LOGINThe 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
Zyric Fenwolf's brother finally let out a breath his beast had been holding."Yes, my Alpha!"He turned on his heel and hurried out of the study.Vickon's golden eyes remained dark and unreadable, his mind replaying flashes of her submission, the way her she-wolf had playfully purred "My Alpha," her sweet scent, the way his heart had thudded in his broad chest when she'd run into his massive arms—sensations his predatory beast had never known before.Zafira, your she-wolf had better not betray me."Lord Blackwynd!"Zyric's brother, who had just left to carry out the hunt, rushed back unexpectedly.His face was stiff as he held out a communication stone."My Alpha, I just received something... regarding Lady Blackwynd."At the Eclipse Pavilion, my wolf was in the prep kitchen, learning a new lunar recipe from the master chef.During a break, I noticed the Pavilion was especially decorated today, the blood-banners different from usual. Curiosity got the better of my beast and I asked ab
Zafira Nightvale POV With that, my she-wolf turned on her heel and strode off into the mist.Zyric was left crouched on the dirt, clutching his broken wrist, which throbbed as if his bone had snapped completely in two. Cold sweat beaded on his pale forehead, his face twisted in a grimace of pure agony."You arrogant female! Just wait until my pack settles this!"Burning with humiliated rage, he tapped into a mental pack-link and hissed to his accomplice, "Isolde, about that bargain your wolf mentioned before—I am in."I had no idea what dirty schemes were brewing in the trees behind me as I walked away, still feeling the lingering bad luck of breathing his foul scent."Zafira!"A cheerful voice called out nearby.Startled, my ears twitched as I looked over and saw my younger cousin hurrying down the stone path. The sharp frown that had settled on my brow vanished, replaced by a soft smile my wolf couldn't suppress."Zafira, why was your female self over by the grove? My wolf waited a
"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
"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







