I RELEASED Kenneth and stepped out of his castle. At the gate, I saw Nick waiting for me. So, he was the reason why I heard the sound of a helicopter a while ago.“I had a feeling that I would find you here and I was right. Where do you plan to go now, Val? Tell me and I will drop you off. With your current state of emotion, I am worried that you might break things. If you want to pick up Cassandra-”“No, I won’t. I’m going back to Maryland.”“Are you leaving Cassandra behind?”I walked past him. “As if I could do that to the only woman who made me feel that I still have a heart. When I told her that I would protect her, I meant it. That promise still stands regardless of who she is. All of my weapons are in Maryland. I need to get them back.”I was excited to see Cassandra, but I couldn’t seem to face her right away knowing that she was Alexandra. When I remembered Kenneth’s compulsion, it took all of my willpower not to go back to the castle and attack him again.It was true that I

‘DADDY, Mommy did it! She is an in-demand photographer now! Wasn’t it her dream? She made it happen,’ I suddenly remembered Iris saying. Her voice cracked, but then she smiled at me. ‘I am so proud of Mommy, Daddy. I saw her works on the net! She is as beautiful as you said, as wonderful, and as talented. She didn’t know me, but guess what? She gave me a hug and earlier, she tried to stop me from crying. She gives the best hugs and kisses. I want Mommy to hug and kiss me again. I just hope… that she remembers us soon so I could tell her how much I miss and love her.’“Whether you are good at it or not, we will find out tomorrow, Miss Hudson. However, it’s an event that will last for three to five days. That’s how wolves celebrate. Will that be okay? By chance, is there somebody who is going to be angry if you were to stay with the wolves for a couple of days?”Five days were not even enough. If only I could make an event for my wife that could last for a lifetime, I would do just that

MY DRIVER was about to close the car door when I saw Iris running out of the manor. It was almost twelve midnight. I didn’t stop by in her room because the servant said that Iris was already sleeping and I didn’t want to wake her.She was running in her big mickey mouse dress and with her bare feet. I stepped out of the car, met her halfway, and immediately lifted her with one hand. My other hand was busy wiping the sweat off her face with my hanky.“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”“I set an alarm. Grandpa told me that you will arrive at around ten in the evening that’s why I was awake when you came, but I couldn’t visit you in the hall because they said you have a meeting. I went to the kitchen and waited there for you, Daddy. But you took so long. I got bored so I ate a little while waiting.”‘Little’ was an understatement. I know my daughter like the back of my hand. Her ‘little’ was a lot for humans to take. She must have raided the fridge again. She smelled like pizza and yogurt. T

THE TRIP from New York to San Antonio was incredibly long, but the trip from the resort to the pack house seemed longer. Luther and I had spent the last few hours talking. He told me about my past as a Luna and my current situation as a human which explained my strange affinity towards the wolves. I thought I was just fascinated by them, obsessed even, without knowing that it was because I actually belonged to them. I was one of them all along.“With my wolf injured, do you think the pack will still accept me? Would they acknowledge me when I could not even acknowledge my own self? The Luna you all loved and cherished was the past version of myself, Luther. This was the new me now: weak, powerless, and without a single memory of any of you.”There. I finally got to voice out my insecurities.“You? Weak and powerless? How did you even come to that conclusion? Alexandra, you have complete power over me. You could either build me or shatter me with your words. And you still have influenc

‘I’M SORRY, Val. I swear I will find a way to talk to you somehow. Just not now,’ I whispered.‘I must have interrupted you. You must have been very busy with your upcoming exhibit. Remember, I’m just here for you. I will wait until you are ready to discuss things, Cassandra. I love you,’ he texted after some time.I bit my lower lip before turning off my phone.Val would always be the gentle wind in my life. He would always be special. That’s why I felt so guilty, so selfish, and so cruel for being so happy, for feeling so complete even without him by my side.‘What have I done to you, Val? I’m so sorry,’ I said as I pressed my forehead.I didn’t know how long I just sat on the bed, completely frozen by all these mixed emotions, when I heard a knock outside the door.“Mommy?”I headed to the door and saw Iris carrying her big Mickey Mouse pillow. “What’s the matter, baby? Can’t sleep?”She nodded. “Can I sleep here with you tonight, Mommy?” She raised her right hand as if she was mak