The tension in the room was unbearable.For days, Edward and Jacob had watched their father with growing suspicion, observing the way he distanced himself from any discussions about Serena’s abduction. He hadn’t attended a single search meeting, nor had he once come to ask Alexandro for updates. His silence was no longer something they could ignore.That morning, they found him in the study, sitting at his usual place by the window, sipping from a cup of black tea as though nothing in the world had changed. The same peaceful look rested on his face—the one that used to bring them comfort. But today, it stirred nothing but a quiet, boiling frustration.“Father,” Edward said, voice firm but calm.Their father turned his head slightly. “Yes?”“We need to talk,” Jacob said, closing the door behind them.Their father’s brows furrowed. “What is this about?”Edward stepped forward. “Serena. And the truth.”“I’ve already told you everything I know.” He looked away, taking another sip from his
The chill of the northern winds no longer bothered Alexandro. He had grown used to the bite of ice in the air, but the hollow ache in his chest had become unbearable. It had been a month—one long, grueling month since Serena vanished, stolen from the world he’d built for her, torn from his arms like a dream wrenched from sleep. He hadn’t slept properly in weeks. His wolf, Ravik, prowled constantly beneath his skin, restless and irate, sensing the absence of their mate like a missing limb. The only thing keeping Alexandro grounded was the relentless pursuit of truth.Before he set sail again to search the eastern waters, he knew he had to learn everything he could. He had a name now—Maeron. A shadow of myth. A phantom whispered of in fear. If he was going to tear through the ocean to retrieve his wife, he needed to know who, or what, he was up against.He summoned the oldest scholars from his territory, stormed through dusty libraries and forbidden scrolls hidden beneath ancient temple
Alexandro sat in the war chamber, maps spread across the stone table, his fingers brushing over the routes marked in red ink. His mind wasn’t there—not with the territory, not with the soldiers or strategy. It was with Serena. It had been too many days since she vanished, and with every passing minute, the silence was eating away at him. He hadn’t slept properly, barely eaten. Ravik, his wolf, growled in frustration inside his mind constantly. The mate bond was strong—it was burning. But without direction, without answers, Alexandro was going mad.Then, the message came.One of Valerian’s silver hawks landed on the balcony rail. It bore the symbol of the Blood Moon Pack, a wax seal he’d learned to recognize from the years they’d spent as rivals. Alexandro tore the parchment open immediately, his brows narrowing as he read.“Let us meet. I have reason to believe we are chasing the same shadow. —Valerian.”Alexandro didn’t hesitate. For the first time in their entire history of cold war
The wind howled across the open waters, thick clouds looming like silent watchers above. Serena sat in the small vessel, her wrists loosely bound with enchanted silver that prickled against her skin. Her wolf, usually a comforting presence within her, was silent—too silent. It was as if something had muffled its voice, locked it away in the depths of her mind. She tried calling out to it again, but all she felt was emptiness. Panic flickered in her eyes, but she swallowed it down. This wasn’t the time to break.Maeron sat calmly across from her, as if he hadn’t just torn her away from her life, her mate, and everything she’d known. There was something ancient and unreadable in his gaze, like time moved differently around him. She studied him in the dim twilight of the cabin, but there was no warmth to be found—only purpose.She had asked questions for days. Why her? Who was he? What did he want from her? But the only answer Maeron had given was silence or vague smiles that chilled her
The snow fell lightly outside the windows of the war chamber, coating the black stone balcony in a fine shimmer of frost. The fire crackled behind Valerian as he stood with one hand resting on the edge of the long stone table, a scroll half-unfurled in front of him. The emblem of the Morello pack marked the parchment in dark crimson ink, bold and unapologetic. Alexandro had agreed to the neutral meeting, but the contents of the letter didn’t sit right with him.Valerian had learned about Serena’s abduction from Alexandro himself, not through any of the southern messengers or patrol lines. That was unsettling in itself. But what truly gnawed at his mind wasn’t Alexandro’s desperation—it was the silence of another man. The one who should’ve reached out immediately. Serena’s father. He knew that he loved his daughter and was so protective of her. He'd seen it whenever he went to meet that man. He heard that he's still in his pack, continuing his daily activities, which isn't him. Seren
Far away, across the vast expanse of wintry wilderness and broken borders, Alexandro stood at the edge of the barracks, overlooking the sea. He hadn’t slept well in days. The moment he closed his eyes, all he could see was Serena’s terrified face. Her scent still lingered faintly in the sheets, but it was fading—like she was slipping farther away.His second-in-command approached with a scroll in hand. “My lord. A message from Valerian.”Alexandro snatched the letter, recognizing the seal at once. He broke it and read quickly. By the time he finished, a slow exhale passed his lips.He looked toward the horizon, his eyes like steel. “So he agreed.”Jacob stood nearby, his arms crossed. “Do you trust him?”“No,” Alexandro said. “But I don’t have to trust him. I just need answers.”“What if he’s telling the truth?”“Then we may be facing an enemy we don’t understand yet,” Alexandro murmured.Ravik stirred inside him, restless.“Ask him everything,” the wolf whispered. “If he’s not the en