LOGINRaven's POV That same evening, I asked for a formal audience with the full council of elders. My right as Luna. Ramsey allowed it, but the look he gave me before I left his office said everything: he would rather eat sand than give me what I wanted. By the time I entered the high chamber the next morning, they were all there. Ramsey sat off to the side, his chair turned just enough to watch me walk in. Elder Geoffrey was front and center. Elder Pierre avoided my eyes, his hands folded ever so tightly on his laps. Elder Williams stared down at the table, but the corner of his mouth twitched when I passed. No allies here, just me and me alone. “Luna Raven, you wished to address us?” Elder Geoffrey asked. “I did.” I stopped at the far end of the table. “We need to rescue my husband.” “Your loyalties are in question.” Elder Geoffrey replied immediately, like he’d been rehearsing it. “Interesting,” I replied. “Because my loyalty is to OUR Alpha, who is missing, and none of you seem
Raven's POVI wasn’t going to sit in that pack house and let Ramsey play at being king while my husband rotted somewhere.So I stomped right out into the yard where the warriors were drilling, the sun in my face and my temper boiling so hot I could feel it in my teeth.Some of them used to train under me. I remembered standing behind them, pushing their stances lower, forcing their arms higher until they could hold a sword without shaking. Now, they saw me coming and suddenly found the sky, the dirt and their shoelaces very interesting.“Where is Liam?” I called to the nearest one, a broad-shouldered fighter I’d once had to drag out of the mud during a spar.He kept his eyes fixed on the target dummy. “Haven’t seen him.”“Try again,” I said.He didn’t.Another one, leaning on a spear like it was a cane, muttered something under his breath and walked off.I went to the next, a woman I’d seen take down three men twice her size. “You trained with Liam almost every day. Where is he?”She
Raven's POVIt was still dark when I woke up the next morning, and I was extremely restless, still thinking about Jaxon. I pulled on my clothes, laced my boots and stepped out.The camp where our entourage was lodged was already stirring. A few men stood with their eyes half-closed, others checked their weapons. I walked up, ready to tell them what I suspected, but before I could get far into it, one of the older guards cut me off.“We’ve guessed it, Luna Raven." He muttered.I frowned. “Guessed what?”“That your father has our Alpha. We’ve had his men circling all night, watching us like we’re next.""Yes." Another guard nodded. “They’ll probably make their move tonight. We were just talking about it.”“Then we have to leave now." I instructed. "We’ll ride back to Night Howler’s Pack, get the numbers we need and return for my husband.”They didn’t argue and we didn’t waste time. Within minutes, saddles were tightened and our bags were thrown over shoulders. The sky was still black, s
Raven's POV I tried not to look at the clock again, but my eyes kept drifting back. First hour, fine. Maybe my father had more to say. Maybe they were still talking. Men like them never used two words when twenty could drag it out longer. By the second hour, I was already pacing around the room. The party downstairs had already disbanded, and through the window, I'd watched the nobles from other packs leave my father's mansion. The fire had gone out in the hearth and I didn’t light it again. I didn’t need warmth. I needed Jaxon. Third hour, I was sitting on the edge of the bed, my fingers tapping a nervous rhythm into the mattress. He said he’d be back soon. Someone knocked and I jumped up, half sure it would be him. It wasn’t. It was a servant girl holding a folded set of clothes. "From the Lady Elinor," she mumbled, holding them out. "It is for the banquet tomorrow night." I took the silk clothes without really looking at them, and dumped them impatiently on the bed. "Have
Jaxon's POV The first thing I noticed when I woke was the ache in my head. It pulsed like a tribal drum. My arms were deadweight behind me, wrists strapped together with rattling chains. I tried to lift them but the movement sent pain up my spine. My body felt far away. My mind was slow. The air reeked of sweat and must and old blood. Somewhere nearby, water dripped in steady rhythm. I rolled onto my side, or tried to. My body barely cooperated. I was inside a cage. Iron bars sealed me off from the rest of the room. I tugged at the restraints again and felt metal bite into my skin. The chains rattled weakly; I had no strength left. I stared at the floor, the damp, dark patches that I knew was my own blood. No doubt about it, this wasn’t a regular cell. This was meant for animals. Alpha Viktor had planned this, every moment of it. I should have never brought Raven here, into harm's way. I wanted to shift so that I could heal, but I couldn’t. I was cut off from everything that made
Jaxon's POV The servant walked ahead of me and didn’t look back. He walked quickly, almost like he had somewhere better to be. There were mo greetings from passing staff, or guards posted at the usual corners that I remembered from my last visit to this place. “Where is Alpha Viktor?” I asked, increasing my pace to meet up with the servant, who didn't reply me. He just turned the corner sharply and continued walking. Warning bells began to ring in my head. We reached a heavy wooden door flanked by two guards, but something caught me off guard. Their armor wasn’t Viktor’s, or mine, or anyone I could place. No crest, no insignia, nothing. I braced for the worst. Then the door swung open, and Alpha Viktor stepped out with a practiced smile. “Ah, Jaxon. You took your time.” He opened his arms in welcome, voice warm and rehearsed. For a moment, I told myself I was being paranoid. Maybe the guards were new or maybe the servant was just unusually quiet. Maybe nothing was wrong. “Come
Jaxon’s POV The sun was beginning to dip low over the palace gardens when my mother found me. I sat under the old oak tree near the eastern wing of the castle. Across from me, sitting on a marble bench was my mother. There was a teacup in her hand, though she had long stopped drinking from it. He
Yara's POV The first thing I saw when I pulled back the edge of the curtain was a man being shoved out of the front entrance of the pack house. He hit the ground with a loud grunt and rolled to his side. The guards behind him turned and walked back in while he was on the ground. The man stayed th
Raven's POV When the Queen Luna sent for me, I had no option but to answer. I was flanked by guards on both sides as I walked to her room and I found that extremely absurd. I was capable of protecting myself even more than these guards were capable of protecting me. I didn't need an entourage ever
Raven’s POVI woke up to warmth around me.Jaxon’s arms were wrapped securely around me, his face buried in my hair. His breathing was deep and steady and his body was relaxed against mine. I smiled as I enjoyed the comfort of his body. I had never seen him this unguarded.He stirred slightly, pres







