ANMELDENPENELOPE'S POV When it comes to efforts, Rhaegal's workers could take that award. Every staff, wolf guard, servant, even the doctors, down to your cooks all treated me like I was now one of them. A few times during the day, they'd do some things around my room, keep me company and make sure everything I want is provided. Another night had come and gone, yet, no communication with anyone from the Ironclad pack. Anissa happens to be the closest person to a friend I've made within the past few days, and she was the only one I could speak to about it. We spent more hours in the clinic, running tons and tons of tests, and today would be no different. My patience was slowly beginning to dwindle as I waited for her call in my room. I paced from the window to my bed, the bed to the balcony, back and forth until my throat went dry. I rang the bell close to my bed. The lock of my door clicked, and a servant hurried in. “Get me a glass of water,” I requested. I'd hoped she'd forget to lock
EZRA'S POVI snuck out of the library through the window behind the last shelf. I held onto the window seal for a moment, waiting to confirm that someone was coming in before jumping off. The paper dumpster was right beneath me, and I fell into it. It took a while to crawl out of the odorless dump, brushing the sand off my hair and clothes. The book was still in my belt where I'd fixed it, holding onto it like a last support. I quickly made my way for the shadows and went through the dimly lit paths until I was standing at the center of the pack, close to the fountain. At this hour, prior to the disaster, only a few pack members could be found roaming about the pack. But now, there were a lot of people, almost like the night was the new day. I crouched somewhere beside the fountain and pulled the book out. My fingers were trembling when I pulled it free from my belt, washing my palm over its thick and smooth leather cover. It had a silver crest.For a moment, I hesitated. It was to
ODESSA’S POVThe glint of steel was the first thing I saw.The woman’s smile didn’t waver as her hand slipped beneath the folds of her apron, drawing the knife in one swift motion. Lucas was standing too close, unaware.“Lucas, look out!” I shouted, throwing myself forward. My palms struck his chest, shoving him to the ground just as the blade came down.The cold kiss of steel tore into me instead.A sharp gasp ripped from my throat as pain exploded through my abdomen. The force of the blow staggered me backward, and for a breathless second, the entire room seemed to fall into silence. Then the pain swallowed everything, hot and suffocating, clawing at my insides as though the knife had set fire to my veins.The woman tried to pull back for another strike, but she never got the chance. Malia was already there, her hand locking around the attacker’s wrist. With a savage twist, she disarmed her and slammed her against the wall, fury burning in her eyes. The knife fell to the ground, sli
LUCAS POVI sat on the desk to get a proper look at the book that slid to my side. The page was dirty, a few lines covered by dirt that didn't seem removable. “What do you mean?” Odessa didn't answer immediately. She reached for the first deck, took out a container and shook two pills into her palm. “Water, please,” she requested, pointing in the direction of the water. I brought the bottle to her and waited until she flushed the drug down with the water. “Rhaegal is from a long line of wolves. The forsaken. Extinct wolves who lost control of their wolves and caused a disaster. Most of them were wiped, and their position and dominators was striped off them,” “What does it have to do with Penelope?” I asked, still scanning the book to understand the wordings. It was English, but sophisticated. A few words in a sentence were mixed with other languages, making it unreadable for someone who hasn't spent years understanding the history and learning languages like Odessa. “Penelope is
LUCAS POVI assisted Alpha Daemon upstairs and back to his room, where he sank into the bed with a sigh of relief. Everywhere still reeked and its effects were boldly written all over his face. He looked frustrated, angry, clueless as to what to do next. I waited until he had steadied his breathing before moving to close the curtains, dimming the light that poured in. He didn’t need the world pressing in on him now. He needed silence, a shield from everything outside these walls.For a moment, I simply stood there, watching him. This was the Alpha everyone looked to for strength, the one who bore the weight of our pack without faltering. And yet here, stripped of the eyes of others, he looked… human. Exhausted. Broken in a way that twisted my chest.“Lucas,” he called.“I’m here, Alpha,” I answered, stepping closer.His eyes, sharp but tired, shifted to me. “Did we lose everyone?”The question landed heavy. I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Not everyone,” I said carefully.
DAEMON'S POVI stirred on the bed as my eyes opened. A ring pulsed through the walls of my ears, keeping me drowned in silence until distant voices became clear.“…he hasn’t moved since last night,” Lucas’s voice carried low, yet sharp with worry.“He will,” Malia replied, steady but softer than usual, as though speaking too loudly might shatter me completely.I blinked against the dim light that leaked into the room. The ceiling above me wavered before it steadied, the cracks and grain of the wood coming into focus. My chest rose with a labored breath, a sting spreading down my side, reminding me of wounds I didn’t recall gaining.Their figures stood by the far corner, bent close together in urgent discussion.I tried to push myself upright. The moment my muscles tensed, fire shot through my ribs. A groan slipped past my lips before I could catch it.Both of them turned instantly.“Alpha Daemon” Lucas rushed forward, his hand pressing lightly against my shoulder as though to keep me
Penelope’s POVHe settled into the chair like a king settling into her own seat on stage and spreading out, legs apart, knuckles hooked under the arms of the chair as if the chair might splinter under his fingers. Only his eyes never left mine. I strode toward him slowly, my hips moving in a delib
Penelope’s POVThe door opened. Closed behind him with finality.And I stood there, spine stiff, throat tight, the echo of his words slamming through my chest like a war drum.Not about me.About Daemon.They weren’t going after the bed.They were going after the throne.But I stood there, unmoving
Penelope’s POVThat earned a few shocked stares.I couldn’t help it.I smiled.Even like this… she still had fire.And just like that, the room split again.Sides forming.Voices rising.Chaos was coming.And Daemon still hadn’t spoken.But gods help all of us when he did.The room was hot.Too hot
Daemon’s POVThe door clicked shut behind me as I entered the chamber assigned to me.Dim, quiet, and colder than expected but that didn’t matter. I wasn’t here to rest.I scanned the room with sharp eyes, noting every detail: the narrow window to the north, the tapestry along the far wall, the hea







