Novels by AUTHOR ZEE

Chapter 43 — ReunionRhea's POVThe ceremony is beautiful.Simple. Elegant. Perfect.Colt and Finn stand before the King. Hands over their hearts. Voices steady as they recite the ancient oaths."I pledge my life to the crown. My strength to the kingdom. My loyalty to the bloodline. From this day until my last."The King places medallions around their necks. Beta and Gamma. Official. Permanent.Then it's my turn.I step forward. Heart pounding.The King smiles. "Kneel, Rhea Collins."I kneel. The stone is cold under my knees.He places a silver circlet on my head. Light. Delicate. But weighted with meaning."Rise, Acting Luna of the Lycan Kingdom."I stand. The circlet settles. Feels right.Applause fills the chamber.I turn. See my parents in the front row.Mom is crying. Dad is beaming.Remy and Alec are beside them. Both grinning.My chest swells. They're here. They came.The ceremony ends. People swarm forward. Congratulating. Bowing.I navigate through them. Heading straight for

Chapter 42 — GownRyker's POVI wake up to Rhea thrashing beside me.Not violently. Just—restlessly. Like she's trying to escape something."Rhea." I shake her gently. "Wake up."Her eyes snap open. Unfocused. Frightened."It's okay," I say quickly. "You're safe. Just a nightmare."She blinks. Recognition slowly returning."Again?" she whispers."This is the third time this week."She sits up. Rubs her face. "I can't remember them. When I wake up, they're just—gone."That worries me. More than I want to admit."We should tell my father. Or a healer—""It's fine. Just stress. The ceremony. The threats. Everything." She forces a smile. "I'm fine."She's not fine. But I don't push.Not now.I make a mental note to talk to my father later. Without Rhea present."Come on," I say. "Get dressed. We're going out.""Out? I have training this morning.""I canceled it."She blinks. "You what?""Canceled. We're going shopping.""Shopping?" She looks at me like I've grown a second head. "Why?""Be

Chapter 41 — SecurityRyker's POVThe King's office is full. Me, my father, Colt, Finn, and Rapha. The door is locked. Guards stationed outside.This is a secure meeting. Inner circle only."The tournament," my father begins, "is not just about training warriors.""We know," Colt says. "It's about building Rhea's security team.""Exactly." My father leans forward. "Whoever excels will be quietly recruited. No announcements. No public recognition. Just—recruitment. To protect the future queen.""How many are we looking for?" Finn asks."Ten. Maybe twelve." Rapha speaks up. "Enough to rotate shifts. Cover all hours. Maintain constant protection without being obvious."I nod. "Good. The threat against her is real. We can't afford to be careless.""Speaking of threats," Rapha continues, his expression darkening. "Ronaldo has been asking questions. About Rhea's security. Her schedule. Her training times."My hands clench. "What kind of questions?""Specific ones. Too specific for a financi

Chapter 40 — Morning AfterRhea's POVI wake up to lips on my shoulder. Warm. Gentle. Trailing down my arm."Again?" I mumble. Voice thick with sleep."Always." Ryker's voice is rough. Satisfied. "I can't help it. You're—addictive."I open one eye. The room is bright with morning sun."What time is it?""Almost nine."Nine. We went to sleep at what—three? Four?He kept me up until nearly dawn. Multiple times.And apparently, he's not done."Ryker—" I try to sit up. He pulls me back down."Not yet." His mouth finds my neck. The mark. "Just—a little longer."Heat floods my body. The bond responds immediately. Demanding. Insistent."We should—" A gasp cuts me off as his hand slides lower. "We should get up.""We will. After.""After what?"He shows me.And I stop arguing.By the time we finally make it out of bed, it's past ten.I stumble to the bathroom. Legs shaky. Body thoroughly sated.In the mirror, I look—different.The mark on my neck is visible. Already healed but permanent. A cr

Chapter 39 — BondedRhea's POVWe lie side by side. Catching our breath. Hearts still racing.My hand finds the mark on his neck. Traces it gently.His hand mirrors mine. Touching my mark."I'm sorry," Ryker says quietly.I look at him. "For what?""For how it happened. For not—planning it better. For letting King take over—""Stop." I press my finger to his lips. "I marked you first. Sable did it before I could think. If anyone should apologize, it's me."He kisses my finger. "You have nothing to apologize for.""Neither do you."We're quiet for a moment. Just looking at each other."I know his name now," Ryker says suddenly."What?""King. His name. He told me. After the marking.""He did?""Yes. He said—" Ryker pauses. "He said he withheld it for decades. As punishment. For my recklessness with other women. For not being worthy of knowing it."My chest tightens. "That's—harsh.""That's honest." He smiles slightly. "The name was always there. The relationship just wasn't ready. We w

Chapter 38 — MarkingRhea's POV[Mature Content Warning]The pain finally breaks.Like a wave crashing and then receding, it leaves me gasping on the stone.I look up.Ryker is staring at me. Not with concern. With wonder.I follow his gaze downward. Realize—I'm still in wolf form.But not the wolf I was before.My fur—it's silver. Not gray. Not pale. True silver. Shimmering. Iridescent in the moonlight.Like liquid mercury caught in wolf form.Beautiful, Sable whispers. We're beautiful.Ryker shifts. King takes over completely.He throws his head back and howls.Long. Resonant. Pure joy.The sound echoes across the palace grounds. A call. An announcement.Sable answers without my permission. Her howl intertwines with his.Perfect harmony.The King shifts. Colt follows. Then Finn. Then Rapha.All in Lycan form. Massive. Powerful.King moves to my side. Nudges me with his muzzle.Run, Sable says. He wants to run.So we run.Through the palace grounds. Into the forest beyond. Through cle