“Joan means nothing to me,” he said firmly. “She was upset, and I was just—”“Comforting her,” I finished for him “Like you always do.”“Elise,” he growled, taking another step closer. “You’re the one I’m mated to. You’re the one I—”“Don’t!” I cut him off “Don’t say something you don’t mean. You th
ELISE’S POVI wanted to look my best. I had to.Ferris had invited me, and despite the anger I felt, I couldn’t help but yearn to see him, to feel him close again. Maybe I was a fool, but I loved him. I loved him in a way that went beyond reason, beyond the things that had happened between us. My he
Sophia’s gaze softened as she nodded, but there was something in her eyes. “Just… be careful, Elise. Trust your instincts. They won’t lie to you.”I walked out of the palace and made my way outside.When I arrived at the garden, I was stunned by its beauty. It was like stepping into another world—a
ELISE’S POVThe moment Joan’s loud voice echoed through the grand hall, I knew something was terribly wrong.“He tried to take advantage of me!” Joan screamed, pointing a trembling finger at Ferris. Her face was filled with desperation and fury. “The great Alpha is nothing more than a predator in di
ELISE’S POVPain. Blinding hot pain tore through me like wildfire. It felt like it was burning every nerve in my body. My breaths came in short, ragged gasps as I was rushed through the palace halls. My fingers clutched weakly at Ferris’s hand. He carried me and I could feel the worry radiating off
ELISE’S POVThe soft sounds of the television filled the hospital room. There was a movie playing that I barely paid attention to. I sighed, shifting slightly under the covers. I felt restless despite the nurses' constant assurances that I needed to take it easy. They had been overly attentive, bri
ELISE’S POVSomething wasn’t right. No—someone wasn’t right. And my gut told me that someone was Gina.I glanced at Eden.“Don’t mention that Jackson woke up,” I whispered.Eden’s brows furrowed. “Why?”“Because if Gina is behind this, we need to play our cards close to our chest. If she knows Jacks
FERRIS’ POVI walked through the infirmary doors. The scent of antiseptic filled the air, but it was Elise’s scent that captured my focus the moment I stepped inside. She sat up in bed with her dark curls falling over her shoulders. Her bright brown eyes lit up the instant she saw me."Ferris!" she
FERRIS’ POVJoan entered the roomShe bowed her head at me. “You summoned me, Alpha?”Before I could respond, an elder spoke up “You were seen with Elder Marcus late at night. In your room. Alpha Ferris himself bore witness to this.”The other council members murmured among themselves. Joan’s eyes w
ELISE’S POVI stared at the man before us. His body was restrained. His face was bruised and swollen due to the beating Farrell and Henry had given him, yet I could see a hint of arrogance in his eyes. He looked at us like he had already won. He sat in the chair, bound with thick chains. His pants
ELISE'S POVThe air turned to ice in my lungs as I faced him. Assassin. No question about it. Every muscle locked up—fight or flight short-circuited into pure freeze-frame terror.Then he flicked his wrist.Fire bloomed in his palm."Oh, come on!" I dove behind an upturned table as flames roared past. Heat seared my back through the wood. "Since when do assassins do magic tricks?"No answer. Just another fireball forming in his scarred hands. I rolled right as it shattered the table behind me. Splinters peppered my jacket.I stayed low, gripping the knives in my pockets. "Look, buddy, I don't even know who you—"Another fireblast cut me off. My sleeve caught flame. I slapped it out, coughing. "Rude."The bastard still hadn't spoken. Just kept advancing, fingers crackling with fresh heat. My wolf bristled under my skin, all fangs and fury.Bad news: I was five months pregnant. Worse news: This guy didn't care."Fine." I surged upright as his next fireball left his fingertips. "Let's da
FERRIS’ POVAt the council chamber, I sat at the head of the table, tapping my fingers on it to distract myself. My expression was carefully neutral. Around me, the council members sat, looking at each other with uneasy expressions on their faces.Elder Marcus stood at the far end. His hands were fo
ELISE'S POVI couldn't believe the sight in front of me. I had to stop myself frim throwing up. My pregnancy hormones mixed with the horrible sight in front of me made me nauseous. Who could have done this? There was definitely something bigger at play here. The image before me burned itself into
ELISE’S POVI sat on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the wall, lost in though.Farrell sat beside me. Nayla nuzzled against my leg. The cub had grown attached to me. she looked up at with those wide eyes of hers as if she knew something was wrong.“Are you okay?” Farrell asked.“I’m fine,” I
FERRIS’ POVWith anger in my veins, I walked toward Joan’s room. I was seething due to everything the maids had told me. The audacity of that woman—making new rules about removing Elise’s things, as if she had the authority to erase Elise from the palace, from my life. My teeth ground together. Joan
FERRIS’ POVThe doors to the palace crashed open as I stormed inside. My blood was boiling, and my fists were clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. Farrell. That bastard.How dare he speak about Elise that way?The words still rang in my ears, taunting me. Mocking me. I should’ve ripped his throa
The moment Ferris left the house, I watched him with satisfaction. His jaw was tight, and his hands were curled into fists by his sides. I could feel the anger radiating off him. But there was something in the way his shoulders slumped slightly as he reached his car. He looked... defeated. As if som