KARINA POV "Atticus," I say as my body comes to a screeching halt. His order over my body takes hold and his dark eye examine me cautiously. He seems lost. Almost as if he wants to say something, but can't find the way and it breaks my heart. He deserves so much better, but he won't allow himself to have it. "I can only go back up the stairs, Atticus. Your order won't allow to move any further since you are right there," I whisper, and his face scrunches up as if he is confused by my statement. "I lifted it. I took the order away," he says and my eyebrows pull together in confusion. I haven't seen Atticus since the execution. He couldn't have lifted the order. "I... I have to hear the order Atticus. An order can't be lifted unless the one receiving the order hears," I explain as I realize he must have tried to lift the order without me being near him. "Oh, umm I'm sorry. I thought... Nevermind. I... King Atticus, lift my order from you, Karina," Atticus says sounding

ATTICUS POV Everything we said was ignored. Not one of the pack members trusted us enough to listen to us. They blatantly displayed their dislike for us no matter what we said by remaining silent and cold. In the end, we decided to walk away and allow the W.O.L.F agents to fix the food shortage issue. It was obvious the members wanted us gone because they immediately began to communicate with the agents. We gaze up at the open sky and sigh. The stars look like twinkling diamonds in the dark sky and we wish we could fall into them. The stench of shame has coated our flesh and we know there is no escaping it. Rupert Kincaid was our father. We hurt and helped imprison several young wolves who are now gone. Their families have no reason to forgive us. Even if we were under orders or afraid for Adeline we hurt them. "Atticus," Karina whispers from about five feet back, but we continue to ignore her. She has been behind us ever since we walked away from the gathering, but we don'

ATTICUS POV Adeline watches me with a small smirk tugging at her lips as we pace the hospital room. We have been like this ever since we returned from dropping Karina off at Logan's pack house. Our adrenaline won't settle down. We were terrified of meeting her parents and horrified by the way the pack responded to us. The trip back to Thurman did nothing to ease the turbulent emotions inside of us. We want to succeed as King and make our mate proud, but how can the past disappear for us to do that?"So her parents accepted you... A big bad Kincaid," Adeline jokes in a quiet voice and we grunt. They accepted us and they were caring toward us. They didn't fear our new form or place blame for Rupert's actions on us. They let us remain silent while we ate. Karina answered questions and we didn't have to talk to feel included in the conversation. Karina's father was the first older male we have ever felt safe around. Not even Patrick Thurman eased our senses like that male does. It'

ATTICUS POV"Pack Thurman is truly beautiful, " Karina says sweetly as she looks around at the gorgeous landscape. I nod. My... Our mind is still reeling from the fact that Karina caught onto my internal dilemma with my/our identity. We didn't realize she was so observant. "It is well maintained. The workers here are well divided... I need to ask Logan if his Father wrote any of his methods down.... Kincaid Pack needs someone like Patrick Thurman as their Alpha. Not someone like me. I have no idea what I am doing," I/we say and Karina stops walking. "Stop doing that! Okay, I get it, Rupert made you do some bad things and you hate yourself for them. But you need to accept that those things happened. You did them to ensure your survival... And Adeline's survival. Move forward, damnit. Become the best version of you. Those assholes are all dead. You can read and learn all about what it takes to be a great Alpha. You need to became a great King. That's the best way to get back at all o

ATTICUS POV "Wow, this is really nice," Karina says as she takes in the living room of the new Kincaid Packhouse. We have to admit the natural wood floors and leather furniture look wonderful in the large living room. The decorations are welcoming but don't make the space feel cramped. At least half the members could relax in the space at a time which is what we asked for. "Thank you, Future Queen. The pack members worked hard. They created large communal areas and rather moderate living quarters, per King Atticus's instructions. This floor has a thirty by twenty-two living room with a wood fireplace, a large kitchen with an island big enough to seat eight, a large formal dining room that can fit fifty, two small omega bedrooms, and a small bathroom situated between the bedrooms. Upstairs has three good-sized bedrooms, an office, a huge storage closet, and three bathrooms. Each area has been furnished in the same style as this room here. We felt it was warm but blank enough for