* * * Max’s POV * * *I watch through the car window as two young pups come hurtling down the pathway, screaming for their Daddy. As Alpha Paul bends down to scoop them up in his arms, I feel tears leak from my eyes. There’s no malice here and he’s not a bad man, he’s simply a mate and a father who had been backed into a corner, desperate to protect his family. In all honesty, I would do the same in a heartbeat. From what I can recall, Alpha Paul’s pack is rather small, only 150 members, give or take. I assume that half of them are women, elderly, and pups. Which means that they wouldn’t have had the strength to put up a fight against my father, his rogues, and his vampires. He would have felt like he had no other choice. How my father could send a man picture of his pups with vampires' claws around their necks, is beyond me. But then, growing up, he had never had a paternal side. He had always been cold and brutal. I still have to ask him about my mother. I can’t help but wonder wh

* * * Eve’s POV * * * I sit and take a moment to recall my return to awareness. It sounds crazy, but I was acutely aware of how clean my blood now felt. I was able to sense the poison around my body, in my blood and seeping into my muscles and organs. I almost felt whole and healthy. I knew when I was nearly ready to wake up. I had heard Max asking for tests to be done, and I had prayed to the Moon Goddess that there were no long-lasting effects. Is it even possible for a person to feel if their blood is tainted or clean? ‘Perhaps we can ask the sisters if there’s a way to harness energy stores or to take energy from the Earth. We can’t keep doing this, it leaves us too vulnerable’, Cora tells me, when she has recovered enough to be present again. ‘Well, good morning to you too, sunshine. Aren’t you just a bundle of joy to wake up to?’ I greet her.‘I’m serious Eve; our whole life could have been over. We need to learn when to stop.’ She scolds me. ‘We shall speak to the sisters.

* * * Max’s POV * * * After the pack meeting, I meet with the council members to proceed with my father's questioning. I walk slowly, my feet feeling weighed down. I thought I’d gotten rid of him out of my life for good. I had thought I was free of his influence and the way he makes me feel. And now, here I am walking towards him. I’m 23 years old, yet I feel like my 10-year-old self. Fearing his judgement and punishment. “Max, you’re not your father. Your father doesn’t determine who you are. In fact, I’m surprised he even helped conceive you, there isn’t one ounce of him visible in you,” Fred says kindly, his hand patting my back.“Remember your place, councilman Fred,” councilman Peter says.“I remember it very well, but until we enter the room we aren’t on official business. So for now, I’m able to comfort a friend,” Fred snaps back.“He has a point, councilman Peter. There’s no resemblance, which is odd given that Robert is from an established Alpha line. Alpha Max, are you sur

* * * Eve’s POV * * * I can hardly believe that they have done it. There had been a huge bang and the candles had burst into purple smoke. The whole garden was filled with smoke, yet there was a powerful aura buzzing in the air. I know that Selene is here in the garden with us. Is she going to give us her blessing? “You fuckers. You will pay for this,” Charles sits up and glares at us, through the smoke. Rising to his feet, he lunges forwards as though he’s preparing to shift. Nothing happens and he hits the floor, his face landing in the dirt. I barely have time to react, Jasper has almost flown across the garden and punches Charles so hard that he’s unconscious. “I will take him to the cell and chain him up,” he says, and throws Charles over his shoulder and leaves. I’m surprised that his hit knocked Charles out. Does that mean he’s without a wolf? Does that mean he’s now human? I haven’t given much thought to what will happen to Charles without a wolf. I gasp when I see John s

* * * Max’s POV * * * I hold Eve as soon as I enter our home, and despite the calming influence of the mate bond, her emotions are still erratic. I cradle her to my chest, as her mother and grandmother sit in an embrace. It has been a lot for them all to take in. Eve has fallen to sleep, clutching my shirt, it won’t hurt to let her have a few hours of sleep. It’s still very early, and she certainly deserves it. Perhaps it will help her mind to process her family reunion. “How about you ladies, take the spare room for a few hours and I’ll let Eve rest in bed for a while before we begin our day. I’ll have breakfast brought for us,” I tell the ladies.“Thank you, Alpha Max, I like you. I’ll take you up on your offer, I’m beat from the journey here,” Tabby answers me.“We’ll make sure that you have your own accommodation, we are in the process of building more cabins, to enable all pack members to have a home,” I say as I stand from the chair with Eve in my arms. Carrying her up the s