Se connecterKarson's POVThe scratches on her arm weren't deep.But they were there. Red lines carved into her skin. Evidence of a fight that could have gone differently. Evidence of my failure.I watched her apply the ointment. Her movements efficient. Practiced. She didn't wince at the sting. Didn't hesitate or fumble.
Irene's POVThe battlefield was still settling when Karson appeared at my side.He moved fast despite his injured leg. Limping across the blood-soaked ground like the wound didn't exist. Like nothing mattered except reaching me."Irene." His voice was rough. Breathless. "Are you hurt? Did they—"
Irene's POVLexie was broken beneath me.Bleeding. Whimpering. Defeated.I shifted back to human form. Stood over her crumpled body. Ready to end this once and for all."It's over, Lexie." My voice came out cold. Flat. "You've lost."
Irene's POVMidnight came slowly.I waited in the shadows near the depot. My body tense. My senses stretched to their limits. Every rustle of leaves. Every whisper of wind. Every distant owl call amplified in the darkness.The children were hidden safely behind the main building. Far from the trap zone. Close enough to alert us if their sharp noses detected anything unusual.
Irene's POVThe trap needed bait.Good bait. The kind that would make Lexie abandon caution entirely. The kind that would draw her in like a moth to flame.I knew exactly what that bait needed to be.Me.
Irene's POVThe news reached me before dawn.Ken slipped into my tent while the camp still slept. His face grim. His eyes sharp with urgency."Princess. We have a problem."I sat up immediately. Sleep forgotten. "What is it?"
IRENE"Mummy! Uwaaaah!"My thoughts scattered, panic and confusion setting in. Where was Mirabel? What happened to them? Did I trust the wrong person?"Let me see you," I cupped their faces, scanning them from head to toe with my heart beating twice as fast. "You're okay, you're okay. What's wrong?
IRENEAunt didn't let me leave until I agreed to keep a promise I didn't even know about. We waited until the kids could shift again and once they did, they burst into tears, sorry for what they did.They hugged my legs tight, throwing their heads back dramatically as they cried with their butt out
IRENE"Here it is," Anna opened the door to my office and I walked in. In such a short time they had managed to create a space for me. It wasn't like my old one, but with how fast they cleaned up, it was like I never left.It was just a desk, vase, couch at one corner, TV on the wall and some files
KARSON"I still can't believe Irene is back here and she has pups," Ralph said by my side as we walked into the Arena where my warriors were hanging out, shirtless and flexing their muscles in competition."You think she can handle it? I mean it's a lot to take in, the pack too. They won't go easy







