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?"
Lexie had kept her eyes on Alpha Karson these past few days. He left the Pack as soon as he was done with his duties-- sometimes he didn't even finish.He was rushing off like he had something more important to take care of, somewhere more urgent to be than running his own Pack.He was running off to
KARSON My daily visits to Irene's house were enough for me. I wasn't going to be greedy and ask for more even though I desperately wanted the kids to call me 'dad' someday and wanted Irene to admit the truth but, I'd settle with this for now.It was peaceful these days and I'd do anything to protect
IRENE Karson stopped by the next day and the day after that. It's been three days now and he's shown up every day to say hi to the kids and me. Unlike the first time, he stayed a little longer and even one time, he stayed over for lunch.His visits left me paranoid but also nervous... In a good way.I
KARSON I could barely sleep through the night as I tossed and turned at each side of the bed. The shocking discovery still left me in a daze.How did she cope all alone for five years but more importantly when did we have sex that she conceived a child?My head was spinning from over thinking things a







