I yawned, my back stiff from being in one position all day. I'd spent the majority of the day reading history books, history books Mrs Alanna had shoved down my throat yesterday. A tutor to guide me into the Luna role, huh? I hadn't seen Cassian since the feast, which was two days ago. I'd cried myself to sleep in my sister's warm embrace and woken up alone. She texted me later, apologising for leaving without saying goodbye. I couldn't be mad at her. Crying in her arms had lifted a weight; it made me feel lighter, but the aftermath of the cruelty I'd experienced still lingered."Talia ?" I looked up from my book to find Nicole peeking at me through a shelf. I shut the book I was reading and quirked up a brow. "I wanted to check in on you, see how studying is going," he walked closer, settling on the table. I groaned and bent forward, resting my forehead against the table. "It's hell. These books are damn boring." He chuckled lightly. "I'm here to rescue you." I sat up, narrowi
"What are we going to do about him? Alpha Mason?" Nicole asked from behind me. My fist tightened around the railing, my hands aching from the force. But the ache was nothing compared to the memory that kept clawing its way back, memories Nicole's words brought back. The afternoon she was taken.I hadn't cared about pride, about the council's disapproval, or even about the ancient grudges between packs. I'd gone to him. To Mason.Alpha Mason of the Bloodfangs. My rival. My enemy. The wolf I swore I'd never bow to.But when the hours stretched too long and every trail went cold, when my men returned empty-handed and all I could hear was the phantom echo of her screams, the scent of her blood in her house— desperation had stripped me bare.I remembered the way his eyes gleamed when he let me into his office, the sun casting cruel shadows across his annoying face. He'd known I was desperate the moment I stepped inside. He’d known I'd come to beg."You want her back?" His voice had been
The afternoon was unusually still, the kind of silence that gnawed at me more than any storm. From the terrace, I watched the warriors run drills across the grounds, dust rising under their boots. They moved in unison, sharp and precise, but all I could see was chaos. The chaos waiting just outside our borders.And the chaos in her eyes last night.I clenched the railing until the wood dug into my palm."Alpha," Nicole's voice pulled me back. He approached steadily, a folder tucked under his arm. Always composed, always practical. I envied that about him.He handed me the file. "Scouts returned this morning. You'll want to see."I flipped it open, scanning the reports. Kills along the northern ridge. Deer. Wolves. Too many. And then—the sketches. Markings burned into tree trunks, not random claw marks but symbols. Repeated. Deliberate."They're branding our land now?" My voice came out colder than I meant.Nicole's expression didn't change. "They're organised. The rogues aren't moving
The morning after the feast always felt heavier. Too much wine, too many hollow congratulations, and the faint stench of smoke from the bonfire clinging to my jacket. I woke before dawn anyway, restless, my body tuned to duty no matter how little sleep I got. But today, the restlessness wasn't from the pack.It was her.Talia.I told myself I went to check on her last night out of responsibility. She'd left the feast early, claiming a headache, and though I'd seen through the excuse, I let her go. Still, something nagged at me. Hours later, when the laughter had dulled and my head felt clearer, I found myself walking towards her door.I didn't knock.I'd stopped just short, leaning against the wall, listening. I hadn't meant to, but her voice carried—ragged, broken. My chest tightened as I heard her sobbing, words fractured between gasps. She wasn't talking to me, but to her sister. That much was obvious.It wasn't the crying that cut me open. It was the words."They went too far, the
I sighed and stared into the dark room, sitting on an empty chair. The moon shone brightly, rays slipping in, framing the room. It was quiet, peaceful.The feast was still going on, but I'd excused myself, claiming to have a headache. Cassian could see through my lie but didn't stop me. I was glad he didn't.If I had spent one more second there, I would've exploded. Their smiles and laughter, the pack members' happy chatter about how I'd survived, like it was something to be happy about. Like it hadn't broken me into pieces, like I hadn't been subjected to unimaginable cruelty.I clenched my fist, angry at myself for feeling this way. I was sent into the labyrinth to prove myself. I scoffed. Prove myself, to who? To those vultures in council seats? To my mother, who hadn't spared me a glance since the trial ended?A soft knock came at the door. I knew who it was before she spoke, announcing herself and stepping in. Tasha.I glanced up at her, my body too tired to move."Hey sis," she
The dining hall of the pack house shimmered like it belonged in a magazine spread. Glass chandeliers dripped light across long oak tables, the walls lined with sleek portraits of past Alphas and Lunas. Silverware gleamed. Servers moved with quiet precision.Everything was curated to scream power.And yet, as I stepped inside, it all felt suffocating.Every head turned. Conversations dulled to whispers. I heard the words they didn't bother to lower their voices for—Luna. Survivor. Trial. The bond. Nicole was a step behind me, sharp in his black suit, every inch the loyal Beta. But Cassian... he was already there. Standing at the head of the table, framed by light, his navy suit tailored to perfection, exuding that same steady authority that made wolves follow without hesitation.And then his eyes found mine.The air shifted, heavy with that stubborn, unyielding pull I couldn't seem to escape. His gaze lingered just long enough to remind me—whether I wanted him or not, whether I truste