onth

m of Ravencrest Manor, checking his watch

s late.

ing schedule was clear-tonight was optimal for conception. His mother had reminded him twice this week, and e

ignore the growing irritation. This was unlike Mira. Whatever else he could

ht to voicemail. Her voice on the recording sounded younger, h

are you? Ca

d called agai

. He was the Alpha. He didn't wait around for anyone, not even his Luna. Espec

ere Fletcher appeared fr

hen did Luna

d carefully neutral. "She hasn'

hasn't arrived? She

the Luna in four weeks. Not since.

since

me of her belongings and le

tightened. "W

l in nature, sir. I pl

ays, but in the center sat a manila envelope he'd never bothered to open. He'd assum

ened

xecuted, notarized, onl

what made his

. Mira had signed over full custody of Brielle to

demands. Just

ler. A pregnancy test, positive,

fusing to process what he was seeing. Positive. She'd be

hat surprised him. She'd terminated his child-their chi

is?" His voice came ou

he morning after she si

ticed. Hadn't even thought to look for her beyond irritation that

nd dialed Mira's number again

: Where are you?

wed as delivere

his is Alpha Ravencrest. I nee

on extended leave. She requested al

eave? Where

ation, sir. You'd need to

Lucian Vale's office. The phone rang

est. I need to know where my wi

control. Mira had vanished. Completely. An

ne rang

Kieran demanded

." Lucian's voice was cool. "I a

eferring to Mira

ssign

signment

you that. Mira specifically requested minimal

s my

d one who explicitly asked not to be disturb

t a game. I need t

in Lucian's voice was unmistakable. "She's been gone a mon

l me wher

ce, no email, no way to contact her except through emergency relay, which I control." L

reeled. "She signed up for s

nly relevant once a month for breeding purposes. She

slap. "That's not-we

gned, Kieran. All they need is your signature. I suggest yo

out more th

with your new little family unit. I hear Brielle's settling in well

do

cally destroyed by your neglect and your mother's abuse. So yes, I'm protective of he

talk to her about-" Kieran looked down at th

en she gets back. Six months

cia

t call again unless it

ne wen

that no longer existed, looking at divorce papers from a wife who'd disa

e had no way to reach her, no way to ex

om Astrid: Is everything ok

nt with Brielle, waiting for him to return

, the pregnancy test. Evidence of a marriage he'd destroyed through neglect

e, he texted bac

hing wa

understand. Mira had only been gone a month. Why did

r one more time. St

bout the papers, about everyth

couldn't remember the last time

awer. He'd deal with this tomorrow. Or next week. Wheneve

ound to him by pack law and mate bonds. A few months of what

had

ck to Astrid and Brielle and the life he'd built w

ething Kieran ha

s couldn't b

tures were