Alaric’s POVTo have Ethan back, only to discover that Mia is the one truly missing now, is like a punch straight to the gut right after trying to catch my breath. The wind is totally knocked out of me.Fresh fear flashes through me, but there is no time to fall victim to it. As long as Mia is out h
Cara’s POVThe moment Alaric returns, I can tell that something is very, very wrong. His face is tight and his posture straight as a rod. With me and the kids, he usually takes on a softness, treating us gently and with compassion. Right now, he looks every inch the Alpha King he projects for the re
Mia’s POVI dash into the forest, not knowing where I’m going. Any direction is a good direction, though. Whatever gets me away from that terrible place I’m leaving behind.My heart races, I’m terrified. But I’m also exhilarated. I’m free.I need to get to Mom. I need to warn her about what these ba
“Yes, love,” George says and pushes me toward the house.I’m so scared and sad that all I can do is obey.Alaric’s POVCara might never forgive me for what happened here, but even if she does, I will never forgive myself. This is my estate, my home, where I invited my family to seek refuge, believin
Cara’s POVWhen I open the front door the next morning, expecting to see Noel, I’m surprised to find that Colin, Ryan, and Aidan are standing, speaking with Noel on the other side. When they all see it’s me, they turn toward me at once.“Cara,” Colin says. He starts to take a step toward me like he
Alaric’s POVNow that I know the scent to search for, I patrol with a fresh enthusiasm. Pushing back my mental and physical fatigue, I send the photo to everyone on my security team, as well as Cara’s brothers, Noel, and Cara herself.They should all know who we are dealing with. I also let them kno
The elders are a tradition carried down through the generations only out of respect. They have no real authority. It’s only by my kindness do they continue to have respect in the pack at all.If I shared what they were doing, secretly harboring an exiled wolf – what would the pack have to say about
Alaric’s POV“Why,” I say through gritted teeth, while trying to maintain some sense of my composure which was quickly slipping away, “would you ever do that?”With the secret out, the other elders seem more willing to speak openly with me. Some stay to the back, looking embarrassed and ashamed. The
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.“