LOGINAstaroth POVPerched on a ridge above the packhouse, I sat like a shadow stretched long by twilight—still, silent, soaked in rot and thought. The trees around me stood bare and brittle, stripped of bark, stinking of sulfur and secrets. I watched them. The packhouse stood like a monument of misplaced
Knox POVMy father's words hung in the air like smoke."She's not fooling me," my once-father muttered, stepping closer. "I see her. I see through all of you.""Pa," Kane replied coldly, his tone firm, a warning wrapped in ice. A warning Leigh ignored as his gaze narrowed in on my angel.The air in
Kane POVThe kitchen had never felt smaller. Tension bled from every surface, thickening the air, coiling like smoke. I leaned against the edge of the island, one eye on Charlotte—who sat pale but stubborn beside the stove—and the other on the ticking clock. The steady hum of the refrigerator was th
"I'm getting water," I muttered, needing something to do. My back ached. My hips screamed. I was one emotionally frazzled breath away from punching someone."I'll get it." Liam moved toward me, brushing his knuckles across my forehead with a frown. "You're hot.""She's fine." Knox growled."No, she'
Lottie POV"Seems we can't have one peaceful morning," Knox grumbled, dragging a shirt over his head. The bitterness in his tone wasn't aimed at me—but at the world, maybe. I reached out, brushing my fingers over his hand as he adjusted the hem."Soon, we'll have all the time in the world." I tried
"I didn't get anything," I confirmed, shooting a quick look at Liam, to see him checking his phone for the millionth time this hour."He mindlinked the entire pack last night—" She shifted her weight, and her confusion quickly turned to alarm. "Everyone was told we were under attack. Apparently, he'
"I will," I promised. They exchanged a glance before nodding. An unspoken understanding passed between them, and I knew they were giving me the chance to make things right."Alright," Liam said. "We'll leave it at that for now. Lottie is with Knox, I assume?" Adam's jaw tightened at the mention of L
"Probably a good idea," he agreed gently. But as he spoke, I caught a glimpse in his eyes—a flicker of something unspoken. His words said one thing, but his eyes told a different story. Was that regret? Longing? For a moment, I wondered if he was battling the same inner conflict as I was. Maybe he w
"What were you going to say, Princess?" I probed desperately, my voice barely above a whisper. I tried to keep my tone gentle, but I couldn't hide the urgency seeping through."Enough, Kane, you had your chance," Chase warned, his voice slicing through the fragile atmosphere like a cold blade. I clo
Knox POV "I've missed you." She admitted, her tone laced with truth, which had my heart soaring. "Not as much as I've missed you," I said earnestly. There was a pause, the air thick with unspoken words. Then, without warning, she closed the gap between us, her lips finding mine. The kiss was elect







