Marcus's gaze moved between us one last time, then fixed on something beyond our vision. With a final, rattling breath, the great Alpha slipped away.Elena's anguished cry shattered the silence. She collapsed beside the bed, her composure finally breaking as she clutched Marcus's still-warm hand.Ra
The fires at our borders mysteriously died down as quickly as they had ignited. Warriors returning from the eastern perimeter reported that the rogue forces had abruptly withdrawn—vanishing into the darkness as if their attack had been nothing but a distraction."It doesn't make sense," I said to Ka
Luna Elena arrived unexpectedly that afternoon, her usually perfect appearance showing signs of strain. "Marcus is stabilized for now," she told me after we embraced. "But I fear the damage is irreversible."Together, we reviewed the evidence I'd gathered: Giana's poisoning of Marcus, the territoria
Dawn brought an urgent summons from Raymond: "Council emergency meeting. Attendance mandatory."I dressed quickly, the sudden emergency after last night's ceremony triggering all my suspicions. Whatever Giana had planned was accelerating."We intercepted messages between your father and unknown cont
When the crucial moment arrived for the Luna's moon blessing, I approached the ceremonial chalice with deliberate grace. The ancient silver cup gleamed in the torchlight, filled with deep red wine from our pack's sacred vineyard.Giana moved slightly closer, her expression tense with anticipation. K
Dawn of the full moon ceremony arrived with expectation hanging in the air. I watched the sun rise from my window, mentally preparing for what lay ahead. Today would be pivotal—for me, for Raymond, for the entire pack. I could feel it in my bones.I prepared meticulously, knowing all eyes would be w