This was the fourth time I had become a prisoner again. At least one good thing about this situation was that I made a choice to be here. To think that Arthur would do this to me, after all the sweet words he told me. Men are freaking evil.We were bound in chains, alongside four of the people Thomas had busted from prison. To think that we were up to a hundred survivors when we first escaped from Dean's compound. Now we were down to this handful, sitting in Arthur's courtyard like criminals waiting for judgment.Thomas nudged my foot with his. "We are going to escape from here," he whispered, barely moving his lips.I knew he was trying to give me hope, but we were surrounded entirely by Arthur's guards. I could see no way we were going to escape from here. The castle walls rose around us like a stone cage, and armed men stood at every possible exit point."How?" I whispered back. "There are dozens of them and only six of us.""Trust me," Thomas said, his eyes scanning the guards' po
I couldn't believe this. The moment I needed the support of my elders most, they had decided to use this opportunity to betray me. The irony was almost laughable here I was, dealing with a crisis that threatened everything I'd built, and they wanted to play politics."My mother is in this castle," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "I do not have time for disputes."Elder Casimir crossed his arms, his weathered face set in stubborn lines. "Your personal concerns don't override pack business, Arthur.""Please, grant me a moment, and we will discuss this later."The elders gathered in a small circle, their voices low as they deliberated. I watched them whisper among themselves, feeling my patience stretch thin. Every second we wasted here was another second my family situation spiraled further out of control.Finally, Casimir turned back to me. "Okay, we will allow you this moment of respite. But understand, Arthur when this is over, we expect a full accounting of your actions.""Th
"Thomas is my mate," Aurora said.At first I was confused. "What?" I said, perhaps I had heard wrong."Yes, I am mate bonded to Thomas," she confirmed, taking his hand firmly in hers.I couldn't believe my ears. Mate bonded. Not just sleeping with him, not just some temporary arrangement. She had actually bonded herself to another man.The rage that filled me was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. My wolf clawed at the surface, demanding blood, demanding vengeance against the man who had stolen what was mine.I needed to act, to assert myself, to show Aurora exactly what her betrayal meant."Kill all of them!" I commanded my soldiers. "Leave only the girl alive!"That's when my phone buzzed. Fenris. We had exchanged numbers after our reunion, though I was beginning to regret that decision."Halt!" I shouted to my men as I answered the call. "We have more pressing concerns.""What's the issue?" I said into the phone."If you don't come home now, I'm going to kill Mother," Fenris sai
Part of me had held onto hope that Arthur was still alive, that he couldn't really be dead. But seeing him now, alive in the flesh, a small, shameful part of me wished he was dead. I pushed that thought away quickly, horrified at myself for even thinking it.It took me a moment to realize I was holding Thomas's hand. I disentangled my fingers from his, and I saw Arthur's eyes clench at the gesture, pain flashing across his features."I have been looking for you, Aurora," he said, dismounting from his horse. His voice carried across the clearing. "I thought you were dead. I mourned for you. I cried for you. But here I am, seeing you holding hands with another man.""I thought you were dead too," I said, putting my face down. I couldn't stand to look at him—the shame was too much to bear."And you never cared to find my corpse? Perhaps even attend my burial, to bid me farewell, before eloping with another man?""Hey, don't talk to her that way," Thomas stepped forward, his voice protect
I raised my sword, the blade catching the late afternoon light as I faced my brother across the small clearing. Fenris stood motionless, his hands visible but empty, yet I couldn't bring myself to lower my guard."Put the sword down, Arthur," Fenris said. "I don't want to fight you.""Wouldn't be the first time you stabbed me while I was unarmed," I replied, keeping the weapon trained on his chest.Fenris raised both hands higher, showing me his palms. No weapons, no hidden blades. Slowly, deliberately, he began walking toward me."Arthur," he said. "Brother." When he was close enough to reach out and touch the sword's point, he stopped. For a moment, we stared at each other across the years of separation, across all the violence and betrayal that had torn our family apart.Then Fenris stepped forward, pushing past my blade, and wrapped his arms around me."I have missed you so much, brother," he whispered against my shoulder.The sword fell from my fingers as I returned the embrace.
Daemon pushed through the crowd, his eyes moving from our father's corpse to his mate's naked body sprawled on the floor. "You were supposed to be dead," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Each word carried the weight of his fury. "But here you are, very much alive."His gaze shifted between the two bodies again, and I saw the moment understanding crashed over him."And now Father is dead," he continued, his voice gaining strength. "And my mate is dead too."The pack members behind him murmured among themselves, some backing away from the doorway as if the violence might be contagious. I stood there with the rifle in my hands, smoke still curling from the barrel, and tried to think of something to say. Some explanation that might make this look like anything other than what it was."What do you think your mate was doing with Father?" I asked instead.His face went white, then flushed red with humiliation and rage. For a moment, his carefully controlled facade cracked complet