KIERANAfter Raven had gone, I remained seated for a long moment, elbows on my knees, my fingers steepled in front of my lips as I stared into the dying embers in the fireplace. I didn’t know if I could fully trust the words she’d said—there was something about the way she spoke, that mixture of pain and pride, like she was always holding back more than she was willing to give. But then again, could I really afford not to trust her? She had proven herself more than once, had stood her ground when most would’ve fled, had taken blows meant for others without flinching. Still… the stakes were higher now.With Lucian out there, calculating, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, I couldn’t afford even the smallest crack in the foundation. He would exploit it. Twist it. Turn one of us against the other and watch us crumble from the inside. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck before muttering to myself.“Damn it, Vee… why do you make it so hard to figure you out?”Just then,
RAVENWhen I got to Selene’s room, the noise hit me before I even opened the door. It was the kind of loud, careless chatter that made your skin crawl if you weren't one of them. I pushed the door open, already grinding my teeth as the sound grew louder, three of her so-called friends sprawled around like they owned the place, laughing like animals, screeching over each other’s voices. They barely acknowledged me, which was expected. I was Raven—the quiet one, the distant one, the one who always had the snacks, always came when called. A good little errand girl. And they thought that was all I was.Selene, perched on her bed like some smug little queen, tossed her hair back and tilted her head toward me, eyes gleaming with that same sick amusement she always wore around me.“Took you long enough,” she said, stretching out her hand like I was supposed to kiss it or something.“Where’s my stuff? You didn’t forget the choco-hazelnut bars, did you? You know those are my favorite.”I didn’
KIERANI was halfway through my meal, the steak slightly overcooked just the way I liked it, when Selene came up to me, her heels making soft clicks against the tiled floor. She didn’t say a word at first, just took the seat across from me like she belonged there, which, technically, she did.The maid came around, served her a plate, and Selene gave her a tired smile—polite, but distracted. I didn’t look up from my food, didn’t pause to greet her, because I could already feel it—the heavy energy around her, the kind that clings to a person when they’re carrying thoughts they’ve been rehearsing all day. I took a sip of water, let the silence sit, and tried to act like I hadn’t noticed anything unusual. But Selene never did know how to sit with silence for too long.“I saw Vee today,” she finally said, quietly, like maybe if she said it softly enough I wouldn’t get irritated. But I heard it. Loud and clear. That name again. Of course.I didn’t look up. “Good for you.”“She looked... tir
RAVENHe said nothing to me. Just stared a little longer, like he was daring me to look back. I didn’t. I wouldn’t. And then, without any final note, he stood. The meeting was done. That simple gesture, rising to his feet—was enough. Kieran straightened beside me, his hands sliding behind his back, jaw locking slightly as Lucian adjusted his coat like he hadn’t just spent the last hour toeing the edge of war with the Alpha of the largest territory this side of the realm.Kieran’s voice came low, tight, so tight it was nearly a growl. “Just remember, Lucian… if anyone, anyone, crosses that line into my land again, whether it’s a scout, a stray, or a whisper of a threat—” he took a step forward, not much, but enough that the air cracked between them, “—I won’t hesitate. There won’t be warnings next time. Only action.”Lucian paused, half-turned, one brow raised. “Was that a warning, Alpha Kieran?”“No,” Kieran said, and the chill in his voice made my skin prickle, “It was a promise.”Th
RAVENI stood quietly, my arms folded across my chest as Lucian and his rogues finally made their entrance into the border compound. His presence always shifted the air—tense, sharp, like something about to snap. The moment I saw him, my heartbeat stuttered, not because I feared him, but because of what his presence meant for me. I couldn’t afford to flinch. I couldn’t even afford to blink the wrong way.So I looked at him like I had never seen him before in my life. I kept my face still, my eyes cold, my entire body language screaming indifference, neutrality. I knew what was at stake. If Kieran so much as suspected that I had ties with Lucian, any kind of relationship, whether it was forged in blood, betrayal or necessity—I’d be dead before nightfall. I wasn’t ready to die. Not yet.Lucian’s gaze swept over everyone but never lingered on me. Smart man. He knew the game we were playing. He had taught me the rules himself. And now, we were both on different sides of a fragile bridge m
KIERANDorian stood there, arms crossed, brows furrowed so tightly they nearly touched, eyes drilling into mine like I’d just told him I wanted to dance barefoot in a pit of venomous snakes.“Kieran, you’ve lost your damn mind,” he said, voice low but sharp.“Why the hell would you want to speak with Lucian? Lucian, Kieran. That man would slit your throat mid-conversation just to watch you bleed.”I didn’t flinch. I stared back at him, calm, measured, because I’d thought this through. Or at least convinced myself I had.“Because sometimes, Dorian, to outplay the devil, you need to look him in the eye. I need to know what game he’s playing.”“You know exactly what game he’s playing,” Dorian snapped, stepping forward. “Destruction. Chaos. The bastard’s not subtle. He wants your head, he wants our pack destroyed, and you want to, what—share drinks over it?”“I never said it would be drinks and laughter,” I muttered. “But I need to talk to him.”“Why?” His voice broke, part frustration, p