Cara’s POV My first instinct is to deny Ryan’s words, to claim that I never, under any circumstances, would ever consider getting with Alaric ever again. But when I look over and see my brother’s serious face, his expression so open and supportive, I swallow anything I was about to say. Ryan,
Alaric’s POV I’m up late again. Working. Again. It’s no surprise, really. It’s practically my new routine: wake up, work, eat, work, eat again, work again… and so on, every day a continuation and repetition of the last. “We’ve heard back from BloodyMoon about the project proposal, Alpha King,
Cara’s POV "Is it time yet? Can we go?" Mia shouts excitedly. "Not yet. We need to finish getting ready," I respond for at least the tenth time. "We’re going to DarkWood today!! And Ethan gets to come, too!" Mia exclaims. All morning, she’s been so excited about her hospital appointment in P
I stay calm, determined not to let their comments upset me. “There must be some sort of misunderstanding. I’m looking for some water—” “Good luck finding it!” a she-wolf staff member says bitterly. “We only have the lowly water, not the kind good enough for royalty. You’ll find no water here for y
Cara’s POV “I come here to this hospital, to your pack, not as a princess, but as a mother,” I say to the group of angry nurses and staff. A small crowd of between fifteen and twenty people stand before me, circled around. They had been mocking me, chastising me for my arrogance and royal lineag
Cara’s POV I stare at Alaric as the young nurse who spoke up for me, the orphan who was also raised in the Pack House, speaks in my defense. “They don’t believe me! They think she’s lying, that she hasn’t helped our pack,” the young woman pleads to Alaric and his Beta, John. “You doubt the wor
“Do not speak ill of the Bedfords! They are the only family trying to uphold the decency that Pack DarkWood used to hold so dear!” the old woman replies. “I will speak however I wish!” Alaric yells at her. “Show such insubordination once more and you will sincerely regret it!” At this, the old w
Cara’s POV I suddenly feel overwhelmingly tired of all the charades, of all the attempts to keep Ethan a secret from Alaric. I can keep this up no longer. I can hide my child no longer. If Alaric hadn’t known for certain about my two children by now, after the science competition, then he surely
Cara’s POVThe night of the opening ceremony came much quicker than anyone would have liked. Even me. I’d been preparing as best I could for the events, and spending as much time with Alaric whenever possible to help revitalize Lucy.So far, I mostly just felt tired, not prepared, and Lucy remained
Cara’s POVKissing Alaric was as easy as breathing, especially when, after a moment, he gently opened his mouth and accepted my waiting tongue. His hands clenched at my waist, tugging me closer as he licked along the side of my tongue with his own before chasing mine back into my mouth and deepening
Alaric’s POVRuby’s request for a physical seemed to come rather suddenly after I picked up Cara from the rehearsal and brought her home, but I wasn’t one to ignore a healer’s orders, especially when she claimed she wanted to check me to see if they could pinpoint some medical ways I could help Cara
Cara’s POVLater, as all the girls were being fitted for our gowns for the opening ceremony, Ruby surprised me by walking into my dressing room. I was in my gown, with the tailor marking where to make the hem at my feet.The gown needed some work yet. It was much too small in the chest, and far too
Cara’s POVI moved without even realizing it. One minute, I was on the stage. The next, I was down near the exit, standing beside Alaric. My hand clutched Lilia’s by the wrist, as I pried her touch away from his chest.Both Alaric and Lilia seemed surprised by my sudden appearance. A few breaths lat
Alaric’s POVTrue to my word, I stuck to Cara’s side as much as I could. It was no great ask to keep my arm slung around her waist, her torso pressed into my side.The kids looked at us strangely, but seemed otherwise pleased with themselves, like they had somehow facilitated this. I didn’t know how
Cara’s POVWhen we arrived back at my house, I knew it was only a matter of time before Alaric started talking me out of my desire to stay in the competition. His protective instincts were fierce, even though he clearly had been trying to fight them lately. I knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back at
Cara’s POV“There’s no need to be a bitch, Cara,” said one of the nearby wolves.“She’s learning. You didn’t pick up positioning on your first time either,” said another.“I’m starting to think you are just jealous,” said a third.Those wolves, the ones who had come to hate me anyway for reasons I d
“He’s not worth the trouble you could get into,” he said.I didn’t know if that was true, but for Cara’s sake, and the sake of the kids, I’d keep myself from getting locked away in jail.For now.With Lilia on the loose, I couldn’t afford to be away from them for even a day. Not even an afternoon.“