I turned around, still feeling dazed by the sight of him looming in the doorway. I kept thinking that he’d disappear as if he were a figment of my imagination, but nope, he was really here. His tall, muscular body, which I’d pressed up against in the last few days twice, was very much here. His ruggedly handsome face and dark eyes held me with such attention that it threatened to take my breath away.“Coffee?” he asked, a crooked smile curving his lips.Heat flushed my cheeks, and I realized I’d just been staring at him. “Sorry, jetlag,” I murmured lamely, hurrying out and following him down the stairs.My nearest coffee shop was just next door, and both Dylan and I were soon seated at a circular table with steaming mugs in front of us.I noticed Dylan still took his black as he had when I lived with him while I sipped on a hazelnut latte. I needed as much caffeine and sugar to get me through the shock of Dylan’s sudden appearance. With difficulty, I finally wrestled back the memories
A few hours later, I parked myself in my hotel’s restaurant, enjoying a schnitzel for dinner. With meat this good, I was starting to see why my mate might like this city. I multi-tasked, scrolling through Berlin property listings within a mile radius of Cherry’s as I ate. My phone on the table vibrated, my Beta’s name popping up on the screen.“Bert?” I answered.“So, her suitor’s name is Carl Jacobs. He’s human, thirty-one years old, and lives in Wedding, in the Mitte District of Berlin. He’s a property lawyer and works for DLL Partners.”A smile wound across my face. Cherry was dating a human. This was hardly competition for me. Another thought occurred to me as I stumbled across a great find on the property website.“Bert?” I said, my mind whirring as I concocted plans. “I’m going to send you a property listing I’d like you to buy. And after you call to make the o
But I swore I’d only do so once so that she allowed Fern to accept the gifts.Meeting the woman’s gaze, I used my preternatural stare. “It’s fine, honestly. I’m a good friend of Cherry’s. Let Fern take the gifts, and I’ll leave and call Cherry to arrange a better time to visit.”Lara released Fern’s shoulder, and as she met Fern’s upturned hopeful eyes, the nanny sighed. “Okay, go on, Fern, open one.”I gave the young woman my warmest smile, and she blushed.I crouched down and handed Fern one of the packages. Soon she had ripped it open. She turned to Lara, “Look! It’s an Elsa and Anna set!” She beamed at me and threw her little arms around my shoulders since I was still crouched down at her level.My chest felt tight as I heard Lara opening the door and calling Fern in. I was about to be shut out, away from my daughter. Nuu-Chah’s insight stirred again
I forced my gaping mouth closed, then pulled the door almost shut behind me, anxious not to wake Fern. If she woke, this situation was going to get even more complicated. I tugged Dylan away from the door. In the middle of the hallway, I crossed my arms and fixed him with a hard look. “I can’t accept these gifts, Dylan. And I don’t want you giving any more gifts to Fern either. I told you, I’m with someone else.”“You’re still not a morning person, are you?” He said with a crooked smile. “But then, you’ve probably not had your first coffee yet. Here’s a hazelnut latte.” He eyeballed the takeaway cup on the tray. I realized he’d stopped by the café opposite and remembered what I’d ordered yesterday.I planted my hands on my hips. “I’m serious, Dylan.” I resisted the divine smell of coffee and syrup, as well as the hot buttery croissants and jams that taunted my shifter senses.He shrugged as if unfazed by my expression and remonstrance. “So am I. After all, I’ve lost count of the number
As Fern and I stepped onto the sidewalk, I felt as if I had conjured Carl from my thoughts, spying him at the table in the window of the very restaurant we were going to. But… a dark-haired woman leaned over the small, circular table between them planting a kiss on his lips.I grabbed Fern’s hand, marching her off in the other direction. Getting out my phone, I called Carl. I didn’t expect him to pick up, but he did.“Hey Hun, is everything all right?”I almost choked but mastered myself. “Sure, I just wanted to hear your voice. How are you doing?”“Good, thanks. Just working. No rest for the wicked, right?”Sickness roiled through me. Wicked indeed. Fury and hurt twisted through me, but once again, I managed to contain it and said, “I’ll leave you to it, and see you soon, night.”“Night, Hun,” he said, hanging up.I dialed Lara next and managed to placate Fern with the change of plan, and I pretended to her that I’d just remembered a client’s dress that was being picked up from the st
Accepting the elegant, tall-stemmed glass, I took a sip and sighed with pleasure at the taste of the crisp liquid. “You’re right,” I said, looking at Dylan, who watched me, “it has been a long week.”Dylan eased off his shoes, too, his long legs crossed at the ankle as he settled back on the sofa.After another sip of wine, the soothing atmosphere and Dylan’s company made me open up. “When I came back to Berlin after your Alpha Ceremony…” I trailed off, needing another mouthful of wine before I could meet Dylan’s eyes, but he watched me, patiently waiting for whatever I had to share. “I decided I should take things to the next level with the guy I’d been seeing.”I took another gulp of wine, needing it to loosen up about talking to Dylan, of all people, about this subject.“I told him I was ready to, well, you know…” As my eyes met Dylan’s, my heart tig
Then Dylan rolled his hips, filling me with more of his delicious girth. I gasped, opening and arching against him to receive all of him until he was completely sheathed inside me. He plunged into me, and a tremor of pleasure shook through me. I bucked and cried out, already seeing stars. Dylan growled in appreciation, the sound sending me spiraling into another orgasm.“Dylan,” I cried out as the wave of pleasure took me. I felt as if all I was this fluttering and contracting around him. I clung to my mate, my nails clawing into his back and my legs hooking around his ass. My ragged breaths merged with his as he rode me hard until his shoulders stiffened. The strong lines on Dylan’s face were so taut as he roared his release, and I gloried in the primal sight. As he collapsed against me, spent, I melted against him, feeling as if I never wanted to let him go.The next day when my eyelids fluttered open to a dim room, it took me a moment to remember w
My lips twitched as my gaze raked across Cherry with humor. Was that what we’d just done, made up? Twice.As Cherry flushed, I remembered we had an audience and said, “We are a hundred percent made up. In fact, we’re best friends forever, Fern.”Fern squealed happily, which in turn, brought Lara to the door. Cherry reintroduced me to Fern’s nanny. Then, Cherry invited me in, and Fern entertained me in the living room by showing me each of the toys I’d bought for her and telling me about them. Meanwhile, Cherry chatted to Lara and thanked her for spending the night, reassuring her that her “work” emergency had been resolved. So that’s what she’d told Lara and Fern. I was pleased that no one else knew how distressed Cherry had been. I knew how much she prided herself on being able to handle everything herself. And I knew how capable she was of doing so. After all, she’d done everything by herself for seven
Fern's PerspectiveMy heart skipped a beat, and I immediately opened my eyes."...Fern..."His voice was faint, like the wind, yet it pierced my ears clearly. I jerked my head up to meet a pair of long-lost eyes.In an instant, my world collapsed.I threw myself into his arms, tears spilling uncontrollably, and finally let out a sob.—You're back."You're awake!" I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I nearly cried out, my tears already slipping down my cheeks.The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, a weak but warm smile forming. "Why... are you crying?""You were unconscious for so long... I thought..." I covered my mouth, unable to stop the sobs. All the strength drained from me in that moment, and I could no longer hold back. I jumped into his arms."I'm here..." he murmured weakly, gently stroking my back. "I'm back..."Giovanni's awakening shocked everyone. The pack received
Fern's PerspectiveHe's such a proud man. He's given so much to protect Daniel and me. He wouldn't just give up, would he?I forced myself to calm down, taking a deep breath before lifting my head with resolve."I want to see him."The hospital room was unnervingly quiet.He lay on the clean, white hospital bed, his face pale and bloodless. His chest rose and fell slowly, heavily. His once strong and powerful body was now covered in gauze and medical instruments, losing its former majesty.I slowly walked toward him, reached out, and gently held his hand. It was still warm, which reassured me, if only slightly."Can you hear me?" I murmured, my voice so soft it almost seemed to be swallowed by the wind.There was no response.I pressed my lips together, tears welling up in my eyes."You asked me to forgive you before, and I promised… so you can't just leave me like this." I choked out, my v
Fern's PerspectiveI rushed to catch up with Daniel in my arms, my heart pounding wildly, terrified beyond measure.He can't be okay… He can't be okay…The light in the hallway was dim and cold.Giovanni was wheeled into the emergency room, and the door slammed shut in front of me. I stood there, frozen, as if I had lost all strength."Mommy…" Daniel sobbed, tugging at my hand. Only then did I slowly snap back to reality, pulling him close and gently patting his back to soothe him. But my own body trembled slightly.Would he wake up?Would he open his eyes and look at me?I held Daniel tightly, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to stay calm. I can't break down. I can't let myself fall apart. But—"Fern," Tobias's voice rang out. He stood in the doorway of the emergency room, his gaze heavy with unspoken emotions."He…" My voice cracked. "He's going
Fern's PerspectiveHe should have been unconscious, but in that moment, he was like a demon returning from hell, furiously tearing through every enemy in his path. His body was still drenched in blood, with deep gashes on his back, exposing bone, yet he ignored the pain and ran toward me with single-minded determination.My heart raced in my chest, and once again, tears slipped down my face."Fern—!"He roared, throwing the last of the black-clad men aside and enveloping me in his arms. In that instant, it was as if I had truly come to life.But before we could catch our breath, Elena's laughter echoed in our ears."You really moved me, but…"She slowly raised the remote control in her hand, her eyes gleaming with twisted malice. "The game ends here."My pupils dilated in horror."Bomb countdown activated."Red lights blinked to life, and a sharp alarm blared from inside the warehouse
Fern's Perspective"Spare them..." His voice was low and raspy, as if the breath had been squeezed from deep within his throat—fragile yet firm.Elena laughed softly, her dagger at some point in her hand. The sharp tip of the blade gently slid down his cheek, leaving a fresh trail of blood on his already scarred skin. She leaned in close to him, whispering in his ear, "You really make me sick to my stomach, to have fallen this low. Didn't you always despise me? What now?"He didn't respond. He just opened his gray-blue eyes and gazed deeply into mine.My heart trembled.He was saying goodbye."No!" I struggled desperately, attempting in vain to rush toward him. But the man in black behind me held me down in an unrelenting grip, a cold gun barrel pressed against my back.Elena stood and turned to the henchman beside her, her tone chillingly calm. "Show him what humiliation truly means."Before I could reac
Fern's PerspectiveThe pungent stench of blood filled the entire warehouse, mixing with the rusty scent in the damp air, creating a nauseating atmosphere. My hands were bound behind my back, my knees sunk deep into the cold concrete floor, and my body had grown numb from the prolonged position. But the pain in my heart was unbearable, as if it were being scorched by an unrelenting fire, so intense that it stole my breath.Elena stood nearby, her heels echoing sharply on the ground like the bells of a death knell. She smiled, her narrow eyes glinting with the playful satisfaction of a victor, while several black-clad bodyguards behind her held Daniel down in a deadly grip. His mouth was gagged, and his eyes were wide with terror.But my gaze was fixed on the man before me—him, my MATE, my Alpha, the man I thought I'd never forgive in my life. Yet here he was, kneeling before Elena.I had never seen him so disheveled.His black
Fern's PerspectiveHowever, at that very moment, a loud bang shattered my thoughts—"BANG!" The warehouse door was viciously kicked open, sending dust flying and filling the air with a pungent, decaying smell. I instinctively opened my eyes, only to see a tall figure step through the doorway, standing frozen in the intersection of light and shadow, as if emerging from hell, radiating an unmissable aura.That figure was all too familiar to me—it was Giovanni.My heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed with a mix of surprise and pain. I hadn't expected Giovanni to be here, and even though I had long accepted that there was no going back to the past between us, seeing him in front of me still made my heart race and left me momentarily breathless.Elena clearly hadn't anticipated this turn of events either. My face immediately darkened, my gaze fixed on Giovanni like a viper's, and I drew a pitch-black pistol, aiming it menacingly at my
Fern's PerspectiveNight had fallen, and the air felt heavy with humidity, making it suffocating and uncomfortable. My heart raced faster than usual, and every step I took felt like it weighed a ton. My grip on the car keys tightened, and my eyes locked on the deserted warehouse ahead. I knew instinctively that nothing was going to be easy tonight, but there was no turning back. I didn't even let myself consider it.I tightened the collar of my jacket and took a deep breath, feeling a wave of suffocating pressure. Daniel's silhouette kept haunting my thoughts—the one closest to my bloodline, the one child who still didn't know who he truly was. I instinctively knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I couldn't allow Daniel to be harmed.The doors to the warehouse were closed, and a disconcerting silence hung in the air. I knew Elena had anticipated my arrival. As I approached the door, I gazed at the faded iron gate, hearing the bea
Fern's PerspectiveThere was a strange tension in the air when I got home. The moment I opened the door, a gust of icy wind hit my face. The house seemed unnaturally quiet, and the air felt thick and heavy. I couldn't shake the growing sense of unease rising in my chest.The place was a mess. Papers were scattered across the table, a few books had been knocked off the bookshelf, and shoes and clothes were strewn across the floor, suggesting that something had happened here. My heart sank as I quickly scanned the room, my eyes darting to every corner of the living room, searching for the one person I was most familiar with—my son, Daniel."Daniel?" I called out, my voice sounding weak as it echoed through the empty house, but there was no answer. My heart began to race, and my brow furrowed as I hurried through each room, checking every detail. The kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms—everywhere was empty. There was no sign of Daniel.