เข้าสู่ระบบThe words hit me like a physical slap across the face.
A sharp, ringing sound started in my ears. The blood drained completely from my cheeks, leaving my skin ice-cold.
Seven years ago.
Seven years ago, I was a teenager living in the Silver Moon pack. I was deeply devoted to Caomh. I didn't even know Cullen Arden existed. I had never traveled North, and Cullen had never come South. We hadn't even crossed paths until five years ago
CAOMH'SI sat at the head of the long table reserved for the Silver Moon pack, staring down at a plate of roasted sausage and eggs that I had not touched. The smell of the rich, heavy food made my stomach churn. I raised a ceramic cup of black tea to my lips, forcing myself to take a slow sip. The liquid was scalding and bitter, burning the back of my throat, but it helped anchor me to the present.To my left sat Elder Foster. To my right, Elder Hyram.They were eating their breakfast, murmuring quietly to each other about the weather and the upcoming journey back to the southern territories. They looked like completely normal, respectable men. But I knew the truth. I knew that tucked securely in the pockets of their thick robes was the signed decree of transition. They had formally signed my execution order less than twelve hours ago, and now they were sitting beside me, drinking tea as if they hadn't just handed
CAOMH'S POVI pressed my back against the rough stone wall, entirely hidden in the narrow corridor that ran directly behind the private meeting chambers of the eastern wing. The space was barely wide enough for my shoulders. I stood perfectly still, my breathing so shallow my chest barely moved.Through a small, rusted iron grate near the floorboards, pale yellow light spilled into the darkness.I crouched down, placing my knee onto the cold dirt. I pressed my face close to the iron bars, ignoring the sharp bite of the rusted metal against my cheek. Through the grate, I had a clear, unobstructed view of the large meeting chamber.Sitting around a long, polished stone table were the three highest-ranking elders of the Silver Moon pack. Elder Foster sat at the head, his gray hair thinning, his wrinkled face drawn tight with deep concern. To his left sat Elder Hyram, nervously tapping a silver rin
The freezing wind whipped through the eastern courtyard, carrying the sharp bite of frost and the clean scent of dormant pine. I pulled my thick, dark wool shawl tighter around my chest, my boots resting firmly against the shoveled stone pathway.Just ten feet away, kneeling directly in the center of a frozen snowbank, was Caomh Colson.He did not look like the proud leader of the Silver Moon pack. He looked like a man who had been entirely hollowed out from the inside. His heavy black winter coat hung loosely over his slumped shoulders. His dark hair, usually styled with perfect precision, was tangled and windblown, falling across his pale forehead. But it was his face that truly commanded the quiet space.His golden eyes were entirely bloodshot, surrounded by deep, bruised shadows that spoke of a sleepless, torturous night. His skin was sallow, stripped of all its natural warmth. His right hand rested weakly against hi
I turned my head on the soft pillow. Cullen stepped out into the bedroom. He was completely bare, a towel hanging loosely from one of his massive hands. Small, clean droplets of water clung to his broad chest and the dark, corded muscles of his stomach. His dark hair was wet, pushed back from his forehead, leaving his handsome face completely exposed.He looked tired, the shadows under his silver eyes betraying the brutal violence he had dealt with in the cellars, but the moment his gaze found me awake in the bed, his entire expression softened.He tossed the towel onto a nearby chair and walked toward the mattress."You are awake," Cullen murmured, his voice a low, rough rumble that sent a pleasant shiver down my spine."I was waiting for you," I answered softly, pushing myself up to lean against the large headboard. The comforter slipped down, exposing my bare shoulders. "Is the compound secure?"
The silver scar on the side of my neck burned with a steady, quiet heat. It was a brand new mark, sealing my soul to the towering Northern Alpha standing right beside me. Through the newly awakened bond, I could feel everything Cullen felt. I felt his fierce pride, his protective instincts, and the dark, simmering hunger he was barely keeping in check as the rival Alphas stared at me."Luna Meghann."The high, sharp voice cut through the polite chatter.I turned my head. Luna Selby Adelle West of the River Pack approached our circle. She wore a bright crimson dress that pushed too high at her chest, her blonde hair curled into tight ringlets. Two other Lunas trailed behind her like eager shadows. Selby had spent the entire week making thinly veiled comments about my southern origins, clearly angry that Cullen had never given her a second glance during the marriage negotiations years ago."Luna Selby," I greeted, my voice smooth and perfectly even."You look lovely tonight," Selby smil
CAOMH'S POVDreda lay on the woven rug, weeping violently into her hands. The bright red mark on her cheek from my palm was already swelling, a stark contrast to her pale, terrified skin. She rocked back and forth, entirely stripped of the fake, fragile grace she usually wore like a shield."Esme is Bronson's daughter," she sobbed again, the confession repeating like a broken record.I looked down at the glass vial in my hand. The bright red thread of magic pulsed steadily in the clear liquid, pointing directly toward the Beta’s blood sample. It was the physical proof of my complete ruin.A wave of pure, violent nausea hit the back of my throat. I swallowed hard, tasting bitter acid.For five years, I had built my entire life around a lie. I remembered the night Dreda told me she was pregnant. I remembered the sheer panic, followed quickly by the heavy, crushing sense of duty. I had walked into the southern treeline and severed my bond with Meghann, breaking the heart of the only woma







