LOGIN“Elena,” my father said warningly.I stroked Ivy’s hair. “I’ll see you again, sweetheart,” I said, gently disentangling myself from her. “I just have to go away for a little while longer, but then we’ll be together again.”She sniffled. “You and me and Daddy, you mean?” she asked, wiping her nose. “
Elena’s POVThe slamming of the door echoed in the now-quiet room. For a long time, nobody moved. Not even Debbie.Then, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see my father standing there with a calm expression, even a faint hint of a smile, but his eyes were hard and full of worry.“We shoul
“Shh!” Serena shrugged Debbie’s hand off, curling her lip indignantly, then leaned closer to look at the camp. A slow, malicious smile tugged at her mouth.Debbie knew that look all too well. It was the type of look Serena often had when she had a nasty idea. Like when Serena orchestrated a “payback
Elena’s POVMy heart stopped.Debbie’s eyes were fixed on me, wide and unblinking, and the whole room had gone very still around her. Harrison had frozen near the door. Tyler’s hand tightened on my arm. My father was still standing in the hallway, not entering the room, but I could feel him stiffen
A moment later, something tender rippled through the mate bond as if he’d sent the faintest thrum of appreciation. My cheeks warmed despite myself, and I quickly looked away.The door swung open then before anyone could say another word.Harrison burst into the room, slightly out of breath, his red
Elena’s POVMy father only held onto me for a few moments before he pulled back, grabbing me by the shoulders, and began turning me this way and that to assess for damage.“Are you hurt? I swear, if he laid a finger on you—”“Dad.”“You look ill. Was it poison? Elena, we should go—”“Dad.” I placed
“Befitting of a warmonger,” I teased. If my jab amused Kade, he didn’t show it.We ate in silence for a few moments. My mind raced with what to say next—some kind of segue into the topic of my baby. I had practiced what to say, but admittedly, now that I was here, sitting directly next to Kade, I wa
Kade’s POV“Your heart is aflutter.”Kade grimaced at Ghost’s words. Aflutter? His heart wasn’t aflutter. That word wasn’t even in his vocabulary.“You can deny it all you want, but you’re intrigued by the second chance mate. If you hadn’t controlled yourself at dinner, you might have shoved everyth
Elena’s POVKade ripped my shirt off over my head and looked at my spine before I could stop him.But this time, I didn’t try to stop him.I knew there was no mark there. Somehow, when I had been put in this new body, there was no birthmark on my spine. Just smooth, unbroken, unmarred skin.So I let
“What was that, by the way?” Ava asked, perturbed.“I should be the one asking you that question. You manipulated the bond. Made me kiss him.”Ava paused, then replied, “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it; it’s not easy holding back around our mate all the time. But I meant after—when you told him you wa







