LOGINThird Person POV Tanya pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway, her heart still burning with humiliation. The sheer black lace lingerie felt ridiculous now, like a cheap costume that had failed its purpose. Blade had pushed her away like she was nothing. The memory made her blood boil. She needed to regain control. She needed to turn this around.She walked downstairs slowly, deliberately swaying her hips even though no one was watching. As she reached the bottom step, she caught sight of Brynne from the corner of her eye. He was standing near the fireplace, back turned, looking out the window at the snow. She made sure her steps were loud enough for him to hear. Then, when she was halfway down the last few stairs, she deliberately let her foot slip on the edge of the step.She cried out as she tumbled forward, arms flailing.Strong arms caught her instantly. Brynne turned fast, his slender but powerful frame steadying her against his chest. His blue eyes widened with c
Tanya's POV I pushed the door open, trying to control myself, but I could feel my anger rising every second. The first three days with Calla had been a disaster. She had somehow survived, looked strong, and even earned some respect from the pack. Now it was my turn in this stupid cabin with the twins, and I was determined to make it count.I took a deep breath and adjusted the lingerie I was wearing. It was barely anything … a sheer black lace set that covered little to nothing. The top was a tiny bralette that pushed my breasts up and left almost everything on display. The bottoms were a thin thong that rode high on my hips. I had chosen it carefully. It was seductive and irresistible. Blade would have no choice but to want me. If I get both of them that will be better for me.I stepped into the main room, hips swaying. The fire was crackling. Blade was sitting on the couch, staring into the flames. He didn’t look up immediately. I smiled to myself. “Blade,” I purred, voice sof
Third Person POV Blade sat at the head of the long council table, his broad shoulders tense under the formal black tunic. The Grand Assembly Hall felt colder than usual this morning. The elder and the other council members sat in their assigned seats, faces serious. The fire in the large hearth crackled, but it did little to warm the heavy atmosphere.The first trial was over. Tanya had officially won the round. Now they were here to discuss the transition to the second trial … the secluded cabin … and the overall progress of the Luna Games.The elder cleared his throat. “Alpha Blade, how was the first three days in the cabin with Calla Tonks? We need your honest assessment before we send Tanya in for her turn.”Blade leaned back in his chair, gray eyes distant. He was quiet for a long moment, fingers tapping once on the armrest. The council waited.Finally, he spoke, voice low and measured. “She is… stronger than I expected. She has fire. Courage. And she is smart.”A few council m
Third Person POV Adele woke up slowly, blinking at the sunlight coming through the curtains. The big bed felt too empty without Mommy. She sat up, rubbing her eyes with small fists, and looked around the suite. The stuffed wolf was still beside her pillow. She hugged it tight and sighed.It was the third day.Mommy was coming back soon.The thought made her heart feel lighter. She climbed out of bed, her nightdress swishing around her legs, and padded to the window. The pack grounds looked bright under the morning sun. Snow sparkled like diamonds. She pressed her nose to the glass and whispered, “Hurry home, Mommy. I miss you.”She got dressed by herself … a pretty silver dress with little pockets for her hands. She brushed her dark curls as best she could, then tied them with a ribbon. Looking in the mirror, she gave herself a small nod. “Good girl. Now go help.”She left the suite and walked toward the kitchen. The hallways were quiet, but she could hear the clatter of pots and t
Third Person POV Calla stood frozen in the middle of her bedroom.The door had slammed shut behind Blade and the sound of it still rang through the room like something that had been building for a long time and had finally found a way out. Her robe hung open at her shoulders. Her body was still trembling … not from cold, there was no cold in here, just the aftermath of everything that had almost happened and hadn’t.Please, my mate.She sat down on the edge of the bed.Her legs had made that decision for her because they were no longer interested in holding her up. She sat there and stared at the closed door and tried to locate a single coherent thought in the chaos currently occupying the space behind her eyes.She couldn’t find one.Mate.The word was too big. Too heavy. It didn’t fit inside the shape of everything she knew about herself and Blade and the history that existed between them … a history that included three years of cold silences and colder nights and a man who had l
Third Person POV Calla ran upstairs, her bare feet slapping hard against the wooden steps.Each step felt louder than it should have been, echoing through the corridor like her body was announcing her panic to everyone in the pack house whether she wanted it to or not. Her heart was going so fast she could feel it in her throat. She burst through her bedroom door and slammed it behind her, pressing her back against the wood and squeezing her eyes shut.She stood there for a moment just breathing.Then …what the hell just happened.…She pushed off the door and started pacing. The room felt too small. Three steps to the window, three steps back to the door, over and over, her hands moving restlessly at her sides. Her lips still felt the pressure of his mouth. That was the problem. She could still feel it … the rough, urgent press of Blade’s kiss downstairs, the way his hand had come up to grip the back of her neck like he was afraid she would disappear if he didn’t hold on, the hea
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.
Calla’s POVAdele went down for her afternoon nap without a fight.That alone told me how exhausted she still was. Under normal circumstances, getting my daughter to sleep in the middle of the day was a negotiation that could stretch anywhere between twenty minutes and an eternity. Today she had
Calla’s POVThe safe house was a narrow brownstone on a quiet street that didn’t appear on any map Tyson had ever shown anyone.That was what he told me as he pushed open the front door and stepped aside to let me through. I didn’t ask how he knew that. I didn’t ask much of anything. I was running
Calla’s POVI ran.The shadow touched my feet and my body made the decision before my mind caught up and I burst out from between the vans and sprinted for the loading dock with everything I had left.I almost made it.A hand closed around my arm from behind … an iron grip, brutal and sudden, yanki







