LOGIN"Did Lardon just get turned away at High Scholar Charlie Sterling's gates?" Tavros Kane asked, leaning over the leather console of the war-carriage as we passed the outer archway of the Sterling estate. "He stands outside the iron fence looking completely stranded. It seems Nighthowl's prestige cannot buy him a seat among the Moon Scholars."Draven Calder pulled his dark golden eyes away from his tactical slate, looking out the armored glass window.I stood near the ancient stone pillar of the Sterling keep, wearing my heavy winter battle-coat, my thumbs hooked into my leather belt, my jaw set as my mind raced through the dense spatial equations Charlie had just thrown at me.To an outsider, my absolute concentration looked like heavy, bitter defeat.Mireya Duskrell leaned forward beside Draven, his delicate face lighting up with a subtle, triumphant smirk as he took in my solitary posture outside the high gates."High Scholar Charlie's academic standards are terrifyingly high," Mirey
LARDON VEXLEY POV"Pass me the spiced venison, Ilyra," I say, taking a seat at the heavy oak table inside the Moonveil ancestral keep.My elder relative bustle around the hearth, heaping my plate high with thick cuts of roasted game and medicinal roots. Even though my wolf core feels drained from the recent channel purge, I force myself to chew every bite. I need every drop of physical strength for the High Command trials ahead.After the meal, I retreat to the high tower room, spreading my tactical runic scrolls across the desk. I dive straight into reviewing spatial telemetry for the defense network.High Scholar Charlie Sterling drops by my comm-link twice to quiz me on advanced war-rune matrices. His sharp interrogation only drives me to work harder. The disaster relief project requires total architectural precision, and I refuse to deliver anything less than perfection to the council.By Monday afternoon, the air inside Nighthowl Systems' executive forge smells of hot iron and bu
LARDON VEXLEY POV"Did Lardon just get turned away by High Scholar Charlie Sterling?" Tavros Kane mutters, leaning over the front leather console of the war-carriage as we pass the outer gates of the Sterling estate. "He stands outside the iron archway looking thoroughly rejected. Has he finally realized Nighthowl's prestige cannot buy him an entrance into the High Scholar Rank?"Draven Calder pulls his dark golden eyes away from his tactical slate, looking out the armored glass window.I am standing near the ancient stone pillar of the Sterling keep, wearing my heavy winter coat, my thumbs hooked into my belt, my jaw set as my mind races through the dense spatial equations Charlie threw at me.To an outsider, my absolute concentration looks like heavy, bitter defeat.Mireya Duskrell leans forward beside Draven, his delicate face lighting up with a subtle, smug smile as he takes in my solitary posture outside the high gates."High Scholar Charlie's academic standards are notoriously br
"So what you are claiming is that High Scholar Charlie Sterling has already reserved his sole Moon Scholar Rank candidate slot for Chief Duskrell, is that correct?" I ask, my baritone dropping into an absolute, razor-sharp register that cuts through the night air like an icy blade.Lady Seraph Kain's arrogant, motherly smile freezes instantly on her face. The bold declaration she was just making before the High Command warlords and press scouts dies in her throat. Even Mireya’s refined pureblood expression tenses, his grey eyes flashing with a sharp, defensive edge, though he tries to mask his annoyance. Whether he intends to petition the High Council, or if High Scholar Charlie's private tutelage was promised to him, holds zero weight in my world. Why should he explain his ambition to an unbonded male?Draven Calder spins a heavy iron key-rune between his broad fingers, his dark golden eyes drifting sideways to lock onto my profile. In the cool night breeze, my fitted battle-coat han
LARDON VEXLEY POV"So what you are claiming is that High Scholar Charlie Sterling has already reserved his sole Moon Scholar Rank candidate slot for Chief Duskrell, is that correct?" I ask, my baritone dropping into an absolute, razor-sharp register that cuts through the crowded street like an icy blade.For a split second, you could have heard a pin drop outside the grand archway of the Frostfang gallery.Lady Seraph Kain's arrogant, motherly smile freezes instantly on her face. Her pale cheeks flush with a sudden, ugly blotch of red, her breath catching violently in her throat as every eyes—including those of the High Command warlords and press scouts—turns directly toward her.Sylvie Duskrell’s grey eyes widen in pure horror. He had spent the entire evening carefully building an air of untouchable academic superiority, boasting to the press that he was a shoe-in for High Scholar Charlie’s private tutelage. But having me state the question so plainly, so ruthlessly before the High C
"If you believe Nighthowl Systems will forfeit its strategic command to Neural Intelligence," I say, my voice dropping into a razor-sharp, lethal baritone that echoes off the stone pillars of the main briefing chamber, "you are gravely mistaken, Chief Duskrell."For a split second, you could have heard a pin drop in the vast hall.Mireya's usually gentle, regal face registers a sudden flash of shock before he meets my gaze—calm, icy, and completely unyielding. There is zero room left for negotiation or retreat.A long, heavy silence hangs over the stone floorboards.At last, Mireya's expression softens into a cold, arrogant smirk.He has convinced himself that he understands my true character after all.Even during a high-level defense council meeting, he believes I am simply dragging in personal grievances, resorting to desperate words to defend my fragile dignity as a discarded mate. Mireya leans back against the leather sofa, decidi
"Aziel!"Mireya Duskrell’s ecstatic voice shattered my focus, his designer leather boots clicking hard against the stone pathway. He bypassed me entirely, lunging directly into the warrior’s muscular chest. Aziel caught him out of pure reflex, stabilizing the high-ranking submissive wolf against hi
"My business on this floor does not concern your Alpha," I said, keeping my voice as level as the silver-rot burning in my side would allow. "I am here for my personal logs. Nothing more."Ronzek sneered, his nostrils flaring as he stepped directly into my path, blocking the corridor with all the s
"You will scrub Mireya Duskrell’s name from the territory networks, Lardon, or the Alpha-Prime will personally ensure your banishment from every allied hunting ground in the northern sector."Ronzek Hale’s voice bled through the communication slate, delivering Draven Calder's absolute decree.I clo
"I am deeply sorry, Lardon Vexley. You have completely missed the optimal moon cycle for the marrow surgery to halt the silver-rot decay in your ribs."My claws dug into the parchment diagnostic, tearing the edges as the healer’s words echoed. I dialed Ronzek Hale, the pack-bound secretary of Drave







