Kayla When Nicholas insisted that I pick a spot to go next, I hesitated, biting my lower lip. The truth was, I did have something in mind, but it felt silly for reasons I wasn’t ready to admit. Liam had never cared to ask what I wanted to do when we were together. Every ‘date’ we had together, i
Eventually, with my arms full, I found Nicholas still in the fantasy section. He was engrossed in a thick hardcover, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Find something good?” I asked, approaching him. “Possibly. But I think you might like this one.” He handed me a paperback with an image of a w
Kayla My stomach growled loudly, echoing in the quiet of the night. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table—it was almost midnight. No wonder I was starving; I had missed dinner entirely after falling asleep earlier. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I changed quickly out of my rumpl
“Nicholas,” Nora purred, attempting a disarming smile. “We were just chatting.” He stepped forward. “I heard enough. Go to bed.” She bristled slightly. “I was only offering some advice.” “Insulting my Luna isn’t advice,” he said coldly. “And if I find you commenting on her physical capabilitie
Kayla & Nicholas Kayla The morning sun seeped through the canopy of trees as I jogged along the forest trail, golden shafts spilling across the ground. Leaves crunched under my feet, and the cold morning air filled my lungs. I stretched my arms above my head, feeling the satisfying pull of muscl
I dodged another punch, noting the almost feral look in her eyes. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but not from exertion—it was as if she was burning up from the inside. But I barely had time to notice this, let alone duck before she came at me again, her attacks lacking finesse but strangely packed
Kayla I was still riding the high of the morning’s fight when Nicholas approached me near the training grounds. Most of the spectators had already dispersed, a few lingering behind to chatter excitedly about Nora’s humiliation and my unexpected victory. “Just so you know, we’re expected at a bir
But this felt different. Jade and Emma seemed to genuinely enjoy my company, and I enjoyed theirs. Looking back, the interactions between Vanessa and myself had always felt a little forced, although I didn’t notice it at the time. This didn’t feel like that at all. As Emma stepped back to admire
By early afternoon, we’d moved outside to begin setting up the decorations in the expansive garden behind the manor. Pack members were bustling about, hanging lanterns from tree branches, arranging tables, and setting up the bonfire that would be lit when the moon rose.I struggled to lift a box of
KaylaThe Blood Moon Revelry.I’d completely forgotten about it with everything that had happened. Between my father’s betrayal, William Straud’s attack, and Emma’s injury, the annual celebration had slipped my mind entirely until Nicholas mentioned it last night.I stood at the large bay window of
I leaned down and pressed my lips to Emma’s cold cheek, my tears falling onto her skin. “Wake up, Emma,” I said softly. “Please wake up. We need you. You need to get better and come back to us.”She remained still, the only movement the steady rise and fall of her chest, mechanically aided by the ma
KaylaI paced the length of the hospital waiting room, my nerves frayed to the breaking point. Every few steps, I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, watching the hands move with excruciating slowness.Twelve hours. Emma had been in surgery for twelve hours now.Jade sat huddled in one of the
Nicholas straightened slightly beside me, his expression carefully neutral.“Therefore, by unanimous decision of this council, we hereby appoint you, Nicholas Reynolds, as chairman of the guild, to serve alongside me in leading our institution into a new era of transparency and justice.”I gasped so
KaylaThe press release went out early Monday morning, a joint statement from Nicholas and me that detailed everything that had happened with my father, William Straud, and their accomplices. The truth about their attempts to find Luporath, about the manipulation and murder, and about how they’d bee
I swallowed hard, remembering the moment I’d crushed the compass beneath my boot. “I didn’t think I had it in me,” I admitted. “My father said the relic could help me—could make my wolf emerge.”Nicholas’s eyes darkened. “I know. I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit that I wanted to find it for that very
KaylaI rushed to Emma’s side. Blood pooled beneath her, staining the straw-covered barn floor a sickening crimson. Jade dropped down across from me with a gasp.Marcus was there an instant later, his face twisting with anguish when he saw his sister. He shouldered past us and scooped Emma’s limp bo
I ripped the compass bracelet from my wrist, holding it high. “Is this what you want?!” I shouted. “Come take it!”The attack paused. Even Isabella halted, looking to her cohorts for guidance. The compass dangled from my fingers, swinging enticingly.“No, Kayla! Don’t give it to them!” Nicholas mana