INICIAR SESIÓNBefore anyone can send a message, heavy iron armored vehicles screech to a halt outside the grand hall doors.The massive oak doors swing open, revealing a squad of heavily armed Blackridge officers clad in dark, tactical armor. The lead officer steps forward, his sharp eyes scanning the room until they land directly on me."Which one of you is Harper Calloway?" he asks, his voice deep and booming.I step forward slowly, my thick hips swaying with effortless confidence, my voice smooth and calm. "I am Harper Calloway. The evidence files were transmitted from my personal comm unit. This entire assembly of students, enforcers, and pack mentors—"I pause, letting my golden eyes sweep over the trembling crowd, my lips curling into a ruthless smile. "—are all active participants in a systematic attempt on my life."Freya Sutton, the senior pack instructor, comes bustling into the hall, her robes trailing behind her. She takes one look at the
"You claim this is nothing more than pack play, yet you tremble before the Blackridge Investigation Bureau," I say, my voice dropping an octave as my wolf’s dominant growl echoes off the cold stone arches of the Nightcrest assembly hall.I keep my plush, voluptuous frame grounded, my thick thighs anchored firmly to the cold floor. My wolf surges beneath my skin, roaring for retribution, her golden eyes flashing with raw, untamed Alpha power. Around me, fifty elite shifters stand in a tight circle, their eyes glinting with unholy malice."Your so-called pack discipline will only expose more of your vicious nature," I continue, fixing my gaze directly on the lead enforcer. "It will only intensify your torture of me. Even if your blood-pack gets me killed inside these mountain walls, you will not feel you are at fault. You will only howl to the moon that a fat, useless human-born outcast deserved to bleed out."I tilt my head, letting a slow, dangerous smile cut across my face. "I refuse
"You claim my accusations are false, yet you cower when the law arrives at Ironwood Keep," I say, my voice echoing across the high-arched stone rafters of the Nightcrest Pack assembly hall.The cold floor of the trial chamber presses into my bare knees, but I do not bend my back. My plush, heavy frame remains unyielding, my wolf surging beneath my skin, roaring for retribution. Around me, fifty high-ranking shifters of the Nightcrest elite stand in a tight circle, their golden eyes flashing with unholy malice."Your so-called pack discipline will only expose more of your vicious nature," I continue, fixing my gaze on the lead enforcer. "It will only intensify your torture of me. Even if your blood-pack gets me killed inside these mountain walls, you will not feel you are at fault. You will only howl to the moon that a fat, useless human-born outcast deserved to bleed out."I tilt my head, letting a slow, dangerous smile cut across my face. "I refuse to be broken by your pack games. If
"Get your hands off me, you useless mongrels," I say, my voice dropping an octave as my wolf’s dominant growl vibrates through the heavy wooden desk.The entire medical assembly freezes.Every elite shifter in the room expected the old, submissive Harper Calloway—the overweight, helpless human girl who used to cower whenever the pack elders raised their voices. They did not expect me to step into this high-security apothecary hall with my broad shoulders held high, my plush hips grounded, and my golden eyes flashing with raw, untamed Alpha power."You called Vice President Gibson down here to handle a minor issue, Harper, but you are dragging down the reputation of the Calloway Bloodline!" the lead female shifter screeches, pointing a sharp, manicured claw directly at my face. "You forced Grayson Mercer out of his engagement with Mallory Callahan! They were destined mates, but you used your father's political weight to force Grayson into a contract! Mallory suffered in silence because
"She was the daughter of a mistress, and nothing you say changes facts," I tell the crowd of elite shifters, my voice low, heavy, and full of cold pack authority.The group freezes, stunned that the broad-shouldered, thick-framed woman standing before them is speaking up instead of shrinking into the background. For years, the original human Harper Calloway let them walk all over her, but my wolf is wide awake now, and I am not taking their abuse."That is because you used despicable, scheming tricks to snatch Grayson Mercer away from Mallory Callahan!" the lead girl yells back, her face twisting with self-righteous anger as she points a sharp claw right at my face. "They were the perfect high-ranking match, but you barged in and forced Grayson into a contract! Mallory endured all that heartbreak because she is your half-sister, but how did you repay her?""That's right!" another female shifter sneers, taking a step forward. "You called her a bastard born from a mistress, looking down
"Walk with me to the medical wing and keep your mouth shut," I tell Billy Gibson, my voice cold and smooth as silk.Billy freezes, his face flushing bright red under his student council cap before he nods quickly. "Of course, Lady Harper. Whatever you need."I take the heavy black canopy umbrella from his trembling hand, pop it open with a sharp snap, and lead the way toward the elite apothecary labs of Ravenshade University.All along the stone archways of the medical quad, rows of silver-leaf wolf-bane and moon-bloom herbs release a heavy, bitter medicinal fragrance into the humid air. It is a quiet, peaceful sanctuary, but my wolf bristles under my skin, sensing the foul stench of betrayal hanging over the ancient stone buildings.Billy keeps pace beside my broad, voluptuous frame, his eyes wide with genuine curiosity. "You are enrolled in the higher-level apothecary track? I thought you were a first-year human transfer."I step up the wide marble stairs, turning my head slightly t







