MasukThe hurt in Jack's eyes refused to disappear and Mira wished she could take her question back.She had expected anger, maybe irritation, perhaps even a sarcastic response.What she hadn't expected was disappointment.Jack stood motionless in the hallway. The documents in his hands suddenly seemed forgotten.His gaze remained fixed on Mira and the longer he looked at her, the worse she felt."Mira..."His voice was quieter now, not angry or defensive, just hurt.The sound alone made guilt twist inside her stomach.Max watched the exchange silently, his expression unreadable.Mira swallowed."Jack, I didn't mean—" she started but he cut her off."Didn't mean what?" He asked let out a soft humorless laugh. "You didn't mean to ask if I'm secretly loyal to the man who ruined my life?"Mira flinched and Jack noticed but he wasn't interested in making her comfortable.Not right now, not after that question.He looked away briefly then back at her."You know what I've done" he said plainly.
The room became painfully quiet after Becca's tears finally subsided.The emotional storm that had consumed her moments ago slowly settled, leaving behind only exhaustion.Tyler loosened his embrace and Becca did the same. For a few awkward seconds, neither of them knew what to say.The warmth of the hug still lingered and Becca lowered her gaze while Tyler rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly fascinated by a random corner of the room.The silence became increasingly uncomfortable and Becca finally laughed softly to ease away the awkwardness before it became much worse."Sorry" she said.Tyler blinked."For what?""For crying all over you."That earned a genuine smile from him."I've survived worse" he said.A small smile appeared on Becca's face, the first genuine one she had managed all day but the smile made Tyler's heart beat even harder.Moon Goddess.This was becoming a very serious problem.He had known Becca for barely any time at all, yet somehow he found himself looking for
The silence between Mira and Max stretched uncomfortably and neither of them spoke or even attempted to move an inch.The question Max had asked still hung heavily in the air and Mira wished he had never asked it.Not because she couldn't answer but because she didn't want to.The moment she answered, things would become complicated. Far more complicated than she was willing to deal with right now, especially with the drama involving Kaelyn, her baby and whatever fucked up plan she's plotting.There were already enough problems inside the Blackwood Mansion with Becca and Eugene who were barely speaking and now Max wanted to discuss her feelings?She let out a frustrated sigh."Can we not do this right now?" She said, a bit of an edge visible in her voice.Max crossed his arms and the stubborn look on his face immediately irritated her."That isn't an answer" he said."I know" she replied. "Then answer it."Mira groaned."You are impossible."A small smile almost appeared on Max's fac
The moment Max led Mira away from the confrontation in the hallway, neither of them spoke.The tension from the encounter still lingered heavily between them.Their footsteps echoed through the quieter corridors of the Blackwood Mansion as they moved farther away from Kaelyn, Seraphina, and the guards.Only when they reached a secluded section of the eastern wing did Max finally stop.The corridor was empty with no servants, guards or any curious ears that would gladly go and reveal their conversation to Kaelyn and Seraphina. It was just the two of them.Max turned toward Mira. His expression had lost its usual teasing edge, now he looked very serious."Mira."She immediately knew it was time to get down to business. The playful warrior she often argued with was gone. This was Beta Max.The man responsible for helping protect the entire pack. The man who had stood beside Eugene through countless battles."What did you hear?" he asked.Mira took a deep breath then she told him everyt
The silence inside Becca's room felt suffocating.Eugene stood near the door, his face unreadable but beneath that calm exterior, anger churned.Because for the first time in years, he felt like a stranger standing in front of the woman he loved and standing beside her was another man she was defending.The realization burned then Eugene's eyes shifted to Tyler.The sight bothered him immensely then his gaze returned to Becca.His voice came out lower than before."You would really undermine me like this?"Becca frowned."What are you talking about?"Eugene laughed bitterly."This is my mansion, my pack, my home and yet you're openly challenging me in front of a stranger" he said.His eyes briefly flickered toward Tyler.Tyler looked away. He didn't particularly enjoy being referred to as though he wasn't standing there.Becca crossed her arms."A stranger who saved my life" she reminded him.Eugene's jaw tightened."I've already acknowledged that.""Have you? Because it doesn't feel
The tension in the hallway shifted the moment Max appeared.He started walking toward them, his boots echoed heavily against the polished floor.Each step seemed to increase the discomfort of the guards standing between Mira and the rest of the corridor.Mira immediately felt relief.His eyes moved toward the guards then toward Mira then back toward the guards."What exactly is happening here?" He asked.Neither guard answered immediately and that alone irritated him.Max frowned."I asked a question" he said.The first guard swallowed."We were ordered to stop Lady Mira" he replied.Max's eyebrows rose dangerously."Why?" he asked, his voice rising slightly. The guard looked uncomfortable but before he could answer, Mira immediately stepped forward."Max—"She barely got a single word out before another voice interrupted."This doesn't concern you" Seraphina said.Max slowly turned toward her, blinked then laughed.The sound echoed through the hallway and Seraphina's expression dark
Max woke to the soft crackle of a dying lantern flame and the faint scent of lavender soap. His head throbbed like someone was striking a drum inside his skull, and for a moment, he couldn’t tell where he was or what time it was. The ceiling above him was wooden, low, and uneven, which was definit
The alley behind Skye’s bar was narrow enough that two people could barely walk side by side. The walls were somehow wet, the gutter smelled of old beer, and the dim streetlamp overhead flickered like it was about to go off. It wasn’t the kind of place people went by accident. It was the kind of p
Morning crept into the mansion as cold light filtered through the tall arched windows of the dining hall, catching on stone pillars and polished steel alike. Jack hated mornings like this.Mornings where the world looked deceptively calm while it was the complete opposite beneath the surface.He s
The night wrapped around them like a warm blanket, soft and protective, as their breaths slowly steadied. Becca lay against his chest, her fingers tracing shapes over the steady rhythm of Eugene’s heartbeat. It soothed her more than she expected or more than she wanted to admit.“Are you comfortab







