Adams' POVI kicked my horse’s sides and felt it leap forward while the wind blew around us. Dale rode next to me still looking like a proud new warrior in my elite group.I glanced at him as if his vows showed in his face and shone with pride and resolve.We knew our mission well, but I felt a tight knot of worry in my stomach as we got closer to Thornvale Village.“Your Highness, do you think this might just be a false alarm?” Dale yelled above the loud noise of our horses' hooves.“Rogue sightings don’t just pop up for no reason, Dale!” I replied while sounding confident. “I trust my gut feelings. We can’t let them endanger the village. We must defend our home and our people!”Behind us, a dozen of my best fighters rode fiercely with their faces showing strong determination.Each man was a symbol of our proud heritage— a history built through many fights and earned wins. They had come to my side with intense loyalty and today that loyalty will be challenged.As we approached the ed
Ben's POVThe night surrounded me like an old coat, feeling both safe and risky. I crouched on the ground with my back against the rough fence next to the palace. The moon was hidden by clouds, giving me a little light—good for me.I had spent years moving through these shadows and every rustle of leaves and soft breeze reminded me of the home I had lost.“Stay quiet. Just until she gets here,” I whispered to my wolf, while trying to hide my nervousness.The words seemed too weak and lost in the still night. I tapped my foot on the ground and each soft beat rang in my head.I looked behind me with my heart racing as memories of why I was there flooded my mind. Being banished had changed everything, Adams had made me sneak around like a shadow.I was now on my own depending on quiet promises and the darkness for comfort.A cold breeze blew through the air and I brushed my hair back with a shaky hand. I must have waited so long.“Where are you, Shayla?” I whispered, while looking into t
Ben's POVI ducked down behind some twisted roots with my heart racing and my breathing quick as I looked at the dark rogue camp.I felt the past pressing down on me like a heavy blanket that wouldn’t go away. But tonight felt different as need and want pushed me ahead like two flames ready to ignite the whole forest.I saw the rogue scouts fade into the dark with their sharp eyes on the faintly lit entrance of the settlement. They looked like ghosts—thin, tense and always ready to jump into action. The guards stayed hidden with their hunting instincts satisfied by their secret spots.To an untrained person, the settlement looked empty, but I had learned to look deeper with each hidden figure, reminding me of how dangerous my situation was.“Stay sharp, stay aware,” I said quietly while repeating what Augustus had taught me. The rogue king was both friend and enemy, like a tricky balance of trust and betrayal.But tonight I was making my own path, and it was risky going right into the
Lilith's POVI walked back and forth in the big hall with my footsteps echoing on the large marble floors with each step matching the chaos inside me. Worry squeezed my heart and under my calm surface was a rush of need.The faraway voices filled with sharp orders and the movement of guards pulled at me like a strong current, putting me at risk of drowning in doubt.“What’s going on out there?” I whispered with my eyes glued to the beautiful stained-glass doors that opened to the palace grounds. I had made a choice—a brave, maybe foolish one—to start the plan to catch Ben.The pressure weighed heavily on me and each moment without news made my fear grow stronger.”What if they fail?” The thought slipped in so unwanted and sneaky. I bit my lip to push back the fear that gripped me. Ben was smart and clever and teaming up with the rogue King Augustus made him even more dangerous.I tightened my fists while remembering Shayla’s betrayal and the tough decisions I had to make. I didn’t fee
Adams' POVI stood under the faint moonlight watching the shadows move across the dirt path to Thornvale village. I had guided my men through the chaos and as they started to gather and celebrate I couldn’t shake the strange feeling surrounding me.“Your Highness,” said a voice from behind. I turned to see Elder Simmons coming closer with his old face shining in the dim light of the torches along the path.“Hello Elder Simmons,” I said to him with my voice steady, but friendly. “You look good.”Simmons nodded slightly while showing his age. “It’s a real honor to talk with you, Alpha King.” He paused while looking for the right words.“We can’t thank you enough for getting here so quickly. The rogues had us trapped and you… you rescued us.”I shook my head while feeling a familiar sense of humility. “I have to do this for my pack. I can't let anything bad happen to my people.”“Even so, you took big risks. Your men fought hard, and their bravery made a difference,” he said with his voi
Adams' POVI sat at the side of the party with the flickering torches giving off a warm light that pushed back the cool night. But my eyes went to Ronan.What really grabbed my attention was his intense stare at Dale, who was telling a funny story that had everyone cracking up. Dale had just proved himself in battle and his charm made even the serious soldiers laugh. But it was Ronan’s reaction that really stood out to me.“Ronan,” I said in my head while sipping my drink with my thoughts spinning. What was happening? The way Ronan’s eyes softened and how he leaned a bit toward Dale stirred something in me. A bond between two guys? It seemed strange, even extreme, but the bond between them was clear.As the party went on, laughter and music filled the air and I started thinking hard while watching Ronan and Dale. As the night went by, the fun slowly faded as the soldiers became tired. I realized it was time to talk to Ronan alone.“Okay guys, it's time to relax,” I said while softly g
Lilith's POVAs I slowly woke up, the first thing I noticed was warmth. It was a gentle and steady feeling that surrounded me very different from the cold darkness that had held me just before.I blinked a few times with my eyes focusing on seeing where I was with the familiar walls and the bed beneath me. But what shocked me most was the sound of a heartbeat nearby.I turned my head and saw Adams next to me. He was slumped a bit with his head resting on his hand as he slept. His dark hair fell across his forehead and at that moment he looked different—almost delicate.Confusion hit me hard. What had happened? I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness pushed me back down. My mind was a mess of memories—Bartholomew's wound, my desperate efforts to help him, the heavy darkness closing in on me and Augustus hiding within.My heart raced at the memory with a quick beat ringing in my ears. I gasped softly, and suddenly I saw Adams's eyes pop open with his gaze meeting mine with both relie
Lilith's POVAs I sat in front of the mirror with steam still on my skin after a long and relaxing bath, I admired how my dark hair fell over my shoulders. The wet strands emphasized the nice curve of my neck like a small relief in the chaos in my mind.Cara moved around me skillfully putting on my makeup with her hands expertly highlighting my beautiful features.I moved in a little closer while taking a good look at the way my own emotions were playing out in my eyes like a flickering light. My mind began to wander back to the time I spent healing Bartholomew’s wound.In that space, I was not just battling the infection that was taking over his wound, but I was also wrestling with a deep and dark feeling that seemed determined to consume me entirely. I could still feel the surge of power that flowed through me then, and I recalled how I was tempted by whispers that brushed against my mind trying to lure me in with the promise of gaining great strength.However, I knew that this stre