LOGIN**Stella's POV**The accusation hangs in the air like poison gas, choking me.My face burns from the awful, crushing weight of partial truth in Cole's words.Because he's right.I did sleep with Shawn.The memory flashes unbidden—Shawn's hands on my body, his mouth hot against my neck, the way he made me feel things I never thought possible. The way I surrendered completely, gave myself to him in ways I never could with Cole.Guilt twists like a knife in my gut.What kind of mother am I?I left my pups, and within days I'm in another man's bed. What does that make me? What would the Council think if they knew? What would my babies think when they're old enough to understand?"I—" My voice comes out strangled. "That's not—""Oh, don't even try to deny it." Cole's smile widens, vicious and triumphant. "I can smell him all over you. His scent is practically embedded in your skin." He looks at Shawn with pure contempt. "So that's how you afforded the fancy lawyers, huh? Spreading your leg
**Shawn's POV** The moment I round the corner and see Cole's hand wrapped around Stella's arm, pure undiluted rage explodes in my chest. "Remove your hands from her. Now." My voice cuts through the marble hallway like a blade. Cole's head snaps toward me. Recognition flashes in his eyes, then arrogance replaces it. But he doesn't let go. His fingers dig deeper into Stella's arm. She winces. That fucking does it. I close the distance between us with measured steps. Each one deliberate and controlled. The lawyers trail behind me but I don't care about them. All I see is Stella—her pale face, her red cheek, her wide eyes filled with fear. And his goddamn hand bruising her skin. "This is a private conversation, Black," Cole says, puffing up like he actually has authority here. "Walk away." "There's nothing private about putting your hands on someone in a public hallway." I stop three feet away. Close enough to strike if I need to. "Remove them. I won't ask again." H
**Stella's POV** I I whip my head around—and there she is.Sabrina steps out of a toilet stall like she owns the damn place, dressed in a blood-red gown that clings to every curve. Her hair is swept up in effortless elegance, diamonds glittering coldly at her throat. Perfect. Polished. Untouchable.Disgust churns in my stomach.So Cole had the nerve to bring his mistress to the custody hearing.Her smile widens when she catches the shock on my face. “Surprise.”I scoff but don’t dignify her with a response. I didn’t come here to trade words with her. I came to win my pup’s custody.I turn on my heel to walk away but she continues to talk, I hesitate. "Cat got your tongue?" She tilts her head, studying me like I'm something unpleasant she found on the bottom of her shoe. "Or are you just shocked that Cole actually brought me? His fiancée?" The word hits me like a slap. "Fiancée?" I manage to get out. "Oh, you didn't know?" Her laugh is crystalline and cruel. She holds up he
**Shawn's POV**She calls it heat.Like that makes something we can file away under "temporary inconvenience" and never speak of again.Fine.I keep my expression neutral as we enter Victor's office, but I can already sense the shift in the air that precedes bad news.The lawyers have arrived ahead of us. Diane is standing by the window, silhouetted against the morning light, arms crossed like she's bracing for impact. Lauren and Patricia are stationed at Victor's desk, their tablets glowing, shoulders tight with barely contained stress.Victor himself is on a phone call, his voice sharp enough to cut glass."What happened?" I don't bother with pleasantries.Diane turns, and I catch the flicker of concern, maybe anger—before her professional mask slides back into place. "Alpha Cole filed an emergency motion at midnight. He's requested expedited proceedings, and the Council granted it. Your hearing is today. Two o'clock."Stella goes rigid beside me, her breath catching audibly. "Today
**Shawn's POV**Half an hour later, I step into the kitchen and the tension hits me before I even see them. Nancy stands at the stove, her movements sharp and aggressive as she flips pancakes with more force than necessary. Her jaw is set, her shoulders rigid, and she doesn't look up when I enter. Stella sits at the dining table, her back straight, her hands folded in her lap like she's attending a board meeting instead of eating breakfast... The silence is suffocating. "Good morning, Nancy. Is breakfast ready?" I ask, moving to pour myself coffee. "Morning," Nancy slams a plate onto the counter. "Yes it is." Her tone is clipped, and professional, but there's an edge to it that makes it clear she's pissed. I don't acknowledge the obvious anger radiating off her. Nancy's feelings aren't my responsibility, and I'm not about to have a conversation about what she walked in on last night. I take my coffee and sit across from Stella at the table. She glances up at me briefly, her c
**Stella's POV**"I—I'm so sorry—I heard noises and thought someone broke in—" Nancy's voice cracks. "I should go—"She turns and runs, her footsteps pounding up the stairs.Mortification floods through me so intensely I can barely breathe. I scramble off Shawn's lap, my hands shaking as I search frantically for my clothes.I've never been caught having sex. Not even when I was married because sex with my ex was always scheduled, predictable, and behind locked doors.Being caught naked on Shawn's lap is mortifying, I want the floor to swallow me whole."Stella, wait—" Shawn starts, but I can't look at him.I grab my sleep shorts and his t-shirt, clutching them to my chest as I bolt for the stairs. My legs shake with every step, my thighs still trembling from his touch, whether from lingering pleasure or embarrassment, I don't know.I burst into his bedroom and slam the door behind me, leaning against it as my heart hammers against my ribs.What did I just do?My mind immediately reels







