NicholasI paced the length of my office relentlessly, practically wearing a path in the carpet beneath me. My mind raced with images of Kayla—her bruised throat, her pale face as she lay unconscious in my arms. The memory almost made me sick, causing my wolf to claw at the inside of my chest.Jade
Marcus cleared his throat. “Maybe stop treating her like she’s made of glass? I mean, I get it—you’re worried. But Kayla’s spent her whole life proving herself. Being pregnant doesn’t change that.”I wanted to argue, but deep down, I knew he had a point. I’d been hovering, trying to shield her from
KaylaI rolled over in bed for what felt like the hundredth time, wincing as pain shot through my body. The digital clock on the nightstand showed 2:17 in the morning, and Nicholas still hadn’t come to bed.Not that I could blame him. Our argument earlier had been brutal—his face when he’d found out
I stepped closer to the bars, desperate hope clawing at my chest despite my better judgment. “What was the poison? And where is the antidote?”Liam shook his head. “I can’t just tell you. I have to take you there.”“Bullshit,” I spat. “You’re trying to get me to let you out.”“Yes,” he admitted. “Bu
NicholasMy eyes were bleary by the time I ripped my eyes away from the pile of paperwork on my desk and glanced at the clock. 3:24 AM. Fuck. I needed to get to bed.With a heavy sigh, I pushed away from my desk and stood, stretching my stiff muscles. The thought of Kayla’s warm body pressed against
I burst through the door and found myself on the small service road that led away from the estate. And there, illuminated by the moon’s pale light, stood Kayla and Liam.My vision went red. Without conscious thought, I let my wolf take over. I shifted and burst forward, a snarl ripping from my throa
KaylaI barely felt the cold seeping through my thin nightgown as Nicholas carried me back to the house. Barely felt his arms around me. Barely even felt the warm fanning of his break across the top of my head.Barely felt anything except for bitter desperation, regret, and frustration.Once inside,
“If you’re so concerned about Liam’s love for you,” he said coldly, “then maybe you should marry him instead.”Before I could respond, before I could explain that I only meant that maybe Liam could be trusted, at least to an extent, Nicholas was already striding toward the door.“Nicholas, wait—”Bu
The sensation was indescribable—like finding a piece of myself I hadn’t known was missing, like coming home after a lifetime of wandering.I grinned up at Nicholas, feeling almost impish with the secret I’d kept for so long.His mouth hung open, shock written across his features. “You knew,” he said
Kayla“One more push!” the doctor’s voice barely registered through the haze of pain that had consumed me for the past sixteen hours. “I can see the head, Kayla. One more big push!”Nicholas gripped my hand, his other arm supporting my back as I leaned forward. I was beyond exhaustion, beyond pain,
There was Emma, fierce and loyal despite everything she’d been through, slowly healing from her injuries with her brother’s unwavering support. Marcus, who’d practically raised his sister from childhood and would do anything to protect those he cared about, including us.Noah, with his gentle demean
Kayla“She’s going to get what she deserves. Today,” Emma said, drumming her fingers against the armrest of her wheelchair. It was the third time she’d said it in the last half hour, but none of us called her on it. We were all tense.We stood outside the guild hall in a loose circle, our faces grim
“What did you do with her?”“She’s locked up in Nightshade’s prison for now,” Nicholas said grimly. “I’m going to speak to the guild to decide her fate.”I shivered. I couldn’t believe it, and yet… Somehow, I could. Because Isabella had done so much worse. This was just the cherry on top.My thought
KaylaLight filtered through my eyelids, hazy and blurred. Everything felt heavy. Sore. But alive.The first thing I saw was Nicholas hunched over me, clutching me so tightly I could barely breathe.“Kayla,” he murmured against my throat. “Kayla, please come back…”My shaky hand came up, my fingers
Across the room, Noah let out a roar of grief and anger, his fist punching through the wall with enough force to crack the plaster all the way to the ceiling. Marcus’s hands tore at his hair as he cursed violently. Emma shook in her wheelchair, silent tears streaming down her face. Grace simply star
Nicholas“Detain her!” I snarled at the nearest warriors, who were tangled with their new mates in various states of undress beneath the trees. They scrambled to their feet at my command, eyes widening as they took in Isabella writhing on the ground beneath me, her glamour spell completely faded now
“I’m here, Kayla,” she whispered. “I’ve always been here. It’s going to be okay…”Sobs tore from my throat. “I’m miscarrying, aren’t I?” I choked out, clutching her tighter. “I’m going to lose my baby.” I pulled back just enough to look into those luminous green eyes. “Please emerge before that happ