تسجيل الدخولKarson'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?"
IRENEI could barely keep still on the way home. My legs shook and bounced off the car floor as different bad thoughts crossed my mind.I could picture their crying faces and imagine them looking for their mummy. I hoped Karin wasn't talking back and Carl wasn't crying his eyes out.Like every other n
KARSONIrene was crying again, her shoulders trembling greatly and the sight broke my heart. She was a strong woman and seeing her crumble like this had my feet moving and my arms spreading to embrace her.It warmed my heart that she even let me and she hugged me back-- so tight. I patted her hair as
IRENEMy thoughts went dead and my heart stopped at the news. I tried to make sense of what I was hearing. Did I mishear?"What did you say?" I turned my gaze to Karson who looked very uncomfortable, biting his mouth and gripping the wheels."I said the kids are at… Lexie's."I looked out the window, wa
KARSONI watched Irene storm out of the house without another word. Alpha Lucas tagged along with the kids clinging to his body like they couldn't get enough of him. The little ones seemed to share an attachment to him.I didn't want her to leave just yet, but after that scary speech to Lexi who hadn'







