LOGINThe portal burst open in a swirl of silver and gold, light scattering across the snow in shimmering waves. Wolves skidded to a halt mid snowball war. Pups froze with handfuls of snow. Even Marek paused with a snowball raised above his head.The king stepped through.And immediately tripped over a sl
I strung lights across the top of the house, weaving them around the chimney and down the far side. Magic flickered from my fingertips, helping the strands cling perfectly in place. Every spark of golden light that escaped curled like a lazy ribbon in the air.Someone below cleared their throat loud
Snow blanketed the entire pack territory in soft, perfect drifts. It made everything look gentle, like the world had been iced with sugar. The trees bowed under the weight of white powder, branches sparkling in the afternoon light. Smoke curled from chimneys. Laughter drifted through the cold air. M
The king watched silently. Marek nodded slowly beside me, jaw tight with agreement.Kaelan looked between us, breath shaking. His voice dropped to a whisper. “You do not understand. I… I spent so long believing I would never amount to anything. I believed I was only useful as your protector. Your sh
The snow had nearly stopped falling by the time the king summoned us. Only a few flakes drifted lazily through the gray morning sky. Wolves formed a loose circle around the clearing, whispering quietly among themselves, tension flowing through them like an undercurrent.The portal behind the king cr
His breath shuddered.I leaned closer, forehead resting against his.“I could not do it.”Marek closed his eyes, attempting to hold himself together, but his hands trembled at his sides.“I love you,” I whispered. “I love this pack. I love this world. I love who I am here.”He opened his eyes, and e
“The water is solid,” I breathed.“It froze,” Marek said.“It froze,” I echoed. “The entire lake froze. Why.”“It is winter.”“And that makes water turn into glass,” I whispered. “Is it safe? Should people not avoid walking upon cursed water.”“It is not cursed,” Marek said with a soft laugh. “It is
AVELINE’S POVElara had not stopped talking for two hours.Truly, I attempted to listen, but her version of a language lesson felt less like education and more like being chased through a forest by a cheerful bird. Every time I believed I understood a phrase, she hurled five more at me with the enth
“You think the tree is judging you,” he said, still visibly amused.“It is,” I insisted. “Look at the angle of its lights. They are pointed. Strategically. Pointed in my direction. This is no coincidence. It has chosen me as its target.”He shook his head, still smiling. “It is a decoration. Not a c
“Eighteen,” I said quietly. “I turned eighteen only a few weeks before the trial.”Marek studied me for a long moment. “You are eighteen.”“Yes.”“I am twenty two,” he said. “Young to be Alpha. But when my father died, I had to take over.”My heart softened. “I am sorry for your loss.”His gaze flic







