All Chapters of Returning in Reverse After Betrayal: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

My fingers stopped above the crystal lens.The glass glowed faintly, copying the map in silence.Kael froze beside me.I could feel his breath stop.I started counting in my head, just like Mom taught me when danger came: one… two… three… don't move. Don't breathe.Footsteps.Getting closer."Hide," Kael mouthed silently.Marcus was already moving, slipping behind the heavy curtains by the window.I grabbed the crystal lens and dove under Leighton's massive oak desk, pressing myself into the shadowy corner.Kael melted into the darkness by the bookshelf, so still he could've been a statue.The door handle turned.And opened.Through the gap under the desk, I saw the boots I used to buy.The leather.Polished to a shine.Leighton."You think my study is a place for thieves? Come on, little wolf. Show me your face."His voice cut through the silence."I can smell you."He walked deeper into the room, boots clicking on the stone floor.I pressed harder against the desk, making myself as

"These aren't just dots on a map. They're… orders."Kael leaned in closer, squinting hard."He's right. This one says, 'Hit 'em at moonrise.' And this—"take out the old family blood first.""Old family blood? Like me?""Like anybody from those pure old lines," Helena whispered."The cult wants to wipe out anyone who might push back against them.""But why hit seven packs all at once?" Garrett asked. "Why not pick 'em off one by one?""'Cause they want total mess," Kael said. "One pack down? Folks start asking questions. Seven down at the same time? That's full-on war. And in a war, the cult sneaks in and grabs control while everyone's too busy fighting."I ran my finger over the red X on Black River land."When's the big hit?"Marcus grabbed a magnifying glass and peered at the tiny writing."Date's… two weeks from now. Right during the council meet-up.""Two weeks," I breathed."That's no time at all.""It's plenty," Kael said, his voice rock-steady."We know their sneaky plan. Time

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you.""You didn't." He opened his eyes, those silver-blue ones sparkling in the early light."I was already awake. Just enjoying holding you."My heart squeezed tight."We should get up.""Should. But don't want to." He tightened his arms around me."Can we have five more minutes?""Five minutes won't change anything.""Five minutes of peace before we walk into danger? That changes everything."Hmm, he had a point there.I settled back against him, breathing in his scent—pine and smoke and something just him. Our mate bond hummed softly, like a happy little heartbeat."Kael?""Mm?""Last night... was it—""Perfect," he interrupted. "It was perfect. You were perfect. We were perfect together."Heat crept up my neck. "I mean... are you okay? I know you waited a long time—""Two hundred years. And you were worth every second." He pressed a kiss to my temple. "Stop doubting yourself. What we have is real. It's right. And I wouldn't change a single moment."I st

We geared up to chase down the Moon's Tear.One second, we're hashing out the scout's wild news in that stuffy pack house room, and the next, bam! I'm staring at a map that might as well be a treasure hunt straight out of a pirate movie. But no turning back now.Seraphine was out there, scheming like a fox in a henhouse, and if she snagged that shiny drop of goddess juice, every wolf from here to Timbuktu would be her personal puppet show. No way was I letting that slide.Rachel looked like she'd been dragged through a blender, hair all matted, eyes sunk in like she'd skipped a week's worth of sleepovers. She unrolled that crinkly map on the table, her fingers shaking just enough to make the paper rattle."It's up here," she said, jabbing a spot in the squiggly lines that screamed "mountains that'll eat you alive." "Temple of the First Moon. Leighton's got guards crawling all over it like ants on a picnic, but he thinks it's just some dusty old statue. Seraphine's been feeding him bal

The Silver Moon border looked different in daylight.Last time I'd crossed it, I'd been running for my life—bleeding, terrified, clutching Erica and praying we'd survive the night.This time, I walked in deliberately. Head high. Armed and prepared.Ready to steal an ancient artifact from under my ex-husband's nose.How times change, my wolf observed dryly.You're telling me."Movement ahead," Marcus whispered from his position at point. "Two guards on the north path."Kael held up a hand, signaling us to stop. We crouched in the underbrush, waiting.Two Silver Moon warriors passed by about twenty yards ahead, talking casually about whose turn it was to cook dinner. Normal conversation, like their territory wasn't about to become the center of a supernatural power grab.When they were gone, we moved forward carefully.The Temple of the First Moon sat deep in the northern mountains. Acco