ログインPrincipal Jaxon's POVI waited while Helen cried. Gave her a moment to collect herself.When she finally looked up, her face was blotchy and red. Defeated."Tell me everything," I said quietly. "From the beginning."She drew in a shuddering breath. "It started eighteen years ago. I was working at the diner. Richard used to come in for coffee. We'd talk. Just friendly conversation at first.""And then?""Then it became more." Shame filled her voice. "I knew he was married. Knew it was wrong. But he made me feel special. Important. Like I mattered."I kept my face neutral. "How long did the affair last?""A few months. He said his wife couldn't have children. That their marriage was struggling because of it." She wiped at her eyes. "I believed him. I was young and stupid and I believed every word.""You got pregnant.""Yes." She looked down at her hands. "When I told him, he was happy at first. Excited, even. Said it was a miracle. That he'd always wanted a child.""What changed?""Noth
Principal Jaxon's POVThe address led me to the south side of town. The poor neighborhood where the houses were small and the paint peeled off in strips.I parked my car in front of a faded blue house. The yard was tiny, overgrown with weeds. A broken tricycle lay on its side near the front steps.This was where Nivia Randolph lived.Where the Moonchild had grown up.I walked up the creaking steps and knocked.Footsteps inside. Then the door opened a crack.A woman peered out. Mid-thirties, exhausted eyes, blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She wore a diner uniform with a name tag that read "Helen.""Can I help you?" Her voice was cautious."Helen Randolph?""Yes?"I saw the moment recognition hit. Her eyes widened. Her face went pale."Alpha Jaxon." She opened the door wider, her hands trembling. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize... please, come in."The inside of the house was clean but worn. Old furniture. Faded curtains. Toys scattered across the living room floor.Two small
Nivia POVMateo's eyes remained on me."Why?" He asked softly.I didn't want to say it. Didn't want to admit it publicly."Because I love him." The words came out before I could stop them. "I love him. I slept with him, and I thought that meant something. Now, I'm watching him with her and it feels like I'm being torn apart."He was quiet for a few seconds."Now imagine how I felt today." His voice was barely above a whisper. "When you told me you'd slept with him. When I realized you'd given him what I'd been dreaming about for three years."I couldn't look at him."But here's the difference between us, Nivia." He moved closer again. "I'm not going to abandon you. I'm not going to ignore you because someone else showed up. I'm angry, yes. I'm hurt, yes. But I'm still here.""Why?""Because I meant what I said in that shelter. I love you. And that doesn't just disappear because you hurt me." His hand found mine in the darkness. "I'm not Justin. I don't move on that quickly."My breath
Nivia POV"Fine," I said. "I'll help set up a spot for Mateo outside."And stormed out of the shelter.We worked in silence, building a small lean-to against a tree using palm fronds and branches. It wasn't much, but it would keep him dry if it rained."You don't have to do this," I said quietly as we worked. "You don't have to sleep outside, I mean. I can do it.""I know." He tied off another branch. "But I want to.""Why?"He looked at me. "Because if I sleep in that shelter with you right there, knowing what almost happened today, knowing what did happen yesterday with Justin... I won't be able to handle it.""Oh.""Distance is better right now. For both of us."We finished the lean-to without saying anything else.Inside the shelter, I could hear Claire talking to Justin. Her voice was softer now. Vulnerable."I was so scared," she was saying. "I heard scary noises and I didn't even have my wolf to protect me.""You're safe now," Justin murmured. "I won't let anything happen to yo
Nivia's POVBy the time evening came, the tension in our camp was thick enough to cut with a knife.Claire had spent most of the afternoon with Justin. He'd helped her clean her wounds, given her food, found her clean clothes from the small stash we'd salvaged from our first days here.And through it all, she'd clung to him like he was the only solid thing in her world.Maybe he was.I tried not to watch them. Tried to focus on preparing dinner, on organizing our supplies, on anything other than the way Claire's hand rested on Justin's arm. The way she leaned into him when she talked. The way he looked at her with concern and gentleness.But I couldn't help it.Every time I looked up, they were together. Talking quietly. Her crying. Him comforting her.And it burned."You're going to overcook those," Mateo said.I jumped, nearly dropping the fish I'd been roasting over the fire. I'd forgotten I was even holding it.Mateo stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable. It was the fir
Nivia's POVWe stared at each other. Her green eyes filled with tears, rage and fear, all mixed together.Outside, I heard Mateo coaxing the fire back to life. The rain was starting to slow."Why are you even here?" Claire asked, her voice breaking. "Why you? What's so special about you that the universe keeps giving you everything I want?""I don't know.""I hate you," she whispered. "I hate you so much.""I know.""Then why are you being nice to me?""Because you're hurt. Because you're scared. Because despite everything, I'm not going to let you suffer if I can help." I sat back down. "Hate me all you want, Claire. But we need to survive this together."She didn't respond. Just pulled the blanket over her head and turned away from me.I left her alone and crawled out of the shelter.The rain had slowed to a drizzle. Mateo had the fire going, flames licking at the dry wood.He looked up when I emerged, then quickly looked away."Is she okay?" he asked."She's alive. Terrified. Exhau







