LOGINTRENTON The morning sun rose slowly over the snow-covered peaks, casting a sharp, cold light through the large glass windows of my father’s private study. The air inside the room was heavy with the smell of old paper, leather books, and the sharp scent of morning coffee.I stood in front of my father's heavy mahogany desk, holding the small silver-framed photograph in my left hand. My right shoulder still throbbed with a dull, quiet ache under my black medical sling, but I barely felt it. My mind was completely consumed by the strange package I had found outside my bedroom door in the middle of the night.My father sat behind his desk, holding a warm cup of coffee halfway to his mouth. He looked up at me, his sharp amber eyes narrowing when he saw the intense, dark expression on my face."You're up early, Trenton," my father said, setting his cup down onto a small wooden saucer with a soft click. "I thought you'd still be sleeping off your bachelor party with the boys.""I couldn't s
TRENTON The warm, golden glow of the stone fireplace washed over the rustic wooden cabin hidden deep within the private northern woods. The room smelled of fresh pine smoke, roasted meat, and cold ale. Outside the heavy log walls, the icy winter wind howled softly through the tall trees, but inside, the atmosphere was roaring with laughter and loud voices.I sat on a comfortable leather sofa, holding a cold glass in my left hand while my right arm rested comfortably in its black medical sling. Sitting around the low wooden table were Lucian, Marcus, Viktor, and several of my closest hockey teammates, along with Coach Gable, who was leaning against the stone hearth with a rare, relaxed smile on his face."I still say we should have brought a giant ice sculpture of a wolf," Lucian joked loudly, leaning back in his armchair and taking a big gulp from his mug. "A real captain's party needs at least one ridiculous decoration!""If you brought an ice sculpture out here into the woods, Luci
ARIA The morning air outside the grand royal boutique in the heart of the capital city was crisp, cool, and filled with the sweet scent of fresh pine and baking sugar. Soft, golden sunlight bounced off the giant glass display windows, illuminating long racks of luxurious fabrics, sparkling crystal jewelry, and white lace.Inside the private fitting suite, soft velvet couches lined the walls, and high crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm, romantic glow over the room.I stood in the center of the room, shifting uncomfortably on my feet. Around me stood Luna Helen and three of the most trusted women from the Winterridge elder circle—women who had quietly brought me food, warm blankets, and soft words of encouragement during the dark days when the entire university was mocking my name."Aria, my dear, stop wiggling!" Luna Helen laughed gently, her warm eyes sparkling with pure affection as she adjusted a long roll of cream-colored silk across her arm. "You look
THIRD PERSON The morning sun filtered through the tall, arched windows of the grand library, throwing long yellow shapes across the dark wooden tables. Aria sat completely still in a high-backed velvet chair, holding the small piece of dark parchment between her shaking fingers. She had read the short, mysterious warning at least fifty times since the previous night, but the elegant, ancient handwriting never changed.“Your union on the sacred altar will shatter the ancient seals, awakening a power the werewolf world has not seen in three thousand years.”A cold chill ran down her spine every single time her eyes swept over those terrifying words. Her heart pounded heavily against her ribs, echoing in her ears like a distant drum.The heavy double doors of the library creaked open, and Trenton walked into the room. He was wearing a cozy blue sweater, his right arm still resting safely in its black medical sling. The second his eyes locked onto Aria’s pale face, his brows furrowed wit
THIRD PERSONThe grand stone amphitheater of the High Council was packed to absolute capacity. Sunlight streamed through the high stained-glass windows, cutting bright beams across the polished marble floor. High council members, pack elders, regional representatives, and members of the royal family filled the rising rows of wooden benches. Every eye in the vast chamber was fixed on the center floor, where heavy iron chains rattled against the cold stone.Two heavily armed palace guards marched Tristan into the room. He was dressed in a plain gray prisoner tunic, his hair unkempt and his wrists bound in thick, magic-dampening metal cuffs. Gone was the expensive silk clothing and the proud posture he used to wear. Yet, despite his fall, his dark eyes still flashed with a bitter, desperate stubbornness.Alpha Lockwood stood at the front podium beneath the towering seal of Winterridge. His broad chest was held high, but deep lines of pain were etched into his face. Beside him sat Luna He
CASSIE I sat on a hard metal chair inside the temporary investigator's office, my hands clutched tightly in my lap. My knuckles were white, and my fingers trembled so badly I had to press them against my knees to keep them still. Across the wooden desk sat Chief Investigator Ross, his pen poised over a clean sheet of white paper."Take your time, Cassie," the investigator said gently, noticing how hard I was shaking. "You don't have to rush. Just tell us what you know about Tristan Lockwood and his plans."I swallowed hard, my throat feeling dry as sand. I closed my eyes for a brief second, and the memories came rushing back with painful clarity.For months, I had let my bitter jealousy rule my life. I had been consumed by a burning anger because Trenton—the boy I had secretly loved and wanted for myself—had chosen Aria instead. I had hated Aria. I had wanted her out of the picture, convinced that she didn't belong in our pack, and I had made choices that only brought more pain and
Aria's POVEven from where I stood, I still couldn’t understand why Trenton was staring at me with such suspicion. That look wasn’t just terrifying—it was horrifying. This was the first time he had ever looked at me that way.Even though the scene refused to leave my mind, I decided to brush it off
Trenton's POVCoach Damien raised his voice over the cheering. “Listen up, everyone!” The rink went silent before he continued. “For the championship qualifiers, the player representing Winterridge…” He paused. “Trenton Blackwood.”“Congratulations, man,” Lucien—my best friend—pulled me into a side
Aria.“You… poisoned me…” I whispered, feeling a coil wrapping around me tightly, suffocating me.I slumped on the floor, blood already dripping down my mouth and nose.“Of course.” He laughed coldly, staring down at me like I was something unworthy. “You really believed that I was going to have so
Aria.“Trenton Lockwood!!!”The cheers of the students and the cheerleading squad echoed through Winterridge University’s hockey arena, pom-poms waving in the air.Trenton Lockwood, the golden son of Alpha Liam Lockwood, the future pack leader, my stepbrother, skated through the ice, every stride p







