Ar

thighs, the kind of pain I hadn't experie

have

he bed was messed up and still warm, so it wasn't cold a

pillow, wincing as I moved. "

when I dragged myself upright. The first thing I not

for the nursery and found it empty. The c

hel

pushing myself over the cribs and holding onto

rning, Luna. The Alpha asked us to take the twins

fr

lpha a

ence, he finally decides

I murmured, f

anny

ight hit me like a punch. I couldn't forget how Luca kissed me as my body le

m. "I asked for a divorce. s

ne buzzed on the dresser. A single mes

slowly:

: "W

ht made everything harder. I didn't know which was worse. I

nd me, followed by Luca's voice

frame like nothing had happened last night. Fully dres

he nanny

e said flatly. "You were

arms around myself. "Right. Because that's all I'm

r. "I don't have time for this ki

ht. "Old Alpha

d past me, already heading

. He was the reason the Council mandate had even been approved. Otherwise, who would want a lowly orphan li

of an ancient lineage with hidden power. He never told me about it, but he commented once, "There's more to you

ins' births were destiny, not acc

ut honestly, I wa

bad-I knew he cared about it. But staying

hroat. "I'm co

brow raised. "Yo

d the mother of your children. He's m

ust scoffed with a small, bitter smile playing on his

ed it out, feeling the soft fabric in my hands. I stared at my reflection. My eyes were wide,

couldn't help but feel a small, treacherous

door. "Come on. He's

wed hard

t tell you? He always says you're the heart of this

Luca's words were the las

er him. The pain was stabbing with

e'd barely been on the road five minutes when his

ened in

suddenly softening. "Yeah, I'm o

a comforting tone in his voice for Iv

Thanks, Ivy," like she was some

"Still pretending you do

at me. "This

, staring out the wi

forget Ivy, his long-time love, the pride of the Castemont family, the pe

uldn't forget a

Luca's side since childhood. She never had to tr

use circumstances forced him to. The woman who raise

thing cold and heavy was pressing down on my chest as if

warriors. Pack members bowed when they saw Luca and slid t

ether, but not really together. There

he corner, his mother,

the ward. All eyes are on us, especiall

ward him. "It has been too lon

ike knives. Her face was pinched

lly graces us with her presence. If you hadn't de

jab. "How is

. And you're here because you think he's

dropped.

sed. "Your selfishne

whispered to Luca, hoping

e. "This isn't the

was hi

sins, and the Elders. I could feel their judgment before any of them spoke. I

he doctor

and his Luna ca

ved imm

his arm. "Surel

sked for his grandson and his gr

froze. Every

look. Of all the people Magnu

nside me, her vo

Aria. Someth

whispered back in my mi

ight before he might die, then whatever

more than anything tha

*