Chapter 1
It seemed Alpha Dante had been helping Vespara with her preparations because he did not return all night. Vespara had already left, along with many of her soldiers. The house felt too quiet, like it was holding its breath.
It was just as the first ray of dawn broke across the sky when I heard movement outside the bedroom. My heart lifted for a moment. I thought it was Dante. I hadn't seen him since the morning, and the idea of seeing him again gave me a fleeting sense of comfort.
But when I stepped into the living room, it wasn't Dante.
It was him.
Hector.
I froze in place. My stomach dropped. The world tilted slightly, my heart caught in my throat.
Without thinking, I stepped back.
He stepped forward.
