LOGINChapter 96: visitElena povOn the morning of day four, Anna arrived with her medical kit and a determined expression on her face."Time to start protocols," she announced. "Are you ready?"I looked at Kieran, who nodded once. His presence, Supportive."Ready," I said.Anna set up her equipment with practiced efficiency… sterile needles, collection cups marked with precise measurements, bandages and antiseptic. Kieran stood beside me, his hand on my shoulder, his presence a steady anchor."One cup," Anna said firmly. "No more. And if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or weak in any way, you tell me immediately, Understood?""Understood."The needle slid in smoothly, a familiar sting. I watched my blood flow into the cup, dark and rich. Healing blood. Life-saving blood.Blood that nearly killed me."That's enough." Anna removed the needle, pressing a bandage to my arm. "How do you feel?"I took stock. Tired, but not dangerously so. Steady. "Fine. I feel fine.""Good. Rest for four hours, eat a
Chapter 95: the protocolElena povMy breath caught. "You told them what?""I should have done it weeks ago." His hand found mine, fingers intertwining. "I am done hiding what you are to me, Elena. Done pretending the bond doesn't matter. You are mine, and I want everyone to know it.""What about the alliance? What about…"“Its non of their fucking business, anybody that have a problem with me could kiss my ass.”"The words sent warmth flooding through me despite everything. "The pack must have had opinions about that announcement.""Some did. Most were just relieved you survived." A ghost of a smile crossed his face. "Apparently watching their Alpha lose his mind for four days straight made quite an impression.""You didn't lose your mind…""I didn't leave your side for ninety-six hours. I threatened to remove a guard's throat with my bare hands when he suggested moving you to the healing wing. I cried… actually cried… in front of witnesses." His thumb stroked across my knuckles. "Tr
Chapter 94: The CompromiseElena's POVI woke to the sound of shouting.For a moment, I was disoriented… the room was too large, too luxurious. Then the memory came crashing back: collapsing in my quarters, Kieran's face above mine, four days of darkness punctuated by distant voices that seemed to fade in and out.Then the declaration…kirean had promised…*We face everything together.*The voices grew louder. I recognized Anna's voice, listing out rules and regulations, then Marcus's voice, raised in anger towards a traitor…Tobias.I tried to sit up and gasped as pain lanced through my arm. The bandages around my wrist were fresh, professionally done. Anna's work."Easy." Kieran appeared from the shadows by the window, moving to my side in an instant. "You have been asleep for twelve hours. Your body needs rest."The sight of the kirean being all caring was the last thing I would never thought to witness, but I push the thought aside.“Where is Tobias?”Kieran's expression darkened.
Chapter 93: waking upKirean povThe next morning. Anna returned with fresh bandages and another round of monitoring. Marcus brought updates every few hours… the illness spreading, more deaths, the council in chaos, Catherine's father growing more aggressive with his demands.I barely heard any of it. My entire world had narrowed to the woman in my bed and the steady rhythm of her breathing.Elena's body was recovering. But wherever her consciousness had retreated to, it was deep. Distant. "Tell me what it was like growing up.” I smoothed her hair, “Did you have friends? Were you happy? What made you laugh?"No response. Just that terrible, endless stillness."Tell me about the first time you shifted. Or your favorite food. Or…" My voice broke. "Or anything. Just wake up and yell at me. Tell me I'm an arrogant bastard who doesn't deserve you. I don't care. Just open your eyes."Shadow suddenly stood, his tail beginning to wag slowly. My wolf suddenly pushed forward, alert and focused
Chapter 92: the vigilKirean povThe hours that followed were a blur of medical jargon and tense silence. Anna took my words to heart, she worked over Elena with single-minded focus, monitoring her pulse, adjusting the blood restoration apparatus, checking her vitals every few minutes.The other healers drifted out one by one as the night wore on, but Anna stayed. Marcus too, standing guard by the door like he expected an attack."The cuts on her arms," Anna said quietly as dawn approached. "They are not fresh. Some are days old. She's been doing this for a while."Guilt crashed over me in waves. "How long?""At least two weeks. Maybe more." Anna's hands shook as she adjusted a bandage. "I found out a few days ago. Made her promise to stop. But tonight… Tonight fifteen people went critical at once. She must have thought…""That fifteen lives were worth hers." The words tasted like poison."She's always thought that." Anna's voice broke. "That's who Elena is. She'd bleed herself dry if
Chapter 91: Kieran's Breaking PointKieran's POVThe whiskey burned going down, but not enough to dull the ache in my chest.I had stopped pretending the bond didn't affect me somewhere around day ten of Elena's confinement. By day fifteen, I'd worn a path in the floor of my study from pacing. Now, three weeks in, I simply sat with the bottle and let the hollow feeling consume me.She is safer being locked away. The pack was safer with her contained. I had made the right choice.I kept telling myself that.The door to my study opened without a knock… only one person had that privilege."We need to talk." Marcus's voice was tight, controlled in a way that meant he was anything but calm.I looked up from my glass. "Unless the territory is under attack…""It might as well be." He crossed the room in three strides, bracing his hands on my desk. "Something's happening in the pack. Something strange.""The illness…""Is improving. Drastically." His jaw clenched. "But not uniformly."That c
The Hidden PrincessElise's POVI stared at the ceiling of my bedroom and counted the cracks in the stone for the hundredth time. Seventeen. There were always seventeen cracks, spreading out like tree branches from the corner near the window.A wicked smile tugged at my lips. Elena thought there we
Elena's POVThe door closed behind Mira with a soft click that sounded like a prison lock sliding into place.Kieran stood in the center of my chambers, filling the space with his presence in a way that made the enormous room feel suddenly small. He wore black as always, but tonight the clothing se
CHAPTER 33: little liarElena's povThe way she smiled, while looking at me made me almost rethink my life choices."You look confused," Catherine said again, her voice smooth as honey, as she came even closer, so close that I could see the heavy makeup she was on, even in the night. "I suppose you
Chapter 35: Shattered trustKieran's POV"A traitor!!"The word tore from my throat like a curse, and I watched Elena flinch as if I had struck her. Good. Let her feel a fraction of the pain that was currently ripping through my chest."Take her away," I commanded, turning my back before she could







