MasukMILLIE'S POVThe flight landed in Barcelona just after noon, local time. Leo pressed his face against the airplane window, eyes wide."Mama, we're in Spain! This is where I was born!""That's right, mi cariño." I unbuckled him as the plane taxied to the gate. "Do you remember anything about it?"He scrunched up his face, thinking. "I remember... It was sunny. And you were sad a lot. But you sang to me at night."My throat tightened. He'd only been three when we fled back to the States. I didn't think he'd remember anything."Well," Braham said, ruffling Leo's hair, "this time your mama won't be sad. We're all together."We collected our luggage and picked up the rental car—a large SUV to fit all five of us. Braham drove while I navigated, my hands trembling slightly as I recognized landmarks I'd tried to forget."Where are we staying?" Callie asked from the back seat."A hotel near... near where Leo and I used to live." I glanced at Braham. "I thought maybe before we go to the pack to
MILLIE'S POVThree days after the interrogation, I made my decision."I want to go to Spain," I told Braham. "Before the ceremony. Before they set a date."He looked up from the reports Will had sent over. "To find your mother's family?""Yes. But not just because I want to meet them." I sat down across from him. "Because it's the smart move politically."That got his attention. "Explain.""The Council said I need to prove I understand what it means to be pack. That I need to learn your ways, earn respect, show I belong." I pulled out my mother's letter. "How do I do that better than by going to my mother's pack? Meeting my grandfather? Claiming the heritage that everyone says I'm too human to understand?"Braham nodded slowly. "It would show initiative. Respect for tradition.""More than that. If my family accepts me—if the Silverpine Ridge pack acknowledges me—then I come back with their blessing. Their endorsement." I leaned forward. "I'm not just some random hybrid who married the
BRAHAM'S POVWe intentionally chose to ignore the media or whatever anyone had to say about the celebration of our son’s birthday so we didn’t open our laptops or phones to check anything that’d ruin the mood. People’s opinions about us were nothing close to the least of our problems. Millie sat on the edge of our bed, staring at the marriage contract we'd shown the Council. The document that proved her mother had honored pack traditions even while marrying a human. "I've been thinking," she said quietly. "About my mother's family. The Silverpine Ridge pack in Spain."I sat beside her. "What about them?""I need to decide something." She looked at me. "Do I try to find them first? Go to Spain, introduce myself, try to reconnect with the family my mother left behind? Or do we focus on the mating ceremony first, make me officially recognized as your mate, and deal with Spain later?""What do you want to do?""I don't know." She folded the document carefully. "Part of me wants to meet
ROY HUNTER'S POVI scrolled through the social media posts on my laptop, a satisfied smirk spreading across my face. Video after video from Leo's birthday party—the bounce house, the dragon cake, Millie laughing with other parents while children ran around.And beneath every video, the comments were vicious."Her sister is barely alive in a hospital and she's throwing parties?""That poor baby Martha had was born premature because of HER. And she's celebrating?""Werewolf or not, she has no heart.""This is why humans shouldn't be allowed in pack leadership. No sense of loyalty or family.""They're eating her alive," I said, turning the laptop so Vivian could see from where she sat across my desk.She leaned forward, reading. "Good. The more they hate her, the harder it'll be for her to integrate into pack structure.""Exactly." I closed the laptop. "The wedding during Martha's coma was a gift. Now the birthday party while Martha's recovering? Perfect optics."Vivian was quiet for a m
MILLIE'S POVLeo woke us up at exactly 6:47 AM on February 2nd, his birthday, by jumping on our bed and shouting at the top of his lungs."I'M FOUR! I'M FOUR YEARS OLD TODAY!"I groaned, pulling a pillow over my head. Braham laughed, catching Leo mid-bounce and pulling him into a hug."Happy birthday, buddy.""You promised dragons!" Leo wiggled free, his energy already at maximum despite the early hour. "And a bounce house! And a cake that looks like a dragon! You promised!""We did promise," I said, sitting up and pulling him into my lap. "And we're keeping that promise. Everything you asked for.""And you're married now! You got married like I asked!" He beamed. "This is the best birthday ever and it just started!"Braham and I exchanged glances over his head. We hadn't told him about the pack meeting, about the traditional ceremony we'd need to complete. To Leo, his birthday wish had come true—his parents were married, and that was all that mattered."Come on," I said, tickling him
BRAHAM'S POVThe hospital parking lot was a war zone.News vans lined the street. Reporters with cameras clustered near the entrance. The moment our car pulled up, they swarmed like locusts."Ready?" I asked Millie.She stared at the crowd through the windshield, her jaw set. "No disguise this time. I'm done hiding.""Then let's go."The second we stepped out of the car, the assault began."Millie-Rose! Did you come to apologize?""How does it feel knowing your sister almost died?""Are you only here because of the backlash from your wedding?""Ms. Harvey, do you have any shame?"The cameras were blinding. Microphones thrust toward Millie's face. Bodies pressed in from all sides. I moved closer, using my size and presence to create a barrier."Back off," I said, my voice carrying the weight of Alpha authority.Some of them actually flinched. The crowd parted slightly—not from respect, but from instinctive fear. Wolves recognized power even when they didn't understand it.We pushed thr
BRAHAM'S POVMorning came too soon.I woke to the sound of the bedroom door creaking open and small footsteps padding across the carpet."Mama? Braham?"I cracked one eye open to find Leo standing beside the bed, his dragon book tucked under his arm and his hair sticking up at odd angles.Millie st
BRAHAM'S POVThe house was finally quiet.Leo was asleep at Renan's parents' place for the night—a sleepover that had been planned weeks ago and that we'd forgotten about in the chaos of hearings and gatherings.Callie had gone home with Renan hours ago after making sure Millie ate something and wa
SABRINA'S POVCounty Jail - Present Day"You need to understand what you're signing," Mabel Duncan said, spreading the plea agreement papers across the metal table in the visitation room. "This is an admission of guilt. Once you sign, there's no taking it back."I stared at the documents. The State
SABRINA'S POVCounty Jail - Present DayThe orange jumpsuit scratched against my skin as I sat on the thin mattress, staring at the concrete wall of my cell. In three days, my attorney would return with the plea deal paperwork.Life with possibility of parole after thirty years instead of life with







