MasukAlder's POVFor a moment, I could not even process what had just happened.The sting on my cheek burned fiercely, but it was nothing compared to the look in Adella's eyes as she stood before me. There was no hesitation in her expression, no uncertainty, and certainly no trace of the girl who once struggled to meet anyone's gaze. The woman standing before me now looked ready to tear apart anyone who stood between her and the answer she wanted.James recovered before I did.He stepped forward quickly, his brows drawn together as he looked from me to Adella before settling on her. His voice carried both confusion and irritation when he spoke."Adella, what was that supposed to mean? I know things are not exactly pleasant between Alder and me right now, but he is still the Alpha of this pack. You cannot just walk into another territory and start slapping rulers in front of their subjects."Adella slowly turned toward him.Her eyes were red.The sight alone made my stomach tighten.She fol
Alder's POV I could still smell blood on my clothes when I stepped through the pack gates, the heavy scent of battle clinging stubbornly to my skin no matter how much wind had hit me during the journey back. The fight against the Yraveth pack had stretched longer than expected because those bastards refused to surrender even after losing half their warriors, and by the time we crushed their defenses and forced their remaining soldiers into retreat, I was exhausted enough to barely tolerate the sound of anyone speaking near me.The guards at the entrance immediately straightened when they saw me approaching alongside Edrick and the remaining warriors.“Welcome back, Alpha,” they greeted loudly while bowing their heads.I gave a slight nod without slowing my pace.The pack grounds looked calm compared to the battlefield I had just left behind, servants moving around carefully while some young wolves trained at the far side of the compound. For a brief second, I almost appreciated the q
Adella's POV The weight of my eyelids felt like leaden weights as I struggled to pull them upward, my vision swimming in a sea of hazy greys and muted gold. The first thing I noticed was the scent of home, that familiar and grounding mixture of aged cedar, dried lavender, and the faint, metallic tang of the palace hearth that had always meant safety to me. I lay perfectly still for several minutes, my breath coming in shallow, ragged hitches while I tried to remember how the blood-soaked mud of the Thalassion valley had been replaced by the soft, silken sheets of my own bed. My body felt as though it had been hollowed out and filled with stones, a deep and throbbing ache radiating from my joints and settling in the center of my chest where the transformation had taken its greatest toll. I shifted my hand slightly, feeling the familiar texture of the duvet beneath my fingers, and let out a low, involuntary groan that seemed to echo in the quiet room."Adella? Oh, thank the stars, you
Brooke’s POV I sat at the long dining table with a composed expression that did not match the storm raging inside my chest, my fingers tapping lightly against the polished surface as I watched the council members seated around me pretend they were not already swayed by what I had been offering them all evening.The room was warm, filled with the scent of roasted meat and spiced wine, yet none of that mattered to me because this was not a meal, this was a negotiation, and every single person seated here knew exactly why they had been invited.“You seem distracted, Prince Brooke,” one of the elders said, raising a brow slightly as he lifted his cup.I forced a faint smile, leaning back in my seat as I picked up my own glass, swirling the liquid slowly before taking a sip.“Do I?” I asked calmly, tilting my head as though I found his observation amusing.Another council member chuckled softly. “It is understandable, is it not? Today is the seventh day.”A faint silence followed that sta
Adella's POV The air in the chamber felt thick with the remnants of my recent panic, but as I sat on the edge of the bed, the warmth of Tera’s hand in mine provided the only steady foundation I had left. I looked over at Alder, who was still leaning against the window frame with an expression of detached curiosity that made my skin itch. I knew what I had to do, and while the decision felt like a jagged stone in my throat, it was the only way to ensure that the people I loved survived the madness of this mission. I took a deep breath, smoothing the wrinkled fabric of my tunic before I looked Alder directly in the eyes, my voice coming out steadier than I actually felt."Alder, you mentioned that I owe you a favor for saving my life, and while I am loath to admit it, you are right that I cannot repay that debt while I am lying in this bed," I began, my gaze shifting briefly to Tera before returning to him. "I am asking you for a favor now, one that I will add to the tally of what I ow
Brooke's POV The heavy scent of cedar and old parchment hung thick in the air of the Grand Council Chamber, a room designed specifically to make everyone who entered it feel small and insignificant. I sat in my high backed chair, my fingers tracing the ornate carvings on the armrests while I watched the flicker of the torches against the stone walls. My father, the Lycan King Adolf, sat at the head of the table with his expression unreadable, a mountain of a man whose silence was often more terrifying than his roar. Across from me, the Lycan Queen looked poised and regal, though I could see the slight tension in her jaw that betrayed her growing unease. I waited for the right moment, for that specific lull in the political chatter of the elders, before I cleared my throat to draw the attention of every wolf in the room toward me."Father, if I may interrupt the discussion regarding the southern borders for a moment to address a more pressing concern that has been weighing on my mind







