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
I pursed my lips, recalling what he’d done to help me get my mother’s pack. I was being too hard on him.“Let me demonstrate my abilities,” Isaac said, gesturing to a nearby observation deck. “Then you can decide.”From the deck, I watched as Isaac’s plane taxied down the runway. I couldn’t help it—
BiancaI wasn’t prepared for what I saw.As we crossed the valley in Benjamin’s old pickup truck, the poverty became increasingly apparent. I’d never visited my mother’s pack, but I’d always pictured something… different. Certainly not buildings with peeling paint, roads with potholes large enough t
We climbed the stairs, which creaked loudly under our weight. The upstairs hallway stretched in both directions, lined with doors.At the end of the hall stood double doors with carved moons on them that matched the one on the key. Those must have been my mother’s rooms. I turned the key in the lock
All bullshit, of course. But it wasn’t like we could tell the masses that we had actually met in the waiting room of a sperm bank.“And your first kiss? When did that happen?”“It was during a picnic by the lake just over there,” Isaac said smoothly, pointing to the body of water that could be seen
BiancaThe day of the interview arrived far too quickly. Before I knew it, I was being primped and polished by a team of stylists in my suite at the palace. And when I said team, I meant it. There were too many people bustling around for me to even count.“Just a bit more powder,” the makeup artist
Even I knew what a big deal that was. With that kind of press, we could control the narrative even further. We could talk about the Shelter Project, our new friendship with Ethan—really showcase Isaac’s potential as a future king.It would be perfect.“They’ve never approached me before,” Isaac said
BiancaThree days after Ethan’s party, I was having a nice, peaceful breakfast in the palace dining room when Isaac suddenly stormed in with a newspaper clutched in his hand and a scowl on his face.“Have you seen this?” he demanded, slapping the paper down in front of me.I picked it up and nearly
I shrugged, suddenly feeling awkward. “You’re always so nice to me when I’m not feeling well. I guess I… wanted to say thank you.”Isaac paused mid-bite and studied me with an unreadable expression. Then he smiled—not his usual smirk, but something a little bit softer and, dare I say, more genuine.
BiancaI woke up slowly, surrounded by a warmth that had nothing to do with the morning sunshine spilling across my comforter. For a moment, I kept my eyes closed, savoring the comfort. Then I registered the weight of an arm draped over my waist, the steady breathing against my neck.Isaac.My eyes
Isaac tilted his head, his blue eyes flickering briefly with an otherworldly glow as he studied me in the darkness. Was his wolf close to the surface? “Your mouth says one thing, but the rest of you says another.” He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering against m
Bianca“Seven minutes in heaven,” a woman in a red dress announced to the room, holding up an empty wine bottle. “Who’s feeling nostalgic tonight?”I stiffened immediately. They had said the game would be geared toward couples, but seven minutes in heaven? Was this woman serious? I’d expected charad
Ethan didn’t look convinced; he’d always been able to read Isaac like a book, and he knew that the pregnancy hormones had nothing to do with it.“And what about when she inevitably finds out?” Ethan asked. “Because she will, Isaac. She’s your fiancee, and she’s clearly highly intelligent. And if you