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
Alexander pov I had faced down rival rogues, negotiated peaceful business talks, and built a business empire with my families help , but nothing had prepared me for the exquisite torture of holding my sleeping mate. Beth's warm weight against my chest felt like coming home, even as my wolf prowled
Beth pov The attack came at dawn. I woke to the sound of breaking glass and Alex's body tensing over me protectively. In the split second before chaos erupted, I registered several things at once: I was still in his arms, sunlight was just beginning to paint the horizon, and something was very wro
Beth pov The pack meeting was called for sunset. Beth stood in front of the full-length mirror in Alex's bedroom – and wasn't that a development that still made my head spin – trying to decide if my outfit was appropriate for meeting the entire Fireside and Paw pack wpuld be there formally for the
Beth pov The pack gathering stretched late into the night. I found myself on the periphery of multiple conversations, watching the intricate dance of supernatural politics play out. The male wolves, following their alphas' lead, had begun treating me with careful respect. The females, however...
Alexander pov The full moon hung heavy and golden over Fireside as I led Beth to the sacred clearing. Ancient stones formed a circle around them, their surfaces etched with pack runes that glowed faintly in the moonlight. Sophia had spent hours preparing the space, burning herbs, and laying protec
Beth pov I floated in silvery mist, untethered from pain and physical form. I had been here for what felt like eternities, or perhaps only seconds – time had no meaning in this ethereal space. "My chosen one," a voice called, melodious and ancient. The mist parted to reveal a woman of otherworld
Grace pov They were targets because of what made them special—Sophia's dual nature, my perceptive abilities, the extraordinary bond that had survived even memory loss, and physical separation. Yet those same qualities provided the strength and resources to counter the threats they faced, creating
The absolute certainty in his voice flowed through our bond with warming force, his protective commitment unwavering despite the controlled expression of his wolf's aggression. I leaned into his strength even as I provided my own in return, our partnership reinforced rather than diminished by this n
Grace pov He knows," I said quietly, moving toward the door to meet my mate, recognizing through our bond the particular quality of protective rage that now flowed between them despite the physical distance. Liam entered the cabin with barely controlled fury evident in every line of his body, hi
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