LOGINThird Person's POV
Ulrik grit his teeth, his own voice sounding dry and hollow to his ears. "Just tell me what you need, Alpha Lance. I'll do whatever it takes."
Lance stared him down, letting the silence stretch for a few beats before speaking.
"Go to Velda. Find out exactly who from the Western Tribe was in contact with Tina Barker. As for how to get her to talk... you're her mate. You know her better than anyone."
Ulrik went quiet, then stood up and gave a respe
Third Person's POVAfter dinner, Alpha Zander and Lance headed into the study. The soundproofing barrier went up the moment the door clicked shut.Adelaide tried to follow them in, but Zander placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, blocking her path."I have some things I need to say to Lance in private."Adelaide puckered her lips but eventually turned away, heading toward the front courtyard where Prunella and Craig were still lingering.During dinner, Klein had officially announced his return to the Shadow Peaks. He wasn't just leaving on his own, either; he had ordered Prunella and Craig to get out and head back with him immediately.Craig had taken the brunt of the scolding—Klein complained that ever since they arrived at the Blackthorn estate, a swarm of noble wolves had been dropping by just to admire his paintings.Klein worried that Craig becoming too cozy with high-ranking officials in the capital would only bring unnecessary heat to Lance.Prunella couldn't help but grumble pr
Third Person's POVThe more Adelaide listened, the more the fire in her blood rose. Without a word, she unsheathed her silver-dipped dagger and drove it deep into one spy's abdomen.As she yanked the blade out, hot blood sprayed the frozen ground. Her face remained a mask of stone as she flipped the knife and buried it into the other man's side.She was done trying to reason with brainwashed killers. Most of all, she was done hearing them bark in this sacred resting place, disturbing the peace of her family's souls.Adelaide reversed her grip on the dripping dagger and held the hilt out to Beata. Her voice was cold and steady in the winter wind."Beata. Do you want to finish them yourself?"Beata stared at the bloody blade.She didn't reach for it. Instead, as tears fell into the mud, she slowly shook her head."No... I'm afraid they'll die too fast. I want to watch them bleed out. I want them to suffer every second until the e
Third Person's POVNight fell over the capital like a heavy sheet of black velvet, and within the Blackthorn territory, the magical crystal lamps flickered to life one by one.Adelaide took the silver-plated dagger Prunella handed her, gripped Beata's hand, and stepped out into the biting wind.Lance and Paisley followed close behind.Craig and Prunella had planned to join them, but Klein stopped them."Let her mate and her best friend handle this," he said simply."You two only need to step in if she actually falls."As he spoke, Klein felt a sense of pride. Having come to the capital and watched this pair navigate the shark-infested waters of royal politics and rival packs with such composure, he felt truly satisfied.Inside the Royal Marshal's office, Lucas stood in the blood-scented courtyard, waiting.The Blackthorns were coming tonight to collect the two prisoners, and a transfer of such high-value targets required
Third Person's POVThe iron chains were wound so tight around Velda's jaw that she couldn't even tilt her head back to howl. She could only curl into a twisted, pathetic heap.It was a mirror image of the scene back at Snowdeer Town, where she had locked Lucian in a beast cage.Back then, she had felt nothing but a thrill of triumph; now, for the first time, she felt a fear that made her soul shiver.Beata stood beside Adelaide, her cold gaze fixed on Velda's panicked state.Beata was trembling, tears of fury streaming down her face as she thought of the torture her pack-mates in the Frostfangs had endured."Gamma, can I... can I slap this bitch?" Beata asked, her voice shaking. "I'm just a weak omega. I won't hurt her enough to mess up the prisoner exchange. Could you... could you ask Princess Helia for me?"Adelaide looked at the girl's bloodshot eyes and knew that if Beata didn't vent this rage today, she might never escape the sha
Third Person's POVHelia sat back on her bed, her gaze drifting into the distance.She hadn't revealed a single thing to Digby, yet he had read her like an open book.What made the glands at the back of her neck tighten even more was the fact that he didn't question her political maneuvers like other male wolves often did. This silent validation from an enemy healer moved her in a way she couldn't quite explain.In the carriage ride back, Digby remained silent for a long time before finally speaking."It wouldn't be a bad thing if the throne of the Western Tribe found a new owner."Adelaide understood exactly what he meant. She knew the road Helia was choosing was paved with challenges, and she found herself admiring the woman's sheer guts.If Helia ever became the Lycan Queen, the border conflicts between their two nations could likely be settled with ink and paper rather than blood and steel.Alpha Lance arrived at the the pr
Third Person's POVRaven let out a sigh of regret, his voice dropping to a low whisper."We never managed to get our hands on the network Madison spent years building. We shouldn't have put the entire burden of establishing the capital's connections on a single she-wolf.""At the time, I figured being a Princess would keep her above suspicion. Who knew it would end like this!"Germain's irritation was palpable. He paced the room like a caged animal."And then there's the Stephens family. I entered a contractual mating with them, and yet they still refuse to follow my lead! What's the point of having a mate from that house?"Raven stayed silent.He had actually been against that mating from the start, but Alpha Germain had insisted, convinced it would buy them the family's influence.He knew better—Sidney Preston didn't speak for the Stephens family; she was the least favored daughter in the house.If Germain had ma
Third Person's POVThe members of their pack naturally followed Publius's orders, especially the former werewolf warriors.After retiring, they had stayed with Publius, carrying the hardened aura of years on the battlefield. Their tempers and execution skills mirrored his—both
Third Person's POVPublius was so enraged that his wolf fur stood on end, and the hair on the back of his neck bristled.His palm completed a shift in an instant. Five gray claws, gleaming with a cold light, pierced through the skin, and sulfuric pheromones surged like thick smoke.
Third Person's POVLycan Erasmus said, "The Illusory Moon pack can't be easily trusted. We must send people to keep an eye on them and also investigate which other packs and families they've had dealings with."Adelaide replied, "Rest assured, we've already arranged for an investiga
Third Person's POV"Did she slap his face? Did Ulrik fight back?" Christine inquired.Pansy replied, "No, Alpha Ulrik didn't fight back. He just asked Luna Gloria to leave. She stormed off saying she would go back to Ironclaw. Alpha Ulrik didn't try to stop her."Christine's frown deepened. "So she







