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
His face darkened at the mention of her—Susie, my stepsister, and Knox’s Luna. His wife. The woman who had made my life a living hell for as long as I could remember. The idea of walking into that house and facing her, with my boys no less, made my stomach churn."Melissa…" Knox began, but I held up a hand, stopping him.“I’m not going to expose them to her,” I said firmly, my jaw clenching as I thought of Susie’s sneering face and her biting remarks. "I won’t let her spew her venom around them."Melissa…" Knox said again, but I would not listen.I shook my head, frustration building. He didn’t get it. How could he? He had no idea about the storm brewing in my head, the fear of what could happen if anyone at the pack house got a good look at the boys—especially Susie. It wouldn’t take long for someone to notice how much Dylan and Tyler resembled Knox, how their eyes and smiles mirrored his. And if anyone figured it out… if Susie figured it out…"I wouldn’t let her anywhere near you or
MELISSA’S POVI stared into my tea, watching the steam curl up into the air, trying to find the right words. "I know," I said quietly. "But... I still feel like I owe you. You’ve done so much for us. More than I ever expected."Knox leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he looked at me, his expression serious. "You’ve always been important to me, Melissa. Always."“Don’t Knox… just don’t…”Knox’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his jaw tightened. “Why do you do that?” he asked, his voice low but firm.“Do what?” I shot back, feeling the tension building in my chest. I didn’t want to go down this road with him, not tonight. Not ever.“Pretend like there’s nothing between us,” he said, his gaze locking onto mine. “Like what almost happened in your office today didn’t mean anything.”My heart skipped a beat at his words. The kiss. The almost-kiss. I had tried to shove it out of my mind all day, but now that he had brought it up, the memory came rushing back—the way he had looked
MELISSA’S POV“Melissa, wait,” Knox called after me, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Not tonight. Not when I felt like I was standing on the edge of something dangerous, something that could shatter everything if I let it.“I’ll take the other bedroom,” I said over my shoulder, my voice flat. “You can have the couch.”I heard him sigh, the sound heavy with frustration. “You don’t have to do that. The bed’s big enough for the both of us.”I stopped in my tracks, the thought of sharing a bed with Knox sending a jolt of panic through me. I whirled around to face him, my heart racing. “No. I’d rather sleep with the boys.”Knox’s brow furrowed, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Melissa, the boys are already asleep in the twin beds. There’s no room for you in there.”I opened my mouth to argue, but he was right. I had tucked Dylan and Tyler into those beds myself and watched as they fell asleep curled up under the covers, their little faces peaceful and unbothered by the chaos swirlin
KNOX’S POV“Goodnight, Knox.” Her voice echoed in my mind long after the door closed behind her. The way she said it—soft, final—it was as if she was shutting more than just the door between us. I stood there for a second, staring at the wood, feeling an odd sense of emptiness wash over me. I wasn’t sure why.I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts and force myself to move. There was no use in standing here like an idiot, hoping she'd open the door again. I walked down the hall, the floorboards creaking under my weight, heading toward the laundry room. The cottage was quiet, too quiet, with only the faint hum of the wind outside.When I reached the laundry room, I flipped on the light, the old bulb buzzing to life above me. It was a small space, tucked away at the back of the house. There were a few shelves lined with towels and sheets, and an old wicker basket sat in the corner, half-filled with unfolded laundry. I grabbed a couple of blankets off the shelf and tossed them over