Sera's POVAlone in my room, I began drafting a letter to aunt Zara detailing King's ludicrous infatuation with the stray girl, and his shameful treatment of his rightful mate and Luna. Surely when aunty dearest heard how I was being scorned, she would intervene and force King to do his duty.But the childish urge to tattle to the elder felt hollow. I needed to handle this myself, prove to King and the pack I was more than some spoiled princess. "No. There ought to be another way."I found my feet carrying me to the clinic where Debbie had been resting after her...regrettable punishment. She looked surprised when I swept in imperiously, but masked it quickly."Did you need something else, my Luna?" she asked, lowering her eyes deferentially. I moved to her bedside, gently probing her injured wrist. "I've had a change of thought," I announced lightly. "While you recover, I will handle the little maid problem personally."Debbie's brow creased faintly, sensing the shift in my mood. "S

Dora's POVI was jolted awake by the blaring sound of the morning bell, signaling the start of another day of training. "Fuck, I hate Mondays." Groaning, I burrowed back under the blankets, every muscle stiff and sore. My wounds from the whipping may have healed over, but the memory still haunted me. Before I could slip back into sleep, Stella came bounding into my room. "Rise and shine!" she sang out, yanking open the curtains to flood the space with cheerful morning light. "We've got a fun session planned for you today."I cracked one eye open to glare at her balefully. "Fun? Yesterday I was tossed around like a rag doll. What fresh torture will they put me through now?"Stella laughed, unfazed by my sarcasm. "Oh hush, today will be better, I promise." She tossed some workout clothes at me. "Hurry and get dressed so we can grab a quick breakfast."With much grumbling, I dragged myself out of bed and pulled on the training uniform. My mood only soured further when we arrived at the

Dora's POV Relief left me lightheaded. We had made it through the deadly trial after all. I sank back into the moth-eaten cushions, exhaustion hitting me like a brick wall. Everything still ached from icy rain and over-exertion.Noticing my discomfort, King added more logs to the sputtering fireplace and set a dented kettle over the flames. "Let's get you warmed up now, little one."While the water heated, King searched the abandoned cabin's lone bedroom, returning with an armful of clothes. "These were left behind by whoever lived here last. They'll be big on you, but dry."He set a stack of faded flannels and a woolen sweater in my lap before tactfully turning his back. I changed hastily, my numb fingers fumbling with the unfamiliar buttons. The musty garments hung off my frame like tents, but felt blessedly dry and soft against my raw skin.I had just finished wrapping myself in a tattered quilt when King returned with a steaming mug. "Drink this, i

Dora's POV Eventually the hypnotic in and out of his breathing lulled me into dozing off still half seated on the mattress edge. I jolted awake some time later, disoriented to find myself slumped over with one arm pillowing my head. The cause of my startled awakening soon became apparent - raised voices filtered under the door from the adjoining study. I could make out King's distinctive baritone and an older man's sharper tenor tone. Their conversation sounded heated, though I could not decipher the exact words.I bit my lip anxiously, debating whether to creep closer to eavesdrop. But just then the pup stirred and whimpered beside me. All thoughts of the argument vanished as I turned my focus on comforting the distressed child. "Shh, you're safe now, little one, I promise," I soothed, smoothing the tangled red curls from his brow. Unfocused amber eyes blinked up at me dazedly before drifting closed again. Still, my voice and gentle pets seemed to calm him. His breaths evened out

Sera's POVI paced my bedroom agitatedly, mind churning through increasingly desperate schemes. But nothing tempered the helplessness churning in my gut. I had never been so utterly thwarted and powerless before. Each day cemented Dora's position and eroded my own standing in the pack. Much longer, and King might formally name her his mate and Luna, sealing my fate. "Why are you so worked up over King? He's not even our mate!" My wolf whined mournfully, sensing our mate in name only was lost to us forever. But I stubbornly silenced her weak pleas, refusing to relinquish this fight so easily. King belonged with me. "Once I rid him of the parasite clouding his mind, he would come to his senses. I only needed to act decisively."A timid knock interrupted my frenetic thoughts. One of the maid servants hovered in the doorway, dipping into a low bow. "A thousand apologies for disturbing you, my Luna. But your guest has arrived - a Miss Brittany Woods from the NightShade pack."I hurriedly