Dear readers, I've noticed some errors and inconsistencies in what I've written for certain chapters. This happens due to my being overwhelmed by other projects, so I mix things up. I'm going to take August to edit and make some revisions to the story. Thank you for taking your time to read, for pointing out errors. Some days I edit with sleep in my eyes, and I end up typing things that shouldn't be there. I see your comments, and I will fix things. Thank you for enjoying the story and taking the time to tell me your thoughts, not just critics. I appreciate that so much.
Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you make wine.Ridiculous, yes, and it’s not a true saying. But it explains what I’m doing. I was offered a small opportunity to get closer to Aurielle, and I’m jumping steps. I could almost laugh, am I not the patient alpha?I could’ve just packed a few things, her meds, a change of clothes, the basics. That would’ve been the reasonable thing to do. But I didn’t.I brought almost everything.Half her wardrobe, her favorite items, the candle she likes to burn when she’s anxious, her hair bands, which she lost a lot of, her vitamin supplements, even her beat-up favorite novel with the bent spine and dog-eared corners. Three damn bags of her stuff. For someone supposedly just staying the night or two, it looked like she was moving in.And yeah, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. But when there’s a will, there’s a way, or whatever that cheesy saying is.Truthfully, I hated the reason behind all this. I wasn’t happy about the situation, not even close
Aurielle is stubborn. There’s no other way to put it.Hanging up on me again? Seriously?What am I supposed to do with that?I’m trying here. I’m trying to be nice. Trying to make amends. And no, I’m not stupid, I know that saying sorry won’t undo everything. I know I messed up. I know the past between us is ugly and raw and probably still bleeding for her. But damn it, I’m showing up. I’m trying. Doesn’t that count for something?For someone who once claimed to love me, shouldn’t she want to at least try to fix things, too? Shouldn’t there be a part of her, even a small one, that wants me back? Even as just a friend?Who falls out of love that fast?The second the thought crossed my mind, I cringed at my own hypocrisy.I fell out of love with Nerissa just as fast. Hell, mine didn’t even take weeks, it happened overnight. The day Aurielle was sent to the hospital and I had to watch another man hold and care for her, my wolf switched feelings fast. So why was I bitter that Aurielle mig
I slept the entire car ride.Not the shallow kind of sleep you slip into when you’re half-aware of your surroundings—no. This was deep, warm, and undisturbed. The kind of rest that comes only when your body finally trusts that it’s safe. That someone else is watching over you.Cassiel drove us from Moonveil to his own pack lands, hours away, and I didn’t stir once. Not when the roads curved. Not when the sun dipped lower. Not even when the engine finally went quiet and the car came to a stop.That’s just what it’s like around this man.Cassiel is the eye of the storm. Everything else might be chaos, but with him—I can breathe.I thought he’d wake me when we arrived. Maybe brush a knuckle along my jaw or whisper gently for me to open my eyes. But I never felt it. I never felt the transition from car to house to bed.I simply… woke up.The bed was warm. The sheets smelled like cedarwood and clean linen, and the pillow under my head held the faintest trace of his cologne. My lashes flutt
I woke up several minutes later, groggy and floating in that strange space between sleep and waking. My body felt boneless and heavy, making movement feel like dragging myself through quicksand. But oddly, there was no pain, not in my head or limbs, just lingering fatigue that clung to me like wet fabric.Cassiel was sitting beside the bed when I blinked up at him. He looked relieved.“You’re awake,” he said gently, brushing a piece of hair from my face.He proceeded to fill me in with the information the nurses had shared—none of it good, but he delivered it with care, filtering the worst of it so it wouldn’t break me. I was too tired to ask questions, too worn to press him, so I let the words wash over me like static noise.“You stay put,” he said firmly. “I’ll go settle the damages with the hotel, pack your things, and bring the car around. I’ve already arranged for someone to pick up your car later.”I nodded faintly, offering no argument. His tone wasn’t commanding, but it left n
Aurielle had fallen back asleep, her breathing slow and steady now, soft like the whisper of silk brushing against skin. Her face had relaxed, the tension in her brows fading as the medication took hold. I sat beside her bed and brushed my knuckles gently against her arm, needing the touch just to confirm she was still here. Still with me.She looked peaceful—but I knew better.She wasn’t okay.Not even close. I hadn’t gone into details because I didn’t want her stressed, but it was bad.The nurse had handed me a folder, her eyes hesitant, words measured. I had read the medical notes from the attending physician three times now, but each time I finished, I had to grip the chair tighter to keep from putting my fist through a wall.The abortifacient she’d been forced to ingest a month ago—the one that tore her unborn child from her womb—had left its mark in a different way this time. The doctors had already told us that there would be a permanent strain in her body. That her womb was wr
I sent Cassiel a text first, letting him know I was fine and that I just needed to rest before the long drive tomorrow. My fingers hovered over the screen for a second, then I added a quick “Thank you for today” before hitting send.His reply came almost instantly.Cassiel: Of course. Sleep well, Aurielle. Call me if you need anything, okay?A small smile tugged at my lips. He didn’t push, didn’t ask questions, didn’t try to keep me talking. He respected my space, even though I could feel how much he cared. It was... comforting.The man knew how to show how he felt without being too much, or too distant. After facing harshness for years, it’s nice to meet someone emotionally mature and stable.I didn’t respond to Matthias. I didn’t want to. But I wasn’t naive. I knew him too well, blocking one number wouldn’t stop him. He’d just get a new one. Or ten. I’d spend the next few weeks dodging calls and texts from every random number under the sun.So instead, I saved the number.I opened t