“That’s understandable,” my father said. “You’ve been through a very difficult experience.” I nodded in agreement. “Has your investigation uncovered anything?” I asked hopefully. “No much,” he admitted. “We’re going to keep looking. I won’t allow anyone to harm my family and get away with it.”"
Alexander’s POVNews of Ella’s kidnapping had remained mostly contained. Her father was working hard to ensure it, and I was doing my part to keep the rumors from spreading in my own pack.Rogue activity in the south was an issue that none of the Alphas wanted to admit they had lost control over. Th
I stared at the reminder on my phone. How could I have forgotten such an important thing as my best friend’s birthday? Amanda must have been furious with me.Was that the reason David had snuck off to see her in the original timeline? Did he feel the need to cheer her up and show her that her birthd
The day of the wedding arrived before I knew it.Everything was so busy; the entire morning felt hectic as I rushed around, trying to ensure that every detail was handled appropriately.I wasn’t sure where David was, except that he had told me he needed to arrange parking and transportation. I suspe
The old me would have been outraged and hurt by Amanda's dress, but the current me was only annoyed. Was she trying to pull something to embarrass me, or was it just an attempt to get David’s attention for herself?There was no way I could know unless I asked her. That would be a mistake, though. I
I stared at the young, panicked driver as I tried to make sense of his words.Of course, we invited the Alpha King to the wedding—it would be an insult not to—but he never attended events like this. There were too many weddings too frequently, and he didn’t want to give the appearance of favoritism
Amanda stared at me with wide, surprised eyes as she sat in the makeup chair. It was my wedding day, and yet she was the one being pampered and made beautiful.Maybe it was the stress of the morning or the embarrassment from my foolish phone call to Alexander, but I felt myself losing control of my
"We were told that the plan had changed," the hairdresser responded weakly."You might as well finish it now that you’ve started. I'll be back in 10 minutes," Isaid before walking out the door.I needed a moment to regain my composure. If I wasn't careful, I would reveal too much. My anger at Amanda
“Michael’s far more mature than you are,” Alexander shot back. “As if he had a choice,” Fiona quipped. “What does that mean?” I asked, curiosity piqued. “With a mother like Diana, it’s not like he had the luxury of a normal childhood,” Fiona said casually, her tone light but her words weighted.
Ella POV “How did Fiona trick you into coming out with her tonight?” Alexander asked, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips as we settled into a dimly lit booth at the warm cocktail bar up the street. Fiona kicked him under the table. Alexander winced and hissed in pain. I laughed, unable to help m
“Fiona!” I called out. She turned, her emerald-green dress shimmering under the chandelier light. The long bell sleeves and silver jewelry made her look effortlessly elegant. She smiled warmly as she approached us, a tall, broad-shouldered man with light brown hair at her side. “I didn’t expect to
Ella POV The story unfolding on the stage below was utterly entrancing. I couldn’t tear my eyes away as the scene shifted to a beautiful young woman being pursued by her raving mother. The villain’s aria was both mesmerizing and terrifying, her powerful voice weaving between anguish and fury as t
Ella POV The rest of the week was a whirlwind. News outlets hounded Alexander for comments about the king's rumored retirement, speculating wildly about his next move. Meanwhile, the hunt for Dr. McIntyre weighed heavily on my mind, especially since there seemed to be no progress. Alexander’s late
I laughed softly at my father’s teasing. “I can work hard too, you know. I just prefer balance.” “As you should,” he replied with a small smile. August smiled slightly as well, then stood and stepped away from the desk. “I’m going to give Alexander a call. He wanted an update as soon as possible.”
Ella POV The next evening, I found myself back in my home pack’s territory, sitting in my father’s office. It felt strange being here after so long, especially given the change in circumstances, but there was something comforting about it. Alexander had been unable to attend the meeting due to an
Ella POV “You’re back,” Alexander said as I walked into the apartment, his voice warm but tinged with curiosity. “Yes, sorry I’m late for lunch,” I replied, setting my bag down. “My coffee outing ran long. I ran into Fiona at the café, and we got to talking.” “That’s good,” Alexander said, watchi
A small, irrational part of me wanted to turn around and walk out, but that would be ridiculous. Instead, I stepped up to the counter and focused on placing my order: the usual drinks for James and me. I’d hoped Fiona wouldn’t notice me. No such luck. “Ella!” she called out, her voice bright with