LOGINNEAH
The knife hit the floor with a metallic clatter that echoed through the corridor. Marcus's hand stayed on my throat. Not squeezing. Just there. A reminder of power differential. Wolf versus human. Predator versus prey.
"Smart girl," he said.
"Practical girl. There's a difference."
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "You came here to save them. Noble. Stupid. But noble. I can r
POV: LiamIron Valley appears on the horizon at sunset.Home. After weeks of war. Of trials. Of impossible battles. Finally home.The convoy rolls through familiar territory. Warriors relaxing. Tension bleeding away. We survived. All of us. Against impossible odds.Neah sits beside me. Silent. Processing. Marcus's final words still haunting her.Through the bond, I feel her exhaustion. Her relief. Her determination to keep fighting despite everything."We're home," I say. Squeezing her hand."Yeah. We are." She looks at me. Golden eyes tir
POV: NeahThe clearing is silent except for the wind.Hundreds of wolves surrounding us in a perfect circle. Witnesses to ancient law. To a challenge that hasn't been invoked in five centuries.Marcus stands twenty yards away. Relaxed. Confident. Five hundred years of experience making him certain of victory.I'm exhausted. Still recovering from purging a hundred hybrids. Still healing from dying three times in the past month.But I'm here. And I'm not backing down.Aldara steps into the circle. "The Challenge Absolute has been issued and accepted. Single combat. No interference. No weapons beyond
POV: NeahI wake three days later.Not in Montana. Not in Vancouver. In Iron Valley. In our bed. Safe.Liam is beside me. Asleep in a chair. Dark circles under his eyes. He hasn't left my side.Through the bond, I feel his exhaustion. His relief. His absolute refusal to lose me again.I touch his hand. He wakes immediately."Neah." He's on the bed in seconds. Pulling me close. "You're awake. Thank God you're awake.""How long?""Three days. You burned yourself out purging the hund
POV: NeahTwo days until the Council gathering.The war room has become our world. Maps. Files. Intelligence reports covering every surface. Fifty Alphas rotating through in shifts. Planning. Strategizing. Preparing for the confrontation that will define our future.I stand at the main table. Exhausted. Running on coffee and determination. The golden veins beneath my skin are still dim from overuse. But functional. Healing.Theo pulls up the Council building schematics. "Vancouver Convention Center. Neutral ground. The gathering happens annually. Five Elders. Representatives from every major pack. Security will be maximum.""Which means we can't just storm
POV: NeahVanessa's scream tears through the medical wing.Seven months pregnant. Too early. The baby shouldn't be coming yet.But hybrid pregnancies don't follow normal rules. We're learning that in real time.I press my hands to her belly. Golden energy flowing. Assessing. The baby's vitals are strong. Too strong. The markers are active. Expressing. Making this child grow faster. Develop quicker.Which means ready to be born two months early."How bad?" Caleb asks. He's gripping Vanessa's hand. Terrified. Desperate."The baby is healthy.
POV: NeahTwo days until the Council gathering.The war room has become our world. Maps. Files. Intelligence reports covering every surface. Fifty Alphas rotating through in shifts. Planning. Strategizing. Preparing for the confrontation that will define our future.I stand at the main table. Exhausted. Running on coffee and determination. The golden veins beneath my skin are still dim from overuse. But functional. Healing.Theo pulls up the Council building schematics. "Vancouver Convention Center. Neutral ground. The gathering happens annually. Five Elders. Representatives from every major pack. Security will be maximum.""Which means we can't just storm
CALEBVanessa's voice cuts through the mindlink like a knife. Scared but steady. Fighting but overwhelmed.*Caleb. Eastern border. Twenty hostiles. Derek brought reinforcements. We're holding but barely.*The Alpha in
LIAMThe girl was staring at me like I had lost my mind. Maybe I had. The last seventy two hours were a blur of blood and running and a pull in my chest that wouldn't stop no matter how far I pushed my body.My wolf, Kain, had gone insane three days ago. Right in the middle of a council meeting wit
NEAH"What do you mean he's asking for me?"I was already pulling on my sneakers with one hand and holding the phone with the other. My heart was hammering so loud I was sure Theo could hear it through the line."Exactly what I said. He crossed the border bleeding and half conscious. Shane and Mile
NEAHThe first week of senior year went exactly how I expected. Classes were fine. Training was good. The mean girls were mean. Same old routine.What I didn't expect was how much harder the nightmares would hit.Every night that week I woke up screaming. Every night Caleb came running. By Friday w







