LOGINChapter twenty- eight ~~Aria pov ~~The King’s Hall was not what I expected.I had imagined something modern and cold, all glass and steel like the company building. Instead, the vehicle pulled up to a structure that looked like it had been standing for centuries. It was a massive estate built of gray stone, with towers that reached toward the sky and walls that spoke of both beauty and defensibility.It sat on the highest point in the city, surrounded by manicured grounds that probably covered acres. Iron gates emblazoned with silver wolves opened automatically as we approached, and I caught glimpses of guards stationed at regular intervals. Not just any guards, but elite warriors whose very stance radiated lethal capability.This was not just a residence. It was a fortress. I imagined how the main headquarters in the capital would look.It was said that each wolf city, just like Silvercrest, had such halls for the Alpha King, but the true headquarters stood in the capital city.The
Chapter Twenty Seven~~Aria pov~~~I woke to pounding on my door.For one disoriented moment, I thought it was still night.The pounding came again, more insistent this time.“Aria Silvercrest!” A male voice, unfamiliar and commanding. “Open this door immediately!”I scrambled out of bed, grabbing a robe to pull over my nightshirt. My hand went automatically to my chest, checking that the mate mark was covered. It still glowed faintly beneath the fabric, warm and present, a constant reminder of everything that had changed.I opened the door to find two wolves in formal guard uniforms. Not Silvercrest colors, but the black and silver of the Alpha King’s personal guard. Both were tall and intimidating, with the kind of predatory stillness that marked them as elite warriors.Behind them, a small crowd had gathered in the hallway. Clara stood near the front, her face carefully composed but her eyes sharp with calculation. Other pack members craned their necks, whispering frantically.“Ari
Chapter Twenty Six~~Aria pov~~The bond snapped.The pain was instant and absolute, like my soul tearing in half. I felt Lyrian scream, a sound so raw and broken it seemed to split the air itself. His power erupted in a wave of golden fire that consumed everything. Clara. Kaelen. The warriors. The corridor.Everything burned.As darkness claimed me, the last thing I saw was Lyrian’s face. Beautiful. Terrible. Twisted with grief and rage. His eyes blazed bright enough to outshine the sun.And the last thing I heard was his voice, shattered and vengeful.“I will kill them all. Every single one. I will burn this world to ash.”I woke screaming.I bolted upright in bed, my heart hammering so violently I thought it might break through my ribs. Tears streamed down my face. My whole body trembled with pain. Pain that should not be possible. Pain that should not feel so real.But it had been real.The memory.A recollection of a past event.I pressed both hands to my chest, feeling for the w
Chapter Twenty Five~~Aria pov ~~I reached my room without any disturbance, and for that I was grateful. My body felt heavy with exhaustion, both physical and mental. Today had shaken me to the core. The moment my head touched the pillow, sleep claimed me, the weight of fatigue finally drowning the anxiety that had been building all day.But sleep brought the dream again.The dream started differently this time.I was in the throne room. The grand hall was heavy with silence, not the calm kind, but the kind that suffocates and presses down on the chest. Torches flickered along the marble walls. The throne room was bright, signifying it was daytime. The hall was decorated beautifully.Elders and nobles were present, each seated in their respective places.At the center of it all stood me.This time, I was dressed in white queen attire just like before, not in armor. There was a crown on my head.Lyrian sat on the throne. His expression was difficult to read, but through the mate bond,
Chapter Twenty Four~~Third person pov~~Clara waited until well past midnight before leaving her room.She had changed from her evening gown into dark, nondescript clothes: practical pants, a hooded jacket, and soft soled shoes that made no sound against the hardwood floors. She pulled her hair back into a simple braid. She wore no jewelry, no perfume, nothing that might draw attention.She moved through the pack house secretly, using the servants’ corridors and back staircases that most pack members did not even know existed. Years of sneaking around had taught her every hidden path and every blind spot in the security patrols.The meeting place was in the old wing, the section of the pack house that had been built centuries ago and was now used mostly for storage. The walls here were stone instead of modern drywall.Elder Han was already there, waiting in a chamber with no light except moonlight that filtered through the broken windows. He was one of the faithful followers she had
Chapter Twenty Three~~ Lyrian pov ~~ The mate mark has been pulsing with Aria emotions, fear, distress, and a crushing sense of being overwhelmed. When it first began, it frightened me. I immediately ordered one of my subordinates to investigate what was happening around her. When the report came back, anger flooded me. Someone had the audacity to spread rumors about me. About my past. About my dead mates. But I did nothing. Calming myself.Over the centuries, life had taught me that rushed actions often led to disastrous outcomes. I had learned to stay calm in the face of chaos. Still, my concern was not the rumors. It was Aria. Every painful pulse of the bond reminded me that she was suffering. Every part of me wanted to go to her. But I knew my sudden appearance at her company would cause a stir. Eyes would follow. Whispers would grow. That would only make things worse for her. So I waited. When she finally came out, relief washed through me. I moved to approach her, but b







