Julian's POV. For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel whole and complete as I run through the trees with Kira at my side after spending an amazing day with her... Our wolves can't help but brush against each other playfully. It fills a place inside me I didn’t even know was empty. In all honesty, it feels great to be mated, it makes my heart swell with pure bliss because I never thought I'd get a second chance after my first mate fiance left me because I had become a cripple overnight and didn't want to spend the rest of her life caring to a cripple. I glance sideways at kira, a playful growl rumbling in my chest, ready to tackle her just to hear her beautiful laugh—But that’s when I sense a scent so strong of silver waft in the air. I skid to a halt, my ears pinned back. ‘Kira!’ I call through the bond. ‘I smell it,’ she responds, her body tensing as her nose twitches, already on alert... But before we can find out who is trailing us with silver, they’re o
Julian’s POV."Enough," I breathe, my whole body trembling. "I’ll do it."The words taste like ash on my tongue, but I force them out.If Damian wants the throne so badly he’s willing to kill for it, then he can have it. For now."I’ll go back — but on one condition," I say louder, lifting my head to glare at them."I’ll stand before my father and the council and refuse the title. In return, you don’t lay a single hand on Kira again."The leader’s smile stretches wider, smug and cruel. "So long as you keep your word, I will keep mine," he replies smoothly."Then it’s a deal," I grit out, clenching my jaw so hard it aches.The leader signals for my release.One of the same bastard who had been stabbing Kira — unchains me roughly, the silver cuffs burning deep into my flesh as they are yanked away.My knees hit the cold stone floor beside her."Red," I whisper, brushing the blood-matted hair from her forehead with trembling fingers.Her eyelids flutter weakly at my touch, and a soft gas
Julian's POV. "Damian, excuse us. I need to speak with your brother alone," my father says after a long pause, voice leaving no room for argument. Damian’s smile tightens at the edges, but he nods politely. I can see the twitch in his jaw, though, and when he brushes past me toward the door, his voice slithers into my mind. ‘Remember, choose wisely, brother... you know what's at stake.’ My hands clench at my sides, blood roaring in my ears. I don’t react. Not yet. But now I know without a doubt — it is him. He set the trap so that I can give up the Alpha king title. And if Kira dies because of him... no title in this world will save him from me. The door shuts softly, and the tension in the room sharpens like a knife. My father's sharp gaze pins me. "Now, tell me, Julian," he says, walking back to his chair and sits, fingers steepled. "Why the sudden change of heart? Hours ago, you publicly announced you would reclaim what was rightfully yours in front of the high ra
Julian's POV. There’s a long pause before I can hear the faint murmur of the other voice through Luna Cassandra's phone, but not the words. Her heels click against the marble floor in agitation. "Yes, Sophia was taken care of," she snaps, spitting the name like venom. "I saw to it myself." My blood runs cold. Could Sophia be Kira’s mother’s name? Another pause and then Cassandra’s breath hitches sharply. "What do you mean... she left behind a daughter? This changes everything." Her voice rises an octave, panic leaking through the polished facade she always wore so well. A beat of silence. Then, a dangerous calm settles into her voice. "I see. Thank you for telling me." Her steps slow, and I swear I can hear the smile in her voice when she speaks again. "Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the daughter... just like I took care of the mother before any secrets come to light." What secrets is she so afraid of revealing? I grip the doorknob so tightly that it creaks under m
Kira's POV. Julian actually came back for me and as his warm hands glide over my skin, helping me into the hoodie and jeans he brought, I can’t tear my eyes away from him—especially now, after he’s told me to shift and run the moment he gives the word. It’s a reckless plan… for a man so dangerously outnumbered. My heart’s a war drum in my chest. And like on cue, he squeezes my hand once more. 'Run!' he tells me and then all hell breaks loose. I rip out of the clothes he gave me, bones snapping, fur breaking through skin in a flash. My paws hit the stone floor and I’m gone, bolting through the corridor like my life depends on it. Because it does. Voices scream behind me. One howls louder than the rest: “Don’t let her escape! This time, kill her!” It’s him. The rogue leader. But I don’t stop. I push harder even though my lungs sear in pain and my legs burn. Trees blur around me as I break out of the cavern and into the open forest. I leap over fallen logs, skid down muddy ba
Julian's POV. ‘Kira!’ Her name tears from my throat as I watch her slip— One second she’s there and the next she is gone. The image burns itself into my skull: her wide eyes, her howl, and the blur of her falling body vanishing into the mist below. My heart stops. The rogue wags his tail before turning half human to torment me. "You lose, prince," he sneers, spitting blood. "I have killed her like we were told—" But before he finishes the sentence, I see red, and lunge at him with a roar that splits the sky. Our bodies crash together with a thud that echoes through the trees. I dig in first—claws sinking into his side, as my weight knocks him off balance. He growls, and tries to twist away, but I’m already tearing into him. Fur rips. Blood hits my tongue. He snaps at me but he catches air. I go lower, clamp down on his leg, and shake until I hear the crack. He stumbles, tries to drag himself back—but I don’t give him the chance. I lunge again. He rolls, despera
Julian's POV. My stomach turns because in as much as I want to tell my father that I want the throne, he can’t know I just watched the girl I love vanish off a cliff and that all I want is to fall apart and scream until the world bleeds with me because of the title. “I stand by my decision I made last evening,” I say. “I don’t want the crown.” The words cut deeper than I expect especially while Damian is still watching… and smiling. Father stiffens. Just for a moment. A flicker of disappointment flashes in his eyes. Then… it’s gone. He nods once. Sharp. Dismissive. Very well,” he says. And just like that, it’s done. Years of training, expectation, legacy— Dropped with a shrug and a lie. Damian’s grin grows, but I don’t look at him again because I might act on instinct and do something stupid for everything he has done to Kira. “If that's all, I’m heading up,” I mutter. “Yeah, clean yourself up before the court sees you,” my father says coolly as I pass already clim
Kira's POV Cold is the first thing I feel. Not the soft kind that bites gently but the cruel, bone-deep chill that scrapes along every inch of my skin. “Ah, my head,” I groan while my eyes flutter open. The first thing I see are blurry shapes, a grey sky and rustling trees… I’m lying on something hard. Pebbles dig into my back as water laps at my legs… Maybe this is death again. ‘No,’ a whisper stirs deep inside me. ‘You’re not dead.’ My wolf sounds weak, like even speaking drains her. ‘How do you know?’ I ask her. ‘Because if we were dead, we wouldn’t feel this pain.’ And she’s right. Pain pulses through me, sharp and raw, crawling over every inch of my body. I groan softly again and try to sit up, but everything aches. My muscles protest, my skin screams. I feel like I’ve been chewed up and spit out by the earth itself. ‘What happened to us?’ I ask clueless. ‘I think we were running from something and then… I can't remember.’ she replies blankly and a shiver r
Julian's POV. (Meanwhile in Crimson crown) “It's been two and a half hours, and we’re still circling the same point!” Elder Rolf slams his palm on the table, making the ink pot jump. “The boy can walk again and is mated…What more do you need?” “Walking is not everything,” snaps Elder Marren, her sharp eyes flicking to me. “Let us not forget Julian spent some years as a cripple. His wolf didn’t even surface until Eighteen?”“Yet here he sits,” Elder Garron says, leaning forward, his voice edged with steel. “He’s survived assassination attempts, wars, rogue attacks. His wolf? One of the strongest I’ve seen in decades. And Damian? He’s spent his days smiling for portraits and chasing noble daughters, until he went gallivanting across the packs for a mate who, it turns out, was here all along.”Beside me, Damian shifts in his chair, but his face remains composed, calm and unreadable, just as it has been since I turned down the throne for Kira’s safety. He’s letting the Elders speak
Kira's POV Noah moves to a chest and pulls out a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants. “Because you remind me of my sister,” he murmurs. “She was... helpless and these were hers. They should fit. Bathroom’s through there.” He doesn't say what happened to her and I don't ask. I take the clothes gently, offering a quiet, “Thanks.” If Noah doesn’t want to talk about his sister, I won’t push. It’s not my place, especially not when I’m just an outsider in his pack. I walk to the bathroom and behind the safety of the closed door, I glance in the mirror and flinch. My reflection stares back: dirty, battered, lips split, red hair clinging in wet clumps to my face. But it’s the mark burned into the slope of my shoulder that steals my breath. Why can't I remember anything? I run my fingers over it. My wolf perks up instantly, the faintest whimper in her chest. 'Who did this to us?' she asks, but I don’t have an answer to her question because I don't remember my mate? A beat of silence.
Kira's POV Cold is the first thing I feel. Not the soft kind that bites gently but the cruel, bone-deep chill that scrapes along every inch of my skin. “Ah, my head,” I groan while my eyes flutter open. The first thing I see are blurry shapes, a grey sky and rustling trees… I’m lying on something hard. Pebbles dig into my back as water laps at my legs… Maybe this is death again. ‘No,’ a whisper stirs deep inside me. ‘You’re not dead.’ My wolf sounds weak, like even speaking drains her. ‘How do you know?’ I ask her. ‘Because if we were dead, we wouldn’t feel this pain.’ And she’s right. Pain pulses through me, sharp and raw, crawling over every inch of my body. I groan softly again and try to sit up, but everything aches. My muscles protest, my skin screams. I feel like I’ve been chewed up and spit out by the earth itself. ‘What happened to us?’ I ask clueless. ‘I think we were running from something and then… I can't remember.’ she replies blankly and a shiver r
Julian's POV. My stomach turns because in as much as I want to tell my father that I want the throne, he can’t know I just watched the girl I love vanish off a cliff and that all I want is to fall apart and scream until the world bleeds with me because of the title. “I stand by my decision I made last evening,” I say. “I don’t want the crown.” The words cut deeper than I expect especially while Damian is still watching… and smiling. Father stiffens. Just for a moment. A flicker of disappointment flashes in his eyes. Then… it’s gone. He nods once. Sharp. Dismissive. Very well,” he says. And just like that, it’s done. Years of training, expectation, legacy— Dropped with a shrug and a lie. Damian’s grin grows, but I don’t look at him again because I might act on instinct and do something stupid for everything he has done to Kira. “If that's all, I’m heading up,” I mutter. “Yeah, clean yourself up before the court sees you,” my father says coolly as I pass already clim
Julian's POV. ‘Kira!’ Her name tears from my throat as I watch her slip— One second she’s there and the next she is gone. The image burns itself into my skull: her wide eyes, her howl, and the blur of her falling body vanishing into the mist below. My heart stops. The rogue wags his tail before turning half human to torment me. "You lose, prince," he sneers, spitting blood. "I have killed her like we were told—" But before he finishes the sentence, I see red, and lunge at him with a roar that splits the sky. Our bodies crash together with a thud that echoes through the trees. I dig in first—claws sinking into his side, as my weight knocks him off balance. He growls, and tries to twist away, but I’m already tearing into him. Fur rips. Blood hits my tongue. He snaps at me but he catches air. I go lower, clamp down on his leg, and shake until I hear the crack. He stumbles, tries to drag himself back—but I don’t give him the chance. I lunge again. He rolls, despera
Kira's POV. Julian actually came back for me and as his warm hands glide over my skin, helping me into the hoodie and jeans he brought, I can’t tear my eyes away from him—especially now, after he’s told me to shift and run the moment he gives the word. It’s a reckless plan… for a man so dangerously outnumbered. My heart’s a war drum in my chest. And like on cue, he squeezes my hand once more. 'Run!' he tells me and then all hell breaks loose. I rip out of the clothes he gave me, bones snapping, fur breaking through skin in a flash. My paws hit the stone floor and I’m gone, bolting through the corridor like my life depends on it. Because it does. Voices scream behind me. One howls louder than the rest: “Don’t let her escape! This time, kill her!” It’s him. The rogue leader. But I don’t stop. I push harder even though my lungs sear in pain and my legs burn. Trees blur around me as I break out of the cavern and into the open forest. I leap over fallen logs, skid down muddy ba
Julian's POV. There’s a long pause before I can hear the faint murmur of the other voice through Luna Cassandra's phone, but not the words. Her heels click against the marble floor in agitation. "Yes, Sophia was taken care of," she snaps, spitting the name like venom. "I saw to it myself." My blood runs cold. Could Sophia be Kira’s mother’s name? Another pause and then Cassandra’s breath hitches sharply. "What do you mean... she left behind a daughter? This changes everything." Her voice rises an octave, panic leaking through the polished facade she always wore so well. A beat of silence. Then, a dangerous calm settles into her voice. "I see. Thank you for telling me." Her steps slow, and I swear I can hear the smile in her voice when she speaks again. "Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the daughter... just like I took care of the mother before any secrets come to light." What secrets is she so afraid of revealing? I grip the doorknob so tightly that it creaks under m
Julian's POV. "Damian, excuse us. I need to speak with your brother alone," my father says after a long pause, voice leaving no room for argument. Damian’s smile tightens at the edges, but he nods politely. I can see the twitch in his jaw, though, and when he brushes past me toward the door, his voice slithers into my mind. ‘Remember, choose wisely, brother... you know what's at stake.’ My hands clench at my sides, blood roaring in my ears. I don’t react. Not yet. But now I know without a doubt — it is him. He set the trap so that I can give up the Alpha king title. And if Kira dies because of him... no title in this world will save him from me. The door shuts softly, and the tension in the room sharpens like a knife. My father's sharp gaze pins me. "Now, tell me, Julian," he says, walking back to his chair and sits, fingers steepled. "Why the sudden change of heart? Hours ago, you publicly announced you would reclaim what was rightfully yours in front of the high ra
Julian’s POV."Enough," I breathe, my whole body trembling. "I’ll do it."The words taste like ash on my tongue, but I force them out.If Damian wants the throne so badly he’s willing to kill for it, then he can have it. For now."I’ll go back — but on one condition," I say louder, lifting my head to glare at them."I’ll stand before my father and the council and refuse the title. In return, you don’t lay a single hand on Kira again."The leader’s smile stretches wider, smug and cruel. "So long as you keep your word, I will keep mine," he replies smoothly."Then it’s a deal," I grit out, clenching my jaw so hard it aches.The leader signals for my release.One of the same bastard who had been stabbing Kira — unchains me roughly, the silver cuffs burning deep into my flesh as they are yanked away.My knees hit the cold stone floor beside her."Red," I whisper, brushing the blood-matted hair from her forehead with trembling fingers.Her eyelids flutter weakly at my touch, and a soft gas