LOGINTorin's POV I stood there watching the door close behind Darren, the faint echo of his presence still lingering in the room as though he had not truly left, and for a moment I said nothing while my fingers curled slowly into a fist at my side and my jaw tightened, because there was something about the way he carried himself that always felt like a challenge, like he had walked into my territory not just to retrieve what belonged to him but to remind me that there were still things beyond my reach, and I hated that feeling more than I cared to admit.Raphael let out a sharp breath behind me, the sound heavy with restrained anger as he shifted his weight and crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze fixed on the door as though he could still see Darren standing there, and I turned slightly to look at him while running a hand through my hair, trying to steady the thoughts that were beginning to collide in my head.“Say what you need to say,” I muttered, my voice low but steady, even tho
Darren's POV I do not say anything the moment I step into the car, because there is a certain kind of silence that follows after a confrontation like that, one that presses against the chest and lingers in the air like something unfinished, and as the door shuts behind me with a dull sound, I lean back into the seat slowly, letting my eyes close for just a brief second as I gather my thoughts.The engine comes alive beneath us, the low hum filling the space as the driver pulls away from the pack grounds, and I can feel Darien’s gaze on me without even looking at him, because he has always been like that, always watching, always measuring, as if every word I say needs to be weighed against something else.I open my eyes and turn my head slightly, fixing my gaze on him, and I notice the way his fingers tap lightly against his knee, a subtle sign that he is not as composed as he wants to appear.“Report,” I say, my voice calm yet carrying enough weight to cut through the silence.He arc
Darren's POVI stand there for a moment, letting the weight of the room settle into my bones, because stepping into another Alpha’s territory is never something to take lightly, and yet I came anyway, knowing fully well that nothing about this visit would be simple, and as my gaze sweeps across the room, it lands on him.Raphael.For a second, I almost think my eyes are playing tricks on me, because the last time I heard his name, it was tied to whispers of disappearance and uncertainty, and now he stands there as solid as ever, shoulders squared, eyes burning with that same reckless fire I remember all too well.I turn fully to face him, letting a small smile touch my lips even though there is nothing light about this moment.“Raphael,” I say, my voice even as I hold his gaze, “welcome back.”The reaction I get is exactly what I expect, because instead of returning the gesture, his eyes narrow sharply, his jaw tightening as if my presence alone is enough to set his blood on edge, and
Torin's POV “Thank you,” I say, my voice quieter than I intended, and I notice the way her lashes flutter just slightly as if she did not expect it, which only makes something tighten in my chest.For a second, the room feels too still, and then I turn my gaze toward Raphael, because if there is anyone who needs to speak now, it is him, and I let my eyes harden just enough for him to understand that I am not asking.“Do you have something to say?” I ask, tilting my head slightly as I watch him.Raphael does not answer immediately, and that alone tells me more than words could, because this is a man who has never struggled to speak his mind, not even when it cost him, not even when it caused fights that nearly tore the pack apart, yet now he stands there with his jaw clenched and his nostrils flaring as if he is fighting something within himself.His fingers twitch at his side, and then he exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair in a rough motion before finally looking at Ni
Nia's POV I could feel Raphael’s gaze on me long before I turned to face him fully, that sharp burning intensity that carried years of anger, years of grief, years of unanswered questions that had been left to rot without closure, and even though my chest felt tight and my body still carried the strain of everything I had endured, I did not look away.“I know you do not believe me,” I said quietly, my voice steady even as I held his gaze, watching the way his jaw tightened and his fingers curled slightly at his sides.Raphael let out a short breath that almost sounded like a scoff, his head tilting slightly as though he was trying to understand why I would even attempt to speak further.“Then why continue?” he asked, his tone edged with disbelief. “Why stand there and keep talking when everything you are saying sounds like another layer of lies?”I inhaled slowly, letting the air settle in my lungs before I spoke again, because I knew that what I was about to say would not be easy fo
Nia's POV I remained where I stood, my fingers loosely clasped in front of me even though there was a faint tremor beneath the stillness, and I kept my gaze steady on Torin while Narek moved slightly to the side, already shifting into that familiar state where his mind began mapping out strategies, routes, outcomes, and consequences.The room felt smaller than it had a few moments ago.Charged with something that had not been there before.Torin exhaled slowly, his hand resting against the table as he leaned into it just slightly, his eyes still locked on me as though he was trying to measure every word I had spoken, as though he was weighing truth against instinct.“If the third son is truly behind this,” he said, his voice steady but lower now, “then we cannot afford to wait for him to make another move.”I inclined my head slightly.“We cannot,” I agreed.Narek stepped forward, his arms crossing loosely over his chest, his gaze thoughtful.“The wolves temple is not an easy place t
Nia's POV I was seated across from Torin, going through the list of supply routes and internal assignments that needed to be adjusted before the next cycle, when the first sharp pull struck my chest so suddenly that my breath stalled midway and my fingers pressed harder against the parchment than
Darian's POV Patience had always been one of my strengths, something I relied on when others rushed into decisions they would later regret, yet standing at the edge of Blood Throne territory after being turned away again and again, I found that patience wearing thin in a way that unsettled me more
Nia's POVThe moment our eyes met, something inside me snapped in a way that felt both sudden and long overdue, like a thread pulled too tight for too many years finally giving in.I stood there with Vince in my arms, my fingers tightening instinctively around him as though my body understood befor
Nia's POVThe room still carried the faint scent of herbs and warmth when I settled the last of the bandages properly around the guardian wolf’s side, my fingers moving with careful precision as I checked the healing once more, my touch light but firm enough to ensure nothing had shifted out of pla







