Renee’s POV Mrs. Hazels face is ashen. “Renee, I’m so sorry,” she says in a single breath and gently closes the door behind her. My heart thumps in my chest. My head jumps to conclusions but can’t land on any. Last time Eric took her, that’s unlikely this time because he’s at work and would hav
I doubt whatever car took her brought her home, but maybe they came by and Debbie took something that can indicate where she went. Before the car is fully at a stop, I throw it into park and race to the front door. I struggle with the lock, cursing under my breath. Finally the key gets inserted
Renee’s POV “Mia took you?” I shout. Unbelievable. I laugh at the audacity. First she steals my design and tries to ruin me as a designer. Then she takes my daughter? She’s a mother herself, I would expect that to be enough for her to know using children as a ploy for messing with someone is off
Debbie sinks back in the passenger seat. Despite her slightly larger frame because of her wolf traits the seat still engulfs her pup body. I put the car back in drive and safely continue on my way. After dropping Debbie off at Jaspers and briefly explaining the whole situation I’m hit again with t
Renee’s POV I leave the office for the second time today, but this time my confidence has plummeted. Just when I thought Eric was going to be completely on my side, he still left some of himself to Mia. Even when we were married, he always had a soft spot for her. Even if he claims it’s because
I’ve only been to Jaspers a couple of times, but he’s changed a few things since I was here last. His once pale blue kitchen walls are now a deep burgundy giving the room a warm feel, a shap contrast to the cutting winds outside that tell us winter will be here soon. Though it’s only two in the af
Renee’s POV The next day at work I pace outside Eric’s office. Thinking of quitting my job and starting my own business was much easier yesterday with some liquid courage in the confines of Jaspers house. Now that I’m here actually about to quit, I don’t feel as confident. Jasper already wired
A vein in Eric’s forehead pulses. He grunts. “All right then,” he says and Maranda from his seat. “Box up your things you’re finished today,” he says stiffly. Usually an employee stays two weeks after quitting, but I don’t question Eric on this. I rise to my feet and hurry out the door before he c
“Congratulations, man.” Eric says this time pulling Jasper in for a bro-hug.Emily and I glance at one another with raised eyebrows and instantly can read each others expressions- not fated-mates, just best friends.“So,” Jasper says awkwardly. “Do you think you’d be my best man?” Jasper blurts out
Renee’s POV One Year Later The doorbell chimes and echoes throughout our tall white ceilings.“I’ll get it!” Debbie says while running to the foyer. She’s seven years old but is already a head taller than all her peers, her long shapely legs allow her to make vast strides and she’s out of the liv
I was just hoping it would all be later. Eric and I have been shielding her from the t.v and the news. When the time is right, we want to be the ones to give the full story not whatever dramatized way the media is spinning it.Eric helps me out of the rocking chair and we walk to the living room whe
Renee’s POV A couple days later, I’m discharged from the hospital. Eric, Debbie, myself, and Liam are home.I looked it up, Liam means protector which exactly what he was doing while I was held hostage. He was the reason Mark didn’t kill me. The name also means strong, and despite him being born pr
“Well I’m okay,” I tell him. He lets out a shaky breath and brings my hand up to his warm lips.“I love you,” he tells me.“I love you too,” I reply. Then I shift gears. “What about everyone else? Emily? Jasper? How are they?”Eric nods. “Everyone is okay. A broken arm and some cuts but nothing they
Renee’s POV I suck in a sharp breath of air as my life force hits me like a truck. My eyes whip open but I don’t see anything except blinding light. I snap my eyes shut and sink my head back into something squishy.I try to move my body into a protective stance and instantly regret it. Pain shoots
Renee’s POV Another harsh jab of pain takes my breath away. I clutch to Eric as I write in pain. He hugs me back, trying to steady my fall, but there isn’t much else he can do and he knows that.“I’ll take her pain away,” a member of Marks pack growls and approaches. Something inside Eric snaps, I
This time Andrew comes over and elbows the man in the lower back and then kicks his head so his teeth smash into the concrete floor.I’d feel more horrified if my own abdominal pain wasn’t taking me over. “You good?“ Andrew asks, blood pouring down from no known source somewhere at the top of his he
Renee’s POV All the color has drained from Marks face. On the other hand, Mias face darkens to a plum color. For a second I think her head might explode.“So,” Mark says snapping shut the laptop and sounding eerily calm. “We make a deal on the phone, you bring your passwords to hand over the cash