LOGINHer skin burns beneath my lips as I trace the line of her jaw, drinking in her scent, honeysuckle and sunshine now mixed permanently with my own. The towel slips further as I cup her face, revealing the gentle curve of her shoulder, and Conri growls his approval in my mind.‘Take her,’ he urges, but for once I don’t give in to his demands. This isn’t about claiming or possession anymore. This is about showing Sophia what could be between us if she chooses to complete our bond.I slide my hands down to her thighs, lifting her in one fluid motion. She gasps, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carry her across the room. The towel falls away completely, leaving her naked and perfect in my arms. Her breath comes quicker now, her pulse visible at the hollow of her throat where my mark sits proudly against her skin.“Hold on,” I murmur against her ear, walking us toward the nearest wall.When her back meets the cool stone, she shivers, her arms tightening around my neck
Warmth surrounds me as consciousness creeps in; not just the heat of blankets but the solid presence of a body curved against mine. I blink awake, momentarily confused by the weight of an arm draped over my waist, the steady rhythm of breath against my neck.Zane.The memories filter back, standing beside him against the Council, the newfound respect in the pack members’ eyes, falling asleep against his chest. I’d been too exhausted to maintain the careful distance I usually keep between us, and somehow during the night, we’ve tangled together like lovers who’ve shared a bed for years.Morning light filters through the curtains, painting stripes across the bed. I should feel trapped, pinned beneath the arm of an alpha who claimed me against my will. Instead, I find myself nestling deeper into the warmth of his embrace, my body betraying my mind’s lingering doubts. So much has changed in such a short time, the Council, my father’s presence, the revelation of our matching moon-blessed m
Pride surges through me as Sophia stands her ground against Elder Stone. The timid omega who arrived at my territory days ago has transformed before my eyes into something formidable, a Luna finding her voice. I step forward to stand beside her rather than in front of her, a subtle positioning that doesn’t go unnoticed by the Council members. Their eyes track the movement, recalculating the dynamics at play. Even Conri approves, his satisfaction rumbling through my consciousness as we present a united front.“You have no authority here, Elder,” I state flatly, allowing a hint of alpha dominance to colour my tone. “This is Midnight Eclipse territory, and both Sophia and James Blackwood are under my protection.”Elder Stone’s lips tighten into a bloodless line. With deliberate slowness, she extracts two documents from an inner pocket of her burgundy suit jacket, holding them up like weapons.“I have here two official Council war
I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much. Certainly not since my test results came back. Definitely not since being claimed by Zane. Yet here we are, sharing stories over a meal that would make pack chefs weep with envy, and I’ve laughed three times in the past hour. Real laughter, not the bitter kind that’s been my only outlet lately.Zane’s recounting of how he once accidentally shifted in the middle of a diplomatic meeting because a rival alpha’s cologne was so offensive to his wolf has me nearly choking on my wine.“You didn’t,” I gasp, wiping my mouth with a napkin.“I did,” he confirms, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Shifted right there at the table. Ripped through a three-thousand-dollar suit and knocked over an antique vase with my tail.”The mental image is so at odds with the stern, controlled alpha I’ve come to know that I can’t help but laugh again. This
I watch Sophia settle into the chair across from me, her movements cautious as if she expects a trap. The firelight catches in her auburn hair, turning it to liquid copper, a sight that makes Conri stir appreciatively in my mind. Her shoulders remain tense, her guard still firmly in place despite the tentative truce between us. She rubs her eyes with the heels of her palms, a gesture so unguarded it seems at odds with her careful composure. When she lowers her hands, those intelligent hazel eyes fix on mine with a directness that few wolves would dare.“Nyx wants me to forgive you,” she says abruptly, the words tumbling out as if she’s been holding them back. “She’s been pushing for it since we found out about the marks. But I don’t think I can.” She pauses, something vulnerable flickering across her features. “Not yet, at least.”Conri whimpers in my mind, a sound so pathetic I nearly wince. My wolf, usually so fierce
I make my way back toward the pack house, my father’s words about marking Zane still echoing in my mind. The idea seems impossible, an omega marking an alpha? yet something about it feels right in a way I can’t explain. The stone path beneath my feet winds through carefully tended gardens, but I barely notice the blooms as I wrestle with the implications. Equal partners. Balance. A claiming that goes both ways. The concept is as terrifying as it is exhilarating, and I find myself walking toward Zane’s office before I’ve consciously decided to seek him out.‘You want to see him,’ Nyx observes, her mental voice tinged with satisfaction.‘I want answers,’ I correct her, though we both know it’s not the complete truth. ‘I need to understand what all of this means.’‘We could mark him tonight,’ she suggests eagerly. ‘Complete the bond. Feel the balance the stories promise.’I nea
I run until my lungs burn and my paws bleed, putting as much distance as possible between myself and the only home I've ever known. Trees blur past me as Nyx pushes our body harder than I knew possible, her instincts stronger than mine in this form. The night air whips through my fur, carrying the
I watch until she disappears among the trees, taking my heart with her. Only then do I close the door, lock it, and wipe away my tears. I have a role to play now, and lives depend on my performance.'She's gone,' I tell James through our link, feeling his relief wash over me.'Elder Stone says she
I push the peas around my plate, watching James cut his meat with mechanical precision while Sophia stares at her untouched dinner. We're playing house, the three of us, pretending this is just another family meal when we all know it might be our last. Tomorrow is my daughter's twenty-first birthda
Dad's hand settles on my shoulder, heavy and warm. "Sophia, listen to your mother. We've discussed this for years. We've prepared.""Prepared for what? Suicide?" My voice rises with panic. "I won't do it. I won't run while you sacrifice yourselves.""You will," Mum says, her voice leaving no room f







