Nora POV
The nightmare wakes me at 5 AM, same as always.
In it, Mira is crying. Reaching for me. But every time I try to grab her hand, she fades away like smoke.
I sit up in bed, my heart pounding. Three years since I left. Three years of the same dream.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand. A text from my grandmother:
Stop torturing yourself, child. Today's the day. He'll see what he lost. Make it count.
Today. The Tech Summit. The day I face Killian for the first time since I vanished.
I should feel ready. Powerful. Confident.
Instead, I feel sick.
"ISLA!" Elena's voice booms through my penthouse before she bursts into my bedroom without knocking. "Big day, boss! You ready to blow some minds?"
I glare at her. "It's 5 AM. I gave you a key for emergencies, not for breaking and entering."
"This IS an emergency. You're spiraling again. I can tell." Elena throws open my curtains. Sunlight floods the room. "Stop thinking about her."
"I'm not—"
"You're always thinking about Mira. Every morning. Same haunted look." Elena sits on my bed. "Isla, you can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved. We've been over this."
Three years of therapy. Three years of my grandmother explaining that Mira's mind was poisoned against me. Three years of accepting that some damage can't be undone.
It doesn't make it hurt less.
"I know," I say quietly. "But today... seeing Killian again..."
"You're going to walk in there looking like a goddess and make him choke on his regret." Elena grins. "Come on. Time to get ready. NovaTech's CEO doesn't get to hide in bed."
She's right. I'm not that broken woman anymore.
I am Isla Morven. Heir to one of the three original bloodlines. CEO of a billion-dollar tech empire. The most powerful hacker in the world.
And today, I'm going to make my ex-husband realize exactly what he threw away.
Two hours later, I'm standing in front of my mirror. The woman looking back is a stranger—in the best way.
My auburn hair falls in perfect waves. My green dress fits like it was painted on. No glasses. No cardigan. No more hiding.
"Damn, girl," Elena whistles. "If Killian doesn't have a heart attack when he sees you, I'll be disappointed."
My phone buzzes. Another text from Grandmother:
The mysterious contact from three years ago wants to meet you today. After the summit. Says it's urgent. About Mira.
My blood goes cold. "Elena."
"What?"
"The person who sent me that video of Mira crying. They want to meet today."
Elena's smile disappears. "After three years of silence? Why now?"
"I don't know. But they say it's about Mira." My hands are shaking. "What if she's in trouble? What if—"
"Don't." Elena grabs my shoulders. "Don't do this to yourself. It could be a trap. Someone trying to manipulate you."
"Or it could be real."
We stare at each other.
"Fine," Elena sighs. "But I'm coming with you to the meeting. And we're bringing backup."
The Tech Summit is massive. Hundreds of wolves in expensive suits, all pretending to care about innovation while really just making business deals.
I walk through the entrance, and the room goes quiet.
Everyone's staring.
"Is that Isla Morven?"
"The CEO of NovaTech?"
"I heard she's a Morven. Like, THE Morvens."
"She's gorgeous."
I keep my face calm, confident. Inside, my wolf is pacing nervously.
He's here, she whispers. Our mate is here.
"Former mate," I correct her silently. "We rejected that bond."
Did we? Or did we just run away?
I ignore her and head toward the NovaTech booth. My company has the biggest display in the building. We're launching new security software today—ironically, the same system Killian's pack desperately needs after I destroyed theirs three years ago.
"Ms. Morven!" A handsome man with warm eyes approaches. "I'm Darius Kane. I've been hoping to meet you."
Darius Kane. Alpha of the Rivers Pack. Successful businessman. Known for being one of the good ones—fair, kind, honest.
My grandmother mentioned him. Said he'd been asking about me for months.
"Mr. Kane." I shake his hand. His touch is warm, steady. "I've heard good things about your pack."
"And I've heard incredible things about you." His smile reaches his eyes. "Your work is revolutionary. I was hoping we could discuss a partnership. Perhaps over dinner?"
Before I can answer, I smell it.
Pine and winter frost. The scent that used to mean home.
Killian.
I turn slowly.
He's standing twenty feet away, frozen. Staring at me like he's seeing a ghost.
He looks terrible. Thinner. Older. Dark circles under his eyes. Nothing like the strong, cold Alpha I married.
Good.
Our eyes meet across the crowded room.
For three seconds, the world stops.
Then Marcus appears beside him, saying something urgent. Killian's jaw clenches, but he nods and walks toward me.
"Here we go," Elena mutters beside me. "Remember: You're a queen. He's nothing."
Killian stops five feet away. His eyes scan me from head to toe, and I see it—shock, recognition, hunger, regret, all mixed together.
"Nora," he breathes.
"That's not my name anymore." My voice is ice-cold. "It's Isla. Isla Morven. Though I suppose you can call me Ms. Morven, since we're not exactly friends."
He flinches like I slapped him. "I... I didn't know you'd be here."
"Liar. Everyone knew NovaTech would be here. We're the main sponsor." I smile, showing teeth. "Did you not research the company before coming? That's sloppy, Alpha Blackthorn."
Darius is watching with interest. He steps closer to me—not quite possessive, but protective. "Is this man bothering you, Ms. Morven?"
"No," I say. "He's just someone I used to know. Briefly."
Briefly. Five years of marriage reduced to one word.
Killian's face goes pale. "Nora—Isla—we need to talk. Privately. There are things you don't know—"
"I know everything I need to know." I turn back to Darius. "Dinner sounds lovely, Mr. Kane. My assistant will coordinate with yours."
"Wait—" Killian reaches for my arm.
Bad move.
My power explodes outward—just a flash, but enough. The silver light makes everyone nearby step back. Including Killian.
His eyes go wide. "Your power... what are you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" I lean in close, voice low enough only he can hear. "You threw away your mate without ever asking who she really was. Now you get to live with that mystery forever."
I walk away, Darius and Elena following.
Behind me, I hear Marcus say to Killian: "Sir, we have a bigger problem. Vanessa escaped custody this morning. She's gone."
My blood turns to ice.
Vanessa. The witch who cursed me. Who poisoned my daughter against me. Who's been in magical prison for three years.
She's out.
My phone buzzes. Unknown number.
I look down at the text message:
She's coming for Mira. Tonight. I can help you save her, but you need to trust me. Meet me at the old guesthouse where your marriage ended. 8 PM. Come alone, or your daughter dies.
Below the text is a photo.
Mira. Seven years old now. Beautiful. Scared.
Tied to a chair.
My hands start shaking so badly I almost drop the phone.
"Isla?" Elena's voice sounds far away. "What's wrong?"
I show her the photo.
"Oh, goddess," she whispers. "It's a trap. It has to be—"
"I don't care." My voice is deadly calm. "That's my daughter. I'm going."
"Then I'm coming with you—"
"No." I grab her arm. "If something happens to me, someone needs to tell my grandmother. Someone needs to stop Vanessa permanently."
"Isla, don't do this—"
But I'm already walking toward the exit.
Darius appears beside me. "Ms. Morven, you look upset. Can I help?"
I pause. Look at him. This kind, good man who's been trying to court me for six months.
"Do you know how to kill a witch?" I ask.
His eyebrows go up. "Yes. Why?"
"Because I might need backup killing the one who destroyed my family." I show him the photo. "That's my daughter. And I'm going to get her back, even if I have to burn the world down to do it."
Darius's face goes hard. His wolf flashes in his eyes—gold and fierce. "Then you won't burn it alone. Let me help."
Behind us, I hear Killian shouting my name.
I don't look back.
I have exactly twelve hours to save my daughter.
And this time, no one—not Killian, not Vanessa, not fate itself—is going to stop me.