AvaThe Packhouse’s main hall felt like an entirely different world. The flickering candles and braziers cast dancing shadows on the walls, and the air was thick with the scent of spiced wine and perfume. Streamers hung from the ceilings, swaying in the breeze created by the dancing throng.But most
And then, just like that, he released me and disappeared into the crowd. I watched him go, my heart aching, before turning to find Ophelia.She appeared at my side moments later, her grip on my hand almost painfully tight. “Shall we do this, darling?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.“Just l
AvaI awoke to an eerie silence, my head throbbing and tender from where I had been struck. The once lively party had now come to a deathly silent standstill, and I found myself being roughly thrown at Olivia’s feet.As my vision cleared, I saw Chris, Leonard, and Ophelia kneeling beside me, their w
Killed him. She had killed him. She had brought a human-made gun to our world, and Patrick had never called for backup, and she was going to kill us all, and—“Calm,” Chris sent through our mate bond. “We can get out of this. Breathe, Ava. Breathe.”I sucked in a shuddering breath, a pitiful attempt
“Olivia, stop! Please! She’s pregnant!”Olivia didn’t falter. If anything, Chris’s words just fueled her. The heat of the fire seared my skin, my hair, my dress, and I closed my eyes, a sob escaping my throat. I was going to die here, and my child—our child—would never even have a chance at life.Bu
AvaChris and I stumbled out of the burning Packhouse, coughing and sputtering as we were engulfed by the surging crowd of panicked pack members. The cool night air was a stark contrast to the intense heat we had just escaped, but it offered little relief as smoke continued to billow around us.I tu
Chris, however, tensed beside me. “And Olivia? Elise?” he asked, his voice tight.The Elders exchanged nervous glances, their faces falling. Finally, Elder Paul shook his head. “We have searched the crowd for them, but there is no sign of them.”“If they made it out of the building,” Fatima said qui
AvaThe morning sun cast long shadows over the ruins of the Packhouse as Chris and I picked our way through the debris. The acrid smell of smoke still hung heavy in the air, making my eyes water and my throat itch. Charred wood crunched beneath our feet, and here and there, small wisps of smoke stil