LOGINThe weight of those forty-eight hours pressed down on all of us.We stood in the strategy room in heavy silence. My mother’s quiet sobs had faded into exhausted numbness. Tim paced like a caged wolf. Kade kept one hand on my shoulder, steady and warm, but I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.I couldn’t just sit here.“I need to go back to where they attacked me,” I said suddenly, my voice hoarse. “There might be something left behind. A scent. A footprint. Anything that can tell us who really took the relic.”Kade’s grip tightened. “It’s too dangerous. They could still be watching the area.”“I know,” I replied. “But sitting here waiting won’t save my father. I have to do something.”Tim stopped pacing. “She’s right. We go together. Small team only. Elite trackers. No one else knows we’re leaving.”My mother looked up, eyes red-rimmed. “Be careful. Please.”Kade exhaled sharply, clearly unhappy, but he nodded. “Fine, but if anything feels off, we pull back immediately.”
I had to get back. I had to tell Kade. I had to tell my family. This was the only solution at the moment. The second option was to go to where I was to meet the midnight bloom people and tell them what had happen, but what if they had been the one who robbed me? What if all of this was a trap set by them? My best bet was to get to safety and find a way to contact them immediately.The journey back felt endless. By the time I reached the pack gates, the sun was rising, painting the sky in soft pinks and oranges that felt wrong. Warriors spotted me immediately. Shouts went up. Someone helped me through the gate, and moments later Kade was there, running toward me with Tim and my mother close behind.“Lyra!” Kade’s voice cracked with relief and fear as he caught me before I could collapse. His arms wrapped around me tightly. “What happened? Where is your father? Where’s the relic?”I clung to him, tears finally breaking free. “They took it. I… I never saw them coming. They dropped from
The news hit me like a physical blow.My father, the former Beta, was missing. My knees felt weak. Kade’s hand tightened around mine instantly, grounding me.“We’ll get him back,” he said, voice low and fierce. “I promise.”But promises felt hollow in that moment. My father had always been steady, quiet, the one who supported me. Now he was in Axel’s remnants’ hands or worse.Tim appeared moments later, face pale and eyes burning with the same fear I felt. Our mother followed close behind, her hands trembling as she clutched a shawl around her shoulders.“Lyra… Tim…” she whispered, voice cracking. “Your father…”Tim pulled her into a quick hug, but his eyes met mine over her shoulder. The Beta in him was already calculating, but the brother in him was breaking.“We have to go after him,” I said immediately. “Right now. Before they get too far.”Tim nodded sharply. “I’ll gather a small team. Fast and quiet. We can track them through the border woods.”Our mother stepped back, wiping
“What now?” I gasped, already scrambling off the bed.Kade was faster. He yanked on his pants and grabbed the blade he always kept beside the bed. His face had shifted from lover to Alpha in a single heartbeat . His jaw was tight and his eyes got sharp.“Stay close,” he ordered, voice low and commanding.We threw on the nearest clothes , me in a simple tunic and leggings, him in dark pants and a loose shirt, barely bothering with shoes. I snatched my own dagger from the side table as we rushed out the door.The pack house was in controlled chaos. Warriors sprinted past us, some half-dressed, others already shifted and howling. Torches flared to life outside. Alarms continued to scream.Kade’s voice cut through the noise like a whip. “How are things?”A warrior skidded to a stop in front of us, breathing hard. “Eastern perimeter, Alpha! Midnight Bloom remnants, organized, not just stragglers. They’re hitting hard and fast.”Kade didn’t hesitate. “Mobilize all border squads. Secure the
The ceremony was over. The feast had ended. The pack had finally gone to their homes, leaving the night quiet and still for the first time in what felt like forever.Kade and I slipped back into our quarters, the heavy door closing behind us with a soft click. It felt like the end of one chapter and the beginning of something new. The relic’s soft blue glow filtered faintly through the window from the chamber nearby, a constant reminder that we had won.Well, for now.But right now, none of that mattered.Kade turned to me, his eyes darkened. He reached out and gently traced the line of my jaw with his fingertips.“Finally alone,” he murmured, voice low and rough. “My Luna.”The word sent a shiver through me. I stepped into his arms, pressing my body against his.“Say it again,” I whispered.His hands slid down my back, pulling me closer. “My Luna. My mate. Mine.”He kissed me slowly at first, savoring every second, as if he needed to memorize the taste of me after all the chaos. I me
Weeks had passed since the night of the battle.I stood in front of the tall mirror in my room, smoothing the deep silver fabric of the ceremonial gown Kade had chosen for me.Yes, today was my mating ceremony with Kade. It was crazy how things could change overnight. I still had bruises from the fight, but had faded to faint shadows, and the cut on my lip had healed completely. Still, when I looked at myself, I saw the warrior who had fought Axel, defeated Torren, and stood beside her mate through fire and betrayal.Kade stepped up behind me, his hands settling gently on my waist. He wore formal black robes edged in gold. This was the attire of an Alpha on the most important night of his reign. “You look beautiful,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. “But then again, you always do.”I turned in his arms and smiled up at him. Kade’s eyes softened as he looked down on me. He took my hand and laced our fingers together. “Ready?”I took a deep breath and nodded. “Rea
Dan turned out to be the kind of distraction that didn’t try too hard. That alone made him dangerous. He walked beside us as we exited the airport, hands tucked into his pockets like he wasn’t trying to impress anyone, like he hadn’t just called me beautiful five minutes ago. My mom, of course,
“I’m not saying that you can’t leave. I just feel that you just got here after staying away for a long time. A lot of us missed…” his voice trailed off and he swallowed. “We over here missed you a lot and we are happy to see you. It will be hurtful to watch you leave.” “Hurtful?” Tim wrinkled his
“But she just got here. Why are you leaving the pack with her?” My dad was not very pleased with me leaving. I felt bad for leaving too but I had to. We had to. My mom and I. “If you heard what those vile women said about Lyra, you would not ask me this question. Lura just left college. The last t
“You can help your brother and Alpha Kade brainstorm for the pack while I’m with my people.”My mom and I were in front of the Alpha’s court now. Of course, I could not say no to her. Not now, because I might have to do so later. If staying in the pack got too unbearable, I planned to leave whether







