ANMELDENKYLIE'S POVOver the next few hours, as the afternoon sun shifted through the shuttered window, I learned more about Peirhaven than I ever expected to know.It was a tiny fishing village, home to maybe fifty families, all human. They had no connection to the werewolf world, no knowledge of packs or alphas. They lived simple lives—fishing by day, mending nets by evening, gathering at the small tavern on weekends to drink and tell stories.Elias had lived here his entire seventy-three years. His wife, Martha, had died five winters ago. His son had moved to the city years before that and rarely visited. He was alone now, filling his days with fishing and walks on the beach.He asked no questions about where I came from or why I was covered in bruises. He simply fed me, gave me a place to rest, and treated me like a daughter he'd never had.By evening, as the sun began to set over the grey sea, I knew I couldn't keep hiding the truth. Not all of it, anyway.Elias sat at the small wooden
THIRD POV:Edgar stood at the edge of the abandoned territory as he surveyed the skeletal remains of the Blood-Rose Pack's former home. The buildings were even more decayed than during his last visit—roofs collapsed further, walls crumbled, nature slowly reclaiming homes. He walked through the dead streets alone, his footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. The statue of Aldric loomed ahead, dark and silent against the grey sky. Edgar approached it slowly, his old eyes studying it carefully.There was something wrong here. He had felt it during their night visit with Leonidas, but now, alone in the daylight, the feeling was unmistakable.He circled the statue slowly, running his fingers along the stone base. Beneath the base was a pulsing malevolence energy buried deeply.Edgar knelt, pressing his palm flat against the cold stone. He closed his eyes, reaching out with his magic senses.What he felt made his blood run cold.Evil. Pure, concentrated evil, was seeping up from bene
THIRD POV:Gunner's eyes fluttered open to the sterile white ceiling of the medical wing. His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest.He turned his head slowly.Alpha Rudolph sat in a chair beside his bed, his face drawn with worry that melted into relief the moment he saw his son was awake."Gunner," he exclaimed, leaning forward. "Thank the Moon. You're awake."Gunner tried to sit up, wincing at the pull of IV lines in his arm. "What happened while I was out, Father?"Rudolph's face transformed into triumphant."Son, you won." He gripped Gunner's shoulder, his eyes gleaming. "Leonidas has been banned from the Republic permanently. The council declared him too dangerous. You are now the Alpha King."Gunner stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, he sat up fully, ignoring the protests of his body. He immediately reached down and began pulling the IV lines from his arm, one by one."Is that right?" Gunner said quietly. He flexed his broken arm. It moved perfectly without
Leonidas didn't move. His cheek stung where her hand had connected, but he made no effort to touch it. Instead, his eyes hardened, his wolf rising to the surface despite everything."That's insubordination," he said quietly. "Striking your alpha."Doris laughed bitterly "Insubordination? You want to talk to me about insubordination after what you just admitted?" She stepped closer, her grey eyes blazing with hurt and rage. "You used me, Leonidas. You came to me, asked me to stand as your Luna, made me believe you had finally chosen your pack over her. But it was all a lie."Leonidias snapped. "It wasn't a lie—""Wasn't it?" She cut him off, her hands shaking at her sides. "You needed a replacement Luna just long enough to get through the selection. Just long enough to get the information you needed. I was never your choice. I was just a tool."Leonidas's jaw tightened. "That's not—""Don't." She held up a hand. "Don't stand there and try to soften it. You used me. There's no other w
THIRD POV:The aftermath of the fight was a disaster. Gunner was immediately rushed to the medical wing, his broken body barely clinging to life. The council meeting was called at dawn.Leonidas stood before the assembled leaders in the same chamber where the selection had begun. His body was healed now but his eyes were hollow, and his shoulders felt heavy with guilt.Doris stood at his side, her hand gripping his. Edgar flanked them, his weathered face grim.The Head of the Council sat at the center of the long table, his eyes filled with something Leonidas had never seen there before: fear."Alpha Leonidas," the Head began, his voice heavy, "you stand before us to answer for what occurred last night."Leonidas said nothing. There was nothing to say."We have reviewed the match from every angle," the Head continued. "We have consulted with our historians, our spiritual advisors, our elders. And we have reached a conclusion."He paused, letting his words settle over the room."What
KYLIE'S POVMy consciousness returned slowly, like wading through thick mud.The first thing I noticed was the smell—salt and fish and wood smoke. The second thing was the warmth. I was lying on something soft, covered by something heavy and rough.A blanket.I forced my eyes open.I was in a small room, barely larger than the cave cell I'd escaped. Wooden walls, a single shuttered window, a rickety table with a flickering candle. The bed beneath me was lumpy but dry, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't cold.Movement to my left made me flinch.An old man sat in a wooden chair by the window, whittling a piece of driftwood with a worn knife. He had a weathered face, deep lines carved by sun and wind, and a thick grey beard that reached his chest. His eyes, when they lifted to meet mine, were pale blue and surprisingly kind."Well, well," he said, his voice rough as gravel. "The fish brought in something interesting today."I tried to sit up, but my body screame
I stared at Edgar, stunned. "You can help me break his curse?"Edgar nodded slowly. "You see, I met Leonidas when he was still a teenager. I've served him ever since, not just as a butler, but as a father who watches over him."He paused, releasing a quiet breath. "After his first mate died, I imme
The convoy slowed as a towering glass building came into view, its surface reflecting the morning sun like a blade of light. The building rose above the surrounding skyline, beautiful, bold and intimidating.“This is it,” Leonidas said. “My company.”I stared through the tinted window, my breath c
THIRD POV:Gunner had been a mess since Kylie's escape. He barely slept. He snapped at pack members for the smallest mistakes and reacted to every sound. It almost seemed as if he would lose his mind. The entire pack noticed and began complaining to Alpha Randolph about his behavior.Randolph had
I didn't know Leonidas was watching all this time. He had appeared out of nowhere and stopped Doris. If he hadn't blocked her punch, it would've killed me. Doris jumped back, stunned to see him. "Alpha. I didn't know you were around."Leonidas red eyes glared at her. "You were going hard on Kylie.







