Melissa's POV"What?" Unable to think of anything else to say, I ask. Knox sighs, "I've been gone too long."And so have you." He adds sharply. I realize all of a sudden that he must have abandoned everything to come here. I'm not sure how he handled the several duties he had in Elysium. While he's been busy pursuing me around Asphodel, who has been leading the pack? The council?Next How did none of this happen to me earlier? Living in different cities makes it difficult for us to be together. As soon as I allowed Knox to claim me, I most likely consented to return to Elysinuithe. My last card was the necessity of keeping Tyler close to her father, but when I told him the truth about the DNA test, that justification was thrown out the window."I have a Tyler here, Knox," I hesitantly respond."You had a life there too. Knox reminds me, brushing a few strands of hair out of my eyes.“No." I corrected him. "I had you and nothing else. Here I have a business,friends, a purpose beyond sta
Knox's POVSam Cavanaugh has my small family assembled in his office. As Tyler balanced between our laps, Melissa and I sat across from the Eros Alpha, getting ready to reveal our trip to Elysium. Given how things transpired when the other man discovered that I had claimed Melissa, I was expecting a scene, but I'm not so sure anymore.After the kidnapping, things were so hectic that I didn't notice Sam's gaze on Melissa, but today I can clearly see the difference. He used to look at my partner with unfulfilled desire, but these days he only looks at her with warmth and friendliness.I have a feeling I know the reason behind this sudden shift, and while I still harbor some resentment for the little she-wolf who helped kidnap my mate and pup, solving my Sam problem might just be worth my forgiveness. I know she was a victim in all this, but the fact remains that my pup almost died,and the father in me just can't get past that. I know Melissa feels the same.“I presume you've come to tel
Melissa's POVIt's more difficult to leave Asphodel than I thought. Even though I have a lot of happy memories of Elysium, I've been lonely for it ever since I left. Tyler's early life started here, when she walked for the first time and spoke for the first time.Knox has been looming over me all morning in the frantic manner that men do when confronted with an issue they are unable to resolve, as if he senses my misery. I believe he feels bad about refusing to make the move, but not enough to put it off. I guess it would only get worse if the suffering were prolonged.Tyler is actually taking this better than anyone, though I don't know how long that's going to last. She's been running around the docks while the men pack the boat, saying goodbye to all the fish and manatees, hugging her favorite buildings and even attempting to crawl into the mangroves to kiss them farewell. I almost fell into the canal pulling her back, which would have been the perfect end to a very stressful week.
Knox's POVAt first, I wasn't certain that surprising Melissa with a vow renewal was a good idea. She usually doesn't handle surprises well, but my mother assured me that this would be one she’d appreciate. It proves one thing: always trust your mom—at least, when she's as wise as mine.Melissa is glowing, her blue and violet eyes sparkling, and her hair still tousled from sleep. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she asks, "Can I kiss you now?"Brushing away a stray tear with my thumb, I murmur, "Only after you answer me."Melissa giggles joyfully,"Of course-of course I'll marry you again."I don't wait for her to kiss me, instead swooping in and pulling her from the car. Hitching her up against me, I finally dip my head to join our lips, slanting my mouth over hers and drinking her in.I only intended it to be a quick prelude, a sample of what is to come later.Instead I find myself getting lost in my mate,extracting kiss after kiss from her swollen lips and groaning when her delectabl
Melissa's POVAs the first light of dawn filters through the trees, Knox and I step out of the forest, once again dressed in our wedding attire. Tyler and Aiden are already up, though it’s clear the Beta would have preferred a bit more sleep. Tyler, on the other hand, is buzzing with excitement, her first camping adventure too thrilling for her to remain in bed any longer than necessary.It seems Aiden was the one to yield to her persistence, judging by the way he's rubbing his eyes, looking like he’s regretting indulging her eagerness. Tyler sits beside him by the campfire, her restless energy barely contained, like a pup waiting impatiently for permission to play until her breakfast is done.When she sees us, Tyler looks askance at our disheveled state.“Mommy you're dirty." Her little head tilts to the side as she takes in the sight of my muddy limbs beneath my dress. Knox isn't any cleaner, but his suit covers him a hundred times better than my gown."What were you doing?”Her quest
~ Knox ~When I finally step out, freshly cleaned and dressed, Tyler’s tantrum has quieted. I spot her and Melissa near the campfire, the little one sniffling against her mother’s shoulder. Melissa’s hand moves soothingly up and down Tyler’s back, offering both comfort and a gentle reprimand.“I know it’s a lot to take in, and it’s all happening so fast,” Melissa murmurs, pressing a soft kiss to Tyler’s hair. “It probably feels like all these changes are swirling around you, and you don’t understand why—just that all the grown-ups keep telling you that everything’s going to be different, without asking you how you feel about it.”Tyler nods, rubbing her wet, salty skin over Melissa's collar. A wave of guilt washes over me. Here I thought her tantrum was just regular toddler mood swings- I Took it at face value, but Melissa knew instantly. I wonder if it's maternal intuition, or simply experience and knowing the pup so much better than I do.A few weeks ago I would have felt bitter ab
knox's POVThough the thought crosses my mind to enter through the garage with Melissa and Tyler, avoiding the councilors' gaze and heading straight to the apartment, I quickly discard it. I can't afford to show any hint of weakness, not when these men are already testing my resolve. I refuse to give them that satisfaction. No, we will walk through the front door, our heads held high, and if it comes to it, I will take down every last elder in my path to ensure we do.We exit through the side door, our small group moving toward the front of the house. Aiden and Donovan position themselves on either side of Melissa and Tyler, while I take the lead, steeling myself for whatever unpleasant news is waiting for us."Gentlemen,"I greet the assemblage without any hint of a smile,“to what do we owe the pleasure."They are all looking past me,surveying my mate and pup with undisguised curiosity and, in some cases, distrust.“You've been gone nearly a month,Alpha." The chief elder states,“And we
Melissa's POVThe day after we’re back home, Knox dives into back-to-back meetings that stretch from dawn till late evening. He barely manages to slip into Tyler’s room in time to read her bedtime story, and when he finally emerges about half an hour later, he looks completely drained.I’m in the kitchen, waiting with a glass of scotch in hand. But instead of reaching for the drink, Knox comes straight to me, wrapping me up in his strong embrace, his body warm and solid against mine. He buries his face into the curve of my neck, loosening my pinned-up hair so it cascades down, draping over him like a chocolate waterfall.“What happened?” I murmur, my fingers gently weaving through his thick hair.He takes a deep breath, pulling in my scent with a sigh that seems to ease his tension. When he raises his head, dark circles rim his eyes, but his gaze is as intense as ever as he studies my lips, leaning in to capture them in a deep, lingering kiss.When he's had his fill, he tucks my head
Melissa's POVAs Tyler and I arrived in New Town, something strange happened. The streets seemed to shift before my eyes, rearranging themselves in an instant. The modern world around me faded away, and in its place, the familiar signs of a bygone era emerged: vintage cars, outdated advertisements, and storefronts that had long since vanished from memory.It was as though the town had turned back the clock to fifteen years ago, to the last time I was here—before my mother passed away and before Garrick took me prisoner. After I escaped, I stayed away from this place, avoiding it as if it were cursed. But now, here I am again, feeling ten years old, standing on the brink of losing everything I once knew and loved."This is it, Mommy," Tyler's small hand tightens around mine, pulling me out of my thoughts, her voice full of wonder."This is it," I say, the words heavy with meaning. "I grew up in that house.""And lost everything there too," Luna whispers, her voice tinged with sorrow."
Melissa's POVNot this again!One moment, I'm standing there, and the next, I'm sprawled over my friend's lap, my arms flailing in a desperate attempt to shield my now exposed behind.How did he manage that so quickly? Luna's voice echoes in my mind, and at the same time, I think, I really need to stop wearing dresses. They make it way too easy for him to get to me.Before I can make another move, Knox has my hands pinned behind my back, and his strong thighs hold my kicking legs in place. Unlike before, I don’t whimper or plead for an explanation. This time, I fight back with everything I’ve got, my anger flaring as I realize I’m stuck in this situation once more.I can't believe he's doing this to me again. That incident at the café seems to have opened up a whole new can of worms. Is this how he’s going to react every time I do something he doesn’t like?Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed him, but deep down, I know I don’t regret it. I’m certain I’m in the right here.Still, it isn't fa
Melissa's POV"Knox, put me down!" I shout, wriggling as he carries me through the pack house in his arms. "I can walk!"“I know you can walk," he growls, tightening his hold on me. "But I’m carrying you because I don’t trust you not to run off and do something reckless if I let you go."This is bad. Knox hasn’t said a word to me since he figured out that I must have jumped into the pool on purpose. Instead, he swept me up and stormed out of Nova Hall, not sparing a glance for his mother or anyone else. He made the trek back to the pack house so fast, I can hardly believe he’s still human.Now, he's pacing in a silent fury, holding me like I'm a sack of potatoes, steam practically rising from his ears. He charges up the stairs and barges into the apartment without slowing, and the sound of Tyler’s crying immediately hits my ears. I twist, trying to locate my pup, but Knox keeps me firmly in his grip, not letting me move an inch.“Tyler?” I call, listening with Knox's breath as her wai
Melissa ’s POVThis was a mistake.The realization hit me the moment I entered the water. Attempting such a reckless plan was foolish, and now I was paying the price. I plunged beneath the turquoise surface, sinking fast, my body heavy and unyielding like a stone. The bottom of the pool loomed closer, and panic clawed at my chest.It wasn’t a particularly deep pool—just twenty feet—but even that shallow depth felt oppressive. The pressure seemed to crush me, as though the weight of the entire world had settled on my shoulders. My lungs screamed for air, but my mind was caught in a storm of dread.The seconds dragged painfully, each one an eternity. The underwater world was surreal—soft, muted, and overwhelmingly blue. It might have been mesmerizing if it weren’t so terrifying. I stretched my arms wide, trying to focus. There had to be something within me, a spark of power waiting to be tapped. Desperately, I pictured myself reaching for it, pulling salvation from the depths of my bein
Knox's POVAfter a frustrating and unproductive trip to the security offices, where we uncovered nothing but twelve hours of blacked-out camera footage from the night the paternity test was conducted, my betas and I made our way up to the chief physician's office on the tenth floor.Now, we stand in the doorway of his corner suite, carefully observing the doctor's reaction to our sudden appearance, only to find him with a blank expression.Seated behind his desk, he has his polished loafers casually resting on the sleek wooden surface, a takeout container resting in his lap. It's been a while since I last saw him, and despite the fact that he's only a few years older than me, I can't help but notice the toll time has taken. His dark hair now has a few streaks of gray, and the lines around his eyes and mouth are more pronounced than I remember.“Alpha, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dr Kane greets me, barely looking up from his lunch.As far as Alpha's go, I've also considered myself
Melissa's POVKnox is driving me crazy.It’s barely evening, and here we are—already tucked into bed. We don’t even have my heart to blame for this rush anymore; that excuse ran its course days ago. But you'd never guess that from the way Knox is behaving. It's as if we're teenagers again, caught up in the chaos of our own desire. Though, I can’t say he's entirely at fault—every time his hands are on me, I seem to lose all control, melting into him.I know it might sound like I'm frustrated, but honestly, I’m just trying to process everything that’s happened recently. I’m not upset about having this incredible Alpha showering me with affection. I just don’t quite know how to handle all these overwhelming changes.Knox pulls me closer, wrapping himself around me like the softest blanket, his massive frame offering comfort as his lips graze my skin. “Goddess, I love you,” he murmurs, pressing his face into my neck."I love you too," I whisper, smiling widely. “Even if you don't listen t
Melissa 's POVI’m starting to wonder if my mother gave me the wrong secret. Granted, she shared the most important one—the scariest, too—but she really buried the lead. Sure, my blood can grant eternal life, but that’s not much help while it’s still coursing through my veins. On the other hand, learning I can hypnotize people would have been a much more practical secret to know sooner.Odette’s history books are far from complete, and half of what they claim sounds more like myth than fact. Still, there’s enough solid evidence to convince me of certain things. For example, I’m skeptical of the thirteenth-century zealot who supposedly figured out how to become invisible, but I’m more than willing to believe the hundreds of accounts describing how Volana wolves could use moonlight to amplify their powers.I can't believe I never knew any of this.I marvel, scanning through ancient censuses listing the names of my ancestors.I can. Luna rolls her eyes, I mean when would we have had the o
Knox's POV"Go!" Melissa commands, her body poised in a defensive stance."I can't," I mutter, frustration lacing my words. "This doesn’t feel right."We stand in the middle of the garden, the manicured grass stretching out between us. About ten meters separate us, and I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. Melissa, dressed in workout gear, meets my gaze with a mix of patience and exasperation. On the sidelines, Aiden and Donovan watch, grinning widely as if the whole thing is some kind of game—though nothing has even happened yet."Attack me!" she urges, arms outstretched in an open challenge."Melissa, I really don’t think this is a good idea—""Knox, you promised!" She cuts me off, her voice insistent. I know she’s been trying to convince me to do this for weeks, but I still have doubts. Axel and I would never intentionally hurt her, but there’s always a risk. A slip, a misstep, even a half-hearted strike could go wrong.“This is dangerous." I gripe, "what if it doesn't wo
Melissa's POV"Knox, you're being completely unreasonable."He stands across from me in the kitchen, sunlight streaming in behind him, his arms folded tightly across his chest, and that familiar, stubborn scowl on his face. After everything that happened last night, he's been on edge, hovering around me like a hawk. This morning, I had to actually kick him out of the bathroom just to get a moment of privacy, and now he's digging in his heels, refusing to go to work."Can you blame me?" he snaps, his voice low and edged with frustration.I get it, I do. He's tired. We didn't get to bed until nearly four this morning, and with a young pup running us ragged, there’s no chance of sleeping in. If he were staying home to rest and recharge, I might be more sympathetic. But that’s not it."We've got to figure out a way to get past this,”I sigh, feeling emotionally drained."We can't change what happened,but we can't let it take over our lives either.You have to go to work, I've got to take Tyl