Seth’s POV“There’s a waterfall east, just outside the pack’s territory. Meet me there,” I mind-linked my men, my paws digging into the ground as I tore through the trees. Two hours had passed, and still no sign of it. The wind whispered through the woods, but not a hint of the water I was supposed to hear.Damn it, Tracey—had she sent me in circles just to stall?I pushed harder, a growl rumbling in my chest, when finally… there it was.My paws slowed as the faint rush of water reached my ears. Crouching low behind a thick bush, I scanned the cliff edge. Just like Tracey said—a small house, nestled precariously close to the ledge, lights flickering inside. I took a deep sniff, hoping for Camilla’s scent… nothing. Whoever was in there must be using a scent blocker, like Tracey had.I circled around, my eyes narrowing as I spotted them. Four… six… no, twelve wolves. This wouldn’t be easy.Before I could call for backup, the scent of my men hit me. Too soon. Shit. They’ll smell us befor
Seth’s POVRun.I knew I wouldn’t fight my men. Not that I couldn’t—but I just wouldn’t hurt them. With one last look at Camilla and a promise that I’d be back before the sun rose, I ran, forty-five wolves snapping at my heels.I pumped my legs, forcing myself to go faster. Pain sliced through me as a claw caught my leg, but I kept moving. A sharp left, mud sliding under my feet, barely slowing me down. Another cut—this one to my side—and I knew I couldn’t keep outrunning them in human form.Up ahead, a large stone stood out in the storm. I pushed harder, placing one foot on the rock and leaping into the air. My body shifted mid-flight, fur sprouting as my bones cracked and reformed.I knew whatever Lucius had created was strong—strong enough to command even those who weren’t his. It didn’t matter that I was their Beta. His control over them was unnatural.Thunder cracked and the sky opened up, rain pouring down in sheets.Before I could get my bearings, a dark wolf slammed into my si
Camilla’s POVStay. Freeze.Those two words had Seth and me rooted to the ground—literally. No matter how much I wanted to move, my body refused to obey.My heart pounded wildly, trapped within my chest. Seth stood in front of Lucius, gun pointed but the trigger was never pulled.Lucius laughed, turning his gaze on me. His eyes widened as lightning flashed across the sky.“Oh, isn’t this just wonderful,” he taunted, walking back toward me. He snaked one arm around my waist, the other curling tightly around my neck.His warm breath hit my skin, contrasting sharply with the cold rain soaking us both. “Look at that, darling. Seth here thought he could shoot me.”I wanted to scream or thrash, but I couldn’t. I was stuck, helpless. Was this how it would end? Was I really going to watch Lucius kill my mate because of some sick obsession with my mother?“Don’t—” I finally found my voice, eyes pleading as they locked with Seth’s. He looked back at me, desperate, helpless. “Let him go. Let Luc
Camilla’s POVThe gun slipped from my fingers and hit the ground with a dull thud. My whole body shook as I stared at the cliff, the place where everything had changed. It was over—but it didn’t feel like it. Without thinking, I turned and ran straight into Seth. His arms wrapped around me, solid and warm, like they always were. His heartbeat under my cheek was the only thing that made sense in that moment."It’s over," I whispered, barely recognizing my own voice as it cracked. Tears slid down my face, uninvited and unstoppable. "It’s finally over."Seth kissed the top of my head, his lips gentle. “Shhh, it’s okay now,” he said quietly, his words calming even though I knew he was just as shaken.I wiped my eyes and looked around. The others—the men who’d fought beside Seth—began to come out of the trees. Lucius spell on them breaking. They looked exhausted, their eyes dull, like they didn’t even know what had just happened. For a second, I thought I saw the same relief I felt, but th
Camilla’s POVI couldn’t tell how long we sat there, staring at the closed double doors. The world outside those doors had stopped existing for me. It could’ve been minutes, hours…hell, maybe even days for all I knew. Time lost all meaning when you were waiting for news that could break your heart or save it. All I knew, all I could think, was that I needed the doctors to come out and tell me that Lucien was going to be okay. I couldn’t think of anything else. I couldn’t feel anything else.My hands were trembling in my lap, fingers tangled together so tightly my knuckles had gone white. I kept telling myself to breathe, but even that seemed like too much effort. The air felt heavy, suffocating, like it wasn’t meant for me. The only thing I could do was wait. Wait for someone to tell me that my world wasn’t falling apart. That Lucien—my sweet baby boy, wasn’t slipping through my fingers.Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I heard a voice. A distant sound, muted against the loud roar
Camilla’s POVI was taken aback by his question and turned to Seth, both of us sharing the same look of confusion.“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Seth asked, his tone sharp.The doctor adjusted his glasses, then continued calmly, “What I mean is, Camilla, your body seems to be producing something vital for Lucien’s survival. From what I’ve gathered, the rapid cell growth in his body—likely caused by the connection you both went through—has thrown his body into overdrive. However, the nutrients in your breast milk are working to regulate this growth, essentially helping to slow down the rapid cell division that’s overwhelming his system.”I blinked, processing what he was saying. “So, you’re saying my body has what he needs to survive?”“Yes,” the doctor confirmed, his tone serious. “Your milk isn’t just feeding him; it’s giving his cells the ability to stabilize and develop at a more natural rate. Without it, his cells may continue to grow uncontrollably, which is why he’s
Camilla’s POVThree days later, we were finally heading home. I held Lucien in my arms, healthy and safe, with Seth walking beside me. The weight of the past few days seemed to lift a bit as we reached the pack house door. Seth unlocked it and pushed it open, leading us inside.As we stepped through, I took a deep breath. The familiar smell of home filled my lungs, but it felt like forever since I’d been here, like a lifetime had passed since we last walked through these doors.“Camilla?” a small, unsure voice called out. I looked over at the couch and saw Ava sitting there, her baby, Fiona, playing on the floor with Jorge.Before I could answer, Jorge’s eyes lit up. He jumped to his feet and ran straight to me. “Camilla!” he yelled, wrapping his little arms around my leg and burying his face in my gown.A smile spread across my face, my heart swelling at the sight of him. I looked down at him. “Hey, sweet boy,” I whispered, holding Lucien in one arm while gently resting my free hand
Seth’s POVIt had been two months, and things were going great. Life felt perfect.I pulled up to the pack house, spotting Camilla waiting outside. The moment she saw me, her face lit up, and she started waving. Lucien was cradled snugly in her arms, while Jorge ran around her in excited circles, clutching his toy airplane like it was his greatest treasure.A smile spread across my face as I parked the car. Stepping out, I walked toward them, wrapping my arms around Camilla the moment I reached her. She let out a playful gasp, pressing her hand against my chest with a grin. "Good afternoon, sir," she teased, her voice full of humor.I raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. "Hmm, it's a good afternoon now that I’ve seen you," I murmured before pressing my lips to hers. The warmth of her against me was comforting, and she sighed softly into the kiss—a sound that always tightened my chest in the best way. I deepened the kiss for a moment before pulling back, resting my forehead against he