LOGINWith an angry growl, Riven winnowed them straight out of the mountain.The dark stone corridors vanished, replaced instantly by the warm, sunlit wood of Selena’s large cottage.The transition was so sudden Elara gasped, her fingers clutching Riven’s bare shoulders as the scent of dried lavender, burning sage, and sweet chamomile flooded her senses.Selena was already waiting by the wide hearth, a heavy clay bowl in her hands emitting a thick, silver mist that smelled of crushed roots and river water. She didn't look surprised to see her Alpha son-in-law materialize in the middle of her living room with a pale, trembling Luna in his arms. Willow's panicked mind-link had clearly done its job."Put her on the bed, Alpha. Gently," Selena ordered, her voice calm but commanding.Riven didn't say a word, his jaw locked so tight the muscle was ticking violently. He laid Elara down on the soft cushions, but he didn't step back. He hovered over her like a massive, dark cloud, one of his la
Elara chuckled at Willow's last statement as they walked toeards the kitchen to get her sister something to eat. They didn’t even make it to the kitchens before the heavy double doors at the end of the corridor swung open. Two Alphas stepped through, flanked by their Betas and Lunas. The contrast between them was stark—Alpha Kenneth of the Moon Rain pack was an older, broad-shouldered man with a neatly trimmed gray beard, while Alpha Vance of the Crestwood pack was younger, sharp-eyed, and practically radiating nervous energy.Willow immediately smoothed down her dress, her coordinator mask slipping effortlessly into place, as Elara smiled brightly at them, slipping into her dury."Alpha Kenneth, Alpha Vance. Welcome to the Blood Court."she stepped forward, forcing her shoulders back despite the sudden, strange flutter in her chest. "We hope your journey through the mountain passes was smooth.""As smooth as a trip through Bloodclaw territory can be, Luna Elara," Alpha Kenneth r
Even with Willow by her side, Elara still felt stressed out just thinking about the fact that the welcome ball will be held in the Blood Court, under the mountain. Of all places... Why here? Amongst people who didn't really like her guts.The air was crisp and cool as Elara and Willow strolled through the grand, winding hallways of the Blood Court. Deep beneath the mountain, the ancient stone walls were lit by the warm, amber glow of iron torches, casting long shadows across the polished floors. It was a massive, imposing fortress designed to project absolute power...and right now, it was buzzing with the chaotic energy of the pre-party preparations.Elara looked up at the jagged vaulted ceilings, a small, knowing smirk touching her lips. "I still find it hilarious that the visiting Alphas think this gloomy and intimidating place is the entire heart of our pack. They genuinely believe the Bloodclaw pack just sits around in a dark mountain sharpening axes, gettingready to kill our e
Elara woke up before the sun was fully over the treeline, but for the first time in weeks, the heavy exhaustion was completely gone. She sat up, stretching her arms above her head, and blinked in surprise. The dull, constant ache in her lower back had vanished. Instead, a vibrant, humming warmth spread from the center of her chest down to her abdomen.She placed a hand over her stomach, a soft smile spreading across her face. The pup was quiet, but she could feel it a distinct, low current of pure Alpha power radiating directly from her child and channeling straight into her veins. It didn't feel heavy or domineering like Riven’s aura; it felt like a reservoir of clean, untamed strength.By mid-morning, Elara was a blur of energy around the house. She swept through the main rooms, dusting shelves and organizing the kitchen pantry. She spent an hour preparing a massive spread of food for the guards on duty, her body moving with a lightness she hadn't felt since before the pregnancy.
A sharp, tight ache in her lower back pulled Elara out of a deep sleep. She shifted, groaning softly as she tried to find a comfortable spot on the pillows, but the dull ache suddenly sharpened, wrapping around her abdomen like it was squeezing her stomach walls. Fuck... she was having contractions...Her breath caught in her throat. She gripped the edge of the mattress, her body stiffening as the muscle held her tight for several long, grueling seconds before finally letting go.Beside her, the mattress shifted instantly. Riven was awake before she could even draw a full breath, sitting up and pulling the blanket away to look at her."Elara?" his deep voice was rough with sleep, but his eyes were completely sharp. "What is it? Is it the baby?""Contractions... I'm having contractions," she panted, rubbing her palm against the side of her stomach. The skin there felt tight, hard as a rock. "Just a bad one. It’s passing... don't worry"Just as she was speaking, the walls of her
Zara’s face went completely pale, her grip on the towel tightening so hard her knuckles turned white. She took a step toward him, her eyes wide with shock. "What exactly do you mean by that? Did you sleep with Elara while she was trapped in your territory when you kidnapped her?"Lucan stiffened, the confident smirk instantly vanishing from his face. "Zara, no...it’s not...that's not what happened. I just mean the timing of the pregnancy is...""You just mean what, Lucan?" Zara demanded, her voice cracking as she stared at him. "Did you touch her? Do you love her?""I didn't...I mean, she was here, and I thought..." Lucan stammered, his tongue suddenly feeling too thick for his mouth as he scrambled for an explanation. "It’s a tactical lie, Zara. The bond between them is...""Oh, please!" Morgana cut in, her voice slicing through Lucan's stuttering like a blade. She stepped forward, looking at Zara with a vicious, satisfied grin. "Don't let him lie to your face. He didn't touch he
Elara’s legs pounded against the cold ground as she sprinted up the misty hill, breath hitching from the icy morning air. She didn’t need to look back, he would follow her. She knew he would. He always did.Let him chase her. Let him feel the pull too.The air shifted, thinning as the trees broke o
Despite her attempt to keep her breathing steady, Elara gasped for air as she ran beside Riven.She should have known his smile was not a friendly one. As Elara tried not to die as they ran through the cold mountains, she watched Riven who was very obviously slowing himself down so he could keep u
Immediately they got back to the townhouse in the mountains, Riven put her down back on her feet, turned her around to face him and just stared at her. "What? I wasn't planning on hurting anybody. I never planned for any of that to happen." She immediately came to her own defense. "Who said anyth
Blood rushed into Elara's head with so much force, she needed to sit down. She stumbled, struggling to find her seat, until firm, masculine hands directed her to it and helped her sit. What was this, this feeling of betrayal that was consuming her? "Step sister? You have a daughter?" Elara asked,







