The next morning, the world felt different. The air was still, as if the duplex itself was holding its breath. I was back in the garden, sitting on the wrought-iron bench with a book of poetry I didn't have the heart to read.
I had checked the news again at dawn. The forums were exploding with the story of Prince Kaeren literally tearing the Pack Station apart. He hadn't just rescued her; he had decimated the enforcers who stood in his way. He had claimed her in front of the world, marking her as his own to shield her from the law.
A small, sad smile touched my lips. My sister was finally getting the fairytale love she deserved, even if it was wrapped in blood and lies.
The sound of a luxury engine purring up the driveway broke my reverie. I looked up, expecting Alex to come back from another failed attempt at social climbing.
But it wasn't Alex's flashy silver car. It was a matte-black sedan, sleek and terrifyingly regal.
The door opened, and a man stepped out.
