เข้าสู่ระบบKAEL’S POVThree damned days had passed since the confrontation with the elders, and since Donika had said she’d had a plan, yet for once I haven’t seen her doing or acting like she did have a plan.And in those three days, she hadn’t trained, hadn’t spoken much to even Elena, her maid, and hadn’t even stepped foot outside her room. Nothing.For someone who was supposed to be preparing for a fight to the death, she was… chill. Too chill and calm, and that calm was what scared me most.I ran my hand through my hair, pacing across the study like a caged beast. “This isn’t normal,” I muttered, my voice rough with frustration. “What the hell is she even planning in the first place that she’s hiding from me? She doesn’t even look like someone who has a plan, for goodness sake!!”Ronan sat across from me, arms folded, looking rather bored. “You’ve said that every night since the announcement. Maybe she’s coming up with something.”I shot him a dirty look. “Coming up with something? Ronan, s
KAEL’S POVAt the very front where the pack members stood Verya with a smug face looking directly at Donika and both ladies were having a staring contest. The elders gave satisfactory nods within themselves, the way the pack jeered at the mention of Verya’s name as her competitor as though my Luna had already been buried by her made my blood boil and I was seeing red.I wanted to tear through every single one of them and take out their vocal cords from their throat as they were still breathing. But all I could do was watch Donika standing there, still as stone, her chin lifted in defiance as the weight of the pack’s stares and jeers pressed down on her. She was shaking but not from fear, but from rage. I could smell it off her.And then Verya stepped forward to meet Donika where she stood with a bitchy look, circling her and eyeing her before finally standing right in front of her.Her red lips curled into a venomous smile as she folded her arms, her gaze slithering over Donika like
DONIKA’S POVThe moment Kael and I stepped into the courtyard, all I could feel all over my damned body was the tension and looks of disapproval from the faces of most of the pack members, especially those old elders of the council.Hundreds of eyes turned toward us. Warriors and omegas and elders gathered under the pale glow of the crescent moon. And trust the gossip to flow as I walked by; they didn’t even whisper it but said it out loud as if wanting me to hear their bullshit.The murmuring rippled like poison through the air, low enough that they thought Kael couldn’t hear it—but he did. Every word was a match to his fury. I kept taking their words in just until one of them said, “I BET SHE WILL BE THE MOST USELESS LUNA EVER.”“ENOUGH!” Kael’s voice thundered through the courtyard, his aura exploding outward like a wave of raw power. The air shifted, heavy and suffocating. Warriors dropped their heads instinctively, the ground trembling beneath his wrath. His eyes glowed a fierce
DONIKA’S POVThe silence in the room thickened after Elena’s fingers brushed the pendant and nothing happened. I was legit waiting for Elena to somehow be flung to the wall or something, but no reaction, which left all of us in equal confusion. I couldn’t make sense of why Lilia had been flung like a ragdoll while Elena’s touch had been… nothing.“Could we be missing something?” Elena asked, brows furrowing.Kael’s gaze slid to her, then back to me. His jaw was opened and closed a couple times in an attempt to say something about this situation, but finally he just shut his mouth, and his eyes were heavy with thought. Finally, he spoke, voice low and firm.“Elena, give us a moment.”She blinked, startled at his first words. “My lord?”“I said, give us a moment.” He repeated again with an air of finality.Something in his tone made her stiffen, but she bowed her head and left without another word, shutting the door behind her.I swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of the stillness that fol
DONIKA’S POVThe body went cold the moment I saw Lilia standing right in front of Kael, and a surge of anger rushed in my body. I haven’t accepted him as my mate, but the thought of Lilia trying once again to come between me and any man in my life made my blood boil.I froze in the doorway, my fists tightening at my sides. My heart hammered against my ribs. Kael stood behind his desk, his face with a calm look,but his eyes showed more annoyance at the woman who stood in front of him. HE BETTER BE ANNOYED BY HER PRESENCE! I told myself.“What are you doing here?” The words ripped from me before I could stop them, as I trembled with disbelief and fury.Lilia turned, her face brightening with false delight. “Donika!” she exclaimed; her voice was sweet like venom itself. “Cousin, it’s been far too long.” Is she for real? I’ve been gone for barely a week plus, and she was here pretending like we were close or something. Her tone made my skin crawl.Kael’s eyes flicked to her with warning
KAEL’S POVThe office door slammed shut behind Ronan. My wolf prowled beneath my skin, restless and irritated at the interruption. Donika was back in my room looking all flustered and beautiful, and I hated being torn away from her. But one look at Ronan’s face told me this wasn’t something I could ignore.“Well?” I snapped, my tone edged with a growl. “You barged into my room and interrupted my time with my Luna. This had better be worth it.”Ronan bowed his head in respect, though urgency burned in his eyes. “The scentless wolf was spotted again. At the eastern border this time. By the tracks and size…” He hesitated, jaw tightening. “It seems to be a she-wolf.”I stilled in disbelief before snapping my head in his direction.“A she-wolf,” I repeated, voice flat but sharp with disbelief. “And she’s been outsmarting trained warriors for days now?”Ronan shifted under my stare. “That is what the scouts say, Alpha. The paw tracks were too light for a male and even the size of the wolf.







