Kayla Nicholas and Mason rolled across the sandy floor of the sparring ring in a flurry of kicks and punches. If it weren’t for the blood gushing from my leg, I might have paused to marvel at the intensity of the fight, just like the other wolves who had come running at the sound of the scuffle. B
I couldn’t help but scoff. “You’re just saying that.” Nicholas shook his head. “I saw the whole thing—I was watching the fight before he…” He shook his head, and his eyes burned brightly for a moment before he quickly blinked and calmed himself again. “You nearly had him on his ass within the first
Kayla The next morning dawned bright and clear; well, about as bright and clear as it could be with my wounded leg still throbbing with pain. I found Nicholas, Henry, and Ava downstairs by the time I managed to drag myself out of bed and get dressed. They were seated around the kitchen table, Nich
Nicholas’s jaw ticked. “The news has it all twisted. She never cheated.” “So she says.” “So I say.” Nicholas sighed and went to move around her, but Rebecca stepped in his way. “Be logical, here, Nicholas,” she insisted. “I mean, come on. She has a reputation. Don’t you know what you’re getting i
Kayla Nora stepped into the room, looking sheepish as ever. “I took Silverbite that day I sparred with Kayla,” she explained before anyone could say a word. “I can tell you the name of the main dealer in the area.” Nicholas, Marcus and I all glanced at each other. Nora wasn’t exactly the paragon
Emma winked as we tugged our helmets on, clicking the remote for the garage door. “Good luck, kids,” she said with an impish little grin. And then, with a rev of the engine, we were off. I couldn’t help but let out a wild laugh as we sped out through the back entrance, unseen. The gates slid shut
Kayla The next day, Nicholas and I shifted focus—on the outside, at least. Behind closed doors, we were still investigating Gray’s involvement in Noah’s sudden coma. But in the public eye, we were as calm and unbothered as ever. That day, Nicholas scheduled an interview with a local journalist to
But truthfully, they were so much more than that. At a wedding as politically charged as ours, the seating chart was everything. Nicholas and I would have to painstakingly choose who would sit next to whom, which tables would be clustered together, which of our family would sit with us at the head t
I nodded, suddenly feeling my legs go weak. Three days walking nonstop in the forest, living on berries and squirrels, finally seemed to be catching up to me. I sank down into a nearby chair, slumping slightly.Nicholas glanced at me, then walked out of the room without a word, leaving me and Jade a
KaylaI didn’t hesitate. “Take me there,” I said, turning abruptly toward Nicholas.Nicholas furrowed his brow slightly, as did Emma. I knew they were both surprised at my sudden interest in Nora, who had been nothing but a thorn in my side since we’d met. And frankly, I didn’t blame them. Maybe a f
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