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
The waves crashed mercilessly against the side of the vessel, and Alexandro stood at the helm, soaked to the bone, his cloak heavy with rain. His eyes scanned the endless stretch of sea ahead, as if by some miracle, Serena would appear from the mist. His wolf, Ravik, was restless inside him, growling with frustration and fear. Every second that passed without a trace of her was unbearable.They had followed every lead, every whisper, every sailor’s tale of a rogue ship seen vanishing into the mist. But now, in the middle of a roaring storm, even the bravest of his men were faltering. The wind howled like banshees across the sails, and the ship groaned under the weight of nature’s fury.Jacob, Serena’s elder brother, clutched the railing as he stumbled toward Alexandro. His voice barely rose above the storm. “It’s getting worse. If we go any farther, we risk everyone’s lives.”Alexandro didn’t respond immediately. He kept his gaze fixed forward, his jaw clenched. His knuckles were whit
The wind howled like a wounded beast outside the small, lonely house. Serena sat near the window, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she stared into the storm-tossed darkness beyond. Her wolf was restless, stirring in the depths of her chest, whispering again and again, Let me out. But Serena remained frozen. She didn’t know how to control it, didn’t trust herself, not here, not now.The floorboards creaked under her bare feet as she shifted restlessly. Her senses were sharper than ever—every gust of wind, every flicker of flame from the lamp, even the ticking heartbeat of the house itself felt like thunder to her. The heaviness of magic filled the air, like the calm before a powerful strike.She clutched her knees tighter. She didn’t know where she was, or who had brought her here. The pirate who had dragged her from Alexandro’s arms had spoken cryptically, only mentioning she was being “delivered.” And now, after days of silence, something was coming.Her wolf growled in her
The days since Serena's disappearance felt like a blur to Alexandro. Time lost meaning, and every minute without her became a stabbing reminder of his failure. He had waited with eager anticipation at the border, expecting to welcome her into his arms. He had even taken care to prepare a small surprise—her favorite flowers, carefully arranged in the guest chamber she loved. But the day came and went. No carriage. No Serena. At first, he tried to dismiss the anxiety rising in his chest. Maybe there had been a delay. Maybe they had stopped for the night or taken a different route. But as daylight faded into dusk and she still hadn’t arrived, he knew something was wrong.Without a moment’s hesitation, he mounted his horse and set out. The guards had tried to stop him, insisting they go in his place, but he wouldn’t hear it. He had to find her himself. Hours later, he came across the overturned carriage on the side of a narrow forest path. The horses were gone, and the driver—his body lay