LOGIN"We'll restore it properly tomorrow," Liam promised, seeing my expression as I took in the desecration of my parents' private space.Together, we moved the furniture back to its original configuration, using Diamond's ancestral memories as a guide. The bed returned to its place of honour in the centre of the room, flanked by nightstands that had been repurposed as printer stands. By the time we finished, the room felt more balanced, though still far from what it should be."Better," I said, running my hand along the carved wood of the bedframe. "This feels right."As we prepared for bed, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being observed. Not by people, but by the house itself, as if the very stones were assessing us, measuring our worthiness."First watch is mine," Kane announced as we settled into the massive bed. "Then Brent, then Fin, then Liam."I didn't argue, though part of me wanted to insist I take a shift too. Diamond was still too restless for proper sleep anyway, her
I looked up at him, momentarily confused until I caught the implication in his words. Our children, the future heirs of the combined Blackthorne-Maxwell bloodlines. Would sleep in the same crib that had once held me. The thought sent a flutter of emotion through my chest, too complex to name."Yes," I agreed, holding the journal close to my heart. "A piece of the past to carry into our future."We spent the rest of the day exploring the house, discovering other rooms that had been protected from the Northern Alliance's influence. My father's study, where maps and books still lay open on his desk as if he'd just stepped out for a moment. My mother's private sitting room, where her scent lingered faintly in the fabric of the curtains. Each discovery was another thread connecting me to the parents I'd lost, the life I should have had.By evening, the main living areas had been cleared of Northern Alliance presence and prepared for our overnight stay. We would sleep in my ancestral home
I felt heat rise in my cheeks despite myself. Even after everything we'd been through, their combined attention still made my heart race. Through our bond, I could sense their desire mingling with pride and fierce protectiveness, a heady combination that made it difficult to focus on the task at hand."Later," I promised, my voice lower than I'd intended. "First, we reclaim this place properly."Kane nodded, though his dark eyes remained heated. "As our Luna commands."We spent the next several hours moving methodically through the house, cataloguing damage and making plans for restoration. In what had once been the formal dining room, we found Northern Alliance documents detailing their systematic exploitation of Blackthorne lands, timber harvested illegally, minerals extracted without pro
"And our pack house?" I asked softly, almost afraid of the answer.Kane's arm slid around my waist, pulling me against his side. "Our pack house is where we found each other. Where did you learned who you really are? Where you claimed your power.""It's both," Liam suggested gently. "You're Blackthorne and Maxwell now. Both bloodlines, both legacies, both homes."I considered this as we continued exploring the grand house, room by room. In what must have been my parents' private quarters, I found a small hidden compartment behind a loose stone in the fireplace, somehow overlooked by the Northern Alliance during their occupation.Inside was a silver locket containing a tiny portrait of my parents holding
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. Diamond was practically clawing at my consciousness now, desperate to be free, t







