เข้าสู่ระบบJodieTears of pure happiness fill my eyes, blurring the sight of Calden kneeling right in front of me on the throne dais. My hand trembles as I reach down, resting my fingers against his cheek."Yes," I whisper, my voice catching in my throat before I say it louder so the whole hall can hear. "Yes, Calden! Of course I will marry you!"The entire throne room explodes into wild cheers, the sound echoing off the high stone walls. Calden slides the sparkling ring onto my finger, rising to his feet and pulling me into his arms, kissing me deeply as the crowd roars with joy.Before we even have time to process the excitement, the palace staff rushes into motion, transforming the entire estate for the grandest celebration MoonCrown has ever seen. By late afternoon, the party moves out into the lavish palace gardens. White floral arches line the grassy walkways, and hundreds of warm, glowing lanterns hang from the tree branches, casting a soft light over the evening setup.Calden stands wait
CaldenWeeks after that nightmare in the border woods, the heavy gray clouds finally clear out, leaving the sky over MoonCrown bright and clear. My chest still aches slightly when I take a deep breath, but the silver poison is completely gone from my body. I stand beside Jodie on the raised marble platform inside the grand throne room, holding our healthy baby boy safely in my arms. The little guy is fast asleep, oblivious to the fact that half the werewolf world is packed into this single room today.The throne room is practically bursting at the seams. Elders in formal robes, pack leaders from surrounding territories, and thousands of MoonCrown pack members fill every inch of the hall. Gold banners hang high along the walls, catching the sunlight streaming through the massive glass windows. My heart beats steady and fast in my chest as I look down at Jodie. She looks breathtaking, but more importantly, she looks whole. The raw pain that used to sit in her eyes has finally softened.
JodieI shift back into human form, my legs giving out under me immediately. I drop onto the damp earth right beside Calden’s motionless body, sobbing uncontrollably as dark blood pools around his torn shirt. His face is ghostly pale, his skin freezing cold to the touch."Calden! Please, stay with me!" I cry out, my hands trembling as I press down near the horrific bullet wound on his chest. "Don't do this! Calden!"Evelyn and the royal medics rush over with a metal stretcher, gently pushing me back just enough to work. They quickly strap him down and haul his heavy frame off the ground, sprinting toward the transport vehicles to rush him straight to the royal ICU. My heart feels like it is being torn out of my chest watching them load him in.Queen Vanya and Prince Levi take charge of the chaotic scene, ushering me and my newborn baby into a heavy black SUV. They bring us straight into the heart of the royal palace, holding my hand as they lead us through the massive front entrance.
CaldenA manic Enid steps out from behind a thick cluster of pine trees, her eyes completely bloodshot as she raises a hidden silver pistol aimed straight at Jodie's heart.The cold metal of the gun catches the dim moonlight, and I see Enid's finger tightening around the trigger with insane hatred. She is shaking all over, her face twisted in pure jealousy as she stares right at Jodie."If I cannot have you," Enid screams, her voice cracking with fury, "she will not get to keep you either!"Seeing Enid pull the trigger, I do not hesitate for a single microsecond. I throw my entire body directly in front of Jodie, stepping right into the bullet's path.BANG.The loud gunshot shatters the quiet clearing. A searing, blinding pain explodes straight into my chest, right over my heart, as the heavy silver bullet tears through my flesh. The burning poison of silver spreads into my bloodstream instantly, cutting through my strength like a hot blade."Calden!" Jodie screams my name, her voice
JodieThe roar that tears out of Magnus's throat is filled with absolute madness. With his hands pulled back into dark, twisted claws, he lunges forward across the damp grass, aiming directly for Queen Vanya and me.Before he can even take two steps, Prince Levi moves like a streak of lightning. Levi steps right into his path, sweeping his leg low to kick Magnus directly behind the knees. Magnus grunts as his legs buckle under him, and before he can recover his balance, three fully armed royal guards tackle him down into the dirt."Get your hands off me!" Magnus screams, thrashing around on the ground, kicking his legs and snarling like a rabid animal. "I am an Alpha! You cannot hold me!""Keep him down!" Levi orders, his voice steady and harsh.Two more guards rush in, pinning Magnus's shoulders against the mud. Levi pulls out a set of heavy, glowing silver chains from his belt. The moment the silver links wrap around Magnus's wrists and neck, the dark aura around him sizzles and die
CaldenThe absolute silence in the clearing breaks when Queen Vanya drops to her knees on the damp grass right in front of Jodie's giant white paws. Tears spill down the Queen's pale cheeks without stopping as she stares up at the bright ring of golden fur glowing around Jodie's neck."You..." Vanya chokes out, her hands trembling violently as she reaches out toward the soft fur. "You... That golden line around your neck... It's you. My baby. My daughter."She looks back at Prince Levi and the surrounding royal guards, her voice breaking into an emotional sob that echoes through the dark woods. "It is her! She is the missing princess! My long-lost daughter is standing right here!"I stand frozen in place, my jaw clenched so tight my teeth ache while my heart hammers against my ribs. Beside me, Alvin looks like he just got hit by a truck. His mouth hangs wide open as his eyes bounce back and forth between Queen Vanya on her knees and his sister's giant Lycan form holding my baby. I can







