Kas’s POV “Are you sure about this?” My wolf Elexis asks when the timer on the oven goes off. “Absolutely.” I say confidently. “I refuse to be a prisoner in our own home, Lex.” I pull the cupcakes out of the oven. Carrot cake caramel. I’ve been experimenting to perfect the recipe for my bakery for weeks so we can add it to the fall menu. The little browned mounds of cake finally look perfect and smell like heaven. I set them on the cooling rack and make a few notes in my notebook before I go get a shower. I choose my outfit carefully, a loose, casual dress I can quickly remove with slip-on shoes. Once I’m changed, I check myself in the mirror. I don’t look out of place. People won’t notice anything strange. Satisfied with what I see, I go back to the kitchen and put a thick layer of cinnamon cream cheese icing on the cupcakes. I add orange and gold sprinkles for effect. Sunday is usually my lazy day. It’s the day my mate Bronx and I stay in the apartment. We do that so my guards

Musu’s POV My life was so different a year ago. I was the acting female Beta for the Lune D’or pack in France, waiting for my brother to find his mate. Then I found Marco Sanchez. His Alpha and Luna were visiting our pack for a long weekend. Our Gamma Jenna and I wanted to bring fresh pastries from our local bakery to them as a welcome gift. Marco is one of the personal guards for the Luna from the Blood River pack, so he was on duty in the hall outside their suite when we came down the hall. My initial impression of him was how impressively large of a werewolf he is. He's not quite as big as their Alpha wolf, but close. A broad and muscular man, with a serious expression that makes him look intimidating. Marco is exactly what you think of when you imagine a bodyguard. He is clean shaven, with his black hair cut into a Caesar style haircut. His bronzed skin makes his light brown eyes stand out like shining topaz jewels. I swear my heart skipped a beat when his plum and rhubarb scent

Katherine’s POV “Katherine, things are getting worse. How much longer do we need to wait?” My sister Amari whines as she paces behind me. “I’m well aware of the situation, Amari. We have to have patience. We can’t just yank her away from her life and demand that she save us all.” Amari stops pacing and looks into the monitor at the young woman cleaning the counter of a bakery, then sighs, “Why not?” “You know the rules. Just because we are goddesses, doesn’t mean we can do anything we please. She can’t know anything unless the situation is dire.” “I hate the rules, sister. Besides, this is dire. The Dark has already killed one guardian. How many more have to die? All of them? Do you think we’re next? And what about all the sisters in our charge? What if they’re in danger too,” she shakes her head with worry while asking rapidfire questions she knows I don’t have the answers to. Amari doesn’t look away from the screen while she speaks. I notice her eyes turning glassy with unshed t

Bronx’s POV Four days. As of this morning, it has been four fucking days since Kas disappeared into thin air. We haven’t found a single trace of her anywhere. She’s not on pack territory or the bakery shop she owns in town, she hasn’t been seen at MasonCo headquarters. I even had an international MasonCo security team check our apartment in Paris. Her cell phone and all her belongings are still in our apartment. There have been no hits on her image on any surveillance videos MasonCo has access to around the world. She’s gone. It’s like she really disappeared into thin air. I feel like I’m going insane. For the past three days, I have been trying my hardest to focus on searching for my mate, but I kept getting overwhelmed by Saint’s raw emotions. He swings wildly from wanting to be hyper focused on finding Kas to crushing regret and guilt that his last moments with her were full of anger, not fueled by the love and caring she deserves. That’s on top of trying to control my own emotion

“TESSA! AMARI! Where is she? What is the meaning of this?!” I roar as I throw open the door to the office full of monitors. Amari and Jasen jolt up at my outburst. Tessa doesn't seem bothered and continues to look at the monitors. “She insisted, Katherine. In case Iokaste is dangerous.” Amari holds her hands up. “What? You said to summon her,” Tessa tries to justify with a growl. She is still looking at the monitor. “Amari, can you and Jasen get the keys to Cora's suite and open it for the omegas so they can prepare it? She will also need your healing assistance later. We have lost Dante in this lifetime,” I request, trying to keep my voice calm. “Of course, Luna,” the pair say in unison before leaving the room. “I said summon, not kidnap, and lock her in the Waiting Room!” I snarl at Tessa, who continues to ignore me. Cora stands behind me, looking at us awkwardly. I look at the monitor. Iokaste sitting in the center of the room with her knees pulled into her chest, contemplatin