LOGINRain hammered against the tall glass windows overlooking the cliffs of House Damaris while the four brothers stood around the large black table, staring at the paused footage on Zevrian’s laptop screen.
Sable’s body was frozen midair. Elowen stood opposite her in the hallway, arm still stretched from the punch, silver hair wild around her shoulders. No one spoke for several seconds. Then Sorrian leaned back in his chair and let out aThe massive doors of the Oracle groaned open just as the four alpha brothers stepped inside together, their heavy footsteps echoing across the sacred chamber. Moonlight spilled through the towering crystal ceiling above, washing the white marble floors in pale silver. Hundreds of candles burned around the circular hall, their flames trembling softly beneath the weight of the full moon hanging directly overhead. Every elder was already seated. Kaelen stood near the back wall with his arms crossed, dressed entirely in black, looking bored out of his mind. Elowen stood near Mother Elvya in another one of her fitted corset gowns, dark silver this time, the silver cross necklace resting against her chest while her pale hair flowed down her back like liquid moonlight. She didn’t look at any of them when they entered. Grand Alpha Sylas looked furious. “You are late,” the old man sai
Rain hammered against the tall glass windows overlooking the cliffs of House Damaris while the four brothers stood around the large black table, staring at the paused footage on Zevrian’s laptop screen. Sable’s body was frozen midair. Elowen stood opposite her in the hallway, arm still stretched from the punch, silver hair wild around her shoulders. No one spoke for several seconds. Then Sorrian leaned back in his chair and let out a low whistle. “Damn,” he muttered. Draven folded his arms tightly across his chest. “That strength wasn’t ordinary.” Ellion kept staring at the screen, troubled. “She barely touched Sable and sent her flying across the hall.” Zevrian replayed the clip. Again. Sable crashed violently into the pillar. Sorrian shook his head slowly. “That’s wolf strength.” “No,” Draven said immediately. “Not just wolf strengt
Kaelen’s hand was buried deep in Elowen’s silver hair as he dragged her across the polished marble floor of House Damaris like she weighed nothing. Pain tore through her scalp with every step. “Elowen!” Ellion shouted, already rushing forward from the living room. The huge doors of the estate slammed shut behind Kaelen’s guards, cutting off the sound of the storm outside. Wet footprints stained the floor from the seawater dripping off everyone’s boots. Elowen could barely breathe from how hard Kaelen yanked her forward. “Please…” she choked out through tears. “Please let go…” Kaelen ignored her completely. The living room had gone silent. All his brothers had been waiting there. Zevrian stood near the fireplace with his jaw clenched tight enough to crack bone. Draven looked furious, pacing before Kaelen even entered. Sorrian sat lazily on
The moment the garbage chute dropped them into the lower tunnels beneath House Damaris, Elowen realized escape was not going to be as simple as she imagined. The landing alone nearly broke her ribs. She slammed into a pile of soaked waste nets with a cry, the impact knocking the air violently out of her lungs. The smell was unbearable. Rotting food, chemicals, blood, damp metal. Her entire body ached instantly. A second later, Lysara crashed beside her with a scream. “Ow! Fuck! Fuck!” Elowen groaned and rolled onto her side, coughing hard. For a few terrifying seconds, neither of them moved. Then somewhere above them–voices. Both girls froze immediately. “Elowen…” Lysara whispered fearfully. “Shh.” Heavy footsteps echoed faintly through the chute tunnels overhead. Guards. Elowen’s heartbeat
Elowen kept her hood low as she hurried through the dim corridor, her heartbeat pounding violently against her ribs. The black cloak Maureen once gave her dragged lightly behind her as she moved quickly toward the servant passageways. Lysara followed right behind her, whispering aggressively the entire way. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed. “If they catch us, we are dead.” Elowen didn’t stop walking. “I’m leaving tonight.” “You can’t just walk out of House Damaris!” “I can and I will. With or without you.” Lysara grabbed her wrist suddenly, forcing Elowen to stop near a dark corner between two hallways. “You’re not thinking clearly,” Lysara whispered harshly. “You’re angry and emotional and…” “I have every right to be emotional!” Elowen snapped, yanking her hand free. “They’ve turned me into some ritual object for their disgusting bloodline!”
The conference room inside House Damaris always felt too cold. Not because of the air. Because every time Elowen stepped into one of the brothers’ spaces, it reminded her that none of this belonged to her. Not the towering walls of black marble. Not the polished obsidian table stretching across the center of the room. Not the glowing city map floating in the air above them. Not the wolves seated like kings while discussing the fate of an empire she never asked to be part of. And definitely not the life they had forced onto her. The massive doors slid open as she stormed in without knocking. Five pairs of eyes lifted toward her. Well… four. Kaelen barely looked interested. He sat at the far end of the table with one boot resting lazily over the other knee, dressed entirely in black. Like usual. Zevrian sat at the head of the table, sharp and composed in a dark tailored shirt with the sleeves folded neatly to his elbows. Papers and holographic screens floated around him. Dra







