I had been thinking through that heartbreaking night over and over these few days, and I had some ideas. "No," I told him."Alpha, you already have a clue? Want to share?"I looked him in the eye, "Start with the guard who reported seeing her at the cliff."He pondered for a second and seemingly had
**Soren's POVThomas was waiting for me, and I could tell by his expression that he had updates.I walked into my office with him behind me. "What is it, Thomas?" I asked as I sat down at my desk."Two things," he began. "First of all, Derek's all taken care of," he said. "I received word earlier to
"Listen, I have some news," I began, hoping to ease her mind. If I was right, and she had been crying, perhaps part of the reason she'd been upset had to do with her horrific stepbrother."What is it?" she asked, and I saw her entire body tense up.Before I could respond, we heard a commotion outsid
Soren smiled innocently, "I was just about to tell you that when Isis interrupted me."I couldn't force myself to smile this time, and I heard him say, "I wanted to let you know, I found out the issues you had with your stepbrother, and I wanted you to know that you don't have to worry about him any
"Um, okay," I replied hesitantly."You don't seem to be sure about going. Are you sure you're okay?" Soren asked again."Yeah, no… dinner sounds amazing. I'm sorry. I'm just so out of it today," I covered, trying to get out of the depressed mood I was in.Soren nodded slowly before taking a seat acr
**Madalynn's POVWho did Talon think he was, anyway?He was a Beta–not a Luna! He couldn't tell me when I could see my fiance! I rushed over to my father's suite, determined not to let what happened yesterday happen again today. Talon hadn't let me see Ethan when I'd wanted to speak to him yesterda
"But what if he leaves again, and I haven't even gotten a chance to have the wedding?" I turned around and headed to the balcony that overlooked a garden. It was a nice day, but I couldn't even enjoy it. Every day may as well be cloudy and overcast without Ethan following through with his promise to
"Okay." He looked at me with those heavy eyes—and that's all he said.What did he mean by okay?! Not, "I missed you, too." Not, "Come here and let me hold you, my fiancée." Not, "I thought about you every day while I was gone." A simple, "Okay."?!But then… I knew he was a man of few words, and I tr
The entire family had gathered in the dining room and was chatting amiably over a very impressive spread that had been laid out by the kitchen–two prime rib roasts, a honeyed ham, and three roast ducks were the centerpieces of the table, all of which were being enjoyed liberally by everyone.George
RowanMom ran her fingers across Selene's head, admiring her fine white hair. She looked every ounce the doting grandmother instead of a ball of uncertainty, like Maeve. Maeve was pacing back and forth near the fall wall of my bedroom, her arms folded across her chest and her head bent as she tried
Kacidra joined in the conversation. "Maeve is right, Rowan. We need to know what's happening with you and Hanna, or else we'll never be able to help."Rosalie's voice was calm and supportive as she asked, "Is it Hanna that's troubling you, son? Is she doing all right?My first instinct was to tell t
Gemma and Ernest had flown down with my parents and their son George, who was just two months older than Maeve's sons.A moment later, the library door opened and more of our family members poured in, as if they were fully aware of the thoughts I'd just had and I'd summoned them. I pushed aside my n
RowanThe castle was abuzz with its usual day-to-day activities. Servants and maids passed me in the hallway carrying baskets of laundry and trays of tea. I could hear the clattering of cookware as I left my office and walked toward the grand staircase off the foyer, seeing the door to the servants'
"Who? What happens?""There's so much more out there," Mara said dreamily. "So, so much more.""Maeve!" Troy called from down the beach.I turned to look at him, and when I turned back to Mara, she had taken off. "Wait!" I called after her, but she had already made it out of earshot, her footsteps l
Best of all, Troy was happy. He was at peace and at home. But there was still much work to be done.We were spending several weeks jumping from island to island, taking stock of the wellbeing of the inhabitants, and making a list of what was needed. Most of the islands were in need of medicine, inf
Maeve–Four Months LaterSuntra was not what I was expecting. I had become accustomed to the seemingly endless white-sand beaches of Avondale, where the sand grit was so fine it felt like powdered sugar as you walked barefoot in the surf. Suntra's sand was coarse and golden and dappled with tidepool
I straightened up a bit, shifting Oliver's weight in my arms as I narrowed my eyes back at him, sizing him up. A man roughly my father's age came bounding out of their house, waving at me apologetically as he leaned to whisper harshly in the ear of the man I assumed was his father.Whatever his son