LOGINLeo I was in my office when I heard a loud knock on the door. “What is it?” I snapped. I had a shit ton of work to catch up on, and I didn’t want to be disturbed. But the guard at my door entered, a worried look on his face. “It’s Ava, Your Highness,” he said. “She appears to be...missing.” “What?” I demanded. “What do you mean ‘missing’?” “Someone saw her leave the palace grounds early this morning to go for a run. But when the maids went to find her for a dress fitting, she wasn’t in her room. They looked everywhere, but it seemed no one had seen Ava since she left this morning. I didn’t want to alarm you, my King, but we’ve done a thorough search of the palace, and she’s nowhere to be found.” My heart dropped. How could that be? How could Ava be missing? It didn’t seem possible, unless...what if someone had taken her? What if another pack had kidnapped her, and they were going to use her for ransom? It wouldn’t be the first time something like that had happened. My mind imm
Ava I needed space—that’s what I told Leo after our lovemaking session in Oliver’s new room. I was anxious and overwhelmed. I knew I could stay longer if I hadn’t made up my mind by the end of our fixed term. It was clear by now that Leo would do anything for me, and it wasn’t like he was about to boot me out of the palace if I didn’t give him a definitive answer at the end of the week. But I didn’t want to ask for more time. I’d been here for three weeks, and we’d made an agreement. If I asked for more time, I felt like I’d just keep postponing the decision, and what good would that do? If I couldn’t make up my mind in a month, what made me think I’d do it in two months or three? I’d had a good taste of werewolf life—enough to know what I was getting into if I stayed. I’d seen a Luna crowning, visited two other packs, and had countless conversations with Leo about all aspects of werewolf life. Cassie had helped me, too, always answering my questions bluntly and honestly. What el
Ava I followed Leo to a wing of the palace near my bedroom. For all I knew, it was an extra guest suite, so I wondered for a moment if his surprise was some sort of guest. But when he opened the door, I gasped. The entire room had been renovated and redone, and I could tell right away that it was for Oliver because of all the toys. It was massive, even bigger than my room. It even had a little climbing structure in the corner. There was a bassinet and a bed that he could transition into, but the real appeal of the room was all the toys and the space to play. “He can grow into it,” Leo told me as I entered the room. It had its own private bathroom and a large walk-in closet. The walls were lined with shelves, and one corner had a plethora of stuffed animals. A handmade rocking horse sat in a different corner, painted in fun, bright colors. “You did all this for Oliver?” I asked, clearly impressed by the time, energy, and thought Leo had put into the room. “Well, I had some help,”
Ava I didn’t like Queen Patricia from the moment I met her. I saw the way she looked at me, condescending and judgmental. I felt like Leo hadn’t been fully honest with me. He had led me to believe that his mother and father were kind people who were eager to meet me, and clearly that wasn’t the case. The bitch had asked me to “turn around” like I was some sort of monkey on display. Who does that? Who inspects another person like cattle? I’d been so embarrassed, standing there in my ripped jeans and Beatles shirt. Leo should have given me a heads-up to change. I had no shortage of dresses in my closet, thanks to the maids and their endless sewing. I could have at least shown up looking a little more presentable. I’d done my best to be polite, but it had been really hard. I knew she hated me and didn’t want me with her precious son. It stung, but what stung even more was that she was probably right. I was far from royalty and thinking otherwise had been delusional. What the hell wa
Leo The palace bells rang out as I sat in my study, reviewing some pack requests. I stopped immediately as the bells continued to ring. They could only mean one thing. My parents were here. Shit! I didn’t know they were returning today. Ava was out with Cassie on the warrior training grounds, watching her practice for her warrior tests. Ever since the execution, she’d been a little distant from me. On the surface, she seemed fine, but I could sense that something was wrong—something she wasn’t telling me. We still slept together every night and ate our meals together, but there was a tightness in our conversation. She had me a bit worried, to say the least. The clock was ticking, and we had less than two weeks left—a week and a half, to be precise. I’d done everything in my power to win her over, but still, I couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t enough. And now my parents were here, unannounced. They’d been gone on their annual holiday to visit some European packs in the south
AvaWe were gathered in the courtyard early in the morning. I stood beside Cassie as people trickled in, excited looks on their faces. It was the morning of the public execution for the Stormbrook prisoners, the ones that had been in the dungeon for a year now.Oliver was at the nursery and had made a full recovery, thanks to Jade’s intervention. Leo had asked me last night over dinner if I wanted to attend the execution. I hadn’t been sure at the time—it sounded pretty awful, in my opinion—but he seemed genuinely excited about it, and since this was a part of werewolf life, I agreed to go.An ominous mist had settled in the courtyard. The prisoners were tied to wooden piles, with rope around their chests and feet. Both men and women were bare-chested, their arms dangling freely in the air. Their bodies were covered in bruises and whip marks, and they were all so thin I could see their ribs. Some hung their heads, refusing to look up at the crowd, while others glared, their jaws clenc
PhoebeLooking at the wolves chosen for this operation in the training facility, I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Aileen is pacing beside me, waiting for her coven to arrive while the rest of our forty-man army goes over strategy and entry points with Sabrina, who, thankfully, finally got he
LeviLeaning against the wall outside of Phoebe’s office, I let out a sigh of relief as I wait for her to finish answering a phone call before we head down to the meeting about taking out the Hunters Association in Ottawa. Our talk with Saben had gone surprisingly well. I had not expected Phoebe to
PhoebePulling up in front of the pack house, I turn off my car and climb out, with Claira following suit beside me. Work had been a long day, even in the short five hours I was away, and I am happy to be home. Hell, I can already smell Jiya’s cooking wafting from the open doors.“Phoebe!” someone
PhoebeGripping the rope above me as the trailer sways slightly, I take in the ten wolves and five vampires crowded into the space, ready to spring forth as soon as the doors open. Levi stands beside me, his body swaying with the moving vehicle and his green eyes focused on the door. Everyone is te







