LOGINRosemary’s POV I pressed myself harder against the wooden wall, my hands gripping the fabric of my dress as he took a slow, casual step toward me. "Who are you?" I demanded, forcing my voice to sound steady, though my hands were shaking violently. "What do you want with me? If you know what is good for you, you will let me go before the Alpha King finds this place." The man let out a low, amused chuckle, walking over to the small gold-trimmed table to pour himself a glass of dark red wine from a crystal decanter. "The Alpha King is currently tearing up the northern borders, sweet Rosemary. He thinks Vance and Drake took you to their home packs. He won't be finding this cottage anytime soon." "Tell me your name," I snapped, my blue eyes glaring at him. "Names have power, little bird, and I don't think I will give you mine just yet," he smiled, taking a slow sip of his wine. He walked over to a high-backed leather chair and sat down, crossing one elegant leg over the other, chattin
Rosemary’s POV A heavy, pounding ache behind my eyes was the first thing that greeted me as I slowly pulled myself out of the dark. My throat felt completely parched, burning with the dry, chemical aftertaste of the sweet drug they had forced down my throat. I groaned softly, trying to lift my arm, but my limbs felt as heavy as lead weights. I opened my eyes, blinking frantically against the soft, warm light of the room. I wasn't in the damp, terrifying dirt tunnel anymore. I was lying on a plush, velvet sofa inside what looked like a cozy forest cottage. But as my vision cleared, I realized this wasn't a normal hunter's cabin. The walls were built from expensive, polished mahogany wood, a beautiful silk rug lay on the floor, and a crystal oil lamp sat on a heavy gold-trimmed side table. It was perfectly kept, showing a level of immense wealth and expensive taste that felt entirely out of place in the middle of the deep woods. I tried to sit up, but a sudden wave of dizziness for
Kieran’s POV I dropped the heavy feather quill onto the parchment, the thick black ink forming a bold, permanent line as I signed my name at the bottom of the final alliance scroll. "There," Marcus muttered beside me, leaning over the grand wooden table to blow gently on the wet ink. "The northern border treaties are officially sealed, Kieran. Your father would have been proud of the iron terms you managed to extract from those lords today." "My father didn't have to worry about securing five different pack lines at once," I replied, my voice a low baritone as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I was completely exhausted by the endless political chatter, but the thought of my mate instantly brought a wave of absolute peace over me. I looked up, a soft smile already forming on my lips as my eyes automatically traveled toward the grand glass doors near the edge of the hall. I expected to see the deep, shimmering midnight-blue of her silk dress catching the light of the rose gardens. I
Rosemary’s POV The loud cheers from the grand platform echoed through my head, filling my heart with a warmth I had never felt before. Kieran stood beside me, his massive arm wrapped securely around my waist. He looked down at me with so much pride in his golden eyes. He looked like a god standing under the bright torchlight. I smiled up at him, my hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady, calm beat of his heart. I could feel Celine purring softly in my mind, basking in the love and respect that flooded through our bond from the entire pack. But a few minutes later, the high horns blew again, signaling the time for the formal business. Marcus and four other high Alphas walked over to the grand table, carrying thick leather scrolls and heavy inkwells. Kieran turned to me, kissing the top of my head gently. "I have to sign the formal alliance scrolls with the high lords now, little one. It will take some time. Stay close to the gardens where the guards can see you, okay?" "I w
Kieran’s POV I stood near the grand mahogany pillars at the front of the hall, pretending to listen to Marcus complain about the latest border patrol schedules. My nod was automatic, my responses short, but my mind—and my eyes—never truly left my mate. Through the crowded room, the deep midnight-blue of her dress cut through the drab grays and golds of the visiting nobles like a blade. I watched her talk to old Luna Elena, noticing the slight tension in her shoulders melt away, replaced by a soft, genuine smile. I felt a low, content purr rumble in the back of my throat. She was adjusting. She was finding her footing. But a fraction of a second later, the air in my lungs turned to pure ice. Elena was suddenly shoved aside as two towering, heavily built figures blocked my view of Rosemary. Vance and Drake. Two greedy, arrogant Alphas from the northern borders who had spent the last three high council meetings trying to bargain for my eastern hunting grounds. I saw the way their eye
Rosemary’s POV The grand council hall was packed to the brim with powerful wolves. The air was thick with the rich scent of expensive wines, roasted meats, and the heavy, overlapping auras of dominant Alphas. The moment the heavy oak doors swung open and I stepped through the threshold, the deafening noise in the room died out instantly. The low murmurs vanished, replaced by a sudden, absolute silence. Hundreds of pairs of eyes locked right onto me, watching my every move. I kept my chin high, my shoulders squared, and let the long skirt of my midnight-blue dress rustle softly against the polished marble floor as I walked down the center aisle. Deep inside my soul, Celine hummed with immense, fierce pride. As I moved through the staring crowd, a gentle hand brushed against my arm. I paused and turned around, finding myself looking at an older woman with kind, tired eyes, dressed in a traditional silver gown. My heart jumped with a sudden rush of warmth. "Rosemary," she whispered,







