POV
EAR
I bet if her mouth were not covered, I would see a sneer on her face. “Are you even fit to be a father? You barely spend time here. You leave everything to others, but your child’s safety is your responsibility.”
The words sting, sharper than I expect. I open my mouth, but before I can respond, Ivan steps forward, his presence calm and measured, like a steady hand in a storm.
“Enough,” Ivan says smoothly. “Raven’s rudeness comes from her motherly instincts. She has a deep affection for children. Sometimes, that can lead to overreactions.”
Raven steps back, still watching Daphne with a mix of disdain and pain. Ivan’s voice softens. “It’s clear she cares for the boy.
That’s all.”
There’s something in Raven’s eyes I can’t place.
For a moment, I study her closely–the way her gaze lingers on Leo, the subtle tension in her shoulders, the way she fights to keep her emotions in check. She’s not just a warrior. She’s someone who has known loss. Someone who understands sacrifice.
Impulsively, I say, “Ivan, I would like to hire Raven as Leo’s bodyguard.”
The words hang in the air.
Daphne’s face twists in shock. “What? No. You can’t be serious.”
“I am,” I say, my voice cold and steady.
She opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off.
4
“Leo’s bloodline makes him a target. Several attempts have been made on his life already. We don’t know who is behind them, but they’re deliberate.”
I glance at the other warriors standing nearby, their expressions guarded, some even resentful.
“None of you are as vigilant as Raven. She’s quick, attentive, and I trust her instincts.”
My hands clench at my sides. “And I’m not here enough. Council duties often take me away more than I’d like. Leo needs someone who can watch over him every moment I can’t.”
Daphne’s eyes flash with anger and hurt, but I’m beyond caring.
“This isn’t up for debate.” I growl.
I turn my attention back to Raven, who meets my gaze with a flicker of surprise and something else–relief, maybe. Or hope.
“This child,” I say quietly, “is not just my heir. He is the future of this pack. And I will do whatever it takes to protect him.”
The memory of the terrace incident churns in my gut–the way Leo nearly slipped away, the panic that seized me when I saw him fall. I wasn’t fast enough then. But I won’t fail him again.
“The last attempt on Leo’s life was calculated. Whoever it was knows my schedule too deeply. We were close to catching them but lost their trail amid chaos.”
Raven lowers her head slightly.
15:27 Thu, Dec 25 G
Chapter 13
I catch a flicker of something- hesitation and struggle -in her eyes. It unsettles me, but I shove it away.
For now, my focus is on the present. On protecting my son from the dangers that circle like vultures.
And Raven’s presence awakens something 1 buried long ago. I can’t deny the sharp pull of familiarity when our eyes mheet. There’s something I can’t fully explain but that claws at me with every glance.
1 catch myself wondering if she feels it too.
1 catch Raven’s eye once more. “Think about my offer.”
Claire’s POV
At first, I wanted to say no. To refuse completely. The idea of stepping back into that world – Gideon’s pack, the place where my past still haunted shadow
every
felt unbearable.
–
I had fought so hard to build a new life with Nova, here in Ivan’s pack. I wasn’t sure I was ready to reopen old wounds, to face the ghosts that waited just beyond the gates.
But then I heard about Leo. About the dangers he still faced, threats lurking in the dark. And suddenly, the decision wasn’t so simple.
Ivan suggested we speak privately. His eyes held that familiar calm, the weight of his presence steadying me.
“We should discuss this,” he said quietly, leading me away from the noise of the party to a secluded corner beneath towering pines. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, grounding, real.
I looked at him, struggling to hold my emotions in check. “I don’t want to go back,” I admitted. “Not yet. Not to them. But…Leo needs me.
99
I swallowed hard. The thought of my son, my firstborn, vulnerable and alone, sent a pang deep through my chest. I had sacrificed so much to protect Nova and myself. What kind of mother would I be if I abandoned him again?
Ivan nodded, his voice was low, deliberate. His fingers grazing against mine, “You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll find a way to keep you safe.”
His words settled over me, softening the edges of my resistance. “Alright.”
The arrangement was delicate. Every day, I would swap shifts with Gideon when he returned to the pack in the evening, I’d leave and go back to Ivan’s pack, to Nova. It was a fragile balance, a tightrope walk between two worlds that felt like they were tearing me apart.
And it all started tomorrow.
The new change was exhausting. When I was leaving Gideon’s pack, I could feel the weight of memories pressing down on me, but I reminded myself that I was here for Leo- to protect him, to be near him even if I couldn’t reveal myself.
When I finally returned to Ivan’s pack, to Nova’s warm embrace, the quiet comfort of her presence, I could feel myself relieved immediately.
As I prepared for my shift, I found Nova watching me with a strange mix of curiosity and sadness. Her eyes were wide, her small hands folded nervously.
“Mama,” she said quietly, “Ivan told me you will spend your future days in another pack.”
I paused, heart clenching. “Yes, baby. I’m sorry but mama has to work.”
15:27 Thu, Dec 25 KICA R
Chapter 13
She bit her lip, hesitating. “Is that had anything to do with Leo? My brother?”
The words hung heavy between us. Nova’s voice was barely above a whisper, but the pain beneath was clear.
“I know about Leo,” she continued. “I heard you talking to Ivan about Leo all the time.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and I felt a fresh wave of sorrow wash over me. She had carried that secret alone for so long, the shadow of her older brother lingering like a ghost in our home.
I crouched down, pulling her into my arms. “I’m sorry, Nova. I never wanted to keep him from you. It’s just… things aren’t casy right now.”
She pulled back slightly, searching my face. “Can I meet him?”
I brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, my heart aching with the promise I wasn’t sure I could keep. “One day, we’ll all be together. I promise you that.”
Nova’s voice was soft, almost trembling. “What about Dad?”
C
田
