Zeke POVThe hallway leading to the meeting rooms had never felt so long. My boots thudded softly against the marble floor, Sky's lighter footsteps a beat beside mine. She moved with that impossible confidence she always had, chin high, lips smirking like the world was hers for the taking. I should have admired it. I did. But it twisted something deep inside me—a knot of nerves I couldn't unravel.I kept my expression still, eyes ahead, but inside my head was chaos. I had no idea what Elder Marius knew. Or what Sky planned to say.She hadn't seen him in years, not since before our world flipped inside out. And this? Walking into the room like she hadn't vanished, like she still belonged here—it scared me.I reached the door first and paused, my hand hovering over the brass handle. Sky gave me a sideways look, brow raised."Are you nervous?" she asked."No. Just thinking.""About what?""About how fast this could go wrong."She just grinned like she was going to enjoy the chaos, noddin
Neo POVI flung my gaze toward Zeke, still standing near the door, watching with that same fucking unreadable expression he always wore around her. I locked eyes with him and let the command slip into the depths of my stare.Stop her. Now.But he didn't move. Not a twitch. Not a fucking step. His face remained blank, lips pressed together, arms tense at his sides—but no order came, no intervention, no restraint. They were letting her do this. He was letting her do this. Another photo. Another click. Sky leaned in closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear."Smile, Alpha," she whispered. "You look like shit." I saw red. Not just anger—blood-red hatred. My stomach twisted with nausea, but it was the bile of shame that stung the back of my throat."Fucking remove her!" I snarled, voice cracking as I looked over my shoulder at Joren and Micah. Neither moved. Not until Sky knocked on the bathroom door just as I slammed it shut behind me.When I got out of this bathroom… When I stood t
Neo POVThe walls felt like they were closing in. I was on the cold bathroom floor, shirt clinging to my sweat-drenched skin, underwear soaked in shame, curled on my side as a fresh wave of cramps gripped my gut like a vice. My stomach roared, gurgling, twisting. Each spasm was like lightning through my core—sharp, unforgiving. I dragged myself forward, fingers trembling against the smooth tile, knuckles scraped raw from earlier attempts to haul myself up.And then it hit again."F-fuck!" I snarled, curling in on myself as my body betrayed me for the millionth goddamn time. I barely made it to the toilet in time. Again. My legs shook beneath me, weak and useless, as if my bones were being hollowed from the inside out. Every time I thought it was over—every time I dared to hope—I was slammed back into agony—a savage cycle of pain and humiliation.The stench was unbearable. The air was thick with it. My own sickness clung to every surface, every breath. My vision blurred, the edges of t
Sky POV It was petty.It was dangerous.And it was fucking glorious.The thought of Neo writhing in pain from my little "seasoned" breakfast had me practically glowing as I stood in front of the two warriors who'd dared snort at me."Repeat that?" I asked sweetly, lacing my voice with mock concern. "You said he's in pain?" I put my hand to my chest, my face the picture of sibling loyalty and love."It's not your concern." The taller of the two crossed his arms, a scowl tugging at the corners of his mouth. They were new to the pack. That much was clear—I didn't recognise them from our teen years. And given they seemed the same age as Neo and Zeke, I would have, especially since I used to follow those boys around like a shadow with attitude."Excuse me?" My smile faded, my back stiffened and my temper shortened."He's the Alpha," the second doofus muttered with all the confidence of a man who'd never been bitch-slapped by karma. "You're not cleared—"I didn't think. I didn't raise my v
ZEKEThe sun was starting to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the gravel driveway as I loaded the last basket into the back of the truck. The air had cooled, a light breeze rustling through the trees just outside the pack boundary.I paused, resting my hands on the tailgate, my heart pounding harder than it should've been.This wasn't just a picnic.It was freedom—a few stolen hours where it was just her and me, no watchful eyes, no whispered threats, no power games.Just us.Sky had asked for answers. About what I'd been working on, what I'd really been doing behind Neo's back. I hadn't told her much, only that I couldn't say anything within these walls. And I meant it.Every room had ears. Every hallway, a tail.So I arranged this instead. A drive out of pack territory. To a quiet stretch of beach that curved around the cliffs, hidden and wild. The only place left untouched by Neo's corruption.The perfect place to remind her who we used to be.I slammed the tailga
Zeke POVI didn't say a word when I pulled her into the hallway, her mouth still warm under my palm, her eyes fire and betrayal and all the things I hated seeing aimed at me."Stop shouting at me," I told her, my voice more pain than command. "And fucking listen."But she wasn't done. Not even close."It's NOT what it seems... you have to believe me." I sighed, looking at her with the kind of weariness that comes from years of pretending not to care."Then what is it, Z?" she snapped, stepping back, seething. "Because to me, it looks like you have all thrown the women under the bus to save your hides. That you've allowed this pack to go centuries back in time. You've allowed it to become a fucking prison for women while men thrive."Her eyes burned into me, and all I could see was every bit of fury she had every right to feel. Every ounce of pain I hadn't stopped."I need air," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Come with me."I didn't give her time to argue. I just started