LOGIN"No. With Cassian Valecrest managing the daily operations of the Dominion, my presence isn't mandatory every hour. I usually only go to keep the lesser nobles in line. But with House Draven expanding our holdings at the Shadowfang Fortress, the Crimson Vampire Council expects to see me overseeing the territorial treaties soon."He paused, stepping back slightly. One finger reached up, slowly loosening his perfectly knotted tie by exactly one inch—his signature sign that his mood had shifted into something dark, serious, and deeply dominant."That reminds me, Lyra," he murmured, his dark eyes locking onto mine with heavy weight. "With us living under one roof, considering your Epsilon rank and your young age... you know how the Elders and the old pack leaders will view this."I nodded slowly, a cold knot forming in my stomach. I knew the high-born vampires and proud Alpha wolves would call me a scheming ladder-climber and label him a predatory High Lord taking advantage of a weak wolf.
Lyra Ashbourne POVLucien was going to be an intense, fiercely protective father. I wondered if he had been this possessive with Kaia when she was born, or if he had hovered over her mother's bloodline the same way while she carried his child.Released from the Black Hollow Healers Guild only yesterday, Lucien had insisted I stay in his velvet-draped bed to recover, but my wolf could only tolerate being caged for so long. Since he refused to let me return to the Moonclaw Artisan Hall, I had nothing to do but regain my strength and obsess over the nursery. I snatched my parchment tablet from my satchel and padded down the long stone corridor toward the back guest wings of Draven Blood Manor.His grand master suite and private sanctuary took up over half the front floor, while the guest chambers were squeezed into the far end of the hallway, cold and barely used. I opened the heavy oak door directly across from them, revealing the private training hall where Lucien spent his mornings.I
I paused, remembering the loose ends waiting at the Bloodmoon Dominion. Selah Whitlock was likely sitting in the Scarlet Council Wing right now, leaving her formal resignation on my mahogany desk because I had missed our meeting. I felt a faint twining of guilt for missing the appointment, but Lyra was my priority. Selah had dodged a blade by ending our sexual arrangement anyway; I would have broken her heart the second Lyra carried my child regardless.Lyra waited patiently, her head tilted. "What is it, Lucien?""I do not want you working in the Blood Scribe Order anymore," I said directly.Her eyes went wide, her fingers clawing into the fabric of my sleeve. "You are stripping my rank? Lucien, please! I know you want to provide for the baby, but having my own purpose in the realm matters to me! I need my work! It is more than just a title, please reconsider!"I smiled at her fierce wolf pride, admiring the way she fought for her own standing.I raised a hand to cut her off. "Calm d
Lucien Draven POVThe day had been one of the absolute hardest I had faced in decades. Seeing Lyra collapse onto the cold floor was a brutal wake-up call, shoving the truth straight into my chest—I cared for this little wolf far more than I had ever dared to admit. I was more determined than ever to protect her and our unborn hybrid child, and now that Kaia was blabbering about covenants and living spaces, I knew Lyra and I had to get on the same page before the Crimson Vampire Council tore us apart.I had already sworn I would provide for her and the pup, and now that we were finally alone in the Healers Guild ward, I needed to spell out how it was going to happen. We had an entire future to build, starting with the immediate truth.I leaned over the narrow bed, pressing my lips to her warm cheek while brushing a loose strand of pale hair behind her ear. "I think we have a lot of things to settle, little wolf."Lyra offered a weary smile, her small fingers wrapping around my large ha
"Do not look at it, baby," he murmured, his breath hot against my cheek. "It will be over in a second."It was sweet of him to try and comfort me, but nothing was going to stop the terror until that silver was gone.The healer let out a raspy chuckle. "You had better get used to silver needles, little wolf, especially if you are breeding with a High Lord."Lucien’s dark eyes narrowed into pitch black, his jaw setting hard as he glared at the female until she shrank back.She quickly shifted topics to break the lethal tension. "Once the fluids are running, we will perform a full pelvic exam to ensure the babe is secure."Lucien’s broad hand clamped over mine, his pulse heavy and warm against my palm. "It will be fine, Lyra."It was strange how fast I had accepted the tiny miracle inside my belly—how fiercely I already loved this little wolf-vampire child simply because it belonged to us. I extended my trembling pale arm and let the healer drive the needle into my vein, holding back my w
Lyra Ashbourne POVI didn’t know what had happened to my body when I woke in the soft bed and felt Lucien leaning over me. I had caught the faint crinkle of thick parchment, guessing he was leafing through the sketches I kept by my nightstand. It had been my nightly ritual in the Ashbourne Pack Lodge to sketch thermal blood-spas and high-born retreats, even if my Epsilon rank meant I was never meant to see them built.The moment Lucien’s broad weight shifted beside me, my head spun like I was falling off a cliff.I was so nauseous, dry-heaving hard into my elbow, but nothing came out. I had expelled every drop of bile hours ago. My mouth was dry as ash, my throat burning like I had swallowed hot silver sand.I remembered the exact second Kaia had walked into the lodge room and how their dark vampire voices had clashed, but it was all hazy now. By the time they started throwing around words about a baby, my wolf mind couldn't even process it.When Lucien had carried me out to the carria
I opened my eyes and saw Kairo watching me. He was sitting at my small desk, his huge body looking way too big for the wooden chair. He had his pants on, but his bare chest was on full display. I could not believe last night. I had liked him since my first year at Moonridge Academy, and I never tho
"Get off the bed, Nia," Kairo growled.He pulled up his dark pants and zipped them fast, but then he froze. I looked down to see what made him stop. There was bright red blood on his skin.I bit my lip hard, my face burning super hot with embarrassment. I looked up at his face. His eyes were wide,
"Put down the cup, Nia," Kairo said.His deep voice vibrated straight through my bones. My whole body jumped, and my heart went fast, hitting hard against my ribs. I turned around quick, my bare legs shaking in my short pink dress.Kairo Adeyemi stood right there in the middle of the crowded party.
"This is Omari's sister," Kairo introduced his date. Short and to the point. He never wasted energy on excess words, did he."Oh my gosh," the woman's squeal startled me. "Callum Hayes! I am such a fan." Her voice was high-pitched, and she beamed like a hundred-watt light bulb. She turned her gaze







