FAZER LOGINTHALIA'S POVThe bathroom air was thick with the scald of steam and the heavy, sweet scent of my own uncontrolled pheromones. My skin burned from the inside out, every nerve ending firing with a raw, electric ache that made my knees tremble. I stared at my reflection in the fogged mirror, flushed cheeks, blown-out pupils, lips parted as I fought for air.The mark Ragnar had claimed on my neck throbbed with a sharp, rhythmic pulse, sending waves of liquid fire straight down between my thighs.Heat.It wasn't supposed to happen now. Not while we were trapped in this dorm room, isolated, trying to unravel the mystery of the ancient seal. But the bond didn't care about timing. Being cooped up with both of my mates for twenty-four hours, feeling their heat, breathing in their male scents had dragged my wolf over the edge.I splashed freezing water onto my face, trying to drown the agonizing need, but it was useless. My core was dripping wet, my body practically screaming for their touch.
THALIA’S POVI didn't understand why the massive black wolf was attacking me, but its terrifying speed made my heart hammer violently against my ribs like a trapped bird.I scrambled backward, diving behind one thick stone pillar after another to hide from its lethal path. But my efforts were useless. The creature moved with horrifying power, throwing its weight against the masonry and razing the heavy stone pillars to the ground with sickening ease. Dust and shattered rock rained down all around me. A falling slab of stone almost crushed my spine, but I threw my body to the side just in time, rolling across the cold floorboards.Before I could regain my footing, the beast slashed its razor-sharp claws directly across my cheek.Pain exploded across the left side of my face. I gasped, tumbling backward as warm, heavy blood poured down my cheek and dripped onto my collarbone. I pulled my knees to my chest, expecting the creature to pounce and rip my throat out right then and there.I
CALEB’S POVThe room was suffocatingly quiet.I stood near the edge of the bed, my eyes locked on Ragnar. He returned my gaze with a hard, unreadable expression, his chest rising and falling slowly. The scent of Thalia’s fresh mate mark still hung thick in the air between us, mocking me, burning my throat with every single breath I took.“Why did you ask for her forgiveness, Caleb?” Ragnar asked, breaking the silence first. His deep voice was remarkably calm, almost conversational, which only made my blood boil even hotter.I took a slow step toward him, my jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. “Why did you dare to mark Thalia forcefully?”Ragnar didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. “It wasn't forceful,” he said smoothly, staring straight into my eyes. “And she is my mate.” Something inside my head snapped.Before my mind could even process the action, I lunged forward, grabbing Ragnar by the collar of his leather shirt and slamming him hard against the stone wall. The heavy thud ech
THALIA’S POVAs I walked down the quiet corridor toward Miss Lyra’s private chambers, I spotted Jamie and Eileen walking side by side. Their fingers were loosely interlocked between them. The moment Eileen caught sight of me, her face flushed red and she violently yanked her hand away from Jamie’s grip. I quickly looked straight ahead, pretending I hadn't seen a single thing to save her from the embarrassment.“Hey, cousin!” a loud, mocking voice called out from behind me. My jaw clenched tight. I didn't even need to turn around to know it was Devon. He had spotted me from down the hall, and I could only grit my teeth in frustration, knowing very well that he would stop at nothing to hurl another insult at me.Quick steps echoed on the stone floor, and before I could speed up, Devon came forward and clutched my shoulders, forcing me to a complete stop. “Quit running away, cousin,” he drawled with a lazy smirk.I instantly slapped his hands off my body, glaring straight into his eyes
THALIA’S POVShock surged through my entire body the second Ragnar’s lips crashed against mine. My mind went blank, every thought freezing in place. But I didn't pull away. Underneath the heavy, crushing weight of the humiliation I had suffered in the courtyard, my defenses dissolved completely. I melted right into the warmth of his large, calloused hands.When Ragnar finally pulled back just a fraction of an inch, his hot breath fanned against my lips. “I want you, Thalia,” he growled, his voice thick and rough. “I need you.”“Ragnar... what do you mean?” I whispered, my voice trembling. He didn't look like himself. He wasn't the calm, stoic Alpha who carefully measured every step. His eyes were wide, glowing with a dark, unhinged energy, as if the wild beast beneath his skin had completely ripped off its chains and taken control.“Please,” he choked out, ignoring my question as he leaned down and resumed the kiss with a desperate, frantic intensity. His hands gripped my waist, pul
THALIA’S POVThe mortification was so thick I could barely breathe. Hearing Devon’s loud, echoing laughter slice through the quiet courtyard cut deeper than any physical blade ever could.I couldn't stay there. I couldn't bear to let Miss Lyra, Ragnar, Caleb, or any of the others see me like this, a helpless, tiny puppy standing in the dirt while the world burned around us.Unable to hold my form under the crushing weight of the humiliation, I turned and bolted toward the edge of the courtyard. I scrambled behind the tall, overgrown hedges, hiding my naked human body the exact second the forced shift dissolved and the fur vanished from my skin.I fell onto my knees in the damp soil, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. Tears of pure, hot frustration spilled over my lashes, pooling on my cheeks. I began thrashing at the soil with my fists, tearing at the damp grass as the helpless anger poured out of me. Why couldn't I do it? Why was my body completely betraying me
RAGNAR "We have arrived."The door swung open, and I heard the chauffeur's sharp intake of breath following his horrified gaze. I looked down at my unbuckled belt, my trousers pooled around my ankles in a bunched mess.Yeah. That probably looked bad.Before I could say anything, not that I owed an
THALIAThe one on the left was easily six foot two. He looked fit, and lean—an athletic warrior’s build. He had platinum blonde hair, and a book in his hands, and… he looked like he wore his heart on his sleeve. Beautiful was the word to describe this porcelain skinned man. He reeked of Alpha, and
THALIA [ONE WEEK LATER] The leather trunk sat by the door, packed with everything 'Lucian Ashen' would need for his first semester at The Howling Spire. Formal uniforms, training clothes, books on wolf history, combat theory, and some hidden necessities of my own. I stood in front of the mirror
THALIA Lucian lay sprawled at my feet with wide lifeless eyes. The party was in full swing and I was outside. But this already happened. I had already lived this moment, I chased the assassin, I fell…My fingers instinctively went to my head, there was no injury and no single drop of blood. “Ok







