LOGINKarson'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?"
IRENEBy the time I got home, I had no tears left to cry. My anger had dissipated and all that was left was a deep hole of nothingness and numbness in my heart.I recalled the situation back then and I slid to the floor against the door, threading my hands in my hair as I stared hard on the floor.Fuck
KARSON"Karson, what's wrong?" Irene continued to ask and I'd lost count of how many times now.I walked on, leading us back to the car and sending a mindlink to the guards to leave at once. I opened her door but she stood far away, watching me with confused eyes."Get in.""Why are you acting like this
IRENEFor the first few seconds, I froze until Iris sang in my head with a low voice, 'Busted.'I stepped away from Karson immediately like his closeness would burn my face and bring out the truth."What are you talking about? Don't be ridiculous!" I moved around quickly and got busy with my hands, "Wo
IRENEIt had been two days since Karson left and I couldn't stop feeling guilty over the way I had reacted. It was silly of me, but what could I do? I panicked when I woke up to an empty house; my kids and their baby daddy, gone.My first thought was that he only got close to me so he could snatch the







