LOGINThe kingdom of Veyne had never bowed willingly to anyone.Its mountains stood tall beneath the northern skies, their peaks buried in snow for most of the year. Its castles were built from dark stone, its armies were trained to endure the harshest winters, and its rulers had spent generations mastering the art of surviving among enemies more powerful than themselves.But there was one kingdom even Veyne had never dared to challenge openly.The Red Kingdom.For centuries, House Knight had ruled with a power that made even the oldest Lycan bloodlines cautious. Its armies were formidable, its borders nearly impossible to penetrate, and its king had survived long enough to watch generations of rival rulers rise and die.Laszlo Knight was not merely a king.He was a constant.A dangerous, terrifying constant.And that afternoon, a report concerning him arrived at the royal palace of Veyne.King Evander Veyne
Bernard looked away.Natasha pressed a hand to her chest."I keep wondering what she's doing right now."A tear slipped down her cheek."Is she frightened? Is she alone? Does she have anyone to comfort her?"Bernard's face tightened.Natasha wiped her cheek."Briella has suffered so much already."She let out a shaky breath."She lost her parents. She came into this family hoping to find a home. And what did she receive?"Her voice broke."Years of loneliness."Bernard stared at the floor. Every word landed exactly where Natasha intended."You know how she used to sit by the garden windows?" Natasha continued. "She would spend hours looking outside, watching the other girls visit their families. Sometimes I would find her crying, and she would insist she was perfectly fine."Bernard closed his eyes.He remembered.He remembered Briella waiti
Perhaps it was because Natasha sounded exactly as she always had: caring, composed, and entirely certain that she had done nothing wrong.Or perhaps it was because he remembered how quickly she had encouraged Briella to leave with Laszlo.He pushed the thought away.He had more immediate concerns.Across the table, another woman had remained unusually quiet.Queen Isolde of House Veyne sat with her hands folded before her, her gaze fixed on the documents scattered across the table.She had barely spoken since the meeting began.At first, Natasha had paid her little attention.But now she noticed the way Isolde's fingers had stopped moving.The way her expression had changed when the council began discussing the Red King's illness.And the way her eyes seemed to be fixed on a name written near the bottom of one document.Briella Whitemere.Natasha's smile slowly faded.
Bernard Ashcroft hadn't stopped shaking.It had been hours since the Red King left with Briella, yet Bernard could still see the scene whenever he closed his eyes.The black vehicles.The armed guards.The reporters shouting questions.And Briella.His Briella.Walking away from him without knowing whether she would ever return.Bernard sat at the head of the Ashcroft council table, his fingers gripping the armrests so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.He hadn't changed his clothes.He hadn't eaten.He hadn't slept.Every time someone mentioned the Blood Covenant, his stomach twisted.He had signed the transfer himself.He had watched his wife leave.And he had done nothing to stop it."Alpha Bernard?"He raised his head.An elderly councilman was watching him from across the table."Are you listening to
Briella heard the bedroom door open.She froze.Then she heard footsteps.Heavy.Unhurried.Coming toward the bathroom.Her heart began to pound.No.Please, no.The door opened.Laszlo stepped inside.Briella immediately backed away.He stopped when he saw her.She was wearing the robe, its belt tied tightly around her waist. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and her eyes were already filling with tears."Briella."She shook her head."Please."He glanced at the robe.Then at her face."Come here.""No."The word escaped her in a frightened whisper.Laszlo took a step forward.Briella recoiled."Don't!"He stopped.Her chest rose and fell rapidly."Please don't touch me."The words struck him harder than he expected.He looked at her for a long moment.Then he lowered his voice."I won't hurt you."Briella shook her head harder."You don't know that!"Laszlo went still.She seemed startled by her own words.But the fear had already taken over.When he approached again, she
"You're staying here, Briella."Laszlo's words lingered in the room long after he had spoken them.Briella stared at him.She wanted to ask another question. Several, actually.But the look in his eyes made her swallow every single one.He turned toward the five women standing near the door."See to her needs. Make sure she's comfortable. If she wants anything, provide it.""Yes, Your Majesty.""And nobody enters this room without my permission.""Of course, Your Majesty."Laszlo glanced at Briella.She immediately lowered her eyes.Something tightened in his chest.He had barely raised his voice, yet she was already shrinking into herself.He didn't like it.Not one bit."Is there anything you need?" he asked her.Briella shook her head."No, Your Majesty."The formal address irritated him for reasons he couldn't explain."Laszlo."She looked up."What?""Call me Laszlo."Her lips parted slightly.Then she shook her head."I couldn't."His eyebrows rose."Couldn't?""You're the king.







