LOGINI stared down at him, feeling nothing but emptiness where compassion might once have lived. This broken shell of a man had tormented me for years, had allied himself with my parents' killers, had tried to end my life tonight. And now he wanted mercy.
"Some things can't be forgiven," I said quietly. "Some choices can't be undone. You made yours the moment you decided to stand with murderers against your own pack."
I turned away from him then, dismissing him as thoroughly as he had once dismissed me. Around the clearing, the assembled wolves watched in stunned silence, witnessing justice served by divine intervention.
Alpha Maxwell stepped forward, his expression grave but approving. "The goddess has spoken through you tonight, Luna Blackthorne-Maxwell. What would you have us do with the surv
Power surged through me instantly – not the divine fury I'd channelled at the ceremony, but something more personal, more intimate. The magic woven into the very structure of this house recognised my blood, my lineage.The doors swung open without being touched."Holy shit," Brent whispered behind me.The entrance hall stretched before us, its soaring ceiling and sweeping staircase speaking of a grandeur that even seventeen years of Northern Alliance occupation couldn't diminish. But I could see the changes they'd made – modern security equipment bolted crudely to ancient stonework, their banners hanging where my family's should have been, the scent of strangers permeating every surface."Come out," I called, my voice echoing through the hall. "You know who I am. You know why I'm here."For a moment, there was only silence. Then, slowly, figures began to emerge from doorways – six wolv
"Your heart rate is elevated," he observed, his voice clinical despite the worry I could sense beneath the surface."I'm fine," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure that was true. The calling sensation was growing stronger, and with it came flashes of something, images that didn't belong to me but felt familiar nonetheless.A great hall filled with sunlight streaming through tall windows. Gardens where white roses bloomed against stone walls. The sound of children's laughter echoes through empty corridors."We're here," the driver announced from the front seat.I looked up to see wrought iron gates standing open, their elegant curves twisted and blackened as if they'd been damaged by fire. Beyond them, a long driveway stretched, lined with ancient oak trees, their branches forming a canopy overhead.The pulling sensation in my chest intensified to the point where I gasped, my hand flying to my heart. D
"See? Exhausted," he said, his dark eyes soft with concern. "You've done enough for one day."I rested my head against his shoulder, too tired to argue. The events of the past twenty-four hours had drained me in ways I hadn't fully appreciated until now. My limbs felt heavy, and even Diamond's presence seemed subdued, content to let me rest.When we reached our suite, Fin pulled back the covers while Kane gently laid me on the bed. The simple domesticity of the moment struck me, these four powerful Alphas attending to my needs with such tender care. It was still a novelty that made my heart ache with unexpected emotion."I never thought I'd have this," I murmured as Liam helped me out of my shoes. "People who actually care whether I'm tired or hungry or cold."
Brent smiled, his amber eyes warming with understanding. "The birth date deception is an ancient practice in powerful bloodlines. Your parents altered your recorded birthday to protect you; it throws off anyone trying to target you during your most vulnerable time.""The tradition would still serve a purpose," Kane added thoughtfully. "For our future children."The casual mention of children sent a flutter through my stomach. The thought of someday having a family with these four men, carrying their children, continuing both the Maxwell and Blackthorne bloodlines, felt simultaneously terrifying and right."That's... something to consider," I managed, feeling heat rise in my cheeks.Fin's grin was wicked as he caught my reaction thro
The Blackthorne line had returned, and we were done hiding in the shadows.It was late and my stomach at that moment decided to growl loudly, which seemed to shift the move in the room , making my mates chuckle."I think our Luna needs to eat," Brent said, his amber eyes warming with concern. "We've been planning for hours."I nodded gratefully, suddenly aware of the gnawing emptiness in my stomach. Between the energy expended during last night's ceremony and this morning's diplomatic meetings, I hadn't taken proper care of my basic needs."Food would be good," I admitted. "I feel like I could eat an entire deer.""Not far off what your body needs," Kane replied, his hand fi
"And what about the Deltas?" I asked, unable to keep a hard edge from my voice. "You mentioned they misappropriated funds meant for my care.""We've already begun the financial audit," Alpha Maxwell said. "Preliminary findings suggest they received approximately twenty thousand dollars annually for your maintenance and education."I nearly choked. "Twenty thousand? Annually?""For seventeen years," Liam added quietly. "Plus additional funds for special circumstances, medical care, education, clothing."The numbers made me dizzy. All those years of threadbare hand-me-downs, of being told I was a burden, of going to bed hungry... and they'd been paid a small fortune to care for me.







