thing about him that made my skin tingle and my heart race-something eerily familiar. My eyes

ly as I quickly took a step back, his

I seen h

echoed through the hallway. "Mr. Lombardi, yo

d a beat, panic swelling

e most powerful werewo

Why was anyone fr

e back of my neck stand on end. His scent was intoxicating-earthy, like rain-soaked pine needles mixed with someth

g to the cut on my lip. His frown deepened as his eyes linger

voice cut through the silence. "Domin

erhaps, with similar dark eyes and the same oppressive aura, though not as physically commanding as Domi

co Lom

strong urge to run away and hide. Dominico L

ric Lombardi-the Alph

bolt. "Good morning," I greeted as politely as I could manag

kw

adable, his jaw tight. Alaric, however, gave me a brief nod of ac

mbardis, especially now that Desmond had threatened Ethan. I gave a small, strained

corner. The weight of his stare lingered, making my skin prickle. My lip throbbed from the cut Seraphina

to f

ors brought me some comfort, but not enough to chase away the unease gnawing at me. Six days. Just six more days, and I'd be able to take contr

ha

see him, to feel his arms around me, to remind my

ched his door, my hand hovered above the handle for a second, the weight of Desmond's threat still

re, tall and lean, his dirty blonde hair tousled like he'd just woken up from

rry as he reached for me, his fingers brushing gentl

e steady. "It's nothing. Just... My unc

see the anger simmering benea

ehind us. It was a small studio flat with only th

Ethan asked, grabbing a glass of

o much detail. I could tell by his eyes that he knew I wa

e me and wrapped his arms around me, "Nyx, don't go

take him up on his offer. Ethan had always been my safe place. He was kind and thoughtful, always knowing exactly

couldn't burden him with this, a

don't finish what I started-if I don't stay until I take control of the comp

y stroking my hair. "Nyx, you don't have to carry

rescued him from a pack of wolves five years ago. Though he didn't remember exactly what happened that night. We'd been friends for years and together for three, but

hispered, my voic

e murmured, his breath w

warmth and presence soothe the knots of anxiety in my c

familiar sense of dread settled over me. The sky had darkened by the tim

s eerily qui

lert. It wasn't until I reached the living room that I found them-Desmon

on?" I asked,

d me with a cold, calculating stare. "We've be

for whatever fresh hell they were

ve been a burden on this family for far too lon

etween them, trying to make sense of th

her voice sickly sweet. "You're getting mar

room spinning around m

rk. "The second-in-command of the Lombardi pack

in on me, the reality of their word

the way his eyes had lingered on my injury

appening. They cou

their faces told me ever

s tr