HUNTERI rushed to Sylvia’s side, but she cowered back from me. I have no idea what she heard, but she saw me lose my temper. Shit! I fucked up!That was the last thing she needed to see. I know what it probably looked like to her.“Angel, it’s okay. It’s not what it looks like.” I tried to explain, but she was having none of it. She backed up to get away from me. I stopped. She stared at me, like I was a monster. My mother went to her.  Already composed as if nothing had happened, she went to her, smiling, taking her by the arm.“Don’t worry about it, Sylvia. Boys will be boys. Hunter just had a little temper tantrum which I am sure he feels awful about. He would never harm me. Let’s go have some tea in my office.” She threw me a glare over her shoulder which I knew meant we are still not done talking.They left me feeling like I could break eve

SYLVIA“Maybe you should consider it.” I said, turning away from him. I started walking back towards the gates of the park.I heard his rapid footfalls behind me. “You can’t be serious, Sylvia. I would never do that to you.”“Why not? Because you love me? Because we are meant for each other? Just because of the Moon Goddess?” Tears stung my eyes, but I willed them away. “Maybe your father is right. You need a strong Luna. One with a wolf. Mine is dead, Hunter. And I don’t even know if I can give you pups.” I was sobbing now. My heart hurt so much.“Sylvia, don’t…” Hunter reached for me. I shoved his hands away. I couldn’t bear it. How could I share him with another woman? I would rather die. But he deserved better. He deserved children to carry on his line. And as much as it would kill me, I want to see him have everything I can’t give

Hunter“What the fuck happened?” I glared at Kane, holding my shivering mate close to my body. If anything had happened to her, I would kill them all.Kane averted his eyes, baring his neck to me.  “Alpha, I have now idea how they entered the perimeter. But the intruders are in the dungeon. One dead, the other is critical, his back is broken. He won’t make it. One survivor waiting on your interrogation.”“Kane, you almost had Sylvia killed. Think about what a fitting punishment would be. I will see you in the dungeon in ten.”“Yes, Alpha.” He turned around and left.I took Sylvia’s pale face in my hands. “Are you hurt?”“I’m fine, Hunter. Just shaken and wet. And cold.” She shivered, “Kane was amazing. You shouldn’t punish him. Please don’t.” Her blue eyes gazed up at me, pleading for mercy for Kane.

SYLVIAThere was a rose on my pillow when I woke up, a red one. Hunter. I smiled, because I knew what he tried to relay to me. Today King Lucien will be back. I dreaded his arrival, fearing what he might do and what he had to say. Whatever it was I know they would not see eye to eye. I didn’t want Hunter to lose his status. But how could I convince him to take another she-wolf as a chosen mate? He would never agree.Hannah knocked at the door, bringing me breakfast. Hunter’s orders. I thanked her and sat down at the table.  My mind kept going over what Myra told me earlier. I didn’t like keeping secrets from Hunter. Although the significance wasn’t lost on me. She said the bastard child of Lucien did not have any claim to the throne. But what if he did? Or was it a girl?If Hunter found out he would try and find his half-brother or sister. Maybe Myra being the ambitious she-wolf she was, would do anything to s

SYLVIARhonda Labat, the head of the orphanage met us in her tiny office. She was a friendly, motherly woman in her late fifties. She greeted us warmly and asked if we wanted to take a walk through the rooms to meet the children. I agreed readily, eager to see them.“This is the first time in years we had such an influx of little ones. There are fifteen girls and eight boys, currently. The youngest is a little girl of three. She was found in the woods near the Belgium border. The eldest is a boy of eleven.”“Could we see the little girl?” I asked. “If it’s alright, I mean.”“Yes, of course. Pretty little thing. Doesn’t speak much.” We followed her through the corridors, noticing curious little faces peeking around doors at us.I smiled at them and they giggled and ran back into the room. A little boy of about five ran out, yelling at the top of his lungs, followed b