LOGINMy phone buzzed. One more message. **Unknown:** I know what you're planning. Can—can feel it somehow. You're going to—to isolate me. Take away—away communication. Lock me away where—where I can't reach you. Can't remind you—you of eventual justice. Of karma. Of—of cosmic correction. Fine. Do it. L
"She's escalating," Hope said. Voice shaking. "Caden, Emily's texting—texting multiple times. Building argument. She's—she's not deterred by us knowing. She's—she's confident the binding can't stop—stop abstract beliefs. That thinking about karma and—and justice isn't thinking about us specifically
The Next Generation Caden pov Two weeks after Emily's trial and binding, Hope and I finally—finally felt like we could breathe. The nursery was coming together. Twelve weeks pregnant now, Hope was—was past the worst of the morning sickness. Starting to show properly. Starting to look—look lik
"She hates me." My voice was—was shaking. "Caden, Emily hates me. Completely. Absolutely. Blames me for—for everything. For her exile. Her binding. Her—her institutionalization. All of it—it's my fault in her mind. Because I—I accepted the mate bond." "It's not your fault. Hope, none of this is—is
"LIAR! You're a LIAR! Caden loved me! He—he was going to love me! Before the mate bond—bond ruined everything! Before you—you stole him with your—your symbolic hybrid manipulation! You—you don't deserve him! You're not—not good enough! You're—you're nothing but problems and complications and—and you
The Next Generation Hope pov The Council chamber was packed for Emily's trial. Pack members. Council representatives. Witnesses to—to everything Emily had done. Everyone who needed to see—see justice served for violations of exile, for continued harassment, for—for refusing to accept that the
"How much time?" "Grace gave me twenty-four hours. I have eighteen left." "She gave you a deadline?" Courtney's laugh was sharp. "That's very—controlling. Connor, is that really the kind of mate you want? Someone who issues ultimatums?" *She's protecting herself. She saw you with Courtney and
"Do you ever think about where we'd be if you hadn't made that phone call?" Emma's voice was quiet. "That night, six years ago, when you called Cas for help with Black River?" "Sometimes. Usually when I'm watching him explain horse parliamentary procedures to our daughter with complete seriousness
My Cheating Mate Grace pov I didn't understand why everyone was so serious all the time lately. Mama and Daddy kept having quiet conversations that stopped when I walked into rooms. Uncle Cas didn't smile as much, even when I showed him my new drawings. Grandpa Richard kept checking all the w
"That's not much of a choice," I pointed out. "It's more choice than she gave any of you when she told hunters about Grace's birth." His voice hardened. "Jeremy, Emma, I understand you want justice. Want punishment. But right now, you need tactical advantage more. Let's use Dr. Chen to destroy the







