Pov: Asher.My boots echo on the hardwood as Ember and I stride into the living room, the air thick with tension. President Donavan stands by the fireplace, his tailored suit crisp despite the late hour, flanked by two Secret Service agents, hands near their holsters. His gray eyes meet mine, calm but calculating, like he’s sizing up a chessboard. The guards at the door shift, uneasy, their radios buzzing low. Ember’s beside me, her jaw set, eyes flicking between Donavan and the agents. Upstairs, Lupa’s with the pups, but Aiden’s death and that vanishing figure have me on edge.“Alpha Asher, Luna Ember,” Donavan says, voice smooth, extending a hand. “I apologize for the unannounced visit.”I shake his hand, firm, not breaking eye contact. “President Donavan. You’re a long way from D.C. What brings you to Raven’s Peak?”He gestures to the couch, but I stay standing. He sits, crossing his legs. “Trouble. Your town’s a powder keg—attacks, breaches, a dead man in your Moon Room. I hear yo
Pov: Luna Ember The Moon Room crackles with tension, moonlight spilling through the skylight, carving crescent shadows on the stone walls. I stand at the center, Asher beside me, his alpha presence grounding the room. The Nightshade council—five elders, their eyes sharp and unyielding—sits in a semicircle, silent but heavy with judgment. Aiden’s hauled in, wrists zip-tied, face bruised, his smirk a defiant taunt. Guards shove him to his knees. My knife’s at my hip, begging to be drawn, but I keep my voice ice-cold. “Who’s your boss, Aiden? How deep does their operation run?”He laughs, a jagged edge to it. “You think I’ll crack, Luna? You’re nothing to me.”Asher steps closer, voice a low growl. “Talk. Who’s funding you? What’s in the Raven’s Peak vault?”Aiden’s eyes glint, but he doesn’t budge. “The vault’s your funeral, Alpha. Secrets that’ll torch your little human-wolf peace. My master’s in your streets, your guards. You’re already done.”An elder leans forward, voice like grave
**Flashback: Moons Ago....**I’m crouched by the fire, the crackle of burning logs filling the clearing as Thane Nightshade pokes at the embers with a stick, his broad shoulders hunched. The forest around us is quiet, save for the distant hoot of an owl, his dark eyes glinting with barely contained anger. The air smells of pine and smoke, but the tension between us is thicker than both. We’re young, barely past our first shifts, but the weight of our packs—Nightshade and St. Clair—rests heavy on us.“You’re dreaming, Thane,” Lucas says, voice sharp, tossing a pebble into the fire. “Wolves and humans living side by side? It’s a fantasy. They fear us. Always will. And fear makes them dangerous.”Thane leans back, wiping dirt from his hands. “They’re not all like that, Lucas. Some want peace, same as us. We don’t have to hunt them for sport to prove we’re strong.”Lucas snorts, shaking his head. “You sound like an old man, preaching harmony. Our packs have survived by being apex, not by
Pov: Anonymous man.“This better be good, Enid.”“It’s done,” Enid’s voice crackles through, smug as hell. “Aiden’s in their hands. Nightshades grabbed him last night, just like you wanted.”I stop pacing, gripping the phone tighter. “You’re sure? He’s in their basement, tied up?”“Zip-tied to a chair, getting the third degree from Asher and Ember. My drone caught it all before I pulled back.”I let out a breath, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Good. He played his part. Let him squirm.”Enid laughs, low and sharp. “He’s spilling just enough to keep them chasing their tails. Thinks he’s still loyal to you. Pathetic.”“He’s expendable,” I say, voice cold. “Always was. The Nightshades think they’ve got the upper hand now, but they’re distracted. Perfect.”“What’s next?” Enid asks. “They’re locking down the house, doubling guards. Rowan and Caelen are still inside.”“Exactly where I want them,” I say. “The vault at Raven’s Peak is the real prize. Aiden’s capture keeps their eyes off it. You
Pov: Asher.My heart’s pounding as I stare at the nursery monitor, the flicker of that shadow burned into my eyes. The rain’s a roar outside, drowning out everything but Rowan and Caelen’s soft breaths in their cribs. Ember’s beside me, knife in hand, her jaw set like she’s ready to carve through the storm itself. The security feed’s blank now, just static and rain, but I know what I saw. Someone’s out there. Aiden—or worse, whoever’s pulling his strings.“Stay with the boys,” I say, voice low, checking the Glock’s magazine. Full. Ready.Ember grabs my arm, her grip bruising. “You’re not going out there alone, Asher. We said together.”I meet her eyes, fierce and unyielding, and I want to argue, to keep her safe with the kids, but she’s right. We’re in this now, no splitting up. “Fine,” I say. “But we lock this room down first.”She nods, already moving to the nursery’s reinforced door, punching in the code for the deadbolts. The steel clanks into place, and she checks the tablet, cyc
Pov: Asher. Thunder rattles the windows as I shove Ember behind me, gun raised. Julian stands frozen, one arm out, Rowan bundled tight against his chest with his free hand shaking so hard the pistol wavers in the light. Aiden’s silhouette fills the doorway — calm, smug, rain dripping off his hair. His own gun pressed between Julian’s shoulder blades like a promise.“Drop your weapon, Asher,” Aiden says, voice silk-slick but full of rusted edges. “This is between family now.”“Julian, don’t you dare hand him that baby,” I growl. My finger tightens on the trigger, but I can’t risk it — Rowan’s head rests right against Julian’s chest, tiny tufts of hair wet from the storm.Julian’s eyes flick from me to Ember to Grandma, who’s crouched behind the toppled table, muzzle of her revolver peeking out. His voice cracks around Rowan’s faint whimper. “He said... if I do this... Rowan lives.”“You think he’ll spare that boy?” Ember spits. She steps around me, palms out, her voice cutting through