“Always so dramatic,” Chase teased, wagging a finger at Kane. “But Lottie wants a more public downfall for Connie, and I, for one, am happy to put on a performance.”I shifted uncomfortably. Did I?The image of spilt blood I had never wanted on my hands threatened to rear up again, but I pushed it a
Lottie's POVI felt my mates' gazes flick toward me more than once, their silent assessments sending a faint heat through my chest. They wanted to press closer, to slip into my mind and share my burden, but I kept my mental walls firmly in place. I feared if I let them in, they'd sense my lingering
Kane’s POVAdam cleared his throat. “So we’ll act like last night never happened. Put on a show of playing dumb about what happened in his private rooms, that we don’t even recall the confrontation. Char and the rest of us will offer to leave, so it appears we harbor no suspicions or grudges.”“Exac
"So… what do we do? We let her rest? Let her walk away?" My thoughts spun in circles. "Look how closed-off she is. She’d rather talk to Sage than us.""We’re losing her if we don’t try…" Rolo stirred inside me, echoing Knox’s frustration.But I had no answer. Knox, sensing my uncertainty, responded
Lottie POVA heavy silence settled. Then Knox spoke again, quieter now.“You’re… you’re not leaving us, are you?” I felt his heartbreak like a physical ache, and it nearly undid my resolve.“Never,” I whispered firmly. “But you must understand I’m used to being my own person. I cherish your input, t
Kane’s POVMy father and Sebastian both needed to be dealt with—or so the plan went. Feign ignorance, pretend Astaroth had wiped our memories, then strike when the time was right. After that, they’d face death. Everyone agreed it was the only way to end their treachery. The logic was sound, but each
"She has to face Leigh’s and Sebastian's betrayals on her own terms," I reasoned. "No one can do that for her." But it killed me to watch. There was no tidy solution—only the knowledge that, soon, they would be gone from her life forever, and she’d have to live with the aftermath. She dreaded it alm
Kane POVI moved quietly down the hallway, my breath still shallow from the events of the night before. Every step echoed in my ears as though the house itself remembered the blood spilled and the betrayals exposed. Adam and Liam were already waiting for me near the top of the stairs, neither lookin
"I didn't get anything," I confirmed, shooting a quick look at Liam, to see him checking his phone for the millionth time this hour."He mindlinked the entire pack last night—" She shifted her weight, and her confusion quickly turned to alarm. "Everyone was told we were under attack. Apparently, he'
Kane POV"What do you mean?" I stiffened, a flicker of confusion sparking in my mind."When I finally came to bed last night—" Her tone was biting, letting us know she'd been up longer than usual. "—I found the place trashed. Sheets torn off, furniture toppled, the room absolutely wrecked. But your
Kane POVThe thick, fertile scent of damp grass filled my nose. Our family's sprawling garden, with its cobblestone paths and neatly trimmed shrubs, might've looked serene to an outsider, but I could feel the tension radiating from my brothers. Adam and Liam slumped at the wrought-iron table near th
"I'm listening." He spread his hands in a silent invitation, leaning on the statue. A wave of nausea rolled through me. My jaw set tight, and I pushed the words out before I lost my nerve. "Connie," I began, "and Lily. Years ago, they attended a camp." I paused, the memory stabbing at me. "My daugh
Adam POVI stood in the garden with my back against an old oak, trying my best to calm the pounding in my chest. Dawn had turned the sky into a wash of soft oranges, but none of us felt any serenity from it. The overnight drama and then the issue with Connie had left an acrid taste in my mouth, and
Connie POV “I—my childhood wasn’t… look, it doesn’t matter. I just learned real fast that if I didn’t claw my way to the top, I’d be stomped on. So I do what I need to. I guess Adam sees it as manipulation, but it’s survival for me.” I wiped my cheeks, letting my voice quiver. He studied my face, l
Connie POV My heart hammered as Chase guided me out of the kitchen, his hand firm around my waist. I could practically feel the tension still clinging to my skin, left behind by Adam's furious glare. That confrontation had jolted me badly, far more than I cared to admit. Yet the shock of seeing Cha
"You will show her respect, Kane… remember who the fuck I am! I am no alpha, No friend; I am a sparrow brother, and as such, you will mind your fucking tongue, or I will remove it... with my teeth," I warned a smug-looking Kane. I knew he got it. After all, Kane had hammered our plan into place. He
Chase POV "She nearly cost Lottie everything. She's messed with filth, spilled secrets, toyed with hearts she had no business touching." Adam cut through the easing tension. My chest rattled with anger. I'd lose my composure if I'd thought of Connie's acts too deeply. So I channeled that fury into