LOGINSelena's POV
The room is dimly lit, with only the lamp on the nightstand casting a soft yellow glow. Outside, everything's still in the pack house. No footsteps echo in the hall; no voices drift from the main room. Just us.
Damian sits on the edge of the bed, his back to me, taking off his boots. I’m propped up on the pillows, reaching for him slowly, my movements lazy and relaxed.
"Is there something wrong with my back?" he asks without
Selena's POVThe afternoon light filters gently through the windows.Lily's asleep on my lap, all curled up against me. Her breathing is slow and calm—just peaceful. I run my fingers through her hair, and I can feel the babies moving a bit in response.Rina's sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of me, a plate of sandwiches resting on her lap. She’s been chatting away for over an hour now. Maybe even longer."—and then Borgov said I had good form. Good form! Can you even believe that? I almost toppled over three times, but he said it was good! Maybe he was just being nice. Do you think he was being nice? He doesn’t seem like he is, more like the type to make you run laps until you’re sick. But he said good form. I’m going to remember that forever.""That’s great, Rina.""Right? And do you think Maya and Caden are okay? They've been gone for ages. Like, a super long time. What if s
Maya's POVI wake up feeling warm.Not from the fire—it went out hours ago, leaving only ash and cold. No, this warmth is something else. It’s solid and steady. I open my eyes to find Caden's arms around me, his chest pressed against my back, his breath slow and rhythmic on my neck.We're all tangled up—his legs intertwined with mine, his arm resting on my waist.I should probably move, push away, say something about personal space and boundaries, and remind him that he hasn't exactly been forgiven for everything.But I don't move.I can feel his chest rise and fall, his heartbeat steady and slow. Mine, on the other hand, is racing.I close my eyes again, tuning into the sounds of the cave—the drip of water echoing from somewhere deeper, the scratching of branches against the stone. And outside—Voices.I freeze.Caden wakes up immediately, his body stiffening, his hand
Caden's POVThe river is behind us, but the cold? That’s still here.Maya trips over a root, manages to catch herself, and keeps moving. Her teeth are chattering, just like mine. The water took all our warmth, leaving us shivering."Keep going.""Shut up," she snaps, her voice shaking.We push through the trees, away from the river, away from those rogues. I have no idea if they’re on our trail, and I’m not about to look back.Maya stumbles again. This time, she falls, her knee smashing into a rock. She hisses, tries to get up, but can’t."Let me see.""I'm fine.""You’re bleeding."She glances at her knee, where the rock tore through her pants and cut her skin. Blood is trickling down her shin, dark and thin.I crouch down and pull her arm over my shoulder."I can walk.""Just lean on me. We don’t have time for this."I lift her up and
Maya's POVThe ridge is taller than I thought it would be.Caden and I ditched the SUV about an hour ago, hiding it in a thicket of pines. Now, we’re crawling on our stomachs through the scrub grass, with the eastern valley stretched out beneath us. The morning sun is still low in the sky, casting long shadows.And then I spot it.Tents. Hundreds of them. Fires burning. Wagons. Wolves weaving between the rows like ants. Viktor's army.“Holy hell,” I murmur.Caden lifts a pair of binoculars, scanning the camp. “Twelve hundred. Maybe more. Looks like they’ve been busy.”I take the binoculars from him and look for myself. The camp spreads across the valley floor, divided into sections—training areas, supply depots, and a large central tent that’s bigger than the rest, with banners flying—a black wolf on a red background.“Viktor’s tent?”&
Caden's POVThe war room is starting to clear out. Maps get rolled up, chairs pushed aside. Damian is by the window, facing away from me. I know I should leave, but I stay put."I want to lead a scouting mission."Damian turns to me. "Where to?""East. Beyond the old logging road. If Viktor's army is on the move, there’ll be signs. Camps, supply lines, weak points."He studies my face. "You’re asking me to trust you with my people.""I’m asking you to let me help."He’s quiet for a moment before nodding. "Maya will go with you."My heart sinks. "Maya?""She’s my best tracker. She knows the terrain, and I trust her to keep an eye on you."I want to argue, but I know it's not my place."Fine."---Maya isn't thrilled to hear this.I find her in the armory, strapping knives to her belt without even glancing up."This was your
Damian's POVThe war room feels frigid. Maps are strewn across the table, showing troop locations, supply lines, and potential attack routes. I’ve been staring at them for what seems like forever, trying to come up with a new angle.Caden is opposite me, his wounded arm propped on the table. He looks pale, and his eyes are heavy with exhaustion.“I got a call this morning,” he says. “From one of my sources.”I glance up. “And?”“She’s dead. Viktor found her. Killed her yesterday.”I put down the marker. “How do you know that?”“Another contact reached out. Told me what went down. They found her body near the eastern pass.”I lean back, processing this. “The spy. He must have informed Viktor about her.”Caden’s jaw clenches. “There is no spy.”His words linger in the air.
Selena's POV~The fight kicks off at breakfast.Honestly, I should’ve seen it coming. Damian's been quiet since we sat down, the kind of quiet that signals he’s got something on his mind that he doesn’t want to say. I know that feeling well because I tend to keep things to myself too. It’s a big re
Selena's POV~The tent feels a bit cramped for six people.Voss is seated at the head of a makeshift table, flanked by two council wolves. Damian is directly across from me, his hand resting on my knee under the table, offering some grounding. Maya stands near the entrance, arms crossed, observing
Damian's POV~I can't believe she's putting herself in danger like this.From my spot at the edge of the construction site, I can’t help but feel tense. Selena is on the far side, hauling timber with a bunch of warriors, looking as if she’s been doing this forever. Her sleeves are rolled up, her ha
Selena's POV~I wake to warmth.Not the cold of the Slivermoon hunting lodge’s floor or the damp of my clothes from last night. Just warmth. Solid. Steady. Damian's arm is wrapped around my waist, his chest pressed against my back, his breath slow and even against my hair. I don't remember falling







