It helps solidify in my mind what I have to do.She doesn’t want security, and will likely take offense to me going behind her back in such a way. She wouldn’t be happy with what my second-choice backup is, either. Still, this one is a bit more subtle, and she’d likely end up enjoying it more.I wal
Cara’s POVIf I wasn’t so jumpy, I might not have accepted Alaric’s invitation to escort me to the daycare and then to home, but as it is, I’m very pleased to have the company.I’m still not sure how I feel about dating Alaric. With how nervous I’ve been, I haven’t had room in my thoughts to truly c
Cara’s POVAlaric walks me to the door, and then I usher the kids inside, feeling better when they are no longer out in the open. Then, Alaric looks at me, not like he expects anything from me, but more that he is worried to leave me on my own.Is it the fear he saw in me that makes him want to stay
When it gets to be nighttime, I take the kids up to their rooms, where after changing into their pajamas and brushing their teeth, settle into their beds for sleep. I tuck them in and read them a bedtime story one at a time, starting with Mia and then heading into Ethan’s room.Ethan, on the cusp of
Cara’s POVNoel continues to look at me with confusion and growing concern. “Cara, are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?”“Was anyone at the door when you started to come up the sidewalk?” I ask him.“I don’t know, I’m sorry,” he says. “The flowers are kind of in the way.” He smiles a lit
What am I going to do? Invite Alaric in? After what happened last time, I don’t trust myself near Alaric, alone, at night. Especially when I’m so nervous. It would be so easy for him to offer me an embrace. It would be even easier for me to fall into it and not want to leave.No. Right now, I need s
Alaric’s POVColin just stares at me, which only adds to my worry, which makes me frustrated as well.“If I need to protect Cara, I’d like to know what from,” I say, pressing.Colin presses his lips hard together. Then, finally, he speaks, “We don’t know. I’ve conferred with Eamon on this already th
Alaric’s POVIn my rush to save Cara, I didn’t see the attacker, only the knife. That is my greatest regret in this situation, especially as I lean up to give Cara a once-over, making sure she is unharmed. She’s healthy, but trembling, likely afraid.Who wouldn’t be, when they just had a knife flyin
Cara’s POV“Name it,” Alaric said.“You can’t treat me any differently once you find out the truth,” I told him. “And our current arrangement can’t change. You still need to give DuskWood pack the most attention.”“Those are big requests you are making of me,” he said, “Before I even know what the s
Alaric’s POV“Cara needs a specialist?” I asked, approaching Eamon and Landon at once.Both of them turned to me in surprise. Clearly they had thought they were speaking in private. Had they not heard the elevator open?“Oh. Alaric. It’s you,” Eamon said, recovering first. Landon continued to gape a
Cara’s POVEamon and Landon meet us when we arrive at my house. The maids had been hard at work in my absence, bringing the place back to life. Stepping inside, it felt as if we had never left it, with no sign of dust at all.Eamon came in for a hug from me first, followed quickly by Landon, then bo
I had to do both and prove myself capable. I could do it all, even if I had to stretch myself thin for a time.“Very well,” I said. “I will commute to the capital for the week, and to BloodyMoon for the weekends.”The elders seemed satisfied, but I was anything but.Already, my mind’s eye could see
Alaric’s POV“This isn’t up for debate,” I told the elder council as they all sat around the long meeting table giving me varying kinds of glares – from annoyance to frustration to worry to pity. “I will be working remotely from the BloodyMoon pack lands as I continue my pursuit of Cara.”“And she c
As Colin nodded, I rubbed a hand over my forehead. There was a migraine coming on.“The way everyone is acting with her… it’s unnerving,” I said. “I’m starting to be afraid that if I let her go, I might never see her again.” Holding Colin’s gaze, I asked him, “I will see her again, won’t I?”He didn
Alaric’s POVWatching Cara sit with Noel and Colin sent a shred of ugly jealous straight through my chest. I knew I had no reason to be jealous – not really. Despite Noel and Cara’s closeness, nothing between them indicated that they were anything more than friends.Yet… he knew her secret and I did
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t think he’ll be able to come with us right now, though I’m sure he wants to continue to spend time with all of us.”I spent more time with the kids, right up until bedtime when I tucked them in. Then I discovered that Noel was still here, sitting in the backyard with Col
Cara’s POVI couldn’t stand looking at Alaric anymore, with the hurt in his eyes, so I excused myself and went back upstairs to spend more time with the kids. After all, I’d told Alaric what I needed to say – that I was planning on returning to the BloodyMoon pack. To talk any longer might give him