FAZER LOGINI sat back, watching the flicker of the hearth as he commanded the kitchen.Ethan carried an aura of absolute mastery regardless of the task. When I finally cut into the steak he prepared that evening, I couldn't stop the praise from bubbling up. "This is superior to any five-star lodge in the Kingdom.""Perhaps you haven't scouted enough high-end territory," he countered."Can’t you just accept a tribute when it’s offered?""Fine. I suppose my instincts for the flame are quite sharp."I burst into a genuine laugh. "I’m not fond of broccoli," I said, sliding the greens from my plate onto his, while simultaneously pilfering the cherry tomato from his side."Don't be a picky pup, Collins," Ethan said with mock sternness, even as he chewed the greens I’d discarded."I’m not! I just have an aversion to anything steamed."We took a slow trek through the snow after the feast, then retreated to the Great Room to watch the satellite broadcasts. I let my head rest on Ethan’s shoulder, drifting
I took a deep, shaky breath, letting the icy air of the Kingdom fill my lungs before continuing. "It’s not exactly a degree with the sharpest teeth for a career. Most of the pups who major in art history at the academy come from high-lineage families with deep coffers who don't need to hunt for their own meat.""Andrew Parker left the entire Silvercrest stake to you in the end. He wasn't going to leave his only heir without a future or a territory to call his own," Ethan said, his voice deep and resonant."He never whispered a word about his plans to me before his flame went out. He betrayed Natalie, and he was always cold-blooded and indifferent when it came to my training. I despised him.""Perhaps he felt the weight of failing Natalie's heart, so he was determined not to let Denise suffer the same fate.""How would you know? Are all Alphas cut from that same ruthless cloth?""Aren't we discussing your sire?""Even so, why does it feel like you’re finding common ground with his scen
Cradling my acoustic guitar against my chest, I took my place on the weathered wooden stool situated at the heart of the rink-side stage.As I reached out to tilt the microphone stand toward me, the overhead arena lights flickered into darkness, leaving me bathed in the silver glow of a single, piercing spotlight. The hollow, melodic ring of my first guitar strum began to vibrate through the cavernous hockey hall, followed closely by my own voice. I didn't let my eyes scan the bleachers for any specific face, yet I could feel a heavy, predatory pair of eyes tracking my every breath with absolute focus.I let my eyelids flutter shut, sinking deep into the rhythm of the performance.Moments later, the stage rigging hummed to life, and a sudden, shimmering cascade of crystalline ice-petals began to drift from the rafters like a freak indoor blizzard. The crowd erupted into a chaotic, thunderous howl of approval. I opened my eyes, my lashes dusted with the faux frost. My expression was on
Ethan’s gaze shifted to the frozen landscape beyond the glass, his jaw locking tight.It was a familiar tell; he was fighting a war within himself, struggling to contain an eruption of raw emotion. When he finally spoke, his voice was a low, glacial rasp that seemed to drop the temperature in the car further. "Do not speak of offspring with me again. On any other matter, I will bow to your will. But not this.""And what if a legacy is the only thing I truly desire?"I reached out, covering his hand with mine, my voice thick with the pressure of unshed tears. "What if I’m pleading with you, Ethan?"He didn't offer a verbal rebuttal. He simply pulled his hand back, severing the physical connection. It was a cold, silent wall of rejection.When we reached the lodge, Natalie had already set the private table with a feast of steamed mountain trout and herb-crusted venison. "Walk with me for a moment, Collins," Natalie said, catching my eye. I followed him toward the washroom corridor."Did
I was terrified he was about to rip into Denise.I surged to the Enforcer’s side, throwing my weight against his arm to anchor him."Stay your hand! She’s just lost her pup. It’s only natural that her spirit is fractured and wild.""Ha… I see you haven't been cast out of the Silvercrest den yet! You’re quite the prodigy at enchanting Alphas, aren't you, Collins?" Denise spat, her voice dripping with venom.The Enforcer’s muscles bunched, his hand twitching as if he were ready to claw the insults right out of her throat.I blocked his path again, my voice firm. "Return to the driver's seat. I’ll settle this with a final word."The Enforcer shot a lethal, predatory glare at Denise—a silent warning that if she breathed too heavily on me, she wouldn't see the next moon. Denise felt the icy shiver of a low-ranking wolf facing an Apex, but she forced herself to stand tall. Now that Savannah was gone, she had to endure. It was the only way she could ever hope to avenge her daughter’s blood.
I pulled out my device and established a link with Mason."Hello? Collins?" Mason's voice crackled through."Savannah’s hunt is over. She’s dead. Did you have the scent of this?""What?! What do you mean her flame is out?! I’m at the healer’s wing for a scan... She was stable when we spoke on the frequency last night.""Did your pack have a fallout?""No!" Mason barked. Then, as if a jagged memory had pierced his mind, he added, "Wait. Savannah was at the manor when Uncle Ethan came home for the feast. It was a brutal night. Ethan told her to her face that her time was running short, and she’s been shivering in her den ever since—""That’s a lie! I was in Ethan's territory all night. He didn't lift a claw!"Mason let out a heavy sigh. "Why does your logic fail the moment Ethan Carter is the Alpha in question? I’m just giving you the scent I picked up. You’re the only wolf I’d trust with this. If the Peace-Keepers come sniffing around, I’m staying silent...""Listen to me, Mason Carter
I shook my head, the fatigue from the bumpy journey through the Kingdom of Valeria’s foothills settling deep into my bones. "It’s going to take us another three hours to trek back to the city, Dad. We should just start moving now.""Let’s get some fuel in you first. You haven't had a proper meal si
The heavy weight of the stolen credits from the Parker legacy felt like a lead shroud. How could they have incinerated such a staggering fortune in such a short window?I inhaled a ragged breath of the freezing morning air and hit the connect button. Before I could even draw a breath to speak, Sava
I carefully wiped the remaining dampness from Ethan’s skin, pulled the heavy faux-fur duvet up to his chin, and tucked him in securely. By the time I had rinsed the basin in the en suite and returned to the darkened bedroom, his breathing had leveled into the rhythmic cadence of a deep, restorative
Who did Collins Parker think he was to lacerate his soul this way? The Alpha of Silvercrest was not a male to be trifled with, yet he looked devastated.“What’s your take on the Parker heir, Tyler?” Brandon asked, leaning against the mahogany bar.“He’s just another university student at first glan







