ANMELDENDante's POV The vampire lord's forces attacked exactly when Sophia predicted, just after midnight when the new moon had completely darkened the sky and every Lycan's power sat at its weakest point. They came silently through the darkness, moving like shadows between trees at the forest edge before splitting into teams that approached different sections of our perimeter. Thirty figures total, some pure vampire and others hybrid, all moving with supernatural speed and coordination. I watched from my position on the east wall as they reached the outer fence, thinking they had the element of surprise. One team cut through the chain link while another scaled the north wall where patrols appeared lightest. They were careful and professional, exactly what I'd expected from forces my father had trained. But they had no idea they were walking right into my trap. I waited until they'd committed fully, until all thirty were inside the compound and retreat would be difficult. Then I gave the
Vera's POV The new moon was in three days and the compound transformed into a fortress almost overnight. Dante called in all our allies, pack leaders sending warriors and soldiers until we had nearly four hundred defenders positioned throughout the territory. I watched from the compound walls as they arrived in groups, the Morrison pack bringing fifty fighters, the Chen family sending their elite guard, smaller allied packs contributing what they could. The courtyard filled with tents and temporary barracks to house everyone. Dante coordinated everything personally, positioning soldiers at every entrance and weak point in our defenses. He walked the perimeter constantly, checking sight lines and fields of fire, adjusting positions to maximize coverage. "Archers here," he'd say, pointing at rooftops. "Heavy weapons team at this corner. Patrol rotation every thirty minutes on the south wall." I helped coordinate the defense from the command center we'd set up in the main hall, trac
Dante's POVI received Cassandra's report from Vera in my office, reading through the intelligence documents while my blood slowly turned to ice. My father was alive and planning to abduct my children."How reliable is this information?" I asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it confirmed."Cassandra verified it three different ways," Vera said. "Different sources all saying the same thing."I immediately pulled out my phone and started making calls, issuing orders that would increase security around Alexander and Luna to maximum levels. I wouldn't let my father anywhere near my children, wouldn't give him the chance to steal them like he'd stolen Sophia."Double the guards on the nursery," I told Marcus when he answered. "No one gets near the children without my personal authorization.""What's happening?""Threat assessment. Just do it."Within an hour, warriors were positioned throughout the residential wing where our family quarters were located. Guard rotations t
Vera's POVTwo years passed with relative peace after the conspiracy fell apart and Sophia joined our family. The compound had settled into comfortable routines, threats were minimal, and life felt almost normal in ways I'd never expected.Alexander was three now, running around the compound with energy that exhausted everyone trying to keep up with him. He'd started shifting already, his gold eyes flashing when he got excited and small claws appearing when he was frustrated."No biting," I told him for the tenth time that morning when he tried to use his new teeth on a toy that wouldn't cooperate."But mama, it's stuck," he protested, his words clear despite his young age."Use your hands, not your teeth."Luna was one year old and just learning to walk, wobbling around on unsteady legs while holding onto furniture for support. She had my features but Dante's gold eyes, and Elena predicted she'd be just as powerful as her brother when she came into her abilities.Keeping both childre
Dante's POVIn the aftermath of the gathering, Sophia stayed with Elena in quarters we'd prepared for them in the compound's east wing. They spent hours together every day, mother and daughter making up for twenty years of separation.I watched them carefully whenever I passed their rooms or saw them in common areas, not fully trusting my half-sister yet despite Vera's faith in her redemption. Sophia was still dangerous, still possessed abilities that rivaled my own, still carried training designed specifically to kill me.I couldn't forget that easily, couldn't let my guard down just because she'd surrendered and cried in Elena's arms."You're hovering," Vera said one afternoon when she caught me watching Sophia train in the courtyard."I'm observing.""You're waiting for her to prove you right about not trusting her." She took my hand. "Give her time, Dante. She's trying."But over the following weeks, Sophia proved she genuinely wanted to change through actions rather than just wo
Vera's POV After Sophia surrendered and the conspiracy fell apart around us, Dante made one final decision about the woman who'd orchestrated everything. He ordered his mother to be brought before the entire gathering so everyone could witness what happened to traitors. She was dragged out in chains by two of our strongest guards, her wrists and ankles bound with silver-lined restraints that prevented her from shifting or using any supernatural abilities. But even restrained and defeated, she was still defiant. Her head was held high and her expression showed no remorse or fear, only bitter hatred that radiated from her like poison. She looked at Dante with pure loathing, the same expression I imagined she'd worn every day of his childhood. The gathered crowd parted to let the guards through, hundreds of wolves from dozens of territories watching as she was forced to her knees in the center of the gathering grounds. Pack leaders and their delegations stood witness to what would ha
Dante's POVThe remaining Volkov soldiers were retreating, their organized assault dissolving into panicked flight as they scrambled over corpses and through broken windows in their desperate attempt to escape.But I wasn't about to let them escape. I wasn't about to allow a single one of these bas
Vera's POVThe aftermath of the battle was overwhelming, a chaotic mess of blood and bodies and desperate attempts to save those who could still be saved.Pack members were accounting for injuries and casualties, their voices creating a constant hum of status reports and damage assessments as they
Vera's POVI watched as justice was served for all those who had hurt me, feeling a strange mixture of emotions swirling through my chest.There was satisfaction, yes, but also a sense of closure I hadn't expected to feel when this night began.These wolves – Daemon and his blonde mate and the five
Vera's POVI refused to be a helpless victim, refused to stand behind Dante like some fragile thing that needed constant protection while he fought for our lives.The bond had changed me, strengthened me, made me into something far more than the broken omega who'd stumbled into Russo territory seek







