ログインFantineThe heavy rain was slashing through the trees as I dragged Riley's massive, failing body down the wooden steps of the outpost cabin, my own breath coming in ragged gasps while the blood from my shoulder soaked through the torn red silk of my dress, but I couldn't stop to rest because the black lines of the silver poison were already crawling up his neck like dark spiderwebs and his eyelids were fluttering wildly as he tried to stay conscious in my arms.I managed to heave him into the open bed of his tactical truck, his heavy boots slamming against the metal tailgate with a dull thud that made him groan out loud, and I didn't waste a single second checking on the northern scout or the dead mercenaries inside because the low rumble of approaching engines in the deep woods told me that Vance's main hunting party was less than two miles away from our position."Riley, look at me right now and do not close your eyes because if you drift off into that fever, your wolf is going to s
RileyThe burning pain in my shoulder was getting worse by the second, but I kept my grip tight on the collar of the northern scout and dragged him through the heavy wooden door of the abandoned outpost cabin, shoving him hard against the floorboards where he collapsed into a heap near the cold stone fireplace. Fantine followed me inside immediately, her face pale under the dim light of the single battery lantern on the table, and she quickly threw the heavy iron deadbolt across the door frame before she sank into a wooden chair, her left hand coming up to press against her reopening shoulder wound where fresh blood was already staining the fabric of her red dress."You need to let me look at that graze on your arm, Riley, because the scent of your blood is changing rapidly, and that means the bolt that clipped you was coated in something much worse than standard steel," she said, her breathing shallow as she pulled a roll of clean gauze from her small clutch bag and began to wrap it
FantineThe freezing river water was lapping against my ankles as I stood among the silent bodies of the northern enforcers on the muddy bank, and the smell of burnt gunpowder was heavy in the night air while I bent down to examine the deep impressions left in the wet earth near the edge of the reeds. The heavy boot prints had a specific cross-hatched pattern on the heel that only my father’s elite scouts wore, and they led straight away from the burning bridge supports into the thickest part of the dark marsh where the willow trees grew dense and low over the black water."There is someone else watching us from the deeper brush further up the trail, Fantine, because my wolf can smell a strange mixture of gun oil and fresh tobacco coming from the high canopy," Riley said, stepping up beside me with his chest heaving as he wiped a streak of dark mud from his cheek, his golden eyes scanning the dark treeline with a restless intensity."It is a spotter, Riley, and if he has a high-powere
RileyThe mud was flying up from under the heavy tires of the tactical truck as I slammed my foot onto the gas pedal, and the dashboard radio was screaming with chaotic reports from the southern river border where the outer patrol towers were taking direct fire from Dante's vanguard crews. Fantine was sitting in the passenger seat beside me, her freshly bandaged palm gripping the handle above the door while she checked the magazine of her pistol, and the new bond between us was pulsing so strongly in my mind that I could feel her heightened focus and her lack of fear as if it were my own adrenaline pumping through my chest."Your father told you to leave me at the main house with the medical team, Riley, so you better be ready to handle his temper if we manage to survive this initial river crossing tonight," she said, her green eyes scanning the dark woods as the headlights bounced over the rough dirt path leading down to the water banks."My father isn't the one down here in the mud
FantineThe damp pine needles squished beneath my boots as I followed Riley down the narrow dirt path leading away from the chaotic lights of the grand hall, and the cool night air felt sharp against my face while the distant sound of the pack’s truck engines grew fainter behind the thick treeline. Riley was holding my uninjured hand with a tight grip, his palm warm and sweaty as his wolf pushed against his skin, and ahead of us in the small clearing stood the ancient stone altar where three spiritual elders dressed in dark wool coats were already waiting beside a roaring central flame."You don't have to step onto that stone platform if you aren't completely sure about this, Fantine, because once your blood touches that fire, there is no way to undo the magic and my father's council will hold you to this oath for the rest of your life," Riley whispered, stopping at the edge of the clearing and turning his body to block the elders' view of us for a brief second."I am completely sure,
RileyThe green fire from the burning note was still sizzling against the wood of the council table, and the sharp smell of sulfur was mixing with the scent of fresh blood dripping from the arrow feathers while my wolf roared right beneath my skin, demanding that I leap through the broken window frame to hunt down whoever had launched that projectile into our home. My father was already on his feet with his golden alpha eyes glowing bright in the dim room, and his hands were clenched into heavy fists as he looked at the shattered glass on the floorboards, his voice booming out over the shouts of the panicked elders who were trying to scramble away from the windows."Lock down every single gate on the perimeter right now, Jayden, and tell the frontline enforcers to drop the steel barriers across the main driveway because Dante just crossed the line by targeting this hall while my council is in session!" my father bellowed, his chest heaving with a deep rage while he pointed toward the
RileyI had never felt this exposed in my life.Not on the ice in front of thousands of people. Not in the locker room surrounded by teammates. Not even in front of my father when he tore me apart with words sharper than any blade.But with Fantine… it was different.Last night replayed in my head
FantineThe stadium the next day was louder than usual.Not just loud, alive.The kind of energy that vibrated through the air and into your bones the moment you stepped inside. The seats were packed, the crowd buzzing with anticipation, and the sound of skates cutting into ice echoed sharply even
FantineThe message from Mira came at dawn.Three words.Old place. Now.My stomach sank the moment I read it.Mira never called meetings unless it was important. Or dangerous. Or both.Ava stirred uneasily inside me.I don’t like this.“I don’t either,” I muttered under my breath as I slipped out
RileyI didn’t sleep.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the photo again. The notes. The cold, methodical breakdown of my life written neatly in the margins.Practice times. Class schedules. My routines. My injuries. My weaknesses.I’d stared at that piece of paper for hours after finding it, turni







