ALPHA DARIO POV"He returns, the fox himself is back." Eli sounded excited to have me back to Thornridge, I had left him in charge when I left, which had been strange to everyone, even himself, considering the fact that he was my biggest adversary. "I see you Dario." "I see you Eli." I greeted, he had gathered every other council member and had them waiting for my arrival the moment a runner had arrived with the news. The ride from Lunaria has been hectic, it has taken all my persuasive skill to get Queen Aria to agree to my terms. She had woken up the next morning after we made love and changed her mind. She insisted that Thornridge was far from Lunaria and there would be no one to warm her bed but I was able to assuage her fears. She must have felt that out of sight would be out of mind for me and she was right. So she had me take new oaths that I dare not break. One of the oaths was to abdicate my throne and Thornridge would cease to be a sovereign country but a colony of Lunari

ISABEL POV The sequence of events that happened were so fast. How did we arrive at the fact that I was now being led to the dungeon again. My time in Wolfshade at best could be described as interestingly eventful.One moment I was making love to the love of my life, the next moment, the craziest allegation was leveled against me. I guess the most disappointing thing was that Alpha Xavier didn't not believe me, and even Valerian who usually would did not either. But in all sincerity, I couldn't really fault Alpha Xavier for not believing me. Listening to him outline the different occasions where my actions and inactions have been suggestive of an ulterior motive made my case thin and my attempts to defend myself improbable.The carriage stopped at the dungeon and one of the guards signed me over with some instructions that Alpha Xavier had given them. "I see you are back again?" I knew whose voice it was before I raised my head. "It's unfortunate that it's Alpha Xavier that has sent

ALPHA DARIO POV The whole Thornridgen council had rallied around my plan, with Lunaria already in my pockets, it was only Wolfshade that stood in the way of achieving my ultimate goal. Alpha Xavier would never be brought low and the methods that Queen Aria had suggested would not work. It should have worked if we were playing the long game, a gradual disintegration of Wolfshade. But I was tired of waiting. "Listen here, Queen Aria appointed me as head of this alliance because she believed in my vision and trusts in my judgment. We need to act now.""We need to take it easy, we may have the numbers but we should remember that this is Alpha Xavier and Wolfshade that we are talking about." Erik Wolfsbane said, the leader of Torek, he was a very strong werewolf. There was a rumor that he got his name from the fact that wolfsbane doesn't have any effects on him. "I believe you know where I stand when it comes to battles.""Is that fear I sense in your voice?" Sebastian mocked him and I u

ALPHA XAVIER POVI was deeply asleep when the sound of battle woke me up. "The hell!" I muttered as I opened the door of my bedchamber and found heavy fighting going on already. Where the hell did they come from?"Ace, sound the flaming alarm!" I cussed, we are not chickens that they would kill us in our sleep. I knew it could only be Dario that would have the guts to attack me, and that could only mean that he was able to get the numbers he wanted. Dario would never venture into battle except he was certain of victory."The wolf and the shade stands! The wolf and the shade stands!!" I yelled as I ran through the castle hall. Werewolves and men fought alongside, against other Werewolves and men. "The wolf and the shade stands!!" I yelled as I came to the hall. "Rally to me, the wolf and the shade stands!!" It was the battle cry of Wolfshade for more than two thousand years. It had been taught to every Wolfshadan children until their fifteen name day.When that battle cry is raised, th

ALPHA XAVIER POV Dinner with Alanna was splendid. I had her and her officials on one side of the long dining table, and a few of my top officials on the other side. The musician Isabel had hired on the day night before she was accused of selling important information was playing background music as conversations swirled around.I found myself captivated by Alanna and wanted to spend every moment in her presence. Soon, Alaric suggested a dance with one of Alanna's officers, who looked more handsome than beautiful. And with that began an evening of fun and happiness. The music soon changed to an allegro vivace and everyone was dancing, including Alanna and I.By the time we retired for the evening, I was certain that I loved Alanna and would want her as a mate but my wolf refused. The next few days were suspense-filled and eventful. I was anxious like a teenage boy who is in love, but unsure how to tell the girl of his truest and deepest desires."Alpha Xavier, do you have a moment?" A