With shaking hands, I picked up the photo and shoved it back into the box. My movements were frantic as I snapped the lid shut, hurried to the kitchen to grab a chair, and climbed up to return the box to its place on the top shelf.Once it was back where it belonged, I sank into a kitchen chair and
Alexander POVI hadn’t expected Ella to still be awake when I returned to the apartment. I’d been gone less than an hour, but as upset as she’d been—and as late as it was—I figured she’d have given up waiting and gone to bed.Instead, she was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with
Ella’s annoyance was palpable. Without so much as a glance in my direction, she redialed.I watched her carefully. The phone rang again. And again. Her frustration grew with every unanswered ring, her lips tightening into a thin line. When the call finally rang out for the second time, she practical
Third person POVThe fiasco of a wedding had all but guaranteed a messy marriage. David Lake had never believed in sayings like that before, but now, as he and Amanda wallowed in misery, he couldn’t deny its truth. And whose fault was it? Ella’s.She had ruined everything—again. Her ridiculously ext
It meant they had access to information that could be used against him—a liability he couldn’t afford.Still, he saw an opportunity. If he could get to the address before anyone else, he could eliminate the doctor and ensure her silence. With Dr. McIntyre out of the picture, one of his most dangerou
Ella POVI was exhausted after my meeting with the Alphas of the Kingdom. Once again, David had been too busy to oversee the official gathering, and as Luna Queen, it had fallen to me.I never liked hosting these meetings, but I’d grown used to it. They were necessary for the good of the Kingdom, an
Alexander POVAngry didn’t even begin to describe how I felt. David Lake was once again complicating a situation that was already stressful enough. If he thought I’d let him cover up his schemes this time, he was dead wrong.My rage was growing by the second and it felt like the elevator was descend
Ella POVThe intensity Alexander was showing both comforted and frightened me. The situation was undeniably dangerous, and if things went wrong, the consequences could be catastrophic. But his determination was unwavering, and I couldn’t help but feel we might actually succeed.Alexander had never l
Alexander POVMy heart was in my throat as I stared at Lexie. Even from several feet away, I could see the way she was shaking, her small body trembling with barely contained fear.Her wide blue eyes darted between the towering figures in the room, desperate for a safe place to land. But there was n
Alexander POVI checked my watch for what felt like the hundredth time. It was almost noon, and I had hoped to meet Sabrina and Lexie an hour ago. The plan had been simple: a shopping trip to get everything they would need for their big move to the Rowandwood pack.Lexie was excited about starting s
She trembled—barely noticeable, but I could feel it, see the way her body stiffened. Diana wasn’t one to show fear, but it was there now. Her eyes widened, though she tried to hide it behind a mask of defiance.She opened her mouth to speak, but her words faltered as she seemed to reconsider. Her ha
Ella POVIt took a while for August to calm down enough to leave. He wouldn’t give me any more information than he already had, but it did seem like he felt a little better now that he wasn’t the only one aware of the gravity of the situation.I was still standing in the doorway where I had spoken t
“I can’t,” he said weakly, his voice choked by tears.“Why?” I asked, frustrated.He looked away from me and I realized that I already knew the answer to that question. “Alexander is keeping something from me,” I said softly.He nodded, but couldn’t seem to meet my eyes.I could only imagine how har
Ella POVAugust paced across the living room, his brows drawn together in frustration. The tension in the room was thick.He and Alexander had a huge fight just a short while ago. I wasn’t in the room when it happened, but I could hear them shouting. I couldn’t make out any of the words, but it was
“I–” Sabrina looked at Lexie and sighed softly. “I’m very grateful. We’d be happy to stay with you until we’re able to find a safe place of our own.”My father smiled brightly. “Wonderful. We’ll be very happy to have you.”Overwhelmed with gratitude, I reached for his hand. “Dad…thank you. I didn’t
Ella POVThe warm glow of the restaurant’s chandeliers cast a golden hue over the elegantly set tables.I sat beside Alexander, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of my wine glass as I watched Lexie beam with pure delight. The little girl twirled in her chair, the soft pink dress Alexander h
Alexander’s gaze softened as he considered the offer. “That… might actually be the best solution.” He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re thinking about her like this.”I squeezed his hand. “She’s important to you. That makes her imp