“You don’t need me, Knox. You just need someone to stand next to you and play the part. Someone who’ll follow your lead and not ask questions. That’s all you’ve ever needed.”“Do you even care that I was injured?” I demanded, remembering how quickly Melissa had attended to me, trying to hide her concern when she had seen me injured.Susie’s eyes flicked to mine, sharp as daggers, but there was something else there—something guarded. She crossed her arms tighter across her chest, refusing to answer for a long, tense moment."Of course, I care,” she said, her voice quieter now, but still edged with irritation. "But let's not make this about you, Knox. You’re the Alpha. You’ve been injured before, and you’ll get hurt again. That’s just part of it. You don’t need me hovering around like some nursemaid.”I stared at her, disbelief surging through me. "It wasn’t about needing a damn nursemaid. I needed my wife, Susie. I was in that hospital for a week—seven days—and you didn’t come once. No
ALPHA KNOX’S POV“Knox, we need to talk,” she had said, her voice stern but laced with concern. I was still healing from the deep gash across my shoulder from the last attack, but I stood tall, trying not to let the pain show. The pressure to be invincible, to not show weakness, was always there.“There’s nothing to discuss, Mother,” I replied, my voice hard. “We’ve got another patrol to set up. I need to focus.”“This is about the pack,” she said, stepping closer. “You need more than just warriors and patrols. You need allies. Resources.”I knew where this was going. We had been dancing around this conversation for weeks, and I had no interest in entertaining it.“Susie’s mother is willing to fund us. She’s wealthy, Knox. More than we could ever hope to gather ourselves. With her support, we could hire more warriors, strengthen the borders, and secure the future of this pack.”I clenched my jaw, turning away from her. “I’m not marrying someone for their money, Mother.”“This isn’t ju
ALPHA KNOX’S POV“What kind of call?” I asked, my voice tight, trying to hide the tension coiling inside me. My mind raced through every possible scenario—none of them good. But Andrew wasn’t the type to bring me nonsense, so whatever he had to say was important. Urgent, even.Andrew glanced around the room, as if double-checking that no one else was listening, even though the door was firmly shut. “The doctor seemed excited,” he began. “I couldn’t hear the whole conversation, but he rushed out right after he got the call. It was something about the new medicine regimen—the one Melissa developed.”I froze. The new regimen. The one that was supposed to be the answer to everything. The one I was hoping would save my son and injured pack members.Andrew continued, his eyes never leaving mine. “I couldn’t make out all the details, but the way the doctor was acting... it seemed like good news. Or at least, that’s what I hope.”My heart pounded harder in my chest. Good news? That was someth
ALPHA KNOX’S POVMelissa sighed softly, motioning for me to sit down, though I ignored the gesture. I remained standing, arms crossed over my chest as I waited for her explanation.Melissa shifted slightly, closing the file on her desk. I could see the hesitation in her eyes as she prepared to explain herself. She knew what was coming, and so did I. I wasn’t about to let her dance around the subject.“The regimen I developed,” she began carefully, “was designed specifically for the injured pack members. Those who were physically harmed in the attacks.” Her voice was measured, but I could feel the tension building between us.“And Michael?” I pressed, my tone sharp. “He’s not injured, but he’s still lying in that hospital bed, barely hanging on.”Melissa nodded, clearly aware of the storm she was about to step into. “Michael isn’t injured, Alpha. He’s sick. His condition is different from the others. The regimen I formulated was tailored to help with the healing process of wounds and i
MELISSA’S POV“Do you remember?” Alpha Knox asked.I blinked, taken aback. “Remember what?”“That night, six years ago,” he said slowly, my voice softening. “When I was sick. You took care of me.”My lips parted in surprise and I didn't even care that Andrew left the office quietly.I remembered the night he was talking about. The night he had fallen ill and I had taken care of him all through the night.The fever had come on so suddenly, turning the strong, imposing Alpha into a vulnerable man lying in my bed, trembling with chills and burning with heat. I could still picture him, his normally confident demeanour replaced by confusion and discomfort, as he shifted restlessly beneath the sheets.I could picture it so clearly: the way I had slipped out of bed and into the small kitchen, the soft light of the overhead bulb casting a warm glow on the countertops. My heart raced as I rummaged through the cabinets, knowing I had to make him feel better. The smell of chicken soup filled the
MELISSA’S POV“That I can’t say with certainty,” I continued, feeling the weight of his question. “Michael’s body has been through a lot, and while I’m hopeful, there’s no way to predict exactly how he’ll respond to treatment. We’ll need to be patient and give it time.”Knox frowned, clearly not pleased with the uncertainty. “But if anyone can make a difference, it’s you,” he said, his tone softening, yet still carrying the weight of expectation. “I’ve seen what you can do.I glanced down, my heart beating faster. His words, though reassuring, placed an even greater burden on my shoulders. “I’ll do my best, Knox, but I need you to understand that recovery is not always a straight path. There could be setbacks, complications… Michael’s situation is complex.”“I know,” he said quietly, his voice low, as if he was admitting it more to himself than to me. “But we have to try.”“We will,” I promised, my voice firm. “But you need to be prepared for all outcomes. It’s a process, and it could
MELISSA’S POVBefore I could move, Knox was already out of the truck, running toward the front door. “Stay here!” he shouted over his shoulder.But there was no way I could stay still. Ignoring the burn in my chest, I sprinted after him. “Knox, wait!” I yelled.He ignored me, throwing the door open and disappearing inside. The smell of smoke hit me like a wall, thick and suffocating, but all I could think about were my boys.I rushed toward the side of the house, my eyes scanning frantically for them. Relief flooded through me when I saw Dylan and Tyler huddled together by the tree in the front yard, their little faces streaked with tears.“Mom!” Dylan cried, running toward me with Tyler close behind.I dropped to my knees, pulling them both into my arms. “Oh, thank God,” I whispered, holding them tight. “You’re okay. You’re okay.”“We were so scared, Mom,” Dylan sobbed into my shoulder.“I know, baby. I know.” I kissed the tops of their heads, fighting back my own tears. “You did the
MELISSA’S POVThe cleanup began with Knox and the boys energetically pulling chairs away from the kitchen table and wiping down counters, while I hesitated near the entrance, unsure of how to express my gratitude without sounding like a broken record. The smell of smoke still lingered in the air, clinging to the walls and furniture, making the whole place feel heavy.“You sure you want to do this?” I asked Knox as he leaned down to scrub the floor, his broad shoulders straining against his shirt. “You really don’t have to. I can handle it from here.”He glanced up, giving me a quick, reassuring smile. “I’m not going anywhere until this place is back in order,” he said simply. “Besides, it’s kind of fun watching the boys act like they know what they’re doing.”I looked over to see Dylan and Tyler, armed with sponges and small towels, scrubbing at the chairs with all the seriousness they could muster. It was a sight that made me smile despite everything. They were trying to make up for