“We haven’t confirmed she’s Nyx’s sister,” I reminded him. “That’s just a theory.”“Yeah,” Jason said. “But it feels right. I can’t explain it. I can’t stop thinking of her that way.”He wasn’t wrong. The moment the idea got rooted in my mind, it made sense. There were no coincidences. Everything po
SadieRaven and I sat side by side in the large conference room. Last night, before Alec left my room after kissing Aspen goodnight, he had reminded me of today’s meeting. Something that I had completely forgottenThe room was quiet, thick with silence and tension that sat heavy on everyone’s should
“We reached out to other packs,” added Elder Thorn, his tone clipped with frustration. “We thought perhaps they’d have some forgotten text buried in their vaults. But even with access granted, we came up empty.”“There’s no record of Kaden,” said Elder Mira, her silver braid falling over her shoulde
“Wait,” Raven said slowly, breaking the stunned silence. Her voice was low, exhausted, but clear. “Did Nyx actually tell you that Kaden and Xena are connected?”I looked at her.“No,” I said. “She didn’t have to.”Raven frowned. “Then how—?”“It was in the way she felt.” My fingers curled around the
SadieThey were all staring at me now. My words hung in the air like a dense fog, the weight of my suspicion pressing down on everyone in the room. I could see it in their eyes—confusion, shock, and a hesitant flicker of understanding starting to form.Before anyone could speak, Raven's voice cut in
Micah was the one to respond this time, arms crossed over his chest. “That’s the point, isn’t it? Keep everyone in the dark long enough to move undetected. She probably knew we’d catch on eventually, so she built this army as a distraction. A shield. While we’re too busy fighting off her hybrids, sh
AlecThe conference room was silent, the kind of silence that amplifies every thought, every heartbeat. Everyone had dispersed—Raven with the elders, Micah and Jason to rally the warriors. That left Sadie and me alone, the air between us thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension.I stood by t
Sadie.Everything ached.My limbs, my head, my heart.Even with the quiet of the night, the silence wasn’t comforting—it was heavy. Like the world was holding its breath and waiting for something terrible to happen. And somehow, I was the only one who could feel it.I didn’t realize I was holding my
I don’t say anything. Just turned back and continued staring at nothing.I pretended that his presence wasn’t affecting me. Pretended that I was okay and that every fiber in my being wasn’t vibrating. I was fighting the pull despite Nyx telling me not to. I was used to fighting it since we learned t
The room was too quiet. Aspen had fallen asleep the moment her head touched the pillow, her monkey and elephant clutched tightly in her little arms. I watched her for a long moment, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her forehead. Her tiny mouth hung open just a little, breath even and soft.
The rest of the visit passed in a blur of giggles and tiny hands pressed to glass enclosures. Aspen’s favorites were the baby goats. She got to feed one, and when it nibbled her fingers, she laughed so hard she had to sit down.Alec was right there beside her, brushing dirt off her knees, and I stoo
We got out of the car. The air smelled like pine and sunshine, and Aspen was practically dragging us toward the enclosures before we’d even paid the entrance f*e.“Looook!” she squealed. “That one’s got a funny tail!”“That’s a lemur,” Alec said, keeping pace with her tiny footsteps. “They live in M
SadieThe next day came sooner than I had expected or prepared for. I was still on cloud nine after shifting into our other state. It felt so good. Like I had unlocked something fierce. Something divine. After Alec left, I practiced more and each time it became easier than the last.My mind occasion
“I didn’t tell anyone,” he replied with a shrug. “I was ashamed. But eventually, I realized I couldn’t fight him forever. So, I stopped trying to control him, and I just… accepted him. I accepted that Knox was a part of me. I embraced the power of an Alpha and I allowed myself to merge with my wolf.
SadieThe wind danced around me, soft but persistent, stirring the tall grass that brushed against my legs. It was cool, yet beads of sweat trailed down my spine, clinging to my shirt as if they were trying to remind me just how much effort I was putting into this. My heart pounded, not from exertio
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The silence stretched until it felt like it would choke me.“You don’t have to say anything,” he said gently. “I’m not telling you to give him a chance, Sadie. That’s your choice. But I think… I think it’s time to stop hiding.”“Hiding?” I repeated, my voice hollow.“You
Sadie.I’d just come from a run. Sleep had been a distant thought, elusive and half-formed, slipping from my grasp every time I closed my eyes. My mind had been too full of everything and nothing. When day came, and I still couldn’t get any sleep, I decided to go for a run to clear my head before I