LOGINAthena’s POVAugustus.Augustus.His name echoes inside my head with every beat of my heart, drowning out everything around me.I failed him.The thought cuts through me as I race between the trees, my paws striking the earth beneath me. I failed to protect my pup. I promised him I would keep him safe, and now he is somewhere out there, away from me, surrounded by people who have no right to touch him.I remember the first time I held him in my arms. He was so small that I could cradle his entire body against my chest. His tiny fingers curled around mine, and I remember looking down at his face and making a promise I knew I would spend the rest of my life keeping. It was the one promise I could never afford to break.No matter what happened, I would protect him.I would keep him safe from everything that could hurt him.I would always be there when he needed me.Now I cannot even hold him.A painful growl rises from my chest, and I push myself harder, racing through the forest as thou
Dimitri’s POVI am deep in the forest when I hear her.My wolf catches her scent before my mind fully registers her presence. Recognition follows immediately. I have known this wolf for years, long enough to recognize her even among hundreds of others.Gemma.Her wolf emerges between the trees, moving toward me with an urgency that seems almost convincing. Before she reaches me, she shifts back into human form. Her expression arranged into one of concern, though something beneath it tells a different story.I watch her without moving."I heard about Augustus," she says, her voice carrying the urgency of someone desperate to be helpful. "I couldn't stop myself from coming to find you."I say nothing.There are search teams scattered throughout the forest, and every minute I spend away from the trail is a minute I could have spent looking for my son. I have already searched this section twice, following every scent that might lead me to him. So far, I have found nothing.Gemma steps clo
Dimitri’s POVThe Silverwater pack is already preparing for what feels like a war when we reach the main grounds.The entire pack has shifted into action. Warriors move between vehicles, loading supplies, checking weapons, and making sure every search team has what it needs. Trackers gather around maps, marking roads and forest paths while others prepare equipment for the search.This is something I have noticed about Silverwater. They never rely on their wolves alone. They use every available tactic and technique to gain an advantage over their enemies. Their strength lies in how they combine their instincts with planning, intelligence, and the right equipment. They understand that winning a fight often begins long before the first blow is struck.Trackers gather around maps, studying the roads and forest paths leading away from the pack. Additional warriors are assigned to different groups while others prepare vehicles for the search.Asher does not waste a single moment.He sends t
Dimitri's POVAthena blinks.Her eyes travel down to my arms wrapped around her.For a second, she simply stares at them as if she has only just realized I am holding her. Then she reaches down, unwraps my arms from around her, and pushes herself upright.I follow her immediately.My arms remain slightly extended, ready to catch her if her legs give way again, but I keep them from touching her.She takes a few steps forward.I watch her carefully.A cold wave washes over her.I can see it happen.Every emotion in her face disappears.Her breathing remains calm. Her posture straightens. Her expression becomes quiet and unreadable, as if she has shut a door inside herself.She lifts her eyes.The red hue in them looks completely out of place against her calm face.My jaw ticks.I do not need an explanation.Neither does my wolf.We both know what those red eyes mean.She has gone feral.For a pack wolf, there are few things as dangerous as losing that connection to the part of yourself
Dimitri's POVWe are through the doors before the howl finishes.The afternoon air hits us immediately, humid and warm, and I follow the sound without thinking because my wolf has already taken over the navigation. My mind is simply along for the ride.Reese is behind me.Several other Alphas have followed from the conference hall, drawn by the power in that howl the way wolves are always drawn toward something that carries that much force.The sound comes again.It is closer now.Fierce.Raw.My wolf pushes harder.I follow.We cross the grounds quickly, moving toward the edge of the packhouse where the trees begin.Then I see her.Athena.She is in wolf form.Large for a she-wolf, which I already know, but seeing her now is different from anything I witnessed during the training week. Her dark fur is matted with dirt and blood. Some of it is hers. Most of it is not.There are deep cuts across her shoulder and along her side. One ear is torn near the edge, and a long scratch runs acr
Dimitri's POV The council summons arrives on a Thursday morning. I read it once, set it down, and call Carter into the office. He appears within two minutes, which tells me he has already seen a copy through his own channels. He has been waiting for me to read mine before saying anything. This is one of the things that makes Carter useful. He knows when information requires action and when it simply requires patience. "Alpha conference. Neutral territory. Three days," I say. "Reese and I have already begun coordinating," he says. "Reese will travel with you. I will stay and manage Blackridge while you are gone." I nod. This is the correct arrangement. Carter holds the pack with the same quiet efficiency he brings to everything. Blackridge will not miss a step while I am away. Reese travels well, and he knows how to read a room full of Alphas without making it obvious that he is reading it. There is also another reason I am comfortable taking Reese with me. He knows how to re







