VELARA'S POVThe evening meal carried the strange comfort of breakfast served at night, warm plates of food shared beneath the low golden glow of the lights. Alaric lingered long after the dishes were nearly empty, clearly reluctant to part from the laughter that filled the room. He had been entirely at ease with the children, playing with them as though he were part of the household itself, his deep laughter blending with their lighter tones. Yet as the hour grew later, the children’s yawns betrayed them, and the inevitable bedtime routine loomed. With affectionate goodbyes and one last lingering smile, Alaric finally excused himself, promising to see us again at the upcoming Alpha meeting.“Kael, it’s time for a shower, buddy, then straight to bed,” Damon instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.Kael slid off the lounge with a stretch, his small feet padding softly across the floor. Selene was quick to follow, her wide eyes flicking curiously from her brother to the hallwa
VELARA'S POV“I’ll be back shortly,” I assured, the words leaving my mouth without the slightest pause.On the other end, Kylie’s voice came fast, layered with urgency. “No, you don’t have to. I already found someone to take your shift. I thought you might still be resting after the concussion. But Elysia isn’t answering her phone, and I’m scheduled to work tonight. Mom’s hurt her knee again, so she can’t watch both girls. Can you and Damon please, seriously, please come get Selene for the night?”My brow furrowed. “What do you mean she’s not answering? Did you try knocking?”There was a faint, pointed clearing of her throat before she lowered her tone, as if afraid someone else might overhear. “I did knock,” she admitted, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But I doubt she could hear me… with all the shower noises coming from inside,” she added, drawing out the last part with heavy implication.A short, incredulous laugh slipped from me before I could help it. Of course.
VELARA'S POV“She really was. An extraordinary woman,” Kylie murmured, her voice soft yet filled with the kind of reverence that comes only from deep admiration. Her lips curved into a bittersweet smile, the kind that carried both fondness and grief in its gentle pull. I returned the gesture with a small, understanding nod before offering my farewell.“Love you, Selene!” Kylie’s voice rang out, warm and full of affection.Selene, ever animated, lifted her hand in a playful little wave. “Love you too!” she called back, her tone bright and unreserved, before puckering her lips and sending a flamboyant, exaggerated kiss sailing through the air.Damon guided the car smoothly back onto the highway, the hum of the engine blending with the faint rush of wind against the windows. From the backseat, Selene leaned forward, her eyes alight with bubbling excitement, unable to hold her news in any longer.“Guess what, Uncle Damon? I brought ‘Trolls’! Auntie Kylie said I could because it’s your fav
VELARA'S POVDamon’s voice sliced through the tense air, his tone sharp enough to still every breath in the room. “Confiscate their phones and prepare the custody paperwork.”The sudden order made Clarisse jolt upright, the legs of her chair scraping against the floor in a harsh protest. Her eyes narrowed, a mix of disbelief and indignation sparking in their depths. “Custody paperwork? What for?” she demanded, her voice carrying both challenge and unease.Beside her, Noah’s low, guttural growl rolled through the space like distant thunder, the kind that warns of an approaching storm. The sound was thick with hostility, but Damon didn’t so much as blink. His gaze remained unyielding, his words cold and precise. “Yes. Noah will officially relinquish every parental right over Selene to Elysia and will withdraw from the custody battle entirely. I expect every single document to be drawn up, signed, and filed before I return from the Alpha meeting.”Clarisse’s lips pressed into a hard line
VELARA'S POVThe city pulsed around us, a blur of neon signs and flickering traffic lights streaking across the glass as we moved through the crowded streets. The hum of engines, the distant blare of horns, and the faint rhythm of music from passing cars mixed into the night air. I watched the familiar turn to Damon’s territory pass by in a flash, confusion stirring in my chest.Before I could speak, he slowed the vehicle, the tires crunching lightly against the curb in front of the police station that loomed along the city’s main road. Its façade was lit by harsh white lights, casting long shadows across the steps.“You are going to deal with this right now?” I asked, my voice carrying the edge of surprise as he reached for his seatbelt and unfastened it with a deliberate click.“Yes,” he said, his tone leaving no room for debate. “Officer Elijahs sent a mind-link. His son and Clarisse are still here. I told him to keep them in custody until I got here.” Without hesitation, he steppe
VELARA'S POV"Are you seriously trying to outrank me right now?" Damon scoffed, disbelief thick in his voice."I'm not just trying," I answered firmly. "I am. If you go after him, Damon, it's only going to create more trouble. I don't want your pack turning against me before I've even officially become a part of it. Noah and his father are respected—both in your pack and across this entire city. The last thing I want is to enter this place by stirring chaos, especially not because he lashed out at me before realizing who I was."My words seemed to cut through his anger. Damon quieted, his shoulders easing as he crossed his arms over his chest. He shifted slightly and looked at me, considering what I'd said."So, you’re really my Luna?" he asked, his tone softer now, almost as if he was still trying to process everything."Just shut up and take me to my son," I replied, the urgency in my voice unshaken.He didn’t start the engine right away. Instead, Damon just kept staring at me, eyes