“His image,” Vera finally said. “And his vices.”Now they were getting somewhere. Isaac tilted his head, keeping his voice light and breezy as he murmured, “Vices? What kind of vices?”Vera glanced toward the palace, as if worried they might be overheard. “He pretends to be so proper, so traditional
BiancaThree days.It had been three days since I’d seen Isaac flirting with Vera in the gardens, and my heart still ached as if the betrayal had happened mere moments ago.I lay in my bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling, watching the shadows dance across the plaster as the sun began to set beyond
Isaac shrugged. “You wouldn’t open the front door, and you weren’t answering. I thought you were dead or something.”Despite myself, I rolled my eyes. “Great,” I muttered. “Now there’s another way for you to pester me whenever you want.”“That’s the spirit,” he grinned, although the smile didn’t qui
BiancaThe hug took us both by surprise. Even Isaac stiffened in my embrace, arms slightly stretched out to the sides, clearly not expecting me to do what I just did.When I pulled away, I felt my cheeks flush with heat. I quickly stepped back, adjusting my shirt over my small baby bump, looking any
But it didn’t. It just slowly meandered away, rocking softly on the waves, with Vera standing at the back. Her hair and dress fluttered elegantly in the wind, and she didn’t pull her gaze away from mine.“Well,” Isaac finally said, waving a fly away from his face, “that was dramatic.”I shot him a g
BiancaI stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror, fussing with the sleek black dress I’d chosen for the evening.It hit just above my knees and hugged my curves in all the right places, the delicate spaghetti straps showing off my shoulders and collarbone. I’d paired it with a simple silve
I shook my head firmly. “My father would never—”“Papa isn’t here,” Isaac interrupted with a laugh. “And you’re not a child anymore. You get to decide what’s acceptable for you now.”His words struck a chord in me. He was right. I wasn’t under my father’s thumb anymore, forced to behave like the per
BiancaBenjamin’s email was urgent; he said he couldn’t leave the pack, and requested that I come visit as soon as possible. Said there was something he needed to discuss in person.I’d been planning to tour the pack lands soon anyway, so the following morning, I sent an email saying I’d be there. B
“Don’t go,” she whispered. “Stay this time. Please stay.”Isaac swallowed hard, continuing his journey back to her chambers. Her sleep-talking continued in broken fragments—pleas for her mother to stay, promises about the baby, even a few fearful murmurs about her father.When they reached her room,
IsaacThe announcement of the baby shower had spiraled into something much bigger than Isaac had anticipated. What was supposed to be a small celebration had transformed into a full-blown royal event once the King got wind of it.“It must be a traditional Lycan feast,” his father had declared, slapp
“What happened?” the doctor asked, jumping to her feet.“She fell into a pond,” Isaac explained as he set me on a cot. “She can’t swim. I pulled her out, but we need to make sure the baby’s okay.”The baby. Not me. But I was just glad to be alive, and that there was someone in my life who actually c
BiancaMy chest burned, screaming for air as the sunlight above grew dimmer with each passing second. The surface seemed impossibly far away now, wavering like a mirage as I sank further into the depths.And then, suddenly, I was seven years old again, my father’s hands gripping my shoulders as he s
It was the pregnancy hormones. It had to be the damn pregnancy hormones making me want this—making me want him—so badly that my skin felt like it was on fire wherever he touched me.But as his lips hovered just above mine, I knew I had to tell him the truth. I had to tell him before any kisses occur
BiancaThe walk from the palace to the gardens felt longer than usual, or maybe that was just because I kept second-guessing my decision to tell Isaac everything. But deep down, I knew I’d made the right choice. Isaac had given me every reason to trust him, and I couldn’t keep the truth from him any
Isaac’s eyes lit up. “That’s an excellent idea, Bianca. And if it means we can finally move past all this talk of flowers, I’m all for it.”For the next hour, Isaac and I worked together, selecting new decorations that matched the new flowers. But there was something… different between us. Despite t
BiancaI woke up slowly, still groggy from last night’s bout of sickness. The bed was warm and comfortable, but something felt off. My hands patted the empty space beside me. Isaac was gone.Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and glanced around the room. No sign of him.For some reason, his absence unsett
Isaac studied my face for a long moment, and then that damn smirk tugged at the pout of his mouth again. “My, my. Bianca Ravenwood, you’re blushing.”I rolled my eyes even though I knew he was right. I could feel the heat undeniably pooling in my face.It wasn’t until we’d nearly reached the end of