As we returned to the packhouse, the sight of Kael in a rush to leave again greeted us. He was in the process of stripping off his clothes, clearly intent on shifting into his wolf form. Acting impulsively, I darted towards him, grabbing his arm to halt his departure."Where are you going?" I demanded, needing to understand his urgency."On patrol," Kael muttered dismissively. He tried to pull away from me, but I held my grip.Knox interjected, "What do you need me to do, Kael?"Kael's frustration was noticeable. "Whatever, I don't fucking care what you two do," he snapped.I couldn't hold back my irritation any longer. "No, absolutely not!" I exclaimed, drawing a bewildered look from Kael. Turning to Knox, I asked, "Can you take over patrol?"Knox shifted uneasily. "I could, but... Kael, I need the command. You commanded me not to follow or patrol yesterday."My anger flared at Kael's arbitrary use of commands. "Really, Kael?" I spat out, feeling betrayed by his manipulative tactics

I finally succumbed to the exhaustion pulling at my eyelids. Wrapped securely around Kael, I drifted into a restless slumber, the worries of the night tangling in my dreams.I awoke a few hours later to find Kael's eyes, those deep pools of blue, watching me intently. Ky was gone, the space beside us empty.Sitting up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and asked, "Where's Ky?"Kael's voice was steady, almost nonchalant. "I told him to go get some rest. I told him I was okay. It wasn't a long one, so I won't start seeing things."I moved closer to him, my arms wrapping around his frame. "I was so scared, Kael. I had no idea what to do..."He returned my embrace, his tone casual. "It's not a big deal, Sky. Don't worry about it, okay?"Pulling back, I searched his face. "Kael, it is a big deal. It's a huge deal, actually."He shrugged. "It's happened all my life. No one knows why. It doesn't hurt me or anything. It just sucks when it happens. So please, don't make a big deal out of it, oka

As Knox and I continued through the woods, I sent mental message after mental message to Kael, but he wasn't responding. He was too caught up in his own rage, his mind likely a mess of hurt and confusion.Turning to Knox, I communicated mentally. "He thinks we slept together."Knox's mental reply came swiftly. "I figured as much. He needs to understand that I wouldn't do that. Not until...everyone is okay with it.""Why?" I asked, curious despite the urgency of our situation.Knox's response was filled with a seriousness that misrepresented his usually light demeanor. "Despite what everyone thinks of me and my 'casual flings,' I have some class. I don't need to sleep with you to know I love you. I don't need to claim you. If you're mine, you're mine. It's not this hard. It doesn't have to be."As Knox and I raced through the woods in our wolf forms, the dense foliage brushing past us in a blur, our mental conversation continued, a mix of concern and resolve echoing in our thoughts.My

Cassy was in tears, her sobs echoing in the grand hall. Ezra stood silently, a solemn figure amid the chaos, with the twins who were also crying, their little faces streaked with tears.The moment the twins saw me, they darted towards me, their small arms wrapping around my legs in a desperate search for comfort. Knox gently lifted one twin, cradling him with an ease that spoke of his deep affection for his little brothers. Ky did the same with the other twin, both brothers walking them over to the bar and perching them on it, their actions a blend of tenderness and strength.I moved towards Cassy, surrounding her in a hug as she whispered through her tears, "It isn't good, Sky.""What's happening?" I asked, my voice steady despite the frenzy around us.Cassy's voice was a broken whisper. "He's awake but doesn't remember anything, and he's acting really strange. They're talking about not even letting Mom stay in the room anymore because they're scared for her safety. She'll end up com

Kael's grip on the steering wheel was tense, his knuckles white against the black leather. His arm around me felt like a shield, protective and strong. He broke the silence, his voice low and determined. "I'm going to try to control myself now. I don't have a choice." There was a brief pause when he seemed to wipe away a tear with his shoulder. "I can't keep acting so damn childish when it comes to you."I leaned closer, feeling the tension in his body. Gently, I kissed his cheek. "I don't think you've been acting childish, Kael. I think you're struggling with jealousy, which is 100% natural. But you know as well as I do that monogamy is a human thing, and because you three are special, human norms don't apply."Kael tensed at my words, a reaction that didn't go unnoticed. "Three?" he echoed.I laughed softly, correcting myself. "Two... you two," I said, trying to calm him. He smiled, just a little, to my relief."Why does it bother you, really? Tell me the real, deep, root cause rea