Madeline’s POV"C'mon," Elijah calls, enjoyment in his eyes. "You can't be tired already."The sun is barely up, but Elijah is already circling me like I owe him money and he’s the debt collector with anger issues.We’re back in the training field, and unlike last time, we have an audience.They’re scattered around the edge of the field—pretending they’re stretching, talking, maybe just “happened” to walk by. But their eyes are all on us. The infamous mate of the Alpha sparring with one of the strongest rogues in camp.No pressure.I spit dirt to the ground, baring my teeth at Elijah's smirking face as he bounces on his feet, those blue eyes of his practically holding amusement. He's not fighting like the last time we fought and I suddenly realize something that makes my stomach sink.He was holding back last time.Big time.This? This is his real speed—im pretty sure he's still holding back but this is fast.“Try to keep up, princess,” he says, bouncing slightly on his heels.I roll
Madeline’s POVI shiver slightly as the night's breeze hits me from the opened windows as I step out of the bathroom, water dripping from my body. A towel, short but efficient enough to cover my breasts and stop around my thighs, is wrapped around my body. My hair is soaked, dripping water on the wooden floor as I move toward the corner to grab something dry to wear.It's just st that moment the door swings open."What the—"Lucian steps in like he owns the fuckin place, eyes scanning casually until they land on me—and go wide.Very wide.We stare at each other for a while, frozen. A full two seconds of this dumb, wet, awkward, towel-only standoff passes before—“SHIT!” he curses, turning around and it suddenly dawned on him what he should actually do. “Sorry—I—I didn’t—I wasn’t—fuck!”He stumbles on his words as he steps back outside, slamming the door shut and locking it behind him.I blink.Then I shout, “Ever heard of knocking, you idiot?!”From the other side of the door, his
Lucian’s POV The cell reeks of piss, blood, and desperation. The holy trinity of pathetic nonsense. I stand with my arms folded, my face blank as the hunter inside throws himself against the bars for the fourth time in the last five minutes, screaming something about “diplomatic injustice” and “basic human rights.” His lip is cracked. His eye, swollen. One arm dangles uselessly from the shoulder I dislocated when he tried to claw my face. He should be grateful I didn’t rip his throat out like his buddies. Rock is beside me, chewing something that’s probably not gum. Elijah leans against the far wall, arms crossed, watching the hunter like he’s trying to decide whether to pity him or piss on him. “You know,” Rock says, his gravel-deep voice cutting through the air, “if he hits those bars one more time, I’m going in there to knock some sense into him. With a chair.” The hunter bangs again. Curses. Spits blood. Rock cracks his knuckles. “That’s it.” “Elijah,” I say, ignoring Rock’
Madeline’s POVI startle awake, my body sweaty and my chest rising and falling hard.When will I get over this nightmare?I stand from the bed and walk over to the bathroom to wash my face, then towards the door, expecting to find Elisha banging on it like a damn maniac.But there's no one there.No sarcastic commentary. No forced meditation. No awkwardly cheery “let’s not die today” pep talk.Just… silence.I shut the door with a groan. The ache in my muscles from yesterday’s spar is still there but it’s not much of a discomfort. I sit back on my bed, rubbing my eyes and waiting for Elisha to barge in st any moment but he doesn't.Getting tired of waiting, I remove my sleeping garments, putting on the black pants and a fitted top they gave me. It smells faintly of smoke. I lace up the boots and step out of the room.The camp seems to be in an active states as people move about, doing something.Wolves move in clusters. Some carry crates, others spar near the training grounds. There'
Lucian’s POVEverything in the office is choking. The air seems stale and I suddenly have the sudden urge to be outside. "Fuck you, Livia." Muttering under my breath, I wipe my sweaty face. That honestly shouldn't have happened. I really shouldn't have indulged her. Forgetting the fact that she was one manipulative bitch, I should have not given her what she wanted. Now, I have to watch my back and Madeline's back cause Livia isn't one to forgive so easily.I throw my shirt on my chair as I walk towards the door, stepping outside and locking it behind me.Taking a deep breath, I try to find solace and peace but it's just irritation and guilt. I have always wanted a mate and now that I have one—even though she doesn't qualify as one— she's still mate and cheating seemed. . .bad.‘Canis,’ I call out to my wolf, trying not to sound as defeated as I feel. ‘What do you say? We run?’Silence.That’s how I know he’s angry.He doesn’t sulk like some dramatic soap wolf. No. Canis goes quie
Lucian’s POV“The spy’s confirmed,” Elisha says as he flops down on a chair. “Came in through the eastern trail—one of the old hunting paths near the collapsed ridge. Used a scent-blocker, almost passed through unnoticed.”My office is barely lit but for the lamp on my table. There are plies of papers spread across my desk—maps, reports, hastily written updates from spies or allies. Elisha rocks his chair back and forth, producing a creaking noise, as he rubs his eyes. Rock’s leaning against the wall, a tired look on his face as he twirls a dagger in his fingers. I haven’t slept, none of us have. And we might probably not anytime soon knowing we're close to war.“But he didn’t—couldn't. We're too good for that.” Rock adds, voice a gravelly growl. “It took two punches and one death glare from Elisha to spill his guts. Not metaphorically. He puked on the floor too.”I nod slowly, flipping through the handwritten confessions. “Who sent him?”“Tyson,” Elisha says. “Shadow Moon insignia