LOGINKAEL'S POVThe journey north took two grueling days.By the time the jagged silhouette of Silent Vale rose before us, the sun was already bleeding out behind the peaks, casting long, bruised shadows across the valley.I had prepared myself for ruins.What I hadn't prepared for was the suffocating silence.No birds calling in the canopy. No livestock grazing the line. No thin wisps of smoke curling from chimneys. Nothing. Just an abandoned ghost of a settlement, cradled between mountain walls like a forgotten grave.Gideon dismounted beside me, his horse shifting uneasily under the oppressive quiet. "This is it."I stared into the gloom, every instinct on high alert. "This place hasn't been inhabited in years.""Decades, according to the pack records."I stepped forward, my boots crushing dead brush. The old road was almost completely swallowed by wild, choking weeds. On either side, stone houses stood like hollowed-out skulls—roofs caved in, walls blackened by old fire.The
TANYA’S POVThe following morning, I stood by the tall arched window of my private chambers, my arms folded tightly across my chest as I watched the courtyard below.A frantic messenger burst into the room without knocking. "Your Highness!"I spun around, my silk skirts rustling against the floor, my eyes flaring with instant annoyance. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?""The High Alpha's personal guards... they've begun asking covert questions across the lower barracks," the messenger panted, trying to catch his breath.My entire posture went rigid. "Questions about what?""Old Everhart family records, My Lady."My fingers tightened around the heavy velvet curtain until my knuckles turned stark white. "What specific records?""We... we don't know yet, Your Highness. Gideon has locked down the central archives entirely."I stared at the messenger, my heart pounding a panicked rhythm against my ribs. "Find out immediately.""Yes, Your Highness!" He bowed hurriedly and
KAEL’S POVThe confidential report arrived just before midnight.I was still sitting in my dark study, staring aimlessly at a mountain of unread pack ledgers, when Gideon pushed open the door and placed the heavily sealed document directly onto my desk."You should read this alone, Kael," he said quietly.I looked up from the papers, my eyes burning from exhaustion. "That sounds exceptionally encouraging.""It isn't," Gideon replied, his tone heavy with warning.I broke the dark red wax seal and unrolled the thick parchment. The first page contained only three sparse lines written in dark, faded ink:EVERHART ARCHIVES — RESTRICTEDSUBJECT: LUCIEN EVERHARTSTATUS: MISSINGMy eyes narrowed into sharp slits.Lucien. Amara’s father.I turned to the next page and continued reading. The report was ancient—dusted with decades of neglect, compiled long before Amara had ever been brought as a scared, quiet child to the Blackridge pack territory. Most of the crucial information had b
AMARA’S POVI stared at Elena.Beside us, Queen Celeste didn't speak. She didn't stop her daughter, nor did she attempt to defend me. She simply sat back in her chair and watched the execution unfold.So I answered for myself."No," I said quietly.Elena's spiteful smile bloomed wider. "Finally. You admit it.""No," I repeated, taking a firm step toward her. "I don't think a prince should stand beside me because I am beautiful enough by your standards, or because I fit your narrow idea of nobility."Her smile faltered, her brows knotting together."I think he should stand beside me because he chooses to," I told her, my voice ringing clear through the room. "And if he ever decides he doesn't want me beside him?"I gave a casual, effortless shrug. "Then I will simply turn around and walk away."Elena scoffed, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "You'd really just let him go that easily?""I would rather lose a man than lose myself," I replied without a single second o
AMARA’S POVI knew something was deeply wrong the moment I stepped over the polished threshold of the private sitting room.Queen Celeste was already seated in a high-backed velvet armchair near the tall arched window, her posture immaculate, her expression entirely unreadable.Elena stood by the ornate marble fireplace, her arm resting casually on the mantelpiece as if she were waiting for an entertaining show to begin.Neither woman smiled. Neither offered a greeting.The heavy oak door clicked shut behind me, the sound echoing through the stiflingly quiet room.For a long, agonizing moment, nobody spoke.Then Elena let out a short, breathy laugh—a small, unpleasant sound that cut right through the silence."So you actually came," Elena remarked, her tone dripping with mock astonishment.I looked directly at her. "You asked me to.""I didn't.""No," I agreed calmly, shifting my gaze toward the window. "You didn't."I turned toward Celeste. "You did."Queen Celeste gest
ADRIAN’S POVWe sat together in the shade until the harsh afternoon sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and violet.Suddenly, I stood up, dusting the grass from my trousers. "Come on."Amara looked up at me, squinting against the light. "Where?""I want to show you something."She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Should I be deeply concerned?""Most likely."She immediately folded her arms. "Then I am remaining right here on this grass."I laughed, offering my hand down to her. "I'm joking. Come on, Princess.""You are terrible.""So you keep telling me."She stared at my extended hand. Then at my face. She hesitated for half a beat before placing her palm in mine. I wrapped my fingers around hers to help her up, but the moment she was steady on her feet, I relaxed my grip—not squeezing too tightly, not pulling her closer than she wanted to be. I simply turned and began walking alongside her.And somehow, that quiet, respectful restrain







