A month had passed since we returned from our honeymoon yet a lingering unease had started to claw its way into our lives. The connection between Lin and me remained strong, but I couldn't ignore the subtle shift in his demeanor. He was still tender and loving, but an unspoken weight seemed to burden his shoulders.His laughter no longer rang out as easily as before, and the light that once danced in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by a distant contemplation. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that something lurked beneath the surface of his composed exterior. But every time I ventured to ask him about it, his face would close off, a curtain of secrecy descending between us.One evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over our pack grounds, I found Lin standing by the edge of the forest. The way his gaze was fixed on the trees, his fingers idly tracing patterns in the dirt, told me that his thoughts were far away. Gathering my courage, I

Minutes after that I watched with a mixture of pride and wistfulness as Ethan and Emily bounded off, their energy and excitement radiating outward for all to see."Be good, you two!" I called after them, waving with a smile.Ethan turned back and gave me a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Mom! We'll make you proud!"I chuckled, my heart swelling with affection for my spirited children. "I have no doubt you will."As they disappeared around the corner, Lin approached, his gaze lingering on their retreating figures."They're growing up so fast," he mused, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.I nodded, wrapping an arm around his waist. "I know. It feels like just yesterday they were taking their first steps."Lin's fingers found mine, his grip gentle and reassuring. "They'll be just fine with Leon."I leaned into his side, finding comfort in his presence. "I know. It's just hard not to worry."He pressed a kiss to my temple, his warmth seeping into me. "You're a wonderful mother, Meghan. The kids a

Hours passed, the night's silence broken only by the occasional cry of pain that escaped my lips. I longed for solace, for a moment of clarity that would free me from the clutches of my own mind. But as the night wore on, it became clear that there was no easy escape from the labyrinth of suffering that had enveloped me.The weight of my turmoil bore down on me, a suffocating force that left me feeling trapped in a the clutches of confusion and pain. The desire to share my anguish with Meghan gnawed at me, a flicker of vulnerability that yearned to bridge the distance between us. But fear held me back—fear that she would see me as the monster that I feared I was becoming.It wasn't just the pain or the hallucinations that tormented me; it was the darkness that seemed to taint even the purest corners of my mind. The very thought of confiding in her, of admitting that I was struggling to control the demons within me, left me paralyzed with dread. I couldn't bear the thought of her reco

Meghan’s POV.The first rays of morning light crept through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across our bedroom. As I stirred from slumber, the sensation of Lin's absence washed over me like a bittersweet tide. The sheets still held the residual warmth of his body, a faint memory of his presence that filled the room.I blinked away the remnants of sleep, my mind registering the early hour displayed on the clock. Lin's early morning departures had become a familiar routine, leaving me feeling both longing and curious about his whereabouts. With a deep exhale, I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the edge of the bed.The cool touch of the hardwood floor sent a shiver up my spine as I made my way down the hallway, my steps guided by a mix of curiosity and the hope of finding Lin somewhere within the pack's compound. The house was quiet, the only sounds my soft footfalls and the distant rustling of leaves outside.As I rounded a corner, the sight before me brought me to

I trudged back to my study, my mind swirling with dozens of thoughts. What I was thinking about, I could not really say, but my mind felt full anyway.I just knew a particularly vicious headache was in store for me when Donna walked into the room, her presence exuding an air of newfound confidence that made me wary. Her smile was too bright, her eyes too gleaming, and a knot formed in my stomach as I wondered what she was up to now. She had always been manipulative, cunning, and her sudden change in demeanor raised alarms within me."What's the next step, Donna?" I asked, my voice laced with caution. I had fulfilled her demands, played into her game, but I wasn't about to let my guard down.She turned to me, her gaze fixed on mine, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Ah, Lin, always so eager to solve your problems. But don't worry, I'm not here to play games anymore."Her words did little to ease my skepticism. "Get to the point."A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "We