MasukMILLIE'S POVThe wheels of the private plane hit the tarmac with a definitive screech, a sound that felt like a gavel coming down on my time in Spain. I’d dozed for most of the flight, my body aching in ways I hadn't known possible.Shifting isn’t just a physical change; it’s also a spiritual exhaustion. Rylee was still new, a restless, silver-furred force of nature inside my mind, and every time I returned to human form, I felt like I’d been put through a professional-grade dehydrator.You’ll get stronger, Rylee’s voice echoed in the back of my head, sounding smug and powerful. We just need practice. Your skin is still learning how to stretch for me.Beside me, Leo was a whirlwind of energy, completely unfazed by the long flight. He was chattering a mile a minute to Vicente, pointing out the window at the sprawling American skyline. Behind us, the three Spanish elders—Mateo, Elena, and Diego—sat in a stoic triangle, their low Spanish murmurs a steady hum beneath the roar of the engi
ROY HUNTER’S POV"They've been gone for days," Vivian said, her pacing more frantic than usual. The sharp click of her heels against my office floorboards sounded like a countdown I didn't want to hear. "No ceremony date announced. No public appearances. The Alpha King just... vanished with his mate and half his inner circle. Does he really think he can just put the entire Pack Council on hold while he plays tourist?""Not vanished. Traveling." I leaned back in my leather chair, staring at the map pinned to my wall. I preferred the term maneuvering. Braham Gothan didn't do anything without a tactical purpose. "Will Reid's office filed a formal notice with the High Council stating that Millie-Rose Harvey-Gothan needed to 'attend to family matters' before the ceremony could proceed. It’s a legal stalling tactic, but a valid one under the Old Laws.""What family matters?" Vivian stopped, her hands on her hips, her eyes flashing with that familiar, sharp irritation. "Her father's in a
MILLIE'S POVTwo days later, Vicente called us together after breakfast."He decidido," (I have decided,) he announced, "que iré a Estados Unidos contigo." (that I will go to America with you.) He looked at me. "Para presentarte formalmente a la manada de tu compañero. Para darles mi bendición como tu abuelo y como Beta de Silverpine Ridge." (To formally present you to your mate's pack. To give them my blessing as your grandfather and as Beta of Silverpine Ridge.)My heart leapt. "¿De verdad?" (Really?)"De verdad. Y traeré ancianos de la familia. Representación adecuada." (Really. And I will bring family elders. Proper representation.) He smiled. "No puedes enfrentarte a ese Consejo sola. Eres Oslo. Vienes con tu manada detrás de ti." (You cannot face that Council alone. You are Oslo. You come with your pack behind you.)"Cuando?" (When?) Braham asked."Mañana. Reservaremos vuelos hoy." (Tomorrow. We will book flights today.) Vicente looked at his wife. "Millie se quedará aquí para
MILLIE'S POVMy grandmother—Abuela Millie, as she insisted I call her—didn't let go of my hand for the rest of that first day.She led me through the pack house, showing me everything. "Esta era la habitación de tu madre." (This was your mother's room.) She opened a door to reveal a not-so-big bedroom, preserved exactly as Juana had left it twenty-eight years ago. A bed with a handmade quilt. Books in Spanish and English on shelves. A hairbrush still sitting on a dresser."She love to read," grandma said, switching to heavily accented English for my benefit. "Siempre con un libro. Incluso cuando se suponía que debía estar entrenando o ayudando con las tareas del paquete, la encontrábamos en un árbol en algún lugar, leyendo". (Always with a book. Even when she was supposed to be training or helping with pack duties, we would find her in a tree somewhere, reading.)I picked up one of the books—a worn copy of poetry. LA HISTORIA DE UNA CHICA VAGABUNDA. (THE TALE OF A WANDERING GIRL.) My
MILLIE'S POVBeside him sat a woman with silver hair pulled back in a braid, her hand gripping the arm of her chair so tightly her knuckles were white. Her eyes—the same shape as my mother's, the same shape as mine—were already filled with tears.My grandmother."Abuelo," (Grandfather,) I said, my voice trembling. "Soy Millie-Rose. La hija de Juana." (I'm Millie-Rose. Juana's daughter.)For a long moment, no one moved. No one breathed.Then my grandmother made a sound—something between a sob and a gasp—and stood so quickly her chair scraped against the floor."¿Juana?" (Juana?) she whispered, taking a step forward. "No, no... eres su hija. Eres..." (No, no... you're her daughter. You are...) She pressed her hand to her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "Eres nuestra nieta." (You are our granddaughter.)"Sí, abuela." (Yes, grandmother.) My own tears started falling. "Vine. Finalmente vine." (I came. I finally came.)Vicente stood slowly, his movements deliberate. His voice was roug
MILLIE'S POVThe man standing before me had my mother's eyes—the same gray-green that I saw in the mirror every day. For a moment, I thought this was him. My grandfather. The man my mother had loved and left.But then he spoke again, and I realized my mistake."Soy Mateo, Gran Centinela de Silverpine Ridge." (I am Mateo, Grand Sentinel of Silverpine Ridge.) He inclined his head respectfully. "Tienes la cara de tu madre. Te habría reconocido en cualquier lugar." (You have your mother's face. I would have recognized you anywhere.)"¿La conocías?" (You knew her?) My voice came out barely above a whisper."Todo el mundo conocía a Juana Oslo. Ella era la hija del Beta, amada por la manada. Se suponía que se casaría con el hijo del Alfa, pero..." (Everyone knew Juana Oslo. She was the Beta's daughter, beloved by the pack. She was supposed to marry the Alpha's son, but...) His expression softened. "Nos afligió cuando se fue.” (We grieved when she left.)"Juana?" I blinked. "My mother's name
ROY'S POVThis couldn't be happening.I sat frozen in my seat, watching Braham set down his ring, my mind refusing to process what I was seeing. The golden ring plated with real crystal and a shiny emerald on top sat on the table like an accusation, catching the light from the chamber's overhead f
BRAHAM'S POV"If asked to choose between your pack and your human family, which would you choose?"The question hung in the air like a guillotine blade.The chamber was utterly silent. Every eye fixed on me, waiting for my answer. Waiting to see if I'd damn myself with the truth or lie to save my p
BRAHAM'S POVThe Council chamber was designed to intimidate.I'd been in this room dozens of times as Alpha King. But lately, I'd been the one questioned, and at this point, I was feeling insulted and looked down upon.The Council had formally requested this audience two days ago, citing "concerns
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT: The CalmMILLIE'S POV"Mama, look! I made a dragon with my blocks!"I turned from where I was making sandwiches to find Leo standing proudly beside an elaborate structure that looked somewhat like a wolf with wings—his interpretation of a dragon."That's amazing, baby!" I cros







