Charles As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my suit, a sense of contentment washed over me. The anticipation of addressing the Clans during the Winter Moon Festival filled me with pride and purpose, but no year had ever felt quite like this. I would be apart from Grace for a week starting
As I made my way back inside, I grabbed a mug of simple mulled wine from a vendor who looked so enamored with meeting me I had to hug her. I walked back into the main part of the castle, looking at all the tapestries on the wall. I lifted the mug to my mouth, the rich aroma wafting to my senses as
Grace The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. As I stirred in my sleep, I could feel the gentle weight of the blankets and the softness of the bed beneath me. The bed wasn't as warm as it had been when Charles was in it, but his scent still lingered
I could argue with that somehow. We arrived in about half an hour. The university campus bustled with activity as I stepped out of the chauffeured car. I couldn't help but feel a sense of displacement; everyone around me seemed so much younger, their faces filled with a youthful exuberance that I ha
Grace I had been in classes for almost a week now, and while I was burning the candle at both ends and all of the midnight oil, I didn't feel as run down as I thought I should. I was almost driven not to go home, knowing that I would just be sleeping in Charles' empty bed, and every day I did, his
She smiled. "It can be linked to a folder on your computer as well." She winked. "We witches know a thing or two about security. Now, as far as I can tell you're not running into any issues of essentially developing a lower-tier witch's longevity potion. And I'm not talking about the proposed deliv
Grace The sterile environment of the lab seemed to close in on me as I stared at the instrument panel. My vision blurred, and I blinked away the fatigue that weighed heavy on my shoulders. The past days had been a whirlwind of sleepless nights and countless hours spent awake and avoiding going home
Seraphina burst into laughter as my face burned with embarrassment, and I packed my things to leave. As I exited the lab, the weight of my fatigue grew heavier until I was practically pouring myself into the backseat. There was a bag in the backseat. "Adult medicine," the driver said. I couldn't
I nodded. "Don't let me trip." "I'll do my best." With a shared laugh, we headed out the door. Esme was there at the door, hanging back. Gracian stepped away from me and linked arms with her. "We'll see you soon." I nodded and watched them go. We stood in the foyer of the building. From wh
Grace A month later... After the attack, the remaining members retreated into the cabinet to figure out what to do. After all, the other half and the president had been killed in the attack because they attacked Mooncrest. Luckily, Astarte had simply fixed everything, and aside from the aches an
Fire spilled over the doors as we fought our way down the stairs. Something swiped my cheek, but I didn't heed it. We stumbled over the bodies and slipped in the blood. I tried not to think about how many people I'd killed. I didn't want to think about it. "Back up is coming, but we need time, "
Grace I heard dying screams as I ran. The sound of battle echoed down the hallway. I found Astarte holding a group of attackers off at the door of the other stairs. "There was no way off." Astarte snarled. "Your mother's office! Lock the door." "What about--" "Go!" I bit my lip and ran
"A good PR move comes with a splash of fun." Astarted nodded forward. "I believe you should get to your command room, yes?" I nodded and headed upstairs to my father's office, adrenaline pumping through my veins. An attack, contained or not, was a serious threat. The city needed to be locked dow
Grace As we boarded the crowded bus, a knot of unease tightened in my gut. Astarte made a show of being intrigued. She smiled for every photo and seemed genuinely delighted, all the while, she explained her plan. I promised to help you. PR is important. Having me here will get you attention beyo
"Thanks." "Really well," Xavier said, setting his laptop on the table. On one side was a report on my interview, a headline streamed across the bottom. "Alpha Wolfe: A Beacon of Hope in Dark Times." Below it, a graph charted a dramatic rise in public approval for both myself and Wolfe Medica
Grace A nervous flutter danced in my stomach as I smoothed out the wrinkles on my blazer. I'd rather be orienting all the students, including the bright-eyed Westridge students, but Xavier and Amira swore up and down that this was for the best. Charles leaned into my office and grinned. "Nervous
I set my phone down and scoffed. When had my alma mater allowed so many idiots since I'd been an undergrad? Their loss. The lycans, humans, and witches had no problem. Seraphina, Margaret and I met everyone who had signed on in the conference room at City Hall. The excitement was palpable as the n