Alaric’s POVEthan thinks about my question for a long time. Too long, really. It makes me start to sweat. I have no idea what I’ll do if he says no. I’ll have to respect it. I might love Cara, but Ethan is my son and I –“I guess I wouldn’t mind,” he says.Inside, my hopes flared to life, flying hi
Cara’s POVThe flowers are beautiful, and with the setting of the sun, the stars provide a perfect backdrop for a romantic moment.For this moment, I’m standing among the flowers and the stars with Noel in front of me. From the look of his hope-filled expression, I know he is about to open up to me
Alaric’s POVI hear a low growl coming from somewhere. It takes me a long moment to realize that it is my own throat eliciting that noise. It is my own rage at what I’m witnessing that is making my eyes burn and my vision go red.My hands are curling into fists. I’m nearly going to shift the jealous
Alaric’s POVI woke up the next morning with Cara in my arms, asleep with her cheek to my chest. We were still in last night’s clothes, more or less, though I was missing my jacket, and my buttoned shirt was unbuttoned halfway, revealing the tank top I wore underneath.Her clothes were equally dishe
Alaric had left me here.No, I chastised myself. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Too much lately I had always been willing to believe the worst in Alaric. Given our past, he had trained me to feel this way, but lately, he had been putting in real effort to be there for me and our children.He would
Alaric’s POVCara ate her breakfast and then went back to her own room to change and get ready for the day. I had to do the same, telling her that I would be gone for work-related reasons for the majority of the morning and afternoon, but I would do my hardest to be home in time for dinner.It pleas
“Do you watch the news?” I asked them. “Though even if you don’t, I imagine your contacts still explained to you what happened regarding my daughter.”“Yes,” said the head elder. “We’ve heard that you have found her and that she is unharmed. Blessings all around.”“Yes,” I agreed. “Though these bles
Alaric’s POVThere was a television hanging along one wall of the meeting. While it had been off while the elders met and while I spoke, we turned it on now. John found the correct channel and immediately, Melinda Bedford’s face filled the screen.She’d dyed her hair again, black now instead of red,
Cara’s POVThe day was filled with contests with very little time to break in between. As such, I wasn’t able to talk with Alaric, my brothers, or Noel. Instead, though, I filled in the Claw Sisters and Georgie on what occurred.“A secret stabbing is so cowardly,” Charlotte said. “If she had any hon
Cara’s POVAt once, I moved my arm up to shield myself, desperate to protect my vital organs.Yet, when the knife stabbed into me, I surprised to find that the blade pushed back, harmlessly, into the handle. I’d seen such a thing happen in the past, during stage shows. Her knife was nothing more tha
Alaric’s POVWith Colin watching the kids, Ryan, Aidan, and I went to spectate the cooking event. The event itself was being held in a large gymnasium, with special mats set up to protect the typical gym floor. Atop the mats, each contender was given their own section, with their own counters, appli
Cara’s POVThe next day I was somewhat exhausted from the event on the night before. The organizers of the event must have taken that into consideration because today was the last day of rest before the contests started the next day.The cooking showcase was my first event, and I was already nervous
Alaric’s POVI was ready to start throwing hands a minute ago, but now, seeing how quickly and resolutely the BloodyMoon pack came to Cara’s defense, I allowed myself to calm down, at least enough to sit back down and contain myself.My fury at those that had spoken against Cara remained, however, a
Cara’s POVAs we started to move about the stage, following the steps of our routine, I kept an eye on Lilia and her can of paint. I had my suspicions that it was intended for me. At a crucial moment, when we were at the front of the stage, the routine would bring us directly side by side.Perhaps t
Cara’s POVGeorgie asked me to return to my dressing room, where she arrived shortly after carrying the gown that she was supposed to be wearing that evening. On herself, she was wearing a robe.Looking at my own dress still filled me with a sense of mourning. It had been such a beautiful thing, des
None of them seemed even remotely guilty. They were all entirely confident, I could see it in their eyes.Only Lilia wore a different expression. When no one else could see her but me, she seemed smug, smirking. She pointed to a nearby camera.“I’ve been on camera this entire time, too, if you don’t
Cara’s POVIn my mind, there could only be one person responsible for this: Lilia.The beautiful embroidery, torn out. The rainbow-shimmering lace, in tatters.It had been such a gorgeous dress, a true work of art.To see it destroyed like this sent an icy chill down through my veins. This was worse