LOGINThird Person POV.3 YEARS LATER.Time passed in a blink.The students who had once studied in the royal academy had all graduated, stepping into their adult roles across the kingdom.And the young prince who had once torn the capital apart in a sea of fire and blood was now the Lycan King.Silas pulled off his gloves as he got out of his car in the central courtyard of the royal palace. Dust covered his military armor, the crimson cape over his shoulders bearing the deep mud of the distant borders.He had just come back from a long, month-long patrol at the borders and was now coming to give his report to the King.As Silas walked through the grand iron gates of the castle, a heavy, eerie quiet settled over him.Years ago, when the former Queen Everly had been around, the palace was always loud and bursting with life. There were endless balls, fancy dinners, music, and laughter filling every corner.But ever since Ezra took the throne, the palace had become cold and silent as a tomb.
Riley’s POVAxel let out a harsh, mocking laugh from the doorway, shaking his head as he leaned back against the wall."Rogue?" he snorted, crossing his blood-stained arms over his chest. "You just barely escaped getting burned alive by the honorable royals. And the first thing out of your mouth is still worrying about who is a rogue and who isn't?"I didn't answer him. I kept my guard up, standing firmly between the bed and the door, my eyes fixed on Grandma.Grandma set the heavy bowl of warm water down on a small wooden table near the entrance. She squeezed out a rag before looking up at me."Sit down, Riley," Grandma said softly, her voice carrying a quiet authority that instantly took me back to my childhood. "You deserve the truth. I haven't been honest with you about my past."My knees felt weak, but I stayed standing. "What truth, Grandma? How do you even know Axel? Why were the rogues helping you in the plaza?"Grandma took a long, heavy breath, resting her hands on her apron
Riley’s POV"NO!" I screamed, ripping my wrist out of Axel's grip with force I didn't know I had."Riley, what the hell are you doing?!" Axel shouted, reaching out to grab me again. "The guards are closing in! We have to move NOW!"I didn't care about the gunfire. I didn't care about the rogue escape plan. I didn't care about my own safety anymore. I turned around and sprinted right back toward the bloody stone platform, my feet flying across the shattered marble.I threw myself onto the cold, blood-soaked floor right next to Ezra."Ezra! Ezra, look at me! Stay with me!" I sobbed, lifting his heavy, bloody head onto my lap.Behind us, a shadow flashed. Axel sprinted up the stairs, his face dark with frustration. He hurled a heavy steel blade straight through Soren's exposed throat. The old king let out a gurgling choke and collapsed onto the stone with a sickening thud, his eyes wide and lifeless, finally motionless.Ezra was choking on his own blood. His broad, calloused hand shot up
Riley’s POV"Guards! Where are my guards?" Soren roared, his voice booming over the screaming crowds.Silence was his only answer.Instead of royal soldiers, dozens of heavily armed warriors stepped out of the thick smoke, their guns aimed directly at Soren’s men.Soren’s face twisted into a mask of pure rage. He stood up and slowly made his way down the stone stairs of the platform."You think you're strong enough to replace me, boy?" Soren sneered, his hands curling into sharp claws. "You think you can take my crown?"Ezra raised his gun, fired off three quick shots to drop Soren’s remaining honor guards, and tossed the empty weapon onto the floor.His green eyes glowed with a terrifying, lethal light."The law of the werewolf world is simple, father," Ezra said, his voice dropping into an ice-cold whisper that echoed across the plaza. "The strong rule, and the weak bow. I here officially challenge you for the throne. If you lose, you die.""You arrogant bastard!" Soren screeched.S
Riley’s POV"You are fucking crazy, Ezra," I screamed right into his face, my raspy voice breaking in my throat. "You just drove away the only person who offered me a way out. You just ruined my only chance to survive!"Ezra’s hand trembled against my chin. His eyes flickered, filled with a raw, desperate pain."You thought he was your only hope?" he whispered, his voice cracking. "You really believed I would just sit back and watch you burn? You'd rather rely on him than trust me?""Trust you?" I let out a harsh, bitter laugh, tears spilling over my swollen cheeks. "Why on earth would I trust you, Ezra? Everything you've ever done has brought me pain. You locked me in a dark hole and left me there to lose my mind. Honestly, being burned to death tomorrow sounds a hundred times better than going back to your stone cage!"Ezra flinched as if I had stabbed him directly in the heart. His eyes went wide, swimming with absolute, crushing agony.I thought he was going to grab my throat and
Riley’s POV"Riley... oh God, look at you," Silas whispered. His voice was shaking as he looked through the iron bars at me.I stared back at him, trembling. A dull, painful feeling slowly filled my chest. It felt like a lifetime ago when we were just students at the academy. We had entered the hunting season together, fought side by side, and all I wanted back then was to become a great healer.Now, I was sitting in a filthy cage, wrapped in rusty chains.How fate played us."I'm fine, Silas," I rasped out, but the tears spilled down my cheeks anyway. “No sorry…that’s a lie. I’m far from fine. Thanks for coming and see me. This might be our last chance of seeing each other.”Silas reached his arm through the cold bars and used his thumb to wipe the tears from my face. "Don't cry. Listen to me, Riley, we don't have much time. But I have a way to save you."“No Silas, you don’t understand, King Soren gave a direct order—”“Fuck the King,” he rasped.I was so shocked that I froze. He le
Riley’s POVWhat?I could barely believe what I just heard.Ms. Bright just said I was in Ezra’s team?But that couldn’t be right. Something’s wrong!For a second, the entire field was completely silent. Then chaos erupted. Everyone started whispering to each other, some girls even screamed. Everyo
Riley’s POVOlivia’s face went white.“N-No! Wait—” she shrieked as two of Ezra’s men strode toward her.They didn’t hesitate for even a second. One grabbed her by the arm. The other reached for her shoulder like they really meant to drag her all the way back to the blasted camp and toss her into t
Riley’s POVCamila’s alliance took a brutal hit.Even from the ridge, I could tell they were finished for the day. The ones who managed to escape were half-dragging, half-carrying each other through the trees. Some were limping. Some were bleeding so badly their clothes were soaked dark.And right
Riley's POVI stood there, my hands and legs still shaking from the fight.We poured everything we had into this and barely came out alive. And those robbers were just going to steal it?"Shame on you!!!" Odin's face twisted with anger. "This is against the rules! I'm going to report you all to the







