LOGINThe bell of the High Moon Tower tolled once — low, ancient, commanding.Auntie Zaria froze where she stood, the scroll in her hands slipping slightly as dread washed through her.A summons.From the Elders.No one ignored that call.She straightened her cloak, her heartbeat a steady thrum of anxiety, and walked toward the Elders’ Hall fully aware of why she had been summoned. The moonstone pillars shimmered faintly as she entered, their silver glow illuminating the twelve hooded figures seated in a crescent.The Elders.The oldest wolves alive.Guardians of tradition.Gatekeepers of power.And the greatest threat to Leora if they ever ran out of patience.Zaria bowed deeply.“Elders. You requested my presence.”Elder Maelin, sharp-eyed and cold, leaned forward.“Zaria of the Luna Line… your niece. Where is she?”Zaria clasped her hands tightly.“She is safe.”“For now,” Elder Rahv murmured.Zaria tensed.Elder Virren, the eldest among them, lifted his head. The blue lunar flames aroun
The school courtyard buzzed with life, but Leora felt strangely detached from all of it. Students spilled out of classrooms in noisy clusters, laughter bouncing off the cream-painted walls, lunch boxes swinging in hands. But she sat alone under the wide mango tree behind the library—a quiet pocket of shade where the breeze carried the faint scent of earth and unripe fruit.Nyra should have been beside her, probably complaining about the teacher or a wolf who won't stop annoying the hell out of her. But Nyra was home sick, and without her presence, the day felt muted. Leora couldn’t explain why a wave of tiredness clung to her, heavy enough to sink her appetite.She pulled her knees close, resting her chin gently against them.Footsteps approached—measured, steady, familiar.Theron.He stopped right in front of her, his shadow stretching over her legs. He didn&rs
The morning sun hit the hallways of Crestwood College, but the light did little to warm Leora’s mood. Her steps echoed sharply against the marble floors, each tap of her boots a reminder of the whispers that seemed to follow her wherever she went.By the time she reached her classroom, clusters of students were already talking in low murmurs, glances darting toward her like she was the center of some private show.“Did you hear?” a voice hissed behind her. “Riggs… he dropped out.”Leora froze mid-step, turning slowly to face the group of giggling girls.“Dropped out?” another whispered, eyes wide. “But… he’s smart. Top of every class. How could he just leave?”Her jaw tightened, and she forced a casual shrug, though her hands curled into fists at her sides. “I don’t know,” she said flatly. “Maybe he had his reasons.”The whispers only grew louder. “You think it has something to do with her?” someone asked.Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to breathe evenly. “I’m not sure wh
Steam still curled in the air as Leora ran a towel through her damp hair. The faint scent of lavender soap lingered around her. Her body ached pleasantly from training, but her mind—her mind was a storm she didn’t want to name.A knock interrupted her thoughts.“Come in,” she called softly, still facing the mirror.The door creaked open. Aunt Zaria stepped inside, her sharp eyes immediately scanning the room. “You took a bath? At this hour?” she asked, brows raised. “It’s almost evening, Leora.”Leora glanced at her reflection, then turned with a half-smile. “I went out for a bit of an exercise.”“Exercise?” Zaria repeated, suspicion lacing her tone. “Since when does my niece go for evening workouts?”Leora laughed lightly, tucking the towel over her shoulder. “Since today, apparently. I needed to clear my head.”Zaria stepped closer, her gaze softening as she took a seat on the edge of the bed. “You’ve been doing a lot of that lately… clearing your head.”Leora hesitated. “Maybe I ju
Steam still curled in the air as Leora ran a towel through her damp hair. The faint scent of lavender soap lingered around her. Her body ached pleasantly from training, but her mind—her mind was a storm she didn’t want to name.A knock interrupted her thoughts.“Come in,” she called softly, still facing the mirror.The door creaked open. Aunt Zaria stepped inside, her sharp eyes immediately scanning the room. “You took a bath? At this hour?” she asked, brows raised. “It’s almost evening, Leora.”Leora glanced at her reflection, then turned with a half-smile. “I went out for a bit of an exercise.”“Exercise?” Zaria repeated, suspicion lacing her tone. “Since when does my niece go for evening workouts?”Leora laughed lightly, tucking the towel over her shoulder. “Since today, apparently. I needed to clear my head.”Zaria stepped closer, her gaze softening as she took a seat on the edge of the bed. “You’ve been doing a lot of that lately… clearing your head.”Leora hesitated. “Maybe I ju
The clang of steel echoed across the training ground, breaking the morning stillness. Theron swung his blade with ruthless precision, every strike sharper than the last. Sweat slid down his temple, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.You will be her mate.Lyandra’s words wouldn’t leave his head. Each swing, each breath, was a futile attempt to silence her voice. He had trained to be a warrior, a protector—not to play the part of a lover in a scheme he had to win.“Theron!”Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.He turned sharply, gripping his sword as he saw her walking toward him. Leora. Dressed in dark training leathers, her hair tied loosely at the back, strands escaping to frame her face, dancing against her flushed cheeks.For a moment, he forgot to breathe.“Luna?” he said, lowering his blade. “You shouldn’t be here. This area is restricted to the warriors.”“I’m aware,” she said, stopping a few paces from him. “But I came for a reason.”He raised a brow. “Which is?”“I want yo







