ログインSelena's POVThere were many strange things about living in the Lycan Palace. The fact that I regularly ate breakfast with the most powerful family on the continent was strange. The fact that Artemis had once threatened to launch Cassian off a balcony because he called her "Moonbeam" was strange. The fact that Lucian could step out of shadows as if they were doorways was very strange.Unfortunately, I was beginning to suspect his shadows themselves might be even stranger. Because, once again, they were following me. I stopped walking. The corridor fell silent, and nothing moved, but I knew they were there, keeping their distance but watching me nonetheless. I narrowed my eyes. "Come out."Nothing happened. A passing servant looked at me oddly, so I smiled awkwardly until they hurried away. Talking to empty hallways probably looked concerning to them. I waited another moment, then pointed at a nearby suit of armor. "I can see you."A tiny patch of darkness immediately darted behind
Xavier's POVThe palace was quiet — far quieter than it had any right to be. I stood beside the tall windows of my study, overlooking the sprawling royal training grounds below. The afternoon sun bathed the palace grounds in a deceptively warm, golden hue. Elite warriors drilled in tight formations, servants moved rhythmically about their daily duties, and young heirs from allied packs occupied the courtyards. Everything appeared perfectly normal. Yet, my attention remained fixed entirely on a single figure: Selena. She was crossing the meticulously kept gardens below alongside Artemis. The two girls were locked in what looked like an animated argument.Even from this distance, I could see Selena laughing, completely unaware that she was currently the sole subject of my deepest concerns.Marcus stirred uneasily within me. My ancient Lycan beast had been restless for days, ever since the volatile incident in the training arena where Lucian's shadows had reacted to her presence. I wa
Alara's POVI found Xavier exactly where I expected him to be: in his study, working again. At this point, I was beginning to suspect the man had a secret ability to sense paperwork from several miles away. The moment a report existed, Xavier somehow appeared beside it like magic. The doors to his study stood partially open, letting soft light spill into the corridor. I paused briefly before entering, just watching him. He sat behind the massive desk that had once belonged to kings before him, surrounded by stacks of documents, maps, reports, and letters of kingdom business. Yet, despite everything spread across the desk, I noticed one thing immediately: he wasn't reading. The parchment in his hands remained untouched, his gaze distant and focused somewhere else entirely. He was worrying, doing the exact same thing I had been doing all evening.His Lycan sensed me first. Marcus stirred beneath the surface, warm and familiar, before Xavier finally looked up. The moment he saw me, so
Artemis's POVI hated being injured because everyone suddenly treated me differently. Mother became protective, Father became overprotective, and Lucian became unbearable.And apparently, Cassian had decided to become my personal caretaker.The last part was somehow the most annoying and the most dangerous, mostly because I wasn't entirely sure I disliked it. The realization alone made me want to throw something, preferably at him. Unfortunately, he was currently helping me, which complicated matters greatly.I sat cross-legged on the window seat in my chambers while the afternoon sunlight filtered through the glass. The worst of my injuries were already healing; Lycan blood ran strong through my veins, even if I wasn't a full Lycan. The bruises from the arena incident had faded significantly, and most of the cuts were shallow. It wasn't anything serious. Still, the healer had insisted I apply a medicinal salve to the scratches scattered across my arms and shoulders.It was a task I
Cassian's POVI had been stabbed before, thrown from horses, punched by warriors twice my size. Once, when I was ten, I'd fallen out of a tree trying to impress a girl and broken my arm. The girl hadn't been impressed. But the point was, I wasn't particularly fragile. Which was why being blasted across a room by Artemis should have bothered me less than it did. Not because it hurt, but because it had me scared on her behalf. The thought lingered as I stood outside her chambers long after midnight. The palace corridors were quiet; most of the kingdom had already retired for the night. After the disaster in the arena earlier, everyone had been tense. The Seer had spent hours speaking privately with King Xavier and Luna Alara. Lucian hadn't left Artemis's side until Luna practically forced him out. Even then, he'd looked guilty enough to challenge himself to a duel. The poor idiot. It wasn't his fault, not really.I stared at the closed door, sighed, and then stared some more. This was
Lucian's POVSomething felt wrong the moment Father sealed the arena. The royal training grounds were enormous, typically built to hold hundreds of warriors during intensive military drills. Today, they stood completely empty. Dozens of elite Lycan warriors occupied every single entrance. Ancient runes glowed intensely across the surrounding stone walls, and shimmering protective barriers vibrated overhead. No one was allowed inside.At least, that had been the original plan. Unfortunately, Cassian had never been particularly fond of rules, and neither had Selena.I wasn't surprised when I spotted two familiar figures trying to hide behind one of the eastern support pillars. They weren't succeeding, not even slightly. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.Beside me, Artemis followed my gaze. "Oh, for the love of the Moon."Father mirrored my frustration, while Mother looked suspiciously amused. Uncle Rylan outright laughed. "Should we throw them out?""Good luck with that," Artemi
Alara’s POVThe violet stone hanging low around my neck did not sleep anymore. It pulsed. Relentlessly.Even before dawn crept through the narrow windows of the packhouse, I felt it throb against my chest as heat bloomed beneath my skin, violet light bleeding faintly through the fabric of my nightg
Alara’s POVWar did not announce itself with trumpets or blood.It crept in quietly — through tightened patrol routes, sharpened weapons, and the way the Midnight Pack stopped laughing so easily.I noticed it first at dawn.The training grounds, once lively but measured, had transformed overnight.
Xavier’s POVThe first den of corrupted rogues perished precisely at dawn.Not with the common mercy of fire — fire was too quick, too clean — but with the cold, obliterating vi
Xavier’s POVBlood no longer smelled the way it used to.Once, it had been sharp — metallic, grounding. The scent of battle, of victory hard-won and earned. Now it was everywhere, clinging to my senses long after the corpses turned to ash, long after the screams faded into silence.My Lycan wanted







