Two years ago...She called. Her voice sounded scared. It's the only thing I can hear as I rush back from the movie set. I place a call to Drusila, but the old woman has deemed today fit for ignoring my calls. I try to calm myself, but I swear on my mother's grave if there's even a scratch on her skin, hell will break loose. Whoever needs to pay will pay.I leave the engine idle and dart into the building, looking for Scarlett. There are no signs of a break in or a fight. Since the pack moved to New York, things have been peaceful. The cleaning girl put up a slippery floor sign ahead of her, but I don't pay it any heed. I'm about to race up the stairs with my wolf's speed when Drusila flashes in front of me. She's crossing her arms and glaring at the wet floor behind me."I don't have time for this." I step around her, continuing the climb."How many times do I have to tell you and Jai-Blynn not to wear your shoes in the house after a run in the woods? It rained a few hours ago!" She s

ZEKE"We can't overlook the gravity of this news. If they've found another way, then we must kill Zane's pregnant mate."Silence spreads in the room after Orson shares his thoughts. We are holed up in my study. Drusila sits on the chair before me. Orson's at her side while Aiden stands with his hands folded against his chest behind them. Kass Rodin is on his feet next to the door while Kyra rests against an adjacent wall with her ankles crossed.Marelyn's with Frida in the dungeons. It's dangerous, but I let her because I know she needs the closure. Kyra reported the hour's attack to me. Jai-Blynn didn't come to play. I'm aware time is not on our side. Drusila's bent on the scowl on her face. She doesn't like that Kass is with us, but he's a significant part of Moon Grove, even though he lost to Aiden a few hours ago."I was taught not to harm innocent women and children, Orson." I break the ice in a sharp tone.The pack Zeta reads the room and clears his throat. He squirms in his seat

I can tell many hours have gone by. I'm in a dark room, but I can't see anything else except the void. Jai-Blynn tied me to a chair with silver chains. I'm dressed in a tank top and shorts, sans my coat. The chilly weather is biting. There's blood all over my wrist and ankles. His traps are too tight. There's also wolf's bane is in my system. I can feel it. After meeting him at the hospital, I can't remember how I got here.There's someone in the room with me, though. My sense of smell is poor because of the effect of the Wolf's bane, but I can feel a presence in here. Where am I? I shut my eyes, trying to force the memories back, but I get nothing. It frustrates me.The door to the room opens. It disturbs the silence as it scrapes on the tiles beneath it. Someone flips the switch and light pours into the room. It's Jai-Blynn. He's still dressed in that all-black suit I saw him in. I scan the space. We are in a warehouse, but there are no windows in here. I glimpse the view outside the

Two years ago...She's in the kitchen. She's cooking something that smells heavenly on the stove. I sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. She giggles, smiling hard at me. I can't get over the gleam in her eyes. I've missed this. She snuggles into my hold, turning to face me. I kiss her lips slowly, like we have all the time in the world to do this. "How's my gorgeous pregnant wife doing?" She can't stop smiling even if she tries. "Shh. Someone might hear you."We found out we were pregnant yesterday and kept the news a secret. Scarlett won't tell her family, and I won't tell Drusila. No one except the two of us knows what's coming. Our baby."I'm on top of the world, Letty. You did that." I lie while planting another kiss on her lips. She can't know what my real thoughts on this matter are, or she'll never forgive me. I will try my hardest to make her smile last. I might even discover how to make it permanent. Who knows?"I'm happy, too. There's so much I want to do

A few minutes later..."Don't even think about lying, Alexis." I stand, moving closer. "Marelyn's not dead. She can't be dead, right?"Alexis taunts me with her silence. She can see it's eating me away on the inside, but she doesn't think I deserve to be put out of my misery so easily."Say something, for crying out loud. This wasn't the plan!""I'll answer you in a few. I just want to understand other things first," she says.My hand rakes through my hair as I pace in small circles. I need to know if Marelyn is alright. I can't possibly imagine the other option being the case."What kind of game are you playing, huh?" I grab the nape of her dress and tug her towards me. She's glowering at me and breathing hard. This isn't how partners should treat themselves, but she gave me no choice.Alexis struggles to pull my hand away. "Let go of me!""Tell me. Now!"She flares her nostrils, hesitating for moments. "What if I told you there's a slight chance Scarlett Burns is still alive?"I free