NinaI wake up gasping, the remnants of the nightmare still clawing at me. Cold sweat sticks to my skin as I sit up in bed, breath shallow and erratic. The dream is there, lingering like a ghost I can’t shake off.I’m standing in a graveyard, the earth beneath me damp and dark. I’m burying him. My child. The one I lost. It’s not real, but it feels like it is. I can feel the weight of the tiny bundle in my arms, the pain of loss crawling into every inch of my chest.The grave is too small. Too damn small.I try to bury him, but the dirt keeps coming back up. It won’t stay. It can’t stay. My hands shake as I shove the dirt in, but it doesn’t stop the ache, doesn’t stop the flood of memories. That night in the hotel. The blood. My baby’s blood.Callie’s voice echoes in my mind, but it’s too late. She rushed me to the hospital, but by then, I was already gone. I was already alone.And Jaxon…I can’t forget that part. I can’t forget how he was supposed to be there. How he wasn’t. How he st
NinaThe air feels heavier than it should as the last of the pack steps forward. It’s too quiet now, the kind of silence that makes your skin itch. I glance around, taking in the somber faces, the bowed heads. Nobody says it, but it’s there, hanging between all of us. We failed them. Luke and Parker. We weren’t fast enough. Smart enough. Something enough.I take a deep breath and step forward again, my boots crunching against the gravel. The pack’s eyes follow me like they’re waiting for me to fall apart. Too bad. Not happening.“We’re not letting this go,” I say, my voice cutting through the silence. “Luke and Parker deserve better than that.”There’s a murmur, soft at first, but it grows. Heads nod. Eyes harden. They’re angry. Good.From the back, one of the younger wolves speaks up. Kian. He trained with Luke and Parker. Same age. Same fire in his eyes.“Alpha,” he says, stepping forward. “We’ll find out what happened. I swear it. Whatever it takes.”A ripple of agreement moves thr
JaxonThe drive back to my estate feels longer than it should. I loosen my tie and lean back, the silence in the car doing nothing to quiet the storm in my head. Seeing Nina at the funeral… hell, it’s like a fresh wound. The way she stood there, strong but still carrying all that grief, it gutted me.But I showed up. I represented Silver Crescent, even if she didn’t want me there. That has to count for something.I park in the driveway and step inside, the heavy door slamming shut behind me. The house feels empty, like it always does. Too big, too quiet. My steps echo as I head toward the living room, ready to grab a drink and sit in silence for a while.But I don’t make it far.“Jaxon!” My mother’s voice slices through the air, sharp and cold. I glance over my shoulder and see her storming toward me, her heels clicking against the marble floor.“What?” I say, already tired, already knowing this conversation won’t go anywhere good.She crosses her arms, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t ‘wha
NinaThe music hums in the background, a mix of laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. It’s not raucous, not wild—it’s a celebration, but one tempered by grief. Parker and Luke deserved this moment, a night where we remember their lives, not just their deaths.I’m standing near the bonfire, watching Callie talk animatedly to Dominic about something I can’t quite hear. For a moment, the weight on my chest feels manageable, almost light.Then I hear the commotion.The energy shifts like a ripple through the crowd, murmurs breaking out as heads turn toward the entrance. And there he is. Elijah.“Elijah,” I say, my voice sharp as I make my way toward him. “What the hell are you doing here? This is private.”He looks disheveled, his usually impeccable appearance slightly undone. But his expression? Smug. Too smug.“Nina,” he says, holding up his hands in mock surrender, “I came to apologize.”“You should’ve thought of that before missing the funeral,” I snap. “This isn’t the time o
JaxonI burst through the front door, Scarlett in my arms. Her body is limp, barely holding onto consciousness, her breath shallow, skin pale as paper. My heart’s racing, but I don’t have time to think about that now. I need to get her inside, fast.“Mom!” I shout, panic lacing my voice. “Mom! Where the hell are you?”She comes rushing out of the kitchen, her face turning white when she sees us.“Jaxon, what the hell happened?!” she asks, rushing over, her hands flying to Scarlett’s face.“Get the doctor here. Now,” I bark, my voice strained. I’m trying to stay calm, but it’s hard. Too damn hard when Scarlett’s barely hanging on by a thread.“Jaxon, what—what happened to her?” she asks, her voice trembling as she looks from me to Scarlett.“She’s hurt. Bad. You need to get someone here. Now.”Mom grabs the phone off the counter, dialing someone I can’t even focus on. I keep my eyes on Scarlett, trying to keep her steady. She shifts a little, her eyes fluttering open for a second.“Sca
NinaI stand outside Dr. Julian’s office, staring at the door. I can hear my breath in my ears, feel the tension twisting in my chest. My father’s words echo in my mind. “You need to handle this, Nina. Rylan can’t die in our territory. If he does, it’ll cause a mess we can’t control.”I swallow hard and knock twice, the sound too loud in the quiet hallway. No response. I knock again. My stomach twists, and I feel like I’m walking into something I can’t undo.“Come in,” a voice calls from the other side, calm, steady. Dr. Julian.I push the door open, my hands shaking despite myself, and step into the sterile, white-walled room. The faint smell of antiseptic hits me like a punch to the gut. Dr. Julian’s sitting behind his desk, glancing at a set of papers. His eyes flicker up to meet mine, and he smiles softly—too softly.“Miss Romano,” he greets me, his voice steady but guarded. “What brings you here?”I blink, feeling the weight of his eyes. I’m not sure I even know what I’m asking f
JaxonThe next day, I arrive at Nina’s territory with my pack in tow, my nerves buzzing in that way only a fucking mess can make them. She’s been playing games with me, pushing my boundaries, and it’s time to stop it.The scene is familiar, almost comforting in its brutality—Nina’s people look like they expect a fight, but there’s no way they’re ready for what’s coming. I don’t give a shit if they’re armed or not. They won’t stop me. No one gets to touch my pack.Especially not fucking Rylan.I stop in front of her, my boots digging into the dirt like I’m marking my territory. My jaw is tight, fists clenched at my sides, but I don’t look at Nina just yet. Instead, I focus on the way Rylan stands beside me. His face is pale, the color drained from his lips. He looks like shit. His hands twitch at his sides, but I know what he needs. He needs out. He needs to get the fuck out of here and back where it’s safe.“Jaxon,” Nina calls, her voice sharp like she’s trying to hide the panic she’s
JaxonI’m staring at Rylan, watching him as he slowly starts to come around. He’s still groggy, looking like he got hit by a fucking truck, but at least he’s breathing. Thank god for that. I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the tension that’s been clawing at me ever since I pulled up to Nina’s territory.“Rylan,” I grunt, sitting beside him on the couch. “You good?”He blinks a few times, his eyes flicking open and then squinting against the light. His hands twitch like he’s trying to move, but his body’s too weak for it. “What... happened?”I watch him carefully, waiting for him to fully snap back. His eyes land on me, and I see the confusion there. “You’ve been out of it for a while, man,” I mutter. “How do you feel?”He shifts a little, groaning as he tries to sit up, but he’s still not all there. “Fucked up, Jaxon... But... I’m okay.” He looks at me, his voice barely above a rasp. “I... woke up a few minutes ago. Thought I was gonna die for a second.”I swallow hard
Nina’s POVI stir awake to the warm press of Jaxon’s body behind me, his arm draped over my waist. His breaths are slow and steady, his chest rising and falling against my back. For a moment, I let myself linger in the stillness, the kind that’s familiar these days.The room smells faintly of cedar and lavender—Jaxon’s scent mingling with mine, comforting in a way I didn’t expect after everything we’ve been through. I glance at the window; the pale hint of morning sunlight filters in through the curtains, softening the sharp edges of the world outside.“Are you awake?” Jaxon’s voice is husky, laced with sleep.“Barely,” I murmur, tilting my head back to catch his gaze.His lips curve into a lazy smile, and before I can say anything else, he rolls me onto my back, his body pressing over mine. “Good,” he mutters. “Because I’m not done with you yet.”I laugh, the sound muffled as his mouth captures mine. It’s soft at first, a whisper of a kiss, but it quickly deepens, his hand tangling i
NinaThe house is quieter than I expected for a morning like this. The kind of quiet that wraps around you, soothing and heavy at the same time. I lean against the kitchen counter, watching the sun spill through the windows, painting the room in gold.Jaxon’s voice filters in from the living room, a low hum of conversation with Dominic. They’ve been working on some kind of strategy for the pack, a way to integrate the remaining members of the Silver Crescent seamlessly. Hearing him talk like that, so sure and steady, sends a warmth through me I didn’t think I’d ever get back.“Morning,” Callie says, slipping into the kitchen with a grin, her hair still damp from a shower.“Morning,” I reply, pouring her a cup of coffee. “You’re up early.”She shrugs, taking the mug with a small smile. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d check on Griffin before breakfast.”“How is he?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I saw him last night, and he was fine—better than fine, really, but I still nee
JaxonThe air is thick with tension, every breath I take tasting like the promise of blood and chaos. I stand at the edge of the tree line, staring at Elijah’s stronghold. It’s a fortress, tall and imposing, and every instinct I have tells me we’re walking into a trap. Doesn’t matter. We don’t have another choice.It is only three days since he last gave us the slip, but Nina and I agreed that the longer we wait, the more he reinforces. This is the right time to hit again.I glance at Nina beside me. She’s all sharp lines and cold determination, her jaw set, her hand gripping the syringe so tightly I’m worried it might snap.“Ready?” I ask, my voice rough.Her eyes flick to me, and for a second, the mask slips. I see the fear there, the weight of everything riding on this moment. “Ready,” she says, her voice steady despite it all.Rylan steps forward, his usual cocky grin replaced with something grim. “We’ve got this,” he says, his eyes scanning the treeline behind us. “They don’t sta
NinaJaxon moves to my side, his hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out,” he says, his voice steady.I nod, but inside, I’m falling apart. Elijah’s right about one thing: time is running out.The smug bastard had slipped through our fingers like smoke, leaving behind nothing but chaos and a threat that sticks in my mind like a thorn.Jaxon sits across from me, his shirt ripped and bloodied. His knuckles are bruised, and there’s a cut across his jaw that’s still bleeding. He leans back in his chair, eyes shut, breathing heavily. For a moment, he looks like he might pass out.“Let me see that,” I mutter, grabbing the first aid kit from the table.He opens one eye, his lips quirking into something that might have been a smirk if he weren’t so exhausted. “You’re bossier than usual.”“Shut up and sit still.”I dab at the cut, my movements harsher than they need to be. He hisses but doesn’t pull away. “You don’t have to take it out on me.”“I’m not.” My voice shakes. Damn it. “I’m just
NinaThe tension in the air is so thick, it feels like we’re moving through molasses. The SUV stops just short of the perimeter of Elijah’s territory, and everyone’s quiet. Dominic’s hands grip the wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. Lucas is in the backseat, checking the weapons one more time, his movements too sharp. Rylan is silent, his gaze fixed out the window, as if willing himself into a different headspace.Jaxon’s beside me, close enough that I can feel his warmth. He leans in slightly, his voice low. “You good?”I nod, my throat dry. “Yeah.”He doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t push. “Stick close to me,” he murmurs. “If something goes south—”“It won’t.” I cut him off, sharper than I mean to. “We’ve got a plan.”He stares at me for a second before nodding. “Alright. Let’s stick to it, then.”Dominic kills the engine, and the darkness around us feels alive. It’s like the trees themselves are holding their breath, waiting. We step out, weapons in hand, moving silently. Elija
JaxonI’m not sure what I expected when we came together tonight. Maybe a few more words, more arguing about how stupid this whole thing is. But it’s just the two of us, sitting in the quiet of Nina’s room, and I can feel the tension hanging between us. She’s not ready to forgive me. I know that. But right now, I don’t care. We’ve got bigger shit to deal with.“Jaxon.” Her voice is quiet, like she’s trying to keep everything in. I can tell she’s thinking a million things, but she won’t say any of it. She never does when she’s worried.I turn to face her, shifting on the bed to face her fully. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”She hesitates for a moment before looking me in the eye. “I’m scared. You know that, right?”I nod slowly. “Yeah. I can tell. Hell, I’m scared too.”She rubs her eyes, looking worn. I wish I could take all the weight off her shoulders, but I know I can’t. Not now. Not with Elijah breathing down our necks. “I’m not afraid of the fight,” she says, her voice
NinaLucas raises an eyebrow, his skepticism written all over his face. “What happens if it doesn’t go according to plan? Because let’s face it, Griffin is still in danger. He’s not out of the woods.”I swallow hard, the weight of his words sinking into my chest. “If it doesn’t go as we hope... then we adapt. We fight. We fight for Parker. We fight for Griffin. And we fight for everyone else Elijah’s hurt.”The room quiets, the tension settling in. It’s a lot to ask, but I need them to understand. We’re all in this together, whether we like it or not.“And I need to know something,” I add, my voice sharper now, but still steady. “If you’re going to fight by my side, you need to know that fighting with me means declaring war with Elijah. I’m not forcing anyone. If you’re here because you think you can back out when things get tough, then now’s the time to say it. I need warriors who are ready to stand without fear. No second-guessing.”A low murmur ripples through the crowd. Some of th
Nina“You heard him, Dominic,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intended. “I need a minute. To think. This is too much.”Lucas steps forward, his face a mask of frustration. “But Nina, we can’t keep delaying this. We need to act now. He’s already trying to manipulate the entire pack.”“I know,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “But I need a second. Just a second to process everything that’s been thrown at me. I can’t make a decision when my head’s spinning like this.”There’s a beat of silence, and I can feel the council members’ eyes boring into me. I’m their Alpha now. They’re waiting for me to lead. But right now, all I want to do is scream.“Fine,” Dominic says, his voice low, a mix of concern and frustration. “But we can’t wait too long.”“I’m not waiting,” I reply, my voice finally softening. “I just need to think. Please.” I push my chair back, standing up, feeling the weight of it all settling on my shoulders.The meeting dissolves in murmurs as I walk toward the door. I
NinaThe council room is tense. The air feels heavy, like a storm is brewing. My family fills one side of the long wooden table—Dominic, my father, and Lucas. They’re all focused, their eyes scanning the room, waiting for what comes next. No sign of Jaxon. No Callie. It’s just us—here to figure out the next steps, the next move for our pack.My mind is heavy, burdened with the weight of everything happening. Griffin’s barely holding on. My ex-husband is human, weak, but still the man I loved. And Elijah... Elijah’s out there, somewhere, probably planning his next move. I don’t trust him, but I have no choice. The council needs answers, and I need to make sure we don’t lose control.“Dominic,” I begin, my voice steady but the nerves creeping in. “What’s the plan?”He gives me a quick glance, his eyes serious. “We need to call a council meeting, figure out how we’re moving forward. We’re at a tipping point, Nina. We can’t afford to keep guessing.”“Agreed,” I say, nodding.As the room q