로그인"My she-wolf has plenty of ceremonial silk like this," Sorelle declared, holding her chin high with forced indifference while her scent spiked with hidden anxiety. "My bloodline is really not interested in such a piece—let some lower-rank female have it."The pavilion floor was already crowded with warriors and high-ranking female herbalists, and Sorelle's friend had spoken earlier with a broad, arrogant tone, intentionally projecting her voice. That alone had drawn sharp ears across the marble hall. Now, with Sorelle making such a bold claim, every pair of eyes turned straight toward her."Which pack is her female from?" a warrior whispered to his shield-mate."Since when does a high-blood female like that walk the grounds of Moonhollow Ridge?""I have never caught her scent at the High Council before..."Across the central aisle, Elira Stormveil and her friends recognized Sorelle immediately. "That is the freshman female from the herbarium! Everyone says her family controls vast hun
"Hey, did you she-wolves hear about Zyric Fenwolf? His beast got completely broken!"Another young female herbalist leaned into our circle at the Wolfsbane Lunar Herbarium, her scent spiking with wild, juicy gossip.My ears twitched as my she-wolf perked up, my interest instantly piqued. Zyric was such a pathetic excuse for a warrior that I’d actually forgotten his scent existed over these past few moon cycles.I asked, "What happened to his rank?"The female, thrilled that I’d taken the bait, could barely keep her inner wolf from howling as she blurted it out."Zyric was stripped of his guard duty and exiled from the Blackwynd Moon Dominion!""What? Exiled?" Sorelle gasped."Yes! That broadcast crystal from two nights ago flared across every pack territory. The whole high council saw his dishonor! If Lord Vickon hadn't banished him from Moonhollow Ridge, our territory's honor would be completely ruined!""Serves that pathetic rogue right!" Sorelle snarled, her claws clicking against
The Nightvale pack compound was in total chaos.Vaelira was beside herself, her silver eyes swollen and bloodshot from howling.Lucan paced anxiously across the stone courtyard, his communication rune glowing red as he issued command after command to the perimeter guards.How had our bloodline fallen to this? Why on earth had Lord Vickon Blackwynd sent his elite executioners to drag Isolde away in chains? And what unforgivable treason had Isolde committed against the Alpha?Suddenly, a female warrior burst through the iron gates."High Elder! Madam Isolde—she has been dropped at the border!"No sooner had the words left her throat than the heavy gates groaned open. My she-wolf strode in first, calm and unhurried, my posture regal as the moonlight caught the silver mark on my neck.Behind me, two Blackwynd enforcers threw Isolde onto a wooden stretcher, her body barely conscious, her tunic soaked through with dark crimson blood."Mother!" Vaelira screamed, throwing herself toward the s
"Did your shadow guard tell you?""No, my wolf heard it myself!" I rushed to explain, my body tensing against his broad chest. "Just now, when I was coming down the stone stairs, I overheard your beast talking to Zyric's brother..."I hesitated, my claws digging slightly into the sheets, then confessed, "Those words on the voice-rune... they really were spoken by my she-wolf. I am sorry, my Alpha."I'd wrestled with my pride for hours, but even though my heart pounded with anxiety, my female couldn't bring herself to lie—not to my mate, not when I knew a secret like this could poison our blood-bond forever."Back then I—""Stop," Vickon cut me off.He'd already had the pack elders verify the magic and knew it wasn't forged, but hearing my she-wolf admit it in person still made his sharp features turn dangerously icy."No, please, my Alpha, just let your female finish, okay?"I wrapped my bare arms around his massive neck, looking up at his tense jaw. My silver eyes were still rimmed r
After promising my she-wolf, the shadow guard had no choice but to steel himself and step into the study.Vickon glanced up from his pack alliance documents. "What is it, warrior?"The guard cleared his throat. "Ahem, there is a territory matter I need to report to Lord Blackwynd..."Vickon listened as he spoke, his brow furrowing. "These minor pack disputes—just let the patrol commanders handle them."As he spoke, Vickon capped his ink claw and got ready to leave for the upper chambers.Seeing this, the guard hurriedly added, "There is another issue, my Alpha!"Vickon, who had started to rise, paused and sat back down, giving his warrior a sharp look. "Speak."The guard rattled off a few more border matters—nothing war-worthy, but not exactly trivial either. The sort of pack logistics that would put beta commanders in a bind.At first, Vickon only half-listened, his mind on the female waiting in his bed. But as the guard kept talking, Vickon stopped short, his piercing golden gaze fi
Zyric's brother and the Pavilion keeper both stared in utter disbelief, their eyes wide as saucers.Vickon's impending explosion of predator rage seemed to freeze in midair, suspended and unresolved.In the center of the mating chamber stood a lone wooden chair, and tied to it was a male.The poor guy wore nothing but a pair of painfully bright loincloths, his face swollen and bruised beyond recognition, snot and blood streaming down his cheeks. A filthy rags-cloth had been stuffed into his mouth, and he whimpered in pure despair.And right in front of him—a recording crystal propped up, broadcasting the whole sorry scene live to every pack in the territory.Wait. Was this the infamous "other male"?Zyric's brother and the keeper shifted their dazed, stunned gazes to my standing form.Even Vickon turned, his golden eyes narrowing as he took in the bizarre tableau.My mind went blank for a second. My she-wolf darted forward, heart racing, and the first thing I did was snatch up the cry
"Hold her down!"My face slammed into the freezing mud of Darkmere Crossing. Heavy paws crushed my shoulder blade, forcing me to look directly into the icy glow of the twin moons."Rip her throat out and let's go.""Wait, look at her face! Half of it is completely mangled by silver burns. I'm going
"No need."I grew anxious at his refusal. "But the silver poison...""Let Zyric Fenwolf inside."Relief flooded my chest. "Alright!"I was just glad his inner wolf was willing to let someone tend his wounds. What I feared most was him getting angry and refusing help, letting the toxic infection rot
"Am I truly forbidden from entering your den, Alpha?"The air in the grand hall locked up like ice.Zyric Fenwolf nearly choked on his own saliva at my words. I could see the sheer disbelief rolling off his scent profile as he darted a glance between me and the senior matron. He clearly expected me
"Elira Stormveil, guide Lady Blackwynd to the upper den."My racing pulse instantly steadied when Vickon gave the command.A sudden, overwhelming instinct surged through my veins, and before my rational mind could stop me, I lunged forward, wrapping my arms tight around Vickon's broad, powerful sho







