LOGIN"When you frame it like that, a 'suitable pairing' sounds more like a prison sentence than a pack union," I muttered, my wolf pacing irritably behind my ribs.Why was the alternative always painted as so dire? What would actually be wrong with a high-ranking enforcer or one of those new-money tech-wolves from New Fang City? The ones my father sneers at because they bought their territory with venture capital instead of inheriting it from a centuries-old lineage. It might actually be exhilarating to learn the mechanics of their industry, to build a sprawling modern compound from the ground up, fitted with every tech-advancement the modern werewolf world has to offer.Kael Nightfang wasn't that kind of wolf, of course. In this disguise, he was exactly the type of male I was bred to understand—just without the status, the sprawling packlands, or the heavy burden of a title.And without the arrogance, the politics, and the suffocating expectations, a traitorous voice whispered in my mind.
"I’m blacklisting him. He’d have to be thick-skulled to miss the scent of my rejection. My parents will lose their minds, but they can't physically drag me into his presence. If they try, I'll howl 'no' right into his face and be done with it.""May I weigh in?" Kael Shadowfang shifted his weight, his eyes catching mine. "What if you agreed to a parley? Tell him exactly what you told me—how his neglect is an insult to your rank. I see three paths here. First, he backs off, tucks his tail, and leaves you alone, having learned absolutely nothing. He’s clearly arrogant, but he doesn't strike me as a complete idiot."I let out a sharp, cynical snort, but I didn't interrupt."Second," Kael continued, "he takes the hit to his pride, withdraws his claim, and goes to find a mate more suited to his speed, hopefully humbled by the experience.""And the third?" I leaned in, my wolf pacing with interest."He realizes he’s screwed up, starts an actual pursuit to win your favor, and you—deciding he
"The man has a wicked sense of humor," I muttered to myself, shifting my weight as I trailed behind Kael. Or perhaps it was merely a defensive maneuver. Mentioning anything close to 'fated' bonds usually sends Alphas into a state of rigid denial. They seem to think emotional depth is a weakness of the blood, or a trap set by a rival looking for a crack in their armor.We didn't find a grove; instead, we hit a smooth, grassy ridge overlooking a small, crystal-clear lake."The ground is dry enough, even with the frost from yesterday," Kael said. He slid from his mount, crouched, and pressed a hand to the turf. "Hard to believe the weather holds. It will be nothing but sleet and gray skies before the Great Thaw.""And no sign of those irritable badgers," I joked, dismounting Nero before he could offer a hand. I led my stallion to the edge of the overlook and walked toward the water’s edge.Kael unrolled a heavy wool rug from his saddle and pulled out the provision bags while I caught my
"Ready to eat my dust, Shadowfang?" I nudged Nero toward the soft shoulder of the forest path. "You take the high trail, I’ve got the valley floor. It’s a fair sprint: Nero is bred for explosive bursts, and your grey tank looks like he’s built for the long haul. First one to the lowstone pillars of the Lowfang Estate wins?""You're on," Kael said, his voice dropping into that low, Alpha register that made the air feel heavy. "On three. One, two... three!"I dug my heels in. Nero lunged, his powerful haunches bunching as he tore into the loam. I could hear the rhythmic thunder of Kael’s heavy stallion to my left, but I didn't look back. The wind whipped my hair into a mahogany frenzy, the landscape became a jagged green smear of pine and shadow, and I felt a sudden, electric jolt of joy.This was the hunt. This was the raw, physical power I’d been craving, and having this man—a stranger I’d met only yesterday—pacing me through the timber made the adrenaline hit ten times harder. I let
"Kael was always the master of a clean extraction, even as a young initiate," Selene remarked as we sat in the Emerald Den, the firelight casting long, dancing shadows against the stone walls. "I remember watching from the battlements—the ones overlooking the training pits—and seeing him accidentally stumble upon Liora Shawfang and... well, a sentry who certainly wasn't her betrothed. He didn't blink. He simply turned on his heel and vanished into the mist. I never saw him slip up or whisper a word of that ruinous secret."She smoothed the heavy wool of her traveling furs, a rare sign of restlessness."And now you can lean on that same silence, Acacik. You look spent. We can't have you appearing before the High Council with the look of a haunted wolf, can we?"I felt a pang of guilt. Selene was defying the laws of hospitality by harboring a 'deserter.' But my message to the Stormborn Citadel would clear her. My parents would just be relieved I hadn't turned feral or joined a scavenger
"I appreciate the sanctuary, Selene. I’ll send the raven tonight."Elder Selene set the parchment down, her gaze lingering on my clothes with a frown that could peel the bark off an oak. "Is that truly the only formal kit you brought to the Highlands?""I’m afraid so," I said, sinking onto the velvet sofa. "The trunk was packed by a mother who wanted me to look like a beggar in a cage.""Oh, pup." Selene glanced at the grandfather clock and let out a heavy breath. "It’s too late to call for the court tailors, but I’m certain my steward can find something in the ancestral vaults that fits your frame. Actually, looking at you now, perhaps a humble look serves our purpose," she added vaguely.I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, but the heavy doors to the Emerald Den creaked open. Kael Shadowfang walked in, draped in the sharp, high-contrast black and charcoal of a high-ranking warrior. I felt a sudden, sharp jolt of awareness. What was it about this man that made my wolf pace behind







