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
Agnes I stared at the screen, watching the final cut of the video Katy and I had worked so hard on. Thirty seconds. Just thirty seconds to sum up everything we were trying to achieve—balancing fashion and comfort, reaching a broader audience, and making Silvermoon relevant to everyday people again
Thea was already back from day camp when I arrived, sprawled on the living room floor with a coloring book and a horde of new crayons—which we’d certainly be finding under the couch for years to come. She looked up as I entered.“Mommy!” She jumped up and ran to hug me. “How was work?”“It was good,
AgnesI straightened my blouse one last time before pushing open the glass door to the design department. It had been almost a month since I’d last set foot in the office—first because of the fire, then because of everything with Thea and the house rebuild.I wasn’t nervous, exactly, but there was a
“Thank you.” I took a sip, letting the rich flavor roll over my tongue. “For everything. Not just the wine.”He smiled. “You don’t need to thank me, Agnes. None of this would have happened without you.”“That’s not true. You’re the one who went to see Olivia. You’re the one who believed her crazy st
Agnes“Your eyes are drooping, kiddo.”“Are not!” Thea insisted, even as her eyelids fluttered shut for a moment as she said that. “I’m just… blinking.”I snorted and shut the picture book I was reading. “Those are some awfully long blinks, Thea. Your new room will still be here when you wake up in
We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the house together. Thea insisted on opening every drawer, looking into every closet, and testing every light switch. Elijah and I couldn’t help but join her in this endeavour.The builders really had outdone themselves, and my mind was already racing wit
Agnes“Keep your eyes closed,” I warned Thea as Elijah and I guided her up the front steps of our newly rebuilt home. “No peeking.”“I’m not peeking,” Thea sighed, even though I could see her looking through her fingers clear as day.It was Thea’s eighth birthday, and also moving day. The house had
“I’d like to come,” she said quietly, tucking the day pass into her pocket. “To the ceremony.”I nodded, relieved. It was the right thing to do, regardless of our history. Everyone deserves the chance to say goodbye to their child.“Why hasn’t Elijah unmarked me yet?” she asked abruptly. “He could d
AgnesOlivia stood pressed against the wall of her cell, her eyes darting from me to the tray of tea and cookies I’d set on the small desk.“Would you like to sit?” I asked, gesturing to the lone chair at the desk. When she didn’t move, I added, “I promise I’m not here to hurt you.”“Right,” she sco
“We have to tell her,” I said, pulling back to look at Elijah. “On her birthday, like we planned.”“Two more days,” he agreed, wiping a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “Goddess, Agnes, I can’t believe it. All this time...”Pure joy bubbled up inside of me, and suddenly I was laughing through my t