Nobela ni TESSA YOUNG

Luca’s POVThe throne room was colder than usual. Maybe it was just my mood. I sat hunched on the edge of the throne, hands laced, jaw clenched, eyes burning into the marbled floor. Elijah stood by the far window, arms folded, eyes scanning the trees beyond the walls as if danger still lingered out there. Maybe it did.“No new attacks?” I asked, my voice cutting through the thick silence.Elijah shook his head. “None. Not a damn thing since the last wave.” He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “It’s too quiet. Like they’re waiting.”I nodded once, slowly. “They’ll try again. That last hit wasn’t a warning, it was a test. They wanted to see how close they could get without getting their heads ripped off.”Elijah walked closer, his boots thudding against the stone. “And they got close, Luca. Too close.”I looked up at him, at the slight bruising still faint on his temple. His shoulders were stiff—tension coiled under every breath he took. “How’re you holding up?” I asked, sof

Julian’s POVI didn’t knock. I never did. The throne room doors slammed open so hard the guards flinched. Victor looked up lazily from where he sat—draped over his cursed black stone throne like the world owed him a nap.“You sent them after Aria and Elijah?” I barked, voice echoing off the high vaulted ceilings.Victor barely moved. “I did.”“You fool,” I snarled, stalking across the floor. “That wasn’t the deal. You were supposed to give me time, not light the damn match under them.”He waved a hand, dismissive. “A message had to be sent. They needed to feel pressure—get pulled thin. That’s what distractions are for.”“You pulled the wrong string,” I growled. “Now they’re regrouping faster. Elijah’s alive, Aria’s rattled—but not broken. Luca’s more focused than ever.”Victor straightened slowly, eyes narrowing. “You forget who you’re speaking to, Julian.”I ignored the warning and kept going. “You’re burning the house down before we’ve even stepped through the front door. I need to

ARIA'S POVThe walk back to the packhouse was heavy. I couldn't just get my mind off what just happened. The hair behind my neck was still up, I couldn't help but feel danger was close by. Elijah kept a steady pace beside me, but his silence made the air thicker, heavier. He hadn’t said much since the fight. I wasn’t ready to hear whatever dark thoughts he had swirling in his head about what was coming.But my thoughts were just as tangled.The fight. The attack. The message. They weren’t just random, meaningless acts of violence. They were calculated—designed to get our attention, to prove a point. And Victor… Julian… they were only just beginning.I rubbed my still-aching shoulder. It hurt. The burn of the bite was still fresh, but it was nothing compared to what was waiting for us. That feeling, that dread, settled deep in my gut.By the time we reached the packhouse, I was almost certain Luca would already know what had happened. If he didn’t, I’d make sure he did.I didn’t wai

Victor POVThe room was dark, dimly lit only by the flickering lights of two torches. I leaned back on the iron throne, boots heavy on the floor. It was a very successful mission, from the the way I see it. We tore through the village killing everyone in sight and I was sure that bastard Luca would have gotten my message. And today was the first step in my ultimate goal to get the white wolf, Aria by my side. And I would kill anybody who stands in my way. Just then I heard a knock.Sharp. Impatient."Enter," I said, voice low, cold.Julian stepped in like he owned the shadows, cloak dragging slightly as he moved toward me. He didn’t bow. He never did. That’s why I tolerated him. Because unlike the sniveling fools who kiss my boots, Julian at least knew how to speak in teeth and venom.“It wasn’t enough,” he said, without preamble.I stared at him, lips curling. “The screams carried far enough. The flames licked the sky.”He shook his head. “It was a ripple. Not a wave. Luca didn’

Luca POVThe Moon was hanging low, the night had already fallen. I raised my hand up to signal the end of training for today. Aria’s breaths were heavy, her skin covered with sweat, and Elijah stood nearby with his arms crossed, nodding slightly in approval. She'd held her own today, better than ever. Controlled, precise. Her instincts were finally beginning to cut through the fog of hesitation. But there was still something buried in her, something pulling her back. I could see it in the way her eyes shifted, always scanning, always alert.“That's enough for today,” I said, stepping forward, my voice steady but not cold. “You did well.”She nodded, not quite meeting my eyes, and turned to walk back toward the house. I watched her go for a second too long, the curve of her shoulders telling me more than her words ever would. She was still carrying something. And whatever it was—it was starting to weigh her down.Elijah glanced at me. “You saw it too?”I nodded once. “Yeah.”“She’s

Chapter 56Aria's POV My eyes fluttered open to bright morning light streaming through my curtains. My bones ached a little from yesterday's training, but also Julian’s threat still clawed at the back of my mind. But I can't focus on that.Today, I train.I rolled out of bed, my muscles stretching and tightening as I threw on simple clothes: black leggings, a grey tunic, boots I didn’t bother to lace too tightly. My fingers lingered briefly over the necklace Luca had returned to me weeks ago. I left it behind. I needed to be bare for this.The air outside was sharp with morning. I crossed the grounds briskly, eyes narrowing against the sun. My wolf was restless under my skin, pacing in circles, ears flicking forward with anticipation. Something about today felt different.And then I saw them.Luca and Elijah stood at the edge of the field. Luca, arms crossed, that dark stormy look painted on his face like war paint. Elijah had his usual calm smirk, but his hands were already flexi