LOGINCraig’s P.O.VFor a long moment, I didn’t move. The man’s words echoed through my head like a curse I couldn’t shake.The royal bloodline will return to us.Freda stood beside me, her body tense. I could hear the uneven rhythm of her breathing, the uncertainty threading through her scent.My claws were still out, my wolf still restless. “Who are you?” I demanded.The man’s eyes gleamed beneath the dim light. “My name is Orion. I once served the Silver Blood royal family before their fall.”My wolf growled low in my chest. “That’s impossible. The Silver Bloods were wiped out two decades ago.”Orion gave a faint, almost sorrowful smile. “That’s what the world was meant to believe. The royal line had to vanish so it could survive. After the plague spread, the royal escaped before it became serious.”He turned his gaze back to Freda, as if he couldn’t stop himself from looking at her. “You carry the mark. The very light that once sealed our kingdom’s heart. I knew the moment I saw you. Ev
Freda’s P.O.VMy legs ached.Finally, there was a soft bed to lie on. It was unlike the hard, thorny ground I’d been sleeping on for days. The softness reminded me of home, and tears pricked my eyes before I could stop them. I sniffed them back. That was the past — something I shouldn’t dwell on.A soft whisper brushed past my ear, and the hairs on my arms stood. I turned sharply. A figure stood opposite the door, fully cloaked in silver.“Who’s this?” I asked, my voice sharp.The figure removed his cloak, and a blinding silver light flooded the room. I shielded my eyes and stepped back, my hands curling into a defensive stance. I was ready to use the little Craig had taught me to protect myself.Then, just as suddenly, the light dimmed — and the man bowed before me.I frowned. Was he pretending? Some trick to lower my guard?“Who are you?” My gaze darted toward the door — my only escape — but he stood directly in front of it.He raised his head slowly. “It’s good to see you, Princess
Adrian’s P.O.VThe Blood Moon Pack was nothing like my father had described it. The last time he had visited was two decades ago, when he was still a young and reckless Alpha. According to him, that visit was what elevated the Sun Blood Pack’s status in Orlis. He made a decision that changed everything for our lineage.Sometimes, I wonder how I’m supposed to live up to his legacy — a man everyone fears, a man whose name alone can silence a room. But now, the opportunity had presented itself, and I wasn’t going to let it slip by.Some warriors had been sent to escort us to the Alpha’s palace. I hadn’t expected much from a pack that had always been rumored to be barbaric, but everything I saw challenged those rumors.I expected crude, ancient houses with moss-stained walls and broken fences, yet everywhere looked modern and orderly. There were neatly paved paths, tall iron gates, and houses that reflected wealth and discipline.When I asked Jason to arrange a meeting with Alpha Clayton,
Freda’s P.O.VAva tugged on my cloak and stepped back to admire her work. “Perfect. You almost look unrecognizable.”I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult. My once-silver hair, which had grown brighter since the mark began glowing, was now buried beneath a deep brown hood smeared with ash to dull its shine. Ava had also smeared dirt across my cheeks “for realism,” though I was certain she enjoyed doing it more than necessary.“I feel like a thief,” I muttered, adjusting the hood again.Lena snickered from the side. “You look like one too. But that’s the point, sweetheart. No one would suspect a thief to carry ancient blood.”Craig’s voice cut through our chatter. “We move in five minutes.”Even without looking, I could feel his presence — steady, commanding, distant. For the past two days, he’d avoided looking directly at me, like my existence was something too heavy to bear. It was frustrating. I didn’t ask for his attention, but the silence between us fe
Freda’s P.O.V“I’m tired.”Ava passed a bottle of water to me after taking a sip. Her lips were dry, her hair clinging to her temples. We had been on this journey for two whole days, stopping only for short breaks in between. The air smelled of dust and pine, and the soles of my boots felt like they’d been rubbed raw.The past two days had done nothing but widen the space between Craig and me. For reasons I couldn’t explain, it felt like he was intentionally avoiding me. He spoke to everyone else, gave commands, planned routes — but when it came to me, he said nothing. And because of that, Ava, who was always by my side, ended up being ignored too.“Sorry,” Ava muttered, catching her breath. “I believe we’ll take a break soon. Everyone’s exhausted.”I looked around and realized she was right. Most of the warriors were leaning on one another, trying to keep their balance. Their steps were slower now, heavier. Some wiped sweat from their foreheads with trembling hands. The only ones who
Freda’s P.O.V“What are you searching for?”I asked again, this time softer, hoping Craig would finally tell me something—anything—about what he was truly after.But instead of answering, his expression shifted. The openness that had briefly been there vanished behind a wall of calm indifference. “I think they’re gone,” he said flatly. “Let’s go back to camp.”I nodded slowly, understanding what his silence meant. He wasn’t ready to open up—not to me. No matter how many battles we’d survived together, or how many nights we’d shared by the same fire, I was still just a stranger to him.We walked in silence through the forest, the only sound coming from the faint crunch of leaves beneath our boots. The sky had turned pale gold, streaks of sunlight piercing through the dense canopy. The world around us looked calm, almost peaceful, but my chest felt heavy. There was a growing space between us, one that no amount of shared danger could close.By the time we reached the camp, most of the o







