Freya ran with every ounce of strength she had, heart pounding, breath sharp in her throat. Behind her, Max and two others chased her through the forest, their footsteps crashing against the dried leaves and broken twigs on the ground. The cold wind stung her cheeks, but she didn’t slow down.She held the phone tightly in her hand, her lifeline and the only evidence that could finally bring Alpha Slade and High Priestess Hera to justice.She dared a quick glance over her shoulder. The men were getting closer.“Come on, come on,” she whispered to herself, pushing harder.Suddenly, her foot caught on a thick tree branch hidden beneath the leaves. She tumbled forward with a cry, crashing to the ground. The phone flew from her hand and landed a few feet away. Gritting her teeth, she tried to scramble to her feet and reach for it, but a rough hand yanked her back by the hair.“You sneaky little bitch,” Max snarled behind her, his fist twisted in her hair. Freya cried out, trying to free
CROSS“Who is my biological father?” I asked, a small growl vibrating through my chest. “And what did you do to him?”Slade didn’t answer right away. He just stood there, staring at me, his expression slowly morphing from stunned to stone-cold blank.Quietly, he turned fully and began walking toward me, slow steps that made the floor creak under his boots. He stopped just a foot away from me, close enough that I could see the tired lines around his eyes. I clenched my jaw, glaring up at him, my nostrils flaring.His eyes studied mine like he was reading a report. Calm. Calculating. My fists were tight at my sides, knuckles burning white.My anger surged. That was it? That was all he had to say?My lip curled and I scoffed, my voice cracking slightly.“That’s all you’re gonna ask? After lying to me my entire life, that’s all you care about?”He gave a low scoff of his own. My blood turned to fire.“What did you want me to say?” His emotionless, cold eyes met mine. “That I regret it? T
CROSSI couldn’t sleep a wink that night.Even with Nyx lying in my arms, completely bare under the sheets, her body warm and her breathing soft, I still felt a weight on my chest that refused to lift. Her presence usually brought me peace and comfort, but tonight, not even that could ease the storm inside me.The conversation I’d had with her mother at the restaurant kept playing in my head.“Alpha Slade isn’t your biological father either.”At first, I’d been furious. I’d thought she was just saying something cruel to get under my skin. But she had maintained her words without a flinch, and had even told me to go ask him myself if I didn’t believe her. Said she’d been his favorite whore once, and that she’d known more about him than even his Beta did. That was why, after she ran, he’d hunted her because she knew too much. He wanted his secrets buried with her.I couldn’t help but start to believe her. Somehow. As wild and unpredictable as she was, something told me she wasn’t lyin
KAIDENI rushed straight to the cell that evening, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. A guard had brought me a message, saying that Calantha wanted to see me. Urgently.I’d been in the middle of an important meeting with Bradley and some of my top soldiers. They were updating me on the progress of our latest investigations. But the moment I heard her name, I didn’t care what anyone was saying. I left everything and everyone behind and headed straight to her.When I arrived at the holding quarters, the guards slowly moved to open the cell door. Their sluggishness annoyed me. Had they been napping? How could they be sleeping when Calantha was inside? Anything could have happened to her!I wanted to call them out right then and there, but I held it in. Calantha came first. I’ll deal with them later.I stepped inside the cell, and the moment she saw me, Calantha stood up from her bed.“Hey…” she began softly, but I was already by her side, scanning her body with frantic eyes, my hands
NYXThat night, Cross helped me pack my things from Eloise’s place, and drove me back to his apartment.As we stepped inside, I had to cover my mouth with both hands to keep from crying all over again.If someone had told me just this morning that I’d be back here—in his apartment, as his girlfriend again—I would’ve laughed in their face. Or maybe cried. Because I was sure we were done. I was sure I’d lost him.But here we were. Back. Somehow.My eyes scanned the apartment as if I hadn’t seen it in years, even though I’d only left that morning. “You missed being here, didn’t you?” Cross’s voice came from behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist. I leaned into him, my head rested on his chest. I nodded.“Yes.” My voice cracked as I looked up at him. My lips trembled with a smile. “And I missed you too.”It amazed me, how how fast and deep I’d fallen for this male. But I didn’t regret it. “I missed you too, beautiful one.” His voice was tender and full of that same ache. He leaned
CROSSI had two choices: either go to Nyx and tell her the good news first, or go confront my father about what I’d just found out. That he wasn’t my real dad.I chose the first. The second option felt like stepping into a storm I wasn’t ready for. Especially if what Nyx’s mother had told me was actually true.So as I got back on the road, I dialed Eloise. She answered after a few rings.“Hey,” she said, her voice soft like she had been expecting me. And from her tone, I could already tell that my hunch had been right. Nyx had gone to her. That alone brought a wave of relief over me.“Hey, El,” I began. “Is Nyx with you? I really need to see her.”She didn’t reply right away. Then after a brief pause, she spoke gently.“Cross… she said she can’t see you right now. She’s hurting, Cross. And I think you are too. Maybe some space will help you both heal…”“We’re not half siblings,” I cut in, my eyes focused on the road, one hand gripping the wheel and the other tight around the phone. I