(Siena’s POV) The competition grounds buzz with excitement after the third round.The news that Windhowl and Silverfang tied for first spread like wildfire, igniting whispers of an unprecedented outcome—a shared victory—a possibility that no one had considered—not even me. But I know better than
I turn slowly, my pulse pounding in my ears as my eyes meet his. Midnight. He’s angry; I feel the storm beneath the surface. His posture stiff, and yet it’s his eyes that betray him. Possessiveness. Jealousy. For a fleeting moment, the mask slips, and I see the raw emotion he’s trying to b
(Raiden’s POV) Something primal snapped inside me.I tried to suppress it, to remind myself that she wasn’t mine anymore—if she ever truly had been.But Horace didn’t give a damn about logic or pride. It howled, clawing at my control, furious that another wolf—my Beta—had dared to pursue her. “T
The reminder feels like a blade slicing clean through my chest. Lila or not.I should be relieved. I should welcome the end of this torturous limbo. But all I feel is dread—an unbearable weight pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. “He’s my Beta,” I say, though the words sound hollow e
(Raiden’s POV) My thoughts are a storm I can’t escape.I spent years convinced I didn’t love her, that I never could—but what if that was a lie?What if I had merely built walls so high, so impenetrable, that even I couldn’t see the truth buried beneath them? Restless, I pace my quarters, replay
Siena folds her arms across her chest, waiting. I don’t know where to start. You’re my mate. I don’t want to lose you. I never stopped loving you—I was just too much of a coward to admit it. Instead, I blurt out, “I’ve been thinking about our marriage.” Siena tenses immediately. I see
(Siena’s POV) This game he plays—it is treacherous.The sudden interest in discussing our marriage leaves me wary, my instincts screaming that this is another maneuver—another calculated effort to unsettle me. I know better than to trust his intentions, especially now, with everything hanging in t
Her words should bring comfort, but my mind is elsewhere. “Raiden spoke to me today.” The confession slips out before I can stop it. Rairity raises an eyebrow. “About?” “Our marriage.” The words taste bitter in my mouth. Rairity expression darkens. “What does he want now?” “I don’t know.
(Raiden’s POV)The council chamber falls into stunned silence as Mia's carefully maintained composure fractures."You're suggesting I had something to do with this?" she asks, her voice pitched higher than normal. Her fingers nervously adjust her silver pendant."I'm not suggesting anything," I repl
“Raiden,” I greet softly, stepping aside to let him enter. His eyes scan my quarters instinctively, protective instincts clear despite his careful politeness.“I was making my patrol rounds,” he murmurs gently, eyes flickering briefly toward the evidence on my desk. “Are you alright?”His genuine co
(Siena’s POV)The delicate silver hairpin Raiden gifted me years ago lies on my desk, shifted ever so slightly from its usual position—a subtle yet unmistakable sign that someone has invaded my sanctuary.My breath catches sharply.I step closer, and my senses sharpen with acute awareness.Moonlight
(Raiden’s POV)The grainy security footage flickers ominously across the monitor, each shadowy movement like a knife twisting in my gut, whispering the name I've come to dread most—Lila.I lean closer, my eyes burning from hours spent staring at endless loops of surveillance.The cramped security ro
"Good idea," I manage, my voice steadier than I feel. "I'll speak with Tomas about positioning archers on the ridge above."Raiden turns his head slightly, his face now inches from mine. "Siena..."My pulse quickens softly, heart stumbling traitorously. "We should focus on the threat," I whisper, no
(Siena’s POV)Raiden’s plea from the cabin echoes relentlessly in my mind, threatening to fracture every wall I've painstakingly built around my heart.I pace restlessly across the elegant guest quarters, my fingers tugging nervously at the edges of my jacket, tension coiling sharply within my chest
My wolf surges forward, craving her closeness. "Siena, I—""Don't," she whispers, but she doesn't move away when I step closer. "Please don't say things you'll take back tomorrow.""I never should have taken them back the first time," I confess, my voice breaking as I reach for her hand. "I've misse
(Raiden’s POV)Thunder crashes violently overhead, shaking the cabin walls, as if nature itself demands I finally lay bare the secrets I've guarded far too long.The steady rhythm of rain pounds relentlessly against the roof, creating a constant, murmuring backdrop to the silence hanging between us.
The oak offers no comfort or wisdom. It offers only silence and the mocking permanence of symbols that now mean nothing at all.I brush my fingertips over the markings, memories flooding vividly through me.That day, I felt cautious hope despite our union's political nature.I'd believed, or at leas