sank onto the bed. “He said he’d expose us if I don’t convince Damien to step down.”“He said the same to me,” she whispered. “That we’d be burned. That the people would rise against us.”“But why?” I asked, sobbing. “Why does he hate us so much?”“I wouldn’t say hate. Rather, he wants to grab power by all means.”“I think he fears us,” I said amidst tears. “He fears what we represent. We come from a long line of powerful women, women he could never control.”“I don’t know Lyra. What will you do?”“I can’t ask Damien to leave his position,” I choked. “
I leaned forward. “And I’m especially grateful that our family bonds are strengthening.”He raised a brow. “Family?”I gave him my most charming grin. “You. Me. Lyra. Leo. Serena. One big, happy family.”He laughed, sipping his tea. “Of course. Blood is thicker than …”“Truth?” I finished with a pleasant smile.His cup paused halfway to his lips. “You always did have a sharp tongue.”“Only when necessary.”Just then, Lyra entered the room, radiant in a pale blue dress. “Father.”“Lyra, my child,” Marcus said, standing with arms wide. “Come give your old man a hug.”She hesitated for the briefest moment, then stepped forward and let him embrace her. I didn’t miss the tension in her shoulders.“I’ll leave you two,” I said, stepping away with a knowing look. “A father-daughter talk is sacred, after all.”He turned to me. “You’re too kind.”I smiled and walked away, but not before catching Lyra’s eyes.She saw the silent message in mine: I’ve got this. You’re not alone.Because Elder Marc
Damien’s povThere are a few things in this world that make me feel truly invincible.Holding my son. Hearing Lyra’s laughter. And nights like this, where the weight of the pack fades away, and all that matters is the soft, golden light in our bedroom and the warmth of the woman beside me.I had returned home in unusually high spirits. Elder Sean’s revelations, though troubling, had given me clarity and the beginnings of a plan. Rowan and I had spent the rest of the day putting together the first pieces of our counter-strategy. And now, with that part of my mind settled, I could focus on her.My mate, Lyra.She lay curled on her side, her bare back exposed, moonlight spilling over her shoulder like silver silk. I slid into bed behind her and wrapped my arm around her waist.She stirred, then smiled when she felt me. “You’re back.”“Mm-hmm,” I murmured into her hair, kissing the nape of her neck. “And I missed you.”“Umm…Damien…are you getting hard?” she asked with a slight shock as sh