Romance

  Lily&#39;s Perspective
  The tension visibly drained from Ethan&#39;s shoulders, and from my brother Keith’s, whose usual “the sky can fall, someone taller will catch it” demeanor masks the fact he worries more than anyone. Even the stubborn stress pimples on Keith’s jaw had receded. Their patrols became less frequent, shorter, with more responsibility passed to the younger cubs to learn the borders and hone their senses. As Keith put it: “We can’t rely on our old noses forever. New blood needs to learn how to mark its own territory.”
  We all knew why. It wasn’t that the Hunters had suddenly found peace. The chaos Jacob and Celena had stumbled into was like a bleeding chunk of fresh meat, holding the rapt attention of every hyena and vulture that had caught the scent.
  It was a relief, but a heavy, damp piece of wood seemed lodged in the pit of my stomach.
  Sometimes, in the dead qu

  Jacob&#39;s Perspective
  The last logs in the bonfire collapsed into a bed of glowing embers, pulsing with deep red light, letting out the occasional *pop* that sent up a shower of brief, dying sparks. The air was a complex mix of woodsmoke, burnt sugar, old alcohol, and pure, undiluted happiness.
  Everyone was happy.
  Hell, so was I.
  I was sitting on the bottom step of the lodge porch, my back against the rough-hewn log wall. One leg stretched out, the other bent. Celena leaned against my chest, her weight slight but real, her body warmth seeping through our thin clothes. Her hair brushed my chin, smelling of woodsmoke, night dew, and that unique scent of hers—like damp moss and warm spice.
  I could feel it—the genuine relaxation in her. Not the limp exhaustion of being worn out, but a… looseness seeping from her very bones. Since we’d left that dress shop street, since the driv

  Celena&#39;s Perspective
  The velvet curtain fell closed behind me, sealing off Jacob and the dusty world outside. Inside was another space—larger than I’d imagined, and far more… private. The light was a soft, warm gold from several wall sconces and a floor lamp with intricate brass filigree. The air held a clean, crisp scent of herbs and woodsmoke, like cedar blended with a faintly bitter floral note I couldn’t name.
  Tall, antique clothing racks stood arranged throughout the room, each holding only a few garments, all meticulously shrouded in breathable dust covers. Mannequins stood in corners, draped with exquisite, unfinished pieces. A massive floor-length mirror with a frame carved in vines and flowers stood against one wall, its surface preternaturally clear. Against another wall was a heavy cherrywood worktable strewn with pincushions, spools of thread, measuring tapes, and s

Lily&#39;s Perspective
  The tension visibly drained from Ethan&#39;s shoulders, and from my brother Keith’s, whose usual “the sky can fall, someone taller will catch it” demeanor masks the fact he worries more than anyone. Even the stubborn stress pimples on Keith’s jaw had receded. Their patrols became less frequent, shorter, with more responsibility passed to the younger cubs to learn the borders and hone their senses. As Keith put it: “We can’t rely on our old noses forever. New blood needs to learn how to mark its own territory.”
  We all knew why. It wasn’t that the Hunters had suddenly found peace. The chaos Jacob and Celena had stumbled into was like a bleeding chunk of fresh meat, holding the rapt attention of every hyena and vulture that had caught the scent.
  It was a relief, but a heavy, damp piece of wood seemed lodged in the pit of my stomach.
  Sometimes, in the dead quiet before dawn, I’d have nightmares about them. Not specific scenes, but a feeling—a cold, clingi

Chapter 244