“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
Agnes As I left the studio that evening, Elijah was waiting for me by the door. He didn’t say a word, but his eyes held a quiet approval, and something more—a connection we hadn’t yet defined. Without thinking, I stepped toward him, feeling the shift between us. Our tension was broken by Katy
“I’m glad,” he said softly. “You both needed something good after yesterday.”I leaned against the island, thinking about the sweet evening with Thea. “She called me her hero, you know. For coming to save her.”Elijah smiled. “Well, you were.”I shook my head. “I don’t feel like one after that incid
AgnesI rushed toward Elijah, my heart hammering in my chest. Even in the dim light of the entryway, his black eye was startlingly obvious—a dark, angry bruise circling the socket. He was slumped against the door, looking exhausted, but he straightened when he saw me, grimacing slightly from the eff
“Just like yours,” she said happily.“Just like mine.”Next came hair braiding. Thea sat on the floor between my knees as I gently worked through the tangles of her dark hair, separating strands for a French braid. My fingers moved automatically, muscle memory from years of doing my own hair. I humm
AgnesI pulled into the driveway around seven, exhausted after a long day of sewing, designing, and avoiding Maria’s knowing glances.The bathroom incident with Elijah had been the talk of the design department by lunchtime—whispers and stifled giggles following me throughout the afternoon. I’d buri
“Do you still intend to try and break your mate bond with Olivia?” I blurted out, then immediately regretted my bluntness.Elijah’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t pull away. “Of course I do. Why would you think otherwise?”I glanced down, unable to meet his gaze. “No reason. I was just wondering if… a
AgnesElijah’s grip on my wrist was firm as he pulled me out of the design department. My heart hammered against my ribs, not knowing what to expect. Was he angry? Had he seen the article? Had Olivia done something else?The blood from my pricked finger trailed down my palm, warm and sticky. Without
“In one explosive moment, Luna Agnes managed to convey what her entire fashion line attempts to say: that family transcends biology, that love requires sacrifice, and that sometimes we must destroy beautiful things to protect what truly matters.”I set the tablet down, my hands trembling. She though
AgnesI sat at one of the communal workstations in the design department, my fingers mechanically working the fabric as I remade the dress. The old one had been torn beyond repair, Olivia’s claws having shredded both the material and my pride in one fell swoop.But maybe I could at least try to rebu
“You’ve only ever seen Thea as a means to an end,” I finally finished. “A way to get what you want.”Olivia blinked at me. A darker thought, one that had lurked in the recesses of my mind for years, surfaced suddenly. “Hell, Olivia,” I continued, my gaze sweeping over her, “sometimes I wonder if The