Cole Slowly, General Amir smirks at me. “What?”I frown, shifting uncomfortably in my chair. “Other…young men?”He laughs, low, I think mildly entertained. “That’s a question for Nadia, Cole. Not me. But yes, you’re not without competition. And certainly there are some against whom she has less prejudice.”I groan, leaning back in my chair, covering my face with my hands and tilting my head back, trying to collect myself as my wolf races off into the darkness of my soul in a complete panic.Why? Why didn’t I ever even bother to ask if Nadia was seeing anyone!?But surely – surely Shayne would have told me –“Cole.”With an effort I collect myself, lifting my head back up and slipping my hands down so I can meet General Amir’s gaze.“She’s really putting you through your paces, isn’t she?”I sigh, nodding, dropping my hands into my lap. “She’s just…holding me to such a high standard, General Amir.”He raises his eyebrow at me as my wolf comes skulking back, no less panicked but wanti
Nadia“Nadia.”A creaking little squeak rises in my throat as I turn my head toward the noise, a determined frown curving my lips.Something pats my mattress.“Seriously, Nadia.”My eyes fly open to take in the horrible sight of Cole Kincaid’s perfect fucking face eight inches from mine.I bolt up, starting to shriek, but - quick as a panther - he slips a hand over my mouth and muffles the sound.“Can you not!?” He hisses, glancing rapidly around at all of the other sleeping forms. “Everyone is asleep!”I start to say that I was likewise asleep and pleased to be so – but the words are all stifled against his palm, so I just seethe, already glaring – which is not an activity I enjoy before dawn when I haven’t had any coffee –“I come in peace, all right?” Co
NadiaI scoff and roll my eyes. “Will you just tell me?”He laughs, looking down at the fire. “Listen, Nadia. I heard everything you said to me last night. Or at least, I tried to. And I’m very sorry. I’m going to try to be better.”My mouth falls open.He raises his gaze to my face.I snap my mouth shut, determined to let him eat his fill of crow.“I wasn’t fair to you and I wasn’t kind. I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you. I should have. I’ve arranged for –““I’m sorry too.” I bite my lip, looking down, pissed off at myself for giving in so quick. I mean, three seconds ago I was ready to indulge in a pleasant morning of sipping coffee and listening to the Prince grovel.Stupid conscience.Cole pauses.“I am,” I say, nodding solidly, not looking at him, my stupid
NadiaMy dad looks up from his desk where he’s setting up the video call, his eyes moving quickly between Cole and me. “Nadia,” he murmurs, dropping his gaze to the keyboard, clearly hiding a smirk. “Good morning. To you as well, Cole.”“Good morning, sir,” Cole says, taking me by the elbow and giving me a little tug so that I follow him. As we move to stand behind my father, another man comes in – one I’ve seen frequently around camp, especially as he organizes the delivery of more and more patients. He stops at the entrance, narrowing his eyes at me with a frown.“Captain Stanzor,” Cole says, nodding to the chair in front of him, which is empty and clearly reserved for this relative stranger. “Good morning. It’s nice to see you again.”Stanzor slowly crosses as dad presses the button to connect the video call. The Captain tak
NadiaI shake my head at Cole in apology, but he just turns back to the screen at the sound of his father’s voice.“Yes,” Ethan says, nodding seriously to all of us. “We’ll expect to send a great number of refugees as well as Children of Solace members – combative and not – toward you. General Amir, if we can get you some expected numbers, can you start to think of ways to sort this out? I’m aware that you have one medical tent right now and it…might not be best practice to mix populations, though we’ll want everyone who needs aid seen.”“Right,” my dad murmurs, nodding quickly to the King before starting to take some notes. “Yes, get me some numbers. I’ll see what I can do.”I exhale slowly, glancing at Cole, who focuses on the screen, his face quite grave.And as much as it surprises me to ever be in line emoti
Nadia God, but my butt hurts.I shift uncomfortably on the wooden bench that I’ve been sitting on since the ferry station opened at dawn, glaring up at the departure board as I’ve been doing for hours, waiting for my ferry’s dock to be announced – across the bay, back home. Far, far away from Cole fucking Kincaid, that Alpha jerk who claimed me last night – in front of his entire family, in front of my dad.I scowl, turning over the events in my mind for the millionth time, getting just as steamed and mortified about it as I was since the moment it happened.That smug jerk coming down the formal staircase inside the damn palace while I was just standing around waiting for dad to stop talking to the King so we could go. I knew I shouldn’t have listened to dad when he said it would be no big deal to wait for me there – I haven’t gone back to the palace since I was eight for a reason.I hate those stupid royal wolves – I never wanted to see them again.And the moment Cole had seen me
Rage flares through me as I stare up at Cole Kincaid, taking in his broad shoulders, his thick black hair, his tanned skin and slightly stubbled cheeks. And, of course, those fucking blue eyes that look like they’re staring right through me.It pisses me off even further that I have to tilt my head so far back to look into his face. I mean, I am not a short woman.“What are you doing here?” I sputter, already seething.“What am I – Nadia! What the hell are you doing here!?”“I’m going home,” I snap, tossing out a hand toward the boat behind me. “Or at least I was, until –“I gasp, my eyes flaring wide before I glare so deeply I can barely see between my narrowed lashes.“Cole,” I growl, “did you fucking cancel this ferry? To keep me here!?”He narrows his own eyes, stepping forward to loom over me. “Did you think I was going to let you go, Nadia?” His voice is low with anger, all rumbly and threatening. “You’re my fucking mate –““Oh, lay off!” I shout, stepping back and starting to t
ColeI take a deep breath, my eyes focused on my father at the front of the room as he debriefs his generals and counselors on the assault we’re beginning on the Children of Solace – a separatist group turned cult that we’ve recently discovered has been harming our citizens.“We’ll take any military volunteers we can get,” dad murmurs, leaning over a page full of data regarding the numbers we need, my sister Iris at his side bending over to look as well. “Some will aid reconnaissance teams as they collect information on the Children of Solace, and a smaller party to protect aid workers as they provide their own unique assistance.”I keep my eyes focused on dad as my brother elbows me in the side. “No doubts about which crew you’ll be volunteering for, right? Considering that’s what Nadia signed up for after you dragged her back from the ferry and her dad hauled her ass out of here?”I turn my head just slightly to glare at him. “Shut up, Jude.”“Nah,” Jude says with a happy sigh, grin
NadiaI shake my head at Cole in apology, but he just turns back to the screen at the sound of his father’s voice.“Yes,” Ethan says, nodding seriously to all of us. “We’ll expect to send a great number of refugees as well as Children of Solace members – combative and not – toward you. General Amir, if we can get you some expected numbers, can you start to think of ways to sort this out? I’m aware that you have one medical tent right now and it…might not be best practice to mix populations, though we’ll want everyone who needs aid seen.”“Right,” my dad murmurs, nodding quickly to the King before starting to take some notes. “Yes, get me some numbers. I’ll see what I can do.”I exhale slowly, glancing at Cole, who focuses on the screen, his face quite grave.And as much as it surprises me to ever be in line emoti
NadiaMy dad looks up from his desk where he’s setting up the video call, his eyes moving quickly between Cole and me. “Nadia,” he murmurs, dropping his gaze to the keyboard, clearly hiding a smirk. “Good morning. To you as well, Cole.”“Good morning, sir,” Cole says, taking me by the elbow and giving me a little tug so that I follow him. As we move to stand behind my father, another man comes in – one I’ve seen frequently around camp, especially as he organizes the delivery of more and more patients. He stops at the entrance, narrowing his eyes at me with a frown.“Captain Stanzor,” Cole says, nodding to the chair in front of him, which is empty and clearly reserved for this relative stranger. “Good morning. It’s nice to see you again.”Stanzor slowly crosses as dad presses the button to connect the video call. The Captain tak
NadiaI scoff and roll my eyes. “Will you just tell me?”He laughs, looking down at the fire. “Listen, Nadia. I heard everything you said to me last night. Or at least, I tried to. And I’m very sorry. I’m going to try to be better.”My mouth falls open.He raises his gaze to my face.I snap my mouth shut, determined to let him eat his fill of crow.“I wasn’t fair to you and I wasn’t kind. I’m sorry that I didn’t trust you. I should have. I’ve arranged for –““I’m sorry too.” I bite my lip, looking down, pissed off at myself for giving in so quick. I mean, three seconds ago I was ready to indulge in a pleasant morning of sipping coffee and listening to the Prince grovel.Stupid conscience.Cole pauses.“I am,” I say, nodding solidly, not looking at him, my stupid
Nadia“Nadia.”A creaking little squeak rises in my throat as I turn my head toward the noise, a determined frown curving my lips.Something pats my mattress.“Seriously, Nadia.”My eyes fly open to take in the horrible sight of Cole Kincaid’s perfect fucking face eight inches from mine.I bolt up, starting to shriek, but - quick as a panther - he slips a hand over my mouth and muffles the sound.“Can you not!?” He hisses, glancing rapidly around at all of the other sleeping forms. “Everyone is asleep!”I start to say that I was likewise asleep and pleased to be so – but the words are all stifled against his palm, so I just seethe, already glaring – which is not an activity I enjoy before dawn when I haven’t had any coffee –“I come in peace, all right?” Co
Cole Slowly, General Amir smirks at me. “What?”I frown, shifting uncomfortably in my chair. “Other…young men?”He laughs, low, I think mildly entertained. “That’s a question for Nadia, Cole. Not me. But yes, you’re not without competition. And certainly there are some against whom she has less prejudice.”I groan, leaning back in my chair, covering my face with my hands and tilting my head back, trying to collect myself as my wolf races off into the darkness of my soul in a complete panic.Why? Why didn’t I ever even bother to ask if Nadia was seeing anyone!?But surely – surely Shayne would have told me –“Cole.”With an effort I collect myself, lifting my head back up and slipping my hands down so I can meet General Amir’s gaze.“She’s really putting you through your paces, isn’t she?”I sigh, nodding, dropping my hands into my lap. “She’s just…holding me to such a high standard, General Amir.”He raises his eyebrow at me as my wolf comes skulking back, no less panicked but wanti
ColeI look at General Amir evenly, holding his gaze. “I want Nadia to have full access to all the information I have. I want her in on meetings, debriefings, planning, all of it. She’ll have a vote in the proceedings of this operation – even just a minor one. I’m going to tell this to my father and I want you to support me on it.”General Amir raises an eyebrow. “Well, that’s a terrible idea.”I gape at him.“What?” he asks, smirking at me and lacing his fingers together as he leans further back in his chair. “My girl throws a temper tantrum and you reward her with unprecedented access?”I scoff. “I am not giving her rewards – and I’m not responding to her tempter tantrum like I’m her indulgent father or some-““Damn right you’re not.”General Amir’s tone surprises me. I sit taller in my rickety chair. “You’re being impulsive, Cole,” General Amir says, his voice low, words swift. “You’re eager to please her, which I understand, but she is a student nurse. She is clever as anything a
I take deep breaths, willing my mind to clear, my blood to stop rushing in my ears, but I still flinch when I feel Shayne’s hands on my shoulders, and then her arm wrapping around me as she trots to keep up.We walk together a few feet in silence, leaving the Prince behind.“Wow, you really let him have it,” she whispers, glancing back.I keep my eyes forward. “Was I too hard?”“Maybe a little bit, Na-na,” she whispers, giving me a squeeze. “But…I get it. It’s a subject that’s close to you. You care.”My head hangs lower, my guilt at war with…with everything in me that I hold dear. The ethics I inherited from my father, the big raw heart from my mother, the desperate desire to do anything I can to help. All mixed up in a big angry lump named Nadia.Tears come to my eyes again. Terribly confused, I slump against Shayne, who gives me a squeeze.&ldq
Nadia“I asked you,” I snap, not even bothering to try to keep my tone even anymore. “I asked you point blank if Rose was lying about the humans in the basement and you turned away –““Nadia,” Cole sighs, lifting his hands and wrapping them around my arms – not hard, but certainly firm.“Get off of me!” I shake myself and step back, wanting my freedom.He sighs and does as I demand, his jaw working in frustration. “I wasn’t trying to keep it from you – I just didn’t want you to get upset in front of –““Why not!” My voice carries now as I begin to lose myself. “Didn’t want me to get upset!? It’s fucking upsetting! I have a right to know –““You seriously can’t understand why I wouldn’t want you to b
Silence reigns for a second, then footsteps crunch on dirt. “Why don’t we get her in the car?” Tommy murmurs to Shay. “She can sit in the middle – have one of us as a buffer on either side.”Shayne nods and loosens her arms. Together they guide me toward the car, helping me into the back seat. I work very hard to pull myself together as Shayne hops in on the other side and makes quick work of my buckle.I glance up once, seeing Cole’s eyes in the rearview mirror, watching me, his expression tense and devastated.I look away, not wanting to face him right now. Half because I don’t want him to see me cry – half because I’m…furious.The jeep rumbles again through the woods, though the wind on my face is far less pleasant this time – every gust of it a slap on my cheeks. I lean against Shayne as I stew, trying to sort through my complicated feelings, figure out why I’m so damn