My footsteps echoed through the stone corridor, each footstep matching the pounding of my heart. The council room loomed ahead, its ornate wooden doors a silent sentinel guarding my fate. Beside me, Elroy's face was a mask of concentration. His brow was furrowed in thought but I knew better than t
Until a stern voice broke through the noise. "I concur with our Luna." My head snapped towards Elroy, my eyes widening in disbelief. I had truly believed he would be silent before the council, but he stood tall next to me, his posture resolute. My heart fluttered involuntarily. "Our laws are not
Elroy’s POV Olivia's shoulders were set, her jaw clenched as she strode past me into the council chamber. She didn’t even give me the chance to reassure her, and that made me uneasy. She just must not have seen me open my mouth, I reasoned. I tried to ignore that nagging feeling that said otherw
Olivia’s POV The musty scent of old tomes swirled around me as I settled into my favorite spot in the library's far corner. I spread my notes across the worn oak table, determined to lose myself in the investigation and escape the whirlwind of emotions Elroy had stirred up. It was the way Elroy
Elroy's fingers traced the curve of my spine, sending shivers through my body as he undressed me. I closed my eyes, determined to enjoy this. Think of it as giving yourself a reward for your victory today, I thought to myself. Sex didn’t have to mean anything. "You're incredible, Olivia," Elroy
My body was tired enough to demand sleep, though, so at least I wasn’t laying awake all night. Still, I woke up early and extricated myself from Elroy's embrace. I couldn’t stand the mess anymore, and what the shower didn’t wash away the bidet would. Sadly, by the time I was done Elroy was awake
I squinted at the files in front of me, the lightning outside casting dancing shadows across the room. The musty scent of old books filled my nose as I hunched over the heavy oak table, surrounded by stacks of records and case files. "I thought investigating crimes would finally get me out of this
Astor's steely eyes bore into mine, challenging, daring me to look away. But I held his gaze, my jaw clenched and shoulders squared. The air crackled with tension as we faced off in silent combat. Seconds stretched into an eternity. My heart pounded, but I refused to show weakness. Finally, Astor'
The silence hung heavy between us for a few moments until I opened my mouth, desperate to say something—anything—to break the tension, but Elroy beat me to it. “I’m so sorry,” he said. My breath caught in my throat. This was the last thing I'd expected. Elroy ran a hand through his disheveled
It seemed to take a long time, but eventually the air shimmered as Elroy's massive wolf form melted away, revealing his chiseled human physique. His eyes, still wild with primal energy, locked onto mine with laser focus. "Olivia," he breathed, pulling away from me just enough to assess that I wasn
Fay pursed her lips together, looking away from me as a single tear escaped down her cheek. The sight tore at me, and I knew there was absolutely nothing I could do to undo what I’d done to her. Just as awfully, there was nothing I could say. All the justifications in the world didn’t change what
It felt like I sat there for a long time, with Elroy slowly calming in my arms, though it was probably really only five minutes. Then I caught sight of Fay's fingers twitching once, a barely perceptible movement that sent Elroy into a frenzy. Before I could blink, he was on his feet, looming over me
Olivia’s POV My vision was gray around the edges when the pressure on my chest suddenly vanished. I gasped, cool air rushing into my starved lungs as I gulped it down greedily. For a split second I was so grateful I didn’t even bother wondering what happened. Then my vision cleared, and as I wat
Elroy’s POV The neon lights of the casino blurred together as my eyes finally broke open. I was alone in an empty casino, and Olivia was gone. I was groggy and uncoordinated, barely thinking as I struggled to push myself standing. My neck hurt where they’d buried the needle in, and whatever they
"Every single person here came on their own," Fay told me, her fingers absently tracing loops in the coarse dirt beneath us. “I never meant for this place to become a sanctuary, but one person came to us and then…" She trailed off, her gaze distant. My chest tightened. "How did they all find you?"
Cory nodded, his silver hair catching the dim light. "If you're comfortable, Luna Olivia." I hesitated, my hand instinctively moving to my belly. This could easily be a trap, but after the physical struggle of last night plus my panic attack, I couldn’t deny that I was terrified for my baby. Just
My bound hands trembled in front of me, the plastic tarp walls of the hut seeming to close in around me, matching the tightness in my chest. Ines's words echoed in my mind as I sat there alone, staining my previous views of the world. The realization sunk in deeper every second. The Omegas I’d bee