Scarlett My quivering legs would have given out from beneath me if I hadn’t already been perched on the ground. Logan’s response told me almost everything I needed to know with just that one word. Evidently, my ex-mate still lived, and the information was enough to send me spiraling into a panic as my father confirmed my living nightmare had survived. I had been okay when Reese was nearby, keeping the memories at bay, but I was by myself this time around. Well, that wasn’t strictly true, but it was difficult to take in my environs when my vision was tunneling. I forced myself to take deep breaths, and once the hammering of my heart in my ears lessened, I heard Logan humming the gentle notes of the lullaby my mother used to sing to me as a child. He kept up the soft melody until he was sure he had succeeded in bringing me back to the present, but then he said, “I don’t know what happened between you two, but I’ve known since t

Reese The miles flew by as I trudged through the lengthy night. The temperature remained below freezing, even with the closer I drew to Jax’s province, and I had never been more grateful for my wolf’s long fur than I was now. The frigid wind and the occasional patches of snowfall I encountered along the way was a clear signal winter was forthcoming, but it was not a joyous realization for me, as it reminded me of all I still had to accomplish to prepare my territory before the harsh conditions truly set in. I hadn’t seen any bear shifters for the last several hours, but the sudden racket I heard coming up fast from behind me let me know I was no longer alone. I continued racing forward while my wolf’s sensitive hearing picked up on the sounds of multiple assailants advancing in my direction, and I didn’t overlook how their actions intended to encircle me. I was aware I didn’t have the energy necessary to defend myself against

Reese I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of repeating the arduous trip with only Jace as company, but I couldn’t argue with his logic. A large group invading the bear’s land was sure to draw attention, and we simply couldn’t afford to lose that many men. I couldn’t stop turning Jax’s words over in my mind while I laid restlessly in bed. I hadn’t come across another wolf shifter until I neared the Northern Province, but it didn’t make sense that she-wolves were disappearing left and right. The information drove home the point that I needed to return to my own territory as soon as possible, but I felt confident Oliver was doing the best he could, given the situation. I didn’t dare check in with him for the transitory time I was in range, rather I chose to keep my concentration solely on saving my true mate. I was usually the one to approach cautiously, but I lost all reason where my other half was concerned. Hence, I had to admit S

Scarlett I made sure the she-wolves were all settled to the best of my ability with what I had at my disposal, and Jace and Reese figured out a workable plan to relay to Jax in the meantime to get the ball rolling on getting us all out of here. I was aware there were several conversations that needed to take place, but I also knew the teeming cabin we were currently holed up inside wasn’t the ideal location for any of them. Jace and Reese apparently arranged to have Jax bring an incursion of males into the bears’ land, so I felt a little better with the knowledge help was on the way. It would be dangerous when we left the safety of the four walls currently protecting us all from the bitter winter wind, but the only thing we could do at the moment was rest while we waited for the opportune moment to depart. I freely admitted that I was exhausted after the events of the last twenty-four hours, but the insistent tug of my mating

Reese I couldn’t speak in my wolf shape, but I thankfully didn’t need to. Jace was already on his feet when I blazed inside hot on Kyle’s heels after he’d dashed in without uttering another peep in explanation. Jace asked the questions I couldn’t voice while I ran my eyes over the fresh injuries visible on the bear shifter’s naked skin, concurrently seeking out Scarlett with my searching gaze in the room beyond him as my ears took in their discussion. “What’s going on?” He asked in a measured tone, but his calm demeanor had no effect on the younger male who was wound tighter than an eight-day clock after what he had observed. “We have to go. Get everyone up.” Kyle didn’t wait for Jace’s response, rather he started to rouse the wolves himself as he loudly stomped around the room in between the numerous bodies sprawled about, breathing heavy as he struggled to catch his breath. “Stop.” Jace yanked the bear shifter back b