MasukKaneI stepped from the threshold into the yard, boots crunching on packed snow. Frigid air bit at my skin. Men saddled horses in the open snow, gearing up to head out.The horses snorted and pawed, breath steaming in the cold air. At seventeen hands, they towered over me, their thick black winter coats and heavy iron-shod hooves built for the northern cold and war.Horses back home were small, none coming close to the size of these. Saddles creaked on their massive backs. The acrid smell of sweat and dung hung sharp over the yard, overpowering the clean scent of snow.At the gate, two guards stood, staring at me as I approached. My eyes slid over them.I spotted Vidar by his horse and made my way over. "Vidar."He turned, smiling. He stood over six feet tall, wrapped in a thick riding cloak, his bearded face ruddy.I clenched my jaw and swallowed. The big man at his side watched me."Vidar, you've got a good crew here. They might...""It's Alpha Sarn," the big man cut in, "not Vidar,
KaneI swallowed the bitter taste down again and spoke quietly, "After yesterday, you never spoke to me... What was the 'not here' for?"Jace tore another piece of bread and chewed slowly. "Yeah, well."That annoyed me. He wasn't taking this seriously. "What's that supposed to mean?"He swallowed and wiped crumbs from his mouth. "Nothing, man. Just... you know, keep your head up.""My head?" I frowned. "Are you even listening to me?""Sure, I'm listening." He shrugged again."I asked you about yesterday.""Yesterday?" Jace glanced away, down the passage. A servant hurried by. "Oh, yeah... that.""What about that?" I snapped.He waved a hand vaguely. "It was just... a thing. No big deal.""I took it kind of seriously, considering you brushed me off in front of everyone."Jace sighed. "Look, I didn't mean to... I was just busy with some stuff.""Stuff." I stared at him, incredulous. "Some stuff was more important than your Alpha?""Hey, come on, it's not that serious." He shook his head
Kane"Where's my wife?"The tall man paused in the corridor, boots scraping on stone, as he turned to face me, irritated. "Why ask me?""I'm asking you.""I don't know, and frankly, not my problem." He walked on. He had broad shoulders, thick bear hide worn at the elbows, dark hair in an iron-shot braid, and heavy boots that rang on the stone.I stood there, stomach roiling. He didn't care. None of them cared. If she'd run in the night, no one would tell me. I fought a retch and went back into my room.I shuffled to the hearth, now nothing but a heap of cold black ash. The furs were rumpled on the bed, her side smooth. An empty hook hung by the door, her cloak gone. Elara's flowery scent still clung to the fur.I crossed the room, shouldered the door open, and walked out. The corridor stretched before me. I sniffed the air. Her scent was there, faint and thin. But it was all over the place. I got a few paces, then lost it.She ran.She'd tried this once before, on the road. This time
FenrisI climbed the stairs to the keep's highest floor, my boots thudding on the stone steps. The chiefs had been badgering me all night to take the Southern Alpha's tongue for calling my Luna faithless in my hall.I reached the top of the stairs and my stride slowed. The warrior's post outside Sera's door stood empty. A growl rumbled in my chest.Where was he?I followed my nose down the dark corridor to her door. The scent of drink mixed with the Southern Alpha's clung thickly to her door, concentrated on the latch.The hairs on my nape stood up. My wolf seethed begging for release.I clenched my fists and breathed hard through my nose, working to keep my shape.I pushed the door open and stepped inside.Sera was in the chair by the window, hair spilled over her shoulders. Amara stood silent at her post by the door. The hearth was banked, a single candle lit on the table with a jug and cups.I shut the door behind me, turning to face her. Candlelight flickered over the hollows of h
SeraElara gaped at me, shaking. "Where... where do you expect me to sleep? I can't go back to..." She bit off the words, her eyes darting to Amara sprawled motionless on the furs. "I can't go back."I raised my eyebrows, slowly uncoiling to my feet. "That's not my problem."She stared at me, her chest heaving, then turned on her heel and plunged out the door.I stepped into the corridor to watch her. The lone torch cast deep shadows, making the walls loom. Elara turned away from the stairs and headed down the long hallway toward the far end of the keep.The hulking warrior who had been her shadow all evening pushed off the wall and followed behind her.I turned to the warrior at my door. "She's gone. Why don't you go eat? You've had to stand there all night."There was a pause, then a low mutter. "It's my post. I can't leave it."I glanced back into the room, at the hearth. "I have Amara. And I've had enough of your ears for one night." I looked at him. "Go."He hesitated, then shrug
LyraI sank onto the edge of my bed and stared at the packed bag at my feet. Mother's voice was still in my head."Aldric isn't your father."I'd frozen. Not because I was surprised, exactly. Mother had been sleeping with other men for as long as I could remember; it wasn't far-fetched. And somewhere deep down, it wasn't like the idea had never crossed my mind.He was just so different from me.It was only strange, hearing it out loud."Does he know?" I'd asked her, my voice flat.She'd gone quiet for a moment. Then she'd shaken her head, slowly, and sighed. "I think so," she'd said. "I think he knows.""Hmm," was all I'd said.Then I'd sighed. "Thanks for letting me know."And with that, I'd walked out and left her standing in the doorway, wrapped in that sheet.Now, in the quiet of my own room, the scene kept replaying. Her face. The sheet. The way she'd fought for the words. Father.The word felt strange now, foreign on my tongue, like a coat I'd been wearing for years that turned
SeraNight fell fast, and with it, the temperature plummeted. We had three fires going, but the heat didn't seem to travel more than six inches past the flames. I sat on a log by the middle fire, pulling the wagon fur around my shoulders, shivering so hard my teeth were literally clicking together.
LyraShe ignored me. She dropped to her knees, her hands sliding down to the waistband of my trousers. She shoved her fingers inside the fabric, gripping my hips tight. With one sharp pull, she dragged the pants and my underwear down to my ankles. I stepped out of them, kicking my boots off in the
Lyra"Tell the girl to step into the room," he said."Leave her out of this," I said. My voice came out as a pathetic, raspy whisper. I cleared my throat, trying to find some spine. "She didn't do anything. It was my idea to come in here.""Tell her to step into the room," he said, his eyes going d
LyraThe voice didn't belong to Nadia. It didn't belong to me. It came from the metallic object resting directly behind my hip.Nadia froze. She pulled her mouth away from me and yanked her fingers out of my body. She stood up quickly, wiping her wet mouth with the back of her hand, her chest heavi







