LOGINNARRATOR'S POVThree months later…It started slowly.A strange warmth blooming beneath Mira’s ribs, something she couldn’t quite name. She was at the training grounds, watching the younger ones train, talking quietly with Lira, when the first wave hit. It was sharp and sudden, curling through her veins like fire.She froze, her breath trembling.What was that?Her body answered before her thoughts did. Her lips parted, a shaky exhale leaving them as her knees nearly buckled.“Mira?” Lira noticed immediately. “Are you alright?” she asked.“I… I think…” She swallowed hard. “I think something’s wrong.”“What do you think it is?” Lira demanded, reaching out to support her.Mira hesitated, but she knew exactly what it was.She had read about it, had witnessed a few, had prepared herself unconsciously for this moment. She had never experienced it, but she knew what it felt like.This, this heat soaring through her, full and uncontrollable, pulling the mate bond so tight it almost hurt, mea
MIRA'S POV“Thank you for a chance at redemption.”I stared at the note in my hands, brows furrowed, my chest swirling with things I couldn't name.I turned to Zephyr who had been in the room when we came in. “What exactly happened to her?”“I can't tell,” he answered. “But she's over ninety. I'm thinking the old age finally caught up with her because she lost her powers.”I sighed. “May her soul rest in peace.”“May her sacrifice be deemed worthy enough,” Thane said.I squeezed his hand in my hold, feeling everything he could feel through the mate bond. “We should at least conduct a befitting burial for her,” Thane said.” I put you in charge of it, Nathan.”He nodded. “I'll take care of it.”“Let's go, Mira.”I followed Thane, glancing one last time at Cassidy's pale, blue, wrinkled body. She had done wrong all her life, but she was wise enough to take a step back and seize the chance at redemption. Like Thane said, I hoped her sacrifice was worthy enough to give her the peace she n
The next hour, the entire pack filled the central clearing. Wolves of every rank — elders, warriors, young ones, even the allies from other packs who had shown up to visit the awaken Alpha. Whispers rippled when Thane stepped onto the raised platform.He looked steady and strong, fully in control.Mira stood at the side with Lira and Nathan, hands clasped so hard her palms ached.Thane scanned the crowd slowly, letting the silence stretch. “I'm sure everyone standing here right now is aware of the havoc that was impending upon our pack. A havoc I arrested by making a sacrifice many of you might deem careless, and probably stupid.”“I’ve been hearing things,” he continued, voice clear and firm. “That I’m too weak to lead after the ritual. That being in a coma for a whole week makes me unfit. That you all need new leadership.”A few wolves lowered their eyes, others looked guilty. Some stared back defiantly .Thane nodded once. “You have every right to question. That is the responsibili
‘He’s awake’, was all Mira could think of as she sprinted to Thane's room, Nathan and Lira closely behind her. The nurse’s call had barely faded when she burst through the infirmary doors, breathless, heart hammering so hard it drowned every other sound. She didn’t even notice that she wasn't the only one in the room. All she saw was Thane. He was awake, sitting upright, blinking slowly as if adjusting to the world again.“Thane?” Her voice cracked.His head turned instantly, eyes finding hers as though he had been waiting for that exact moment. A small, tired smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Hey, Mira.”That was all it took for her knees to go weak.She reached him in three steps, stopping right beside the bed. She was trembling, hands hovering over him, afraid to touch in case this was another dream.“You’re real,” she whispered.Thane chuckled, the sound hoarse. “Last I checked.”Without thinking, without delay, she threw her arms around him, burying her face into his shou
I parted my lips to speak, but Nathan beat me to it. “Mira, please don't get mad. We're so sorry. It just happened. We didn't mean to...” “Nathan, can you let me talk?” I cut him short.He pressed his lips tightly together, before nodding.“I'm happy for you two,” I said. “Forget the fact that I'm not smiling and jumping and squealing like a ten year old,” I glanced at Thane. “You know why. But I'm really happy for you two. I think you make the perfect pair.”They exchanged a look, turning back to me with raised brows. “You're not… you're not upset?”A dry chuckle escaped my throat. “Why would I be upset?”“I mean…” Lira began, shifting her weight from one leg to the other, nervously. “The fact that we hid it from you, and that you and Nathan once had… uhhh… a thing going on..”I scoffed. “Is that what you want take me for, Lira. A bitter ex? I'm not even an ex. Nathan and I…” I sighed. “Let's just say we do better as a team, than as lovers.”“True.” Nathan agreed.“This guy here, is
I hurriedly wiped the tears off my my face, sniffling. “You don't have to clean your tears, child.”Cassidy entered, her steps slow and careful. She looked exhausted. Her skin was pale, dark circles adorning her wrinkled eyes. Her hair was dampened with sweat, yet she stood tall.I swallowed hard. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice almost unrecognizable. “Why are you roaming free in our pack? After everything you did? After Alexa?”She let out a snort, totally unfazed. “Don't worry. I'll be thrown into the dungeons after now, I just had to check up on,” she nodded at Thane, “him.”“Stay away from him,” I warned, my instincts flaring high.She raised her hands in mock surrender. “Relax. My magic has been taken away from me. It's why I look like shit.”My brows furrowed. “What?”She chuckled, rather unnecessarily. “No one performs a ritual like that and retains her magic.” Her voice lowered. “It's all gone now. I'm just a human now, lesser than you are.”I blinked, confuse







