LOGINXaden's POVMy head was pounding.I opened my eyes slowly and stared at the ceiling, and for a few seconds I couldn't even remember where I was. Then it all came back. Louiza, the search, Elena, the tea. I sat up fast.Teiran was already awake, sitting on the edge of the couch with one hand pressed against his forehead."What happened?" he asked.I looked around the room. Elena was gone. My jaw tightened."The tea."Teiran looked at me. "What about it?""She drugged us."His expression changed instantly. I remembered the strange, heavy feeling from earlier, my thoughts going slower and slower, and then Elena's hand on my shoulder. My hands curled into fists."She did this on purpose."Teiran stood up. "I knew something was wrong."We both looked toward the table where the cups still sat, and Teiran walked over and picked one up."Don't."He stopped. I got up and walked closer. "We need to find out what she used."He nodded, then his eyes moved toward the hallway. "And we need to find
Chapter 58: I'm done The hospital room had finally gone quiet.Clara had stepped out to grab more water and talk to a nurse about discharge papers. The afternoon light coming through the window felt too bright against the white walls. I sat propped up against the pillows with my phone resting loosely in my hand, still trying to process everything we'd talked about, the baby, Elena's threat, the twins from the club. For the first time in days, I actually felt a little calm.Then the phone buzzed.I glanced down expecting Noah again, or maybe Clara texting from the hallway. Instead, Elena's name lit up the screen. My stomach dropped. For a second I actually considered ignoring it, deleting it without even opening it, pretending she didn't still have the power to reach into my life and mess with it.But curiosity won out over the dread.I unlocked the phone.The message was short.Thought you should see what they're doing while you're gone.There was a photo attached. My thumb hovered o
Elena's POV I watched them from the doorway of the study for a long moment before I stepped inside.Xaden stood near the desk with his arms crossed, speaking in a low voice to Teiran. The search for Louiza had been going on for hours, and the frustration on both of their faces was obvious. And it was just the perfect timing, because frustration made people careless. Frustration made them less likely to question a cup of tea from someone they already wanted out of their sight.I adjusted my expression into something softer and walked in carrying the tray of tea I had drugged.“I thought you might need this,” I said. “You’ve been at it all day.”Teiran glanced at me, suspicion already in his eyes. Xaden’s gaze was colder.“We’re busy, Elena.”“I know.” I set the tray down on the low table anyway. “You still need to drink something. I’m not here to fight. I’m trying to be useful.”Xaden didn’t move. Teiran rubbed a hand across his jaw, clearly torn between telling me to leave and acce
The phone kept ringing.My heart was still racing from Clara’s question when I reached for it. For a second I expected to see Xaden’s name, or Teiran’s, or an unknown number that meant the pack had found me. Instead, the screen showed Noah.I answered before the call could go to voicemail.“Hey, Noah.”“There she is,” his familiar voice came through, warm and easy. “I was starting to think you’d fallen off the face of the earth. You good?”I glanced at Clara. She was still watching me, curiosity clear on her face.“I’m okay,” I said, shifting against the hospital pillows. “Just… dealing with some stuff. How are you?”“Same old. Work’s been messy, my landlord’s being a pain again, and I almost bought a plant I would definitely kill within a week. You know, the usual.” He paused, then added more softly, “For real though, you’ve been quiet. I just wanted to check in.”The simple kindness in his voice made my throat tighten. Noah had always been like this, easy and steady. But I hadn't
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re pregnant?”Clara’s voice wasn’t loud, but it still hit me like a punch to the guts.My throat tightened until it hurt to swallow. For a second I couldn’t look at her. I stared at the edge of the blanket instead, my fingers curling into the thin fabric.“I was scared,” I said finally. My voice came out small and rough. “I didn’t know how to say it. I didn’t know what you would think.”Clara leaned forward in the plastic chair, her elbows on her knees, and her eyes fixed on my face. “Zia. You’re my best friend. You show up at my door looking like you walked through hell, you faint on my couch, and then I happened to find out from a doctor that you’re pregnant. How long have you known?”I forced myself to meet her eyes, even though my hands trembled when I met her gaze.“It has not been that long,” I admitted.Clara exhaled slowly and dragged a hand through her hair. “Okay. Okay. Just… start from the beginning. What happened? And don’t give me the short ve
Louiza’s eyes rolled back before I could finish saying her name.I lunged forward and caught her before she slid fully off the couch.Her head lolled against my shoulder. “Zia— Louiza!” I tapped her cheek softly, then harder, but there was no response.Her breathing was shallow but present.I lowered her carefully onto the couch, yanked my phone out of my back pocket, and dialed emergency services with trembling fingers. The operator’s calm voice on the other end, and I quickly gave him my address and told them my best friend had collapsed without warning.They told me to stay on the line. I put the phone on speaker and stayed on my knees beside the couch, holding Louiza’s hand and watching her chest rise and fall like it was the only thing that mattered in the world.The wait for the ambulance felt longer than it probably was. I kept saying her name in case she could hear me. When the paramedics finally came through the door, I moved out of their way and answered their questions a
It took five hours before we crossed the borders. The drive was so quiet and boring and I fell asleep at intervals. The pack was more modernized than my pack before I moved to the city. It was just like the city but there were forest for running.We stopped at a place I assumed to be the packhouse
The morning light shined through the half-closed blinds, slicing right into my skull. I groaned, rolling over on what felt like the world's most expensive sheets. It was soft, cool, and definitely not mine. My mouth tasted like I'd licked an ashtray, and every heartbeat sent fresh waves of nausea r
As he scooped me up like I weighed nothing, my pulse hammered in my ears, drowning out the club's relentless beat until it was just a faint echo. His body, from those piercing eyes to the cocky tilt of his grin, was captured in my mind, his fingers grazing my thigh possessively as we move through t
“You’re not going to force me into a marriage because of the debt you owe.” I spat, my cheeks tear-stained, and my fist tightened at my sides."I have your mother's last remaining item, so you will agree." He said, a smirk playing on his lips. Why is he so mean? I'm sure my mom left it with him so







