LOGINRONANShe was supposed to be in the carriage. She was supposed to be protected, tucked away in absolute safety. She was never meant to step out—let alone throw herself into the direct line of fire for my sake.For an agonizing second, my world ground to a halt. The ambient noise of the battle faded into dead silence. The archer’s string had already snapped, the arrow unleashed. She had stepped out of the carriage as their primary target, and judging by the hit, they likely assumed she was as good as dead.She stumbled, her strength buckling, and collapsed straight into my arms."Silver!" I roared, the sound raw and desperate against the night air. the remaining archers froze, caught off guard.She clutched at my chest, her breath coming in shallow, labored hitches. "Ronan..." she whispered, her fingers digging desperately into my tunic. "There are several men hidden in the treeline... they're carrying heavy crossbows. Worst of all... they're tipped with poison."I wasn't listening to
SILVERI went completely still, my eyes widening at the approaching shadows. They were clad in black armor that blended seamlessly into the dark forest, making them nearly invisible. For a single second, I might have mistaken their silent footsteps for a prowling wild beast. But the moment the carriage ground to a halt and Darian pressed a silver dagger into my hands, I knew this was far beyond my imagination.We were under attack.And here I had thought the news of our meeting to the Black Rose territory hadn't reached our enemies yet. I had thought they would be too distracted trying to figure out which pack was backing us. I had foolishly believed that with every failed ambush, they would realize I was untouchable—that the royal bloodline walked with gods and couldn't be broken so easily. But here I was, facing a coordinated strike in the dead of night.They were fast. Their tactics were precise, their formation tight, and their numbers far more than enough to drag me down.I had u
AUTHOR POVThe carriage glided through the quiet stretches of the dark forest. Inside, Silver sat beside Darian, a small, triumphant smile tugging at her lips after the successful negotiation. For a horrifying moment back in the study, she had feared the meeting would turn into a bloodbath—that the Black Rose Alpha had seen right through her bluff. But people driven purely by arrogance rarely used their heads, and in the end, her gamble had paid off.Outside, Ronan walked behind the carriage, his sharp gaze continuously sweeping the perimeter as the wheels churned through the damp dirt. Cassian and Elias walked ahead at a deliberate, measured pace, securing the path while Silver remained safely tucked inside with Darian.Ronan let out a deep, steadying breath. His icy eyes sliced through the dense shadows of the tree line, scanning for any sign of movement.Contrary to the smooth victory they had just secured, Ronan had fully expected the meeting to end in bloodshed, shattered bones,
SILVERUnder the full moon's rays, our carriage moved onward. I pressed my back against the cushioned seat, my head resting against the frame as I drifted mindlessly into thought."You don't need to worry, you've got this," Darian's voice cut through the silence. I tilted my head and flashed him a small smile. He had decided to ride inside with me, while the rest took positions around the exterior of the carriage.I let out a soft breath.Honestly, I wasn't anxious about the meeting itself; I was mostly worried about them. This was a high-stakes negotiation. If things went sideways and they got caught up in a fight, I would never forgive myself.I let out a quiet sigh, my gaze hovering on the looming gates ahead.After a long day's journey, we had finally reached the Black Rose Pack territory. I pulled the hood of my cloak lower over my face. We weren't trying to hide our presence entirely, but walking in plain sight without a cover was simply stupid.The carriage ground to a halt. Ca
CASSIANThere was one thing about Silver that drove me insane: she always chose the most dangerous path. The hardest solution was her answer every single time. Every plan was another gamble, another walking trap. She called it the quickest way—which it indeed was—but it was flirting with suicide, and this was an absolute no."What?!" I said, my head snapping toward her. Gone was her once-defensive posture; her gaze was now blazing with sheer determination.Last night, I had crossed every boundary. I had gone against my own rules, against every single instinct that screamed at me to stop.*Getting her to her throne was my sole purpose; the bond could wait.Except it couldn't.It took over without warning, consuming me entirely.The warmth of her kiss still lingering, her taste hovering on my lips like a forbidden prayer that haunted my soul. The memory of her curves against my chest, her soft breaths pressed flush against mine.If Ronan hadn't walked in, I wouldn't have stopped. And de
SILVERFor a terrifying second, I went dead still, my eyes widening in sheer horror. I opened my mouth to scream, but Ronan struck him again. Cassian retaliated, the dull thud of fist hammering against bone echoing through the tension-thick air. I pressed myself flat against the wall, my voice far too small, a fragile whisper completely lost beneath their uproar."You fucking bastard! How dare you!!" Ronan delivered a brutal punch that cracked through the silence. In one fluid movement, he pinned Cassian against the wall with raw, animalistic fury. They were raising their fists to tear each other apart when Darian walked in and shoved them away from each other."And here I thought the two of you were the ones with brains," Darian spoke, his voice completely lacking its usual playful lightness."Get the fuck out of my sight," Ronan snapped, then whipped around to glare at Cassian. "How dare you put your filthy hands and lips on her?"Darian paused, his face turning toward me. Under the







