Maya’s POV
The morning sun peeked weakly over the dark forest, washing everything in pale grey light. My eyes fluttered open as a soft whining reached my ears. My neck ached from sleeping awkwardly against the car window. For a moment, I forgot where I was.
Then I saw Jayden squirming in the backseat, his small legs tangled in his Spider-Man blanket, his sleepy eyes blinking rapidly.
“Mama…” he whimpered, holding his belly. “I need to pee.”
My heart clenched at the sight of him, so innocent and fragile. I rubbed my tired eyes, forcing myself to wake up. The forest road around us was silent except for distant chirps of morning birds. A chill swept through the car despite the sun.
“Okay, baby,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “Hold it for just a bit. I’ll find somewhere.”
I started searching ar
Maya’s POVCold.That was the first thing I felt as consciousness dragged me back from the suffocating darkness. Cold, biting into my skin like a thousand needles. My head pounded with a dull, throbbing ache. I tried to move, but pain shot through my shoulders, making me whimper softly.Wake up… wake up…My wolf’s voice was faint, like an echo far away, but it anchored me enough to force my heavy eyelids open. The world around me was blurred, smeared in grey and black shapes. I blinked rapidly, my lashes crusted with dried tears.Slowly, the shapes sharpened.I was in a small room with cracked cement walls. A dim fluorescent light flickered above, casting eerie shadows across the dirty floor. The smell of damp rot filled my nose, mixing with the metallic tang of my own fear. My arms were twisted painfully behind me, bound at the w
Maya’s POVThe morning sun peeked weakly over the dark forest, washing everything in pale grey light. My eyes fluttered open as a soft whining reached my ears. My neck ached from sleeping awkwardly against the car window. For a moment, I forgot where I was.Then I saw Jayden squirming in the backseat, his small legs tangled in his Spider-Man blanket, his sleepy eyes blinking rapidly.“Mama…” he whimpered, holding his belly. “I need to pee.”My heart clenched at the sight of him, so innocent and fragile. I rubbed my tired eyes, forcing myself to wake up. The forest road around us was silent except for distant chirps of morning birds. A chill swept through the car despite the sun.“Okay, baby,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “Hold it for just a bit. I’ll find somewhere.”I started searching ar
Alpha Conan’s POVThe evening sun dipped low behind the palace walls, casting everything in a burnt orange glow. I sat at my office desk, elbows resting on the polished wood, my fingers rubbing my temples. The papers before me blurred together in a meaningless mess of ink and signatures. I couldn’t focus on anything after this morning.Henry slept peacefully in his room now, curled under his wolf-print blanket, his small hands clutching his stuffed bear. The image of him up that tree haunted me all day, the way his little voice broke when he said he wanted to stay there forever.How could I have neglected my own son this much?My eyes drifted to my phone on the table. Maya’s name sat there, unanswered. I had called her before dawn, and she didn’t pick up. I called again after breakfast, and again after lunch. Each time, my chest tightened a little more.
Alpha Conan’s POVThe horses whinnied softly as we entered the palace stables. Warm air, thick with the scent of hay, leather, and animal musk, wrapped around us, chasing away the chill of dawn. The torches flickered along the wooden walls, casting gentle shadows over the horses in their stalls. Henry’s small hand tightened around mine, his excitement trembling through his little fingers.“Which one do you want to see first, buddy?” I asked, bending down to meet his sleepy eyes.He blinked up at me, his lashes heavy from waking up so early, but his brown eyes glowed with wonder. “Storm,” he whispered shyly.I chuckled softly, ruffling his dark hair that stuck up in uneven tufts. “Storm it is.”We walked down the narrow stable aisle, the old wood creaking under our boots. Horses poked their heads out of their stalls,
Alpha Conan’s POVI walked swiftly down the dim hallway, my boots thudding against the polished marble floor. My wolf paced anxiously inside me, his golden eyes scanning every shadow. The palace felt too silent, too empty without Henry’s laughter echoing through its walls.Find him, my wolf growled, his tail lashing with agitation. He is ours to protect.I pushed open Henry’s bedroom door. The scent of vanilla soap and fresh hay greeted me, the smell of his small body mixing with the stuffed animals he tucked against his pillow at night. The covers were thrown aside. His tiny shoes lay abandoned near the dresser.“Henry?” I called out softly, stepping into the room.Silence.My wolf sniffed the air, ears flicking forward. He’s not here, he murmured, disappointment curling his lip. But his scent is fresh. He
Alpha Conan’s POVThe halls of the palace felt colder than usual tonight. I walked slowly towards my chambers, my boots echoing off the polished stone floor. The meeting with Darius left a bitter taste in my mouth, like rotting leaves after rain. Someone was playing us, stirring war where there was none. My wolf paced with restless fury inside me, his claws clicking against the floor of my mind.We will find them, he growled, his golden eyes narrowed with rage. And when we do, their death will be slow.I didn’t reply. My mind was too heavy with thoughts of Maya’s last message. Her words replayed over and over, each repetition tightening a rope around my chest.She was leaving. Why would she just leave? And what the hell did she mean by I shouldn't contact her again?I clenched my fists, feeling my claws pierce my palms. I had sent her so many messages, but she didn't reply to one. All my calls to her kept going to voicemail.Blood dripped silently from my hands onto the marble floor a