The sun is preparing to dip lower on the horizon in the beach house, but the battle has only begun.Aria adjusted the wrappings around her knuckles as Cecil rolled her shoulders, already barefoot in the sand, her eyes glinting with mischief and experience. “You sure you’re ready for this, Miss I’m-Still-Recovering?” Cecil teased, circling slowly.Aria grinned, her stance steady. “Try me. Just don’t go crying to Matilda if I land a hit.”From the sidelines, Nina was perched on a towel with her nanny Maria and Matilda, who sipped tea under the shade of a huge old tree. Nina’s tiny fists were in the air, full of glee. “Go, Auntie Aria! Go, Teacher Cecil! Fight! Fight!”With a mock growl, Cecil lunged first, a blur of motion honed from years of combat training. Aria barely dodged, pivoting to the side just in time, her body responding faster than it had in weeks or perhaps years, ever since Elliot started poisoning her. Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, alert, eager.“You’re getting fast
Mason’s eyes flared, his fists clenched at his sides. A growl vibrated in his chest—low, guttural, barely restrained.But Julian couldn't control his fist from flying to Jude's face once again.“Who is it?” he demanded, his voice now a sharp snarl. “Who’s behind all of this?”Jude leaned forward as far as the chains would allow, the silver sizzling against his neck. His voice dropped to a whisper, venomous and cold.“They’re already watching you, Chairman. And they’re not afraid of your Lycan blood.”Mason’s fury rose like a tide—but beneath it, a dark realization twisted in his gut.This went far deeper than Elliot. And if Jude was right, they were all standing at the edge of a war they couldn’t see coming.And before Mason could hurl another question, Jude’s head snapped back, and a shrill, guttural laugh erupted from his throat. It echoed off the walls like a death knell. Then—A sickening sound split the air—something snapping inside his mouth.Foam burst from his lips.His body c
Orun worked alone, sweat beading on his brow as he chanted the incantations to break the death bind wrapped tightly around Cahail’s daughter and grandchildren. The spell clawed back, resisting every word, every pulse of magic, but Orun was relentless. After nearly an hour of exhausting spiritual warfare, the bind finally cracked and dissolved like smoke in the wind.It wasn't as intricate or malicious as the one that had been placed on Aria, but it was deadly all the same.The entire operation was executed under a veil of secrecy. Only a handful within the Federation even knew it had happened.The moment Orun gave the signal that the spell was broken, Mason issued a sharp command to his men. “Secure the targets. Becker and his family go to HQ alive. I want answers.”The wounded and unconscious Jude Becker, along with the surviving members of his bloodline, were transported with haste to the Federation’s maximum-security wing.Mason turned to Orun before they left. “Don’t leave just y
Aria entered the dining area and sat beside Cecil and Nina, her senses more alert than usual, every movement around her somehow sharper.“Where’s Shaman Orun?” she asked, glancing toward the empty seat. “Won’t he be joining us for breakfast?”Matilda looked up from pouring tea. “He left early. Said he had something urgent to attend to. Why? Did you need to speak with him?”“Not exactly,” Aria replied, brow furrowing slightly. “I just assumed he’d be here for the cleansing later. But if he’s gone, maybe another shaman can take over.”Matilda’s gaze lingered on Aria for a beat longer than usual. “That can be arranged. Though Orun did mention the energy around you has been shifting. You’ve felt it, haven’t you?”Aria gave a faint nod, fingers tightening around her cup. “Yes. It’s like… my wolf is getting younger. Stronger than before. I used to think I was just drained from years of corporate work, but now…” Her lips quirked. “Now I feel like I could take on the world—like I did back in
The next morning, long before the sun had fully risen, Mason and Julian stormed into the Federation Headquarters. One of their enforcers had reported a breakthrough—someone among the prisoners had finally uttered the name Jude Becker.Mason’s expression was grim, his patience already worn thin. “Why the hell did you drag us here at this hour instead of getting the damn information yourself?” he snapped, his voice a low growl of restrained fury.They had spent most of the night interrogating the latest group of captives. Hours wasted on fear-stricken subordinates from Crimson Claw and its neighboring packs who either genuinely knew nothing or were trained too well to speak. Jude Becker had gone to great lengths to erase his existence—even his own men didn’t know what he looked like, let alone where he was hiding.Mason had resorted to memory transference—again and again—siphoning fragments of truth from the minds of their prisoners. But every time, he hit a wall. No images. No voices.
“Where the fuck is Jude?!” Elliot’s voice thundered across the marble floors of Riggs Mansion’s grand living room, making the chandelier above tremble ever so slightly.Yousef flinched but held his composure. “He left a single encrypted message before going completely dark. Said he’d been compromised. He’s shut down all links—even the inner circle can’t reach him.”“Damn it!” Elliot’s fist slammed into the armrest of his chair, the crack echoing like a gunshot.“What about the witch?” Stella snapped, her sharp voice slicing through the tension.“Jude was our only connection to her,” Yousef said grimly. “No one else knows her location. Without him, we’ve lost the trail.”Stella moved toward Elliot like a snake drawn to heat. She slid her hands across his tense shoulders, kneading the muscle beneath. “Breathe, love. Jude is loyal. He wouldn’t vanish unless he had to. He’s protecting you—this is his way of shielding you from fallout.”She glanced at Yousef. “Isn’t that right?”Yousef nod