Agnes & ElijahAgnesWe moved from the ballroom at the gala to the auction hall for the next part of the gala—the auction. I took in the elegant surroundings, the polished floors and glittering chandeliers, feeling a bit more relaxed now that Elijah had solidified my place at his side to everyone. W
“I didn’t, Agnes. I thought about you every single day. I wanted to reach out, but I didn’t know how. And Ava… she kept pushing the lie, making it sound like I’d ruin your life if I showed up again.”I felt a wave of nausea hit me. Years of pain, confusion, and heartache—because of one person’s mani
ElijahAs the night wound down and the energy of the event began to fade, I slipped away from the mingling crowd. The conversation I’d just had with Mason lingered in my mind, like an echo I couldn’t quite shake. He had been warm, even kind—an unexpected balm to the tension that had gripped me all e
AgnesThe sterile, clinical scent of the pack doctor’s office filled my senses as I sat in the examination room, the hum of fluorescent lights overhead doing little to calm my nerves. The polished white walls seemed to close in on me, cold and indifferent. It had been hours since the tests started—bloodwork, scans, and even mystical evaluations meant to unearth whatever had been wrong with me for the past five years.I was beyond exhausted, but more than that, I felt numb.Elijah sat across from me, his broad frame tense, his dark eyes locked on me as if he could shield me from whatever news was coming with sheer will alone. That was just like him—silent, stoic, protective. But there was nothing either of us could do now.We were at the mercy of the doctors.Dr. Monroe, the lead pack physician, finally entered the room, a folder tucked under his arm. His expression was calm, professional, but not encouraging. He set the folder down and glanced between me and Elijah.“We’ve reviewed al
As we left the office, I noticed the tension in Elijah’s posture, the barely concealed anger simmering beneath the surface. This news had struck a chord with him, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of my wolf or something else. I debated asking him, but I had more pressing matters on my mind.Once we were outside, I stopped, turning to face him.“Elijah,” I began, hesitating slightly. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about.”He glanced down at me, his expression softening just a fraction.“What is it?”I took a deep breath, steadying myself.“It’s about Olivia and Thea.”Elijah’s body stiffened at the mention of his ex-wife and daughter.“What about them?” he asked, his voice guarded.I chose my words carefully. “I’ve been thinking about Thea and how she reacts whenever Olivia is mentioned. She’s scared, Elijah. I know Olivia is dealing with depression, but I don’t think it’s safe for Thea to be around her. Not yet.”He frowned, his eyes narrowing. “You think I don’t kno
AgnesThe night felt unusually still, the kind of quiet that made you feel like the world was holding its breath. I sat at my desk, staring at the letter before me. Its content was simple enough—an apology signed by Elijah—but the handwriting was unmistakably Thea’s.A smile tugged at my lips as I r
AgnesI couldn’t shake the mix of emotions swirling inside me as I walked through the gleaming corridors of Silvermoon, heading toward the design department. After everything that had happened with Elijah since I’d met him—the tension, misunderstandings, and heartache—I found myself tasked with revi
I swallowed hard, trying to focus. I wasn’t here to dwell on the past. I was here to fix things.As I moved deeper into the room, my eyes flicked over the designs pinned to the digital boards. Gowns with sharp silhouettes, intricate beadwork, and avant-garde cuts—beautiful, yes, but distant. These w
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. He explained that he’d spoken to Ava today, that Ava had saved one of the letters after all and that the handwriting matched up to Olivia’s.Olivia. Of course it was Olivia. She had always been jealous, always possessive, always angry.But to go so far as to
AgnesThea’s violin lesson was the highlight of her week, and it was quickly becoming the highlight of mine, too. Watching her skip ahead of me, holding her violin case in both hands, was enough to make my heart swell to twice its size.I walked her to the door of the music studio, crouching down to
“This is the only one I kept,” she said, her voice trembling. “I didn’t show it to Agnes because… because I didn’t want to get in trouble.”I picked up the letter, my eyes scanning the neat, precise handwriting. The message was short but clear: “Rip out pages 47, 63, and 89. Do not tell anyone, or e
ElijahI didn’t tell Agnes where I was going. She’d been through enough lately, and I didn’t want to add to her stress. Besides, I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for. All I knew was that Ava had done something suspicious, something that might have had a connection to Agnes’s missing wolf, and I
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, his lips brushing against the top of my head. “I know you were still holding onto hope.”I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.“I’ll call the detectives tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll get updates on the search for your daughter. We’ll find her, Agnes. I promise.”His words off
AgnesI stood in the bathroom, staring at the small vial of murky green oil that the witch had given me. The liquid inside seemed to swirl on its own, catching the dim light from the vanity. I uncorked it, the faint scent of herbs and something earthy wafting up to meet me.One drop, she had said. J
Agnes shook her head. “I just remember…” She frowned, looking confused as she pushed her hair out of her face. “The room went cold, and I opened my eyes, and it was all… dark.” She glanced at me and added, “But then I blinked and now I’m here.”The witch looked at me then, and there was a knowing ex
ElijahWithin moments of beginning the ritual, Agnes’s head fell backwards and her eyes rolled back. Panic lanced through me and I surged forward, reaching for her.“Agnes—”“Don’t touch her,” the witch said, holding out one hand to stop me. “She’s fine.”“Fine?” I echoed, letting out an incredulous
Elijah simply shrugged. “I hate to see you suffer from losing your wolf. Besides, what happened in the forest was just proof that you’re weaker without it.”My lips parted. Of course, I recalled the way I’d stumbled blindly through the woods that night, unable to see properly without my wolf’s super