Amber pov I stood at the podium on the final day of the medical conference, my voice steady and professional as I presented the emergency protocols for werewolf patients that had been successfully implemented at Riverview Memorial Hospital. The audience of medical professionals—doctors, nurses, ad
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
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
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
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 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
"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 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
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
Grace pov I sat in the pack's conference room, my daughter asleep in the portable bassinet beside me. Three days had passed since the attack. Three days of heightened security, of pack members taking shifts outside our temporary quarters in the Alpha's compound, of Liam barely sleeping as he divid
I was on her in an instant, delivering a kick that sent her sprawling. The gun trained steadily on her head, and I approached. "Who sent you? What Council?" Her eyes, still glowing with werewolf power, narrowed. "The Lunar Council. The true authority. Your pack is nothing." A crash from outside
Liam pov I paced the confines of the panic room, my shoulders hunched with restrained energy. The call to our Alphas had been brief. Help was coming, but not soon enough for my liking. Four pack members were converging on our location, still fifteen minutes out. Warriors were also moving in. "St