LOGINANAIYAHThe battle reached Silver Crest before anyone gave me permission to worry. Howls rolled across the outer territory, followed by shouting, breaking wood, and the sharp metallic scent of blood.Warriors rushed past the inner compound toward the territory Nikolai had used as bait. Healers moved in the opposite direction, carrying empty stretchers that would not stay empty for long.Lunara pressed against my ribs.‘They’re dying.’I knew without seeing them. Fear moved through the pack, carried through the bond in small, frantic flashes.Nikolai reached the staging area with Orion and a line of armed warriors. His expression was cold and focused, but his attention snapped toward me immediately.“Stay inside the protected area,” he ordered.I stopped several feet away. “You’re taking the main force into a battle, and you want me to sit behind guards?”“Yes.”“I’ve trained.”“You’ve also collapsed after using your power.”“The territory is already under attack.”“I know.”“Then don’
NIKOLAII stood over the tactical map, studying the border Cassian had been circling for days. On paper, Silver Crest looked weak there.Two patrol routes had been reduced. Reserve warriors had moved elsewhere. A supply convoy had supposedly been delayed, and the border outpost operated with fewer fighters than usual.Every weakness was mine.I had created each one, then allowed the information to escape through channels Cassian monitored. Nothing vital. Only enough to make him believe Silver Crest was scrambling.The territory held crops, iron, old roads, and families loyal to my line. I knew every name marked beside the settlement. I also knew how many warriors would defend it when Cassian arrived.The sacrifice was real.That made it useful.Orion entered carrying another report. He studied the map, then looked at me.“Tell me you’re not actually leaving that border exposed.”I didn’t answer immediately.His face tightened. “You are.”“I’m making it appear exposed.”“Those families
NIKOLAIThe private room smelled of cold iron, bitter herbs, and Anaiyah’s fading scent. Nothing valuable appeared missing, yet her mother’s chest stood open beneath the window.The silver pendant was gone.Guards crowded the corridor, insisting nobody unauthorized had crossed the inner perimeter. Their certainty made the breach worse. An outside enemy could not reach this room without assistance, a falsified record, or an opened path.“Who logged the eastern corridor?” I demanded.The captain swallowed. “I did, Alpha. The record shows no movement.”“Who verified it?”“No one. I reviewed the patrol reports after the siege.”That gave me the first fracture.Someone had not broken through Silver Crest’s defenses. Someone had made the defenses lie.Draven wanted blood. I wanted proof.I ordered the guards dismissed, then returned to the command hall and summoned three trusted officers separately. None knew the others had been called.The first received a false western patrol route. The s
ANAIYAHNikolai’s meeting had ended ten minutes earlier, but the tension followed him through the corridor. His posture was rigid, his orders clipped, and Orion had avoided every question I asked.Lunara lifted her head inside me.‘Something is wrong.’I found Nikolai in our quarters, bent over maps and reports. He looked up once, then tried to cover the papers with one hand.That movement answered everything.“How many Alphas are moving against you?” I demanded.“Anaiyah—"“Who has Cassian recruited? Why does Orion look like someone stole his favorite joke? Why does everyone know more than I do?”He straightened. “The situation is being handled.”My laugh held no humor. “Handled. That’s what powerful men say before deciding my life without me.”His eyes cooled. “This isn’t Crescent.”“Then stop behaving like the same man who locked doors and called it protection.”I saw his fingers curl against the table.He could have ended the argument with authority. Instead, he reached for one re
ORIONThe invitation arrived beneath a tray of untouched pastries, which meant someone wanted it hidden.I lifted the parchment, sniffed the wax, and found a Silver Crest seal pressed into Cassian’s black mark.That seal shouldn’t have been there.The gathering would occur beyond our eastern boundary, officially neutral, unofficially designed to exclude Nikolai. I decided to attend before telling my brother the full reason.He would send six warriors, three assassins, and probably himself. I preferred arriving with one driver and a terrible shirt.The shirt had gold embroidery, an open collar, and enough confidence to offend several Alphas.Perfect.I entered the estate pretending I had wandered into the wrong political meeting. Two guards searched me, found no weapon, and looked disappointed.“My apologies,” I drawled. “I thought this was a wine tasting.”The host frowned. “You’re Orion Dravenmoor.”“I’ve been called worse by women with excellent taste.”His contempt relaxed. People
ANAIYAHI left the main hall carrying the council’s tension beneath my skin. Voices drifted through a nearby strategy room, and the door stood open enough for every word to reach me.Several visiting Alphas discussed Nikolai in low voices.“Even the legendary Dravenmoor has developed a weakness.”“His weakness has a name.”Anaiyah.I stopped beside the wall.“The Moonblood girl. The Luna. The thing he’ll protect at any cost.”Another voice chuckled. “If we can’t defeat Nikolai directly, we make him choose between his territory and his mate.”I walked away before they noticed me listening.Their words followed through every corridor. For years, people had decided what I was: Omega, traitor’s daughter, burden, disposable servant. Now, powerful Alphas called me dangerous to Nikolai.The distinction mattered.I had started relying on Nikolai’s strength because his protection felt safe. But if every enemy knew I was the easiest way to hurt him, hiding behind him would never keep either of







