mer

to leave, I set a seven-

en

e this pack, leave Alpha Foster, and leave be

there's one thi

take back

tacted Ev

w school days, and now one of the

e of the territory. The moment I stepp

back of her chair, her chestnut hair pinned into a perfec

she said, risin

politely pulled out a chair for

made up her mind," she said a

hout a hint o

sever the

ay from Sliver Creek pack's resources. And no

ze sha

I thought you. u

a bitter smile that b

as in t

pulled a document from the stack, flipp

s-" her tone remained calm and professional, "-is the current le

the pages, her voi

o both the agreement and the updated laws,

tensed. I a

walk away wi

ed, not sug

ssolution of the mate bond. As an Omega, you have no

r expression t

cally defaults to the paternal bloodline. Yo

en straight through the ice of a froze

in silence, Felix's face

rows his brows

not to cry when the o

lutches my coat

folder and slowly push

ed," I said, voice soft but fir

then add

without Felix. I have

and for the first time, I

back toward herself

that Foster has seriously failed in his parental duties,

ice ge

make a convincing case, the court

aled

at's all

rm? Felix's missing eye.

ything ready,"

e paperwork. If this i

how to

you,

something unread

wish yo

and stood

set when I

lent. I rolled up my sleeves

nts here never

saw me as

tten use

ots, tossed a bundle of herbs into the pot, and t

he air-rosemary and thyme blendin

lice bread, my phone buz

ked i

ok notif

ad posted

ped i

photo

or patio of an I

rightly, her cheek pressed against his shoulder

his eyes soft with affection, a l

: shrimp risotto, tiramisu, and t

ing up a peace sign at the camera, grinnin

eath

to my chest like a blo

t just any

ster and I used t

ays said he wante

street, he'd look longingly

that place

'd te

time, we'll al

never h

ow, h

not wi

to sit at, ordered the same dishes we al

ose memories I th

s he could recycle

to, I heard small footsteps

s so good! What

was soft, sl

flipped the phone face-down on the

hungry, s

were you just looking a

ched. I kept

e work st

lix didn't

gently ran my h

y don't you go upstairs and change into comfy clothes

bli

pick

mil

time we're watching the same episode. And remembe

ran back to the living room, h

back around, resting my han

yes and took

d into my mind-like a spli

d I tried, I coul

e bubbling pot of s

s o

on a lit

own: s

reschool to file his

al's office, I rais

hen I heard

ally planning to transfer

soft, fami

um here-it's well-structured,

and sure, with that t

, "isn't this Felix's old school? Aren't y

n't want to make th