LOGINValerius PovI hated court gatherings. I hated the noise of silverware against plates, the strong perfumes filling the hall, and the fake smiles of men like Gideon Blackwood and Lord Vane. Zenith was restless inside me, pacing back and forth and growling at everyone around us. He wanted me to take Serenity away from this place and keep her somewhere no one could get close to her.Serenity sat beside me on the raised dais.Her dark velvet gown covered most of her body, but that didn't stop the nobles from watching her. She carried herself well, and anyone looking at her might have thought she was perfectly fine. But I knew better. I could feel the slight tremor in her hand whenever our fingers touched beneath the table. Her skin looked pale under the candlelight, and she kept returning her hand to her lower stomach.She was hiding something from me. Whatever it was, it was affecting her strength. I wanted to pick her up, carry her out of the hall, and keep her away from everyon
Emily Pov I adjusted the silver clasp on my crimson silk gown and smoothed the fabric over my hips before giving the Frost Pack elder sitting across from me a warm smile."Oh, Lord Haddon," I said sweetly. "The architecture of Frost Palace is breathtaking. My father and I are honored that King Valerius welcomed us into his home tonight."The old council member smiled, bowing his gray head. "You are too kind, Lady Emily. It is rare to see such grace in these troubled times.""We must all do our best to maintain peace, my lord," I replied, taking a small sip of my sparkling berry water.Behind my smile, I was already burning with anger.Peace? I didn't give a damn about peace. I wanted blood. I wanted revenge for the humiliation my family had suffered ever since Tristan Blackwood allowed himself to become obsessed with a former servant girl.I glanced down the long table at Tristan. He sat with his charcoal jacket hanging loosely over his left shoulder, his broken right wrist secured
Serenity Pov ‘The Bloodline?’ I thought who knows what they do that I don't know.The sound of the iron doors echoed behind us as Valerius led me away, his hand holding my arm as he walked with long, angry strides. Tristan was still on the stone floor several yards behind us, holding his broken wrist and staring after us with a pale face. The secret of my bloodline was out. He had seen my wound heal in seconds, and now he knew the royal pup inside me was no ordinary child.I have a strong feeling this isn't just mere sickness, I never want to accept that fact anyway. When we reached the royal apartments, Valerius didn't let go of me immediately. He gently backed me against the door after it closed, then held my face in his hands, his eyes searching me for any sign that Tristan had hurt me."Are you sure you're not hurting anywhere?" Valerius asked. His voice was still rough with anger. "That fool touched you. Even tearing his arm out of its socket wouldn't have been enough to
Serenity Pov Tristan’s hand shot out before I could step back, grabbing my wrist tightly.The moment he touched me, my stomach turned. Nausea rose into my throat, but before I could even react, anger took over. I tried to pull my hand away, but he held on too tightly.The air in the narrow corridor suddenly changed. The sounds from the rest of the palace seemed to disappear, and a low vibration filled the space. The iron arrow-slits rattled as a powerful scent spread through the corridor. It was so strong that I could feel the pressure of it against my skin.Tristan didn't even see Valerius coming.He appeared from the archway behind us, moving so fast that I barely had time to turn. He didn't shout or warn Tristan. He simply reached out and grabbed the wrist Tristan was using to hold me.A loud crack echoed through the corridor.Tristan's eyes widened as a scream escaped his mouth. Valerius had broken his wrist, and from the way Tristan clutched his hand, I knew it wasn't a simple
POV: Serenity CrescentThe morning air at Frost Palace was usually cold and refreshing, but today, it felt different. The sky was dark, and the air had that strange feeling it got before rain begins.I stood near the stone railing on the second floor, gripping the cold stone as I watched the iron gates of Frost Palace open below. The sound echoed through the courtyard, making me hold my breath a little.Two black SUVs carrying the Blackwood Pack's coat of arms drove into the courtyard, followed by an armoured car with the Redclaw Pack's symbol on it. They hadn't come with an army because they knew better than to bring weapons against Valerius. Instead, they had brought diplomatic flags. Under High Court law, an envoy carrying an official council petition couldn't be killed without starting a war with the neutral packs in the northern territory.Gideon Blackwood stepped out of the first vehicle. He looked just as arrogant as I remembered him, standing tall in his heavy coat with hi
Alpha Gideon PovThe dining table in the Blackwood estate could seat thirty alpha commanders, but tonight, only three of us sat around it. The room was quiet, and the only sound was the noise of cutlery against plates.My wife, Luna Erica, walked around the table with her head down and placed a fresh platter of roasted boar in front of me. Her hands were shaking. She had been nervous for the past three days, ever since we received news that our daughter, Sienna, had been detained in the western wing of Frost Palace after going there to confront Serenity.Erica poured wine into my goblet. She glanced at the empty fireplace before finally speaking. "Gideon..." Her fingers tightened around the silver tray she was holding. "The messenger from the High Court annex said Sienna is still being held in the guest quarters. Valerius hasn't killed her, and he hasn't declared war on our borders either. Surely, that means the King has decided to forgive her? Valerius is brutal, yes, but he isn't s







