Novels by Ashley Sheeks

One Year LaterThe Bloodwood had grown green again. No longer called The Bloodwood, it was renamed The Greenwood. In the soft light of dusk, its leaves shimmered faintly silver, catching the last breath of the moon. Where once the ground burned red, wildflowers now tangled through soft moss. The air was warm, sweet with the scent of pine and rain.Lira adjusted the crown of pale blossoms in her hair, laughing as Eastin fumbled beside her. His fingers, steady in battle, were hopeless with ribbon.“Stop trying to make it perfect,” she teased.He grinned, a little sheepish. “I’m Alpha. It’s supposed to look regal.”“It’s supposed to look us,” she said, tilting her head. “And we’ve never been perfect.”Eastin laughed softly, then took her hands. “Then let’s just be real.”As the pack gathered beneath the silver canopy, the ceremony began—not with vows or divine blessing, but with the howl of the pack. A song of unity. Renewal. Forgiveness. When it faded, Eastin and Lira pressed their for

Emry’s POVThe world smelled different now.Not of ash or fear or power—but of life. Warm earth. Dew. The faint sweetness of wildflowers blooming where the Bloodwood had burned.Emry stood on the ridge overlooking the valley that had once been nothing but ruin. Now, small huts rose between the trees, their walls built from living wood that shimmered faintly silver in the sunlight. Wolves and rogues worked side by side, laughter breaking through the hum of rebuilding. It still felt fragile, like a dream that might vanish if she blinked too hard—but it was real.Behind her, footsteps crunched lightly over the soil.Braxton.She didn’t have to turn to know it was him. She felt him in the bond—steady, grounding, a warmth that filled the hollow places she’d carried for so long. He slipped an arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.“Still staring at the view?” he murmured, his voice low and rough with affection.“It’s strange,” she said quietly. “For so long, I thought peace

Veylan’s POVThe forest was still.For the first time in an age, it didn’t hurt to breathe.Veylan knelt amid the ruins of his own creation, the Bloodwood now pale and shimmering with morning light. The power that had sustained him for centuries was gone—drawn out of the roots, the soil, even his own blood. All that remained was silence, and the faint hum of something purer.He was alone.And yet, he wasn’t.A familiar warmth brushed against the edges of his thoughts, soft and hesitant. He lifted his head. The air shimmered, and she appeared—no longer radiant with divine fire, but quiet in her light.The Moon Goddess.Her form was neither woman nor celestial being now, but something in between—gentle, whole, at peace.For a long moment, neither spoke.“You came,” he said, his voice rough with disbelief.“I never left,” she replied. “Only watched, waiting for you to stop fighting shadows.”He let out a shaky laugh. “I fought because I loved you.”“I know.” Her gaze softened. “And I sil

Eastin’s POVThe world held its breath.The Bloodwood no longer screamed—it sighed. The air that had once burned red now shimmered silver, gentle as moonlight on water. Eastin stood at the edge of what had been the heart of the corruption, watching his sister kneel in the center of it all.Emry’s power had dimmed to a faint glow beneath her skin, threads of light pulsing slow and steady—alive, but quiet. Braxton crouched beside her, a hand steady on her shoulder, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief.She looked up at Eastin, eyes wet and shining. “It’s over,” she whispered.But he knew better. Nothing that big ever ended—it simply changed its shape.He stepped closer, the silver earth soft beneath his boots. The Bloodwood had stilled, but the air still trembled faintly, like the world itself was waiting for something more.Then the wind shifted.A breeze rolled through the clearing, carrying with it a scent Eastin hadn’t smelled in a year—cedar, rain, and the faintest trace of hi

Emry’s POVLight and darkness warred inside her, tearing through her like two storms colliding. The Bloodwood pulsed with her heartbeat, its roots convulsing, its breath thick with shadow.She stood on the fissured ground, one hand braced on her chest as if she could keep the power inside. Around her, everything trembled—branches bending, mist splitting in ribbons of red and silver.And then—Emry.Her mother’s voice.Emry’s head jerked up. The mist parted, and there she was—Seren—bathed in light that bled gold into silver. Her hair streamed like water, her eyes alive with the power of the Goddess. Behind her stood Theron, his hand steady on her shoulder, the faint blue of his aura wrapping her in protection.“Mother?”Seren smiled faintly. “You’ve grown into everything I feared—and everything I hoped.”Tears blurred Emry’s vision. “How are you here?”“We were never far. The Bloodwood held us. Now it’s time it lets us go.”A laugh, smooth and sharp, rolled through the clearing.Veylan

Seren’s POVFor a long time, she dreamed of nothing but roots.Roots that bound, roots that breathed, roots that listened.They had grown through her bones and blood, whispering of all that had come and all that would come again. She should have been afraid. But fear was a luxury of the living, and she had long since become something else.When Seren’s eyes opened, the world bled red.The roots pulsing around her glowed faintly, alive with power that was not her own. Beside her, Theron lay still, half-buried in the same living cocoon. His chest rose and fell in a slow, unnatural rhythm — the Bloodwood’s breath keeping him tethered.She turned her head, the effort agony, and saw her reflection shimmering on the inner surface of the roots. Her face was pale, ethereal, her veins glowing silver beneath the skin. The mark of the Goddess still lingered on her throat, faint but unbroken.Alive. Somehow, impossibly, alive.The Bloodwood hummed a question in her mind.Why do you still fight, c

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVEEVELYNTick.Tick.Tick."Nobody move," Lucian said.For once, I had absolutely no argument.Adrian pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight.Andrew did the same.Margaret leaned against the filing cabinet, one hand still pressed to her bleeding temple.Tick.Tick."Is that a bomb?" I whispered.Lucian looked toward the walls."I don't know.""Fantastic."Adrian moved toward the stairs.Lucian grabbed his arm."I said don't move.""And I generally don't take orders from you.""If there's a pressure trigger—"Adrian stopped."Fine. Excellent point."I stared at the dark room.Whoever had sent the message wanted Lucian, Adrian, and me together.Then locked us inside.That made the "third Vale" message feel even more like bait."Daniel's security team is outside," I said.Lucian nodded."They'll come.""Unless this place blocks signals."Andrew checked his phone."No service."Of course it did.Lucian looked at him."You built this room.""Thirty years ago."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUREVELYNThirty-eight minutes became thirty-one.I knew because I watched every one disappear from the navigation screen.Margaret was somewhere ahead of us.Maybe alone.Maybe walking directly into a trap.And somewhere in Hartford was a record containing the name Thomas had died protecting.Lucian sat beside me, making calls."Nobody enters the property until we arrive."Pause."No. Perimeter only."Another pause."Because if Margaret sees armed men surrounding the building, she'll run."He hung up.I looked at him."You've gotten better at this.""At what?""Not sending an army through every door.""I sent an army.""You told them to wait outside.""Compromise."Andrew looked back from the passenger seat."You're both adorable.""Face forward," Lucian said.Andrew smiled and obeyed.My phone remained silent.No anonymous messages.That bothered me more than receiving them.Whoever had been guiding us had stopped.Maybe because we'd finally reached the point they w

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREEEVELYNThe gunshot came from directly above us.Lucian moved before the echo died."Stay here."He stopped.Turned back."Please stay here."Under any other circumstances, I would've appreciated the correction.A second gunshot exploded upstairs."Go."Lucian and Daniel ran for the stairs.Andrew started after them.Martin grabbed his arm."You're unarmed.""So is whoever gets shot if I stand here.""That makes absolutely no sense.""It did in my head."Helena slammed the vault shut."Both of you stay."Andrew stared at her."You don't give me orders.""I did in 1983.""And I hated you then too."I barely heard them.My attention was on the envelope.IF MARGARET IS GONE, TRUST DANIEL.Someone had placed it inside Catherine's vault.Someone who knew my name.Someone who knew Margaret would disappear.And apparently someone who trusted Daniel.Footsteps thundered overhead.Then silence.I hated silence now."Daniel?" I called.Nothing.Martin moved toward the stairs

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWOEVELYN"The necklace."My hand stayed at my throat even though it wasn't there.Thomas's necklace.Small gold pendant. Thin chain. Nothing remarkable enough for anyone to steal.Nothing remarkable enough for me to question."You've had Catherine's master key for seven years," Margaret said.Lucian stared at me."Where is it?""Safe.""Which safe?"I looked at him."My apartment."His expression changed."The apartment you no longer live in.""I still own it.""The apartment that's been empty since you moved into my house.""Yes."Lucian closed his eyes.I knew that face."No.""I haven't said anything.""You're about to suggest we go there.""Obviously.""No."I folded my arms."You were doing so well."He took a breath.Then tried again."Will you please allow Daniel's team to clear the apartment before we go?"I smiled."Yes."He blinked."See? Asking works."Andrew walked past us."I can't decide which one of you is training the other.""Neither," Lucian and I sa

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONEEVELYNMargaret was gone.That should have made everything simpler.It didn't.I stared at the last message on my phone.MARGARET DIDN'T BETRAY LUCIAN.SHE BETRAYED CONRAD.AND THOMAS DIED HELPING HER DO IT.Lucian stood beside me, perfectly still.Which I was learning was worse than when he was angry."How long has Margaret worked for you?""Fourteen years."I looked at him."Before Thomas died.""Yes.""Before you started watching me.""Yes.""Before—""I understand the timeline."His voice was sharper than necessary.I stopped.Lucian closed his eyes."I'm sorry.""You're allowed to be angry.""Not at you."Progress again.Daniel entered the hallway carrying a tablet."We pulled the exterior footage.""And?""Margaret left through the service entrance at 1:16.""Alone?""Yes.""Vehicle?""None."I frowned."She walked?""Camera loses her at the south gate."Lucian looked at him."Phone?""Left in her room.""Passport?""Gone.""Cash?""Unknown."Andrew came down

CHAPTER TWENTYEVELYNIF YOU OPEN THAT DOOR, YOU'LL FIND OUT WHY THOMAS WAS REALLY KILLED.I read the message three times.Lucian read it once.Then held out his hand."Phone."I pulled it against my chest."No.""Evelyn.""It's addressed to me.""I know.""Then why would I give you my phone?""To trace it."Daniel turned from the front seat."I can do that without taking it."Lucian looked irritated.I smiled."Technology. Amazing.""This isn't funny.""No. But your face is."His expression didn't change."Daniel.""Already working."I handed Daniel the phone.He connected it to his tablet.Andrew leaned forward."Who besides Thomas called you Evie?""Family. Martin sometimes.""Gabriel?""I never met Gabriel.""His recording."I nodded."But whoever sent this says Thomas made them promise."Lucian looked at Andrew."You?""No.""Martin?"Andrew shook his head."He would've called.""Adrian?""No," I said.Lucian looked at me."Why are you so sure?""Adrian enjoys making an entrance.