Mira’s POVThe air inside the dungeon was heavy with the scent of death and something far worse—mystery. The lifeless bodies of the captured lycans lay sprawled against the cold stone walls, their eyes still wide open in frozen terror. The sight sent a shiver down my spine.No one spoke for a long time.The guards stood stiffly, their expressions shifting between confusion and fear. The councilmen exchanged wary glances, their minds no doubt racing with the same questions that were swirling inside my head.How did this happen?How could high-grade prisoners be slaughtered under tight security without anyone noticing?Councilman Ryker was the first to break the silence. His voice was sharp and filled with barely restrained anger. “What in the Moon Goddess’ name happened here?”The guards snapped to attention, but none of them answered immediately. They looked just as clueless as the rest of us.Councilman Baylor frowned, stepping closer to one of the bodies. “Were they poisoned?”O
Kai’s PovThe journey had been long and merciless. Every warrior with me was weary, their exhaustion evident in their sluggish movements and the way they struggled to stay upright on their horses. We had left in haste, with no time to pack food or water, relying only on the occasional generosity of the few scattered clan members we passed. But I refused to stop.I rode at the front, my gaze never wavering from the path ahead. My brothers were out there—Rowan and Damien—possibly injured, captured, or worse. The thought gnawed at me, fueling my determination.The man leading us stumbled slightly, struggling to keep pace. I tightened my grip on the reins, my patience hanging by a thread.“If we arrive at the location and my brothers aren’t there,” I said, my voice cutting through the wind like a blade, “you and your entire family will be executed and fed to the crows.”The man flinched but nodded frantically. “I swear, Alpha Kai. I would never deceive you.”I didn’t care for his reas
Kai’s PovThe wind carried a heavy stillness as we approached the hut. The land around it was barren, untouched, and eerily silent. No movement. No signs of life. Just an isolated structure standing alone in the middle of nowhere.Jorah rode up beside me, his gaze sharp as he scanned the area. “There’s no movement inside, Alpha Kai.”I didn’t like this. Something wasn’t right.I raised a hand, signaling the warriors to spread out. “Surround the hut,” I ordered, keeping my voice low. “No one moves until I give the signal.”The warriors immediately followed my command, positioning themselves strategically, their weapons drawn, their eyes scanning for any hidden threats.Jorah and I dismounted, stepping toward the hut with cautious precision. I could feel the weight of every warrior’s gaze on me, waiting for my next move.The closer we got, the stranger it became.There was no entrance.No doors. No windows. No visible way inside.Jorah frowned, running his fingers along the stone-like
Mira povThe night was silent, yet I couldn’t find peace.I rolled onto my side, then onto my back, then onto my stomach, but sleep refused to come.My mind was a battlefield of thoughts, conflicting and troubling, clashing against one another. The dead prisoners haunted me. Their lifeless eyes, their untouched bodies, their inexplicable deaths.“How were they even killed?”Nothing made sense. The prisoners had no wounds, no signs of struggle, no poison detected in their bodies. It was as if something had just… taken their lives without a trace.A shiver ran down my spine.Then my thoughts drifted.To them.Lucian. Kai. Rowan. Damien.I hated how much I thought about them. How much I worried about them.It had been easier when I only had one purpose—to avenge my mother.I came to Blackwood to destroy the Lycan Kings. To tear them down. To make them suffer.And now?I was restless because they were in danger.I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, sitting up in bed. I was lo
Mira POV I woke up late.The sunlight filtering through the window was brighter than usual, meaning the morning had long passed. I groaned, rubbing my temples as I sat up. My sleep had been deep, but not exactly restful.My thoughts from last night still lingered—the conversation with Lucian, my decision to investigate the council, and my growing suspicions about the prisoners’ mysterious deaths.The sound of soft footsteps pulled me from my thoughts.“My Lady,” one of my handmaids greeted me with a bow. “We have prepared your bath.”I nodded, pushing my thoughts aside for now.Two of my handmaids assisted me into the large bathtub, the warm water soothing my tense muscles. As they washed my hair, I found my mind drifting again—to the dead prisoners, to Serena’s disappearance, to Kai’s search for Rowan and Damien.So many unanswered questions.By the time I was dressed and prepared for the day, I realized that the castle was too quiet.I frowned as I made my way to the royal dining
Mira’s POVI embraced them for what seemed like ages.For the first time in days, I let go of all the weight in my chest and just held them. Rowan’s scent, Damien’s warmth—it was real. They were back. Safe. Alive.I didn’t realize my eyes were stinging until I felt the first hint of a tear threatening to fall.I quickly pulled back, wiping my face before anyone could see.I had lost myself in the moment, forgetting that we were standing in front of too many people. The warriors, the councilmen, even some castle servants were all watching. I straightened my back, regaining my composure.Rowan smirked at me. “Did you miss us that much, Mira?”Damien chuckled, folding his arms. “She couldn’t have. She still hasn’t succumbed to the mate bond yet.”I frowned at him, ready to argue, but before I could open my mouth, Kai scoffed.“You two have been kidnapped for days, and the first thing you care about is whether the Luna missed you or not?” he mocked, shaking his head. “Pathetic.”Rowan smi
Mira’s POVFor the first few moments, Councilman Baylor was speechless.The weight of my question hung in the air, suffocating, as every eye in the room turned to him.Even the other councilmen stared at him expectantly.I knew it.They were thinking the same thing I was—that Baylor had been subtly pushing them to ignore the prisoners’ deaths. That he was trying too hard to make them focus on something else.Finally, he cleared his throat, adjusting his robes as if shaking off the tension. “I am simply suggesting what is best for all of us,” he said smoothly. “If we pursue this investigation and it somehow leads to other Lycan Kings, it could result in war. And I think we can all agree—Blackwood does not need a war right now.”A few murmurs rippled through the hall.He was trying to appeal to their fears—to make them believe that continuing this investigation would only bring disaster.But he wasn’t fooling me.I leaned forward. “If what you’re saying is true, then we should be even m
Mira’s POVThe council hall remained silent as everyone absorbed the weight of Lucian’s question.“If witches are behind this, how do we find them?”No one had an answer.Then, finally, a councilman spoke.“We should send an emissary to Darkfire Clan,” he suggested. “Their kingdom had the last known witch executions in history. If there is any place that might still have traces of witches, it’s there.”A murmur of agreement passed through the room.It was a reasonable plan.But now, the real question was—who would go?“We need someone skilled in negotiation,” another councilman added. “Someone who can get information without drawing too much suspicion.”“I nominate Alpha Lucian,” Councilman Baylor declared.I turned to look at Lucian, expecting him to either accept or decline the nomination.But before he could say anything, his brothers immediately refused.“No,” Kai said firmly.“Absolutely not,” Rowan added.Damien didn’t even hesitate. “He’s not going.”The council members looked
Kai POV The sky was still cloaked in darkness, though the faintest glow of dawn had begun to brush the horizon when our carriage rattled over the rocky terrain toward the Darkfire border. The journey had been long and heavy with silence at times, but inside the double space carriage, we found ourselves deep in conversation once again. The air was thick with anticipation.Rowan sat with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp and unwavering, while Damien leaned forward slightly, elbows on knees, brows drawn as he listened to me lay out the final version of our plan.“We go in under the guise of diplomacy,” I said, my voice calm, but firm. “We are visiting the King and the council to pay our respects. That’s the surface. But our real task—what we must accomplish before we leave—is to uncover the witches.”“Find Benard Sawyer,” Damien added, nodding. “And locate those woods—the site of the executions.”I nodded back. “Exactly. If the Last Witches truly died there, then the secrets of what
Mira POV The wind was soft, yet cold, brushing against my skin as I walked along the stone path leading to the shrine. The sun hung low in the sky, bleeding orange light over the trees that framed the sacred space. My steps were slow. Heavy. But steady.I had walked this path before.And yet, today felt different.The shrine loomed ahead, surrounded by people kneeling in prayer or whispering hushed words toward the sky. It was more crowded than usual, packed with villagers seeking comfort amidst the chaos that had overtaken our clan. Some clutched candles. Others held small, carved totems. Their eyes were glassy, tired. Lost.As soon as I was spotted, a small group broke off from the rest and hurried toward me.“My Queen,” one of them—a man no older than thirty—spoke first. “Please… what do we do now? The clan feels like it’s crumbling. We’ve heard whispers that the Kings have vanished.”“Are we at war again?” a woman asked, clutching her shawl tightly. “Is Blackwood falling a
Mira POV Pressure wrapped around me like a noose.It tightened more with every cry that echoed beyond the castle walls, the angry shouts of the clan members rising like a storm I couldn’t stop. My fingers trembled as I clasped them in my lap, seated on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the door as if someone—anyone—would walk through it and tell me what to do.But no one came.The throne was mine. The responsibility was mine. For the first time, I was alone to rule.My mates—my kings—were gone. Their decision had been final. They left the castle with nothing but purpose in their stride and the weight of a plan I had no part in. And now, the clan wanted answers. Clarity. Leadership.From me.A pit had formed in my stomach. It felt cold and heavy, like a stone I’d swallowed but couldn’t digest. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t wise like Kai or confident like Lucian. I wasn’t brave like Damien. I was just… Mira. A girl burdened by a legacy I didn’t ask for and secrets I wished I could
Mira POV I ran through the fields barefoot, the wind lashing my face. I was younger—perhaps thirteen—and the soft warmth of sunset bathed the skies above our small village.Laughter echoed behind me, the sound of teenagers playing a game I’d barely understood but tried to join. I had always watched them from the window of our cottage, envying their joy, their freedom. That day, for the first time, I had dared to approach.I remember how hesitant I was when I stepped into their circle. They looked at me, puzzled, surprised. I was the Chief’s daughter, the one who never spoke to anyone, the one who always looked distant. But they smiled, awkwardly at first, then welcomed me with timid warmth. I laughed—really laughed—for the first time in a long while as I tried to keep up with the game. It was clumsy and imperfect, but I had finally felt…human.Then he came.“Mira!” his deep, sharp voice split the air like a whip. Everyone turned.My heart dropped.My father stood at the edge of
Mira POV I stared at them, mouth slightly parted in disbelief. “You’re what?” I asked, even though I’d heard Kai’s words clearly the first time.“We’re going to the Darkfire clan,” Rowan said calmly, standing beside Kai with arms folded across his broad chest.My heart skipped. “Just like that? Without warning?”Kai’s voice was steady, resolute. “We’ve exhausted all our options, Mira. We’ve sent spies, scouts, even attempted magical tracking. Nothing’s led us to Baylor or any of the witches. It’s as though they’ve vanished from the realm.”“So, you’re going straight to the source?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Kai nodded. “Yes. To Benard Sawyer. He started this. Somehow, he brought them back from extinction. He knows something… and we intend to find out what.”“But why go yourselves?” I argued, stepping closer to them. “Why not send messengers? Or councilmen? Even your generals? You’re the rulers of this kingdom. Your lives aren’t just your own to gamble.”Rowan gave
Mira POV When I arrived at the shrine, I immediately knew something was different.The courtyard was crowded, more than I’d ever seen it. People were pouring in through the arched gates, their footsteps fast yet quiet, their heads bowed as though afraid to lift their eyes. Some clutched prayer beads, others held burning candles. A few sobbed quietly as they moved toward the inner sanctum.I stepped aside as a woman passed me, dragging two small children behind her. One of them looked up at me, his eyes swollen from crying. My heart twisted painfully.I made my way inside and found the head priestess, her wrinkled face lined even deeper than usual.“What’s going on?” I asked softly, trying not to let the heavy tension around us suffocate my voice.She turned to me with a tired expression. “The people are afraid,” she said, clasping her hands together. “Since the massacre… the castle guards, the bloodshed… word has spread.”I frowned. “Word?”The priestess nodded. “About the wit
Mira POV Two days later…I woke up before the sun had risen, the castle still blanketed in silence. For once, I didn’t wait for Adela or any of the handmaids to come in. I slipped out of bed, walked barefoot to the bath chamber, and poured myself a cold shower. The icy water hit my skin like a slap, but I welcomed it. I needed the numbness. My mind had been anything but still for the past two days.I couldn’t stop thinking about the massacre—the way the blood had soaked into the stone floors, the way the guards’ lifeless bodies had been carried away one by one. And the families… Gods, the families. They had gathered outside the castle gates yesterday, their wails cutting through the air like blades. Some had thrown stones, others had just fallen to their knees, begging for answers. Begging for justice.I stayed in the shower longer than necessary, hoping the water would wash away the unease churning inside me. It didn’t. When I stepped out, I dried myself quickly and dressed
Mira POVI sat quietly in the carriage beside Damien, the steady rhythm of the wheels rolling over the rugged trail doing little to ease the storm brewing inside me. The sun was still rising in the sky, casting golden beams through the trees, but my heart felt too heavy to appreciate any of it. We were heading to the place where Benard Sawyer was meant to be executed years ago. Damien sat across from me, flipping through an old parchment from the archives, but I knew we were both thinking about more than just the past.The silence stretched between us until I finally broke it.“How’s Lucian doing?” I asked, not looking at him. I didn’t know why I needed to know so badly. Maybe because the thought of losing him clawed painfully at the inside of my chest.Damien looked up at me, his expression shifting to something solemn. “He’s hanging on,” he said softly.“But not for long. The disciple told me the only thing that could really save him is complete faith—from the three of us.”I
Kai POVThe air was tense as we stormed toward Councilman Baylor’s chambers. I walked beside Rowan with six guards behind us, all alert and on edge. Damien and Mira had taken off earlier to the execution site where Benard Sawyer was once meant to die. I hoped they’d find something useful. But right now, our focus was Councilman Baylor.Rowan kept glancing at me as we moved through the corridor. “What if he’s already done it?” he asked, low but urgent. “What if he’s already summoned them?”I didn’t need to ask who he meant. “Then we’ll be too late,” I said. “But we can’t think like that. We have to act before they arrive.”Rowan didn’t speak again, but his jaw tightened. He knew as well as I did that there was no defense against witches—not unless we were prepared. And we weren’t. Not yet.When we arrived at Baylor’s chambers, they were eerily quiet. The guards took position at the doors while Rowan and I pushed inside. The room was dim, the curtains drawn, the fire out. It felt li