Alpha Kate POV

Hours pass. I sit here all alone in my office. I am waiting for Erick to come home, alive and unharmed. The waiting is killing me, but I have to remain vigilant. I have to protect the children. Now five little ones need both Erick and me. I have to prioritize their well-being before anything else. Family first, and then the pack. I only want to be Erick’s luna and a mother from now on. That is my focus.

I hear tiny footsteps coming down the steps. I know it is Belle. She peaks around the corner and into my office. “Come in, Belle,” I say to...