Xavier's POVThe door slammed shut behind Elijah, rattling the walls with the force of his departure. Silence settled in the interrogation room, thick and suffocating.My fists remained clenched, nails digging into my palms, my pulse a relentless drumbeat in my ears. I forced out a slow breath, jaw tightening as I tried to wrestle back control. Losing it—even for a second—wasn’t me.But damn it, hearing him deny everything like that? Seeing that flash of fury in his eyes, that unshaken conviction in his voice? It rattled something deep inside me. Either he was the best liar I’d ever met, or I had made a mistake.I turned back to the table, my gaze locking onto the note—the so-called damning evidence. The slant of the letters, the precise curve of each word—it matched Elijah’s handwriting. But something about it... it felt too perfect. Too clean.Doubt gnawed at me.I wanted this to be the final nail in the coffin. I wanted to walk out of here knowing I had the right man, knowing that
Xavier's POV“We need to be smart about this,” Kasper murmured, his voice taut. “If Coby killed Vivian, he’s already in survival mode. Push too hard, and he’ll either bolt or bite back.”“He won’t run,” I said, my certainty like iron. “Not yet. He thinks he’s won.”Kasper let out a slow breath, studying me. “Then we use that. Let him believe he’s safe—until he isn’t.”As we reached my office, I turned to him, my voice steady. “Send for him. Now. Tell him I want to talk about Elijah.”A smirk ghosted across Kasper’s lips. “You’re baiting him.”I met his gaze. “Exactly.”With a curt nod, Kasper disappeared down the hall, leaving me with nothing but the weight of what had to be done. The silence of my office pressed in around me as I stepped inside.The walls felt smaller, the air heavier. Leadership was a burden, but it sharpened me instead of breaking me. This wasn’t just about power—it was about justice. I had to make him crack.Minutes later, the door creaked open.Coby entered with
Coby's POVI walked out of Xavier’s office with measured steps, my face a mask of calm. But the moment I turned the corner, my entire body seized with a violent tremor. My fists clenched so hard my nails bit into my palms—sharp and grounding.Damn it all to hell.He knew. Xavier fucking knew the truth. But how?The way he looked at me... No, it was not a vague suspicion. Xavier had looked at me like a blade pressing against flesh—slow, precise, cutting deeper with every second. His voice had been steady, but his words carried weight—deliberate and heavy with unspoken certainty. He wasn’t just fishing. He was baiting me.I forced a slow breath through my nose, but the walls of the packhouse seemed to inch closer, pressing against me, suffocating. The air felt thick, charged with something unseen. I could still feel the weight of his stare on my back, branding me long after I’d left his office.I needed to think. Fast.Shoving open the door to my quarters, I shut it behind me with a sha
COBY'S POV“You really think he won’t throw you to the wolves?” I pressed. “Now that he’s backed into a corner? If naming you buys him even a second of freedom, do you honestly believe he won’t do it?”Her throat bobbed with a swallow. “I didn’t do anything.”“Doesn’t matter.” I tilted my head, watching her carefully. “All that matters is what Xavier believes. And right now? You’re one loose end away from being tied up.”Eva raked a hand through her hair, her breaths uneven. Her sharp, guarded eyes met mine with something dangerously close to desperation. “And what do you get out of this?”I held her gaze. “Justice.”She scoffed. “Bullshit. You want Elijah gone, and you’re using me to make it happen.”I didn’t deny it. I didn’t have to.A long, heavy silence stretched between us. The weight of her choices settled over her like a storm cloud—thick and suffocating.“And if I say no?” she finally whispered.I let a slow, knowing smile creep onto my face. “Then you’d better pray Elijah ne
EVA'S POVThe door clicked shut with a quiet finality, but I stood frozen, staring at it as if Coby might walk back through any second. My breath hitched, my chest tight. My hands trembled—damn it.I clenched them into fists, pressing my palms hard against the cool, chipped counter. The kitchen felt smaller, like the walls were closing in, trapping me in the echo of his words."Then you’d better hope Elijah never talks."His voice played over and over in my mind—calm, certain—like he already knew how this would end. And maybe he did. Because if Elijah talked—if he told Xavier everything—my name would come up.I wasn’t innocent.I never told Vivian to poison Jackson, but I knew who gave the order. I knew what she planned to do, and I let it happen. I let her get caught. And I told myself it wasn’t my problem.But now? Now it was my problem.I squeezed my eyes shut, fingers digging into my temples. Think. I needed to think. If I went to Xavier and told him Elijah gave the order, Elijah
EVA’S POVSomething flickered across his face—satisfaction, maybe. Victory. Whatever it was, it sent a cold shiver down my spine.His smirk widened as he stepped aside. “Smart girl.”I stepped past him, my pulse hammering. The door clicked shut behind me, sealing me inside. A weight settled over me like a second skin. Had I just made a deal with the devil?The air inside was thick—warm, slightly humid, carrying the scent of cologne, whiskey, and something else. Something dangerous. Coby took a slow step toward me, his gaze never leaving my face.“You made the right choice, Eva.” His voice had softened, smooth now, coaxing.I forced a small, tight smile. “I figured.”He tilted his head, eyes narrowing as if he were peeling back my layers, searching for hesitation. I didn’t give him any.Then, abruptly, he clapped his hands together, the sound sharp in the quiet room.“Well, that calls for a celebration, doesn’t it?”I blinked. “A celebration?”A low chuckle rumbled from his throat. “Of
Eva's POVThe gown tore apart in his hands, the delicate silk splitting with a sound that was both sharp and soft—like a secret being revealed. It fell to the floor, pooling around my feet, leaving me bare under his hungry gaze. His eyes burned as they traveled over my body, lingering on my breasts, which rose and fell with each shaky breath I took.My nipples hardened under his stare, aching for his touch, and a shiver of vulnerability ran through me. But then his hands were on me, rough and demanding, and that vulnerability turned into something hotter—something desperate.His fingers dug into my breasts, squeezing hard enough to make me gasp. He rolled my nipples between his fingers, twisting them just enough to send sharp, delicious waves of pleasure through me.I moaned, my head falling back, my body arching into his touch. "Fuck, yes," I whispered, my voice trembling. The ache between my legs grew unbearable; my clit throbbed with every tug of his fingers.I reached for his shir
Xavier's POVThe moment I stepped through the door, exhaustion didn’t just hit me—it crashed into me like a wrecking ball, rattling every bone, dragging at every muscle. The weight of the day had settled deep, turning my limbs sluggish, my thoughts heavier than stone. But then I saw her.Hannah.She stood in the living room, her arms loosely crossed, her fingers tracing absent patterns along her sleeve. The second her eyes met mine, something in them shifted—worry, relief, love—all colliding in that single, unguarded moment. And just like that, the crushing weight on my chest lightened. Not gone. But lighter.Her arms tightened around me, like she was holding me together. “You’re late,” she murmured against my shoulder, her voice laced with concern.“I know.” My voice was rough, barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”She pulled back just enough to look at me, her hands resting lightly on my chest. Her touch was warm, grounding. “You look like hell.”I let out a breathless chuckle, but i
HANNAH’S POVWith a quiet hum, I stepped into our bedroom, feeling something I hadn’t in days—lightness. It was fragile, tentative, like the first glimpse of sunlight after a storm, but it was there. A welcome change from the heaviness that had settled in my chest for too long.Laughter floated up from downstairs—Jackson’s high-pitched giggles mixing with Xavier’s deep, teasing voice. I could picture them perfectly: Jackson, all wide eyes and determination, his little legs pumping as he ran, Xavier deliberately holding back just enough to let our son think he was winning.A soft smile pulled at my lips. These moments—these stolen, ordinary joys—were the ones that mattered. They were the anchor when everything else threatened to drift too far.Sighing, I raked my fingers through my hair and decided I had time for a quick shower before joining them. My body ached for the warmth, the release. I grabbed a fresh set of clothes from the dresser and made my way to the bathroom, nudging the d
HANNAH’S POVThe first thing I noticed when I stirred awake was the absence of warmth beside me. My fingers reached out instinctively, brushing over cool, empty sheets where Xavier should have been. My brows pulled together as I blinked against the lingering haze of sleep.He was always the last to leave our bed, keeping me tucked against him until I was fully awake—like he couldn’t stand the thought of letting me go too soon. But lately, he barely slept in.I parted my lips, about to call for him, when a deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the house. It wasn’t just a sound; it was a presence—rich and full—vibrating through the walls and settling in my chest like a heartbeat I had come to rely on.Then came a burst of high-pitched giggles—wild, unrestrained, and utterly contagious.Jackson.A slow warmth unfurled inside me, wrapping around my ribs like a gentle embrace. Shaking off the remnants of sleep, I pushed back the covers and stepped onto the cool wooden floor, drawn to the sou
XAVIER'S POVEventually, I forced myself to shut off the water. Drying off quickly, I pulled on a pair of pajama pants, the fabric cool against my damp skin.When I stepped into the bedroom, Hannah was already curled up on the bed, her soft breathing the only sound in the quiet room. She looked up, sleep heavy in her gaze, and offered a tired smile.I climbed in beside her without hesitation, wrapping her in my arms. She nestled against me with a sigh, her warmth seeping into me, grounding me. Her scent—wildflowers and something unmistakably her—wrapped around me like a lullaby. My wolf rumbled in satisfaction, his restless energy finally easing.She pressed a lazy kiss to my chest. “You okay now?”I tightened my hold, burying my face in her hair. “I am now.”Her fingers traced idle patterns on my skin—a silent comfort, a silent promise.“Then sleep,” she whispered.For the first time in hours, maybe even days, I let my eyes close. The world outside was still spinning, still filled wi
Xavier's POVThe moment I stepped through the door, exhaustion didn’t just hit me—it crashed into me like a wrecking ball, rattling every bone, dragging at every muscle. The weight of the day had settled deep, turning my limbs sluggish, my thoughts heavier than stone. But then I saw her.Hannah.She stood in the living room, her arms loosely crossed, her fingers tracing absent patterns along her sleeve. The second her eyes met mine, something in them shifted—worry, relief, love—all colliding in that single, unguarded moment. And just like that, the crushing weight on my chest lightened. Not gone. But lighter.Her arms tightened around me, like she was holding me together. “You’re late,” she murmured against my shoulder, her voice laced with concern.“I know.” My voice was rough, barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”She pulled back just enough to look at me, her hands resting lightly on my chest. Her touch was warm, grounding. “You look like hell.”I let out a breathless chuckle, but i
Eva's POVThe gown tore apart in his hands, the delicate silk splitting with a sound that was both sharp and soft—like a secret being revealed. It fell to the floor, pooling around my feet, leaving me bare under his hungry gaze. His eyes burned as they traveled over my body, lingering on my breasts, which rose and fell with each shaky breath I took.My nipples hardened under his stare, aching for his touch, and a shiver of vulnerability ran through me. But then his hands were on me, rough and demanding, and that vulnerability turned into something hotter—something desperate.His fingers dug into my breasts, squeezing hard enough to make me gasp. He rolled my nipples between his fingers, twisting them just enough to send sharp, delicious waves of pleasure through me.I moaned, my head falling back, my body arching into his touch. "Fuck, yes," I whispered, my voice trembling. The ache between my legs grew unbearable; my clit throbbed with every tug of his fingers.I reached for his shir
EVA’S POVSomething flickered across his face—satisfaction, maybe. Victory. Whatever it was, it sent a cold shiver down my spine.His smirk widened as he stepped aside. “Smart girl.”I stepped past him, my pulse hammering. The door clicked shut behind me, sealing me inside. A weight settled over me like a second skin. Had I just made a deal with the devil?The air inside was thick—warm, slightly humid, carrying the scent of cologne, whiskey, and something else. Something dangerous. Coby took a slow step toward me, his gaze never leaving my face.“You made the right choice, Eva.” His voice had softened, smooth now, coaxing.I forced a small, tight smile. “I figured.”He tilted his head, eyes narrowing as if he were peeling back my layers, searching for hesitation. I didn’t give him any.Then, abruptly, he clapped his hands together, the sound sharp in the quiet room.“Well, that calls for a celebration, doesn’t it?”I blinked. “A celebration?”A low chuckle rumbled from his throat. “Of
EVA'S POVThe door clicked shut with a quiet finality, but I stood frozen, staring at it as if Coby might walk back through any second. My breath hitched, my chest tight. My hands trembled—damn it.I clenched them into fists, pressing my palms hard against the cool, chipped counter. The kitchen felt smaller, like the walls were closing in, trapping me in the echo of his words."Then you’d better hope Elijah never talks."His voice played over and over in my mind—calm, certain—like he already knew how this would end. And maybe he did. Because if Elijah talked—if he told Xavier everything—my name would come up.I wasn’t innocent.I never told Vivian to poison Jackson, but I knew who gave the order. I knew what she planned to do, and I let it happen. I let her get caught. And I told myself it wasn’t my problem.But now? Now it was my problem.I squeezed my eyes shut, fingers digging into my temples. Think. I needed to think. If I went to Xavier and told him Elijah gave the order, Elijah
COBY'S POV“You really think he won’t throw you to the wolves?” I pressed. “Now that he’s backed into a corner? If naming you buys him even a second of freedom, do you honestly believe he won’t do it?”Her throat bobbed with a swallow. “I didn’t do anything.”“Doesn’t matter.” I tilted my head, watching her carefully. “All that matters is what Xavier believes. And right now? You’re one loose end away from being tied up.”Eva raked a hand through her hair, her breaths uneven. Her sharp, guarded eyes met mine with something dangerously close to desperation. “And what do you get out of this?”I held her gaze. “Justice.”She scoffed. “Bullshit. You want Elijah gone, and you’re using me to make it happen.”I didn’t deny it. I didn’t have to.A long, heavy silence stretched between us. The weight of her choices settled over her like a storm cloud—thick and suffocating.“And if I say no?” she finally whispered.I let a slow, knowing smile creep onto my face. “Then you’d better pray Elijah ne
Coby's POVI walked out of Xavier’s office with measured steps, my face a mask of calm. But the moment I turned the corner, my entire body seized with a violent tremor. My fists clenched so hard my nails bit into my palms—sharp and grounding.Damn it all to hell.He knew. Xavier fucking knew the truth. But how?The way he looked at me... No, it was not a vague suspicion. Xavier had looked at me like a blade pressing against flesh—slow, precise, cutting deeper with every second. His voice had been steady, but his words carried weight—deliberate and heavy with unspoken certainty. He wasn’t just fishing. He was baiting me.I forced a slow breath through my nose, but the walls of the packhouse seemed to inch closer, pressing against me, suffocating. The air felt thick, charged with something unseen. I could still feel the weight of his stare on my back, branding me long after I’d left his office.I needed to think. Fast.Shoving open the door to my quarters, I shut it behind me with a sha