MasukKade’s POVDominic straightened his collar with deliberate calm, the mocking smile never leaving his face. He gave me one last lingering look, eyes bright with amusement, then pushed off the wall and walked toward the door without another word of challenge.“I’ll await your wish, Alpha Kade,” he called over his shoulder, voice smooth and laced with sarcasm. “Take all the time you need. We both know you have… other matters to settle first.”The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the dining hall feeling suddenly too large and too empty.I turned to Aria.She was still standing beside the table, the half-cut steak forgotten on her plate. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms, one hand sliding to the small of her back while the other cupped the back of her head. She didn’t resist. Instead she leaned into me, her body fitting against mine with that same easy warmth from upstairs.“Stay away from him,” I murmured against her hair, voice low and ro
Kade’s POVThe silence that followed Claire’s outburst was deafening.All eyes at the table were now fixed on me, waiting. Aria sat perfectly still beside me, her presence a quiet anchor I hadn’t asked for but suddenly needed. Dominic watched with thinly veiled satisfaction, as if he’d just been handed a gift. The elders leaned forward slightly, their surprise shifting into sharp curiosity.I pushed my chair back and stood, keeping my voice calm but firm as I addressed Claire directly.“Claire, it’s not what you think,” I said, stepping toward her. “Aria was sent to the Cold Palace for… reasons that involved pack security. I never said she left voluntarily. Things were complicated. She returned today because—”Claire’s eyes flashed with raw hurt and anger. She raised a hand, cutting me off before I could finish.“How dare you lie to me Kade? You know what? Scratch that. We’re done!”Her voice cracked on the last word. Without waiting for another syllable from me, she spun on her heel
Kade’s POV I walked straight from the bathing chamber to the dining hall without letting my mind linger on what had just happened upstairs. No time for that. The trials were still unfolding, and the pack expected their alpha to carry himself with strength, not distraction. The long oak table was already set when I entered. Servants moved quietly, laying out platters of roasted meat, fresh bread, and steaming vegetables. The elders had gathered—Cassius with his pale, piercing eyes, Dorian looking sharp and watchful as ever. Dominic sat at the far end, flanked by a couple of his Shadowmere wolves, his expression carefully neutral but carrying an undercurrent of tension. Rorik, the Beta I had just beaten into the dirt, occupied a seat near him, nursing a tankard with a bruised jaw and a scowl that hadn’t quite faded. Claire was nowhere in sight. Good. I wasn’t ready for another confrontation yet. “Alpha Kade,” Cassius greeted, nodding as I took my seat at the head of the table. “You f
Kade’s POV The kiss didn’t stop at lips. Aria’s hands tightened on my shoulders the moment I tried to pull back, her fingers digging in with a need that mirrored the sudden, violent awakening of my wolf. The protest died in my throat as she rose on her toes and kissed me harder, tongue sliding against mine in a hot, demanding stroke that sent fire racing straight down my spine. I groaned into her mouth, the towel around my waist slipping loose and pooling at my feet. There was nothing between us now but damp skin and months of buried hunger. My hands found her waist, pulling her flush against me. She gasped at the contact, my cock already hard and heavy between us, pressing insistently against her stomach. “Aria…” I rasped, breaking the kiss just enough to speak, forehead pressed to hers. “We shouldn’t—” “Shut up,” she whispered fiercely, her breath trembling. “You talk too much.” Her words snapped the last thread of restraint. I lifted her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around
Kade’s pov The roar of the crowd still echoed in my ears as I pushed through the door of my private chambers in the pack house, shoulders heavy, every muscle screaming from the fight I’d barely scraped through. Dust and blood caked my skin. My ribs throbbed with every breath. The strange surge of strength that had let me take Rorik down had burned out, leaving me hollow and raw. I kicked the door shut behind me with my heel and immediately started pulling off the torn, sweat-soaked training leathers. The fabric stuck to the cuts and bruises, peeling away with sharp stings that made my jaw clench. I needed a bath. Hot water. Something to wash away the dirt, the blood, and the lingering fog that still clung to the edges of my mind like cobwebs I couldn’t quite brush off. The shirt came off first, tossed carelessly onto the floor. Then the pants. I stood there half-naked, rolling my shoulders, trying to work out the knots, when the door slammed open hard enough to rattle the hinges. C
Kade’s pov The world tilted. My back hit the dirt hard, the impact rattling through every bone like thunder trapped under my skin. Dust choked the air, thick and gritty. I tried to push up, but my arms felt heavy, disconnected. The roar of the crowd crashed over me in waves, cheers, gasps, confusion, all blending into a distant, mocking thunder. How…? My vision swam, edges blurring like fog rolling in off the river. Rorik’s victory pose loomed above me, arms raised, chest heaving with triumph. The pack was on its feet, some still shouting my name, others already turning to whispers. I could taste blood, metallic and warm, coating my tongue. This couldn’t be happening. Not here. Not in front of them. Five years undefeated, and now… this? My body refused to obey the way it always had. Every movement lagged, like I was fighting underwater. Why? The warm-up with Riven had felt sharp enough. The tricks, the angles, he’d drilled them into me. So why did the field feel like it was spinni
Beta Riven’s POV Two days had passed since my conversation with Aria, and I still hadn’t managed to get close to Kade. Every attempt had been blocked politely, professionally, but blocked nonetheless. Claire always had a reason. The Alpha was in a council meeting. The Alpha was resting. The Alpha
Beta Riven’s pov Then Olive spoke again, hesitantly.“Luna… there’s something I should mention. One of the maids in the main house, her name is Beth. We grew up in the same village before joining the pack. We’ve stayed close over the years.”“And?” I prompted.“And Beth works the upper floors. She
Aria’s POVThe knock came just after sunset, three sharp raps on the garden entrance, our signal.I was in the sitting room with Olive, going over her account from the market for the third time, trying to make sense of what she’d witnessed, when I heard it.My heart jumped.“It’s him,” I said, alre
Claire’s POVThe corridor leading to our chambers was thick with smoke even before I opened the door.I adjusted the thin silk mask covering my nose and mouth, fashionable enough to pass as an accessory, and practical enough to filter out the worst of the incense fumes.The door swung open silentl







