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Chapter 95 - Astraia
Last Updated:
2025-04-30 21:13:26
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By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 96 - Astraia
I woke before dawn, carefully extricating myself from Carson's arms. He stirred slightly, his brow furrowing before smoothing out again as he settled back to sleep.For a moment, I just watched him, the strong line of his jaw, the dark sweep of his lashes, the steady rise and fall of his chest. It seemed impossible that someone so powerful could look so vulnerable in sleep.With a sigh, I slipped out of bed and into the bathroom. The mission wasn't just about gathering evidence anymore. It was personal.These people had hurt Carson, had nearly taken him from me. They'd drugged innocents, manipulated Grant, and planned to trigger who knows how many wolves into violence.They had to be stopped.I showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away my lingering doubts. By the time I stepped out, wrapped in a plush towel, I was resolved.Carson was sitting up in bed, watching me with those eyes that always seemed to see right through me."Morning," I said, trying for casual and missing by a
Last Updated : 2025-04-30By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 97 - Astraia
The drive to Silvercrest Labs was tense, filled with strategically timed silences and sudden bursts of nervous chatter from Odette. Hunter drove, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, eyes constantly checking the rearview mirror.Two more vehicles followed at discreet distances, the extraction team, split into two units as planned."Remember," Hunter said as we approached the facility, "you're visiting scientists. Act bored. Like this is just another consultation.""We know," Odette replied, but the usual bite was missing from her tone. "We've gone over this a thousand times.""And we'll go over it a thousand more if it gets you both back safely," he countered, his eyes meeting hers briefly in the mirror.Something passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of the danger, perhaps, or something deeper. But before I could analyze it, we were pulling into the visitor parking lot of Silvercrest Labs.The building was sleek and modern, all glass and steel gleaming in the midday sun.
Last Updated : 2025-04-30By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 98 - Astraia
Director Hartley's office was spacious and expensively furnished, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. A large desk dominated one end, while the other featured a seating area and a wall of bookshelves."You take the computer, I'll check the files," Odette said, moving toward a row of cabinets.I nodded, sitting at the desk and pulling a small USB device from my pocket.Carson had insisted I take this extra precaution, a program that would copy key files while bypassing security protocols. I plugged it into the computer and entered the activation code."Download initiating," I murmured for the benefit of our listeners. "Three minutes."While the program worked, I searched the desk drawers. Most contained ordinary office supplies, but in the bottom drawer, locked with a simple key I easily picked, I found a ledger bound in dark leather.The pages contained rows of names, dates, and what looked like dosage amounts. My pulse quickened as I flipped through, recognizing some
Last Updated : 2025-05-03By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 99 - Astraia
Alarms began blaring, whether from smoke detectors or security, I couldn't tell. We sprinted down the hallway, lab coats flying behind us like capes. Through my earpiece, I could hear the command center erupting in activity."Visual on targets?" Hunter's voice demanded."Negative," someone replied. "Building's going into lockdown.""North stairwell," Carson ordered. "It's your fastest exit. Blue team moving to intercept."We rounded a corner, nearly colliding with a security guard rushing toward the commotion. His eyes widened in recognition, someone must have distributed our descriptions already."Stop!" he shouted, reaching for what looked suspiciously like a tranquilizer gun.Odette didn't hesitate. She dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him with a move that was definitely not in any princess's usual repertoire. The guard crashed to the floor, his gun skittering across the tiles."You weren't kidding about those fighting
Last Updated : 2025-05-04By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 100 - Astraia
We sprinted across the street, aware of shouts and footsteps behind us. Blue team emerged from the café, forming a protective barrier between us and our pursuers.Hunter grabbed Odette's arm, pulling her toward a waiting SUV while two other wolves flanked me."Go, go, go!" Hunter shouted to the driver as we piled into the vehicle.The SUV peeled away from the curb, tires squealing. Through the rear window, I could see security guards pouring out of Silvercrest, some giving chase on foot while others rushed to vehicles."We've got company," the driver announced, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror."Red team, flanking maneuver," Hunter ordered into his comm. "Cut them off at Third and Maple."I clutched my tablet and the USB drive, protecting the precious evidence we'd risked everything to obtain. Beside me, Odette was breathing hard, her face flushed with adrenaline."Did you get it?" she asked. "Tell me that whole performance
Last Updated : 2025-05-05By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 101 - Astraia
When my vision cleared, we were upside down, still strapped into our seats. The driver wasn't moving. Hunter was struggling with his seatbelt, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead. Odette dangled beside me, dazed but conscious."Fuck, get out," Hunter ordered, his voice strained. "Now. Royal Guard is coming."I fumbled with my seatbelt, finally managing to release it. I crashed awkwardly to the roof of the inverted vehicle, pain shooting through my shoulder. Ignoring it, I helped Odette free herself."The evidence," I gasped, patting my pockets frantically. To my relief, both the USB and tablet were still secure.Hunter kicked out what remained of the window. "Go. I'll get the driver."Odette and I crawled through the broken window, glass cutting into my palms. Outside, chaos reigned.The Royal Guard vehicles were speeding toward us, but so were the black cars that had been pursuing us. The vehicle that had hit us, a massive black SUV
Last Updated : 2025-05-06By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 102 - Astraia
I woke to the familiar scent of pine and storm, my face pressed against Carson's chest. For a moment, I was disoriented, the last thing I remembered was being in the SUV after our escape from Silvercrest. Now we were in a bed, warm and safe."Hey, sleepyhead," Carson murmured, his fingers trailing gently through my hair. "Welcome back."I blinked up at him, wincing as various pains made themselves known, a throbbing in my shoulder, stinging cuts on my hands, an overall ache that suggested I'd been thrown around more than I realized."How long was I out?" My voice came out raspy."About four hours." He helped me sit up, concern etched in his features. "Dr. Winters patched you up while you slept. You have three bruised ribs, a sprained shoulder, and an impressive collection of cuts and bruises."I took inventory, noting the bandages on my hands and the tight wrap around my ribs. "Better than it could have been. What about everyone else? Hunter? The driver?""Hunter's fine, hard-headed i
Last Updated : 2025-05-07By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 103 - Astraia
We made our way to the war room, Carson's arm steady around my waist.The corridors of the Royal Palace were buzzing with activity, wolves rushing back and forth with purpose. Whatever we'd found at Silvercrest had clearly kicked everyone into high gear.The war room itself was even more chaotic, maps covered every surface, screens displayed data feeds, and voices competed for attention.Alexei stood at the center, directing the operation with the calm authority of a born leader.Odette was beside him, looking remarkably unruffled by our ordeal except for a small cut above her eyebrow. Hunter was there too, a bandage on his forehead but otherwise alert and focused.Alexei noticed us first. "Astraia, good to see you up. How are you feeling?""Like I got hit by a truck again," I replied honestly. "But functional. What have we got?"He gestured to a cleared space at the main table. "Your evidence is... enlightening. And disturbing."The documents from Hartley's safe were spread out, alon
Last Updated : 2025-05-08
Latest chapter
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 104 - Astraia
Carson and I tensed up as Odette continued, "In the underground caverns near Silver Lake. That's why Marcus was so interested in that area. It sits at a confluence of ley lines, magical energy pathways that amplify signals. The perfect place to ensure maximum coverage across all territories.""The Silver Lake caverns?" I asked, shifting in my seat as a sharp pain lanced through my ribs. The ache that had been building for the past hour was becoming harder to ignore. "We've always considered that area safe ground."Alexei nodded grimly. "The very same. It's been designated as one of the main neutral meeting territory since the Last Accord. All packs have access, but none maintain regular patrols.""It makes sense," I murmured, trying to focus despite the increasing discomfort. "A location with historical significance to all packs, positioned where regular security might be less frequent." I winced as I leaned forward, the movement pulling at my barely-healed inju
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 103 - Astraia
We made our way to the war room, Carson's arm steady around my waist.The corridors of the Royal Palace were buzzing with activity, wolves rushing back and forth with purpose. Whatever we'd found at Silvercrest had clearly kicked everyone into high gear.The war room itself was even more chaotic, maps covered every surface, screens displayed data feeds, and voices competed for attention.Alexei stood at the center, directing the operation with the calm authority of a born leader.Odette was beside him, looking remarkably unruffled by our ordeal except for a small cut above her eyebrow. Hunter was there too, a bandage on his forehead but otherwise alert and focused.Alexei noticed us first. "Astraia, good to see you up. How are you feeling?""Like I got hit by a truck again," I replied honestly. "But functional. What have we got?"He gestured to a cleared space at the main table. "Your evidence is... enlightening. And disturbing."The documents from Hartley's safe were spread out, alon
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 102 - Astraia
I woke to the familiar scent of pine and storm, my face pressed against Carson's chest. For a moment, I was disoriented, the last thing I remembered was being in the SUV after our escape from Silvercrest. Now we were in a bed, warm and safe."Hey, sleepyhead," Carson murmured, his fingers trailing gently through my hair. "Welcome back."I blinked up at him, wincing as various pains made themselves known, a throbbing in my shoulder, stinging cuts on my hands, an overall ache that suggested I'd been thrown around more than I realized."How long was I out?" My voice came out raspy."About four hours." He helped me sit up, concern etched in his features. "Dr. Winters patched you up while you slept. You have three bruised ribs, a sprained shoulder, and an impressive collection of cuts and bruises."I took inventory, noting the bandages on my hands and the tight wrap around my ribs. "Better than it could have been. What about everyone else? Hunter? The driver?""Hunter's fine, hard-headed i
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 101 - Astraia
When my vision cleared, we were upside down, still strapped into our seats. The driver wasn't moving. Hunter was struggling with his seatbelt, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead. Odette dangled beside me, dazed but conscious."Fuck, get out," Hunter ordered, his voice strained. "Now. Royal Guard is coming."I fumbled with my seatbelt, finally managing to release it. I crashed awkwardly to the roof of the inverted vehicle, pain shooting through my shoulder. Ignoring it, I helped Odette free herself."The evidence," I gasped, patting my pockets frantically. To my relief, both the USB and tablet were still secure.Hunter kicked out what remained of the window. "Go. I'll get the driver."Odette and I crawled through the broken window, glass cutting into my palms. Outside, chaos reigned.The Royal Guard vehicles were speeding toward us, but so were the black cars that had been pursuing us. The vehicle that had hit us, a massive black SUV
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 100 - Astraia
We sprinted across the street, aware of shouts and footsteps behind us. Blue team emerged from the café, forming a protective barrier between us and our pursuers.Hunter grabbed Odette's arm, pulling her toward a waiting SUV while two other wolves flanked me."Go, go, go!" Hunter shouted to the driver as we piled into the vehicle.The SUV peeled away from the curb, tires squealing. Through the rear window, I could see security guards pouring out of Silvercrest, some giving chase on foot while others rushed to vehicles."We've got company," the driver announced, eyes flicking to the rearview mirror."Red team, flanking maneuver," Hunter ordered into his comm. "Cut them off at Third and Maple."I clutched my tablet and the USB drive, protecting the precious evidence we'd risked everything to obtain. Beside me, Odette was breathing hard, her face flushed with adrenaline."Did you get it?" she asked. "Tell me that whole performance
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 99 - Astraia
Alarms began blaring, whether from smoke detectors or security, I couldn't tell. We sprinted down the hallway, lab coats flying behind us like capes. Through my earpiece, I could hear the command center erupting in activity."Visual on targets?" Hunter's voice demanded."Negative," someone replied. "Building's going into lockdown.""North stairwell," Carson ordered. "It's your fastest exit. Blue team moving to intercept."We rounded a corner, nearly colliding with a security guard rushing toward the commotion. His eyes widened in recognition, someone must have distributed our descriptions already."Stop!" he shouted, reaching for what looked suspiciously like a tranquilizer gun.Odette didn't hesitate. She dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him with a move that was definitely not in any princess's usual repertoire. The guard crashed to the floor, his gun skittering across the tiles."You weren't kidding about those fighting
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 98 - Astraia
Director Hartley's office was spacious and expensively furnished, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. A large desk dominated one end, while the other featured a seating area and a wall of bookshelves."You take the computer, I'll check the files," Odette said, moving toward a row of cabinets.I nodded, sitting at the desk and pulling a small USB device from my pocket.Carson had insisted I take this extra precaution, a program that would copy key files while bypassing security protocols. I plugged it into the computer and entered the activation code."Download initiating," I murmured for the benefit of our listeners. "Three minutes."While the program worked, I searched the desk drawers. Most contained ordinary office supplies, but in the bottom drawer, locked with a simple key I easily picked, I found a ledger bound in dark leather.The pages contained rows of names, dates, and what looked like dosage amounts. My pulse quickened as I flipped through, recognizing some
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 97 - Astraia
The drive to Silvercrest Labs was tense, filled with strategically timed silences and sudden bursts of nervous chatter from Odette. Hunter drove, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, eyes constantly checking the rearview mirror.Two more vehicles followed at discreet distances, the extraction team, split into two units as planned."Remember," Hunter said as we approached the facility, "you're visiting scientists. Act bored. Like this is just another consultation.""We know," Odette replied, but the usual bite was missing from her tone. "We've gone over this a thousand times.""And we'll go over it a thousand more if it gets you both back safely," he countered, his eyes meeting hers briefly in the mirror.Something passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of the danger, perhaps, or something deeper. But before I could analyze it, we were pulling into the visitor parking lot of Silvercrest Labs.The building was sleek and modern, all glass and steel gleaming in the midday sun.
By Shadowlight Lake Chapter 96 - Astraia
I woke before dawn, carefully extricating myself from Carson's arms. He stirred slightly, his brow furrowing before smoothing out again as he settled back to sleep.For a moment, I just watched him, the strong line of his jaw, the dark sweep of his lashes, the steady rise and fall of his chest. It seemed impossible that someone so powerful could look so vulnerable in sleep.With a sigh, I slipped out of bed and into the bathroom. The mission wasn't just about gathering evidence anymore. It was personal.These people had hurt Carson, had nearly taken him from me. They'd drugged innocents, manipulated Grant, and planned to trigger who knows how many wolves into violence.They had to be stopped.I showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away my lingering doubts. By the time I stepped out, wrapped in a plush towel, I was resolved.Carson was sitting up in bed, watching me with those eyes that always seemed to see right through me."Morning," I said, trying for casual and missing by a
