CJAnxious to find Lenora, I combed every hospital in Brookville—private, general, military, modern, ill-equipped, you name it. But there was no sign of her. It was as if she had just evaporated from the face of the Earth. She hadn’t been on any lists, and it didn't help that some hospitals refused to disclose the identity of their patients.All odds were against me, but I couldn't give up. The search was overwhelming and overpowering. My chest caved in, and I felt so lightheaded I couldn't even think straight. The pain in my gut worsened until I could no longer breathe through it. It was like someone had stabbed an icicle through my heart."Where are you, Lenora?" I groaned into my hands.Maddox had every right to be mad at me, but not at the expense of his daughter's life. I tried countless times to stop by the house, but there was no sign of him or any other person. My throat closed up, and I began self-talking to calm down and think straight. I didn't know what to do, and my hope

LenoraCJ didn't stop driving until the first rays of dawn broke on the horizon. He drove past the huge gates marking the boundary of the werewolf territory. Although I was sick, I could smell the otherworldly scent even though I wasn't actively seeking it out.Laying in silence, my lips were tightly sealed, unable to form words. The leaf he gave to me earlier was quite helpful, but my senses were scattered by the poison, and I was still alert. It dulled the pain a bit and made the journey quite bearable. CJ remained silent and would occasionally cast a glance at me through the rearview mirror to be sure that I was breathing."You're going to be okay, my love, I promise you. We're here now. You're gonna live."The thought echoed around the space inside my head like the roar of a great wave, making my brain hurt.I tasted the bitter bile rising in my throat when CJ picked up my fragile body and cradled me in his arms like a baby. He had begun running to Magda's Little House.Barely ha

LenoraI sat opposite Magda on a couch in her living room, getting healthier by the day. It was almost eleven a.m., and no one had come to check on me, not even my dad. I wondered why. Also, I was kind of getting bored of staying in the same place.A young woman came in with a basket of oranges and a knife. Magda said oranges were good for my health. Smiling, I took one and began peeling it, enjoying the tangy juice in my mouth.Keeping myself busy with it, I didn't know when I had peeled six and finished them. It was still odd that my dad wasn't here, and I found myself yearning for some human interaction beyond Magda's company."So, my dear, what's next for you?" Magda asked me, bringing me out of my drifting thoughts."What do you mean?"She chuckled and leaned in. "I mean your relationship with CJ, dear. What do you want to do about it?"Sighing, I looked away. There was no easy answer to this question. I knew that I'd still love to see Joe with all of my heart, but the complicati

Lenora After making sure my guests were well-fed, and as usual, packing the leftovers for Mariselle, who hated cooking and preferred my chef, Mr. Gilbert's food, CJ, Harrison, Mariselle, Anthony, and I sat in the lounge. We were sipping a very expensive red wine my husband got from one of his numerous business dealings in Paris.We enjoyed the evening while the kids were in the living room, chatting away. We had blended so well that I could bet my chest that if I dropped dead today, Mariselle was going to take my daughter in as though she were her biological mum.My dad and Kia's sister, Leah, were in a long-time relationship. It was difficult for me to accept at first, but as long as my dad was happy and Kia was out of our lives, it was foolish to hinder anyone's happiness.CJ and I had been married for twenty years and had Ruby, who was almost eighteen. Although we had our fights now and then, he was the best thing I could ever ask for.I didn't want the Luna tag since Mariselle wa

Lenora After making sure CJ had everything he needed and stocking the pantry with food, I prepared for my trip to Bali. It was time for some girl bonding with my daughter. The night before leaving, CJ and I made love, and for the first time in two months, I enjoyed it. He made my body feel amazing with his hot skin against mine and never brought up ridiculous doggy-style positions for his sperm to swim faster to my cervix to enable me to get pregnant. I loved to be on top and also orgasmed from CJ's fingers playing with my nipples. We went round after round and cuddled afterward. The night of passion filled and it made CJ reluctant to let me go. "You seem overly excited to go to Bali," CJ sulked as he lay down on the bed and watched me pack. "Come on darling, it's just a two-week trip. I'm not going to stay there forever. It's midnight. I need some sleep." The next morning, CJ and I made love again and just like last night, he let me do my thing and gave my boobs some attentio