LOGINCora's POV The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting golden light across the royal study. Outside the tall windows, snow fell in steady silence, turning Frostbite into a world of white and stillness. Inside, however, the air felt heavier ..... not with cold, but with history. My mother had asked me to meet her alone. She sat across from me at the long oak table, hands folded calmly in front of her. The room smelled faintly of parchment, wood smoke, and the lavender oil she always used. Her presence was steady .... but her eyes carried something thoughtful tonight. “You’ve been feeling the pressure,” she began gently. I didn’t deny it. “Power changes everything,” I said quietly. “It changes how others see you. How they move around you.” She nodded once. “Yes. And it changes who comes forward.” That made me pause. She leaned back slightly, studying me the way she had for the past month — assessing, but not judging. “There is something in our history you
Eric's POV The broken iron target was still on my mind hours later. Not because it had shattered. But because of how it had shattered. I had seen strength before. Alpha strength. War strength. Rage-fueled power. But what I felt in that training circle wasn’t any of those. It was controlled. Focused. Intentional. Cora wasn’t just growing stronger. She was evolving. And that meant the people hunting her would eventually notice. Which meant we couldn’t afford to be reactive anymore. We had to be ahead. Anton met me in the strategy room just before midday. Maps were already spread across the table again. This time with fresh markings. “We tracked the rogue retreat from last night,” he said without preamble. “Good.” “They didn’t scatter.” That caught my attention immediately. “What do you mean?” Anton tapped the map. “They regrouped two miles north of the forest line. Then split into smaller units.” “Purpose?” “Unknown.” I leaned o
Cora's POV The morning after the attack felt heavier than the snow outside. Frostbite was repairing fences, tending to injured wolves, and reinforcing patrol lines. The entire pack moved with quiet urgency. I stood in the training circle again, the same stone arena where my mother had trained me yesterday. The air was crisp, biting against my skin. My breath formed faint clouds in front of me. My mother stood across from me, hands clasped behind her back. No weapon today. “This will be different,” she said calmly. I nodded. “I’m ready.” She studied me carefully. “Are you?” That question lingered. Because ever since yesterday’s training session, something inside me had felt… different. Restless. Alive. Almost impatient. “Yes,” I answered. She walked toward the edge of the stone circle and placed a small iron target on a wooden stand. “Focus on it.” I frowned slightly. “That’s it?” “For now.” I turned to face the target. It was simple. Circ
Eric's POV The alarm horn split through the night like a blade. One long blast. Then another. My eyes opened instantly. Cora stirred beside me in the dark room. “What is it?” she whispered, already sitting up. “Stay here,” I said immediately, throwing the blanket aside. Another horn sounded outside. Attack. I was out of the bed and moving before the second echo faded. By the time I reached the balcony, wolves were already flooding into the courtyard below. Torches flared to life along the walls. Guards took positions with practiced precision. Anton ran toward me from the main hall. “Northern fence breach,” he called. “Smaller group this time.” My jaw tightened. “How many?” “Ten to fifteen at most.” Not a full assault. A strike. I turned toward the forest. They were learning. Testing. Improving. “Evacuate civilians to the inner structures,” I ordered immediately. Anton nodded and ran off to relay commands. I leapt down from the balcony and landed in the snow b
Cain's POV The air in my territory felt different. Heavier. More restless. Even before I reached the main hall, I could sense the tension threading through the pack. Wolves moved quickly between buildings. Conversations stopped when I passed. Eyes followed me with expectation. Something was wrong. Again. I pushed open the doors to the council room and stepped inside. My father stood at the head of the table, speaking with three senior warriors. Maps were spread across the surface, marked with familiar red lines. Rogue activity. I exhaled slowly. So it wasn’t just Frostbite. It was spreading. My father noticed me immediately. “Cain.” “Father.” The room quieted. One of the warriors stepped aside to give me space at the table. “What’s happening?” I asked. My father slid a report toward me. “Rogue sightings have increased along the northern border.” I scanned the document quickly. The pattern looked familiar. Too familiar. “These aren’t random movements,” I said.
Leon's POV The council chamber was already full when I entered. Representatives from Frostbite’s senior wolves stood along the long wooden table, maps and documents scattered across its surface. The atmosphere inside the room was tense, the kind of tension that comes when bad news travels faster than anyone can contain it. I had seen that look before. Wars often began this way. Quietly. One rumor at a time. Anton stood near the map wall speaking with two scouts when he noticed me enter. He immediately straightened. “Your Majesty.” The others followed suit. I waved a hand dismissively. “At ease.” I moved toward the center of the table, studying the collection of letters that had been laid out there. Each one bore the seal of a different pack. Too many. “Reports?” I asked. Anton stepped forward. “Messages started arriving early this morning.” He handed me the first letter. The seal belonged to Silver Ridge Pack, one of Frostbite’s closest allies. I
Eric's POV Training her is a mistake. I know that the moment she squares her shoulders across from me, blue eyes steady, jaw set in quiet determination. The morning air is cool, dew still clinging to the grass beneath our boots, but she looks grounded, present in a way that tells me she’s alre
Eric's POV It becomes obvious, eventually, that Cora isn’t just improving. She’s thriving. I don’t realize how much space Cora has taken up in my life until I try to picture my days without her. The image doesn’t settle. She’s there every morning now, standing across from me in the train
Eric's POV The council hall hummed with the low murmur of wolves discussing strategy, but my attention was elsewhere. I couldn’t shake the tension radiating between the Lincoln pack’s Alpha son and Cora. Even from across the room, I could feel it—like a storm barely contained, dangerous and unpre
Cora's POV I try not to think about him. That’s the problem, I’m failing. It starts small. The way my chest tightens when I hear his voice before I see him. The way my attention drifts, uninvited, whenever he enters a room. I tell myself it’s gratitude. Respect. Safety. But gratitude doesn







