son'

re was like a gut-

kids without notifying me once at least. Rejecting her seemed to be the correct thing-hell, the only thing keep

ffsp

were Lily and Caleb, mine. Although I should have been angry, betrayed even, all I could

ook at her. No

e simmering resentment under surface level. Though my voice sounded harsher t

showed the same fire that had once pulled me in and made me weak. Seeing her like this

nted to speak more. Correct action. Not now, not as everyt

d see waves of it rolling off him. My beta had never trusted Ava; he had always been mercilessly prot

ed beneath his breath, his black eyes sharply pointing toward

trol voice. But a menace exists out there. And we need all the infor

shed back. "If this is some

my words quieted him, but I could still see uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

ge in games, I knew much about it. She had actual terror in her eyes when discussing t

searching the strange room, Caleb and Lily stayed by her side. It dawned on me then how much they rese

regret turn

ehind my desk. We neither spoke for a moment. The weight of al

tarted, "tell me

typical attack. They were orderly, as if they knew just where to locat

d with less accuracy. It was more like they grabbed when a chance presented

me *for* them, not only for me. Her face pinch

up straight. "What do the

ering slightly but immediately under control

gues learned Lily and Caleb were my heirs. Their bloodline meant someth

be part of something more if they are aiming at t

h mine. I came back for this reason. We cannot b

ction that I had not thought through the wider issue. It was too late to discount it now. The wolves

This has to be more than just something I missed. Unless th

ou?" My voice was more shar

constantly relocating and hiding. Still, they began popping up approximately one month ago.

ething absolutely crucial. "There's more, isn't there?" I pr

ad. Her hands squeezing into fists at her sides, she s

above a whisper: "They're not just a

om the back. Me here? Why mi

heard one of the rogues chatting. Jackson, they replied, you have been design

igned for death? Who would want me dead

ked beside me. We have to bring in the

too many parts that didn't fit abound. One thing was very evident, though: this was more

y to let that

are lingering here. I will designate g

ng. She nodded, though, the struggle in her gradually giving place to the

voice. "Because I'm not let

me weaker, I had pushed Ava and the concept of a family far away for years. But now, the threat is

ever necessary to e

turned to go. Jackson, we ha

in my chest, I fr

ve a pack traitor here. Someone has

rds weighing me like a blac

ck sending her palm leapi

know." But they are overly knowledgeable about our patro

, with the rogues and whoever was visiting me, that I had not given any th

s the awareness crept in

the outside. Already here, hiding in the shadows