Caleb pov I woke slowly, my wolf stretching contentedly as the last traces of silver poisoning faded from my system. The first thing I saw was Melissa, slumped uncomfortably in a chair beside my bed. My heart clenched at her appearance – dark circles under her eyes, hair unwashed, wearing the same
Beth pov The pack gathering was in full swing, celebrating Caleb's recovery and official integration into Fireside and Paw packs. I sat in a quiet corner, nursing Liam while watching the festivities. My eyes kept drifting to Alex, surrounded by a group of unmated she-wolves who seemed to have forg
Alexander pov The alliance meeting had gone well until Serena Blake, daughter of the Pine Valley Alpha, cornered me in Kaiden's office. Beth, returning from putting Liam down for his nap, felt the spike of anger through our mate bond before she heard the voices. "Think about it, Alex Matthews,"
I paced my father's study in Pine Valley territory, my wounded pride festering into something dangerous. The memory of Alex's rejection, of Beth's silver-touched power, burned like acid in my veins. "How dare they?" I snarled, my wolf pushing close to the surface. "That human thinks she can humili
Beth pov I never saw the attack coming. I was walking the garden path with Liam in his pram, enjoying the morning air while Melissa patrolled nearby. Mywolf sensed the danger a split second too late as Serena burst from the concealing foliage, already half-shifted and wielding silver-coated claws.
Caleb pov I haven't moved from Melissa's bedside in three days. My sweet little mate lay unnaturally still, silver burns marring her skin even in human form, her usually vibrant presence in our bond reduced to a faint flutter. "Fight," I whispered, pressing my forehead to her limp hand. "Please
Beth pov Every morning, I followed the same routine. After feeding Liam, I would make my way to the infirmary where Melissa lay still and silent. Caleb would be there, of course - he barely left except when an alpha ordered him to rest. But he would give me private time with my friend, understandi
Beth pov I was in the middle of my usual morning update, Liam creating his daily moonlight patterns beside Melissa's bed, when I felt it - a strengthening in our pack bond, like a radio signal finally cutting through static. "Melissa?" I whispered, gripping my friend's hand tighter. Through ou
Liam took my hands in his, his grip firm and grounding. "Listen to me. I don't care what they did or what they think. I know what's real. The woman I love, the mother of my children—that's you. Not some subject number, not some experiment. You." "But how can we trust anything?" I asked, my voice b
Grace pov I continued scrolling, finding more photographs: myself at various ages, always in clinical settings, always with that same serious expression. And then, abruptly, the images stopped. The next entry was dated 2015, when, according to the file, my memories had been "reconstructed." *Fin
Grace pov The pack house hummed with activity as preparations were underway for the coming arrangement with the Prisma Institute. In the midst of this controlled chaos, I sat alone in the small study off the main library, the flash drive Reid had given me resting on the desk before me. I had waite
Grace pov Mass panic would only strengthen the entity," Markham protested. "Spawning thousands of conspiracy theories, each one feeding it more power!" "Then I suggest you accept our terms," I replied calmly. Dr. Reid studied me for a long moment before a small, unexpected smile curved her lip
Grace pov At full strength," Markham continued, "it can reshape matter according to falsehoods. Make lies become truth, in the most literal sense. Imagine someone claiming a building doesn't exist—and then watching it fade from reality before your eyes. Or claiming someone is dead—and having them
Grace pov Blackwater Bridge Nature Preserve stretched out before them, deceptively peaceful in the midday sun. Once a thriving state park, it had been closed to the public five years earlier after funding cuts, its wooden observation platforms, and hiking trails slowly being reclaimed by nature. T
My fingers tightened around the phone. "My daughter is not for sale." "Everything has a price," Dr. Reid replied softly. "Even principles. Especially when weighed against global catastrophe. We'll see you tomorrow." The line went dead. I set down the phone, meeting the expectant gazes around me.
Grace pov The pack house's secure communications room fell silent as I placed the phone on the table. Five days had passed since my interrogation of Serena, three since I had managed to contact my old acquaintance—Eliza, another truth-seer who had escaped the Prisma Institute's clutches years befo
I pushed deeper, my mind sifting through the fragments of truth revealing themselves. A wall in my vision began to crumble, showing what lay behind. "There's something else," I said, voice strained with effort. "Something coming. Something you're afraid of." Serena began to struggle against her