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Chapter Nine

Author: Cast
last update Last Updated: 2025-06-27 19:50:11

The sun was high, the sky a soft sweep of pale blue, and for once—Celeste didn’t feel like she was running from something.

Victoria had made sure of that.

They’d started the day with lattes and a walk to the nail salon, where they sat side by side under warm lights. Celeste picked a soft pearl white for her nails—quiet, classic. Victoria, of course, went bold. Deep red with tiny gold accents on the ring finger.

"You're so predictable," Victoria teased, blowing on her nails as she peeked over at Celeste's.

Celeste gave a faint smile. "And you’re so… loud."

"Loud is called stylish, thank you very much."

Afterward, they wandered toward the bookstore on 5th, where the storefront was lined with ivy and sun-faded posters of upcoming signings. Celeste slowed near the entrance, eyes already scanning the display windows with that soft, distant look Victoria had come to recognize.

Victoria groaned dramatically. “Do we have to go in?”

Celeste arched a brow, amused. “Yes.”

“Books are just… so slo
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  • Beneath the Winter Moon   Chapter 71 - End

    Silas held Celeste in his arms, her blood seeping through the silver-threaded fabric of her ceremonial gown and pooling onto the cold stone beneath her.“Stay with me,” he whispered, voice low and broken. “Please… just stay.”Celeste’s breathing was shallow, her skin growing paler by the second. Her head lolled back, silver lashes fluttering weakly before her eyes slipped closed.“No, no...Celeste...” His hand pressed against the hilt of the moonstone dagger still lodged in her chest. He didn’t dare pull it free. Not yet.Around them, the Grand Hall was chaos. Cracked glass glittered on the floor. The massive chandeliers hung off-kilter, several guards groaning and stirring amid the wreckage.But Silas saw none of it.Just her.Lysandra was the first to reach them, skirts hiked up, her feet bare and bleeding from shattered crystal. “Don’t touch the blade!” she shouted as she dropped to her knees beside him. “If we pull it out without stabilizing her first, it could tear more than her f

  • Beneath the Winter Moon   Chapter 70

    The hall was full.Wolves from across every territory had arrived and gathered shoulder to shoulder, pack alphas, Lunas, betas, warriors, elders. The youngest pups, cradled against their parents. The oldest of wolves, cloaked in age and wisdom, standing tall. Every eye watched the grand double doors at the far end of the chamber, the ones that hadn’t been opened for a coronation in over two decades.At the front of the hall, beneath the high ceremonial arch, stood those closest to the crown. Lysandra, resplendent in deep winter blue, her hand lightly resting atop Cedric’s arm. His expression was unreadable, though pride flickered in the corner of his eyes. Leo stood just behind them, his usual playful energy subdued under his formal black suit. Victoria, radiant and poised, wore royal colors across her shoulders, her chin tilted with practiced calm. And beside her, Calix, still and silent, his presence grounding like iron.They were the Winters. The bloodline once lost. Now restored.

  • Beneath the Winter Moon   Chapter 69

    The wind had died down, but the snow still fell, gentle, quiet, like ash drifting from the sky. Most of the pack grounds had gone to sleep, chimneys exhaling lazy smoke trails into the night, the faint golden flicker of firelight dancing behind a few windows. The hush of the storm beyond the wards felt distant, like another world.Celeste stood on the balcony of Silas’s office, wrapped in a thick wool blanket, the only light behind her coming from the crackling fireplace. Her silver hair was pulled loosely to one side, catching the moonlight in a soft, ethereal glow. Snowflakes landed against her bare skin, clinging to her lashes and the edges of her braid, melting slowly like they’d been enchanted not to sting.She closed her eyes.Breathed in the cold, the quiet.She could feel it, the pulse beneath the earth, the tether between her and this place. The roots of ancient magic curled through the stone, wrapped around her bones, whispering of a history that lived in her blood. This was

  • Beneath the Winter Moon   Chapter 68

    Victoria and Calix had spent the night tangled in warmth and stillness, a soft bubble of peace carved out from the world beyond the frost-covered windows. They hadn’t spoken much as the morning light slipped through the thin curtains, just quiet glances and sleepy smiles, the kind that lingered long after waking.By the time everyone gathered outside to pack up the vehicle, the snow had slowed but not ceased. A thin layer dusted the rooftops and coated the SUV’s windows in a veil of white.Silas was checking the tires when he noticed Calix walk out of the hotel with Victoria at his side. She was wearing his jacket.His brows lifted slightly, mouth parting with the start of a question, but before he could say a word, Celeste nudged him sharply with her elbow and gave him a look. One that said don’t ask.He glanced at her, then back at the pair walking toward the car, then cleared his throat and turned back to tightening the straps on the luggage rack. “Huh.”Victoria caught the tail en

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  • Beneath the Winter Moon   Chapter 66

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