Jeremy pov Snow fell softly outside the pack house windows as Rose brought our sixth child into the world on a peaceful winter morning. Unlike her previous births, this one felt like a gentle whisper – her wolf guiding their youngest into existence with practiced ease. "One more push, love," I e
Alexander pov The acrid smell of burning oil assaulted Alexander Matthews' enhanced senses before the tow truck even pulled into the lot. He wiped his hands on the shop rag tucked into his back pocket, his wolf stirring beneath his skin at the approaching vehicle. Something about this one felt dif
"He tried to pull me from my car. I got scared, so I pulled in here. I didn't mean to run, "she sniffles, and I gather her close and purr. "Where are you hurt, sweet girl?"I ask, and she starts crying. Her face goes into my chest, and my wolf starts pacing. He wants out to beat that fuckers ass. I
Beth pov Beth Howard stared at the fluorescent lights above her hospital bed, trying to ignore the whispers that filtered through the partially closed door. Her head throbbed where it had struck the window, and each breath sent sharp pains through her ribs, but neither compared to the hostility ra
Alexander pov Alexander Matthews had never struggled to control his wolf before. But standing in the hospital corridor, listening to the snide comments about my mate, my canines threatened to descend. The bitter scent of jealousy and spite from the nurses' station set my teeth on edge. "Did you
Beth pov I was picking at my hospital breakfast when two detectives entered my room. One was local – I recognized him from yesterday's brief interview after the crash. The other wore a crisp FBI windbreaker and carried herself with federal authority. My fork clattered against the tray as my hands
Beth pov The discharge process took longer than expected, giving me plenty of time to second-guess my decision to accept Alex's offer. I stood in the hospital room, clutching the small bag of belongings his dad had retrieved from my apartment, and tried to quiet the voice in my head, screaming tha
Beth pov The scream tore from my throat before I was fully awake. In my nightmare, I was back in that storage room, but this time, the traffickers caught me. James River's cold eyes watched as his men dragged me toward a waiting van, past rows of terrified girls I had failed to save. I bolted up
Grace pov Elena's expression shifted to reveal more of her concern now that Lucas was engaged with Alex and unlikely to pick up on adult conversation. "Not directly," she replied, her voice low enough that even werewolf hearing wouldn't carry it to the living room. "But we've intercepted communica
Grace pov The security rotation plan had been in effect for three weeks, the Matthews family moving between four different pack properties on an irregular schedule that made surveillance nearly impossible to maintain. I had adapted to the disruption with characteristic resilience, establishing por
Grace pov That's right," I confirmed, reaching to squeeze Lucas's small hand. "And we're going to have a special adventure, staying in different pack houses for a little while. Like a vacation, but we'll still do all our regular activities—preschool, library visits, everything that's important to
"Temporary relocation would be safest," Elena suggested, though her tone indicated she anticipated resistance to this option. "Perhaps to Alexander Beth's property, which has more extensive security infrastructure from Alexander's overprotective days." Liam's arm tightened around Lucas, who had gr
Grace pov Stay inside with the children until security arrives," Elena instructed. "Keep your phone with you. I'll be there within the hour." By the time Liam's truck roared into the driveway fifteen minutes later, Miguel and Tessa were already establishing a defensive perimeter around the prope
Grace pov Tell me exactly what happened," Liam requested, his voice low and controlled despite the tension evident in his posture. I described both incidents—the feeling of being watched at the house and the confirmed surveillance at the library, finishing with Miguel's recommendation to vary ou
Grace pov The first indication that something wasn't right came on an ordinary Tuesday morning in late autumn. I was loading Lucas into his car seat for our weekly library trip, chatting with my son about the storytime theme while Sophia dozed in her infant carrier. As I closed Lucas's door and mo
Amber pov By the time I reached the outskirts of Riverview, the emotional complexity of my Fireside visit had settled into a more balanced perspective. The past remained the past—acknowledged, honored for what it had taught me, but no longer exerting undue influence on my present choices or future
Amber pov Thank you for that perspective," she replied, genuine gratitude in her voice. "It helps." We parted with professional handshakes and promises to maintain contact about the protocol implementation, but I carried Dr. Winters' insight with me as I returned to my hotel to check out and pre