Maverick Peterson POV Inclining my head in greeting to the knights guarding the entrance to my father's study, I stepped inside to see papers stacked high on the table. At first glance, it would be easy to assume my father was absent, but it was simply the papers blocking him from view. "Father, has there been any luck regarding the matter we spoke of?" I asked as I bowed slightly despite knowing he wouldn't see it. "I'm afraid not," he sighed. "No one seems to know what it is we're dealing with. There's a possibility that it might be the work of someone with angel blood." Considering our options, I could see why my father and his contacts would make that assumption. Werewolves couldn't use magic, and if no one with demon blood could identify the magic used, that only left the angels. This, unfortunately, meant we had reached a dead end.

Maverick Peterson POVI slammed my teacup onto the tray, cracking it and spilling its contents everywhere. The woman across from me flinched, and the teacup in her hands shook as she set it down."My apologies, something has come up that requires my attention. I'll have my servants escort you out," he said before he stormed off.'Did you sense that, Maverick?''Yes.'There were werewolves near the border by Prerana. The very border that they had been monitoring all these months for clues regarding the strange magic that had been used.Now our efforts were bearing fruit.Unfortunately, my father wasn't around. He had left the grand duchy to visit his friends in another country for advice. Whoever they were, they had chosen the right time to act if they wanted to avoid my father. They must have been wary of my father to wait this long.'If they t

Willow Baker POVAsa had finally fallen asleep, leaving me with no distractions as I went over all my options again. I could still act like none of this happened and go with my original plan. My other option was to wing it and hope for the best.'Those aren't very good options.''I know. I'm drawing a blank here.''Well, think faster.''I'm trying here. It's not like I have experience with this kind of situation. I've never had to ask someone to marry me before.'Just thinking about it was surreal, no matter how many times I had thought about it in both my first life and my current one. If only Sheila was here, she could help me figure something out.Unfortunately, they had separated us, so I had no clue where she was or if she was okay. Maybe they were giving her the same treatment as me, but that was hopeful thinking on my part.

Maverick Peterson POV Staring at my hand, I couldn't help thinking that she was tiny. How did such a fragile and delicate creature give birth to my child? Recalling how she fought off the other werewolves and how she stared right into my eyes despite her fears, I mentally crossed off delicate. That was no delicate flower or toothless pup. If nurtured correctly, she would be a formidable member of our family and pack. "Master Maverick," greeted my knights as I passed them to observe the prisoners. Most of them were still alive, though with varying degrees of injuries. One in particular had clearly been healed and beaten numerous times. At my questioning stare, Timothy was quick to answer, "His words displeased the men." My men normally wouldn't be moved by this sort of thing. What happened earlier was an exception. To hear that they treated the prisoner worse than any criminal they had dealt with before did not bode well. They stood right behind me as I stepped toward the prison

Willow Baker POVScrambling, I grabbed the cup of water—thankfully, it was water and not alcohol or some strange beverage that only demon blooded werewolves drank—off the table. Once I drained the cup, I gasped for air. The Grand Duchess paid me no mind as she was focused on Asa, which was great for me as it gave me time to recover from that unexpected request.'Well, she certainly doesn't beat around the bush."'No kidding.'I didn't think the first thing the Grand Duchess would want from me was another child. We already had Asa, who I assumed would be the heir unless stated otherwise. There was no reason for us to have another one, especially so soon. Raising Asa would be difficult enough on its own.In my previous life, she had seemed like a dear, and she had eventually become well-behaved when I held her. However, I hadn't spent as much time with her in the beginni