81 (Kathryn’s POV) Camerin met me at the door with that look on his face, the one that meant something was about to happen and I wasn’t going to like it. “There’s a girl,” he said bluntly. “From Jaxson’s pack. Her name is Hana. Claims she wants to defect.” “Where is she now?” “Being held. Searched. She asked for you.” “For me?” I frowned. “She said… ‘the Luna sees.’ That’s all.” Camerin’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t have to go. Tyler and I can handle this.” I shook my head. “No. If she came here for help, I need to see her. And if she’s lying, I need to see that too.” Tyler was already waiting in the holding room when I arrived, standing near the door, arms crossed. His whole presence was alert, but tense. He didn’t say anything, just gave me a look that said, Be careful. The girl Hana sat at the far end of the room, her wrists resting on the table, her eyes darting around until they found me. She looked young. Tired. Worn too thin for someone her age. When I stepped inside, s
80 (Kathryn’s POV) The training field was quiet now, the sun beginning to sink behind the trees in hues of amber and violet. I sat on the edge of the platform, my staff resting across my knees. Every inch of me ached, but it was a satisfying ache, the kind that meant progress, not punishment. Celia approached with two bottles of water and a soft smile. She tossed one to me before sitting down beside me, her long skirt pooling around her legs. “You looked like hell,” she said casually, bumping her shoulder against mine. I snorted. “That good, huh?” She gave a soft laugh. “No, I mean it. You looked like hell and you didn’t back down. Not once.” I cracked the bottle open and drank. The cool water helped, but my hands still trembled slightly from the effort. “I’m trying to earn my place. Not just be Tyler’s mate. Not just be… protected.” “You’ve already earned it,” Celia said, her tone quiet but fierce. “What are you doing now? That’s not about proving anything. It’s about preparin
79 (Tyler’s POV) The knock came just after sunrise. It was too precise three short raps, evenly spaced. Not urgent like a warrior reporting for duty. Not casual like a servant. I was already on my feet when the door creaked open and Carson stepped in, holding a sealed envelope between two fingers like it might bite him. “You have a problem,” he said flatly. “Or maybe we both do.” Kate sat up behind me, wrapping the sheets around herself. “What is it?” Carson walked to the desk and dropped the envelope there. It was black. The wax seal is blood red. Jaxson’s pack symbol, warped and jagged, stamped into it like a scar. “No one saw who delivered it,” Carson said. “It was left on my office desk. No scent. No sound. Like it just appeared out of thin air.” I already hated it. I broke the seal. Inside was a single piece of thick paper, the ink so dark it looked like it had bled from the page itself. You brought her into this world. You marked her as yours. You made her a target. S
78 (Kathryn’s POV) I found them in Carson’s war room, an actual war room. A long table with maps, digital screens showing movement reports, and ranked wolves stationed around the perimeter, all watching closely as Tyler and Carson leaned over a marked-up map of the bordering territories. They both looked up when I walked in. Tyler’s eyes found mine instantly. He didn’t smile, but something in his shoulders eased. He stepped around the table to meet me halfway, stopping just short of touching me. “How’s Scott?” “Alive,” I said. “But just barely.” Tyler nodded. “I’m sorry.” Carson cleared his throat gently. “He was lucky. One of our patrols happened to be sweeping that part of the road. The truck was upside down, crushed. If they’d been five minutes later…” “I know,” I cut in, my voice steadier than I felt. “Thank you, Alpha. For getting him out.” Carson’s gaze sharpened, assessing me differently than before. I wasn’t the shaky human mate in the corner anymore. I felt it, too. S
77 (Kathryn’s POV) The trees changed as we crossed into Carson’s territory denser, darker, as if even the forest knew something had gone wrong. The drive was silent, except for the hum of tires on the road and the occasional crackle of the radio. Tyler hadn’t said much since we left. He didn’t need to. The storm was already brewing in both of us. Jake drove fast, but not recklessly. The kind of speed that said Alpha orders, no delays. My fingers twisted in my lap as we pulled through the gates of Alpha Carson’s packhouse. Warriors met us immediately, ushering us toward the main building where Carson stood waiting, dressed not like an Alpha today, but a man who’d been running damage control for hours. He didn’t waste time. “Tyler, Kate come with me. I’ll explain on the way.” We followed him down the hall, past curious eyes and solemn nods. The place was buzzing, but with a kind of grim efficiency. No chaos. Just quiet, hard purpose. “Scott was found this morning on the west highw
76 (Kathryn’s POV) Tyler didn’t return until well after midnight. I was still awake, curled in the window seat in our bedroom, watching the woods for any sign of him. When he walked in, he smelled like smoke and death. I rose to meet him. “You found something.” He nodded. “Jaxson’s not just regrouping. He’s already set the board.” My throat tightened. “Did he leave a message?” He stepped closer, cupping my face in his hands. “Only one.” He leaned down and kissed me—fierce, burning. When he finally pulled back, he whispered, “We see your Luna.” I didn’t flinch. I met his eyes with calm steel. “Then he’d better be ready. Because your Luna sees him, too.” I walked over and quietly shut the door. When I turned around, Tyler was already peeling off his shirt. I winced at the sight of his wounds. He paced the edge of the bed, shirtless, his skin streaked with fresh gashes and half-healed bruises. His fists clenched and unclenched, his jaw tight with unspoken rage. Though the retali