LOGINNORAHeavy metal ground violently against stone, sealing out the howling wind. Dropping my shoulders, a deep breath finally rushed into my lungs. The freezing tunnel felt like a dark, silent tomb. Silas walked closely beside me, his massive boots echoing loudly in the enclosed space. Marcus and the guards trailed a few steps behind, their rifles still gripped tightly against their tactical vests."Are you alright, Nora?" Silas asked. His voice sounded rough, laced with deep, fatherly concern.Looking up, I forced a tight, convincing smile. "Yes. I am fine.""You handled them perfectly," he noted, though his amber eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. "You didn't break. You didn't give them an inch of ground.""They don't own me anymore," keeping my tone flat and even. "I just want to get back to the boys. Are they still in the vault?""Tara has them locked down tight," Silas promised, patting my shoulder heavily. "Go. Rest. Marcus and I need to review the perimeter defenses before nigh
THIRD PERSON’S POVHeavy boots hammered against the cold stone floor of the underground corridor.Nora did not run, but her fast, rigid strides carried a desperate panic. Moving past armed guards and reinforced steel doors, her breath came in short, sharp bursts. Sirens were not blaring. No gunfire echoed through the massive cavern. That was exactly what terrified her the most.Ten minutes ago, Tara had rushed into the nursery with the news. Kai didn't attack the gates. He didn't fire his heavy artillery. Instead, the Blackcrest King ordered a thousand elite soldiers to pitch tents right in the middle of the access road. He was setting up a permanent siege.Reaching the heavy oak doors of the central war room, Nora didn't bother knocking.Pushing the doors open violently, the wood slammed hard against the stone walls.Inside the massive, circular room, chaos reigned. Alpha Silas stood over a large wooden table covered in tactical maps and radio equipment. Dozens of border captains and
THIRD PERSON’S POV Blinding white snow violently whipped across the windshields of the armored convoy.Finding the Moon Creek fortress was a complete, agonizing nightmare. Alpha Silas didn't just build a pack; he built a military labyrinth. Over the last four days, the Blackcrest army faced destroyed bridges, deliberately triggered avalanches, and miles of false tire tracks leading into dead-end canyons.Sitting in the lead SUV, Kai gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather actually tore. He hadn't slept a single minute."Dead end," Halil muttered from the passenger seat, staring at a massive pile of boulders blocking the mountain pass. "That is the third collapsed tunnel today, Kai. They knew we were coming. Silas blew the roads to slow us down.""He can blow every damn road in the south," Kai growled, throwing the heavy truck into reverse. "I will dig through the rock with my bare hands."Spinning the tires in the deep slush, Kai wrenched the steering wheel hard. The heavy veh
THIRD PERSON’S POV Blinding white snow violently whipped across the windshields of the armored convoy.Finding the Moon Creek fortress was a complete, agonizing nightmare. Alpha Silas didn't just build a pack; he built a military labyrinth. Over the last four days, the Blackcrest army faced destroyed bridges, deliberately triggered avalanches, and miles of false tire tracks leading into dead-end canyons.Sitting in the lead SUV, Kai gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather actually tore. He hadn't slept a single minute."Dead end," Halil muttered from the passenger seat, staring at a massive pile of boulders blocking the mountain pass. "That is the third collapsed tunnel today, Kai. They knew we were coming. Silas blew the roads to slow us down.""He can blow every damn road in the south," Kai growled, throwing the heavy truck into reverse. "I will dig through the rock with my bare hands."Spinning the tires in the deep slush, Kai wrenched the steering wheel hard. The heavy veh
THIRD PERSON’S POV Sterile white lights hummed loudly overhead.Inside the private intensive care suite of the Blackcrest medical wing, the smell of bleach and rubbing alcohol completely overpowered the air. Heart monitors beeped in a slow, steady rhythm. Rain lashed violently against the reinforced glass window, matching the grim mood inside the room.Propped up against a stack of pale pillows, Grandma Emrys looked incredibly fragile. Her skin was paper-thin. An oxygen tube rested beneath her nose, and thick wires disappeared beneath her hospital gown. A severe heart episode had collapsed the old woman just hours before the gala, forcing the brothers to rush back to the territory.Standing at the foot of the metal bed, Kai kept his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He still wore his black tailored suit from the banquet.Halil stood near the window. He was completely silent, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He hadn't spoken a single word since they left the ballroom."You b
Third person’s pov Cold water splashed violently against the marble sink.Gripping the edges of the counter, Halil stared at his own pale reflection in the restroom mirror. His chest heaved. Oxygen simply refused to fill his lungs. Drops of water slid down his jaw, soaking into the collar of his expensive dress shirt, but he did not care.She was alive.Pressing his forehead against the freezing glass of the mirror, a ragged, broken sound escaped his throat. Two years of suffocating guilt completely shattered in a matter of seconds. Nora survived the snow. She survived the shadow beast.But the image of the second child anchored itself deep in his brain. Dark hair. Calculating eyes.A son. His son.Pushing off the counter, Halil did not bother drying his face. He ripped the heavy wooden door open and marched directly back out into the crowded ballroom.Music thumped softly through the massive space. Guests laughed and drank, entirely oblivious to the catastrophic reality shifting rig
NORA’S POV “Don’t worry, there’ll be no need for that anyway.” I pulled away, as the maid tried to cover the scar on my face with makeup. The maid didn’t say anything, yet the glaring question was all over her face. A soft knock sounded against the door, “I’ll take it up from here, you may leav
NORA’S POV. I groaned, struggling to pry my eyes open. “Our Luna decided to grace us with her consciousness.” A stern voice cut across the room. I made to sit up, but all my bones felt like they were crushed under the weight of a boulder. My eyes lingered around the room. It wasn’t like my room i
AIDEN’S POV I did the right thing. I was sure of it. Nora was no good. She couldn’t even bear me a pup, not even a female. Her body was frail, and clearly cannot carry my seed. I tightened my grip around my pen, as I scribbled some words onto the document, my heart in a completely different place
NORA’S POV My heart stomped against my chest as I made my way to the lavish waiting area that led to Alpha Aiden’s office. I grabbed my clutch in one hand, my other hand trembled lightly. His secretary walked out of his office, her expression inscrutable. “He’s busy…” Her voice came out indiffere







