INICIAR SESIÓNZARIA'S POV The fever tore through me with the unyielding fury of a wild, unleashed fire. Without Cassian’s massive Alpha aura nearby to absorb the shock, regulate my pulse, and anchor my spirit, the final purge was a brutal, completely solitary ordeal.My body thrashed against the tangled, sweat-soaked sheets of my bedchamber. My skin burned so hot that it felt as though my very blood had been replaced with boiling liquid silver. Maya and my mother, Luna Selene, locked the heavy oak doors from the inside, desperate to keep the remaining pack members and curious guards from witnessing the sheer vulnerability of my condition.Maya kept a steady supply of fresh, cool well water coming from the basin down the hall, wringing out soft linen cloths until her hands were raw. Selene sat right beside me, pressing icy compresses to my forehead, temples, and neck, while gently trickling small drops of Helen’s bitter, restorative herbal teas between my dry, cracked lips whenever I caught my brea
ZARIA'S POV The atmosphere in the grand hall cracked under a sudden, overwhelming pressure as Cassian’s true Lycan aura erupted into the room. The sheer weight of his high-grade power rippled through the cold air like a physical blow, hitting the corrupt Elders with terrifying force. One by one, their knees slammed hard against the flagstones, their heads forced down toward the floor as the ancient dominance of the House of Volkov filled every square inch of the manor."The House of Volkov reclaims its bloodline lands," Cassian’s deep voice echoed, resonant and commanding through the bowing hall, striking fear into the hearts of those who had profited off Rowan's crimes. "However, during this transitional period, full administrative authority over the Bloodmoon pack will be held by Zaria. An interim administrative council will be established immediately under her direct command, and every single decree or order she issues carries the full, absolute weight of my crown. Anyone who dare
ZARIA'S POV By early morning, the bitter night storm had finally passed over the territory, leaving the high stone windows framed in pale, misty gray light. I opened my eyes slowly, taking a deep breath. The suffocating fever that had racked my body for hours was entirely gone. The heavy, burning heat in my blood had settled into a steady, rhythmic pulse, and deep beneath my chest, I could feel a faint, subtle spark of pure energy—the very first sign that my dormant wolf was slowly breaking through the poison's grip and fighting her way back into the light.Beside my bed, Cassian was still resting his head against the edge of the mattress. His dark hair was thoroughly tangled, his massive shoulders locked tight even in sleep. He looked completely exhausted, the deep lines around his eyes drawn tight from sitting up all night on the freezing stone floor just to hold my hand, apply cold cloths to my skin, and soothe my agony with his aura.He had sat at the position all night just beca
AUTHOR'S POVCassian couldn't stay away. Driven nearly mad by the suffocating distance between them and the terrifying knowledge that she had walked into a chaotic, hostile territory completely alone, he had mounted his stallion the moment the palace gates closed behind her carriage. He rode relentlessly through the pouring rain, crossing regional borders and pushing through the slick mountain passes without stopping to rest or take shelter, drawn toward her by a primal, irresistible pull he simply couldn't fight.He had only intended to keep watch from the shadows—to stand on the damp grass outside her window like a silent sentinel and ensure she was safe from Rowan's leftover loyalists and rogue border wolves. But the moment his sharp Lycan senses picked up the erratic, violent pounding of her pulse from the second-story window and smelled the burning, feverish heat radiating off her skin, every ounce of caution, hesitation, and self-restraint vanished into thin air.He slid the iro
ZARIA'S POV The fever tore through me with the unyielding fury of a wild, unleashed fire. Without Cassian’s massive Alpha aura nearby to absorb the shock, regulate my pulse, and anchor my spirit, the final purge was a brutal, completely solitary ordeal.My body thrashed against the tangled, sweat-soaked sheets of my bedchamber. My skin burned so hot that it felt as though my very blood had been replaced with boiling liquid silver. Maya and my mother, Luna Selene, locked the heavy oak doors from the inside, desperate to keep the remaining pack members and curious guards from witnessing the sheer vulnerability of my condition.Maya kept a steady supply of fresh, cool well water coming from the basin down the hall, wringing out soft linen cloths until her hands were raw. Selene sat right beside me, pressing icy compresses to my forehead, temples, and neck, while gently trickling small drops of Helen’s bitter, restorative herbal teas between my dry, cracked lips whenever I caught my brea
ZARIA'S POV The rain began as a dull, steady drizzle over the Shadowpelt courtyard, turning the dark cobblestones slick and reflective under the gray afternoon sky. The horses harnessed to the royal black travel carriage tossed their heads nervously, their wet breath rising in thick, white clouds against the autumn chill.I made my way down the wide stone steps, one hand steadying my skirts while the fingers of my other hand sub-consciously checked the heavy leather pouch tucked safely into the inner lining of my woolen coat. Inside were the six precious bottles of tincture Helen had given me—the bitter herbs that would finally purge the lingering nightshade venom from my blood and wake my sleeping wolf. I had a clear purpose now, a path toward healing my own soul, but as my foot hit the flat stones at the bottom of the staircase, a tall figure moved sharply into my path, cutting off my line to the open carriage door.Cassian stood there, blocking my way.His dark leather riding coat
ZARIA'S POVThe suffocating silence of the corridor shattered as a pair of sharp, hurried footsteps came clicking around the far corner."Zaria? Oh my God, there you are!" Maya’s voice boomed down the hallway, laced with frantic energy. "What is taking you so—"Behind the heavy velvet curtains, a s
ZARIA'S POV"Oh my God, you look so perfect. You are just the right choice for Alpha Garrick, Zaria."Those were the sweet, supportive words my elder sister, Cynthia, whispered as she lovingly braided my hair and laced me into my white maiden silks. I trusted her completely, believing today would b
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







