LOGINKeiran's POV The report on my desk had begun to irritate me. I had read it three times, yet the details refused to make sense. Three families had disappeared from the smaller packs within two weeks. The few survivors we had found were too badly injured to give us much information, and our patrols had discovered no clear trail leading to the attackers. Someone was targeting our people, and whoever was behind it knew exactly where to strike. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. “Have we received anything from the eastern patrol?” I asked, frustration laced in my voice. Draven stood across from my desk, holding another report. “Nothing useful. They found signs of a struggle near the old trading route, but whoever attacked the family had already cleared the area. No bodies, no weapons, no tracks we could follow.” “That makes four locations now where the attackers have managed to disappear without leaving anything behind.” “Five, if we include the weapons store
Keiran's POV The report on my desk had begun to irritate me. I had read it three times, yet the details refused to make sense. Three families had disappeared from the smaller packs within two weeks. The few survivors we had found were too badly injured to give us much information, and our patrols had discovered no clear trail leading to the attackers. Someone was targeting our people, and whoever was behind it knew exactly where to strike. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. “Have we received anything from the eastern patrol?” I asked, frustration laced in my voice. Draven stood across from my desk, holding another report. “Nothing useful. They found signs of a struggle near the old trading route, but whoever attacked the family had already cleared the area. No bodies, no weapons, no tracks we could follow.” “That makes four locations now where the attackers have managed to disappear without leaving anything behind.” “Five, if we include the weapons store
KEIRAN'S POV I closed my eyes. No, I shouldn't be thinking about her.The door opened again, and Draven walked inside. He stopped when he saw me gripping the window frame.“Keiran?”I didn't answer immediately.He came closer, studying my face. “What's wrong with you?”“Nothing.”“Don't give me that. You look like you're about to tear the room apart.”I turned away from the window, breathing through my nose. “I'm going into rut.”Draven's expression changed. “Now?”I nodded.He looked towards the door Varessa had just walked through. “Then why did you send your wife away? Wasn't she the one who could help you through it?”I let out a frustrated breath.“It's not Varessa.”Draven frowned. “What do you mean?”“It's Rachel.”He stared at me as though he hadn't heard correctly.“Rachel? The masked woman?”“Yes.”“How is that possible? You barely know her. What does she have to do with your rut?”“I don't know!” I snapped, pressing a hand against my forehead. “That's what makes this so st
Keiran's POV The report on my desk had begun to irritate me. I had read it three times, yet the details refused to make sense. Three families had disappeared from the smaller packs within two weeks. The few survivors we had found were too badly injured to give us much information, and our patrols had discovered no clear trail leading to the attackers. Someone was targeting our people, and whoever was behind it knew exactly where to strike. I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. “Have we received anything from the eastern patrol?” I asked, frustration laced in my voice. Draven stood across from my desk, holding another report. “Nothing useful. They found signs of a struggle near the old trading route, but whoever attacked the family had already cleared the area. No bodies, no weapons, no tracks we could follow.” “That makes four locations now where the attackers have managed to disappear without leaving anything behind.” “Five, if we include the weapons storehou
The Face Beneath the Mask Neira's POV Keiran thought I had left the garden completely. I stood beside the tree near the palace walls, crouching down to watch him. I had missed him for years, and even though this was wrong in so many ways, I couldn't help stealing a glance at the man I had loved and desired for so long. Just as I was about to leave, I heard him say the words that tore the little piece of love I still had for him into shreds. “All I want to do is kill her.” My chest ached so badly that I could barely breathe. I pressed both hands over my mouth, struggling to hold back the sob threatening to escape. My knees weakened, and I sank onto the grass beside the tree, pressing one hand against my chest as though I could stop the pain building there. He hated me that much. He wanted me dead. I lowered my head, but the tears kept falling. I had known he was angry. He believed I had betrayed him, but hearing him say he wanted to kill me was different. My mind slipped back to
Neira's POV Keiran thought I had left the garden completely. I stood beside the tree near the palace walls, crouching down to watch him. I had missed him for years, and even though this was wrong in so many ways, I couldn't help stealing a glance at the man I had loved and desired for so long. Just as I was about to leave, I heard him say the words that tore the little piece of love I still had for him into shreds. “All I want to do is kill her.” My chest ached so badly that I could barely breathe. I pressed both hands over my mouth, struggling to hold back the sob threatening to escape. My knees weakened, and I sank onto the grass beside the tree, pressing one hand against my chest as though I could stop the pain building there. He hated me that much, he wanted me dead. I lowered my head, but the tears kept falling. I had known he was angry. He believed I had betrayed him, but hearing him say he wanted to kill me was different. My mind slipped back to that night five years







