MasukTwo years later. The top floor of the Snow Fang Industries tower.I stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the steel and glass jungle I now commanded.In two years, I had not only purged the corruption Lucas had left behind and led my pack to victory against the vampires…I had also acquired three smaller neighboring packs, making Snow Fang Industries the apex predator of the corporate world.The old-fashioned elders who once doubted a "female Alpha" could lead now bowed their heads and exposed their necks in submission whenever I walked by."Alpha Elena, your next appointment is here," my assistant said, knocking on the door. Her voice held a barely concealed excitement. "He's… from the Northern Kingdom. For the 'strategic partner' position."I turned, a small smile playing on my lips.The so-called "strategic partner" role was just a thinly veiled matchmaking attempt by the Council.They still thought I needed a powerful male Alpha to "assist" me.But I wasn't op
The moment the Mate Bond shattered, a raw, guttural scream tore from Lucas's throat.He collapsed to his knees, clutching his head as his body convulsed."No—! Elena! You can't do this!"Blood trickled from his nose and ears. The forced severing of a mate bond was an agonizing, soul-tearing torment for an Alpha.I felt the backlash slam into my own soul.But I absorbed it.My rage was stronger than any pain."The judgment will now begin," High Elder Vance declared, his voice silencing the room."By order of the Council, Sarah Collins is found guilty of colluding with vampires, violating the Interspecies Truce, and birthing a forbidden pup."Sarah completely lost it."No! I didn't mean to! The vampire… he said he loved me! He said we could rule both species together!""Foolish girl," the elder's voice was cold as winter stone. "The price for betrayal is always death.""Wait!" Lucas crawled desperately toward the elder. "She's innocent! It was all my fault!"Even now, he was still protec
Sarah's confession destroyed any hope Lucas had left.He knelt on the floor, his eyes vacant, watching her cradle the vampire pup like a precious treasure.She had admitted it."No… this is wrong…"Lucas shook his head, trying to escape the nightmare.His head snapped up, his wild eyes scanning the chaotic room.Then they locked on it. The bundle Sarah had thrown to the floor.His last hope.Sarah had tossed it aside for that monster.But this bundle… this held his real son. The pure-blood pup.It was all out in the open now. Let Sarah take the fall. She was the one who slept with a vampire, not him. As long as he had the pup, it proved he had protected the Alpha bloodline. It proved his strength was needed. The war was still on. They couldn't put all the blame on him. The pack needed a strong Alpha."My son…"Lucas fought against the guards' hold, scrambling across the floor toward the bundle.The Elders didn't stop him. Everyone just watched the fool play out his final act.With a tr
The frantic, tear-streaked mask on her face hardened into stone."Sarah?" Lucas asked, frowning at her strange stillness.She didn't answer.Her wide, bloodshot eyes stared right at Lucas. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.A chill ran through the room at her bizarre reaction.In that dead silence, a voice of cold authority echoed from the shattered doorway."Where is the traitor who lay with a vampire?"Everyone turned in terror.Standing in the doorway were the ultimate arbiters of pack law, life, and death.The Elders.The moment he saw the Council, Lucas’s terror morphed into manic glee."High Elder!"Lucas scrambled toward them, a clown begging for applause, completely missing the cold fury in their eyes.He pointed at me, his voice booming with self-righteous fury. "You've come at the perfect time! Look! The shame of the Snow Fang Pack! Elena betrayed our sacred vows and gave birth to this filthy vampire spawn! And Sarah... she—Elena hid her pup!"He snatched the hissing mons
My voice made Lucas jolt so hard he almost dropped the bundle.The movement angered the thing in his arms.The baby let out a piercing, unholy shriek. It wasn't the cry of a wolf pup, but something far more evil.A corner of the blanket came loose. I saw a pair of blood-red eyes.And two tiny, razor-sharp fangs.The vampire spawn was starving, desperate to sink its teeth into any living thing nearby.Lucas's expression shifted rapidly—from terror to guilt, and finally, to grim determination.He took a sharp step back and threw the screeching monster onto my bed!"Gods! Elena!"Lucas let out a deafening roar, his performance kicking into high gear. "Look what you've done! You gave birth to… a monster!"The creature landed near my feet and immediately began crawling toward me, trying to get a taste of my blood.I coldly lifted my foot and pressed the tip of my boot into its chest, pinning it to the sheets so it couldn't move."Nice acting, Alpha," I said softly.But my voice was drowned
Lucas's pupils contracted. The hand holding the goblet trembled almost imperceptibly.He covered it quickly, his fear replaced by the classic, offended rage of an Alpha."Elena, what is that look?" he growled, using his Alpha dominance to hide his guilt. "I am your mate! Your Alpha! Would I hurt you? Would I hurt my own pup?"I could smell the reek of desperation coming off him.Mate?I laughed silently.In my last life, this so-called "fated mate" was the one who plunged a silver knife into my heart.The one who hurt me the most was never my enemy. It was you, Lucas.But I didn't call him out.I knew the potion wouldn't do permanent damage to a healthy werewolf.It would just cause intense muscle spasms.The perfect prop for my performance."Of course not," I said softly. "I'm just nervous."I tilted my head back and drained the bitter liquid.Lucas let out a breath, a savage glint of triumph in his eyes.The poison worked faster than I expected.Five minutes later, a violent cramp se







