เข้าสู่ระบบ"Today, we fight with live blades. Rope. And one shift allowed."Professor Draven stood at the front of the field, arms crossed, expression unreadable."There will be one target and three aggressors."✦✦✦Three figures slipped into the training arena quietly, avoiding notice.A new captain, Silas Cormaire led the group. Beside him were lieutenants Malric Denholm and Torren Valeris.Their task was to identify potential recruits for advancement.Captain Cormaire's attention settled on one student in particular, a potential candidate for advancement.She had won sparring matches against an undefeated opponent, Helga Emberhide, and, most impressively, Captain Ryker.He'd seen her before, at speakeasies and in the shared dining hall for warriors and omegas. She was beautiful, undeniably so.But he had never heard her speak. And he'd heard conflicting reports on her. Some warriors who were closest to Princess Meredith, their future Luna, spoke of her with open disdain.For someone they were
Fin sat at the head of the war table, the heavy map of Shadowclaw spread before them.Jax leaned over one corner, tapping a region they needed to renegotiate, while Cael stood with his arms crossed, dissecting the risks like a man allergic to optimism.A firm knock sounded at the door.Fin didn't look up. "Enter."Major Garrick Sparrow stepped inside and bowed his head. "Apologies for the interruption, Alpha. We've intercepted another unauthorized raven. Same seal as the others."He held out a small packet bound in dark ribbon. "Shall I put the letter with the rest?"Fin exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "No. Let's see it."Jax and Cael exchanged a look — not surprised, but annoyed. Garrick stepped forward and placed the letter in Fin's waiting hand, the room falling into a taut silence.Fin turned the envelope over once, his jaw tightening as he recognized the handwriting."Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Her again."Fin broke the seal with a sharp motion. "L
Lisa Rellane stood just inside the threshold of Princess Meredith's solar, hands clasped so tightly the knuckles were white.Meredith didn't look up right away. She finished signing a document with slow, deliberate strokes that made Lisa's stomach twist.Then the Princess raised her eyes."Well?" Meredith asked, voice calm enough to be unsettling. "You said you witnessed something."Lisa swallowed. "Yes, Your Highness."Meredith nodded once, inviting her to continue."I—I was at a speakeasy last night," Lisa began. Her voice betrayed her; it wavered, thin from nerves.Lisa took a steadying breath. "And I saw... someone."Meredith set the quill down."Someone," she repeated. "Lisa, that word is only helpful when followed by the rest of the sentence."Lisa's cheeks heated. "Forgive me, Princess. It was the bastard girl. She was with a man and he kissed her."Meredith leaned back in her chair, expression unreadable. "And the man?""He kept his hood up. But the way the crowd moved around
By the time the sun dipped behind the spires of the Shadowclaw Castle, Nova and Elle were barely standing.Training had been brutal. Drills in full gear, back-to-back rounds of sword work, and a final sprint up the mountain path just for fun. They stumbled into their shared room, grime-covered and utterly spent.Elle collapsed face-first onto her bed with a grunt. "I'm ninety percent sure I tore something essential."Nova flopped back against her own mattress, blinking up at the ceiling. "If we die in our sleep, do we still have to show up to sparring tomorrow?""No, but I hear they prop you up in the stands like a scarecrow to encourage the others." Elle rolled over and stared at the ceiling. "I feel like death."Nova raised a limp arm and gave a small wave. "I feel like death got hit by a wagon and dragged for three miles."Elle burst into laughter, muffled by her pillow.A knock came from their door.Without lifting her head, Elle groaned, "No one is home."The door creaked open an
The infirmary doors slammed open.Elias was already shouting instructions to the healers and omegas inside, but Jax didn't wait. He carried Nova's limp body straight to the nearest bed, heart hammering like a war drum in his chest. Cael laid Elle gently beside her, his face ashen."Pulse?" Elias demanded, shoving a second antidote syringe into Nova's arm, near the shoulder this time."Fading," An assistant replied hoarsely, feeling Nova's wrist. "She's ice cold.""Same here," Another assistant said, watching Elle's chest barely rise.Elias gave both a second dose of antidote near their hearts."They need blood," Elias muttered, scanning Nova's face. "Fast. Preferably mate blood."Jax didn't hesitate. He was already rolling up his sleeve. "Take mine. All of it if you have to."Elias looked at him, prepping the transfusion line.Jax looked down at Nova, brushing a thumb along her pale cheek."My wolf... marked her. Weeks ago. Not on her neck. Somewhere less obvious." He said it softly.
Nova stirred, blinking groggily, her body heavy with the haze of sleep and something deeper.Something felt different.She shifted against the sheets, slow and confused.And then her eyes found him.Jax stood across the room. Shirtless, arms braced against the window ledge, his head bowed. One hand gripped the back of his neck like he was holding himself together. Every line of his body was drawn tight. Worry was carved into every muscle."Jax?" She whispered, confused.His head whipped up and his hazel eyes met hers, wide with something she didn't expect.Not tenderness. Not relief. Guilt."I'm so sorry, Nova."She blinked. "What do you mean?"He didn't move."I—" His voice cracked."I lost control."She tried to sit up, wanting to go to him. But then, she felt a slight sting on her thigh.She touched it with her fingers where his mouth had been, and her breath caught.Jax stepped toward her slowly, carefully, like she might bolt. "I didn't mean to," he said hoarsely. "I swear it. My







