The tension that had gripped Hunter and Lorelei during the final days of Jonathan’s reign hadn’t entirely dissipated, but there was something new in the air between them. A quiet understanding that hadn’t been there before. As the Brotherhood settled into a brief but hard-earned respite, the two of them found themselves alone more often, in moments where words didn’t need to be spoken to fill the silence.It was late one evening, hours after the last of the operations had been wrapped up and the team had dispersed to rest. Hunter sat in his office, staring out the window, his mind still processing everything that had happened.His fingers traced the rim of his glass absentmindedly, but it wasn’t the whiskey he needed—it was the release of everything he’d been holding back. His thoughts drifted to Lorelei. She had been by his side through all of it, her unwavering support acting as a steadying force in the chaos. He hadn’t been able to admit it to her, but something inside him was chan

Olivia stepped off the plane, the hum of the airport a stark contrast to the silence of her thoughts. Two years had passed since she left, two years spent far from the world she once knew. She was different now, changed in ways that felt both liberating and heavy.She glanced around, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings as if they had never seen her. It was strange to be back, like a ghost visiting a life that didn’t quite feel like hers anymore. But there was one thing she was sure of: she had a purpose now, something she could build from the ground up, something to redeem herself.Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from her brother, Alamid. “Welcome home, Liv. Let’s talk soon.”She smiled softly and quickly typed back, “I’m here. I’ll reach out later.”She didn’t know exactly where to begin, but she had one clear goal in mind: she would start a charitable organization. It wouldn’t just be a way to help people—it would be a way to make up for the

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the quiet streets as Lorelei stood outside the small café where she and Hunter had often met. She felt the warmth of the late afternoon sunlight against her skin, but her heart raced with an intensity that had nothing to do with the weather. Today was the day. She couldn’t keep hiding it anymore—the emotions that had been swirling inside her for months, slowly becoming undeniable.She had always been cautious, protective of her feelings, never wanting to admit how much she cared for him. But the time had come. The mission was over, the chaos had subsided, and now—there was only this.Hunter had been her ally, her confidant, and in ways she didn’t want to admit, her anchor. But more than that, over the course of the past few months, he’d become something else to her—something deeper. She had tried to bury it, tried to tell herself it was just a fleeting feeling, something that would fade with time. But it hadn’t. Instead, it had gr

The room was alive with conversation, the hum of eager voices filling the space. The Brotherhood’s meeting hall had evolved into something more than just a place for strategy. It had become a symbol of hope, a nucleus for those looking to change the world. Despite all that had happened, despite the loss and the bloodshed, the Brotherhood had continued to grow.Hunter stood at the front of the room, his eyes sweeping across the faces of the new recruits gathered before him. Some were young, others were older, each with their own story, their own reasons for coming to the Brotherhood. They weren’t just fighters; they were people who had seen the worst of the world and were now ready to be part of something bigger.“Welcome,” Hunter’s voice broke through the murmurs, steady but powerful. He had gotten used to speaking to a crowd, his words now carrying the weight of experience, of everything he had seen and done. “You’re here for a reason. This isn’t just about fighting. It’s about rebui

Hannah stood outside the sleek, glass-fronted building, the cool night air biting at her skin as she watched Hunter’s silhouette from a distance. He was talking to Lorelei, his laughter floating through the air, the intimacy between them unmistakable. Her grip tightened on her purse, nails digging into the leather.The green-eyed monster stirred inside her, gnawing at the edges of her thoughts. He’s mine. He’s always been mine.She couldn’t let go, couldn’t accept the idea of him being with someone else. Not Lorelei—of all people. Lorelei was everything she wasn’t. Calm. Unyielding. Beautiful, yes, but in a way that made Hunter see her as something irreplaceable. Hannah had tried for so long to make him see her as the one—tried to manipulate, to charm, to seduce. But none of it worked. Not like it used to.I’ve made mistakes, she thought, her jaw clenching, but I can fix them. I can still make him mine.She pulled her jacket tighter around her, took one last look at Hunter and Lorelei