AellaIt’s strange how you can share your life with someone and still feel as though there’s an abyss separating you—a chasm widened by fear, doubt, and unspeakable trauma. For the first time in what feels like a lifetime, I actually study my husband.Roman looks so at ease in sleep, his features relaxed, a far cry from the strained mask he wears when awake. Being Alpha, a leader to our pack, carries a weight, a gravity that he rarely shows but is there, lurking in the background. His responsibility doesn’t end there. He’s been the linchpin holding me together since my return—gently caring for me, never pushing, always there.Yet as I observe him, I notice things I never did before: the dark circles under his eyes, growing more pronounced, the beginnings of worry lines creasing his forehead. Time has been unkind to us both in different ways. I’ve been the ghost haunting our lives, a wraith in our own home. And here he is, still steadfast, still waiting.My fingers itch to touch him, t

AellaI sit quietly on the couch in Roman’s office, flipping through an old issue of a nature magazine as he pores over some documents at his desk. I’m used to these moments—the weight of his responsibilities as Alpha often leads to late nights and busy mornings. But it’s a life we’ve built together, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.“You know, you could make this magazine collection a little more interesting,” I comment, giving him a playful look.He glances up from his work, an amused grin lighting up his face. “What, you’re not enthralled by the mating rituals of the North American beaver?”“Absolutely riveting,” I retort. “But I could use some variety.”The door swings open just as he chuckles, and Kaden steps inside, a solemn expression on his face. “Roman, I’ve got news,” he begins, then spots me on the couch and blanches. “Aella, hey.”“Hey, Kaden,” I greet him, closing the magazine and setting it aside. “What’s up?”Kaden looks at me, no look isn’t the right word, he visi

RomanThe door clicks shut behind Aella, and I’m left standing in the suffocating silence of my office. What the hell just happened? I ask myself this question, but deep down, I know. I saw it—the flash of terror in her eyes, the way she tensed up. How could I be so fucking stupid?She saw Vasily when she looked at me.My fist collides with the wall, a sharp pain radiating up my arm. But it’s a good pain, a welcome distraction from the emotional shitstorm swirling inside me. “Dammit,” I curse under my breath. I should’ve known better. I’ve been an Alpha since I was a pup, raised to read people, to read her. And still, I forget. I forget what she’s been through, the invisible scars Vasily left on her.I flex my hand, testing the knuckles. They’re fine. I’m fine. Except I’m not. None of this is fine. I stand there, my fist aching from the punch, the dent in the wall a testament to my screw-up. “Damn it all,” I mutter, pacing the room. This was supposed to be simple. All my years of

AellaAs we walk back to the car, the weight of the new revelations sinks in. “You were almost married off to Diego,” Roman says, his voice bordering on fury knowing I would have been someone else’s. “That fucker Leonardo truly is a snake, no offense, baby.”I shake my head. “And Lily… I can’t believe this is happening to her,” I murmur.“We’ll fix it,” Roman promises, his grip tightening around mine. “I’ll see if I can get her out of there. Fuck knows what’s she’s been through.”The moment we’re sealed inside the Escalade, I can feel the tension rise like steam from a boiling pot. Roman jams the key into the ignition, turning it so violently it’s a wonder the car starts at all. The engine roars to life, but instead of shifting into gear, Roman swivels his head to fix Kaden with an incredulous glare. The tension is palpable; you could cut it with a knife.“What the actual fuck, Kaden? You offer yourself up for marriage like it’s some sort of goddamn business deal? You could’ve at lea

AellaTwo weeks have passed since the meeting and Roman’s presence had been more contemplative, as if he were turning over a complex puzzle in his mind. We’re expecting Alpha Javier and his sister Elena. Kaden’s potential future wife.They’re visiting our territory, a return gesture of respect that Roman showed him. Elena was as much a mystery to us as a locked book. Today, that book would be opened, and we’d all take our first look.I know the fact that the meeting is here gives Roman a sense of control that he finds absent when dealing with unpredictable variables. The room is elegantly decorated, from the crystal chandeliers to the embroidered tablecloth—this may be a meeting of Alphas, but it’s also a show of power and tradition. The air smells of aged wood and subtle lavender, a scent designed to put anyone at ease. Still, Roman looks like he’s preparing for battle, his jaw set, eyes like a hawk. Kaden, too, stands tall and imposing, yet there’s an underlying spark of excitemen