LOGINMIRA'S POVI woke to the sound of Cahaya crying.The room was still dark, the first hints of dawn just beginning to peek through the curtains. I groaned and pushed myself up, my body still heavy with exhaustion. Every part of me wanted to lie back down, to pull the blanket over my head and pretend I couldn't hear her.But I couldn't. She needed me and she was more important to me than anything or anyone.I crossed the room to the bassinet and picked her up, cradling her against my chest. She was red-faced and squalling, her tiny fists flailing."Shh," I whispered, settling back onto the bed. "Mama's here."I guided her to my breast and she latched on immediately, her cries quieting to soft little suckling sounds. I leaned back against the pillows and closed my eyes, letting the quiet of the morning wash over me.For a few minutes, everything was peaceful.When she was done feeding, I burped her and changed her, then carried her out to the kitchen where Elowen was already up, stirring
ROGUE KING'S POV"Where did the attack happen and how many were affected?" I asked through gritted teeth.This had been happening for a while now. A handful of rogues who insisted on remaining barbarians, who will rather raid packs and kill the innocent. They would not agree to submit to me as their Alpha had been attacking our encampments. They weren't able to break through the defenses of my main pack, so they targeted the smaller settlements instead. The ones with fewer warriors who couldn't fight back."On one of our eastern encampments," Alixter said.I let out a long sigh. Our eastern encampments were new. They had a small population of wolves living out there, mostly families who had come to the Sanctuary looking for peace. There weren't many warriors stationed there because we hadn't expected anyone to attack such a small, harmless settlement."Are there any casualties?" I asked, looking up at him."No, Alpha," he said, shaking his head. "But we need to put a stop to this. Th
MIRA'S POVSuddenly there was a loud banging on the door.Before anyone got up to open it, the door was pushed open and Rowan and Tessa walked in.I had been too exhausted to notice they were gone. With everything that had happened, the birth, the shift, the Rogue King, I hadn't even realized they weren't here.Rowan and I had gotten into a spat on the day I went into labor because he didn't think it was a great idea for me to go to the shore."Rowan? Tessa? Where have you guys been?" I asked, looking up at them as I rocked Cahaya in my arms.Rowan stopped mid-step, his eyes landing on the bundle in my arms. Tessa froze beside him, her mouth falling open."Is that..." Rowan started."The baby," Tessa finished, her voice barely above a whisper. "You had the baby."I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips despite everything.Elowen appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Oh good, you're back.""Back?" I looked between them. "What do you mean back? Did you guys go some
KAEL'S POVI woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. I turned to my side and saw her, she was beautiful.“Isn't she just perfect?” Niklaus purred in my head. “Don't start now” I snapped at him.She looked so peaceful, her hair spread across my pillow.. The worry lines that usually marked her face were gone; her face was soft ethereal even.I watched her for a long moment, fragments of the night before replaying in my mind. The way she had looked at me,the way she whispers my name holding on to me, the way her body trembled under my touch.She stirred slightly, her lips parting and I reached out before I could stop myself. Brushing a strand of hair from her face, my knuckles grazing her cheek gently.She leaned into my touch, still half-asleep.I pulled my hand back. Shaking my head to remove the thought I sat up. I needed to get up and prepare. I had somewhere to be and there was still so much to do before I left.Carefully, I eased out of bed and pulled the bl
ROGUE KING'S POV"Go back. Go mark our mate," Alexander demanded in my head as soon as I stepped out of the house.I couldn't possibly stay one more minute in that house. If I had, he would have taken control and scared her. She was already frightened enough.I could smell it on her the moment I walked through the door. Beneath the lavender,cinnamon and new-mother scent that filled the room,there was fear. It clung to her like a second skin.Turning to Garrick I asked, "Do you know what pack she's from?""No, Alpha," he said, shaking his head.I looked at him for a moment. I knew he was keeping something from me. But his face remained unreadable but I've known him long enough to know when he wasn't being completely honest with me. Garrick had been with me for over a decade. He had seen me at my worst and stayed anyway. If he was keeping something from me, there was a reason."You're sure?" I pressed."I'm sure." He met my eyes without flinching. "I've never seen her before tonight. I
MIRA POVThe next morning I woke to the sound of multiple voices outside. I sat up quickly turning towards the bassinet only to find it empty.Panic flooded through me throwing the blanket aside I rushed out of the room, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else."Cahaya?" I called out my voice shaking.I went through the rooms but couldn't find her so I followed the voices out to the living room only to find Elowen sitting in the rocking chair near the window with Cahaya cradled in her arms.She was awake looking up at Elowen. Maura stood near the door, her back to me, blocking whoever was outside."Not today," Maura was saying, her voice firm. "She needs her rest. You can come back tomorrow."“Cmon Maura, just a peak it won't hurt” whoever was standing outside said, her voice filled with disappointment."I don't care. She just gave birth. She is not receiving visitors and the baby is not a commodity on display for you to admire and walk away"Maura said before shu







