로그인Karson'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?"
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
KARSON"A-Are you sure this is a good idea?" Irene fidgeted beside me. "I mean anyone can tell I smell of you.""Really? Let me check," I leaned into her blushing face and inhaled, releasing more of my pheromones to cover her in it. "I can't tell.""Karson!" She blushed deeper when she realised it and
KARSONI still couldn't fathom his audacity to threaten me with my kids."See yourself out," I grunted with warning. I was barely holding back from losing my shit and seeing his face wasn't helping.The rage boiling inside of me was almost consuming as I looked him dead in the eye but instead of withdr







