"We’ve rerouted delegates through alternate paths. Escorts from neutral territories will accompany them. No region should feel exposed or compromised."I watched the way her amber eyes scanned the room—not once landing on me. Every answer was precise, measured. She hadn’t lost her edge."Excellent.
(Siena’s POV) Raiden’s eyes haunt me long after I walk away.The heat of his jealousy, the raw edge of his questions about Alaric—it clings to me like smoke, unwelcome and suffocating.My wolf, traitorous as always, stirs with restless energy, but I shove her back into the recesses of my mind. She
“Your legacy here remains strong,” comes a quiet voice beside me. I stiffen, my wolf immediately perking up at the familiar scent of pine and midnight. He’s so silent in his approach that I didn’t hear him coming, but now he stands beside me, his presence as steady and unyielding as ever. I gla
(Raiden’s POV) The thought of Siena leaving—finalizing the divorce, severing the last thread of connection between us—sits heavy in my chest. It’s as if the air itself presses down on me, suffocating and unbearable. Horace paces restlessly, his frustration and grief echoing my own. I know I’ve run
(Siena’s POV) Raiden’s words linger long after he speaks them, their weight pressing into the quiet spaces of my mind.His confession—raw, unguarded, and so unlike the man I once knew—stirs emotions I thought I’d buried.For nearly two years, I’ve worked to process the wounds he left behind, to re
Now, he’s handed them over. “Why?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. Rairity shrugs, though her expression softens. “Maybe it’s his way of making amends. A gesture to show he understands what he took from you.” I turn away from her, staring at my reflection in the small mirror above the
(Raiden’s POV) The grand hall gleams under the light of crystal chandeliers, the air filled with the hum of conversation and the soft clinking of glasses.Packs from across the region mingle, celebrating the success of the SOA preparations. But beneath the surface of alliances and diplomacy, there’
“My opposition was… personal rather than political.”The confession costs me more deeply than I could have anticipated.Admitting my pettiness, admitting my inability to separate emotion from responsibility—it feels like peeling away a carefully maintained facade, exposing wounds I’ve long worked to
I turn to face him fully, finding courage in the gathering darkness that somehow makes vulnerability easier.“I want a connection that strengthens rather than constrains. Partnership without possession. Trust earned through actions rather than assumed through ceremony.”My wolf surges forward at the
(Siena POV)The evening air wraps around me like a cool blanket as I sit on the settlement's eastern overlook, watching the sun's last rays paint the valley below in shades of amber and gold.My fingers trace the rough texture of the wooden bench beneath me, weathered by seasons of rain and sun. Lik
His eyes find mine across the distance, the challenge in them clear.I don't look away.If he wants a fight, well then, I will give him one.Conversation dies away as I approach the speaking stone—an ancient granite boulder worn smooth by generations of pack leaders who have stood upon it to address
(Siena POV)The scent of fresh pine from the forest beyond my window mingles with the lingering aroma of herbal tea gone cold in a forgotten mug. My eyes burn from lack of sleep, but my mind refuses to rest, spinning endlessly over the revelations of the past two days.I press my fingertips against
“Did it give you satisfaction to destroy this, too?”“The pack deserved to know the truth about someone wielding significant influence over our policies,” I reply, keeping my voice even despite the storm of emotions churning beneath the surface.Siena raises her head finally, amber eyes locking with
(Raiden POV) I tap my fingers against the ancient desk, feeling the smooth wood worn by generations of Alphas before me.The folder beneath my hand contains information that burns like fire—Zion's greatest failure, neatly documented and verified. My wolf stirs restlessly beneath my skin, urging act
The truth is bitter, and it burns, but it makes no matter, as long as I am the only one who knows it.The sacrifices are a necessary evil.Voices emerge from the eastern corridor leading toward the private office typically reserved for sensitive discussions.Rain still beating violently against wind
(Raiden POV)The rain falls in relentless sheets across pack territory, transforming the afternoon into premature twilight, which perfectly suits my mood.From my position in the eastern watchtower, I can observe the settlement without being immediately visible.It’s a tactical advantage in this ong
( Raiden POV)The Alpha chambers feel too confined tonight, centuries-old stone walls pressing inward despite their impressive thickness.I can’t breathe.Moonlight filters through tall windows, casting elongated shadows across the polished wooden floor where I pace with restless energy no amount of