MasukRAYNEThe sheets were cool against my skin as I lay curled in the center of Reid’s massive bed, my arms wrapped around a pillow that still smelled like him. He was gone, having slipped out to handle the logistics of our trip, leaving me alone with the horrible truth.Reid had Blue Blight. Reid was dying, and there was nothing that I could do about it. The words repeated in my mind. It was the same disease that his father, Alpha Marcus, had. That was the real reason why Luna Selene had murdered her own husband. She didn't do it for power or out of malice; she did it to prevent him from turning into a mindless monster. There was no textbook for this. There was no human medicine, no vaccine, no surgical procedure that could remove a curse from a werewolf's DNA.Realization suddenly hit me hard. A wave of dread rushed through me, making my stomach churn. Luna Selene had to kill her own mate. Did that mean the same fate was waiting for me? Would I be forced to murder the man who had
RAYNEReid's words hung in the quiet space between us, heavy and thick with an honesty that he's never given me before. "Use me," he said. "I am entirely at your disposal, little wolf," he said. He wasn't speaking as the ruthless Alpha of the North; he was speaking as a man, kneeling in front of a woman he had spent months pushing away.I stayed pinned against the door of his office, the heat of his body anchoring me to him. To this moment. My chest rose and fell in uneven rhythms. I looked into his eyes, searching for any lingering trace of cruelty, any sign of the ruthlessness that had defined our relationship since the day I was brought to his mansion as a sex slave.There was nothing. Only a desperate vulnerability.A trembling breath escaped my lips, a soft sound that echoed in the quiet room. I finally allowed myself to nod."Okay," I whispered.The syllable had barely cleared my lips before Reid groaned, a primal sound that vibrated deep within his chest. He didn't wait. He c
REIDI stood at the top of the grand staircase. Across from me stood General Silas. He looked every bit the legendary warrior my father trusted with our military. But right now, all I saw was a liability that could tear the North apart."What the hell were you thinking coming here?" I seethed through my teeth, keeping my voice low. Silas didn't even blink. He met my gaze with a cold glare. "I did what you couldn't do. I came here to clear my name."I let out a bitter scoff of disbelief, shaking my head as the absurdity of his actions finally settled in. "A grown man, a goddamn general of my army, and you still don't know the first thing about pack laws.""Pack laws?" Silas countered, his voice dripping with cynicism. "Those laws died along with your father, Reid."His words struck a nerve. My jaw clenched so hard the bone ached, and I had to bite down hard on my teeth to prevent myself from snapping.I ran a tired hand over my face. He didn't know the truth. He didn't know the reaso
RAYNENo matter what happens to me. No matter the fallout, the screaming matches, or the political suicide I was about to commit. This was absolutely necessary.I had to clear his name. I stood in front of the double doors of the dining hall, my heart hammering hard against my ribs. Beside me, my father stood like a statue. His presence alone was enough to make me feel safe. I didn't ask him to come; I told him.I pushed the doors open.The sound of silver against porcelain vanished into thin air. It was as if I had sucked all the air out of the room. I stepped inside, my father following shortly behind me.I clasped my hands behind my back, a sweet smile settling on my face but it didn’t reach my eyes.The King was the first to jump off his chair. He stood so abruptly his chair screeched against the stone. Across the table, Reid’s face was a mask of tension. A deep frown etched into his forehead, his eyes darting between me and my father. I could feel him through our bond. He was
RAYNE"Bow."The King’s command was cold and heavy with the weight of his royal authority. It was an order meant to put a dog back in its place.I lifted my chin, eyes locking on the King. "I will not," I pointedly stated.The room went dead silent. Even the High Council members seemed to hold their breath. "Are you disregarding a direct order from your King?" The King questioned in disbelief, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper."I am, Your Grace," I replied, my voice remaining perfectly steady. "I refuse to bow to your daughter, who has shown me nothing but disrespect. If anything, she's the one who should bow before me.""How dare you?" Lord Jacob roared, slamming his hand hard on the polished wood of the table. The sound echoed in the quiet room. "You are addressing royalty, you impudent little—""How dare you?" I shot back, rising slightly in my chair, my anger finally getting the best of me. "How dare you expect me to bow to a woman who called me a whore just this morni
RAYNE"How are you feeling today?" Carla asked softly.She was standing behind me, her fingers working fast as she helped me into my gown. Reid had been gone since Leilani announced her father's arrival. He was out on the pack grounds, personally inspecting the warriors and the border security. I'm sure he wanted the Blood Moon’s strength on full display for the King’s arrival. He wanted them to know that while he might be a traitor in their eyes, he was a king in his own right."I’m alive," I said, my voice sounding distant. "That’s all that matters, right?""More than you know," Carla murmured with a smile on her face.She smoothed the fabric over my hips. I was wearing a gown that felt like a second skin. Heavy yellow silk pooled around my feet like liquid gold. Wearing yellow was a bold choice. A color that demanded to be seen. I would show the King that I was done hiding in the shadows."So you’re not in any pain right now?" Carla asked, her eyes catching mine in the mirror.I







