LOGINNero Pov“Is that really you?”Kade stopped the moment he saw me.For a few seconds, neither of us moved. He just stared at me like he was trying to make sure I wasn't another rumor, another ghost from the past, or some story the palace wolves had made up because they wanted to believe I was coming back. Then his eyes dropped to the runes glowing faintly across Remi's skin before returning to me.“Nero.”I stepped off my horse and walked toward him. Kade looked different. Thinner. Tired. There were shadows beneath his eyes that hadn't been there the last time I'd seen him, and for once, my brother didn't look like the man who had taken my place on the throne. He looked like someone who had been carrying something far too heavy for far too long.“You came back,” he said.Kade stepped closer and grabbed my arm before I could move past him.For a moment, he said nothing. His grip tightened, and I could see the relief he was trying to hide.“I thought you were dead,” he finally said.“I
Remi’s POV“Stop.”Nero pulled sharply on the reins.Our horses slowed almost at the same time, their hooves scraping against the uneven ground as they came to a reluctant halt. We had been riding toward Moonstone for what felt like forever, following the old trail that cut through the forest, and all I wanted was to reach the palace, understand what had happened while we were gone, and figure out our next move against Chimera.But something had changed.I looked down at my hand.The runes were glowing.Not brightly enough to light the forest, but enough for me to see the faint red-gold lines moving beneath my skin.My heart skipped. “Nero.”He was already looking at my hand. “What is it?”“I don't know.”The warmth spread from the center of my palm toward my fingers. It wasn't the painful burning I had experienced before. This felt different.Familiar. Almost like something inside me had suddenly recognized something nearby.I turned my wrist. The runes brightened.Then my hand move
Abel PovWe mounted again.The trail narrowed as we continued, forcing us to ride almost single file. Trees crowded both sides of the path, their branches twisting overhead and blocking most of the sunlight.Then, sometime later, I felt it.A strange heaviness behind my eyes.At first, I ignored it.I blamed the heat, the long ride and the little sleep I had gotten the night before. The trail stretched ahead of us, winding through thick woodland, and I had no intention of wasting time stopping unless it was absolutely necessary.Rian rode on my left. Teren followed behind us.“Should we stop?” Rian asked.“No.”“You've been rubbing your head for the last ten minutes.”“I'm fine.”Teren chuckled. “You don't look fine.”“I said I'm fine.”Rian looked at me. “Your face is pale.”I rolled my eyes. The world seemed to shift. I straightened in the saddle and shook my head and continued riding.But the heaviness became worse. My fingers tightened around the reins.The trees ahead seemed to
Abel’s POV“Abel, I need you to bring Nero back.” I stared at Kade across the desk.For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.“You want me to find Nero?”“Yes.”“And bring him back to Moonstone?”Kade nodded.His eyes looked exhausted. There were dark circles beneath them, and the man sitting in front of me barely resembled the confident king I had watched take the throne. He looked like someone who had been carrying a mountain on his back and had finally realized he could no longer carry it alone.“What happened?” I asked.“Everything.”I frowned. “That isn't an answer.”“It is the only answer I have.” Kade leaned back in his chair and rubbed his face. “Rashford is gone. Chimera is moving faster than we expected. Victoria is still imprisoned. Half the palace wants one thing, the other half wants something completely different, and everyone keeps looking at me as if I have the answers.”“You are the king.”His eyes lifted to mine. For a second, I wondered if I had gone too far.T
Kade Pov Continued“Then you refuse.” I placed the document on the table. “But I will not execute Victoria just to satisfy your anger.”The room went completely silent.The old Alpha opened his mouth.But before he could speak, the doors behind him flew open.Commander Sorian entered. She was breathing hard. I immediately knew something was wrong.She held a sealed report in her hand.I had never seen her look like that. “Sorian?”She stopped beside the table. “We have a problem.”My stomach tightened. “What kind of problem?”She looked at the Rashford Alpha.Then at me. “After the threats on rashford from the Chimera began, I ordered several patrols to monitor the roads surrounding Rashford.”The old Alpha's face changed.I stood straighter. “Go on.”“They left four days ago.”“And?”“They were supposed to report every twelve hours.”She placed the report on the table. “We haven't heard from them.”The old Alpha stepped forward. “What does that mean?”Sorian looked at him. “It means
Kade POVBy the fourth day, Moonstone Palace no longer felt like a home.It felt like a cage.Every corridor seemed to carry another argument, another rumor, another accusation. Wolves whispered whenever I passed them, and even when they lowered their voices, I could still hear enough to know what they were saying. Some believed I was too weak to rule. Others thought I was secretly protecting Victoria. A few had started saying that I was allowing Rashford's refugees to destroy Moonstone from the inside. And then there were those who had begun repeating my mother's words openly.Give the Chimera what they want.Give them Remi.End the war before it reaches our gates.I had spent four days trying to find an answer that would save everyone, and all I had managed to do was make everyone angrier.I barely recognized myself when I caught my reflection in the window that morning. My clothes hung differently around my shoulders. My face looked thinner. There were dark circles beneath my eyes







