*Isla*“Look at you,” Maddox beams as he balances on his hands and knees in front of Isaac on the floor in the large, airy sitting room near the library. I glance up from the magazine I’m reading to watch them, smiling as Maddox drops onto his elbows to look Isaac in the eyes. Isaac, hating every minute of what his nanny calls “tummy time”, screws his face into a scowl and lets out a howl of displeasure. “Oh, come on. You’re big and tough!”“You’re torturing him,” I chuckle, flipping a page. Maddox makes a face at Isaac, and the baby’s scowl turns into a grin. Seeing Maddox as a father is… a dream. Speaking of big and tough, this man used to intimate the hell out of me, and still intimates practically everyone else. Maddox just stepping into a room is enough to silence the space, and one look from him has Alphas cowering. But with Isaac he’s goofy, lighthearted, and… soft. The kindest, truest soul. I set my magazine down as Maddox rolls onto his back and lifts Isaac onto his chest.

*Isla* The first night of the trials went well, all things considered. A large banquet was held in our honor, and the camp outside the stadium had been full to the brim with people from all over the pack lands. But I am quickly realizing how little I actually know about the lands in which Maddox’s title encompasses. “I’ve never talked so much in my life,” I say, my voice hoarse and cracking like gravel as I reach for a bottle of water. Trinity shifts her weight in her chair, the white canvas of what Ben calls “The Luna’s Royal Tent” billowing over our heads. “Well, I’d say you met everyone and their mothers, grandmothers, great aunts and weird cousins,” Trinity chuckles before sipping from her own water bottle. She isn’t wrong. The field in the stadium had been filled with tables and chairs, live music blasting, and food and drinks flowing freely for hours and hours. I’d walked around with Isaac and Maddox, formally introducing myself to Alphas of both large, well established and

*Isla*The stadium is nearly silent as we watch Keenan’s wolf circle around Elijah’s limp body. My blood rushes in my ears as my heart races. Maddox is holding my hand, squeezing, as we cling to the railing and watch in horror as Keenan begins to approach the royal box, his head held high. Maddox’s warriors are lingering on the edge of the field, waiting for Maddox’s command to end the match, but he hesitates, his brow furrowing as he gazes at the black mass of fur and blood lying still in the center of the field. I slowly turn my gaze to Trinity, who has her eyes closed, her fingers knitted as she prays. “Is that it?” Antony says somewhere behind us. “Is he dead?”I turn back to the field just in time to see Elijah twitch, slowly raising his head. “Maddox, look!” I say, shakily pointing a finger at Elijah. Keenan must be looking right at us, because he turns his head as I point at Elijah and stalks back over to him, teeth bared. “He’s going to rip him to shreds,” Antony says in

*Isla*I never really envisioned this moment. Maddox is down on one knee, his eyes turned up to meet mine expectantly. I realize with a start that at this moment, this man, this Alpha King most people won’t even look in the eye out of fear and respect, is kneeling before me… me. “I love you,” I say, my voice trembling. The column of his throat bobs as he swallows, his brow furrowing. “Are you saying no?”“Of course not,” I say softly, then slide off the bench so I’m resting on my knees in front of him. I hold out my hand, and he takes an audible breath, his eyes glistening as he removes the ring–a beautiful ring with what looks like a moonstone surrounded by sapphires–and slips it onto my finger. “Of course I’ll marry you,” I whisper, holding his gaze. His deep green eyes are sharp, focused, and full of what I can only describe as youthful hope. “But you’ve referred to me as your wife a few times already. Why did you feel–feel the need to propose to me–” I bite down on my words as

Poppy clutches the back of the couch, her freshly manicured fingernails gleaming in the light of the antique chandelier hanging over our heads. I wait to say anything until I hear Ben and Maddox’s footsteps recede down the hallway and out of earshot. Then, I turn to her, sighing as I meet her eyes and ask, “Is this what you want?”“Yes,” she replies with finality, giving me a soft smile. “I love him, Isla. He loves me. And based on what happened today–” she sighs heavily, her eyes glassy with sudden emotion. “The Goddess has been looking out for us, hasn’t she? She let Mystica give you a final, although extremely strange, gift of a vision before she died peacefully with us surrounding her. And she led me to my mate, despite all odds. I want to be with him, even if that means I have to leave your side.”“You’ll also have a home here,” I say softly, trying not to cry. Today has been… very hard. Very sad. Very trying. My body feels wasted with grief as I lower myself onto a chaise, cross