(Tyler's POV)“Why don’t you call your aunt?” I suggested, hoping maybe a familiar voice might help soothe her. “Or maybe even Jenna? See how her and Ash are doing, though I'm sure we can all guess how that’s going...” I teased, knowing that if the last time we saw them was anything to go by, they probably hadn't moved from Ash's room, let alone house.Kate looked up, her brows knitting together in thought. “Maybe,” she finally said, though she didn’t sound convinced. She glanced over at me, and I could tell she was still wrestling with a million different anxieties in her mind. "Do you have my phone?" she asked softly.“Shit…” I cursed, feeling stupid. “Yes, I do. Sorry. I meant to give it back to you. Things have just been... a little crazy, I guess. Hang on.” I said, hurrying out toward my bedroom to get it for her.I'd turned it off, but made sure it was charged for when she came back, so she would be able to use it immediately. I was glad I'd thought ahead because it really felt
(Katelyn's POV)I stared at my reflection, adjusting the hem of my dress with a sigh. It was as if the weight of the day had settled into the fabric itself, leaving it as creased and as tired-looking as I felt.Alpha David’s message that The Elders had arrived still echoed in my mind, fueling the anxiety that simmered below the surface. They were here now, close enough that I could almost feel their looming presence... Like an apocalyptic storm in the distance.When Tyler had recited the message to us, panic had clawed its way up, threatening to spill over. But somehow, I’d managed to push it down, accepting that there was no changing what was about to happen. Now that they were here, the dread had dulled, only to be replaced by a heavy feeling of resignation.I couldn’t stop this, couldn’t control this. All I could do was step forward and face it.With a deep breath, I turned back to my closet, figuring I'd have to find something more suitable for dinner. It was a little annoying see
(Katelyn's POV)Tyler held up a couple of shirts against his chest, one a purplish blue and the other a crisp white. "Which one?" he asked, giving me a questioning look."That one," I said, pointing to the blue one. I felt like it suited him better and I'm obviously a sucker for purple.Smiling, he nodded in agreement and slipped the shirt on.I tried to steady my breathing, to keep the anxiety at bay. But the thoughts kept creeping in, thoughts of questions I wouldn’t know how to answer, or worse, questions I hadn’t even thought to consider.I had to make a good first impression. I couldn’t let them see my fear, couldn’t let them doubt me. And I had to remind myself, over and over, that I wasn’t lying to them. I hadn’t done anything wrong. All I had to do was be honest and hold it together.Tyler’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. “Kate, it’s going to be okay,” he said, as if sensing my spiraling thoughts. “We’ll all be right there with you. Just... be
(Katelyn's POV)The echo of my footsteps on the stairs seemed louder than it should, amplifying the drumbeat of my heart. The twins each held one of my hands. Their silent support helped, but the truth was, I still felt like I was walking towards my doom. I forced myself to breathe, to push away the chaotic storm of thoughts swirling in my mind, but nothing could fully quiet the underlying dread.Just as we reached the top of the stairs, I gave Tyler’s hand a quick tug, halting him in his tracks.“I just need a second,” I explained, feeling nervous and overwhelmed.He turned, his expression softening as he caught my eye. “It’s going to be fine,” he murmured, squeezing my hand gently and bringing it to his lips. His reassuring smile helped anchor me, though only a little.I closed my eyes, letting a deep breath fill my lungs as I did my best to push down the anxiety that clawed at me.“Okay,” I whispered, exhaling slowly and opening my eyes.I did my best to put on a mask of calm. Of
(Katelyn's POV)I wrapped my arm around Tyler’s waist, holding him close as I glanced up at him. “It was a long time coming,” I replied, my tone steady as I gave Tyler a sweet smile.I wasn’t going to let Simon sow any seeds of doubt in anyone's mind. Sure, I had maybe dragged it out a bit and taken my time, but it was complicated and I wanted to be sure. I had two mates! This wasn't exactly standard!Just then, Ryder returned, handing Tyler a drink and taking a sip of his own. I looked at him, raising an eyebrow as if to silently ask, “Where’s mine?” Ryder raised his eyebrows right back, feigning innocence as he leaned in closer.“How old are you again?” he teased, his voice low. I scoffed, firing right back at him without missing a beat. “How old are YOU?” “Old enough,” he replied, a mischievous smirk on his lips as he took another sip of his drink, clearly taunting me. Leaning even closer, he whispered in my ear, “Not a fuck I’m doing this sober. But you’re doing great,” he added
(Katelyn's POV)Of course, when dessert was served, Simon’s voice sliced through the calm. “So, Tyler,” he said, his tone almost friendly. “How are your studies coming along?”The question seemed so innocent and Tyler nodded, his tone warm and eager. “They’re going well, actually. It’s hard work, but I’m really enjoying it. Having Kate around has helped me find a good balance,” he added, glancing at me affectionately.Simon nodded, then turned his gaze towards Ryder, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And you, Ryder?”Ryder shrugged, looking entirely unfazed. “I’m busy with other things right now. Not sure that the Alpha life is for me.”Simon’s thin smile stretched into something more sinister. “Not for you? But your father is Alpha.”Ryder met Simon’s gaze without flinching. “Yeah, and my OLDER brother will be Alpha after him.”“But you’re twins,” Simon pressed, his tone hinting at some agenda I couldn’t figure out. “Shouldn’t you share the role?”Ryder’s response was nonchalant. “We cou
(Katelyn's POV)The Elders had left for the evening and David, Liz, Tyler, Ryder, and I retreated back into the upstairs lounge, reflecting on the evening.It hadn't gone great, but to be perfectly honest, I had anticipated that it might have been worse.Ryder didn't seem to be in agreement though, which I suppose was fair, based on the fact that Simon seemed to have honed onto him as his target for most of the evening.His anger exploded the second he stormed into the room after the guests had left. He’d been containing it since the moment Simon had probed him about his position in the pack, but now he let it loose in full force.“How fucking DARE he! He acts like he’s entitled to pry into every fucking detail of our lives, like we’re some kind of science experiment or something! Who the fuck does he think he is?” Ryder spat, pacing the room furiously.I stood nearby, wanting to comfort him, but also wanting to give him a moment to express himself and get it all out.I couldn’t blame
(Katelyn's POV)“Do you not want to have kids?” I asked carefully, unsure of what Ryder's answer might be.Ryder looked down, conflicted. "That's not..." he hesitated, shaking his head as if he wasn't sure what to say now that I had put him on the spot. "I... I don't know," he admitted. "Maybe? I just... This is not something I want to have to think about now."I saw disappointment flash across Liz’s face, but she masked it quickly. "I don't want to either... but there's no way Simon is going to let this go," I said, my voice filled with hopelessness.Ryder shook his head, his frustration flaring up again. “Well, I think we should just tell Simon to go fuck himself.” I let out a small laugh at the unexpected comment. “Trust me, I think we’d all like to tell him that, but he's still going to want an answer.”“He’s just one Council Member!” Ryder insisted. “No one else seemed to give a fuck! In fact, they agreed that it was our business!" he snapped, his frustration mounting.He was r
I adjusted my grip on the tiny, squirming bundle in my arms and smiled as a chorus of laughter echoed through the Valentine house."Could you hold her for a sec?" I asked Ryder, shifting Ava into a more comfortable position. "I forgot my phone downstairs.""Absolutely," he replied, his face lighting up as he took her from me.I had to admit, Ryder had surprised me. I’d always known Tyler would step up to fatherhood like it was his destiny, but Ryder… I thought he might need a little more coaxing along the way.To my relief, and, I'll be honest, surprise, that hadn’t been the case at all.Ryder had embraced fatherhood like a natural. Late-night feeds? He was right there with me. Diapers? No problem. Making sure I ate? He was relentless. And the way he loved our daughter, with every fiber of his being... God, it melted my heart daily.Tyler, on the other hand, was exactly the dad I’d known he’d be. He was steady, dependable, and endlessly patient. Where Ryder brought the energy and fun,
(Katelyn's POV)I nodded slowly, processing it all as I tried to picture it in my mind's eye."Oh! And get this!" Ryder piped up with an excited grin. "Michael, the guy you wrapped around the pillar? He's Simon's cousin!""What?! How do you know that?" I asked, confused.Tyler replied this time, "Well, when we were leaving, we bumped into Simon in one of those long, winding corridors. He started going off at us asking where we were going and if we had permission to leave, blah blah blah... But Helen shut him down. She told him that the decision had been made and instead of giving us a hard time he should probably go and check on his cousin because the last time she saw him, he didn't look so good.""You should have seen his face," Ryder smirked, chuckling to himself. "He just stood there for a moment, still blocking our path, but then I think something clicked in his head. He probably saw that we were all covered in blood and shit and realized that something was wrong and he practicall
(Katelyn's POV)The first thing I registered was the sound of hushed voices and the faint smell of lavender.My eyelids felt like they’d been superglued shut, but after what felt like an Olympic-level effort, I finally managed to pry them open.My vision swam, the room around me looking like a watercolor painting that someone had left out in the rain.Where was I? WHO was I? It felt like I had been asleep for a hundred years.I blinked repeatedly, willing my vision to focus, but when it finally did, nothing seemed familiar.It was dark, from what I could tell, and the only light was coming from a lamp somewhere on the other side of the room.I shifted onto my elbow, trying to sit up, but I instantly regretted it. Pain throbbed in my skull, my head spinning like I’d spent hours on some rotating carnival ride. A groan escaped me, and the low murmurs nearby stopped immediately.“Kate?” A voice cut through the haze... Familiar, warm, desperate.My gaze darted toward the sound, and there t
(Katelyn's POV)She was furious, but not with me. I could feel her... like a storm raging inside me, raw and untamed. I waited in the quiet shelter of my own mind, nothing more than an observer as I watched her wrath unfold. It was like witnessing a hurricane from the safety of a bunker, awe and terror warring inside me."We... We didn't know!" the iron-haired woman’s voice quivered, her arms raised defensively, as if they could shield her from the Goddess's divine fury."You didn't know?! You didn't know that you were exploiting them? Or you didn't know that I would care?" the Moon Goddes spoke through my lips, her words flowing like liquid thunder."I... We..." the woman stammered, her eyes darting around desperately, searching for someone, ANYONE, to come to her rescue. But no one did. No one dared to move. They were all frozen like statues in the face of the storm."You will—" the words spilled from my mouth, but I somehow managed to cut them off abruptly when I heard Tyler's angu
(Tyler's POV)"I don't know what to do," Kate whispered, her voice filled with helplessness as she looked up at me while I struggled against the attendants who held me in place."Let him go," she ordered, authority resonating through her voice in a way I'd never heard before.When they hesitated, she glanced toward the man she'd just sent flying through the air like a puppet as some kind of silent warning of her power.That seemed like enough for them to release me.The second I was free, I fell down beside her, desperate to stop the blood that was pouring from Ryder's neck. It was coming out so fast it was clear that they must have gotten an artery, the blood pulsating out of the wound in steady throbs."What do we do?" she whispered, looking to me for answers I didn't have.I reached out, holding my hand over hers in some futile attempt to stop the bleeding, but it was like trying to hold back a flood with a fucking paper towel.His neck was a mangled wreck. The flesh was torn open t
(Katelyn's POV)Tyler’s hand trembled as he held it in place over mine, trying desperately to stop the blood that continued to pulse out, albeit at a much slower pace now.His voice was a whisper and it wavered with desperation. "You’re going to be okay, Ryder. You hear me? Just hang on. Just—" he broke off, choking back a sob as his other hand found its way to Ryder’s blood-matted fur as he rubbed him affectionately.He looked at me, his face pale and his eyes swimming with tears that he tried uselessly to blink away.“Kate...” His voice cracked, barely audible above the rapid, shallow breaths of his brother. “The bleeding... it’s too much. He’s not healing fast enough.”His words struck me like a dagger to the chest. I'd thought it, but hearing him say it out loud made it real.“What are you saying?!” I cried, my voice raw and broken as I gripped Ryder’s limp paw, shaking it in hopes of some kind of reaction. My vision blurred as I let the tears spill down my cheeks. “Is he going to
(Katelyn's POV)Through a blur of tears, I found myself face to face with the broad-shouldered Elder, Michael."You're an abomination!" he snarled, his hands gripping my arms with a ferocity that promised bruises. "You're a curse! A witch! A temptress! Do you know how my family has suffered because of you?!" he spat as he shook me violently, his eyes filled with absolute rage."But... I..." I stammered, trying to form words into sentences, but my brain couldn't do it.All I could do was stare at him, still reeling from the fact that one second I had been kneeling beside Ryder, trying to help him, and the next, I was being violently shaken by a man who seemed to have gone full psycho."Katelyn?!" Tyler called out, realizing I was no longer at his side.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him struggling against about three or four attendants who tried to hold him back.Suddenly, pain shot through my cheek and the world around me fell into a darkness that seemed to ebb and flow like the t
(Katelyn's POV)For a moment, the entire room froze and my ears rang with the word exterminated."We're leaving," Tyler said, his voice low as he snatched me by the wrist and tugged me toward the door.The attendants remained though, none of them making any move to unblock our path. Instead, they all looked toward the iron-haired woman as if waiting for her to give them some instruction."Move," Tyler demanded sharply as Ryder appeared on my other side."We aren't finished here," the iron-haired woman called out as three more attendants appeared to block our exit."She wants to leave," Ryder replied, his voice filled with venom as he turned to address her."We aren't finished," she repeated, her voice cold and sharp as steel."I thought you said this was a hearing," I shot back, glaring at her. "Was there some line in the invitation about being held against my will? Because if there was, I must’ve missed that part," I spat, trying to hide my growing fear with sarcasm.The room fell si
(Katelyn's POV)The iron-haired woman watched me, her grip on her notes tightening once more. Her restraint was evident as she took a deep breath before finally replying. “You have already been told, Miss Grey, that this meeting is for us to ascertain—”I cut her off, my own patience now unraveling fast. “God, you can’t even give me a straight answer! What are the potential outcomes here?!” I demanded. "Even criminals on trial know what potential penalties they'll be facing! Why can't I be afforded the same courtesy?! Are you going to impose some kind of limitations on me and my abilities? Or do you plan to lock me in a prison cell? Or maybe a tower in the middle of nowhere? Are you going to kill me? Seriously, what options are on the table here?!" I pressed, annoyed by how fucking evasive she was being.It felt like they had already made up their minds here. While a few of them did seem to be on my side, it's clear that many of them were not. And those who sat on the fence would likel