Eamon’s POVNo sooner had I hung up the phone with Alaric than Cara knocked on my door and entered my office. In her hands she was carrying one of the fliers for the Global Princess Competition.I had told Alaric that I wasn’t sure Cara would want to take part in the competition. In truth, I had bee
“A treatment is not a cure,” I said.“Landon has sent back all kinds of different methods too, for reaching my wolf.”“None of those have been successful.”“Yet,” Cara said. “But he keeps searching and I keep trying.”“Maybe,” I said. “If you could have some success recovering your wolf, then maybe
Alaric’s POVAfter hanging up the phone, I kept my hand on it, almost like I wanted to pick it up again. But who would I call? Cara? She wouldn’t want to talk to me, not about anything other than the kids, anyway. And the kids themselves were at one of their after school activities.Now that Mia fel
Alaric’s POVI should have known when Aidan told me where to find Cara, that he would be setting me up for disaster. Yet my foolish heart had longed to see her regardless and went along with what Aidan directed, hoping to catch sight of her.And I had. Through the window of the fancy restaurant, I s
Cara’s POV“Alaric,” I said with shock, surprised beyond all reason to see him standing there. I had been so convinced at the restaurant that I had dreamed him, that I had insisted Noel take me home early. I’d been too rattled to eat.Yet he was here. That could have genuinely been him I saw through
Cara’s POVThe next morning, at the brunch for the contenders of the Global Princess Competition, I arrived early, wanting to make a good first impression. Yet, even though I arrived early, I still seemed to be one of the last few to arrive.The others all turned to look at me as I shuffled through
Cara’s POVAfter the brunch, when the other contenders and I went our separate ways, I was left feeling a combination of annoyed and vulnerable.I still felt some jealousy about how that one wolf was talking about Alaric. All that she knew about him was that he was handsome, which was true, but she
Cara’s POVI tried to put the encounter with Alaric out of my mind, but it stayed with me even after I left the restaurant, and further into the week.As an Alpha, and as my former mate, Alaric had instincts to protect me that were stronger than most and hard to ignore. When I felt dizzy, he’d moved
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.“
Alaric’s POVCara wasn’t at her desk and no one knew where she’d gone. Worry flooded through me until, after sending her a text, I received one back.At rehearsal. Will talk after.I didn’t know if that meant she had seen Lilia, but I hoped not. I wanted to be the one to break the news gently, after
Alaric’s POV“Lilia?” Eamon asked with disbelief. “The same Lilia who kidnapped my niece and tried to kill my sister?”I wished I had a different answer for him than the one I had. “Yes. The very same.”“How? How is any of this possible?” Eamon insisted.“She used to be a princess,” I said, the same