LOGINRowan's povElara caught my eye from across the room and gave me a look that made my stomach completely drop. She walked over to me slowly, keeping her steps quiet, and pulled me aside into the small corner by the window so Mira would not hear us talking. The air in the room felt incredibly heavy, and every single second felt like it was ticking by in slow motion."The poison damage from before is affecting Mira's body exactly the way I warned you it might," Elara said, her voice dropping to a very low whisper. "Her system is under way more strain than it should be right now. It is slowing everything down in a way that is creating a really big risk for both of them."I looked over Elara's shoulder at Mira, who was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her face pale and covered in sweat. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice shaking just a little bit. "What do we need to do? Tell me how to fix it."Elara placed a hand on my arm, looking straight into my eyes with a completely serious
Tobias's povCato formally withdrew his territorial claim the following morning. He did not even show his face in the main hall to do it. Instead, he sent a written notice straight to the council desk early in the morning before the sun was completely up. Along with the withdrawal, he requested safe passage back to the northeast territory. He offered a trade for his freedom. He promised a full account of Brennan's entire operation and a complete list of everyone who was involved in it.Rowan granted it without a second thought.I walked into Rowan's office later that morning and threw the signed safe passage papers onto his desk. "I thought that was pretty generous of you," I said, crossing my arms. "The guy was ready to steal half our land yesterday."Rowan did not look up from his desk right away. "It was practical, Tobias," he said, finally raising his eyes. "Cato's information is worth way more to us right now than his punishment would be. Locking him up just makes him a martyr f
Mira's povI was right in the middle of a sentence when the heavy oak doors of the chamber swung open. The sudden creak of the hinges cut me off completely. I froze, my mouth still half open, as Rowan walked into the room. Tobias followed a step behind him, carrying a heavy leather case by the handle.The room went immediately tense. You could actually feel the drop in temperature. All the chatter from the delegates died instantly. I stopped talking and just watched them. Rowan looked around the room, his face totally blank, completely unbothered by the fact that he had just ruined my flow."I am sorry for the interruption," Rowan said. His voice was calm, but it filled the entire room. "I have information relevant to this session that absolutely could not wait."He glanced over at me. I didn't want to make a big scene, so I just gave him the smallest nod. I took a slow step back from the center of the floor, letting him take the spotlight.Rowan walked over to the long table, took th
Rowan's povI was standing outside the council chamber when Tobias's message came through on my phone. I pulled the device out of my pocket, read the text quickly, and felt a cold surge of pure anger rush through my veins. The text was short but told me everything I needed to know. I did not waste a single second standing around or overthinking the situation. I turned on my heel and walked straight to Brennan's quarters myself, my boots hitting the stone floor with heavy, angry thuds.When I reached the room, the door was already open. My two warriors were inside, standing by the bed. They had already found exactly what Tobias had suspected was there. It was a heavy locked case hidden deep under the bed, and one of the warriors had a small metal tool in his hand. He had opened the lock in under a minute flat."We got it open, Alpha," the warrior said, stepping aside so I could look down at it.I leaned down and looked inside the open case. My jaw clamped shut tightly. Inside were thi
Tobias's povI was positioned at the back of the chamber, leaning against the cold stone wall and watching the room while Mira ran the session. My arms were crossed over my chest, and my eyes kept scanning the faces of the Alphas and delegates. Mira was good. She was honestly better than good. She moved through the agenda items with the kind of confidence that did not announce itself. She did not need to shout or flash her alpha aura to get compliance. The representatives who had come into this room totally skeptical were visibly recalibrating their opinions of her with every passing minute.I looked at the way she held herself at the center of that massive table. She looked completely in control, and I felt a wave of pride hit me, though I kept my face entirely blank. The room was buzzing with a nervous kind of energy, but she kept everyone on track.Then, the moment came for the main event."We will now hear the formal territorial claim from Nightshadow's interim leadership," Mira
Mira's povThe council chamber was full by the time I arrived. I took a slow breath before walking in, keeping my shoulders back and my face completely blank. Eleven pack representatives, three independent settlement delegates, and two neutral territory observers were already there.They were crammed around the massive oak table, whispering among themselves. At the far end of the table sat Cato. He looked exactly like what he was, a man who believed he had already won. He was leaning back in his chair, tapping a pen against his knuckles, looking completely relaxed.I walked straight to the center seat. I did not smile, and I did not greet anyone individually. I just sat down, pulled my folders toward me, and opened the session without preamble."The constitutional council exists because power without accountability is just another word for tyranny," I said, my voice echoing clearly against the stone walls. "Every wolf in this room, regardless of pack size or territorial standing, dese
MIRARowan flinched like I’d just hauled off and slapped him across the face. The question was still hanging there, heavy and ugly, and I watched him struggle to find the words.His jaw worked, a muscle jumping in his cheek, and his hands kept opening and closing at his sides. He looked like a man
MIRAThe silence in the room was so thick I could practically taste it. It tasted like dust and old regrets.I wanted to throw myself into his arms. I wanted to bury my face in his chest and let the scent of him drown out every nightmare I’ve had in this cell.But I couldn't move. Something was hol
MIRAI’ve read the letter so many times the parchment is starting to soft and fray at the edges. Two days. He said to watch for a sign in two days, and I’ve spent every single second of that time counting the beats of my own heart.It’s obsessive. I know it is. But when you’re trapped in a stone bo
MIRAI pressed my hand hard against my chest, right where the mate bond was turning into a literal wildfire. It was hot, heavy, and so loud in my head I couldn't think.He’s close. He’s right here. But where?Is he still outside in the trees? Or is he actually inside the house, moving through the h







