Across the aisle, I saw Alpha Deveraux from Hollow Pine Pack leaning forward, whispering furiously to his Beta. Others weren’t even pretending to hide their outrage.The prosecution rose next—a tall, broad-shouldered woman in a dark green suit, her expression carved from stone. She spoke without hes
DEREKThe city of Solmire was built from stone and steel, but the Alpha Council’s central compound stood like a fortress of polished ivory, untouched by age or nature. Every time I approached it, I felt that subtle twist in my gut—the reminder that no matter how high an Alpha rose, the Council alway
ELENA"Yes, I’ve spoken with him. Twice," my father said, sounding exasperated. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers and looked at me across the desk. "Our best attorney, the one who handled the Silverclaw-Moonstone land dispute? He’s with Maggie now. Everything’s in motion. You can sto
“Nevertheless,” I said through my teeth. “I want her gone.”The Priestess turned.Started to walk into the trees.“Will you do it?” I called after her.She stopped. Looked back over her shoulder.“It’s too late,” she said.My heart dropped. “What do you mean?”“By coming here,” she said slowly, “by
LOGANThe Blightwood stood before me like a promise and a punishment all at once.Branches arched high above, skeletal and twisted, their tips clawing at the bruised sky like they wanted to tear it open. The air was damp and metallic, thick with the scent of rot and old things buried deep. Even the
My lungs forgot how to work.Oh Moon above. He knows.He knows.Panic surged through me like wildfire.He knew. About Maggie. About Elena. About the wedding day.I opened my mouth, but my tongue felt thick. Dry. My mind raced for something—anything—to grasp.“Is… is that what he said?” I stammered.
CASSANDRAThe numbers weren’t adding up, and Father was livid.I sat stiffly at the table in the packhouse’s formal office, a fan of expense reports and ledgers laid out in front of me like a criminal record. My criminal record, apparently.“You bought what?” he barked, his voice bouncing off the wa
I realized—struck suddenly, sharply—that I had never done this before. Never just... laid with her. Offered comfort without expectation.When she had been with Silverclaw—back before everything shattered—I would fall asleep with her sometimes after long, heated nights. After I'd taken her to bed w
DEREKI would deal with Cassandra. But not yet. Not before I took care of the woman in front of me.Elena sat on the bench like her bones might give out at any moment. Her skin was pale, almost ashen, and her hands trembled faintly even though she tried to hold them still in her lap. The wind caug