Mag-log inLiliana changed course, following the familiar voice until she reached the drawing room.
She slipped behind a hallway table, low enough to stay hidden but close enough to catch every word inside, then eased the doorknob just enough to open a narrow gap she could peek through.Ferdinand was there.His presence was not something she had planned for. Across from him sat Zykos, looking far younger than his years, more like a teenager than a 22 year old Alpha candidate.Zykos’ gazThe night air on the balcony slowly cooled as the last of the music faded inside the Ancestral Hall.Liliana and Clementine eventually stepped back through the glass doors. Guests began to take their leave, offering final congratulations before departing into the mountain night. The grand space that had been filled with light and laughter gradually emptied until only family remained.Later, in the quiet of the guest wing, Liliana climbed into the large bed between her parents. The soft blankets still carried the faint scent of the evening’s flowers. She curled close to both of them, small hands resting against their sides.“I love you,” she whispered into the dim room. “Both of you. So much.”Shaina pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter’s hair. Matthias’s arm settled protectively around them both. The three of them, exhausted from the long celebration and the weight of everything that had come before it, fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.••••••••
The banquet was slowly winding down.Music still drifted from the hall, softer now, mixed with quiet laughter and the low clink of glasses. Most of the guests had moved into smaller groups, content to let the night settle. Liliana slipped away from the last of the well-wishers and stepped out onto the wide stone balcony that overlooked the mountains.The moment the glass doors closed behind her, the noise of the celebration faded into a distant murmur. Cool night air brushed against her skin, carrying the clean scent of pine and distant snow. A nearly full moon hung above the peaks, washing the stone railing in pale silver light. Below, the dark forest stretched endlessly, quiet and still under the weight of the mountains.Clementine followed a moment later. He closed the doors carefully, sealing the warmth of the hall behind them, and came to stand beside her. Close enough that their shoulders almost touched, but not quite.Liliana rested he
The Ancestral Hall of Winterchase had been transformed.Soft golden light spilled from crystal fixtures, catching on the ancient stone pillars and the long tables dressed in silver and white. Fresh flowers lined the walls, white blooms mixed with the rare Lunar bloom flowers that had been carefully arranged for the night. The air carried the quiet scent of pine from the surrounding mountains and the warmer fragrance of the feast waiting to be shared.Every allied pack had sent its leaders in person. They stood in formal attire, each one carrying the quiet weight of their position, yet tonight none of them looked untouchable. They waited with genuine smiles for the guest of honor.When Liliana appeared at the top of the stairs, the hall fell into a soft hush.She wore a silver dress that caught every light and seemed to glow from within. A delicate tiara, chosen by both Hannah and Shaina, rested in her dark hair. Tiny gemstones embedded in her
The funeral was held in private.Only those who had loved Andrea in life were allowed to stand beneath the dark canopy of trees as her remains were laid to rest. No outsiders. No formal announcements. Just the quiet grief of a pack that had finally been given the truth. Vladclaw closed its borders for a full week. Guards stood at every entrance. The territory itself seemed to hold its breath, giving the living space to mourn without interruption.When the week ended, Hibiscus returned to his duties.He carried the weight of what had been lost, but he no longer allowed it to keep him from the work of an Alpha. Decisions were made. Orders were given. The pack, still raw from the revelations, began the slow process of steadying itself under his command once more.Liliana and her parents left the same day.The private plane carried them back to Redborne territory under a gray morning sky. Little was said during the flight. Shaina held Liliana clos
Footsteps approached through the dark.Hibiscus lowered his head and slowly sank to the ground so Liliana could climb down safely. Mud and swamp water still clung to both of them. The heavy scent of wet earth and decay followed them like a second skin.Matthias and Shaina were the first to reach them. The moment they stepped out of the estate, their eyes found the small figure of their daughter and the Alpha beside her.“Liliana! You...you snuck out with Alpha Hibiscus? I told you we could do your plan in the morning. Why can’t you-”Matthias’s voice rose in a low, angry growl, but it was cut short by a sharp pinch from Shaina. The rare, hard look she gave him made him fall silent at once. She simply pointed.Matthias followed her gaze.His words died in his throat.Hibiscus carefully took the skeleton from Liliana's arms. The moment the weight left her, he dropped to his knees and pulled the remains tightly against his chest.People from the man
Hibiscus shifted into his massive brown wolf without a word. Fur rippled over muscle. Bones lengthened. His senses exploded open, every scent sharper, every sound clearer, the faint, broken pull of the mate bond suddenly louder in his chest. Liliana didn’t give him time to sink into the grief that threatened to swallow him whole. She knew delay would only make the search harder. She looked at him, voice quiet but unyielding. “I’ll only let you grieve properly when you have a body to grieve over. Until then, we keep moving.” Hibiscus lowered his heavy frame to the damp ground. Liliana climbed onto his broad back, small fingers curling deep into the thick fur at his shoulders. The two of them left the garden alone, swallowed by the night. Hibiscus forced his mind deeper into the shattered bond, searching for whatever fragile thread still connected him to Andrea. The effort sent sharp pain through his skull. His heart slammed unevenly against
Since Liliana was born, Shaina and Matthias had become very busy with pack duties and business. But they always made sure to set aside time for their family. They ate dinner together most nights. They read stories to Liliana before bed. And on quiet mornings, the three of them would walk in the
The weeks after their bonding turned into months of pure heat. Matthias and Shaina could not keep their hands off each other. Whenever Matthias finished his work early and came home to the mansion, Shaina would never leave their shared bedroom. She waited for him there, already wet and ready.The
For a week, the Redborne mansion buzzed with celebration. Shaina settled into her new life as Luna of the Redborne pack. Servants bowed when she passed. Her days filled with learning the layout of the grand house and planning small projects with the funds Matthias had given her.Matthias stayed bu
"Matthias, I accept the bond between us." Shaina stepped forward, helping the kneeling Redborne Lycan to his feet. Shaina was the sought-after Luna from the Silvershade Pack, home to the most dominant Omega bloodline. "Shaina, you will never regret choosing me," Matthias said, gripping her hands







