LOGINThe morning light came in slow and pale, crawling through the thin curtains like a whisper. The little apartment was quiet, except for the faint sound of a kettle heating on the stove and the sleepy hum of Jonathan’s voice as he played on the floor with his toy cars.Liora stood by the sink, rinsing her cup, her hair tied up loosely. Her mind felt heavy even though the day had barely begun. Sleep had come and gone in bits, leaving her tired, restless. Her wolf had been uneasy all night, pacing beneath her skin as if something unseen waited just beyond the walls.She turned slightly when she heard small footsteps.The nameless girl appeared from the bedroom doorway, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was messy, her small frame wrapped in one of Liora’s shirts that almost swallowed her whole.“Morning,” Liora said softly.The girl nodded, her voice small. “Good morning.”Jonathan glanced up from his toys. “You woke up late,” he said, his tone halfway between teasing and serious.The girl blinke
The city was quieter than usual that night.Rain had started again, slow and steady, painting the streets with silver light. The sky looked heavy, as if it was carrying too many secrets.Liora stepped out of the building, her coat pulled tight around her. The wind brushed her hair across her face, cool and soft. She walked quickly down the sidewalk, her heels clicking against the wet pavement.She had stayed longer than she planned.Too long.Her thoughts were a mess. She kept seeing Jasper’s face — the calmness in his eyes, the warmth in his voice, the way he’d said her name as if it meant more than just an employee’s name. It unsettled her.Because deep down, she knew she was already fighting something she didn’t want to name.When she finally reached home, the lights inside were dim. Jonathan was asleep on the couch, one arm hanging off the side. Elara was curled up beside him, her little hand holding his shirt. The sight made Liora smile softly despite her exhaustion.She took off
Morning came too softly, as if the world itself didn’t want to disturb her.Liora woke to the faint hum of city noise outside her window. For a moment, she lay still, staring at the ceiling. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind—Jasper’s voice on the phone, quiet but steady, the way his words had lingered long after she hung up.He’d said her name like it meant something.And that was the problem.She sighed and sat up, running a hand through her hair. The apartment felt too small, too heavy with secrets. Jonathan was still asleep, curled up against his blanket. The girl—Elara, as she’d finally whispered her name—was awake, sitting by the window and watching the sun climb slowly between buildings.“You’re up early,” Liora said softly.Elara turned and smiled a little. “Couldn’t sleep.”Liora nodded, walking to the kitchen to make coffee. “Me neither.”The smell filled the air, warm and grounding, but her thoughts stayed tangled.She knew she had to go back—to the offic
The morning light crept softly through the curtains, warm but hesitant — like it, too, was afraid to touch the silence that filled the apartment. Liora sat on the edge of her bed, shoulders slightly hunched, her eyes fixed on the floor. Her coffee had gone cold in her hands. She hadn’t taken a sip.Last night had been long.Too long.Jonathan had finally fallen asleep close to dawn, curled beside her, one arm wrapped around his bear. The little girl was still asleep in the small room across the hall, her breathing steady and soft. Everything looked peaceful on the surface. But inside, Liora’s wolf was restless — pacing, growling low in her chest, sensing danger that wasn’t yet visible.She rubbed her temple, forcing herself to breathe evenly. She couldn’t afford to break down — not in front of her son, not with the stranger child still under her care. She had to be strong. She had to pretend that things were normal.Normal.She almost laughed.Nothing about her life was normal anymore
The office was quiet that night.Too quiet.The building usually buzzed with life—phones ringing, printers running, footsteps echoing along the marble floor. But now, only the hum of the air conditioner and the faint tapping of Liora’s keyboard filled the silence.Most of the staff had gone home hours ago. The city lights outside painted silver lines across the glass walls, stretching over her desk where piles of files still waited. It was almost midnight, but Liora couldn’t bring herself to leave. Her body was tired, but her mind wouldn’t rest.She had been typing for minutes without really seeing the words on her screen. Her thoughts kept drifting—to Jonathan, to the little girl, to Mami. And to the strange scent that had followed her again that morning. It had been faint, barely there, but enough to make her wolf stir uneasily under her skin.Something was moving again.Something she couldn’t see.She rubbed her neck and leaned back on her chair, staring at the empty hallway outside
Morning came slowly, stretching itself across the skyline of the city. The light filtered through the glass walls of the tall building, painting faint gold lines across Jasper’s office. The air smelled faintly of paper, ink, and coffee — everything he usually loved about a quiet start. But today, it all felt heavier.Jasper sat behind his desk, staring at his computer screen, though the words on it refused to form sentences. His eyes traced the same line three times before he sighed and leaned back in his chair. His tie was loosened, his sleeves rolled up, but even the comfort of that couldn’t ease the quiet storm brewing in his head.He hadn’t meant to call her.Not last night.Not after hours.But when he saw her name pop up on his task list earlier that evening, something in him reacted before logic did.Liora.Her name still lingered on his tongue like an unspoken thought.He rubbed his temple and tried to focus on the project reports stacked on his desk. Everything around him scr







