LOGINThird Person POV Calla woke slowly the next morning. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the suite. Adele was already awake, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed in her little nightdress. Her dark curls were messy from sleep, and she clutched her stuffed wolf tightly to her chest.But she wasn’t looking at her mother.Adele’s small face was turned away, her lips pressed into a pout. She didn’t say good morning. She didn’t crawl over for a hug. She just sat there, swinging her legs slightly, giving the most adorable silent treatment Calla had ever seen. It was cute in the way only a four-year-old could manage … eyebrows slightly furrowed, cheeks puffed out just a little, but still so small and innocent that it made Calla’s heart melt even as it ached.Calla sat up and reached out gently. “Good morning, baby.”Adele turned her head further away, hugging her stuffed wolf tighter. She didn’t speak. The silent treatment continued, but it loo
Third Person POV Calla’s cheeks burned. She couldn’t speak. She could only stare at him, heart still racing, body still humming from the orgasm he had pulled from her so easily.Brynne chuckled softly and pulled her robe closed, tying the belt with gentle fingers.The moment his hands left her, the spell broke.Calla’s palm flew up and slapped him hard across the face. The sound cracked in the quiet hallway.“How dare you touch me,” she hissed, voice shaking with fury and lingering pleasure. “I am going to be your Luna. You can’t fucking touch me that way.”Brynne’s head turned slightly from the force of the slap. A thin red mark bloomed on his cheek. He didn’t look angry. Instead, he brought two fingers to his chin, resting them there as if he were deep in thought. His blue eyes studied her with calm amusement. He tilted his head slowly to the side, the silver hoop in his ear catching the low light.“It’s exactly because you are going to be the Luna that you will be mine,” he said
Third Person POV Adele had finally fallen asleep again, her small body curled in the center of the big bed. Her dark curls spread across the pillow like a halo. Her breathing was soft and even, one tiny hand still clutching the edge of her stuffed wolf.Calla leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter’s forehead. “Sleep well, my sweet pea,” she whispered. “Mommy loves you.”She straightened, the irritation from earlier still simmering low in her chest. The sight of those wounded, wretched people outside the window kept replaying in her mind. She needed answers. And the only person who might give them to her tonight was Blade.She slipped on a thin silk robe over her nightdress. The fabric was soft and short, barely reaching mid-thigh. She tied the belt loosely and stepped quietly out of the suite, closing the door behind her with a soft click.The hallway was dimly lit. Her bare feet made almost no sound as she walked toward Blade’s private chambers. Her heart beat fa
Third Person POV Calla carried Adele down the hallway, her gown swishing softly with each step.The little girl rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, still warm from the day’s play. But inside Calla’s chest, irritation bubbled like a pot left too long on the fire. She murmured under her breath, the words slipping out before she could stop them.“Flirtatious idiot… thinks he can just walk in and play the fun uncle… as if I don’t see right through him…”Adele lifted her head, her storm-cloud eyes curious. “Mommy, why are you angry? I really like Uncle Brynn. He played with me all day. We rolled the ball and he let me win every time. It was so much fun.”Calla’s jaw tightened. She kept walking, her voice low but firm. “I know, baby. But remember what I told you about not trusting anyone here. We have to be careful. These people… they have their own plans. We can’t let our guard down.”Adele frowned, her small brows drawing together. “But I trust Uncle Brynn. I feel he is good. He
Third Person POV Brynne leaned against the kitchen counter, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked down at the little girl. Adele tilted her head, her dark curls bouncing slightly.“Uncle Brynn?” she asked again, her voice soft and curious.He smiled, the kind of easy, charming smile that made the maids glance at each other. “That’s me, kiddo. Come with me. I’ll show you something fun.”Adele looked back at the maids. They nodded encouragingly, still charmed by her helpfulness. She slid off the stool and took Brynne’s outstretched hand. His fingers were warm and gentle around her small ones.They walked together down the wide hallway. Brynne’s steps were graceful, almost light, matching the slender beauty he carried so naturally. Adele skipped a little to keep up, her silver dress fluttering.“Where are we going?” she asked.“To the dining room,” he said. The dining room was enormous. Long tables stretched under crystal chandeliers. Tall windows looked out over the snowy grounds. T
Third Person POV Adele’s little wolf ears twitched. She had been sleeping deeply, curled up in her fluffy dark fur on the big bed. The warmth of her mother’s body had been there only moments ago. Now it was gone.She opened her eyes slowly. The room was still dark. Moonlight slipped through the curtains. She lifted her small head and looked toward the door. It was closing softly. Mommy was leaving.A tiny sigh escaped her. It sounded almost like a whine. She wanted to follow. She wanted to run after Mommy and make sure she was safe. But Mommy had told her to stay and be a good girl. So Adele lowered her head again, tucked her tail around her body, and closed her eyes. She went back to sleep, dreaming of silver crowns and warm hugs.Morning light filtered into the suite. Adele woke up in her human form this time, her dark curls messy on the pillow. She rubbed her eyes and sat up. The bed felt big without Mommy.The door opened quietly. Calla stepped inside, still wearing the simpl
Calla’s POVThe words had barely left his mouth before he moved.One moment he was sitting in his chair with his toast in his hand and his eyes on mine and the next moment he was on his feet and the chair was scraping back against the wooden floor and the sound of it cut through the kitchen like a
Calla’s POV Three months. It had taken three months for the new place to begin feeling like something other than a waiting room.The house Tyson had brought us to sat at the edge of the valley, backed up against the tree line with the river visible from the kitchen window on clear mornings. It
Blade’s POVThe study had seen better nights.Two chairs had been relocated to the far wall after he’d thrown them there. A glass had met its end against the fireplace sometime around midnight and nobody had been brave enough to clean it up yet. The map of Ash Creek’s surrounding territories was
Calla’s POV We left before the city woke up. Tyson had the car packed and idling at the snow-capped 4:45. I carried Adele down in her blanket, her rabbit tucked under her arm, her boots left unlaced because she had insisted on wearing them despite the hour and I hadn’t had the energy to argue.







