LUCIANThe forest floor was slick with last night’s rain.I adjusted the thin coat around my shoulders, and raised my eyes to the darkening clouds. I knew it was a bad time to move through the forest but, it was important. I wasn’t far from Bloodfang, not geographically, but emotionally…It felt like a lifetime away.There was no way I didn't miss my people. However, I didn’t belong there. Not with the chaos Aria was about to face. Maybe I should’ve been calm. I should’ve been prepared. I should’ve been…Suddenly a loud screech alerted me. There it was. The messenger hawk dove from the sky and landed hard on my left finger. I tapped the beast for a good job, before taking the scroll tied to its leg.Kael. I stared at the name. Shadowsong Pack. I didn’t even need to open it. I already knew what this was about.Still, I unrolled the parchment.“Lucian,I am en route to the Bloodfang lands. Heard your girl is claiming your pack. Thought it was time I met the new Luna. I’ll arrive within
KILLIAN I raised a hand.“If you’re for me, raise your hand.”A few hands rose. Then a few more.I counted them. “Sixteen.”There were twenty-seven councilmen in the room.I nodded slowly. “Alright.” Then I turned toward the doors and snapped my fingers. My men burst in with blades ready, and before the council could move… before the rest could scream, it was over. From the corner of my eye, their steels flashed, blood sprayed the floors, and bodies dropped.One tried to run but met a sword in the back. The ones who had raised their hands didn’t move. They all just stood frozen, too shocked to speak. Well, surprise, motherfuckers! I stepped through the blood and turned to Fin. “Clean this up.”He nodded, wide-eyed at the disaster before him.“I’m going to rest my head. I’ve earned it.”My path was clear now. Darius had proven his worth by making Aria no longer out of reach. If I played this right, and I would—then I wouldn’t need to worry about backstabbers in my court. I stripped th
KILLIAN “Your father is dead.” That was the first message Fin gave to me.I blinked. “That’s not fucking possible…”My father had over three hundred Gammas guarding the Alpha Room. How could he be dead?That easily too?“I speak the truth, Alpha. And nothing but the truth.”We were halfway to the main gates when Fin had ridden out to meet me. Dust still clung to his shoulders, and his horse looked half-dead. But Fin… Fin looked like a man that wasn't telling me everything. I stared at him for a long time.“You sure you’re not messing with me?”“I wouldn’t dare,” he said, and then hesitated.That fucking old man… a grin threatened to tug at the corners of my mouth, but I killed it fast. Because if it was true… if the old bastard was finally dead, then that was the beginning of my reign at the Stormwood pack.Finally. I cleared my throat and stepped closer. “Tell me exactly how it happened.”“I don’t know the full story yet, only that he was found in the inner chamber… body cold with h
ROWAN Rowana sniffled. “You did the right thing,” she whispered, even as her voice trembled. “She… she wouldn’t have survived here. Not in the cold. Not as an omega wolf. You protected her from this place. It's not your fault, brother.” I shook my head. “She was strong. She would’ve survived anything.” Rowana reached for my face and wiped a tear. “I will go to the ends of the earth to find you a second-chance mate. I promise.” I looked at her—really looked at her. Oh, my brave, beautiful sister. And then I said the words that silenced her completely. “Aria Moonstone is not weak. She’s Albena Lyall-White Obsidian, from the descendants of wolves strong enough to accommodate the Great White Wolf herself.” Rowana’s face went blank before she staggered back like she’d been hit. “No… Rowan…” Her hand covered her mouth. “They were wiped out.” How ignorant my sister was. I glared at her. “She was never just an omega. She was royalty—more than you and I could ever be. She was fit for m
ROWAN“Alpha!” Cade shouted the second he saw me barreling through the open gates of the Frostbite pack.My fur dissolved as I shifted into my human form, completely bare, and breathing hard. Cade kept his eyes on my face and I didn’t bother covering myself. With the wolves, modesty had long died with the battles we fought. Imagine being in a field of rogues… then trying to cover up? That would be ridiculous.I gave him a tired smile. “Cade. How are you?”He ran up to me, eyes wide with disbelief. “I’m good. But if you’re asking about the pack… it hasn’t been the same since you left.”I nodded slowly, dragging my fingers through my tangled, sweat-drenched hair. The journey hadn't been easy. “I figured. I didn’t come back empty-handed, though.”Cade’s eyes dropped to my chest. “You’re… you’re marked. You didn’t have that before.”I glanced down at the claw marks running across my collarbone. Red. Deep and still healing. All from that idiot called Killan. “I earned that in a battle for
ARIAWe all know that. But no one wants to admit what it might mean if they didn’t die natural deaths. Or if they’re not dead at all. We buried ashes. Not bodies.”Maren looked visibly disturbed. “Aaron…”He ignored her. “And if there’s one person who might bring them back or find them it’s our Luna, Albena.”That shook me.“Stop calling her Luna. She isn't shit to us.” One woman shot back. “Maybe that's why she is asking for the Elders. They are the only ones who can crown her Luna.”My throat became dry. That woman was right.“Still we need to know…”“No.” Maren laughed suddenly. “You don’t want them back,” she muttered, shaking her head. “None of you know what that would mean.” She stood abruptly, dropping the blanket to the floor.“Tobias,” she called as she began to walk out. “Let’s go.”“Maren—” he started.“I said let’s go,” she said without looking back. “Please.”He hesitated. Torn. And I? I stood there, even more confused than ever. What did she mean? Why wouldn’t we want th