Kayla The bell above the door chimed softly as I stepped into the small boutique, shaking the snow off my boots and rubbing my hands together for warmth. The air inside was nice and toasty, filled with the scent of vanilla and pine, and the faint sound of holiday music drifted from the back of the
“Haven’t abandoned us?” she snapped, cutting me off. Her voice rose, already drawing the attention of the few other customers scattered around the store. “Then where the hell have you been? We’re barely holding on, and you’re here buying scarves and sweaters? Are you using Alpha Nicholas’s money to
Nicholas Last night… The waiter had barely set the plate down before I waved him off, leaning back in my chair as I glanced around the expensive restaurant. It was quiet and dimly lit with candles, the soft hum of conversation mixing with the clinking of silverware. Perfectly normal. Perfectly
“You don’t have to do this,” she said quietly, but she was already sitting up straighter, her eyes lingering on the food longer than she probably meant them to. “I know.” I set the bag down between us, leaning against the cold cell wall as I watched her unwrap the containers. “But I want to.” Gr
Kayla The moment Noah mentioned my father, I nearly dropped the bundle of clothes I was holding. My eyes went wide. “My… My father?” I barely managed to choke out. Instantly, all of the worst-case scenarios went through my head—with my father’s death being at the forefront. I hoped that wasn’t t
Kayla Noah’s hands were still warm where they had lingered a little too long on my arms, and I hadn’t even registered how close we were standing until I heard the sound of that furious, familiar voice coming from behind me. I barely had time to turn around and realize what was happening before N
“She’s my mate,” Nicholas hissed, gesturing toward my neck where—beneath a thick scarf—my fresh mating mark was still red and pulsing with a strange, tender feeling. “You’ve marked her, yes,” Noah said as calmly as ever. “But Nicholas, you know as well as I do the power of a true fated mate bond.
Kayla Noah stood there silently, watching me with those steady, unflinching eyes of his, waiting for me to say something. Anything. But the weight of his words still lingered in the space between us, and there was no shaking them. Fated mate. The phrase kept looping on repeat in my head, ov
At that, Nicholas released me, taking a step back. He furrowed his brow. “You look surprised.”“Because I thought you had no intention of going on a honeymoon,” I blurted out, smoothing down the front of my jacket. “I thought…”My voice trailed off, and I couldn’t find it in me to say it out loud. I
KaylaI looked up to see Nicholas approaching, his face pale. “Are you alright?” he asked, stopping a little ways away from where I was standing.I quickly turned away, hoping he couldn’t see the tears welling up in my eyes. “I’m fine.”“Kayla.” Nicholas stepped in my way. “Talk to me. Did something
Was it true that Nicholas had laughed in her face when she confessed her feelings? Was he truly that heartless, even back then? Was it true that Nora thought she was doing me a favor by trying to break us up, by showing me that audio clip?I didn’t think Nora could ever be my friend, not by a long s
KaylaI stared at the deer turning on the spit, its skin turned red and glistening with fat as the fire cooked it from beneath. The air smelled like roasting meat, mingling with the scent of fresh bread and mulled cider.I was starving and surrounded by food that looked utterly delicious, and yet my
Before I could protest further, Nicholas whisked me off my feet, gathering me in his arms like I was as light as a feather. He strode quickly toward the edge of the forest—I was surprised to find that we weren’t nearly as far as I thought we were this whole time—and then veered toward the house.“I’
KaylaI stared wide-eyed down at Nora’s unmoving body, at the pool of blood forming around her abdomen. She coughed and sputtered, eyes glazed over, already worlds away from this place by the time I found her.The warrior said that he had accidentally pushed her too hard during a spar, and she fell
And although it was bitterly cold out today, with the feast being held outside no less, all of the torches and fire pits scattered around the gathering area kept me warm enough that I’d even removed my jacket some time ago.Jade shook her head and took a seat next to me, perching on the edge of the
NicholasI never would have admitted it, not to anyone or even myself, but I spent three days straight thinking of nothing but Kayla.The moment she walked into the forest, wearing nothing but some practical training gear with only a flint and steel kit in her pocket, her head held high despite the
The next morning, I woke up early, the cold air biting at my skin and my legs aching from yesterday’s exertion. I broke down my makeshift camp once more and set off into the woods, once again searching for the stag.I moved quickly, my eyes scanning the trees for any sign of the stag. I heard a scuf