LOGINThe northern valley had a cemetery on the brink of disaster. From his perch on the hill Silas could see the enemy camp down below. Three hundred renegades. Potentially even more Huddled together, their figures appeared black against the backdrop of the blazing fires. Their scent was in the air, fierce, wild, ravenous. "That looks like a party" said Dante next to him. “a celebration around the corner.” Valentina charged over, her silver swords gleaming in the moonlight. She wore black leather, her face scarred with battle wounds and her hair pulled back. She looked like a goddess of death. “The scouts are in place,” she said. When I give the signal, they will hit the east flank. The mafia soldiers will get the western ridge. So we are stuck with the middle. Kade will be center stage. "I know. Valentina looked him in the eyes. That's why we're going together. Silas nodded in agreement. He turned his face to look back at the wolves that were trailing him. There are 250 of
There were just three days in the honeymoon.Silas had a plan. It was a ridiculous plan. A private island with white sand beaches, total solitude, and Valentina in his arms. But on the morning of the fourth day Dante called.I am Alpha. There’s an issue.Valentina slept through the glass doors while Silas stood on the balcony of the suite, phone to his ear. She looked at ease. Happy. The coming action filled him with dread.“What’s the damage, precisely?”Not good. Three packs are lost in the north lands. I am not talking to anybody. No one arrived there. Then we sent out some scouts. They just disappeared.My jaw tightened. "Silas. “Renegades?”Not quite so good. These attacks aren’t random. And they’re well strategic coordinated.” It is being handled by a very knowledgeable person.Anyway, who is she?“No. There’s something else.” Dante paused for a moment. We had a scout come back. Not a lot. He said
The summer solstice was chosen as the date for the wedding.Valentina came up with the idea. The day that lasts the longest. That glorious day when the sky was filled with stillness, when dawn broke through the clouds, and new life began.A day befitting a fresh beginning, she had remarked.This was to Silas's satisfaction. Whatever it was, he would have agreed to it. If she had asked, he would have tied the knot in a parking lot. This, though, was just right.Their estate's garden would serve as the site of the ceremony. Still in the same garden, amid the roses, they had stood. The very spot where he had first confessed his love to her—the garden. It was in the very same garden that their family had started.There were three hundred invitees. All across the continent, there are leading lights. Mafia dons who owed Valentina their loyalty. Hey there, pals. Allies. Loving ones.A little flower girl of five years old, who was overjoyed.The wedding was amidst the mayhem in the weeks lead
Three days later Silas was in the war room of Valentina's estate. The room's main feature was a huge oak table, covered with maps, documents and photographs. Monitors covered the walls, each displaying live feeds from different locations, pack territories, mafia strongholds, and Council buildings. Here was the heart of the empire's operations. The empire of the Valentina. And then his. Valentina stood at the end of the table. "Good evening, gentlemen," she said. "I appreciate you being here." Some of the deadliest characters in the underworld sat at the table. The mafia bosses. Heads of state rebel. Even a few Alphas who had gotten sick of the corrupt Council. Everyone had answered Valentina's call. On one side of Silas was Dante. "What a wonderful list of guests. “Valentina never settles for second best,” Silas whispered. Valentina began the meeting. Adrian Blackwood has declared war. My daughter was raped by him. He threatened to put me under arrest. He's made it clear he'll
Day 7 – Arrival The drive home was quiet. Not uncomfortable silence with strangers. Not the tense silence of enemies. But there was an unnatural quiet, as though the two had exchanged all their meaning. The silent reunion of two souls who had long ago found each other. Valentina stared out the window at the trees rushing by. She placed a palm-down hand on the seat between them. Invitation for participation. The Silas grabbed it. They shook hands. They said nothing. As the sky began to lighten, they pulled into Valentina's estate drive. It was the dawn breaking. Each day is a new day. A fresh start. Valentina reached for his hand. 'Stay,' she begged. There was no inquiry being made. It wasn't a directive. There was a plea. "All right," said Silas. Together they entered the building. The house was silent. Aria slept with her door left slightly open, her quiet breathing a comfort in the stillness. Valentina stopped just outside her daughter's room. I looked inside
Next morning Silas awoke to the sound of his phone buzzing. He'd passed out on Valentina's couch, too tired to drive home, too stubborn to leave. His neck hurt. His back complained. But when he saw what was on his screen, all the discomforts were gone. Dante: "There is a problem. "Adrian Blackwood has called a Council meeting. He’s charging the Silver Queen with crimes against the pack. He wants her arrested. Trial at midnight. Silas sat upright. His blood froze. He typed: “What crimes?” Dante didn’t hesitate. “Murder. Theft. Conspiracy. She killed three alphas, he said. He says she took pack relics. "He's building an army to overthrow the Council," he said. Silas's mouth hardened. False. All bunk. But the Council was corrupt. Adrian had spent years winning their loyalty. If he wanted Valentina arrested, she would be arrested. He rose to his feet. He took his jacket. "You're going away? He turned round. Valentina stood in the doorway, still in her robe, her hair fall







