LOGINMy father reels backward, blood streaming from his broken nose after Damon’s fist connects with brutal force. Damon does not stop; his next strike crashes into him, sending my father sprawling onto the ground. Without hesitation, Damon lunges forward, hammering blow after blow into him. My father curls into himself, his arms raised defensively, but the punches keep landing. The warriors who had chased me here rush forward, desperate to pull Damon off their Alpha.Snarling, my father manages to block one strike, then slams his fist into Damon’s ribs. Another punch splits open Damon’s brow, crimson running down his temple. My heart pounds wildly as my father’s wolves close in, circling like predators waiting for the moment to leap. They hesitate, torn between protecting him and attacking Damon.Damon retaliates with another crushing hit, but my father drives his boot into Damon’s chest, forcing him back. My mother’s horrified scream cuts through the chaos as the fight rages on, both men
Damon’s POVTrapped in gridlocked traffic on my way to the council chambers, I kept hitting redial on Everly’s number. Every time the line went unanswered, her fury slammed into me through the bond. It pressed hard against my chest, suffocating and raw. I knew her temper well, but this was not the usual fire. This felt destructive, uncontrolled, and it was pulling me apart inside.The car horns blared all around me, and I leaned on mine in frustration, craning my neck to see what was causing the jam. Blue and red lights flashed ahead, dancing off windshields, and then I saw the wreck.A single stretch of straight road, and somehow someone had managed to crash directly into the one traffic light pole planted in the median. Typical. My fingers drummed restlessly against the steering wheel as I tried her number again. Silence. Only the sharp pulse of her emotions clawed at me. Then suddenly, her rage dulled, only to be replaced by a storm of feelings so chaotic they drowned me. That was
VELARA'S POVI bite into my muffin as my eyes drift toward Elysia, who looks like she has been dragged through hell. A laugh escapes me as I take in her slouched figure sprawled dramatically across the table. She looks so pitiful that it is almost comical. I had only come here to check on her and bring her some breakfast. Dante went to fetch Selene so Kylie could cover Elysia’s shift today, and now, after seeing her condition, I fully understand why she cannot manage to work.“Quit laughing at me,” she groans, slowly peeling herself off the table before trudging to the fridge with her pitifully sagging bag of melted frozen peas.“Disgusting. Toss those out already,” I remark, taking another bite of my muffin. She ignores me, grabs another bag of frozen vegetables, and with a dramatic sigh, shoves it down the front of her pajama shorts. I cannot hold back a snort as she waddles awkwardly back to her chair and sinks onto it.“My entire body feels raw. Can that even happen?” Elysia mutte
DAMON'S POVAll through the night, I sensed something was weighing heavily on Velara. The bond between us made her unease clear, even though she tried to mask it. I could feel the tension radiating from her, yet she worked so hard not to let it spill over onto me. She had grown so accustomed to carrying her burdens alone that she sometimes forgot she could lean on me. She seemed to forget that she was never a burden, not to me.“Are you stopping by the shelter today?” I asked as she picked up her handbag and keys.“Yes. After I visit Hazel, I’ll head there. Did the patrols report anything new? Any more sightings of the forsaken or a lead about her son?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.I hated that I had nothing to give her. No new information, no trails, no hope. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air.“Nothing yet. But the moment I hear anything, I’ll let you know first. There’s been talk of arranging a city meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the forsaken sighting
VELARA'S POVHours drag by as the dinner I prepared cools untouched on the table. I hadn’t made anything elaborate—just a simple pot of spaghetti with meat sauce since exhaustion had weighed me down and all I wanted was rest. Damon promised he would be home before dinner, yet two hours have passed since the food was ready. The clock now reads 7:30 p.m., and outside the storm has only grown more violent. Thunder cracks through the sky, lightning tearing it open in jagged streaks. No stars can be seen, not even the moon, swallowed whole by thick clouds.I wander back into the living room, snatch my phone from the coffee table, and redial Damon’s number. My heart dips when the call goes straight to voicemail without even a ring. Anxiety begins creeping in.Ten minutes later, just as I reach for the phone again, it vibrates in my hand. Relief washes over me—finally, he’s calling back. But instead of Damon’s name, an unknown private number flashes across the screen. I answer quickly, only
DAMON'S POVThe rain is relentless as Dante pulls up in front of the school so I can collect Kael. The moment I step out, my foot plunges into a puddle, soaking my shoe. The drains are clogged, causing the gutters to overflow, sending water rushing down the sidewalk like a stream. I hiss in frustration, shaking my foot to fling out the water before sprinting toward the school entrance. Dante stays in the car, still engaged in a call with the scouts through the Bluetooth, asking about Hazel’s missing son.My soaked shoes squish with every step as I make my way across the slippery hall toward the grade school office. I had phoned ahead, so when the secretary sees me enter the small space, she quickly calls Kael’s classroom to inform his teacher that someone has arrived for him.“He’ll be down in just a minute, Alpha,” she assures me. I nod politely before pacing slowly around the room, glancing at the framed certificates and awards hung against the brown brick walls. My coat is heavy wi
VELARA'S POVAt last, things are back in order, and I realize I cannot postpone this any longer. With Kael still occupied with his father for a few more hours, I decide to head out to the reserve and finally allow myself to shift. I had delayed it after the chaos with the forsaken and the missing r
VELARA'S POVWhen I return to the room, I see Kael curled up against his mother, the blanket pulled snugly up under his chin. My father remains in the chair by the bed, his expression serious as he lifts a finger to his lips and gestures toward the sleeping pair.“What was that all about?” he asks
DAMON'S POV“Vel!” I shouted as I climbed the steps to her apartment, pushing the door open without hesitation. Silence greeted me. Kael slipped off to his room while I heard Elysia’s footsteps approaching from behind. Moving further inside, I checked her room and found her uniform lying untouched
DAMON'S POVI pressed my lips into a tight line as I marched toward them, finding them cornering the receptionist with their presence. My voice cut sharply through the air. “Why are you trespassing on my territory?” I demanded, directing my glare at Viktor. At once, he turned his attention from the







