LOGINZane's Point Of ViewHis mother's hands froze completely on my wrists. Her dark eyes went impossibly wide, and she let out a loud, ragged gasp that sounded like someone had struck her square in the chest. "Catherine..." The name escaped her lips in a trembling whisper. "Catherine is your mom?" I stood there, my throat feeling as though someone had stuffed it with dry cotton, but I managed a small, jerky nod. "Yes. That's... that's her name. Catherine." I never actually met my mom. Not even for a single second. My dad always told me she died the exact same day I was born, right there on the blood-stained mattress while the midwives screamed. He didn't have any of her things left… no old jewelry, no clothes, nothing… just that pocket watch that brought me to the Academy. But whenever he got a little too much whiskey in him on winter nights, he would stare at the fireplace and mention her name.Catherine.Over and over, like it was some kind of holy word that could keep the monsters a
Zane's Point Of ViewThe heavy iron doors of the throne room groaned shut behind the departing council elders, settling into the floorboards with a finality that left a thick, ringing silence in their wake. Those ancient lords had shuffled out in a cluster of whispered conspiracies and sidelong glances that made my skin crawl with unease. Now, only the three of us remained in the cavernous, drafty chamber. The Alpha King said nothing for a long, tense minute. He stood there, towering over us like a mountain carved from stone, his piercing gaze fixed on where Ronan's hand still clung to my waist, as though he feared I might vanish if he loosened his grip even slightly. At last, his father released a low, rough grunt. "Be prepared," he said, his voice dropping into that deep, flat gravel that sent cold shivers through the stones beneath my oversized boots. "The guards are already preparing the lower cavern. Don't waste the afternoon pacing." He paused, his eyes lingering on me for a
Ronan's Point Of ViewMy jaw dropped so wide I feared it might dislocate entirely. "The... the mating ritual?!" The words burst from my throat in a humiliating squeak that ricocheted off the massive stone pillars. The echo mocked me, amplifying my panic."Like, the full thing? The biting part? The..." I choked on my own saliva, heat flooding my face until I must have resembled a ripe tomato. My hands trembled at my sides. Sweat prickled the back of my neck despite the throne room's cool air, and I could feel my pulse hammering in my temples. The Alpha King regarded me as one might observe an unusual insect that had landed on expensive boots. He gave a slow, deliberate nod that shifted the grey wolf pelt draped across his shoulders. "Yes, boy. The mating ritual. Ronan needs to mark you, sink his teeth into your neck, and claim you properly before the council lords. It's the only way."He delivered this pronouncement as casually as if discussing tomorrow's weather rather than a life-al
Zane's Point Of Vie"Cleanse the land?" The words scraped from my throat, my voice fracturing so badly it sounded like a dry twig snapping beneath someone's boot. I looked from the King's massive, unblinking face to Ronan, whose profile might have been chiseled from granite. Every muscle in his jaw was taut, locked in place as if he were bracing himself against a storm. "But I've done nothing to them! Literally nothing! What crime have I committed? I've spent the last three years just trying not to get expelled and making sure I don't accidentally scald my tongue on hot tea!" The absurdity of my own words hit me even as they left my mouth. Ronan's father released a long, heavy breath through his nose that rumbled deep in his chest like distant thunder. The sound reverberated through the throne room, making the very air feel heavier. "That is precisely the point, boy. You did nothing. But your powers carry tremendous weight." He leaned forward slightly, and the movement seemed to sh
Zane's Point Of ViewMy knees shook so violently against the polished black marble that I feared collapsing right there before everyone. The trembling wasn't just physical… it radiated from somewhere deep inside, a primal response I couldn't control. I scanned the room in a daze, my gaze jumping from the towering fifty-foot stone pillars to the massive tapestries that hung from the walls like silent witnesses to countless judgments. Each tapestry depicted scenes of ancient battles and coronations, their threads dulled by centuries of accumulated dust. The air itself felt oppressive, thick with the scent of ancient dust and expensive cedar wood, creating a suffocating atmosphere that made each breath a conscious effort. My lungs burned as I forced myself to inhale slowly, trying to calm the panic rising in my chest. Then my eyes found the center of the room. The throne. The man seated upon that enormous block of black stone seemed almost inhuman. He resembled an ancient statue carve
Ronan's Point Of ViewZane's eyes widened to the size of saucers, his breath hitching audibly in his throat. The color drained from his face, leaving him pale and trembling, and I watched his pupils dilate with pure fear. "Your pack? Like... where your father is? The Alpha King?" His voice cracked on the title, making it thin and reedy with terror. I could smell the sharp spike of anxiety rolling off him in waves. "Ronan, I'm a hybrid. The council lords there literally hate my bloodline. They've spent centuries trying to wipe us out. They're going to…" "They're not doing anything," I snapped, stepping forward and cutting him off mid-sentence. The protective fury that surged through me was almost overwhelming, Fenrir growling his vicious agreement deep in my chest, demanding I shield our mate from all threats. I didn't give Zane a choice or time to argue; I simply leaned down, hooked one arm under his thighs and the other behind his back, and lifted him into a secure cradle carry. His
Zane's Point Of View The common room felt smaller suddenly, the air thicker, the scent of coffee and toast mixing with something darker, something electric, that made my pulse spike. Miles stood in one fluid motion, his broad frame unfolding like a blade being drawn, his sharp eyes locked onto mi
Zane's Point Of View “Miles?” My voice came out rough, disbelieving, like I was afraid if I said it too loud, he’d disappear.The air in the hall seemed to still, the noise of the crowd fading into a dull hum as I stood there, frozen, my eyes locked onto the man in front of me. Miles. His presenc
Zane's Point Of View The garden air was thick with the scent of jasmine and damp earth, the torchlight casting long, trembling shadows across the stone path as I stumbled away from Miles. My lips still burned from his kiss, my body still humming with the ghost of his touch, my mind a whirlwind of
Zane's Point Of View The room was too quiet.Too dark.The kind of dark that pressed in on you, heavy and suffocating, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. I didn’t remember falling asleep. Didn’t remember dreaming. But I remembered the fire.The screams.The Academy burning, the f







