Niklaus nods, his expression resolute. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to support you both—through the pregnancy, the spell, everything. You’ll never have to worry about facing anything alone again, kitten, not while I’m here.”“Speaking of together,” I say, shifting closer to him under the sheets, “
NiklausI’m buried under a mountain of paperwork, the aftermath of the hotel bombing stretching out like a never-ending headache. Each document is a reminder of the chaos Ares brought into our lives, each signature is proof of the hours I’m losing over this shit. My office is a mess, papers strewn
A few moments later, Laz appears at the door, his usual composed demeanor shadowed by a sense of foreboding. He senses something is amiss; he always does.“Klaus, what’s going on?” Laz asks as he closes the door behind him and takes a seat across from me.I lean forward, resting my elbows on the des
NiklausThe crunch of gravel underfoot marks the arrival of Liam’s black SUV as it pulls up to one of the secluded houses off the main pack lands. I wait outside, the evening air crisp and tinged with the scent of pine and imminent rain. /“Ten minutes, Laz,”/ I tell him over the mind link. /“If you
I stare at him, trying to digest his words, to understand the man my brother has become. “And you want me to believe you did all this for the pack?”Ares chuckles, a dark, hollow sound that echoes slightly in the sparse room. “Believe what you want, brother. But while you were busy playing the diplo
NiklausAfter the grim task I’d just completed, the warm shower feels almost cleansing, though it does little to wash away the weight of my actions. I need to wash away the grime and the guilt, the literal and metaphorical blood on my hands. The hot shower is a small sanctuary, steam curling around
Liam raises his glass slightly, acknowledging the plan. “To Ares, then. May he find some peace.”We clink glasses, the sound sharp in the quiet of the room. “To Ares,” I echo, and we drink, the whiskey; a small fire against the chill of what’s to come.***After Liam leaves, the weight of the night
VerenaThe sun is warm on my back as I move among the tables laid out on the pack lands, the laughter of children bubbling around me like a cheerful stream. I’m arranging the final touches for the picnic we’ve promised them, smoothing a tablecloth here, straightening a plate there. The ladies of the