ВойтиLIANA POV‘Don't get too attached to him,’ I’d said. But it hasn't been quite that simple.Ever since that power outage incident, Kane and Lina have been growing closer in a way that's starting to worry me. It's like watching two magnets slowly inching toward each other, and I'm the invisible force trying to keep them apart. I also can’t help the prick of guilt I feel every time I see them together. At the same time, I remember everything I've been through and everything I've sacrificed to keep her safe and happy.A mother's instinct to protect can be a selfish thing, I suppose, but it's all I've got to hold on to right now.It's not just even about keeping them apart anymore. It’s also the fact their closeness makes me cross paths with Kane more often than I'd like.The other day, Lina had skinned her knee playing outside, and Kane was there in an instant to comfort her like it was the most natural thing in the world.People around have started noticing it too.When they ask me, I gi
To the man at the door, I explain, "There’s been an outage. I'll bring some candles to your room."I look at Lina and Kane again as I move towards the door. The man steps aside to allow me to pass.I go down the stairs again, this time extra carefully.My body hums again with the memory of Kane's touch when I reach that particular spot we'd been earlier on.These stairs will never be the same again, because every time I come down now, I'll remember what I don’t want to.I make my way to the storage closet to get candles and matches. Then I light them up and deliver each one to rooms that need them."...yes, the boy and girl met at university,"I stop a few paces from Lina’s door, my heart constricting immediately as I listen."What was she like?" I hear Lina ask."She was extremely beautiful, and the boy was so captivated by her, he would never let a day go by without seeing her face. She was also very strong. Despite having a tough life, she never let it weigh her down.”I swallow an
LIANA POVI freeze at first when he kisses me, passionately and urgently, like he’s trying to say something he’d been unable to communicate with words.But then, like a switch flipping, I respond.My fingers slowly curl where they’re resting on his hard chest and my eyes flutter closed to allow him entrance into my mouth. My wolf, which I’ve been fighting to keep dormant, is howling inside me as his scent continues to enthrall my senses.As much as I want to get out of what’s happening, in my head, my body and emotions are saying otherwise. So much for trying to bottle up my feelings, all it takes is being in the warmth and strength of his arms again to send everything rushing back up to the surface.I kiss him back, this time letting my hands slide slowly up his chest to grip his shoulders, leaning into him greedily.Kane gradually becomes bolder with my acceptance and secures his hand more firmly behind my neck, and a little gasp from me is swallowed by his eager mouth when his othe
KANE POVThis is when I decide to release Jimmy with a slight push, watching as he jerks away and angrily dusts off his jacket.At the tavern now, I cut the ignition.Although I feel a tiny bit exhausted from the day’s investigation, the sight of the warm, glowing windows of the tavern is enough to lift my spirits.Coming out of the car, I can already notice Lina waving enthusiastically from the top balcony.I break into a smile instantly and wave back at her.That little girl has wormed her way into my heart faster than I'd like to admit. She's got Liana's eyes, as well as that spark of intelligence and mischief. I’ve come to love her to the extent I get jealous whenever I remember I’m not her father, and that there’s been some nameless, faceless man who got to be a part of Liana's life when I couldn't, who helped create this amazing little person.It's refreshingly empty of customers inside the tavern and the "Closed" sign is already hanging on the door.I hear the patter of small f
KANE POVGrinding up to a halt, I crouch down to brush my fingers over the forest floor."Hold on," I say.The ground here is different, softer, and more porous. I close my eyes to focus on the scent—there’s a faint trace of something unusual that has my mind peeking up with vigilance."The soil composition here is unique," I note, looking up at Sam."It's more alkaline than the surrounding area, likely due to mineral deposits beneath. This could affect the local flora and, by extension, the behavior of the rogues."Sam nods thoughtfully as I continue,"If we map out these soil anomalies across the territory, we might be able to predict their movement patterns. It's possible they're using these areas as navigational markers or even as meeting points."I swear I’m not surprised when I hear the scoff behind me.“You think a bunch of mindless beasts are following some dirt map? That's a waste of time when there's an SOS signal coming from the eastern border.”"You have a better idea, Jim
Liana POV He's probably already left for his early morning patrols with Sam.Still, I can't help the way my heart races whenever I turn the knob to go in.The room is empty, and the bed is already neatly made, but I still move around the room to straighten things that don't really need straightening.The fact that our regular cleaner is on leave is the only reason I'm in here at all. It doesn't matter that my fingers linger a moment too long on his jacket hanging over a chair, or that my eyes are drawn to the notepad on the desk where his handwriting is calling out to me from the front page.A burst of high-pitched giggles reaches my ears while I’m trying to still read what Kane has scribbled down. I recognize that laugh even though it’s not something I hear very often.I walk to the window, carefully pushing it open.Still giggling is Lina, whose body is suspended high in the air, and below her is the one who's holding her up, grinning from ear to ear as she stretches her tiny arms
Keep reading for the opening chapter of the next standalone novel in the seriesELENA POV Air whooshed into my lungs, ragged and desperate.I am going to die this time! No one is going to save me.My hands scrambled at my throat, clawing for a breath that wouldn't come. The grip lingered. The pres
Josephine’s POVThe others shifted back to their human forms.“We’ll search the place,” OSCAR said. “You stay with your boy.”I nodded and placed my hand on the door.“Are you okay, Theo?” I asked.“I’m okay,” he murmured.“You sure?” I asked.“I’m scared.”“I know, baby. But everything is going to
Josephine’s POVWe hung back while Caleb’s team ventured further into the commune. I waited with my heart in my throat. I didn’t like that Caleb was putting himself in the line of fire, but his plan was our best option for rescuing Theo. I just hoped I wasn’t trading my mate for my son.I knew Cale
Caleb POVWe waited until dusk to implement the strategy. That’s when the guards changed over, and darkness would give us the best cover. James was supposed to be on watch that evening, giving us the perfect opportunity to slip into the commune. Getting in would be easy. It was the rest that worrie







