LOGINI tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, trying to keep the nervous energy running through my body under control. Thankfully, it hadn't completely taken over. My mind was still clear, sharp, and focused. I was ready. I knew we were driving straight into a very dangerous situation, but I was prepared for it.I'd do anything for my son.“How do you feel about all this?” Lucien asked as I turned onto a dirt road.“To be honest... I feel like shit,” I muttered. “The last thing I want is to hurt my brother, but just like I told Selene, Kael is what matters most. I'd walk into the deepest part of hell for him, and if hurting my brother is what it takes to bring him home safely, then...” My voice faded. Did I really have it in me to do that?Yeah... I did.“Well... so be it,” I finished.“Fair enough,” Lucien replied.Now that I'd finally gotten past the strange jealousy that had taken over me when we first met, I realized I actually liked Lucien. He reminded me a little of Jaxon, pro
“You mean besides my inch-long canines when I shift?” Jaxon asked with a grin.“You know exactly what I mean,” Orion replied.Jaxon smirked, lifted his shirt, and showed the semi-auto pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants. “I’m covered, my man.”“And what about you?” Orion asked, turning to Voss.Voss raised one eyebrow, slipped his hand into his laptop bag, and pulled out a snub-nosed revolver. “We’re good,” he said with a quick smile.“Okay, then,” Orion replied.He looked completely focused now. His attention was sharp, and he carried himself like a leader again... confident and determined in a way I hadn't seen for quite some time. Seeing him like that made me feel relieved. It was clear his mind was fully back where it needed to be.“you both just stay alert,” Lucien said. “I don't know how Varek plans things, but he might already expect that we're trying to find him. If that's true, he could decide to do something reckless.” He shrugged as he motioned around the house. “
“Kael’s safety is the only thing that matters to me,” Orion went on. “I’ll do whatever it takes to bring him home safely. Hopefully,” he added, making his voice a little lighter, “Varek calls soon so we can trace where he is. That would be the best outcome.”Orion looked toward the window behind Selene. “Looks like everyone else has arrived.”A truck and an SUV had pulled into the driveway. A few seconds later, Lucien, Elias, Voss, and Jaxon walked inside. As soon as they arrived, the tension between Orion and Selene faded, and I was thankful for that. I honestly hadn't known what to say... or whether I should've said anything at all.“How’s everybody doing?” Lucien asked as he stepped into the kitchen. “Has Varek called yet?”“Not yet,” I answered.“Good.” Voss pulled his laptop out of his backpack. “I don't want all the action to happen without me.”“It has to happen soon,” Jaxon said. “Varek doesn't seem like the kind of person who enjoys waiting.”Everyone else agreed. From the lo
My phone started ringing, and my heart jumped straight into my throat. My hands were trembling as I picked it up. The number was unknown. My mouth instantly went dry, and I just stared at the screen. Could it be Varek... finally calling to hear my answer?A full day had passed since the meeting, and I was at Orion’s house. Voss still hadn't arrived. Without him, how were we supposed to trace the call? For a second, I thought about calling Orion to come sit with me, but I needed to know if Kael was safe. Even though Lucien and the others weren't here yet, I decided to answer anyway. I'd think of some excuse to make Varek call me again later. More than anything, I just wanted to hear my baby’s voice one more time.I took a deep breath before answering on the fifth ring. “This is Elara,” I said, my voice rough and shaky.“We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty—”“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I muttered angrily, ending the call with a swipe. My hands were shaking serio
“Lucien Meadows,” I said, motioning toward the man standing behind me, “is a close friend of my son and his mother. He's come here to help us, and until this crisis is over, he'll be serving as the pack enforcer. He and his friends, Elias and Voss”—I pointed toward the two men, and they both lifted a hand to acknowledge the crowd—“will be helping me bring my son home. I'm standing here today to apologize for keeping all of you in the dark, to promise that I'll do everything in my power to protect and preserve this pack, and to ask for volunteers who are willing to help rescue my son and stop Varek. Honestly... that's all I have to say.”I swallowed hard, my mouth feeling dry as I waited for the backlash I was sure was coming.The entire room stared at me with shocked, horrified expressions.The only sound breaking the silence was Maria's quiet sobbing, and I fought to keep the weight of guilt from crushing me.One of the pack elders, Jacob, slowly raised his hand."Yes, Jacob?" I said
The air conditioner inside City Hall was set to sixty-eight degrees, but I was still sweating. My shirt collar felt tight and uncomfortable as I watched the people of the town continue walking into the room. The last hour had passed so quickly, pushing me closer and closer to the meeting that had my nerves stretched as tight as high-tension power lines.Near the entrance, Selene, Voss, and Elias welcomed everyone as they arrived. Quite a few people looked at the two unfamiliar men with puzzled expressions. They greeted everyone politely, but since nobody in the pack recognized them, seeing strangers standing in important positions made people uneasy. That feeling became even more obvious as the room filled up and everyone looked toward the stage to see who was standing beside me.Jaxon stood on my right. Many people remembered him from when we were younger, while others had gotten to know him during the past few weeks after we returned. On my left stood Lucien. He wasn't standing stif
I threw my engagement ring into the toilet, and then we left. Before getting into the car, I blocked Travis’s number. In less than a day, my life had completely changed.Now we were on the worst road trip ever, heading toward a future I never planned. Kael, however, was trying to stay positive.“Is
In just a few seconds, everything in my life flipped completely. It felt like my world had been turned upside down, shaken hard, and then thrown away. I had a son? Was this really happening? So many thoughts and emotions rushed through my head at once. How could I have walked away from Elara? I ha
I had never loved any other man the way I had loved Orion. Not even Travis. I was never completely in love with Travis like I had been with Orion. I was only twenty when Orion left, still just a kid, but we were soulmates. More than that, I was his fated mate. When Orion left, my heart had broken
She sighed and dropped into the chair facing me. “I didn’t question it. Honestly, I was still shocked about his death. I wasn’t thinking about anyone else. I’ve been gone for a long time. Long enough not to see how bad things had gotten. Orion, Dad was only fifty-seven when he died. That’s not old







