LOGINAfter we got back to the castle, Leo didn't let go of my hand once.Even while the healer was treating his wounds again, he insisted on holding me on his lap, as if I'd disappear the second he let go.That night, after I showered, he hugged me from behind, rested his chin on top of my head, and was quiet for a long time."Claire, am I really that useless?"His muffled voice was right by my ear. I turned around to look at him. "Who's been talking nonsense in front of you again?""No one would dare say it. I figured it out on my own."Leo lowered his head, his gray eyes full of hurt. "I said I'd protect you my whole life, and every time, you're the one who has to save me."You're so strong. Someday, are you going to decide I'm too weak and throw me away, the way you threw away those fangs ten years ago?"The Alpha whose name made the whole North tremble looked just like a big dog afraid of being abandoned.Over the past ten years, I'd seen too many Alphas kill their own family for power.
The moment he heard my voice, Leo stopped and looked up, panic all over his face."Claire, what are you doing here? Their guns are loaded with pure silver shot!"Once I landed beside him, I kicked the dagger away, then hauled this disobedient dumb mutt to his feet.Marcus was trembling at first, but once he realized I'd come alone, his fear turned to wild delight."You actually dared to come alone!"He scanned the area, made sure the 3,000 Silver Moon wolves hadn't shown up, then laughed at the top of his lungs. "Without those guards protecting you, what can one woman possibly do?"Leo stepped in front of me again. "Claire, find a chance to get out of here. I'll hold them off for you.""Your spine hasn't even healed, and you're already trying to play the hero."I grabbed him by the collar and tossed him behind me. "Stay put. If you run off one more time, you're sleeping on the floor when we get home."The smile froze on Marcus's face, and then he barked the order in a rage. "Fire! Shoo
A message was scrawled on the pelt in blood: Leo was to come to Death Gorge alone before dawn.Marcus stood at the edge of a cliff with Grace and Daniel tied up. He warned that if the Silver Moon Court made a move, he would cut off their arms and legs and throw them into the abyss.As soon as Basil read the message, he gathered the guards to go after Marcus.But Leo put a hand on his shoulder. "Marcus has my parents. We can't storm in.""I can circle around to the back of the gorge and get them out.""No. The hunters left pure silver traps buried back there. If we tip him off, my parents won't survive."Leo burned the pelt and turned to look at the closed bedroom door. "Don't tell Claire about this yet."Basil lowered his voice. "My Queen will find out sooner or later.""By the time she wakes up, I'll already have brought them back."Leo didn't believe it himself, but he still ordered everyone to stay at the castle and not follow him.Back in the bedroom, Leo walked barefoot to the bed
Grace threw herself at Marcus, grabbed him by the collar, and demanded to know where her sons were being held.Marcus grinned and laughed, sure he'd finally found my weak spot."Get on your knees and beg me. Then have this woman tear out her own wolf core with her bare hands, and I might leave your sons alive, but only barely!"Leo grabbed the silver blade and pressed it to Marcus's throat. "Tell us where they are!""Kill me, and they die with me."Marcus raised his chin defiantly. "My hideout is three miles from here, and I'm the only one who knows the way in. You could search until next year and never find it!"The guard standing behind me looked up, waiting for orders."Did you hear all that?" I waved a hand at him. "Five minutes. Bring back the hostages and the serum, and don't leave a single guard alive."The guard obeyed and leaped through the shattered window. Several gray shadows followed him and vanished from sight.Marcus laughed even more wildly. "Five minutes? You think the
When the table flew aside, Jenna and Morton tumbled to my feet, clinging to each other.They were both scared out of their minds. Morton forgot all about his dignity as head elder and groveled at my feet, striking his forehead against the floor again and again."Spare me, White Alpha Queen! I was deceived!"After his forehead split open, he grabbed Jenna by the hair and dragged her in front of everyone."This bitch did it all. She was jealous that you were Leo's mate, so she sold his patrol routes to Marcus!"Jenna shrieked in pain and clawed Morton's face. "You old bastard, you took a whole case of gold bars, and you have the nerve to put all the blame on me?"You had the key to the side gate by the hill behind the castle!"You got the silver cages ready too, and you promised to lure Ethan and Caleb in and hand them over to Marcus!"The two of them grappled on the floor, and with every accusation, another sordid deal came to light.Morton had changed the border defenses, and Jenna had
When their thunderous greeting faded, only ragged breathing filled the hall.Jenna, who had been smiling to please Marcus a moment ago, fell to the floor. Grace covered her mouth, and even the wounded Daniel pushed himself upright on the bench.Leo froze in front of me. His gaze moved from the five kneeling captains to the doorway, then back to me.Three thousand giant wolves kept their heads bowed and their throats exposed. None of them dared to move first."Claire..."Leo grabbed my wrist, his voice hoarse. "What did they just call you?""The First White Alpha Queen."Basil, the captain kneeling at the front, looked up and answered solemnly. "The queen who ruled every pack ten years ago, and the one and only master of the Silver Moon Court."Jenna suddenly screamed. "It's fake, it's all fake!"She scrambled to her feet and pointed at me, shouting to everyone. "I've lived with her for three years. All she smells like is human perfume, and she doesn't give off even a hint of Alpha powe







