LOGINThe morning light was pale and cold as Aria sat in Rowan's study, the same desk where he had once laid out the fragments of the White Wolf prophecy. Now it was covered with reports of the battle's aftermath: patrol rotations, supply inventories, lists of the dead. But Aria's attention was fixed on a blank piece of parchment. "We have to inform Silvermoon," she said quietly. "Selene was their daughter, or should I say stepdaughter. And Simeon's crimes go back decades. Alpha Magnus needs to know." Rowan leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed. "He's your father. You could ask him to come." "I'm not asking as his daughter." Her jaw tightened. "I'm asking as Luna of Mooncrest. Simeon murdered my mother, who was his mate. He poisoned her with wolfsbane and let the pack believe it was a natural death. Magnus has a right to face the man who killed his mate and Luna." Rowan studied her for a long moment. "And Lina? She's Simeon's daughter. She should know the truth." "S
The healer's wing smelled of lavender and woodsmoke. Pale sunlight slanted through the high windows, washing the rows of bed in gold. At the other side of the room, propped against a mound of pillows with her chest wrapped in clean white bandages, Bryn was awake. She didn't look up when Aria entered. Her eyes were fixed on the window. Her hands lay motionless on the blanket. The silver locket, the one she had pressed into Aria's palm in the corridor, was not around her neck. Elara had returned it to her, but Bryn had not put it back on. "Luna." Her voice was a rasp, barely audible. "I didn't think you'd come." Aria crossed to the chair beside the bed. The wood creaked as she sat down. Audra was not with her, Rowan had taken their daughter to the nursery, insisting Aria needed rest before she collapsed. "How are you feeling?" Aria asked. "Like someone put a sword through my chest." Bryn's cracked lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Elara says I was luck
Aria stepped out into the cold night, Audra cradled tightly against her chest. The icy wind brushed against her skin, carrying the scent of blood and pine. Behind her lay the bodies of rogues and the woman who had spent years trying to destroy her. Ahead of her stretched a future she had fought desperately to protect. But victory didn't feel the way she had imagined. Audra stirred in her arms, letting out a soft whimper. Aria looked down at her daughter and forced herself to smile. The little girl blinked up at her with wide silver eyes before curling a tiny hand around a lock of Aria's hair. "You'll never have to live through this," Aria whispered. "I promise." The sound of approaching wolves echoed through the forest. Within moments, warriors burst through the trees. With Lois at the front, his hair tangled from the hard ride and his sword already drawn. His eyes immediately found Aria. "Luna.” Lois breathed. His gaze swept across the clearing, taking in the rogue bodi
Aria’s mind kept replaying the words that Simeon had said. How her mother suffered, and how he had watched her suffer in the hands of the pack. He made her childhood a miserable one. "Now," Simeon said, his voice hardening, "we finish this. I will either use your daughter's power to claim what should have been mine, or we all die here together, including her." He said pointing at Audra. Aria's blood ran cold. "You wouldn't." "Try me." Selene rose from the cot. Her wounds had healed her completely, her healing was fast. The golden eyes that had been dim and fading now blazed with renewed hatred. She rolled her shoulders, and her lips curled into a cold smile. "Let me kill her," she said. "I've waited years for this." Simeon nodded. "Take her. The Alpha is mine." Selene shifted. Her clothes tore as her wolf exploded from her skin, her fur bristling with feral fury. She lunged at Aria with a snarl that shook the cabin walls. Aria shifted almost immediately. Nova surged forwa
The cabin was silent. Aria's gaze moved from Selene's pale face to Lina's father. Nothing about this made sense. The man standing before her was supposed to be dead. "Aria," he said quietly. "You've grown into a remarkable young woman." Her jaw tightened. "You should be dead." Her voice trembled with anger. "Lina told me you died years ago." A bitter smile crossed his face. "Lina doesn't even know I'm alive." The words struck her like a slap. "I've been watching you since the day you were born," Simeon continued. "My mate was the healer who helped your mother bring you into this world." Rowan stiffened beside her. Simeon looked down for a moment before speaking again. "I was the one who pushed Lina to befriend you." Aria frozen. "What?" His eyes shifted toward Selene. "And when I saw the hatred Selene carried for you, I decided to use it." Aria's hand immediately found the hilt of her dagger. "Why?" she demanded. Simeon's expression darkened. "You want to know why
The mountain pass was silent save for the wind and the steady rhythm of Varkos's paws on frozen ground. Aria pressed herself low against his back, the spare clothes she had grabbed for Rowan clutched against her chest. The wolfsbane was not too effective, she could feel Nova, but she’s not sure she can shift. They got to the middle of the mountain and found a blood trail. They followed it until it grew thinner, the drops farther apart. Whoever had left it was slowing down. The cabin. Rowan mind linked her, sharp and focused. It’s through the trees. Aria lifted her head. There, nestled between two jagged cliffs, its windows shuttered, and smoke from the chimney. A sign that there is someone there. She's in there, Aria said. I can feel it. Varkos slowed as they reached the tree line. Aria slid from his back, her boots crunching on the frost covered ground. She turned to hand him the spare clothes, and stopped. Her eyes widened. Rowan had shifted behind her. The didn’t hear crack
In a cabin far in the deserted reaches of the mountain pass, a figure sat before a cold hearth. A single candle burned on the table. The windows were shuttered. A dark cloak hung from gaunt shoulders. One hand held a small locket, turning it over and over. The door creaked open. A second figure
The storm had passed. Moonlight spilled through the windows of the healer's wing, pale and clean, washing the room in silver. The candles had burned low. Elara had retreated to her quarters an hour ago, leaving strict instructions for rest and a pot of herbal tea on the bedside table. Aria lay p
A storm came over the mountains without warning, black clouds swallowing the stars, wind howling through the pines like a living thing. Rain lashed against the windows of the healer's wing. The torches in the corridor guttered and spat. Inside, the room was warm despite the cold pressing at the g
The days blended into each other like watercolors, soft, unhurried, full of gentle rhythms. Summer had given way to early autumn, painting the mountains in shades of gold and amber. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and woodsmoke. The pack had settled into a deep, abiding pe







