LOGINThe autumn sky over the central mountain ridge had begun to change. By midday, the bright blue sky was streaked with a strange, unnatural amber colour, a heavy, metallic pressure in the air that made the hair on the back of a wolf's neck stand on end. High above the Razor Peaks, the moon, though still days away from its full cycle, began to take on a faint, bruised copper tint along its lower edge. The Blood Moon was rising.Inside the hidden war room of the Black Citadel, the air was as rigid as forged steel. High quality screens lit up the dark stone walls, casting sharp blue and red light across the faces of the leaders. Sarah stood at the head of the central big table, her silver blonde hair braided wearing a dark overcoat. Her eyes was sharp, calculating, and fully focused scanned the live satellite feeds tracking the southern passes.Standing beside her was Damian, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Around the table sat Alpha Richard, Beta Marcus, Captain Logan, Alpha Denni
Inside the private family study on the second floor, a small fire burned in the stone fireplace, but it did little to warm the room.Sarah sat behind her big mahogany desk. Her silver blonde hair was braided neatly down her back, and her eyes, though tired from a night with no sleep, were sharp and firm. In front of her on the dark wood sat the printed DNA report, and the black ink showed a clear ninety nine point nine percent match between Commander Gabriel Brandon and four year old Jacob.Damian stood right beside her chair, his broad body still, his eyes fixed on the heavy oak doors. His alpha aura simmered just under his skin, a low, protective heat that filled the room. Across the desk sat Alpha Richard Williams, his hands resting heavily on the head of his iron cane, his eyes clouded with deep troubled thought.Knock. Knock.The heavy oak doors clicked open. Beta Marcus stepped into the study, bringing in Commander Gabriel Brandon. Gabriel had washed the road dust and dried blo
The air in the grand entrance hall of Williams Manor was thick enough to choke on. Outside, the autumn wind blew dead leaves against the tall glass doors, but inside, no one moved. The crystal light above cast a cold, bright light over the floor, showing the dark red blood pooled on the grey stones where Commander Gabriel Brandon had fallen.In the sunroom next door, Chloe stood with her back pressed against the double glass doors, her hands placed gently over Jacob's ears, shielding the boy from the grim scene outside. Leo stood beside them, his small face hardened with a fierce, protective frown glaring through the glass at the unconscious stranger."Take Gabriel to the lower medical wing at once," Sarah ordered. "Clean his wounds, give him the fast healing tonic and put two Wraith guards at his door, he does not speak another word until I am in the room.""Understood, Lady Sarah," Beta Marcus answered at once, signalling two senior medics. They lifted Gabriel's bleeding body onto
The golden twilight of the double birthday celebration lingered over Williams Manor like a warm, protective cover. Down on the wide southern lawn, the evening air was carried sweet scent of pine and rich autumn earth. Five year old Jacob wrapped in a thick wool coat, giggled softly as he patted the neck of a gentle dark brown mountain pony that Alpha Dennis had brought down from the Citadel, while beside him, six year old Leo proudly showed his new carved wooden shield to Beta Marcus, swinging a small wooden practice sword with fierce little determination.Standing on the stone terrace above the lawn, Sarah leaned against the railing, holding a warm porcelain cup of tea. She looked completely relaxed, with her silver blonde hair catching the fading sunlight and a look of deep, quiet contentment as she watched her boys. Damian stepped up behind her, his dark leather coat open, his broad, warm frame pressing against her back to block the rising evening breeze, wrapping his arms securely
The drainage tunnels under the central human district were a vast, forgotten maze of cold concrete, rusted iron, and rushing water from the bay. Dawn was still two hours away and high above the human city slept, unaware of the work going on thirty feet under its streets.Sarah walked through the dark, damp tunnel with her dark velvet coat pulled tight against the chill, her bow unstrung and held loosely at her side as she scanned the curved concrete walls. Beside her walked Damian his tall frame moving with easy, silent grace in his open leather trench coat over a black vest, giving off a steady, comforting heat that kept the cold dampness at bay. Behind them, Captain Logan and Beta Marcus led a four man Wraith recon unit, their night vision visors down as they scanned for heat signs or lingering traces of dark purple magic.Logan reported into his throat radio that the tunnel split three ways under the corporate tower, with the main line feeding straight into the cooling tanks under
"DAMIAN!" Sarah called out, her voice cutting sharp and clear through the roaring gloom.She landed lightly on the slick concrete floor from her perch on the pillar, with her bow raised and a silver tipped arrow set to her ear, while deep under her vest, over her heart, her silver mark pulsed with a sharp, crystal cold that cut straight through the dark magic illusion."I'm right here, Sarah," Damian answered at once from the smoke five steps to her left.His golden aura flared out in a sudden shockwave of bright heat that tore through the purple smoke like a sunburst, burning away the toxic vapor and showing the broken remains of the lab. The glass tanks lay split open, liquid spilling across the floor into steaming, dead puddles, while two dark makers lay knocked out near the far wall after Marcus and Logan's squad had taken them down.In the center of the room, beside the glowing, forced silver rift stood Rihanna. Her dark purple robes were torn from the blast and her dark staff wa







