LOGINTalia’s POVThe stretch was exquisite—almost too much, yet exactly what I needed. We both cried out, the bond singing between us as he filled me completely. For a second we stayed like that, joined as deeply as two beings could be, trembling with the intensity of it.Then he started moving. It was slow at first, giving me a moment to get used to the fullness again. After so long without him, my body had almost forgotten what it was like to be filled up. But the slow pace wasn’t enough for me. My wolf clawed harder. “Cass,’ I gasped, “more.”That one word was all it took. I could see the moment his restraint snapped, and he pulled out, almost completely. Then plunged in.Hard. Deep.A scream tore out of my throat, my hands coming up to his back, my nails digging into his skin.His pace was relentless.Each thrust slammed into me with the force of a man who had almost lost everything. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my heels digging into his back, urging him deeper. My nai
Talia’s POV I didn’t know how long we remained in that position. And I didn’t care to know. I was with my mate. His arms wrapped tightly around me, grounding me in reality. The warmth radiating off him seeped into my bones. His scent was stronger now, drowning out the scent of the forest around us. And the feel of his skin against mine— Goddess. It was different. Stronger. More intense. Like the bond had rooted itself deeper beneath my skin. My breath caught in my throat. “Are you okay?” he murmured softly. “You almost died.” I pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him. His warm eyes were already on me. Filled with concern. Fear. Relief. He frowned slightly. “Your eyes,” he whispered. “They’re green again.” Oh. Something settled heavily in my chest. Something dangerously close to disappointment. His gaze slowly drifted downward, settling on my sternum where the Goddess’ mark had once rested. His fingers brushed over the spot gently. “It’s gone too.” I
Nicole’s POVI stared out the window. “Still waiting there?” Mason asked from behind me. I turned slightly, offering him a small smile. A smile I’m sure didn’t reach my eyes.He sighed, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. “You barely leave the room,” he whispered, coming up behind me. “I’m worried about you.”His hand came up to my bare back, at the spot where I’d been stabbed. I was fully healed now, but the poison had made it scar. A scar I’ll carry for the rest of my life. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”“That’s good,” he mumbled. “But I wasn’t talking about the injury, and you know it.”I sighed, already knowing where this was heading.“They’ll be fine,” he reassured.“It’s been two days,” my voice cracked. “She needs to eat, she needs—”“She’s with her mate,” Mason cut in gently. “If anyone’s going to look after her properly, then it’s him.”Still. I had seen the desperation on his face before he had marked her, had heard her heartbeat slowly weaken. What if—A l
Nicole’s POV Everything happened too fast, blurring together. Cassian took Talia in his arms, and just when the moon was about to dim, he marked her. The wind tore through the clearing again—no longer still—and the moon went back to the sky, where it hung over us, casting a soft glow on all of us again. But my attention wasn’t on the moon, or the council members. Or even my mate beside me. My attention was on her. On Talia. Who lay limp in Cassian’s arms. My chest tightened, a lump forming in my throat. She was still, too still. Her skin was pale, and her head hung in an unnatural angle. My legs trembled. With fear and something colder nestled in my chest, I reached for her, my senses sharpening, listening. I couldn’t hear a heartbeat. Not from her. “Talia!” I cried, finally breaking out of Mason’s hold. Cassian whose face had been pressed against her neck looked up, a feral growl tearing through him. I froze in my steps. His eyes we
Cassian’s POV Everything clicked. The memories slammed into me. Not as fragments this time—but whole, complete. Like a broken recorder suddenly forcing pieces back into place at once.Our first kiss, the first time I saw her in those woods after years apart, the way she had looked at me when she’d confessed her love, the fear in her eyes when I’d stupidly brushed iff her worries. All our arguments.Our happiness.Every moment she challenged me. Our grief.Everything came rushing back with brutal force.I’d lost her. I’d lost her to the council, to Kira. To my own weakness.A roar tore through my chest as my wolf surged forward violently, finally breaking through the cage he had been trapped in for so long.The ground beneath me shook in response, the trees shook, the air thickened—like the earth itself could sense my grief, anger and pain all at once. Like it could sense my thirst for blood and hunger for vengeance. My entire body vibrated as pure, undiluted rage spread thro
Talia’s POV Nicole’s cry echoed through the woods, making my chest tighten. I wanted to go to him. I wanted—so badly—to just hold him one last time. To hear him reassure me that everything would be alright. But I couldn’t. Even though every fiber of my being ached. Even though every muscle in my body felt like lead. The moon burned brighter, its light searing against my skin. I gritted my teeth— But I didn’t stop chanting. My insides felt like molten lava, like I was slowly melting from the inside out. Still… I kept chanting. Then my sternum burned. And I knew. The Goddess’ mark. This was the part I had hidden from them. The part that said I needed Cassian to break the council’s hold— Or I would die. But Cassian still didn’t remember me. And I didn’t have time to wait. To hope. To gamble. It’s okay, my wolf whispered softly. My lips wobbled, and a broken sob clawed its way out of my throat. Still— I didn’t stop chanting. An image of Mrs. Alanna surfaced. H
Cassian's POVThe room was so silent I could hear the tick... tick... tick of the wall clock drilling into the back of my skull.My unit commanders sat stiffly before me, shoulders squared, heads bowed, each man processing the news I'd just dropped on them. They thought we'd dodged war with Alpha S
Talia's POV The bakery was starting to come together. It still smelled like fresh paint, sawdust, and dreams, but pieces of its future were already peeking through the chaos: the gleam of the glass display case, the chalkboard menu waiting to be written on, the antique bell that would soon ring wi
The space smelled like possibilities, and a little like sawdust. Shelves were stacked, counters wiped down, and the ovens gleamed as if daring us to fill them with something magical. The bakery was coming out nicely, and I couldn't wait for the grand opening. After a string of grumbles and nags, I
Nicole’s POV Ice poured through my veins. Cassian wasn't just a risk—they saw him as the first obstacle. Steel chairs scraped. Footsteps moved closer inside the room. Instinct shoved me backward, my muscles acting before my thought did. I flattened myself behind one of the towering delivery racks







