Isolde's POVThe moon hung heavy outside my window as I arranged my tools. Five black candles made a star on the floor. In the middle lay three precious items: a strand of fiery red hair, a scrap of bloodstained cloth, and a small vial of ash. All taken from Sienna during the last attack."Little wolf, you can't hide from me," I whispered, striking a match.As the candles flickered to life, I closed my eyes and let power flow through my fingers. Magic wasn't just something I did—it was who I was. The Black Moon Witch. Once guardian of the Ruby Wolves, now their best hunter.I sprinkled dried herbs over the things and began to chant in a language older than time. The candles' flames stretched toward the sky, turning blood red. On the wall, shadows danced like dogs running through a forest."Show me the bloodline. Show me the Ruby Wolves."The flames converged into a map—floating, glowing lines that twisted across countries. Where Ruby Wolves once thrived, now only faint signs remained.
Ronan's POVBlood dripped from my knuckles as I stumbled through the trees. Three Syndicate guards lay dead behind me, but more would come. They always did.My side burned where Vex had driven the knife in during my "questioning." The cut wasn't healing as fast as it should—the blade had been laced with wolfsbane.The vampire's help had been surprising. Caius Blackthorne, of all people, causing a distraction that allowed me to break free. His leaving words echoed in my mind: "Find her before they do."Rain began to fall, washing away my smell trail. Small gifts. I pushed forward until an abandoned hunter's cabin emerged through the trees. The door hung crooked on rusty hinges, but the roof was mostly intact.Inside, dust covered everything. No one had been here for years. Perfect.I fell on a moth-eaten couch, checking my wound. The bleeding had lessened, but infection was setting in. I needed drugs. Rest."Some protector you are," I muttered, searching the cabin's shelves for anythin
The Midnight Queen's POVI watched them all through my scrying pool—little pieces moving across my chessboard. The killer had found his memories. The Alpha offered defense. And Sienna, my beautiful Sienna, stood at the center of it all, unaware of the blood we shared.The water rippled, showing Ronan approaching the packhouse with his hands raised. Foolish boy. Love had made him weak."My Queen, we've lost contact with Nyx," Vex announced, entering my chamber. Blood stained his hands—someone had displeased him again.I waved dismissively. "Ronan killed him. It matters little."My inner haven lay deep beneath the mountains, far from prying eyes. Ancient symbols carved into black stone walls glowed with magic. A throne of polished obsidian commanded the room, wolf skulls decorating its high back."Summon the others," I ordered.Five hooded figures filtered in, making a half-circle before me. My closest circle—the only ones I almost trusted."Tomorrow night, we attack the Shadowfang Pack
Kieran's POVThe smell of an intruder hit me before Thorne burst through my office door."Alpha, we found him at the north border. He says he needs to see Sienna."I growled, following Thorne to the courtyard where three of my wolves surrounded a man with blood-crusted knuckles and a familiar smell. The killer. The one who'd tried to kill Sienna weeks ago."Ronan Voss," I growled, my claws extending. "Give me one reason not to tear your throat out."His eyes met mine without fear. "The Syndicate is planning an attack. Tomorrow night. Three routes, fifty fighters. Main force from the river."Whispers spread through the growing crowd. I smelled their fear."And you expect me to believe you?" I circled him slowly. "The man sent to kill her?"Ronan pulled something from beneath his shirt—a ruby pendant that glowed like fire in the morning light."I'm her mate," he said frankly.The words hit me like a physical blow. My vision flashed red, the curse stirring in my blood."Lock him up," I o
Caius's POVI adjusted my cuffs, ensuring my look was flawless. Appearances mattered when playing host to enemies who wanted to rip out each other's necks."Your Highness, they've arrived." My servant Elara bowed, her pale skin nearly translucent in the candlelight."Show them to the Moon Hall," I directed. "And Elara? Double the guards. Discreetly."My ancestral castle, perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea, had held ages of supernatural politics. Tonight was no different—except for the risks.The Moon Hall glittered with silver chandeliers and ancient tapestries showing the first peace treaty between vampires and werewolves. Ironic, given how well that had turned out.I took my place at the head of the obsidian table as they filed in—four werewolf Alphas from packs rivaling Kieran's Shadowfang, and three vampire Elders representing our noble houses."Welcome to Castle Blackthorne," I greeted, pointing to the seats. "I appreciate your willingness to meet on neutral ground."Alpha
Zeke's POVThe small town of Willowbrook looked peaceful in the morning light. Too quiet. I adjusted my worn leather jacket and checked my image in a shop window. The face looking back at me wasn't my real face—at least not the one anyone would recognize.The magic cover charm around my neck worked perfectly. Instead of sharp features and storm-gray eyes, I now had softer lines and dirty brown eyes. Perfect for blending in at the edge of Shadowfang land."Just another drifter," I mumbled, continuing my walk down Main Street.Three days of playing normal human guy was driving me crazy. But I needed to be patient. The Midnight Queen had been clear—find Sienna and report back. No commitment. No miracles.I sniffed the air. Most people couldn't smell magic, but I could. Years of trials by the Syndicate had changed me. Made me something not quite wolf, not quite human. A freak caught between worlds.There—a faint trace of something warm and bright. Like spice and fire. Ruby Wolf energy.My
Sienna's POVI woke up feeling different. Stronger. The morning sunlight streamed through the window of my room in Kieran's packhouse, casting golden lines across the floor. I stretched my fingers and watched tiny sparks dance between them.My power was coming back.For weeks, I'd felt hollow—a Ruby Wolf with barely a spark of flame. But something had changed. Maybe it was being in one place for more than a few days. Maybe it was finally getting enough food and sleep.Or maybe it was because danger was coming.I slipped out of bed and changed into the clothes Kieran had provided—dark pants and a simple green shirt. Not exactly my style, but better than the rags I'd been wearing when I stumbled into Shadowfang country.Outside my door stood Liam, my assigned "guard." He was supposed to keep me safe, but we both knew he was really making sure I didn't leave."Morning," I said with a fake smile. "Beautiful day for a walk."His eyes narrowed. "Alpha Kieran says you're to stay inside.""Di
Isolde's POVThe black hood of my cloak hid my face as I joined the line of Midnight Syndicate members filing into the basement laboratory. My disguise was simple but effective—dark robes, silver mask covering the upper half of my face, and a false identification medallion I'd stolen from a dead agent.No one questioned me. Perfect.The laboratory was hidden beneath an abandoned church, the irony not lost on me. Evil things happening in what was once a holy place. But then again, the Midnight Syndicate had always loved such twisted humor."Initiates to the left, full members to the right," barked a guard.I moved left with the other low-ranking guys. Twenty years ago, I had been the Midnight Queen's right hand, her most trusted witch. Now I was sneaking in like a thief. Life had a way of coming full circle.The laboratory stretched across a massive chamber lit by unnatural blue light. At its center stood a glass containment box where a young werewolf thrashed against silver chains. Hi
Kieran's POVThe beast clawed at my insides, trying to break free. I dug my nails into my hands until blood dripped between my fingers. Pain helped me focus, kept the monster at bay."Alpha, we're approaching the burned cabin," said Maya, my most trusted warrior. Her silver-streaked hair gleamed in the moonlight as she ran beside me.Behind us, sixty of my best fighters moved through the trees like shadows. We had abandoned our wolf forms when we picked up the smell of vampires ahead. Better to approach with hands that could hold guns."She was here," I growled, the bond in my chest pulling me forward like a hook buried in my heart. "Recently."After weeks of nothingness, the bond had roared back to life last night, shattering the fog in my thoughts. Memories flooded back Sienna's face, her touch, her smell. And with those memories came rage at whoever had tried to make me forget her."Are you sure it's her?" asked Liam, my Second. He had never
Caius's POVThe smell of fire and magic hung in the night air. I stood on the ridge overlooking the burning cabin, my five special vampire guards spread out behind me like shadows."Looks like we missed the party," I said, studying the scene below. Syndicate troops looked through the rubble, their black uniforms blending with the darkness.Viktor, my oldest guard, pointed to fresh tracks in the mud. "They fled less than an hour ago."I closed my eyes, focusing on the weak pulse that had been getting stronger in my chest for weeks. Sienna. Each beat of her heart called to me like a light."She's alive," I whispered, relief washing over me. Then anger replaced it. "The Queen nearly had her."My fangs lengthened at the thought. Four centuries of vampire royalty ran through my blood, but I'd never felt this protective urge for anyone before. It was... unsettling."Your Highness," Elena said, touching my arm. "Movement in the trees."I sniff
Darius's POVI closed my eyes, feeling the pack ties stretch like unseen threads across the forest. One particular thread burned brighter than the rest Sienna. The Ruby Wolf might have escaped us before, but not this time."Sir, we've secured the perimeter," said Ellis, my most trusted assassin. Five other Syndicate killers crouched behind him, their faces drawn with dark symbols that gleamed in the moonlight."Good." I rolled the silver knife between my fingers. "Remember, we need the twins alive."The pull of Sienna's energy got stronger. After years of pretending to be Kieran's loyal Beta, I was finally close to my real prize. The Queen would reward me beyond imagination for bringing her the Ruby Wolf twins."There," I hissed, pointing to a thin column of smoke rising above the trees. "The cabin."I reached into my coat pocket and pulled six small glass orbs filled with swirling black mist tracking hexes made by the Black Moon Witch herself.
Sienna's POV"He's out here somewhere!" I yelled, pushing through the thick underbrush. Dawn light streamed through the trees, painting the forest in gold. My heart raced as I followed the path of disturbed leaves and broken twigs.Ronan kept pace beside me, his face tight with worry. "Sienna, we don't know if it's really him. It could be a trap."I clutched the wooden wolf carving tighter. "It's him, Ronan. I feel it."Ever since finding the carving on our porch last night, I'd been looking. My twin brother alive, not dead as I'd believed my whole life. The notebook page he'd left proved it. The writing matched the letters in my locket, the one thing I had from my mother.A flash of something dark caught my eye. I froze, then rushed forward, falling to my knees beside a folded form half-hidden among fallen leaves."Zeke!" I gasped.My brother lay motionless, his skin covered in strange black veins that looked like spider webs under his pal
Isolde's POVMoonlight streamed through the cracked window of my secret workroom as I stirred the bubbling pot. The potion glowed blue-green, sending strange shadows across the stone walls. My hands moved with practiced skill, adding pinches of rare herbs and drops of crystal water."Almost there," I whispered.This wasn't just any potion. This was memory magic – dangerous and illegal. But Sienna needed it if she was going to survive what was coming.I dropped crushed moonstone into the mixture, watching it fizz and spark. The final part waited beside me – a small vial of ruby-red liquid. Blood from the Nightrose family. My own blood.Yes, the secret I'd kept for ages. I wasn't just any witch serving the Midnight Syndicate. I was a distant cousin of the Ruby Wolves, with just enough of their old power to make this spell work.As the mixture simmered, my mind went to the past. To better days.I remembered little Sienna, just five years old,
Zeke's POVBlood dripped from my fingers as I crouched on the rocky outcrop above the small cabin. My enhanced eyes pierced the darkness, focused on the two figures moving inside. One was a tall man with silver-streaked black hair – Ronan Voss, the Phantom Wolf. The other was a woman with bright red hair that seemed to glow in the lamplight.Sienna. My younger sister.My chest tightened with a strange ache. For forty years, they told me she was the enemy. The Midnight Queen – our grandma – had raised me to hate her, to hunt her. But now, watching her through the cabin window, something felt wrong."You look just like Mom," I whispered.The words surprised me. I had no memories of our mother. Or at least, I thought I didn't. But seeing Sienna's face, something sparked inside me – flashes of a woman with the same fiery hair, the same determined jaw.I touched the metal plates beneath my skin. The Midnight Syndicate's "improvements" to make me the
Caius's POV The old library beneath the Vampire High Court was silent except for the rustle of pages. Dust motes floated in the dim lighting as I hunched over texts so old they crumbled at my touch. "Careful with that one, Your Highness," my elderly librarian warned. "That manuscript predates even your grandfather." I ignored him, my fingers tracing the faded drawings of ruby-colored wolves with glowing eyes. Three days had passed since I'd last seen Sienna, and the image of her fire wings haunted me. Not just for their beauty, but for what they meant. "Leave me," I ordered without looking up. When the door closed, I relaxed my perfect stance. Five centuries of being the perfect prince got tiresome. I rubbed my temples and pulled the oldest book closer – its black cover made from some unidentified skin, its pages yellow with age. The text was written in Ancient Vampiric, a language only royal clans still learned.
Kieran's POVThe great hall of the Shadowfang Pack territory hummed with anxiety. Ten Alpha werewolves sat around the huge oak table, their eyes fixed on me. Each led their own pack, but all recognized the Shadowfang's authority. For now.I paced at the head of the table, my wolf scratching beneath my skin. The silver poison still burned in my veins from the last fight, weakening me when I needed strength most."You've called us here at a dangerous time, Kieran," growled Arlo, the gray-bearded Alpha of the Northern Claw Pack. "With the Blood Moon approaching, we should be securing our territories, not attending meetings."I stopped pacing and put my palms on the table, letting my eyes shift to their wolf form – golden with red flecks."I called you here because of the danger," I said, my voice cutting through the murmurs. "The Midnight Syndicate has made their move. The Blood Moon won't just bring my curse this time – it brings war."Darius sto
Ronan's POVThe trees blurred past us as I carried Sienna through the darkness. Her golden fire wings had faded, leaving her tired in my arms. The Midnight Queen's revelation still echoed in my mind – the queen was Sienna's grandma. Another piece of the puzzle I hadn't seen coming."Almost there," I whispered, feeling her stir against my chest.The cabin emerged through the trees – small, weathered, but secure. My safe harbor for the past five years. No one knew about this place, not even my old handlers at the Syndicate."Where are we?" Sienna mumbled, her ruby-red eyes fluttering open."Somewhere safe." I kicked open the door, carrying her inside.The cabin was sparse but practical – a bed, a fireplace, basic supplies. I gently laid Sienna down and lit the fire with practiced moves."You've been here before," she noticed, pushing herself up on her elbows."It's mine." I gave her water from my pack. "Built it myself after I escaped. Th