تسجيل الدخولZARIA'S POV I slipped out from under Cassian’s heavy, warm arm with painstaking care, holding my breath as I eased my feet down onto the cool hardwood floor. He shifted with a low, contented grunt, pulling a pillow into his chest as he settled deeper into sleep, completely oblivious to my movements.I pulled on a simple cream knit sweater, dark trousers, and soft leather boots, binding my silver hair back into a loose braid.The Citadel was quiet at dawn, the air sharp with the crisp bite of autumn off the northern peaks. I walked down the stone stairs to the private, high-walled courtyard, where the morning sun was just beginning to burn through the mountain mist.Helen, Maya, and Luna Selene were already there, gathered around a round wrought-iron table with a steaming pot of spiced tea between them."Look who finally decided to join the mortals," Maya grinned, resting her chin in her hand as I pulled out a chair. "Or should I bow? Is that required before breakfast now, Your Majest
ZARIA'S POV The High Council Elder stepped forward, the crushed velvet cushion in his hands trembling ever so slightly under the monumental weight of what it held. Resting on the fabric were the two gold Lycan Crowns, forged centuries ago from the bedrock of the Citadel itself.I held my breath, my fingers coiled tightly around Cassian’s warm, solid hand.The Elder turned first to Cassian. "By the blood of the ancestral Alphas and the divine light of the Moon, I crown you King Cassian of the Shadowpelt Kingdom."As the heavy gold band was lowered onto Cassian’s brow, he didn't flinch. He wore the crown not as a prize, but as a burden he was finally ready to carry. Then, the Elder turned to me. The atmosphere in the cathedral seemed to freeze entirely, every eye in the hall glued to the dark iron and silver-laced band known as the Crown of Midnight."And by the choice of the Alpha King, the strength of her own spirit, and the mark of the sacred bond," the Elder’s voice echoed off the
AUTHOR'S POV The heavy double doors of the Black Marble Cathedral swung wide, and the thunderous murmurs of thousands of gathered guests instantly vanished into a dead, reverent silence. Every visiting Alpha, pack leader, and high elder stood in breathless awe as Zaria stepped over the threshold into the nave, flanked by Luna Selene and Maya on either side. Sunlight filtered through the grand stained-glass windows, catching the intricate silver thread of her dark gown and illuminating the luminous aura surrounding her skin. She walked with effortless grace—no longer a guarded survivor hiding from her past, but the undisputed Silver Queen of the South.At the far end of the long stone aisle, waiting beside the ancient altar, Cassian stood taller than ever. His broad chest rose and fell in heavy, deliberate breaths, his golden eyes fixed entirely on her as she made her way toward him. The grand cathedral, the thousands of watching eyes, and the monumental weight of the crown completely
AUTHOR'S POV Preparations for the grand Coronation and Mating Ceremony had turned the entire Shadowpelt Citadel into a whirlwind of non-stop activity, but inside Zaria's private chambers, the mood was light, warm, and delightfully chaotic.Folded silks, heavy velvet cloaks, and trays of silver jewelry covered almost every flat surface in the room. Luna Selene, who had arrived early from the Bloodmoon pack territory to be with her daughter, stood behind Zaria, carefully smoothing down the heavy train of her royal dress. The gown was a true masterpiece—crafted from deep charcoal silk and intricately embroidered with thick silver thread that caught the warm morning light coming through the high stone archways."If I pull this lace any tighter, Zaria won't make it down the aisle," Maya groaned, tugging hard on the back ties of the formal corset. "How do royal ladies eat anything in these things? No wonder the palace elders are always so miserable—they’re just severely oxygen-deprived.""
AUTHOR'S POV The iron door of the greenhouse swung open with a soft, rusted creak that broke the quiet inside. Cassian stepped over the threshold, his leather boots coming down carefully on the stone path so as not to startle her. He paused a few paces back, his broad shoulders set with a clear, hesitant tension. It was almost strange to see him like this—a powerful king who had conquered northern mountain passes and broken rebel lines without flinching, walking into a quiet glass room as if the floor beneath him might shatter.Maeve gave Zaria a subtle, knowing nod. She patted Zaria's shoulder softly, picked up her wicker basket, and slipped quietly out through the rear garden door. The click of the latch echoed through the humid space, leaving only the sound of water dripping into a stone basin and the soft rustle of the moon-berry vines above them.Zaria stood by the wooden bench, the delicate silver blossom Maeve had given her resting between her fingers. She looked at Cassian—re
AUTHOR'S POV The next morning, the brilliant northern sun flooded through the high stone windows of Zaria’s bedchamber, painting the floorboards in warm golden light as she finally broke the dark red wax seal on her mother’s letter.Unfolding the thick parchment, she read through Luna Selene’s elegant, flowing script. The letter was filled with heartwarming details about the Bloodmoon pack’s recovery, but one particular paragraph near the end stood out above the rest, burning itself into Zaria's mind:*“Do not let the ghosts of our past trauma keep you locked in a cold fortress of your own making, my sweet girl. You survived the dark so you could live in the light—not just to stay guarded and watchful, but to allow yourself to feel true, unreserved happiness again. You have earned the right to love and be loved without fear.”*With those loving, poignant words echoing softly in her mind, Zaria realized she needed a quiet sanctuary to gather her thoughts away from the constant bustle
ZARIA'S POV I stared at the heavy oak door as it clicked shut behind Cassian. . The Lycan King’s terrifyingly tempting offer of a revenge alliance, still hung in the air like thick smoke. But right now, my skin felt too tight, my blood pumping like battery acid through my veins.I needed to breath
ZARIA'S POV The steady, rhythmic beep of a heart monitor was the first sound I heard as I finally drifted back into consciousness. I blinked against the soft, warm lighting of the room, expecting the freezing rain or the damp earth of the ravine. Instead, I was staring at a ceiling of polished bl
ZARIA'S POV The rough, familiar hands of the pack warriors clamped down on my shoulders, ripping me backward off the cold stone altar. "Get your hands off me!" I choked out."Stop it! Let her go!" a frantic voice screamed from the side of the altar.I forced my head up and saw Maya rushing forwar
ZARIA'S POV The thunderous cheers of the pack hammered against my skull, each roar feeling like a physical blow to my chest. I leaned heavily against the open double doors, my hands gripping the carved wood just to stay upright. My vision was still terribly blurred from the poisoned tea, warping t







