LOGINLARDON VEXLEY POVLord Magnus Thornvale’s golden eyes widened with genuine surprise as his heavy, claw-tipped hand rested on his carved throne, giving me a careful, evaluating once-over. "Impressive, Master Vexley. So young, and already carving such a lethal name for yourself across the seven territories."The old Supreme Warlord could not help thinking I was no ordinary tactical officer—after all, a fierce high Alpha like Orion Blackthorn would not pay such unyielding reverence to just anyone.Across from him, Lord Raleigh Warwick turned my way as well, his eyes scanning my slate battle armor with mounting, sharp approval. "You know, Master Vexley, you carry quite the formidable presence—striking military composure and real poise. Are you and young Blackthorn bound together, by any chance?"Though well into his eighties, Raleigh’s booming voice carried with the raw, terrifying power of a prime Alpha. His question echoed loud enough for the nearby Warlords to catch every word, earning
"Consider it a favor repaid," Lucien Mordane murmured, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an unreadable weight as he stepped back into the shadows of the feast hall.I did not think I was close enough to Lucien to linger any longer in his presence. Once we cleared up the tactical terms, I gave a polite, stiff nod and turned on my heavy boot heel, walking away into the vast stone corridors.Lucien watched my retreating figure for a long moment, the absolute decisiveness of my stride leaving him with a complex, unreadable expression as his gaze drifted across the crowded room toward Mireya Duskrell.The ancestral stronghold of the Thornvale Pack was massive, its towering arched hallways stretching into the black heart of the mountain.With minutes to spare before the formal summit, I wandered through the outer gallery, but a sudden, violent chill crept into my hands and clawed feet, leaving my core feeling deeply unwell. My wolf stirred weakly beneath my ribs, whining in reaction to t
LARDON VEXLEY POV"He has always carried a high opinion of Master Vexley's tactical genius," Lord Ableson rumbled, his voice cutting cleanly through the murmur of the grand feast hall. "In the two border skirmishes where I observed his command, his military strategy genuinely blew me away. As this room turns to taunt him, I see zero reason why a warrior of his rank should be subjected to idle court gossip."Lord Ableson had thought Orion Greyclaw was merely making a dark joke earlier when he mentioned my marital status. How could a high strategist as extraordinary as Lardon Vexley end up bound to a Sovereign Alpha who treated him like a shadow?With Lord Ableson's heavy endorsement, the thick tension across the stone tables shifted violently.Tavros Kane’s left eyelid twitched hard; he shot an immediate, sharp glance at Draven Calder. How in the hell did Lord Ableson know that Lardon was legally bound?Even Lucien Mordane slammed his silver goblet down, his dark brows pulling into a d
LARDON VEXLEY POV"Draven Calder brought Mireya Duskrell on his arm to the Grand Council Feast!"Orion Greyclaw's golden wolf eyes flashed with a lethal, amber fury as his broad chest heaved against his dark slate battle tunic. "So from the very beginning, when he demanded you present yourself at Lord Thornvale's ancestral feast, he had already intended to parade Mireya as his primary consort before the elders! If I had not offered to escort you as my chief strategist, you would be standing in the middle of the Great Sovereign Hall entirely unbacked. If any Warlord asked whose flag you were under, you wouldn't even be able to claim a pack!"Every wolf in this grand stone courtyard was a warrior of severe importance—the true Alpha bloodlines and military minds of the seven territories.And Draven’s chosen escort? Mireya.With our formal severance contract sitting unsealed before the High Elders, I would have been stripped of all rank, forced to watch Draven stand before the council wit
Orion drummed his clawed fingers against the oak table, his golden eyes fixing directly on mine. "Here is how we execute this, Lardon: you walk into that grand hall as my primary war strategist and high guest. That way, your presence is established, but it has zero connection to Draven Calder. Furthermore, half the High Command warlords will be present—it is a prime opportunity for Nighthowl Systems to secure new border defense contracts. We keep our eyes on actual territory power."I weighed his words carefully. From the perspective of Nighthowl Systems, it was a brilliant tactical maneuver. If Draven was the only path into the hall, I would have found a way to refuse the summons entirely. But going alongside Orion transformed a personal trap into a massive political victory for our faction.As for whatever game Draven Calder was trying to play... that was his own cross to bear.I did not care in the slightest.It was his problem.After all, Lord Thornvale’s birth-moon feast was no o
LARDON VEXLEY POVDraven Calder finally pulled a thin dried stem of blue mountain root from his belt and ignited it with a spark of lightning magic.Tavros Kane rubbed his clawed chin, his voice dropping into a low, rumbling whisper. "You are not seriously planning to march Lardon into Lord Thornvale’s birth-moon feast, are you? That high hall will be packed with every Warlord and Clan Chief across the seven territories. Walking in beside him is the same as declaring him the absolute Sovereign Luna of the Calder Dominion. If you ask my opinion..."He shot Draven a suspicious look, his wolf eyes glinting under the torchlight. "Lardon would leap at the chance to claim his rightful throne beside you in front of the entire High Council. Is that not what every unbonded mate wants? I bet my entire pack yield that when the horn blows, you will not even need to send a rider for him. He will show up at your gates waiting to walk at your shoulder." Tavros let out a harsh grunt, speaking from de
"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
"Where is the omega stray, Lardon Vexley?" Selith Vayne barked, sauntering into the private room and dropping his leather hunting pouch onto the wolf-furs without a second thought.I slowly pulled my hands away from my tunic, tracking the seventeen-winter-old beta who was all clumsy limbs and arrog
"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
"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







