LOGIN"The pattern is unusual. Contamination that returns this aggressively after successful treatment....it's not impossible, but it's rare. Very rare. And the timing...." He paused. "She was discharged from the hospital exactly forty-eight hours ago. Within twenty-four hours of being home, she collapsed. That suggests exposure happened almost immediately after discharge.""In her home," Aiden said."Most likely. We're testing everything...water, food, air quality. Looking for contamination vectors.""You won't find anything," Archer said quietly. "Because whoever did this was careful. Professional. They knew exactly how to deliver a dose that would activate slowly. That would look natural.""You think someone poisoned her?" Dr. Chen looked shocked."We think someone weaponized fey contamination against a vulnerable woman to force her daughter's hand," Alaric said coldly. "And we think they knew exactly what they were doing.""Who would...." Dr. Chen stopped. Understanding dawned. "The Vig
"But the Lunasol....""Should have prevented that. Should have eliminated the contamination completely." Archer's voice was tight. "This doesn't make sense.""Unless the Lunasol was compromised," Alaric said from the front seat. "Or the contamination source is ongoing. Or...."He stopped. Looked at Marcus.Some unspoken communication passed between them."What?" Melina asked. "What aren't you saying?""Nothing. Just thinking through possibilities." But Alaric's jaw was tight. His hands were clenched.He was lying. All of them were. She could feel it."Tell me," she demanded. "If you know something...if there's something I should know....""We don't know anything yet," Aiden said firmly. "We're just being cautious. Making sure we understand what we're dealing with before we make assumptions.""Assumptions about what?""About whether this is natural or...." Archer stopped. Looked at Alaric."Or what?" Melina's voice was rising again. "Or what, Archer?""Or deliberate," Alaric said quiet
Melina's POV - MorningShe woke up slowly.Her body was screaming. Every muscle ached. Between her legs felt raw. Bruised. Evidence of last night written into her skin in bite marks and fingerprint bruises.Worth it.She smiled despite the soreness. Last night had been....intense. All three of them. Hours. Multiple rounds. She'd lost count of how many times she'd come. How many times they'd claimed her.She stretched carefully. Winced. Definitely overdid it.The bed beside her was empty. She was alone.That was new. Usually at least one of them stayed. Watched her sleep. Held her.She sat up. The sheet fell to her waist. More bruises. More bite marks. Her breasts were tender. Her nipples were swollen."Jesus," she muttered. "I look like I got attacked.""You did." Alaric's voice from the doorway. "By three very enthusiastic werewolves."She looked up. He was dressed. Professional. A tray in his hands with breakfast."Good morning," he said. Came into the room. Set the tray on the bed.
"The view of me being kissed by all of you?""The view of you happy. Relaxed. Ours."Her heart did something complicated in her chest. "I am yours.""We know." Aiden pulled her against him. "But it's nice to hear you say it."They settled back into comfortable silence. Alaric returned to his work. Aiden pulled her onto the couch with him. Archer joined them.She was sandwiched between them."I could get used to this," she murmured."Good," Archer said. "Because this is your life now. Forever.""Forever is a long time.""Not long enough," Aiden said quietly. "Not nearly long enough with you."She turned to look at him. "That was almost romantic.""Almost?" He looked offended. "That was completely romantic.""Almost," she repeated. Grinning.He tickled her. She shrieked. Tried to escape.Archer held her in place. "No escaping. You insulted him. Now you pay.""That's not fair.....""Life's not fair, baby." Aiden's fingers found all her ticklish spots. "Should have thought of that before
"Alaric....""You said you wanted everything I've been holding back." His fingers slid inside her. Easy. She was so wet. So ready. "I've been holding back for months. So we're going to be here a while.""I'm already sore....""Then I'll be gentle." He positioned himself between her legs. "This time."He entered her again. Slow. Easy. Let her adjust."Better?" he asked."Yes." She wrapped her arms around him. "Don't stop."He didn't.He made love to her slowly. Thoroughly. Taking his time. Relearning her body. Finding what made her gasp. What made her moan. What made her cling to him."You're beautiful," he murmured. "Do you know that? Do you know how long I've wanted this? Wanted you?""Show me," she whispered.He did.He worshipped her body. Kissed every mark his brothers had left. Every bruise. Every bite. Claimed them as his own."Mine," he said against her skin. "Every part of you. Mine.""Yours," she agreed. "All yours."He brought her to orgasm twice more. Slow. Rolling. Buildin
She woke slowly.Every muscle ached. A deep, satisfied ache that reminded her of exactly what had happened.Aiden's mouth between her legs. Archer joining. Both of them taking her until she couldn't think. Couldn't speak. Could barely breathe.She stretched. Winced. Definitely sore."You're awake."She turned her head. Alaric sat in the chair beside her bed. Still fully dressed. Looking tired."How long was I out?" Her voice was hoarse."Four hours." He leaned forward. Elbows on his knees. "How do you feel?""Sore." She sat up slowly. The sheet fell to her waist. "But good.""Melina...." He looked guilty. Pained. "I'm sorry. My brothers lost control. They shouldn't have....""Stop." She cut him off. "I wanted it.""You passed out......""Because it felt incredible." She met his eyes directly. "Alaric, I'm not some delicate flower. I wanted everything they did to me. I loved every second of it."He stood up. Paced. "You're human. You have limits. They ignored those limits because the m
POV: MelinaThe delegation was gone by four.Three cars pulling out through the main gates, the Veldthorn representative's driver going first, the fey emissary last, and then the estate exhaled in that specific way it did when something demanding had finally ended and everyone could stop performing
POV: AidenThe delegation briefing ran from seven to nine.Aiden sat at the head of the council table and moved through the agenda with the efficiency of someone who had done this enough times to know exactly where the friction points were and how to get past them before they became problems. The p
This close his eyes were silver in a way photographs and doorway observations had not prepared her for. Pale and clear and completely steady, looking at her with that absolute quality of attention he had that made her feel like the only thing in the room.She was still holding the file.She couldn'
POV: MelinaThe note came at seven.Not a summons through Mrs Harrow. Not Lucy appearing at her door with a paper bag and a message attached. Just a folded piece of paper slipped under her door sometime between her finishing dinner and sitting down with her notebook.Delegation seating plan require







