Mag-log inPOV: GinaNo one panicked. That surprised me most, walking back from the standing stones that night, Caleb's hand was steady in mine.The news of some future threat, still years distant, didn't send us spiraling the way similar news once would have."We prepare," Caleb said simply, as we crossed the last stretch of forest toward home. "The same way we've prepared for everything else. Not with fear leading us. With readiness.""Elowen offered continued contact," I said. "A genuine bridge between our peoples, rather than simply a warning and silence.""Then we build that bridge," he said. "Exactly the way we built every other alliance this kingdom now stands on."I believed him completely. And that belief, more than anything Elowen had shown us in the stones' silver light, was what let me sleep that night.**As the years flowed by, as they tended to in a kingdom that has finally found a semblance of peace.The council of the Farlands dispatched envoys two more times before Selene reache
POV: Caleb"I want full security," I said, spreading the map across the war room table. "But not so overwhelming that it reads as hostile posturing before we even understand their intentions.""A careful balance," Varric agreed. "Enough presence to protect our people, not so much that we provoke exactly the kind of conflict this correspondence claims to want to avoid."Keith studied the proposed positioning carefully. "I would recommend a perimeter team, positioned at a discreet distance, with Gina and yourself approaching the actual meeting point directly, alongside Maren given her expertise.""Selene stays here," Gina said immediately, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Whatever these Farlands people actually want, I won't risk our daughter's safety on unverified diplomatic promises.""Agreed completely," I said. "Isolde and Lucien can oversee her care while we're away."Lucien nodded from across the table. "We'll keep her perfectly safe. Though I'll admit, given everything thi
POV: Gina"Beyond our traditional borders," I repeated, my exhaustion from the journey immediately replaced by sharp, careful attention. "We don't have official contact with territories beyond what this kingdom already recognizes.""That's precisely what concerns me," Keith said, leading us toward the war room despite the late hour. "The correspondence arrived through channels we don't fully understand, delivered by a messenger who simply appeared at our northern checkpoint, claiming diplomatic status from lands he described only as 'the Farlands.'"Lucien joined us shortly after, having been informed immediately given the significance of the development, his expression carrying genuine curiosity beneath careful diplomatic caution."I've reviewed every historical record available," he said, settling at the table. "There's no formal documentation of territories matching that description anywhere in our archives, though there are fragmentary references, scattered across various old text
POV: Caleb"This connects to Selene how?" Gina asked, her earlier peaceful contentment replaced immediately by sharp, protective concern."He didn't specify," I said, rereading the message carefully. "Only that it requires our direct attention, and that he considers it urgent enough to interrupt our evening despite understanding we're managing a newborn."Gina's expression carried genuine worry. "We can't simply ignore a request like that, not after everything Thorne's proven about his judgment.""I agree," I said. "We'll need to travel there, though I want proper precaution given Selene's age and everything we've recently confirmed about her unique connection to the sealed Gate."We arranged the journey carefully over the following two days, understanding traveling with an infant required considerably more preparation than our previous, more urgent expeditions had allowed. Maren accompanied us again, alongside a small, trusted security detail, while Isolde insisted on joining as well
POV: Gina"What exactly happened?" I asked, exhaustion warring with immediate, protective alertness as I held Selene closer against my chest."The monitoring corps reported a significant surge in energy readings at the main Gate site," Keith said carefully. "Timed almost precisely with Selene's birth, according to their logged reports."Maren's expression shifted immediately into focused concern. "That's not coincidental. A child born from a completely chosen-mate bond, particularly one carrying such significant dual inheritance, would naturally create ripples through whatever magical connections remain active in this kingdom.""Is the Gate breaching?" Caleb asked, tension evident despite his attempt at composure given Selene's presence."No," Keith said quickly. "The seal itself remains fully intact. The surge appears to have been a response rather than an attack — almost like the barrier itself acknowledging something significant had occurred."I felt something ease slightly in my c
POV: CalebI reached the receiving room within minutes of Lena's urgent message, finding Gina gripping the arm of a chair, her expression tight with pain and something else — fear, though she was clearly trying to mask it for my benefit."It's early," she said, before I could ask. "Two weeks early, and I think the confrontation with Alpha Hane triggered it.""We need Maren," I said immediately, already calling for the nearest attendant. "And the healers, now."The following hour passed in a blur of urgent activity, Gina moved carefully to the birthing chambers while Maren arrived breathless, having rushed from wherever she'd been resting within the palace grounds."You're early," Maren observed, echoing my own earlier concern, though her tone carried more analytical focus than alarm. "Likely stress-triggered, given what Lena's described about today's meeting.""Is that dangerous?" I asked, fear tightening my chest."Not inherently," Maren said, though something careful in her expressi
Caleb POVMy mother strong-armed me to this soirée of hers; she spends the huge palace resources just to create a fantasy meeting of me meeting an aristocratic lady of choice.I got tired of coming since it was always the same set of people with the Lycan males' usual groveling and the females' thei
Opportunities truly come, just that only the prepared get to use them.My desire to escape didn’t match up with the preparedness that I needed, but I didn’t know that then.“The palace will host a soirée tonight, it’s the Queen’s orders. Every maid is expected to help.”“Even me?” I asked, eyebrows
“The most important rule is never to address or initiate a talk with the royals.You are at the bottom of the hierarchy, and you should act like that.If a royal member orders something, you provide it.Never look a royal in the eyes or else meet the consequences.”"You will learn the rest as you w
“Chief steward, apologies for keeping you waiting. I’m glad you honored our pack!”I heard my so-called father say as he approached a wiry-looking man with gaunt but stern features. His stance showed he was probably someone to be respected, especially with the way my father was currying favor towar







