LOGINBenjamin's POVThe movie playing across the enormous television had reached its climax. Normally, I would have been paying attention. Tonight, I wasn't.I sat silently on the leather sofa inside Jade's private villa, absentmindedly swirling the glass of wine in my hand.Across from me, Jade appeared unusually cheerful. She laughed at the movie and commented on nearly every scene.Yet, something about her behavior felt forced. Almost as if she was trying too hard."Benjamin." She smiled sweetly. "You're not even watching.""I've had a long day." I said.She nodded sympathetically. "The council meeting?""Yes."
Kristian's POVThe moment I carried Iris through the hospital's emergency entrance, dozens of medical staff rushed toward us.A stretcher was wheeled over.One of the doctors reached for Iris. "Sir, we need to take…""No." The word came out colder than I intended.The doctor froze.I took a slow breath then carefully lowered Iris onto the stretcher myself."Save her."The doctor nodded immediately. "We'll do everything we can."As they wheeled her toward the emergency room, my hand instinctively reached for hers. Her fingers were cold, far too cold.
Kristian's POVI tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Tonight, I simply wanted to surprise her and see her smile, nothing more.As I turned onto the avenue leading toward Iris's apartment, something caught my attention. A thick column of black smoke rose into the night sky.At first, I didn't think much of it. Then I realized where it was coming from and my heart stopped.My wolf suddenly roared inside my mind.Even from several streets away, I could smell her scent mixed with smoke and burning wood.I slammed the accelerator to the floor and the engine roared. Cars ahead barely had time to move aside as people shouted when my vehicle shot past them.
Iris's POVThe violent coughing tore me from my sleep. For a brief second, I couldn't understand what was happening. The room was dark but something was wrong. The air was thick and hot.Another fit of coughing bent me over. I tried to inhale but instead of fresh air, smoke rushed into my lungs. My chest burned instantly.Nancy's frightened howl exploded inside my head. I shot upright that instant.The moment my feet touched the floor, heat slammed into me. It wasn't just smoke, orange light flickered beneath my bedroom door.My heart skipped a beat when the realization hit me. It was a fire.I stumbled toward the door but the metal handle was already hot. I wrapped part of my blanket around my hand before pulling it open.A wall of black smoke suddenly rolled into the bedroom and I covered my mouth.The hallway outside was burning. The curtains had already caught fire and pieces of the ceiling were falling. The crackling sound of burning wood echoed through the apartment.A loud cras
Jade’s POVThe report arrived shortly before noon, and nobody inside Red Crescent’s council chamber needed to read it twice. Our last three allied packs had withdrawn their support. The Southern Council had approved Kristian’s penalties, and every bank connected to Pillar Holdings had frozen our credit. Red Crescent had lost.The pack still possessed land and soldiers, but Benjamin’s faction had been destroyed. The executives who once crowded around him now avoided his eyes. Two elders had resigned that morning, and several department heads were sending private messages to rival packs.Benjamin sat at the head of the table, staring at the report. He had not shaved, and the dark marks beneath his eyes made him look older than he was.“How much money remains in the emergency reserve?” Benjamin asked the finance director.The finance director turned a page. “Enough to cover basic operations for six weeks,” he answered. “That estimate excludes the border forces and compensation ordered
Rue’s POVThe instructor’s declaration left the training ground silent. Nancy stood inside the cracked circle, her black coat marked with silver points and the white star shining on her forehead. The pressure coming from her forced every wolf nearby to lower its head.Even the wolves inside the healers submitted. Several people dropped to one knee, unable to fight the command carried by Nancy’s presence. Harrison remained standing only because Kristian’s crimson power shielded him.I looked at Percy for confirmation. “Is she truly a Star Wolf?” I asked.Percy kept his attention on Nancy. “Yes,” Percy confirmed. “Her bloodline is pure. There is no break or weakness in it.”I had known that Iris was special from the day she was born, but this was beyond a mother’s pride.“Her aura is stronger than an Alpha’s,” the instructor said. “It commands wolves through bloodline authority. They are not choosing to submit. Their wolves recognize a ruler above them.”Nancy raised her head, and the s
Aiden’s POVIt’s been five years since Rue walked out of my life, since she disappeared with our daughter and took whatever remained of my soul with her. And still, the emptiness refuses to leave me.Time was supposed to numb it. Everyone said it would. That the sting of betrayal would dull, that g
Rue’s POVBy the time I returned home that afternoon, I was so tired I wanted to sleep. I’d barely stepped past the threshold when I heard the faint clatter of cleaning tools from the corridor.I frowned.I took a few steps cautiously, wondering who would be at my house. Because except for my frien
Haven’s POVThe moment Aiden disappeared behind the bathroom door, steam already beginning to hiss from the shower, I sighed.All that trembling, that pitiful sobbing, the soft quiver in my voice—gone. In its place came a quiet meditation of the previous events.He had looked at me with confusion t
Rue’s POVThe lecture hall was still buzzing with conversations when I slipped my books into my bag. Life at Golden League University was everything I had once dreamed of: the challenge, the high standard of education. It has only been a month and we were already preparing for an exam.As I steppe







