ANMELDENLivia’s POVThe icy wind coming off the northern ridge cut straight through my wool cloak, but the bitter cold inside my chest burned far hotter.I stood in the center of the eastern courtyard, strapping a heavy leather sheath to my saddle. Beside me, my brown mare stamped her hooves against the frosted cobblestones, letting out a cloud of pale steam."Luna! Wait!"Beta Torin came striding across the yard, his thick wolf fur mantle flapping in the gale. His face was grim, his eyes darting between my packed saddlebags and the high stone stairs leading up to the main keep."You're taking a mount out alone?" Torin asked, dropping his voice to a hushed,urgent whisper. "The Alpha just posted double watches on the southern ridge. The Imperial scouts are still lurking in the valley. You can't ride out without an escort.""I am not riding out for pleasure, Torin," I said smoothly, pulling the leather strap tight around my mare's girth. "I am riding to the border outpost to review the scout lo
Livia’s POVThe silence in the room started suffocating me.Asher stood frozen in the doorway, his broad frame blocking out the light from the hallway. His golden eyes swept over the wreckage on the floor—the shattered porcelain, the dark stain of chamomile tea spreading across the rug, Clara sobbing hysterically against the stone hearth, and my hand still resting heavy on the hilt of my sword.The heat of my Warden light faded from my fingers, leaving behind the cold, bitter taste of a trap well sprung."What happened here?" Asher’s voice wasn't loud, but the weight of his Alpha aura slammed into the room, heavy and suffocating.Clara let out another shuddering, breathy gasp, her hands flying to her face as if trying to shield herself from a blow. "Alpha... please... Don't be angry with her!" she whimpered, her voice raspy, high, and terrified. "She... she was just trying to protect you! She told me I was taking up too much of your time... that I was a parasite on this pack..."I fel
Livia’s POVThe morning air in the fortress courtyard felt less like crisp mountain pine and more like drawn steel.I stood near the upper balustrade, watching the daily change of the guard. Below, Asher was already in his thick leather mantle, speaking in low, serious tones to Beta Torin and two border trackers. He looked every bit the Primordial Alpha—broad, rigid, his sharp profile carved from hard granite.My chest throbbed with a dangerous mixture of anger, protectiveness, and pure, icy clarity.I hadn't slept a wink after watching Clara walk away down that dark hallway last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her smooth, effortless stride. No limp. No trembling. No raspy, breathy sob. Just a quiet, terrifying grace.She had lied. About her weakness, her helplessness, her fear – all of it was a constructed stage, and Asher was her unwitting audience."Luna?"I turned my head. Beta Torin’s mate, Sara, was walking toward me carrying a wooden tray covered with a fresh linen c
Livia’s POVThe tension in the Great Hall during dinner was thick enough to cut with a blade.Roast boar, spiced roots, and dark ale filled the heavy oak tables, but I barely tasted a bite. I sat to Asher’s right at the head table, picking at a piece of bread, while Clara sat to his left.She was quiet tonight, wearing a warm knitted shawl around her narrow shoulders. Every time Asher moved—every time his broad shoulders shifted or his deep voice answered Beta Torin’s questions about the guards—Clara’s green eyes flicked to him. It wasn't loud or obvious. It was a constant, quiet gravity that pulled her focus toward him every single minute.Asher, for his part, was focused on pack business. His golden eyes were sharp, his mind clearly on the Imperial scouts lurking near our southern borders. Yet, every few minutes, he’d glance at Clara’s plate, grunting at her to finish her broth or passing her a warm mug of spiced water.He was being a leader. He was taking care of my injured sister
Livia’s POVThe morning sun broke through the thick gray fog, casting long streaks of pale light through the narrow iron-grated windows of the master bedroom.Asher was already awake when I opened my eyes. He was sitting on the edge of the mattress, his bare back facing me, muscles tense as he pulled a black leather tunic over his head. The heat coming off his skin was a furnace, filling the cold room with the deep, intoxicating scent of pine needles, rain, and raw male wolf.I reached out from beneath the heavy fur blankets, resting my hand over the broad span of his shoulder blades. His muscles twitched under my palm, his head turning slightly so his golden eyes caught mine."You're up early," I murmured, my voice thick with sleep."I have two patrols coming back from the border at dawn," Asher grunted low, turning around to plant a firm, warm kiss against my forehead. His large hand slid into my hair, his thumb tracing my cheekbone with possessive familiarity. "I need to check th
Livia’s POVThe heavy iron-reinforced gates of the Black Moon Pack groaned open, their massive chains rattling against the stone arches.High up on the cliffside, surrounded by ancient pine forests and granite drops, the fortress looked like a sleeping gray beast. As our carriage rolled past the portcullis into the central courtyard, torchlight flared along the high stone walls. Dozens of pack members had gathered to watch the Alpha’s return."We're here," I said softly, looking out the carriage window as the iron brakes screeched to a halt.Across from me, Clara clutched her fur cloak tighter around her throat. Her green eyes were wide, darting nervously across the crowded courtyard. "It's... it's so big," she whispered. "Are all these wolves under his command?""Every single one," I answered, giving her knee a reassuring squeeze before turning the brass latch and pushing the carriage door open.Asher was already off his stallion, handing the reins to a young stable boy. The moment







