“My people!” Samuel calls, his voice hushing the crowd in a way that Tristan would have never expected from an Alpha as weak-willed as Samuel. He never impressed Tristan much at the capital. Has he been hiding this charismatic side of himself all this time? “My people!” he calls again. “Together,
Even though I don’t want to be permanently confined to my room, I can recognize that a bit of caution would go a long way given the current political climate. For that reason, I stay in my room more than I have before, even though I often grow bored. To stifle my latest bout with anger, I head int
Written at the bottom of the note, under the message was a time, date, and location, as well as an extra addition: Come alone. Safely back in my room, I tuck the note into my pocket with the intention of hiding it from everyone. Bethany would undoubtedly try to talk me out of going, and Caleb migh
So, it’s unlikely he would recognize me if I were to, say, dress up as a servant. Donning my servants disguise – or at least the parts of it that Caleb didn’t shred, I check myself in the mirror. My pants are nicer than servant pants, but hopefully the guard wouldn’t look too closely. With my hair
Caleb stays hidden while we go to the meeting location. He trails me, hiding somewhere I can’t see, but I know he’s there. It’s a feeling deep within me, a certainty, perhaps cultivated by my trust in Caleb. Or maybe I simply sense the weight of his familiar gaze on me, as I’ve grown so accustomed t
Two of the rebels step forward to grab me. The last thing they see is the pavement, as Caleb lands on them, smashing their faces down to the ground. Caleb is in his werewolf form, massive and deadly. Standing in front of me, he’s ready to protect me. The three remaining rebels take an unsteady ste
Caleb drags me back toward the palace. After giving the location of the killed and unconscious rebels to his guards, he tugs me against him more fully, lifting me up into his arms, and carries me all the way to his room. Once there, with the door safely behind us, he starts to pace back and forth in
That night, after thoroughly showing his appreciation by ravishing Harper’s body, Caleb lies awake in the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Harper is tucked against him, breathing gently in her slumber. Her hand is on Caleb’s chest, her cheek pressed to his shoulder. One of her legs is hooked around
Holding the note, I moved toward the bed and sat down on the edge. Caleb, finished with his shower, comes out of the shower looking relaxed as can be. The moment he sees me perched on the bed, he tenses again.“What happened? What’s going on?” he asks, his voice all business.I hold up the small not
The stare-off continues for an uncomfortably long amount of time. Around us, I see Gladys’s servants take notice, and my own worry sets in. If this continues, will they attack Caleb? Is Caleb willing to go to war to keep me safe and by his side?I fear I already know the answer to that.Yet, before
Even so, with the drama, I worry about the food getting cold. It does look good and a cook took the time to make it. I quickly cut a bite of the fish and eat it.Though my stomach is in knots, the fish is delicious so I force it down.“Careful, stepmother,” Caleb says, giving weight to the word I’ve
Of all the awkward, uncomfortable diners I have sat through over the years, this one has to be the worst. And that includes the ones right after my public disgrace, when I went from being the pride of my parents to their servant instead, with my sister taking my place.Gladys, Caleb, and I are in th
Caleb releases his hold from around my waist. Instead he takes my hands in his, then brings them both to his lips to kiss the backs of them, one after the other.Still holding my hands, he leads me toward the bed. There, releases my hand to grab one of the lamps from the nightstand. Carefully, he li
“Come with me,” Gladys says, her eyes flitting between Caleb and me. “I’d be happy to give you a tour of my home.”“That would be very kind, thank you,” Caleb says, his voice dripping with false diplomacy. It matches Gladys’s own.“Thank you,” I say, softer.Gladys turns and slowly leads the way out
Looking out the window, I watch as the car follows the winding tunnel road up and out of the underground.Caleb and I sit in the back seat while a driver sits up front, hidden from us, and us from him behind a partition.The view sends me back to the last time Caleb and I left the capital behind, wh
Staying by Caleb’s side is not the only rule he has in place for me. In fact, for three hours after the messenger with Caleb’s agreement, I sat sitting in the Hall, hearing many rules now placed upon me for this trip.“You cannot let anyone get you alone,” the advisor said. “Gladys herself will try
The messenger is dressed in a simple tunic with a sash bearing the colors of Gladys’s pack lands. He waltzes confidently through the Hall, seemingly uncaring that everyone in the room is looking at him. Or perhaps he thrives on that.Regardless, he walks the walk to the base of the throne, then bows