Mate's Vengeance

The cemetery was empty except for the ghosts.Sera Blackwood knelt before the fresh grave, her fingers tracing the carved letters of Marcus Ashford's name. Six months. It had been six months since they'd laid him in the cold earth, and the pain still felt like claws ripping through her chest with every breath.The autumn wind cut through her black coat, scattering dead leaves across the grave like nature's own funeral confetti. She barely felt the cold. She barely felt anything anymore."I found out who did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling trees. "I know who killed you, Marcus."Inside her mind, there was only silence. Her wolf her beautiful silver-grey wolf who had once been so vibrant, so alive had retreated so deep after Marcus's death that sometimes Sera wondered if she'd ever surface again. The mate bond had snapped like a severed spine the moment Marcus took his last breath, and something fundamental had broken in both halves of her soul.Where her

The Silvermoon Estate rose from the mountainside like something out of a dark fairy tale.Sera sat in her beat-up Honda at the base of the long, winding driveway, staring up at the mansion through the windshield. Even from a distance, it was imposing-all stone and dark timber, with tall windows that caught the afternoon light like watchful eyes. The architecture was a blend of old-world Gothic and modern mountain lodge, somehow both forbidding and beautiful.This was the seat of power for one of the strongest packs in the region.This was the home of Marcus's killer.Sera checked her reflection in the rearview mirror one final time. The woman staring back was almost unrecognizable from who she'd been six months ago. Her naturally blonde hair was now a rich chestnut brown, falling in soft waves past her shoulders. She'd learned to school her amber eyes into something gentler, more vulnerable. Her makeup was minimal but carefully applied-just enough to enhance her features without looki

The servants' quarters are in the east wing," Elder Moira explained. "You'll share a hallway with the other housekeeping staff, but you'll have your own room. The bathroom is communal, down at the end of the hall. Meals are served in the staff dining room at six AM, noon, and six PM, but you're welcome to make yourself tea or coffee in the kitchen anytime."She stopped at a door marked with a simple "7" and produced a key. "This will be yours."The room was small but clean and surprisingly pleasant. A single bed with a simple quilt, a dresser, a small desk and chair, and a narrow window that looked out over the grounds. It was sparse, functional, nothing like the comfortable apartment Sera had shared with Marcus.But it would do. It was just a stage set, after all. A place to rest between acts of her revenge play."The other maids are friendly," Elder Moira continued. "Rosie especially-she's about your age, works the same shift. She'll help you learn the ropes. Unpack, get settled, an

They continued their work, moving through the main floor with practiced efficiency. The house slowly came to life around them-more staff arriving, ranked pack members heading to breakfast, the ordinary business of a large household beginning its day. At seven-thirty, they took a break in the kitchen for more coffee and a quick snack. "You're doing great," Rosie said encouragingly. "Natural at this. Have you worked in large houses before?" "A few," Sera said vaguely. "Hotels, mostly. I'm used to staying out of the way." "Well, you're good at it." Rosie checked the time. "The Alpha should be done with training soon. We can tackle his study while he's at breakfast." They climbed the main staircase-sweeping and elegant, with a bannister of polished dark wood-to the second floor. The Alpha's study was at the end of a long corridor, a set of double doors that spoke of importance. Rosie knocked softly, then opened the door when there was no answer. The study was impressive-floor-to-ce

For a moment, Sera considered lying. But Elder Moira would see through it, just like she'd apparently seen through Sera's entire carefully constructed facade. So she told a version of the truth. "I lost someone I loved," Sera said quietly. "Six months ago. It broke something in me. I've been drifting since then, trying to figure out how to keep living when everything that mattered is gone." That much was true. "Working with growing things... it helps. It reminds me that things can survive, can heal, even after terrible damage. That's what I'm doing here. Trying to heal." Also true, in its way. Even if the healing she was seeking involved revenge and destruction. Elder Moira's expression softened. "I'm sorry for your loss." She looked back out at the garden. "The Alpha walks that path sometimes. In the evenings when he can't sleep. He stands there looking at what's left of Elena's garden, and I can see it breaks his heart all over again." Perfect. Even better than Sera had hoped