LOGINKarson's POVThe forest was different at night.Shadows stretched between the trees like dark fingers. Moonlight filtered through the canopy in scattered patches. Every sound amplified in the stillness. Every rustle of leaves a potential threat.I followed Irene through the darkness. Keeping my footsteps light. Matching her pace exactly.
Irene's POVKen arrived just as the meeting was winding down.His face was grim. The kind of grim that meant bad news. The kind that made my stomach clench before he even opened his mouth."Princess." He gave a quick nod to the elders. "I need to speak with you. Privately."
Irene's POVThe war room felt smaller with everyone crowded inside.Elders filled the seats around the main table. Maps and diagrams spread across every surface. The smell of blood and smoke still lingered on our clothes from the battle hours before.We had won the skirmish. But winning a battle wasn't the same as winning a war.
Karson's POVThe scratches on her arm weren't deep.But they were there. Red lines carved into her skin. Evidence of a fight that could have gone differently. Evidence of my failure.I watched her apply the ointment. Her movements efficient. Practiced. She didn't wince at the sting. Didn't hesitate or fumble.
Irene's POVThe battlefield was still settling when Karson appeared at my side.He moved fast despite his injured leg. Limping across the blood-soaked ground like the wound didn't exist. Like nothing mattered except reaching me."Irene." His voice was rough. Breathless. "Are you hurt? Did they—"
Irene's POVLexie was broken beneath me.Bleeding. Whimpering. Defeated.I shifted back to human form. Stood over her crumpled body. Ready to end this once and for all."It's over, Lexie." My voice came out cold. Flat. "You've lost."
IRENEFor the first few seconds, I froze until Iris sang in my head with a low voice, 'Busted.'I stepped away from Karson immediately like his closeness would burn my face and bring out the truth."What are you talking about? Don't be ridiculous!" I moved around quickly and got busy with my hands, "Wo
IRENEIt had been two days since Karson left and I couldn't stop feeling guilty over the way I had reacted. It was silly of me, but what could I do? I panicked when I woke up to an empty house; my kids and their baby daddy, gone.My first thought was that he only got close to me so he could snatch the
KARSON"A-Are you sure this is a good idea?" Irene fidgeted beside me. "I mean anyone can tell I smell of you.""Really? Let me check," I leaned into her blushing face and inhaled, releasing more of my pheromones to cover her in it. "I can't tell.""Karson!" She blushed deeper when she realised it and
KARSONI still couldn't fathom his audacity to threaten me with my kids."See yourself out," I grunted with warning. I was barely holding back from losing my shit and seeing his face wasn't helping.The rage boiling inside of me was almost consuming as I looked him dead in the eye but instead of withdr







