I rouse at the soft sounds of whimpering through the bedroom door behind me. My eyes feel heavy as I blink myself awake, my muscles protesting the awkward position from sleeping sitting up. The sounds grow more distressed, louder as I shuffle to my feet and ease the door open. The room is blanketed in black as the whimpers morph into pain filled cries and the sound of rustling sheets fills the room.As my eyes adjust to the dark, I can make out his figure on the bed thrashing. My heart is in my chest as he turns to the side, his arm flailing out as if fending off an attacker. His mumbling picks up as I hasten to his side, unsure of what to do. I’ve never dealt with anyone having nightmares, or whatever this is. I chew on the inside of my cheek, my hand tentatively reaching out to touch him as thrashes again and slaps my hand away. I yank my hand back, fear gripping my heart as I watch his face distort, as though he is breaking apart before me. He jerks upright, gasping breaths as he

It’s been a two weeks since the news of Alpha Landon’s supposed death broke. Two weeks have passed since the rogue attack and Matthias still lays unconscious in the healer’s office. And I am no closer to getting the committee to recognize me as anything other than an exile.Word has spread of the Exile Alpha, who has now taken over two packs. I’m officially branded a tyrant and naturally there is outrage as packs that were once our allies pull their treaties, leaving us vulnerable. I relied too heavily on Alpha Landon and the weight he carries with the committee to pledge my honesty. Now it’s all coming back to not only bite me in the ass but possibly take away everything I have been building.On top of all of that, I am left with Lana. Broken as I know she is, she refuses to slow down. Training for hours every day and laying next to me every night. Some nights are better than others, and some nights she crawls into my arms and sobs. I don’t sleep those nights. I wrestle instead wit

I’m nervous as I pace the bedroom, waiting for the right moment to see Maddox. I went to his office like I always do, but he wasn’t there. Now here I am hours later, worried that I might not get the chance to get the answers I want. Maybe they found Allen and are questioning him themselves, and now I will have no leverage. I wring my hands, deciding I am done waiting.I make my way to the warriors near the dungeon, waving as they give me a big smile and return my greetings. “Alpha down there?” I ask, and they give me a bewildered look. “No, Luna.” “So you guys didn’t find Allen then, huh?” I ask, and they shake their heads.“Nope, not sure why he even ran.” one mutters to the other as I grumble and walk away.I lower my mental barrier in hopes he might have his down and I can mind link him, but no such luck. I prowl around for about an hour before making my way back to his office and pushing the door open without knocking. He sits alone, his head in his hands and his shoulders tens

Lana is too hopped up in emotions to calm down as I hold her in my arms, trying to grab whatever sleep I can. If I weren’t so fucking happy about how things went down today, I’d probably snap at her and tell her to just go to sleep. There is no calming this beautiful soul, though. She wiggles in my arms, spinning to face me, her nose pressing to mine in the dark. I can feel her eyes, even though I can’t bring myself to open my own. “What, now?” I ask groggily. “When do you think we can leave to go get him?” She whispers and I reach up, placing my hand on her face. “Shh, Lana. not until we are at least rested.” I used to be able to go days, even a week, with no sleep. Now I feel like a freaking domesticated wild dog. She took me in and gave me the sleep life, and now I want it, damn it. She giggles as she moves to my hand and then kisses my palm. “I’m sorry.” She murmurs, shifting around in the bed before snuggling her head under my chin and wrapping her arms around me. “Mmm.” I

“Look out the window,” I say weakly, my heart in my throat, bile trying to work its way up.Maddox eyes me curiously before kissing my head and moving around me, drawing back the curtain and freezing. The window is smeared with blood prints that form an arrow pointing to the right side of the window. He doesn’t hesitate as he pushes it open and reaches out. With a grunt of effort, he pulls back in and stares at the bloody ring of my father. Finger still attached. I rush to the bathroom, throwing up.Maddox goes into protective mode, pulling my clothes on me as I try to calm my nerves. Blood doesn’t bother me. Shit, severed body parts? I’ve seen them. I’ve witnessed what Maddox does in his wolf form. But knowing who the finger belongs to? When I’ve just only found hope that he is still alive? That guts me. Julian is suddenly here, talking with Maddox in the corner as I sit on the bed. Matthias comes to sit next to me, his body still weak and damaged and I sigh deeply. “You can’t do