C6

Elira Ashwyn stands rigid on the snow-covered threshold of the Ashwyn pack lodge as cold wind bites at her dark skin. Lady Morwen steps out into the courtyard, her silver robes sweeping over the frost as she forces a sweet, frantic smile onto her face.

"Kaedrin, you must have misunderstood things in there," Lady Morwen says, her voice trembling slightly under his heavy shadow-aura. "I only scolded the girl out of motherly discipline. It meant nothing at all."

"I am not interested in your pathetic lies," Kaedrin Thornvale says flatly, his grey eyes locked on the trembling older female. "Save your tongue for someone who cares."

Fenros Greymane steps forward instantly, picking up the four heavy iron chests of rare crystals and runic gems without a word. He locks each steel latch with a heavy click, turning his back on the lodge.

"Take every token back to the carriage, Fenros," Kaedrin commands, his voice rumbling like deep thunder through the courtyard. "The Ashwyn clan does not deserve a single grain of my tribute."

"Wait!" Cerys Ashwyn shrieks, running out onto the stone steps with her claws fully extended. "You cannot take those moonlight gems back! They were brought for this pack!"

"You gave up your right to them the moment you called my mate a stray," Kaedrin growls, his yellowing wolf eyes flashing with lethal intent. "Step any closer and I will rip your throat out right here."

Cerys freezes in place, her face turning pale as she clutches her mother's arm in pure terror.

Kaedrin wraps a massive, warm hand around Elira's small waist, pulling her plush, four-foot-five body tight against his solid hip. His dark cedar scent hits her nostrils, sending a sudden, molten surge of heat straight to her wet core.

"We are leaving," Kaedrin whispers against her temple, his possessive breath scorching her ear. "Let them starve in their own greed."

Elira lets him guide her down the icy mountain path, her pulse hammering wildly against her ribs as his heavy chest presses into her shoulder.

Once they cross the territory boundary line into the thick timber pines, Kaedrin finally releases her waist.

Elira misses the fiery heat of his skin instantly, her small hands clenching into tight fists inside her fur cloak. "Why did you come to the pack lodge without telling me?"

"Did you really think I would let you face those vultures alone?" Kaedrin asks, turning to face her with a sharp, dark gaze. "You are my bound female now."

"I came to get the silver tokens they promised for Elder Maelis," Elira says, her dark brown eyes burning with frustration. "I did not need you to throw a fortune of royal tribute at their feet!"

"I heard your adoptive mother say she has no daughter," Kaedrin says softly, stepping closer until his boots touch hers. "Did she say anything else to hurt you before I arrived?"

Elira shakes her head quickly, looking down at the snow. "No. She just proved that her word is worth less than dirt."

She swallows hard, trying to hide the painful throb in her chest, but Kaedrin's heavy thumb reaches out to lift her chin. His rough touch sends a shiver of pure lust down her spine.

"How could you stand up for me like that after hearing one sentence?" Elira asks, her breath hitching as his thumb traces her full lower lip. "What if I was the one in the wrong? The Ashwyn elders are dangerous males."

"I do not care who is right or wrong," Kaedrin growls low in his chest, his wolf pulsing strongly beneath his skin. "If anyone makes my female cry, I burn their hall down."

A small, genuine smile breaks across Elira's dark face, her dimples showing under the winter sun.

"Are those chests really filled with royal tribute from the Frostclaw Bloodline?" Elira asks, pointing toward the heavy black carriage ahead. "Or did you steal them from high-court vaults?"

Kaedrin lets out a soft, dark laugh that vibrates deep in his chest. "The Frostclaw Bloodline cut me off years ago, little stray. I rented those rare gems from a high-tier border vault just to make you look like royalty."

He turns toward Fenros, who is securing the iron chests onto the back of the carriage. "The male hauling those heavy bags works for a luxury vault rental service on the border."

Fenros pauses, wiping sweat from his forehead, and offers Elira a polite bow. "Greetings, Lady Elira. It is a pleasure to serve you."

"Why are you shaking hands with my mate?" Kaedrin barks, his eyes narrowing into an icy glare.

Fenros snatches his hand back immediately, taking three big steps away from Elira with a nervous cough.

"Do not snap at him," Elira says, shaking her head as she steps up to the carriage. "He carried all those heavy chests up the mountain. We should be thanking him for his hard work."

She squats down, touching the runic locks on one of the wooden crates with extreme care. "Are any of these runic stones damaged? How many silver tokens do we have to pay if a jewel gets scratched?"

Fenros grins, shooting a quick glance at Kaedrin's deadly expression. "Our vault offers full protection, Lady Elira. You do not have to worry about a single coin."

Kaedrin leans against the side of the wooden carriage, watching the plush, short female examine the treasures. There is zero greed in her eyes, only genuine relief and careful concern for his financial safety.

His wolf stirs violently inside his chest, demanding that he pin her against the wood and mark her neck until she carries his pup. He forces the dark urge down, clearing his throat.

"Get into the carriage, Elira," Kaedrin orders gently. "We have to figure out how to pay for your nurse's medicine without relying on those Ashwyn bastards."

By the time they return to the border cabin, Elira pulls out her old leather parchment logs from her trunk. She knows she cannot count on Lady Morwen's promised silver, and Elder Maelis's shadow-rot is worsening by the day.

Before she was forced into this mate swap, Elira graduated top of her class in High-End Pack Estate Management. She specialized in managing grand Alpha keeps, organizing high-court banquets, and running massive pack territory logistics.

She delayed applying to high-ranking keeps for months because she was busy gathering healing herbs for Elder Maelis. Now, she has no choice but to earn the silver herself.

She organizes her parchment credentials, sealing them with blue candle wax, and sends them through the border courier hawks to the largest pack dominions in the territory.

Two days later, a sharp runic chime echoes through the cabin. A glowing black emblem flashes across her scrying mirror.

"I got an invitation," Elira gasps, her heart hammering against her ribs as she reads the glowing purple script. "It is from the Ravenshade Moon Dominion!"

The Ravenshade Moon Dominion is the most elite estate management guild in the entire Silverfang Empire. They oversee the grandest wolf keeps, luxury mountain lodges, and high-court Alpha territories across the land.

The grand leader of the dominion, Alaric Ravenshade, is a legendary Alpha who transformed a ruined wasteland into the wealthiest pack empire in the northern woods. He is a ruthless, powerful male who rarely shows his face to common pack members.

Elira reads the rest of the runic message, her brows furrowing. Attached to the invitation is an advanced pack logistics examination paper that she must complete before stepping into the interview hall.

She sits at the wooden table, dipping her feather quill into dark blue ink as she reads the complex questions. None of these scenarios are from basic academy books; they are high-level territory trade crises and high-court banquet security breaches that only master managers face.

Elira bites her lower lip, her mind racing as she pens brilliant, sharp solutions to every single problem.

An hour later, Elira stands before the towering black obsidian spire of the Ravenshade Moon Dominion in the central city. The massive glass doors reflect her plush, short frame as she adjusts her high-collared dark tunic.

As she steps into the grand marble foyer, a towering male surrounded by six heavily armored shadow-guards walks toward a private gold-runed lift.

Elira glances over, catching a glimpse of a broad chest, razor-sharp jawline, and piercing violet eyes beneath a dark velvet cloak. The male exudes such intense, overwhelming Alpha power that every wolf in the lobby bows their head in respect.

Before she can get a better look, a stern voice calls out across the hall. "Elira Ashwyn! Step into chamber three for your evaluation!"

Elira turns away from the lift, walking straight into the heavy stone interview room.

Three elite judges sit behind a long oak desk. In the center sits a female wrapped in fine red silk furs, her golden hair pinned back with jeweled ivory combs.

Elira's blood turns cold the moment their eyes meet. It is Vespera Hollowmere.

During their academy years, a high-ranking Beta male had tried to court Elira because of her brilliant estate mind. Vespera had been desperately in love with that same male, and ever since, she had treated Elira like dirt, sabotaging her projects whenever she could.

Vespera picks up Elira's parchment file, her painted lips curling into a cruel, disgusted sneer. "What a pathetic surprise. I did not expect an Ashwyn outcast to crawl into my dominion."

The male interviewer sitting beside Vespera frowns, opening the examination parchment Elira handed over. "Wait a minute, Vespera. Did you send her the Master Alpha Territory Logistics paper? This exam is meant for senior managers with over ten years of high-court experience!"

Vespera rests her chin on her hands, her yellow wolf eyes gleaming with malicious hatred. "I sent it on purpose. If Miss Ashwyn thinks she is worthy of working in the Ravenshade Moon Dominion, she should be able to handle basic high-court crises."

"Read the answers yourself, Miss Hollowmere," Elira says coldly, her small frame standing tall and unbothered in the center of the room. "Unless you lack the intellect to understand my methods."

Vespera's face darkens with pure fury. She snatches the examination parchment from the male judge, her eyes scanning down the inked lines.

The male judge slams his hand on the desk in absolute amazement. "Merciful Moon! She solved the border territory supply shortage in three simple lines! This is absolute genius!"

"She answered every single high-level security flaw correctly," the female judge on the right adds, looking at Elira with wide, admiring eyes. "Our grand Lord Alaric has been looking for a manager with this exact level of strategic brilliance for his private mountain keep!"

Vespera slams her open palm onto the wooden desk, her wolf surging to the surface as she glares at Elira with pure venom. "I do not care how she scored on a paper test! She is a low-ranking stray with no family backing!"

Vespera grabs Elira's pristine application file, ripping the thick parchment right down the middle and tossing the pieces into the stone fire pit beside her desk.

"Your application is rejected, Elira Ashwyn," Vespera snarls, a wicked smirk spreading across her face as the flames consume the paper. "Get out of my building before I have the guards throw you into the mud."

Before Elira can speak, the heavy obsidian doors behind her slam open, and a cold, lethal voice echoes through the chamber. "Who gave you permission to burn an application approved by my wolf?"