로그인“Ouch!”I yelped as the pressure on my shoulder sent a bolt of pain through my haze. The sting sobered me just enough to peel my blurry eyes open. My gaze landed on Logan, who looked like a portrait of ancient, tectonic fury. His eyes were like silver bullets, ready to pierce my soul. I trembled, the scent of his rage hitting me like a physical blow.“Are you back with us?” Logan sneered, reaching out to roughly straighten my tunic. “Can you find your balance now?”His venomous tone and the fire in his eyes were terrifying. Noah took a sharp breath, stepping forward.“Logan, don't let your temper cloud the truth. Brooke grew overwhelmed during the feast. I only wished to see her behind her own wards safely. Nothing untoward occurred,” Noah explained, desperate to prevent a bloodbath.Logan’s towering presence made Noah look like a sapling before a storm. The explanation only seemed to stoke the fire.“Only the guilty feel the need to weave such elaborate webs, Noah.” Logan looked cold
Ruth Miller’s daughter, Gerda, halted her staggering pace to let out a thunderous, unrefined burp, her cheeks flushing a deep, bruised crimson.“Fine, then. Let the scholar Noah Bennett oversee her return to the den. We can entrust her safety to his paws.”After the pack reached a consensus, they summoned their respective transports and scattered into the mist. Noah looked toward me as I slumped against the rough-hewn stone wall of the tavern.The early autumn wind off the Great Wilderness was biting, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Noah shed his heavy wool cloak and draped it over my shoulders, his scent of old parchment and cedar wrapping around me. He slid a steady arm around my waist to guide me toward the edge of the trail. His touch was respectful, devoid of any predatory heat; he simply wanted to ensure I reached my sanctuary safely, perhaps savoring a few more moments of my company in the quiet.Noah slung my satchel over his own neck and ushered me toward the main
My eyes grew as wide as silver coins, and my hands flew to cover my mouth to stifle a gasp."Are you telling me the Master of the Holdings is into males?!" I breathed, the words coming out in a rush of air.A flicker of primal curiosity sparked in my chest, and I couldn't help the way my eyes lit up with this earth-shattering revelation. I plopped down onto the furs of the sofa right next to Logan, tugging at his tunic sleeve with frantic energy."How did you find out? Who gave you this scent? You can't just spread a legend like that, Logan. Gaston Yaton is the most powerful Alpha in the Citadel—he isn't someone you can just trifle with or mock."Logan squeezed his eyes shut, a sharp throb echoing through his head. He reached out and caught my hands, gently prying them off his sleeves before pulling me into the solid warmth of his chest."He told me himself. Keep it within our den, Brooke. Not a word to the pack.""Truly? I had no inkling! He didn't carry that scent or vibe at all."I
I couldn’t push past Lucas’s broad frame, and despite craning my neck toward the lift, I saw only a retreating silhouette. Brandon—or rather, Gaston Yaton—was already being ushered away by a phalanx of Sentries in dark tactical gear. His head was bowed, and he moved with a swift, predatory grace that didn't allow me a single glimpse of his face."What are you hunting for, Brooke?"Lucas followed my gaze with a pair of knowing, amber eyes, his mouth curling into a cryptic smirk. "So, you were hoping to catch a sighting of the Great Alpha himself? Pity he vanished back into the shadows so quickly.""No, that wasn't it. You’ve got the wrong scent, Mr. Grant," I stammered, heat rising to my face as I quickly looked away. I didn't want to engage with his teasing, so I shifted my bag and turned toward the exit. "I’ll be heading out now."Lucas took two steps forward, his expression softening into something kinder. "Let me escort you to your den. It’s past the witching hour."To be honest, L
I shook my head and peered at the glowing screen of my device once more.Should I attempt to break the ice? This silence is agonizing. We communicate so easily through the digital weave, I thought.I watched the floor indicator and quickly dismissed the idea.We’ve hit the fifth level. I can escape this suffocating tension soon. In a world this vast, our paths likely won't cross again.Just as I was lost in my musings, the lift gave a violent, metallic lurch and ground to a halt. The glow-crystals flickered and died, plunging us into an absolute, pitch-black void.“What’s happening? Why has the lift stalled?” I cried out, my pulse spiking.The sudden stop had shattered my hope of a quick exit. I was no longer concerned with the mystery of Gaston Yaton; I just wanted out. I reached out blindly, my fingers searching for the emergency panel.Instead of cold stone or metal, my hand brushed against a warm, slender palm.“My apologies.” Gaston’s deep, resonant voice vibrated through the sma
I hadn't felt the slightest pull of hunger. My wolf was too restless, pacing beneath my skin as the clock ticked toward the evaluation. There was no time to waste on feeding. I pressed my lips together and looked up at Logan with a flicker of caution."I’ll eat when the maps are secure. I need to finish these sectors first."Logan’s dark brow shot up. Before I could protest, he pulled the heavy wooden chair from the corner and dropped into it right beside me."A predator cannot hunt on an empty stomach," he scolded, his voice a low rumble. "Look, I’ve combined ancient grains, dried venison, and river trout into these small travel-spheres. They are bite-sized. You can track your borders with one hand and feed yourself with the other. It won't stall your momentum."I set my digital stylus down and eyed the suspicious-looking lumps on the ceramic plate. To be honest, they didn't look appetizing at all. In fact, they didn't even look like spheres. Logan had clearly used too much Alpha str
Logan had physically torn Ruth from the rogue’s transport.She was breathing, though the brute's kick had left a jagged, dark bruise across her ribs. "Great Moon, you're alive! Brooke, I was so afraid I'd lost you to the mists." Ruth’s hands, though trembling, reached out to stroke my hair. When he
Logan had quietly covered the blood-debt for the specialized healer to ensure Ruth’s safety.Three weeks later, the scent of antiseptic finally faded as I packed Ruth’s meager belongings and helped her step out from the stone arches of Bayview Medical Center."Ruth, the Harbor View Apartment has pl
"Spit it out. Tell me everything."I gave Logan’s sleeve a playful tug, my curiosity peaking. I probably looked like a pup begging for a scrap of meat, but I didn't care.Logan’s mouth thinned into a hard line, a shadow passing over his golden eyes. After a heavy, silent breath, he finally broke."
Seeing my focus waver, Gerda gave me a concerned nudge."Why don't you retreat to the apartment for the rest of the sun? The scent of this drama is everywhere. I’ve heard other designers are already howling to the overseers, claiming your conduct brings shame to the Pierce Compound's reputation. Th







