KIERANThe wind howled outside the stone keep, rattling the iron sconces along the corridor. It was past midnight, but sleep had long abandoned me. I stood near the tall window in the war room, one hand braced against the chilled glass, staring into the black beyond the torches. My breath fogged a circle on the pane. Behind me, Dorian's boots echoed lightly against the stone floor.“She’s not just taking strolls in the moonlight,” he said, voice low, rough with the fatigue of too many sleepless nights.I didn’t turn. “I know.”He stepped closer, pausing just behind me. “Then why protect her? Why pretend this isn’t suspicious as hell?”“I’m not pretending. I’m just wondering…” I let the words settle, watching the flicker of torchlight on the trees in the distance.“Why won't she just say where she’s going?”Dorian scoffed, his arms folding across his chest. “Because it’s not someplace she should be. You think she’s out picking herbs? Or praying in some old shrine?”I turned to face him
RAVENThe room reeked of metal and damp stone, the silence broken only by the sound of Kieran’s boots tapping rhythmically against the cold floor as he paced before me. I sat chained to the iron chair, wrists bruised and blood crusted against the metal cuffs that held me in place. My lip was split open, the taste of copper pooling in my mouth, but I didn’t flinch. I didn’t blink. I didn’t speak.Kieran finally stopped and turned to me, arms folded, his voice low, gravelly, and full of venom.“Where did you and Rowena go, Vee? Don’t make me ask again.”I stared at him, dead in the eyes, saying nothing.He stepped closer, his breath now brushing against my skin. “I’m trying to be patient here. You think I won’t have my guards beat the truth out of you?” His voice rose, the words sharp.“You really think silence is going to protect you?”I let out a soft laugh, shaky and drenched in defiance. Blood dribbled from the corner of my mouth as I smirked.“Death is coming for you, Kieran,” I sa
KIERAN“I want two of you to head to Vee’s quarters. Make sure she’s where she’s supposed to be,” I said sharply, the tension already prickling at the back of my neck.“If she’s not there, sound the alarm.”The guards bowed their heads slightly and turned without another word, disappearing into the darkened hallway. I stood still, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the path they had taken. I hated this gnawing feeling in my gut—this sense that something was off.Moments passed before a blaring siren shattered the silence of the night.Shouts erupted across the pack house. Doors flung open, voices called out in confusion, guards barked orders, and wolves scrambled to organize the search.A second later, one of the guards came running back, panting, his eyes wide. “Alpha! She’s gone. Vee’s quarters are empty. Rowena’s not there either!”“Fan out. No one sleeps until they’re found,” I barked. “Every inch of this land gets combed. Move!”The compound was chaos—panicked footsteps, confused murmur
RAVEN The night was thick with silence, save for the crunch of twigs under our boots and the rustle of leaves brushing against our legs. Rowena and I crept through the woods, cloaked in shadows, our breaths held low as though the trees themselves might betray us. My heart pounded in sync with each step. We were close to the border now, Lucian’s pack was just beyond the ridge, but the danger wasn’t there. It was behind us. It was Kieran.“Do you think anyone saw us?” Rowena whispered, her voice low but laced with panic. She kept glancing behind us, eyes darting like prey sensing a predator.“No,” I muttered, though I wasn’t sure. “We were careful. Dorian and Kieran were still in the war room last I checked.”Rowena let out a shaky breath, her hands curling into fists. “I hate that place, Raven. Every inch of it reminds me of what they did.”I looked over, watching the way her jaw tensed, the flicker of pain that never really left her eyes.“You never told me everything,” I said.“What
KIERANI didn’t even knock. I slammed the door open, the sharp bang echoing through the walls like a thunderclap, and stormed straight into Selene’s room. She barely had time to turn around before I was in her face, my voice booming.“What the hell were you thinking, Selene?!”She blinked, unfazed, arms folded over her chest like she’d been expecting me. “Nice of you to come knocking, brother,” she said dryly, but I wasn’t here for her sarcasm.I jabbed a finger toward her, my teeth gritted. “Don’t play smart with me. You embarrassed Vee in front of everyone. Everyone, Selene. You called her out in the most humiliating way, accused her of hiding something like she was some traitor.”She didn’t flinch. In fact, she smirked, eyes gleaming with an annoying mix of confidence and defiance.“Exactly. Because if she is hiding something, that’s the best way to get a reaction. You saw how she froze, didn’t you?”I laughed bitterly and took a step back, running both hands through my hair in fru
RAVEN I was crouched near the eastern wall of the training ground, tightening the bolts on the weapon rack, when I felt the sudden rush of movement behind me. Before I could even turn, Selene’s hand shot out and snatched the tool right out of mine like she owned the godsdamn place.“What the hell?” I snapped, standing quickly. My voice wasn't loud, but the tension was already crawling up my spine.Her guards appeared like shadows out of nowhere, circling her as though I had lunged first. I hadn’t even moved. She was the one who came to me. My fists twitched at my sides, and I had to remind myself to breathe. Deep and slow. Don’t give her what she wants.“What’s your problem, Selene?” I asked tightly, trying to keep my voice even, though my heart was slamming hard against my ribs.“You storm over here, grab my stuff, and now your dogs want to jump me?”She narrowed her eyes, voice rising instantly so everyone in the damn clearing could hear. “Don’t play innocent, Vee. Whatever you’re