LOGINRaiden’s PovThe torches spit and pop as I walk into the big circle.Kael is already there. He took his shirt off. His scars shine because he put oil on them so claws will slide off. He rolls his shoulders like this is just play fighting. But his eyes look mean. He has wanted to fight me for years.I pull off my torn shirt and drop it. Blood is dry on my shoulder where Nyssa bit me. The bad silver dust from earlier is still in my skin. It feels like hot bugs crawling inside me. I can feel Nyssa through the bond. She is scared and mad. Her heart beats so fast it feels like my heart too.Twenty six days left. I am not allowed to die tonight.Thorne rings the big iron bell one time. The sound is loud and scary.“Fight for who is boss of the pack,” Thorne says. His voice is strong, but his eyes look sad. “Fight until one gives up or dies. Go.”Kael jumps at me super fast.He is faster than in practice. His claws cut my side before I can turn. The silver on his claws burns bad. I growl a
Raiden’s PovI keep telling myself I’m just checking on the guards.That’s the big lie I say to myself while I walk down the moonlit path to the Moon Cell for the fourth time tonight. Thorne took over the night watch an hour ago. Everything is quiet. Everything is safe.But really, everything is hurting me bad.The mate bond feels like a tight string pulling inside my chest and hers. Every time she moves on the cold floor, I feel the silver chains bite her skin. Every time she breathes too little because it hurts, I forget how to breathe too.I stop where the torches make a circle of light. Two young guards stand up super straight when they see me.“Anything new?” I ask.They shake their heads. “She hasn’t made a sound, Alpha. Not since the big judgment.”I flick my chin so they can go. They walk away really fast, happy to get away from my grumpy mood.The Cell looks white in the moonlight. Nyssa sits with her back on the far wall, knees up to her chest, arms hugging her legs as much
Nyssa’s Pov The sun is only just above the trees when they come for me. I hear them first, many boots on the dirt, low growls, the sound of weapons. The whole pack stands around the Moon Cell like wolves around something hurt and weak. Through the glass I see them all: old ones, young ones, mothers holding babies. They stare at me with angry yellow eyes. The silver has cut my wrists open. Dried blood sticks to the cuffs. I smell metal and sweat. But I sit up straight. I will not look broken. Raiden walks into the circle first. He looks tired. Dark circles are under his eyes. His face is tight. The bite I gave him shows through his torn shirt—dark red and ugly. Kael comes next, with a cold little smile I already hate. Then Elder Voss with his walking staff. Then Thorne and ten big warriors holding spears. Raiden lifts one hand. Everyone becomes quiet. “Pack law says,” he says in a strong, clear voice, “an assassin caught here must be judged by the Circle. The punishment is death
Raiden’s PovI can’t sleep.My cabin feels too quiet. The bed feels too big and empty. Every time I close my eyes, I feel her. I feel the silver burning her skin. I feel the cold floor under her. I feel how angry she is. She sits up straight even when she is tired and hurting.She ate the food I left. I could smell it from far away. She ate the bread and meat. That felt like a small win. Then I smelled tears. She cried alone under the moon. The bond sent every tear into my heart like fire.I deserve that pain.When the sun comes up, the pack meets again. They always meet when something is wrong. Everyone now knows: the Alpha has a human mate. She is an assassin. She says we burned her village, Greyhaven.Kael stands in front. His arms are crossed. His eyes are angry.“She should already be dead,” he says loudly. “You are breaking our law for a woman, Raiden. That is all.”Some wolves agree. Others stay quiet and watch me.I walk into the middle of them. My voice is calm.“Say that wo
Nyssa’s PovThe silver chains burn.It’s not a hot burn like fire. It a cold burn, like ice pressed against my skin.Every time I'd tried to move, they hurt my wrists and ankles more. The Moon Cell is quiet. I only hear the wind above the open roof and the soft sounds of wolves outside the glass walls.They watch me like I’m a dangerous animal, that could escape and hurt them all.Good. I want them afraid.My name is Nyssa Voss. For twelve years, I've been trained to kill wolves. I slept with knives under my pillow. And learned about poisons until my hands smelled like dangerous plants. I came here ready to die if it meant I could kill Raiden.But I never planned for the mate bond.It feels like a second heart inside my chest. It feels warm and heavy, and it feels wrong. Every beat says: He is yours. You are his.I want to cut it out.The big wolf, Thorne, left a cup of water just too far away. Maybe it’s a joke. Or a test. I could stretch and knock it over, then drink from the floor
Raiden’s PovShe fights like she has nothing to lose.She keeps kicking, biting, and scratches with all her strength, but my wolf is bigger, and meaner, and it will not let her go. Inside my head, it keeps roaring the same word over and over again.Mine. Mine. Mine.I drag her through the dirt by her wrists. Her boots making long lines in the ground. Pack members come out of their cabins. Their eyes glowing yellow and gold in the dark. They can smell blood, fear, and something else, something that makes the mated wolves step back and lower their heads.“Raiden.” Thorne runs up beside me, arms crossed. “What do you want us to...”“The Moon Cell,” I growl. My voice is more animal than man right now. “Open it. Now.”Thorne’s eyes go wide. “The Cell? For a human? Raiden, that’s...”“Now.”He shuts his mouth and runs ahead. We haven't opened that glass room in five years. Not since the last time I thought I'd found my mate. Not since I woke up with her blood on my hands and her heart no lo







