LOGINAiden's POVAs I sit back down, Jasmine hands me my plate, her fingers briefly tightening around my wrist, grounding.I glance at her, and she holds my gaze for a second before letting go.I gratefully tuck back in.I’ve just finished my food, and Emily has started collecting everyone’s plates, when there’s another ding from the lift.We all turn as a shrill shriek cuts through the corridor.“Oh my Goddess, Sophie, have you been here all night? You poor thing, you should really go and rest.” Kirsten’s voice shatters the tense quiet. “Perhaps you can rest before we go for my dress appointment. You have a couple of hours?”Sophie closes her eyes for half a second, and I watch her jaw tighten before she smooths it away and turns to face Kirsten.“We’ll have to rearrange, I’m afraid, Kirsten. I’m a little busy here.”Kirsten looks around, and I know what’s going to come out of her mouth before she opens it. Her face scrunches with confusion.“Busy? You’re all just sitting around? Is this
Aiden's POVJasmine’s hand is small but warm in mine as we sit in the hospital corridor. Grey dawn light spills through the window at the far end, thin and cold, and I realise we’ve been here all night.Jasper had to run off a couple of hours ago when we remembered we’d left Felix and Kirsten in the panic room. That went down about as well as a ton of shit, apparently Kirsten was apoplectic at being in there so long, but no one really cares about that now.Tobias is back.He’s asleep, but he’s back.Relief sits heavy in my chest, tangled up with something sharper. Because he’s here, breathing, alive… but none of us know what that actually means yet. Whether he’s really come back to us, or if we’ve only got half of him. Whether Thor will return. Whether he’ll still be our Alpha in the ways that matter.And yeah… buried under all of that is the thought none of us want to touch.What this means for the throne.I shove it down hard. That’s not what matters. Not right now.Jasmine’s thumb
Aiden's POVWe skid to a halt at the bottom of the castle steps and kick off our shoes and trousers. Dad and Greyson are there already. Baxter’s still not here, but I assume he’s on his way, or already wherever we’re heading.“Patrols identified rogues at the northern border, close to the last breach location. The Task Force have sent their Alpha unit to secure Thor’s cabin. Beta unit are heading to secure the castle.”Interesting. They’re sending their best to keep Thor safe, which is technically breaking protocol when the Crown Prince and the King are inside the castle, but I’m not going to point it out. Not when I’d do exactly the same.“We’re to go and hold the front line.”Dad looks us all in the eye, then turns and shifts into Neo. We all launch after him, skin ripping into fur, bones snapping, the last of our clothing shredding.Ajax races through the trees, Jace and Milo on our flank. To our left, Neo is flanked by Gus. We run hard, heading up the slope through the trees and s
Aiden's POVI try really hard to keep my sigh and eye roll internal, but I’m not sure I’m successful. Ajax sniggers in the back of my mind as we watch Kirsten damn near coerce Felix into giving her own way again.Felix wanted to keep the whole ceremony low-key, sophisticated, and elegant, fitting with his mother’s style. The understated opulence of old money and… well, taste. Kirsten, it seems, wouldn’t know tasteful if it smacked her in the fucking ass.She wants gaudy, flashy, and in your face. Queen Sophie abandoned helping before she screamed in her new daughter-in-law’s face, so Kirsten and her mother have been left with free rein, and it’s terrifying. Apart from anything else, no one seems to be reminding them of the budget. They seem to think the crown’s pockets are limitless, never mind that we’re in the middle of a kingdom-wide war with the rogues and dealing with riots and unrest breaking out left, right, and centre.No, Kirsten wants a grand ball with every Alpha and unit f
Tobias's POVEverything hurts.The light. The fabric against my skin. The hard press of the gurney beneath my back.I struggled not to cry out just now, when Edwardo and Henry lift me out of the helicopter. The blades are still cutting through the air behind us, the wind whipping across the roof, and the sound is deafening. It grates through my skull, sharp enough to make my teeth ache.I keep my eyes closed because even the cloudy daylight is too bright to tolerate.I have no idea what’s going on.Linc said it’s been six months, but that doesn’t feel right. It feels like weeks. Maybe only days. I remember seeing Lincoln in a cabin, watching him work from time to time, but not months. Not six whole months.A flash of memory dredges us from my brain, Claws clacking against wooden floorboards. The scent of wood smoke and coffee. Lincoln’s voice, low and tired, muttering to himself then another, flash, Lincoln murmuring in his sleep as he tossed and turned on the bed. And I remember, jas
Edwardo's POVWhatever he sees on my face has him nodding instantly, his eyes glazing over.'Henry, meet me outside the front of the manor. Now. Bring two sets of warrior clothes.'I cut the link before he can reply.'Sampson and Hillier, report to the front of the manor immediately.'I link the two warriors who have been assisting on the recovery project. They were part of the team, when we found Thor and the girls, so keeping them involved in the recovery process was easier than bringing anyone else in.Then I head out.Henry is waiting for me by the front doors of the manor, holding a pile of neatly folded clothes he’s clearly swiped from the laundry cupboard on the way. He doesn’t question me, just waits patiently.“Get in,” I say, indicating one of the RTVs parked at the front of the manor.Sampson and Hillier arrive a moment later, saluting as they reach me.“In,” I bark.They pile into the rear-facing seats as I slide into the driver’s side next to Henry. I turn around and spee
Zahra's POVMax: Good morning, beautiful. I missed you last night. Hope you slept well. XxxThe text brings an instant smile to my face.Goddess, I missed him last night.My first night back in the Task Force dorms... and I hated it. Despite the bed being infinitely more comfortable than that damn
Tobias's POVThe crunch of my boots on the gravel drive sounds too loud in the quiet of the night. Nothing stirs around me. The warm air slides across my skin, soothing the last remnants of the hospital’s sterile chill, but it does nothing to settle the mess in my head.My emotions are a fucking tan
Zahra's POVThere is a long, heavy pause. Then I hear the quiet shaky exhale he tries and fails to muffle. The sound scrapes at something deep inside me. I don’t want it to affect me, but it does. I made myself look at him just now, and the image won’t
Max's POVI watch as Zahra’s bed is wheeled out of the door. Goddess, I cannot remember the last time I felt this good. Despite the fucking uncomfortable night in that chair, I feel incredible. I slept beside my mate. I held her. She looked so much better this morning. I knew she’d heal faster if I







