MasukChapter Eighty-five Thalina I had done all I could. I had tried every possible way. And even now, I couldn’t think of anything else to do. It all felt like a ticking time bomb, like the truth I had so carefully hidden beneath my smiles and the love I had for him was on the verge of exploding. And when it did, it wouldn’t just destroy me, it would hurt Talon, too. Deeply. If I wanted to stop Talon from going to the wedding, it had to be today. It had to be now. If I failed today, it would mean I had failed to protect him. I would have failed to protect our love, everything we’ve built, everything we’ve shared since the day we met. Failing today would mean betraying the trust he had placed so completely in me. I took a deep breath and held up the hem of my long gown, hastening my steps. It felt like even the act of walking was wasting precious time. I couldn’t afford delays—not now. My heart thudded painfully against my ribs as I made my way through the castle hallwa
Chapter Eighty-four Thalina In the hall, the chanting rose and fell like waves. Deep, sacred voices echoing from every wall of the hall, surrounded by the oldest werewolves in the pack—cloaked in ceremonial ash, heads bowed, voices united in prayer. The sweet scent of burned myrrh and moonroot filled the air, and the ancient flame at the center of the hall danced like it had been waiting just for this day. My day. I stood still, my palms open, my eyes closed. I wasn’t trembling, but I was breathless. Not from fear, not anymore—but from awe. From becoming. “…and with the moon’s witness, with the bond unbroken, and the people gathered—” the voice of the Pack Priest echoed through the hall, “—we present her. Chosen not only by her mate, but by the spirits of those who came before. Thalina, beloved of the Alpha, heart of the pack… rise.” I opened my eyes slowly. And there he was. Talon. He stood a few feet away in his ceremonial robes—black with silver
Chapter Eighty-three Thalina The morning sunlight filtered softly through the high glass panes, kissing the silk drapes with a golden hue. The chamber was warm, filled with the quiet hum of women preparing me for the day I’d waited my whole life for—even if I didn’t know it until I met him. My skin still tingled from last night. God. I closed my eyes as a gentle hand brushed a perfumed oil across my shoulder, and all I could feel was him. Talon. The way his body moved over mine, how he looked at me like I held every star in the sky. I had never known love like that—fierce and slow, burning and careful. I had never known a man who touched me like I was something divine. And now, just minutes later, I was about to be crowned Luna of the pack. The Luna of the entire kingdom. “Still dreaming about last night, aren’t you?” a voice teased with knowing laughter. I opened my eyes and met the amused smile of Vaelora. She was seated on the velvet bench behind me, her long sil
Chapter Eighty-two Thalina The door clicked shut behind us, and for a moment, I just stood still—barely breathing. My heart pounded so loud I was sure he could hear it. My body was already aware, already aching. I hadn’t even looked at him, but I could feel his gaze all over me—possessive, tender, hungry. Then I turned. And I saw it. The chamber. Our room. Soft golden light glowed from sconces mounted on the stone walls, their flames dancing gently. The bed—large, luxurious, and wrapped in deep crimson sheets—sat at the end of a long path… a path lined with rose petals. Deep red, velvety petals scattered deliberately from the door to the bed, weaving a trail of devotion and desire. Around the corners of the chamber, scented candles burned slowly, their faint lavender and sandalwood aroma curling in the air like whispered promises. It was breathtaking. All of it. Not just because of the roses or the candles or the sheets, but because he had done this. For me. For us. A tremb
Chapter Eighty-one Talon Maverick The maid stepped forward with practiced ease, cradling the wine bottle like it was something sacred. She untwisted the cage and gave the cork a subtle tug. A soft hiss slipped out first, like the bottle was sighing. Then came the pop!—sharp, clean, and just loud enough to draw a few glances. The sound echoed lightly through my chamber, a clear sign that the night had started. A wide grin settled on my face as I took the bottle from her and gestured for her to step back. She obeyed without hesitation, moving away quietly. “Let me do the honor of pouring you a drink, Father-in-law,” I said to Thalina’s father. I didn’t know why it felt this good—why sitting across from him in this moment felt so surreal, like something out of a dream. The truth was, I never saw this coming. None of it. For most of my life, I never thought about a mating ceremony. I never imagined sharing a drink with a father-in-law. There were so many things I never all
Chapter Eighty Thalina I knew this was a bad idea. Bringing this man here—my father—was a terrible decision I might end up regretting. He wasn’t the type to sit back quietly. He had his plans, always did, and he was going to carry them out no matter what. He wasn’t to be trusted. Not now. Not ever. But I felt cornered. I couldn’t stop it without revealing the real reason I didn’t want him here. And I had already said it—if I was going to tell Talon the truth, about why I came to this school in the first place, I wanted to be the one to tell him. Not let him find out on his own. And definitely not like this. Not with my father making another attempt to hurt him. And now Talon wanted to share a drink with him? It looked noble. Heartwarming, even—to everyone else. But not to me. I knew who my father was. I knew the kind of darkness that lived inside him, the evil that simmered just beneath the surface of that wide, charming grin. A man like him—so consumed by hunger for power that he







