LOGINIrene's POV
The days blurred together in the cave.
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Irene's POVThe Pack grounds came into view just as the sun began to set.I stopped at the tree line. Hidden in shadow. The concealment cloak wrapped tight around me.Everything looked different.Guard towers that hadn't existed befo
Irene's POVI woke to find the old woman packing supplies into a worn leather bag.My heart jumped. "What are you doing?""Preparing for your departure." She didn't look up from her work. "Your ribs have healed. The burns are closed. Your strength has returned. There's no reason to keep you here any longer."
Irene's POVThe old woman moved like water.Fluid. Effortless. Despite her age and weathered appearance, she demonstrated the combat technique with a grace that took my breath away."You're telegraphing your strikes," she said, circling me in the small clearing outside the cave. "Your shoulders tense before you move. Any experienced fighter will see it coming."
Irene's POVThe days blurred together in the cave.Wake. Eat the bland porridge the old woman made. Drink bitter herbal tea. Sleep. Repeat.Slowly, painfully, my body knitted itself back together.The burns on my back stopped weeping
Irene's POVPain woke me.Sharp and insistent, radiating from my ribs with every shallow breath. My head throbbed. My limbs felt like lead.I tried to open my eyes. The light hurt. Everything hurt.Where was I?
Karson's POVThe war room smelled like blood and smoke.Maps covered every surface. Battle reports stacked in messy piles. Half-empty coffee cups scattered across tables. Nobody had slept properly in days."They're regrouping near the eastern ridge," Ken reported, pointing at the map. "Approximately sixty wolves. Mixed forces from Shadow Pack and Iron Claw."
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
KARSON I wouldn't say I didn't see the question coming but it was still a surprise. It only confirmed what my mother had said as well as all the others around me.Me and Lexie? Really?I wouldn't do her even if my life was on the line.I admit I may have at some point looked in her direction but there
IRENE "Shit!" I pushed Karson away and jumped down to my feet, spinning around, I held Carl's suspicious gaze. My little boy had his eyes squinted as he stood on the stairs holding his toy with one hand.Oh Goddess! He saw that, didn't he?"Fuck," Karson swore under his breath as he turned around, pro
KARSONFuck!I slammed the car door shut and stormed into the house, fuming in annoyance with an angry cloud over my head.The look in Irene's eyes haunted me throughout the drive back to my pack and I hated every minute of it.Yes, I deserved that. I deserved her suspicions and her raised brow but what







