LOGINJaxon's POVSoren closed the office door with more force than necessary."You cannot be serious."I sat behind my desk and poured two glasses of water. Pushed one toward the edge. Soren ignored it."You're the strongest Alpha in the Five Packs," he said. He planted both hands on the desk and leaned
Selene's POVThe room went silent.Aldric's hand froze mid-gesture. The older woman with the pearl earrings took a step backward, her mouth open. And Jaxon, by the window, turned fully toward me with an expression I couldn't name. Not anger. Not warmth. Something closer to interest, held carefully i
Selene's POVI let go.What I'd just done hit me like cold water. Every Alpha in the hall was staring. Soren's mouth was a flat line. Jaxon's expression had gone carefully, dangerously blank."Sorry." I stepped back. My face burned. "I — got confused. In the moment. Mistook you for someone."It was
Jaxon's POVJaxon addressed the hall briefly. His pack's military strength made them the natural choice for Council security operations. He asked for patience while his team checked the surveillance feeds and ran the equipment scanners. Routine. Nothing personal.He almost believed it himself.He st
Selene's POVI had checked this drive. Twice.Last night at my desk, I had opened every file, scrolled through every slide, confirmed every border incident log I'd spent three days formatting. I closed my laptop with the USB still plugged in and slept with my bag on the chair beside my bed.This was
Selene's POVThe message was clear.Within twenty minutes, every small-pack Alpha who'd been standing near me had found somewhere else to be. They drifted toward the center of the room, toward the refreshment table, toward anyone who wasn't me. I watched them go. One by one.I wasn't angry at them.
Selene's POVMarcus stood so fast his chair scraped against the floor."What did you just say?"His voice was loud enough that the servants near the kitchen door flinched. I locked my jaw to keep my voice from shaking."I said I'm not marrying Derek." I kept my voice flat. "I want the engagement can
Selene's POVMia was already in my room when I got back, sitting on the edge of my bed with her knees tucked under her chin."Any ideas?" she asked.I kicked off my shoes and sat beside her. The house was quiet downstairs. Derek and Vera had gone out an hour ago for some errand Claudia arranged."We
Selene's POVI checked myself in the mirror. I was wearing an old cotton nightgown. The pale blue one with the frayed hem. My feet were bare.No rope marks on my wrists. No salt drying in the creases of my palms.I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. The date glowed back at me, and my heart slammed
Selene's POVI didn't realize my husband brought my stepsister Vera to our anniversary celebration.Derek told me our anniversary would be just the two of us. A private yacht, champagne on ice, the ocean dark and endless in every direction. .When I saw Vera standing at the cabin door, the champagne







