LOGINCALITHEAI sighed wearily as he slipped out of the room, but he returned much sooner than I expected, yet the deep lines on his forehead hadn't cleared up.“Did he say anything to you?”It took me a moment to realize he was talking about the man, and I shook my head.“I wonder how he managed to track you here,” he muttered, more to himself than to me, his eyes lost in thought.“What happened? Do you know him?” ” I asked softly, searching his face. “And what do you mean, he tracked me here?”He only dragged a hand through his hair, saying nothing.The silence only made my anxiety increase, until he spoke eventually.“If my suspicions are right... he's the one we believe killed the wolves whose bodies were found in the pack house.”A knot tangled up in my stomach. “Wolves? I thought only one had died.”His eyes closed briefly, as conflict flashed on his face.So he'd hidden the second death from me, on purpose. “Tell me,” I demanded, my tone flat with desperation.The revelation unsettl
CALITHEAShe stood unmoving, not saying a word, but her eyes remained fixated on me. It was hard deciphering what was in her mind with that blank expression she always had on her face.I wonder if her witch abilities span in her noticing things that are beyond normal.But I let my legs take me away from her, before she could sense anything.I got to Zirelle's room, but stood at the entrance, quietly watching the healer work.“She won't be participating in any activities today,” the healer said, gently pressing the part of Zirelle's leg she had declared broken.My spine straightened slightly as Raven appeared behind me again.She brushed past me with slow steps, into the room. Her arms were folded across her chest. “How bad is it?” she asked the healer.“The bone is indeed fractured,” the healer replied, carefully rubbing a herbal salve over the injured area. “It'll take some time to heal. She'll need complete rest for the remainder of the day.”Zirelle's expression tightened even fur
CALITHEA"There are barely any beasts worth hunting around this camp," Lori scoffed, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from her sleeve. "If this continues, I might forget what real combat feels like.""Not every gathering has to end with bloodshed." Another Luna replied lazily."It should," Lori insisted, her voice sharp. “Be patient we will soon go against each other,” Zirelle chimed in a cheery tone “And i’m sure that will help, right Lori?” she smiled at her, but Lori barely spared her a glance, not saying a word.Although Zirelle had supported her words, I could see that the two hated each other's gut. I walked several steps behind her, carrying the small basket she'd shoved into my hands earlier, trying very hard to pretend none of them existed. That’s the only way I can survive these two days here, without losing my mind.The camp stretched farther than I had imagined. Beyond them stood rows of wooden cabins belonging to the Lunas, and smaller ones belonging to the maids.
VALEN'S POVThat old man was truly infuriating.He was lucky I didn't make a habit of roughing up old men. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken much to knock some sense into him. But we'd left regardless.I was back in my room.A room that had never truly felt like mine. I had barely rummaged around, when I caught sight of a familiar figure climbing in through it.The corners of my lips lifted before I could stop them.She had started sneaking into my room as though she belonged here. She could have used the door.Yet somehow, watching her climb through the window to find me stirred something warm inside my chest.I hoped she would never stop doing it. "I swear, Zirelle is impossible." She muttered as soon as she entered. The real little ember was back.She started pacing my room restlessly, her hair swaying behind her with every frustrated turn. Her face was clouded with irritation, and her soft lips drawn into an adorable pout.Those lips, the same lips I'd been craving to kiss all d
VALEN I could sense her discomfort through our bond, at his question. I shot Liam a glare, but it propelled him further. “You know him better than anyone. He won't sit back once he learns about this. He'll seize this opportunity without hesitation." I noticed a slight change in Soren's expression. He agreed. "Something like this..." Liam continued, "...would be the perfect excuse for him to cause trouble." His words made my jaw tighten, but I crossed the room toward Calithea instead. And I hated that it had come to this. I'd never intended to drag her into the conflict between Ryden and me. Yet here we were, and now it was my responsibility to shield her from everything. "I'll handle Ryden myself," I said softly. She searched my face. She wanted to believe me, but she couldn't. Her breathing had become shallow, each breath more uneven than the last. At that moment, I found myself wishing the fierce side of her had surfaced instead. The one who had looked at Zir
VALENI had created the very problem I wanted to avoid.The last thing I wanted was for anyone to learn about Calithea's mark, yet my own mouth betrayed me before I could stop it.She remained quiet, standing close beside Calithea as she watched Ivy conceal the mark, with a flesh-toned herbal salve mixed with tree resin, carefully blending it into her skin until it looked almost invisible.No doubt everything still felt like a dream after Calithea confessed she had shifted into her animal form.My gaze drifted to Calithea. She sat stiffly, her fingers twisting the fabric of her skirt while her heartbeat echoed loudly enough for my heightened hearing to catch.It was nothing like the fierce woman who had confronted me minutes ago over seeing me with Zirelle.I smiled to myself, the calm Calithea I knew had resurfaced, but she was fading faster with every passing hour.It hadn't even been a full day since her first shift, yet the changes were happening at an alarming pace.What I sensed
“Spare me, Luna. I will tell the truth!”Everything in the room felt suffocatingly heavy. I clutched the side of my head, the room spinning so violently I felt like I was going to faint. “It wasn’t my intention to incite that rumor," Betty sobbed from the floor. "I only told Rue what I thought I s
“Look at her,” Zirelle said, her tone dripping with boredom. “You always find a way to make everything about yourself, don’t you, Calithea? The absolute audacity to stand tall while everyone else bows to our new Alpha.”I didn’t say a word. My tongue felt like lead, my eyes locked on the regal form
Calithea I felt an unexpected tightness in my core, as our position made me completely at his mercy, but it was exactly the kind of reality I needed to completely break through the one I wanted to be free from tonight. “Then please fuck me” I whispered, my voice trembling. His grip loosened, a
Calithea“What did you say?”His voice was low and rough, as a flicker of shock crossed his dark eyes. He stared down at me as if the question had come out of the blue.“I said kiss me,” I repeated courageously, without batting an eye.But the words had barely left my mouth when he stepped into my







