LOGINTime moved fast after the celebration. Nolan often found himself surprised by how quickly the days blended into weeks, and weeks into months, each one carrying with it a peace he never thought he'd live long enough to witness.His body felt strong now, stronger than it had in years. For a while, in the early days after his recovery, some part of him kept waiting for a relapse, some sign that the curse hadn't fully released its grip on him. He'd wake some mornings and check his own reflection carefully, searching for any lingering paleness, any hint of the darkness that had once crept into his eyes. But after two full months without a single symptom, he finally let himself believe it. He was truly free.Gianna was eight months pregnant now, her belly rounded and heavy, and Nolan had become almost unbearable in how carefully he watched over her. He wouldn't let her lift so much as a cup without rushing to take it from her hands. He hovered near her constantly, insisting she rest more, e
Later that night, back in their chambers, Nolan noticed Gianna reaching for another glass of wine. She hadn't drunk much, but he could tell she was planning on more, and something about that worried him."You've had enough," he said gently, taking the glass from her hand before she could lift it to her lips."It's just wine," Gianna said, frowning at him."It's not good for the baby," Nolan said. "And you've been missing your check-ups because of everything happening this past week. I already sent for the doctor. He should be here soon."Gianna sighed but didn't argue, too tired from the day's chaos to put up much of a fight. The doctor arrived shortly after, greeting them both with a warm smile before setting his bag down and beginning his examination.He checked her pulse, pressed gently against her belly, listened carefully, and asked several questions about how she'd been feeling."The baby is healthy," he said finally, straightening up. "And you're doing well too, my lady. But yo
Gianna stood frozen in the corridor, unable to fully believe what she was hearing, let alone what her own eyes had just witnessed. Pietra’s confession hung in the air like a blade, sharp and final, and she didn’t stop there. “I never lost the pregnancy,” Pietra said, her chin lifted despite the tears still drying on her cheeks. “I ended it myself. I was terrified you’d figure out the child wasn’t yours the moment it was born. I panicked and I made a choice.” Cyrus stared at her, his face draining of every trace of color, his mouth opening and closing without any sound coming out. “And now,” Pietra continued, her voice growing steadier with every word, “I realize it was the worst mistake I’ve ever made. Not because of you. Because I let fear push me into something I can never take back. But I don’t regret leaving you, Cyrus. Not one bit. You’re a pathetic jerk who thought he could have everything at once. My loyalty, my body, while treating me like nothing more than dirt beneath yo
Gianna was the first to rise that morning, dressing carefully in a black gown with a long, sheer veil draped over her shoulders and face. When Nolan emerged from the bathing chamber to find her already prepared, standing before the mirror adjusting the veil, he paused in the doorway."You're wearing mourning colors," he said."I am," Gianna said, her reflection meeting his eyes in the glass. "I'm glad I get to mourn the people who spent so long wanting me dead. It seems only fitting."Nolan finished dressing in silence, though as he fastened the last clasp of his formal attire, he approached her again, his expression carrying that same careful concern he'd shown all week."Are you certain about this?" he asked, not for the first time. "You're heavily pregnant, still recovering from Iris's birth. The stress of witnessing something like this, it can't be good for you.""I'm certain," Gianna said, meeting his gaze steadily through the veil.He studied her a moment longer, clearly recogni
Six days had passed since Nolan’s pronouncement echoed across the pack square, and tomorrow would finally bring the reckoning Gianna had waited so long to witness. She slipped from their bed quietly that night, careful not to disturb Nolan’s steady breathing beside her, and made her way out to the balcony overlooking the settlement grounds, the cool night air a welcome relief after the warmth of their chambers.A small glass of wine sat waiting on the balcony table, left there earlier by a servant who had no idea their Luna probably shouldn’t be indulging so freely while still nursing. Gianna knew it too, some distant part of her mind offering a token protest as she lifted the glass anyway, taking a small sip and letting the warmth settle into her chest.She’d thought, in the days leading up to this moment, that her resolve might soften. That perhaps her earlier fury had been amplified unfairly by pregnancy hormones and exhaustion, that with distance and clearer thinking she might fin
Nolan stood before the gathered pack the following morning, his voice carrying clearly across the courtyard as he delivered the formal decree. The healer and her brother would be executed at the pack square in exactly seven days, their crimes laid bare for all to hear one final time before judgment was carried out publicly. The reaction rippled through the crowd in waves. Faes who had only recently emerged from hiding exchanged relieved glances, some openly weeping with the release of decades of accumulated fear. Several werewolves who had apparently suffered their own quiet grievances at the healer’s hands over the years, poor treatment, dismissed complaints, favoritism shown to those who could pay handsomely for her services, nodded with visible satisfaction at the news. But not everyone reacted with approval. Nolan caught the tight expressions of a handful of council members and older pack members near the back, their disapproval evident in the set of their jaws, the way their e
Chapter FourCyrus and Pietra said goodbye at the door for four full minutes.Gianna watched from inside the carriage through the small window, arms crossed, expression blank.Pietra had both of Cyrus's hands in hers. She was looking up at him saying something – Gianna couldn't hear it and honestl
Chapter ThreeGetting out of bed took longer than it should have.Evelyn hovered the entire time – hands half-raised, ready to catch her – while Gianna moved carefully, testing each step like she was walking on ice. The lump on her skull had softened slightly overnight but the unpleasant headache
Chapter TwoShe was having the best dream of her life.She didn't know what it was about – just that it was warm, and she was laughing, and nothing hurt.Then she felt eyes on her.Gianna's eyes snapped open.A man was sitting in the chair right beside her bed, close enough that she could see the i
Chapter OneThe gates swung open at dusk. Gianna heard the patrol return before she saw it – boots on gravel, wolves shifting back to skin, the familiar chaos of Valemont's warriors coming home.She was standing on the upper terrace with a glass of wine when she saw Cyrus walk through the main ga







