Liam's POV The bond between Mira and me surged hot, urgent, defiant. I wanted to reach for her, to claim her in the open, to tell Dahlia to burn in her own poison. But I forced my face to stay blank.“What do you want, Dahlia?” My voice was low, sharp.Her smile widened, soft and poisonous. “Only to know why the three of you are wandering in the dead of night.” Her gaze slid over me, then landed deliberately on Mira. “Surely, you aren’t up to mischief. Or maybe you are.”Mira’s fingers twitched against her satchel. The bond carried her fury into my chest, steady flames I could almost taste.I stepped half a pace forward, blocking Dahlia’s view. “I wanted to show them the pack,” I said evenly, echoing her sweetness, before letting my voice harden. “Now move aside. We’re done here.”Dahlia’s laugh rang loud echoing over the stones. “Oh, Liam. Always so serious. But be careful. Secrets have a way of coming to light. And when they do…” She tilted her head, eyes cutting back to Mira. “Not
Liam's POVKai snarled inside me, sharp with anger. ‘We must choose our mate. We must protect her.’I looked at Mira… at the quiet fire in her eyes, at the way her hands steadied despite the storm raging inside her… and something inside me crystallized.I swallowed hard. Rage and shame twisted together in my chest. Rage at how blind I’d been to everything happening under my nose, shame at how long I had let it stand… how I had let these people I called my family strip me of my happiness, chain me to silence, mild me into their pawn.The thought of Harold complicit in all this made Kai thrash violently against my ribs, claws scraping at the inside of my chest.“This ends here,” I said. My voice was hard, echoing through the chamber. “We gather as much proof as possible. When we put this before Harold, they'll have nowhere to run.”Mira’s gaze locked on mine, unflinching. The bond pulsed hot between us, Kira rising with Kai to echo his growl. For a moment, the whole world narrowed to th
Mira's POVThe knock had barely finished echoing when Cael's voice carried through the wood. “Mira? Are you ready? The guards just changed shifts.”I flinched, my hand still trapped in Liam’s. He released me quickly, but the heat of his grip lingered, burning against my skin.Cael's voice came again, firmer this time. “We need to check on Nate.”I moved to the door, smoothing my cloak with trembling fingers, trying to mask what still pulsed between us. Liam didn't follow. He stood rooted to the spot, jaw tight, eyes dark. When I opened the door, Cael stood there with his lamp raised, hair a little mussed from the wind. His expression was steady… until he saw Liam inside my room.His brow arched, just enough to change the air. “Well,” he said slowly, his eyes cutting from Liam to me and back, suspicion flickering beneath his usual calm. “Didn’t expect company.”The tension thickened, filling every corner of the room. His gaze lingered on Liam a moment too long, then dropped back to me
Mira's POVWhen I finally slipped into my room, silence pressed heavy, but the ache inside me had dulled. I sank onto my bed, Liam’s bond still humming faintly under my skin, steady but frustrating.Cael's words lingered in my mind, soothing me. ‘If he's your mate, he will fight for you. If he doesn't, it's his loss.’Maybe tomorrow would bring war. Maybe tomorrow would bring more heartbreak.But today, I decided to hope, even if it was only for a little while. I pick at the leftover meat from my meal. I had no appetite, but I forced myself to chew. Dealing with other wolves at the dinner felt like too much work with everything going on. Me and Cael had agreed to meet at the infirmary once the last guards changed shifts. He'd wait outside, and we’d slip in together to check on Nate, careful not to draw attention.I told myself I wouldn’t sleep… not this time. Not after oversleeping once already. But as I packed my satchel with fresh herbs, my eyelids grew heavy. My hands slowed, fol
Mira's POV“Absolutely not.”“Okay. I'll settle for the short version.”“You'll get nothing.”“Then I’ll ask Sorenna,” Cael threatened, flashing a wicked grin. But he stumbled over her name, cheeks pinking. “Though I know she won't tell me either.”I arched my brow. “You're so adorable.”“Take it back.”“Never.”He groaned, raking a hand through his hair. “Fine. I'm adorable. But you're late, and if Harold thinks you've been hiding from him…” His grin faded, leaving the warning clear in his tone.I exhaled slowly. He was right.“Give me five minutes,” I said.“Four,” he bargained.“Five.”He sighed dramatically, then pushed off the doorframe. “Fine. I’ll wait here. And Mira?”I paused in the doorway, half-turned.His smile softened, losing all its sharpness. “You look… happy. It's good on you.”The words caught me off guard. For a moment, I couldn't breathe.“Don't get used to it,” I muttered.”“Oh, I never do,” he said with a crooked grin. “I’ll ruin it as soon as I can.”I shook my
Mira's POV “This doesn't leave this room,” I said.The words came out sharper than I intended, but they had to be said.They both looked at me. Sorenna’s eyes were tight with anger. Cael’s were bright with something closer to fear. Both of them looked at me like they weren't sure whether to argue or obey.“In two nights,” I continued. “I’ll finish the treatments. We keep Nate alive and thinking. In that time, Sorenna, you'll check the infirmary ledgers. Quietly, Anyone requesting medicines in bulk, or shortages you didn't approve… bring them to me. Don't get caught.”Her mouth pressed thin. “So, you are asking me to be a spy in my own house?”“I’m asking you to save it,” I said, voice steady. “Quietly.”I turned to Cael. “And you… ears to the ground. Listen for talks about the treasury and the metalworks. Pay attention to the runners, the errand boys, and the guards who are assigned to the cellars, but you cannot be seen sniffing around. I'll hunt for tunnel mouths, if you find any,