ANMELDENNicole’s POV Everything happened too fast, blurring together. Cassian took Talia in his arms, and just when the moon was about to dim, he marked her. The wind tore through the clearing again—no longer still—and the moon went back to the sky, where it hung over us, casting a soft glow on all of us again. But my attention wasn’t on the moon, or the council members. Or even my mate beside me. My attention was on her. On Talia. Who lay limp in Cassian’s arms. My chest tightened, a lump forming in my throat. She was still, too still. Her skin was pale, and her head hung in an unnatural angle. My legs trembled. With fear and something colder nestled in my chest, I reached for her, my senses sharpening, listening. I couldn’t hear a heartbeat. Not from her. “Talia!” I cried, finally breaking out of Mason’s hold. Cassian whose face had been pressed against her neck looked up, a feral growl tearing through him. I froze in my steps. His eyes we
Cassian’s POV Everything clicked. The memories slammed into me. Not as fragments this time—but whole, complete. Like a broken recorder suddenly forcing pieces back into place at once.Our first kiss, the first time I saw her in those woods after years apart, the way she had looked at me when she’d confessed her love, the fear in her eyes when I’d stupidly brushed iff her worries. All our arguments.Our happiness.Every moment she challenged me. Our grief.Everything came rushing back with brutal force.I’d lost her. I’d lost her to the council, to Kira. To my own weakness.A roar tore through my chest as my wolf surged forward violently, finally breaking through the cage he had been trapped in for so long.The ground beneath me shook in response, the trees shook, the air thickened—like the earth itself could sense my grief, anger and pain all at once. Like it could sense my thirst for blood and hunger for vengeance. My entire body vibrated as pure, undiluted rage spread thro
Talia’s POV Nicole’s cry echoed through the woods, making my chest tighten. I wanted to go to him. I wanted—so badly—to just hold him one last time. To hear him reassure me that everything would be alright. But I couldn’t. Even though every fiber of my being ached. Even though every muscle in my body felt like lead. The moon burned brighter, its light searing against my skin. I gritted my teeth— But I didn’t stop chanting. My insides felt like molten lava, like I was slowly melting from the inside out. Still… I kept chanting. Then my sternum burned. And I knew. The Goddess’ mark. This was the part I had hidden from them. The part that said I needed Cassian to break the council’s hold— Or I would die. But Cassian still didn’t remember me. And I didn’t have time to wait. To hope. To gamble. It’s okay, my wolf whispered softly. My lips wobbled, and a broken sob clawed its way out of my throat. Still— I didn’t stop chanting. An image of Mrs. Alanna surfaced. H
Talia's POV"No!" Elara screamed, falling to her knees. "Please don't do anything!" She sobbed."Please!" Melissa cried, following her mother’s footsteps on, her eyes wide with desperation."Oh?" I tilted my head, "Why?" I stepped closer, my movement slow and deliberate. "Why shouldn't I?" Her body trembled with fear. Mine trembled with fury as my wolf pressed against the barrier, fighting to tear her apart, to tear apart the woman who had been so close to taking our place. The woman who had dared call Cassian hers."B—because I never did anything with him," her voice trembled.I watched her, the tears streaming down her face, the desperation in her eyes, the lack of color on her face.She looked pitiful. "He wouldn't touch me—wouldn't look at me."A weight lifted from my chest, knowing Cassian remained loyal—but the anger still pulsed. "You were at the trial," I spoke, my voice deep, not entirely human, "you conspired with the council—with your mother—to kill me." My voice dr
Talia's POV Finding the real coronation had not been difficult. As expected, they'd set a trap for me in the woods, warriors pouring out from every direction. I didn't need to shift into my wolf, didn't need to run. I stood my ground, charging at them with everything I had. It had taken a lot of energy to hold my wolf back from killing them. Her rage was almost overwhelming. But they were pack members following orders. My blood still pulsed hot in my veins as I stepped into the clearing. The air was still, the beginning of the Goddess' silence cycle. "You!" Jarek growled, his eyes bright with hate. "What're you doing here?!" My eyes swept through the clearing. The warriors had their heads bowed, their bodies trembling. My wolf pressed forward even more, her aura choking them. "Luna!" They fell to their knees, their weapons hitting the ground with a loud clank. "N—No!" Jarek wailed, his eyes wide with panic. I ignored him. Nicole was on his stomach, a knife
Nicole’s POVShe wore white.She had the audacity to wear white like this was a damn wedding.“I see you were expecting me,” I spat. “Nicole!” Jarek called, stepping closer. “You look well.”“Fuck you!”“Oh?” Jarek’s eyes glistened, trailing behind me to one of the guards still holding a weapon to us. He nodded.And I felt a hard kick to the back of my knee, making me stagger.Pain shot up my leg, but I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to standing still.“Violence?” I chuckled darkly. “Really?”Jarek tilted his head, a smirk dancing on his lips.“The runaway Beta,” he started. “How does it feel to be back on your home land?I leaned forward slightly. “Repulsed,” I said lowly, “because you’re not dead yet.Jarek’s eyes hardened.He signaled to the guard behind me again and when he approached this time—I fought back.I grabbed his arm, twisting it sharply behind him. Another one approached from my side, aiming his knife at my neck.I caught his wrist, twisting it till it snapped. I
Talia's POV The room was cold, bare, lifeless. I sat on the stone floor with my back against the wall, my head pounding, my throat raw, my body drained in a way that went deeper than exhaustion. It felt like something had been ripped out of me and left to bleed. I'd been dragged here like a crim
Talia’s POV “Prepare the execution.” The words rang in my head, loud and painful, a reminder of my reality. I failed. I fell right into their trap. Here I was, on my knees, practically begging for someone to see me, to remember me. While these power hungry bastards judged me, erased m
Cassian’s POV Talia. That was the only thing in my head. The only thing that mattered. Talia. Talia. Talia. I repeated her name like a mantra, like a prayer—something solid to cling to while everything else slipped and warped and tried to pull me off course. Every step I took felt like
I had to survive this trial no matter what. Mrs Alanna said they were hoping for exile or execution. I couldn’t let that happen. “Proceed with the trial then.” I ordered, my voice deathly calm. “Since you won’t provide my mate, then get to it.” The guards beside me stiffened, one of the eld







