ZIRA Isabella dragged me out of the room, still in my towel, towards her car. The farther I got away from the room, the better I started feeling. It felt like the pressure was lighter than before, and I didn’t feel the urge to rip out someone’s throat. What the hell was going on? We got into the car, and Isabella quickly pulled off. But it wasn’t before we heard Isaiah growl the loudest I had ever heard. I looked back, thinking I would see him chasing the car. I bet he was coming for me, and I was scared, but my anger wouldn’t let me show it. “My stuff?! It’s still in the room,” I remembered. “Fuck your stuff, Zira. What the hell was that!” Isabella yelled. “And what is going on with your eyes right now?” I pulled down the car visor and noticed my eyes were red, just like Isaiah’s, but they were slowly returning to normal. I sat down in the seat as my breathing started to increase. “I don’t know, Isa. I don’t know why I was so angry back there. I guess...I had a lot on my

VICTORIA I couldn’t believe everything I missed while away, especially the part where my mate was involved in helping Zira get an abortion. Of course, I was worried about Zira, but I was more worried something might also happen to Isabella. This was why I shouldn’t leave her by herself. She makes stupid decisions all the time. I should’ve stayed, but no. I wanted to go see my cousin. I had to. Two weeks ago, I rode with my Aunt Vera to James’ new pack, only about three hours away from Zack’s. We rode in silence most of the way. She knew my reason for coming, and she didn’t like it. She didn’t want to cause trouble for her son, and I couldn’t blame her. James has already been through a lot, but I knew if he heard why, he would help me. I was smiling at a text from Isabella when my aunt broke the silence. “Guessing it’s that Isabella girl you’re smiling about,” she said, glancing my way. “Yeah. She’s at a spa with Luna Alaia and complaining about the mud bath. Says she gets eno

ISAIAH It’s been two weeks since the day at the motel, and Zira was still locked in the room. So, she kept to herself most days, not that it was her choice. I didn’t want to keep her locked in her room, but I needed to keep her close and safe. I let her family visit as much as they could, but I couldn’t help but think they had something to do with the abortion. Well, at least, that was what Alaia thought. Zira was close to them, so maybe they did know something. Mary delivered her food three times a day, and every time I asked about her. Mary would tell me the same thing. Zira wasn’t sleeping well, but her appetite was as strong as ever, and of course... “She wants to get out of the room,” Mary said, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t trust her anymore. Mary once asked if Zira could get some fresh air. It was fall now, and I knew how much she loved the fall season. She told me she loved how the cool air felt through her fur and the sound of the leaves crunching underneath her paws. Th

ALAIAARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?! After all that work to get Councilman Faulkner here, of all the things right now, she was going to have a white werewolf. A white werewolf! That should’ve been me. Me carrying his firstborn. Me carrying a white werewolf. If I had something to throw, I would’ve, at that moment. But, instead, I stood up. I couldn’t stand to be in the same room as her. I needed to act quickly. There was no way she was getting out of this. All that manipulation would not be for naught, and I refuse to give up. “Our baby is just as precious, Alaia.” “Who cares if it’s competing against a white werewolf, Elaine? So, stop coming to me with unimportant things!” I snapped at her, cutting her off completely. She only seemed to make me angrier. I left the room and went back to my office. I opened the grimoire and touched the pages to draw more power. I needed more than usual to manipulate Councilman Faulkner. He was undoubtedly old and resistant to magic, but this grimoir

ISAIAHI watched as Councilman Faulkner seemed to be thinking or fighting with his thoughts before he spoke. “I understand. However, I still believe she should be executed for her actions. Changing her mind doesn’t excuse the fact that she was there on her own accord in the first place. Meaning everything up to that point was premeditated. Who’s to say she won’t have another change of heart,” Councilman Faulkner said. I looked at Zira and her family. They all shared the same look of desperation. I racked my brain, thinking of some way to help them. But, even though these weeks have been hectic, Zira was...is still my friend and a member of this pack. It’s my job to protect her, regardless of what she could have done. “Believe me, Councilman Faulkner, I was thinking the same, too, but maybe we could think of something less severe. Instead of an execution, we could…,” I hesitated and glanced at Zira. “I’m sorry, Zi,” I linked her. I knew she wouldn’t like this idea, but it was the