Lachlan POVIt’s been months. Months, since Lira left. Cedric searched for days, as well as most of her father’s guard, and there was still no trace of her. They tracked her magic, and the faint traces of the magic that her father infused into her necklace to a small island in the middle of nowhere, but she was no longer there. Just her necklace left on the bedside table in one of the abandoned cabins on shore.Cedric brought the necklace back to me and I had my men stay on the island for weeks in hopes of her coming back for the necklace, the pendant from her father, but she never returned. Now, my men and I, as well as King Brennus and his top knights are sitting in the deckhouse of my ship, trying to figure out what more we can do. Her necklace that used to be her beacon for help, her hope for someone to save her, is now resting around my own neck. I reached up and touched it's intricate design, remembering all the times she touched it in a similar way.I’m not letting her go.

Jack POV She looks stunning standing at the wheel, barking orders and commanding the ship just ahead of mine. I stand mesmerized by the beauty and power surrounding her. “Slow her down, Lucky,” I told my first mate, talking about this ship. I don’t want to trigger my fierce Ela by having her wear a damned corset. She would be too proud to not live up to the bet, but I know she won’t like it. If seeing me in the rib-crushing torture device the ladies fancy that makes their tits touch their chin makes her happy, I’ll gladly wear the blasted thing. I would rather look ridiculous than make her uncomfortable. “She ain’t goin’ be too happy findin’ out your let ‘er win, Cap’n.” Lucky shakes his head at me with a knowing smirk. “You’d best keep your mouth shut then,” I told him. I would have gladly left her in the dust if she hadn’t added that last bit to the challenge. I would never intentionally cause her distress by making her do such a thing, even if it was her idea. Remembering her

I didn’t give Jack many details about Lachlan or my time in Hidden Cove, just that I ran away when my uncle’s men showed up. I know Jack doesn’t entirely buy my story, but I’m not about to explain having lived twice. I don’t even fully understand it. For the first time, though, I feel like I have a purpose for living twice. It’s not to be happy. That is a hope I will likely not have again. How can I hope for happiness for myself when it has failed me both times?No, I have a new desire and purpose in life. It is to stop my uncle and his men from destroying more than they have. I know the future, or at least enough of it to help me figure out the events my uncle will be conspiring in. I know what he is planning with the Northern Clans, now, and why Hidden Cove was attacked the way it was. I just need to figure out what it is he ultimately planning on doing. To find that out, I need to go back,It is almost time for the Northern Clans to try and attack Hidden Cove again. I wanted to di

“I’m serious, Cedric. It’s time for you to stop blaming yourself. No one else does. My alpha blames your king and the whore, and your king blames himself. No one is blaming you. She wouldn't want you to suffer like this.” I scoffed, doubting that. “I didn’t have to be the one to try and reveal everything to her. I should have….I should have trusted your alpha more. He should have been there with me. Everything would have been fine then.” “I doubt it would have been fine,” Meldec muttered. “Not fine, but she would have blamed me or her father more than him. He wouldn’t have been in his office either for that awful woman to try to ensnare him. Ela would be here with us now, not out there somewhere, heaven knows where, defenseless and all alone.” Meldec makes a face, furrowing his brows. “You know, I don’t think the Luna is as defenseless as you all assumed she was.” “What do you mean?” Of course she is. She is so small and kind. She had to have multiple guards with her at all time

I did’t know what to say or do when I saw Lachlan panting breathlessly at the start of the dock, his chest heaving like he pushed himself to the limit to get there as fast as he could.His face is more aged, worn with stress. His eyes are wide in disbelief, and I can see Killian shining in them, making Val lose some of her malice with a soft, almost inaudible whimper inside my head. “Lira,” he whispered hoarsely, moving to walk quickly towards me. I stood frozen, not sure what to do. Everyone moves to give him a clear path, but before he can reach me, just as he steps past Cedric, Jack moves to tuck my body behind his. “That’s far enough, Alpha,” Jack warns Lachlan, his aura pushing out of him, stronger than I ever felt it before in defense of me. A menacing growl leaves Lachlan. “Move.”“Not a chance. Though, I’m sure my Ela could handle herself, I don’t like the crazed look about you.”“My Ela?!” Lachlan snarls. “She’s not your anything. She’s my wife.”Jack hums deeply in his c