LOGINNicole’s POVI stared out the window. “Still waiting there?” Mason asked from behind me. I turned slightly, offering him a small smile. A smile I’m sure didn’t reach my eyes.He sighed, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. “You barely leave the room,” he whispered, coming up behind me. “I’m worried about you.”His hand came up to my bare back, at the spot where I’d been stabbed. I was fully healed now, but the poison had made it scar. A scar I’ll carry for the rest of my life. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”“That’s good,” he mumbled. “But I wasn’t talking about the injury, and you know it.”I sighed, already knowing where this was heading.“They’ll be fine,” he reassured.“It’s been two days,” my voice cracked. “She needs to eat, she needs—”“She’s with her mate,” Mason cut in gently. “If anyone’s going to look after her properly, then it’s him.”Still. I had seen the desperation on his face before he had marked her, had heard her heartbeat slowly weaken. What if—A l
Nicole’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
Talia’s POVI lay sprawled on the ground, my chest heaving up and down. I heard retreating footsteps as Nicole callously left me, after training me and pushing me to the brink of passing out. Turns out, having full control of my powers didn’t give me stamina at all. And if I intended to use my p
Talia’s POV “I’ve got you. I’ll protect you—no matter what.” Cassian’s promise echoed in my head. I bit my lip. It was pointless to dwell on it. Broken promises had a way of rotting when you held onto them too long. I missed him, more than anything. I wanted nothing more than to be in his arm
Talia's POV I had a To-do list. Figure out the relic—or try to. Then talk to Nicole, see if he feels better. With that in mind, I headed straight to the library. But stopped in my tracks when I caught a familiar glimpse of blonde hair. Kathrine. She was speaking to someone in front of the
Talia's POVAgain," he said.The word hit me like fuel to a flame.I screamed, the sound tearing from my chest as I attacked him again. My power surged with me, wild and untamed, exploding outward in violent waves. The ground beneath our feet cracked, dirt lifting as if pulled by invisible hands.I







