LOGINKieran's POVSusan's restlessness dragged me toward consciousness, despite my attempt to sink back into sleep. Awareness crept in during the dead hour before sunrise. I rubbed my face and reached for her automatically without opening my eyes. The clock glowed 4:07.“You know I can tell when you're restless,” I murmured.She sat near the edge of the bed with her back facing me. The blue robe swallowed half her frame. She looked exhausted. I moved closer and rested my hand against the back of her neck before kissing her shoulder.“You kept turning all night.”She sighed quietly and pulled the robe tighter around herself.“I can't stop thinking about my child.”I sat beside her. The exhaustion on Susan’s face reminded me too much of the months before Vanessa’s betrayal surfaced. She had constantly looked exhausted and afraid for me until I realized the woman I trusted had been living another reality beside me the entire time.Except this time, it was different. Susan was innocent, and so
LisaI stared at the caller ID, wondering whether Cameron was really calling me.I hesitated before answering, stunned by the emotional whiplash of missing him and dreading whatever this conversation could become. I didn’t know whether to answer, so the phone rang until it stopped. Then, almost immediately, it rang again.Part of me wanted to answer. Another part wanted to ignore the call entirely, or at least figure out whether somebody was monitoring him.When the third call came in, I answered before I could change my mind.Neither of us spoke.The silence stretched long enough for me to grow uncomfortable, because for all I knew, somebody else could have been listening beside him.“Lisa,” he said finally.His voice sounded rough and exhausted.“Hey,” I said quietly.Another silence followed.“You left.”I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the abstract painting across the room.What exactly was I supposed to say to that?“You left without telling me yourself,” he continued.“W
Cameron POVI was heading toward the west wing when I noticed the room Lisa had stayed in while she was in the alpha house was slightly open.My feet stopped before I consciously decided to stop walking. Ever since she left, the room had remained untouched. I pushed the door open and walked inside.I walked farther into the room. The bed was made. None of her personal belongings remained there. Still, traces of her lingered everywhere.I opened one of the drawers near the vanity absentmindedly and found a lotion bottle pushed toward the back corner. My fingers closed around it before I even thought about what I was doing.The scent hit. Lisa.My chest tightened so suddenly that I lowered the bottle back into the drawer. I sat on the edge of the bed afterward and stared toward the bathroom door.Too many things had happened in this room.Too many nights.Too many memories and mistakes.The council had advised me to create public distance between myself and Lisa. They framed it as reput
Nadia POVThe television downstairs kept talking about my family like we were characters created for public entertainment. By morning, clips from the broadcasts had spread everywhere, and my phone stayed flooded with messages I refused to answer.Some came from women I barely tolerated before the scandal. Some came from distant relatives suddenly pretending to be concerned. Others arrived from people who only remembered I existed whenever drama became useful gossip.One of my father’s sisters sent:You need to carry yourself carefully now. Women are judged differently.I deleted it.Matthias’ wife sent three paragraphs about “protecting feminine dignity during public trials.”Deleted.Another woman from one of the charity circles asked if Franklin was “supporting me emotionally at night.”Deleted.The rumors about Franklin and me did not even surprise me anymore. Guards saw his car outside my duplex almost every night. Staff noticed us working until sunrise. Sometimes he fell asleep o
Lisa POVJames’s phone started ringing across the coffee table. He picked it up, frowned, then looked toward me.“It’s Dad.”I managed a shrug as he picked it up and handed me the phone quietly. My father sounded very pissed off on the phone.“Lisa. What the hell is happening over there?”I looked toward the others before standing and walking toward the hallway for privacy.“That depends,” I replied. “Which version did you hear?”“Luna Catherine contacted me.”“What did she want?”“She said the situation has become unstable publicly. She believes returning you to Wildfang would provide continuity of medical supervision and contractual protection during the pregnancy.”The wording sounded polished and reasonable, and that would have worked for someone who didn't know what Luna Catherine was capable of doing.“She also said your relocation created complications involving prenatal care obligations.”I laughed bitterly.“She’s trying to make it sound civilized. They want to hurt me.”“I t
Lisa POVFranklin arrived before dinner with Alpha Kieran. My heart lurched as I realized that somewhere in my subconscious, I had missed seeing his face. He looked exhausted but managed to give me a side hug and hand me a bag of cupcakes glazed with my favorite icing.“Is it me, or are you glowing even more in Alpha Kieran's pack?” he said, making me roll my eyes.“Good evening to you too,” I said, grabbing his arm and wanting us to sit down and talk, but he excused himself to Alpha Kieran's study while I assisted my mom and Katherine in preparing boiled dinner, a dish comprised of boiled potatoes, cabbage, turnips, carrots, onions, and often ham.He returned to the dining room and reached straight for the glass pitcher near the center of the table, pouring himself water. I watched him eat fast, like someone who hadn't eaten anything all day.Mom dished out some more for him.“I had coffee all day,” he said, gobbling with his mouth full.James snorted quietly. The two had also grown
Franklin POVThe ceiling fan in the doctor’s office hummed at a frequency that vibrated inside my skull. Dr. Aris rubbed the bridge of his nose, his skin sallow under the harsh light. He slid Lisa's results toward me. The paper felt heavy, the ink crisp and undeniable.“Will this affect the baby?” I
Evangeline POVCameron slept in the chair beside my bed. His head rested against the high back with his neck bent at an angle that would ache later. One arm hung over the side and his fingers brushed the floor. I watched him with a smile. My lips curved up on their own while I studied the slow rise
LisaThe suitcase snapped shut. The latch caught with a click that echoed through the bedroom. My mom stared at the luggage. She looked ready to unpack it as she turned her head and looked at me with uncertainty.“Do I look like I’m trying too hard?”She had chosen a dress that fit her shape. Her ha
Lisa POVI was trying to zip up a dress that had fit two weeks ago. It stopped halfway. That couldn’t be possible. There was no way I had gained weight. My stomach was still flat, just a small pouch showing. I wanted to wear that dress because it was light. I yanked the zipper, annoyed with my chan







