บททั้งหมดของ The Last Blackthorne Heir Returns: บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

I moved to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. The girl in the mirror looked different somehow, her eyes brighter, her cheeks flushed with colour, her lips slightly swollen from Brent's kiss. I barely recognised myself.A soft knock at the balcony door made me jump. I knew without looking that it would be Fin, the only brother I hadn't had a real conversation with today. The pattern was becoming clear: they were taking turns, each trying to convince me in their own way.For a moment, I considered ignoring him. But curiosity won out, and I moved to the glass door, sliding it open just enough to speak."I'm not in the mood for another heartfelt confession," I said by way of greeting.Fin's green eyes studied me with an intensity that made me shift uncomfortably. "Good. Because I'm not here to confess anything.""Then why are you here?"He held up what looked like an old leather-bound journal. "I found something you might want to see."Against my better judgment, I opened the d

"It's Alpha Maxwell," came the reply. "I need to speak with you. It's important."I wiped at my face, trying to erase the evidence of my tears. "Just a minute."After splashing cold water on my face in the bathroom, I opened the door to find not just Alpha Maxwell, but all four of his sons standing in the hallway. Their expressions were grim, and my stomach dropped with foreboding."What's happened?" I asked, immediately alert.Alpha Maxwell's face was taut with tension. "The Northern Alliance representatives have requested a meeting with you. Tonight.""Tonight?" My voice sounded thin even to my own ears. "But the ceremony isn't until tomorrow.""They claim they wish to pay their respects to the last Blackthorne heir," Brent said, his tone making it clear exactly what he thought of that excuse."It's a trap," Kane added quietly.I looked between their faces, seeing how scared the four of them were. Their faces began to make me shake, with my own fears. This was it they had come for me

"It destroys their case," Liam said firmly, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. "They can't force you into marriage with one of their heirs when you're already bonded to four Alphas.""Plus," Fin added with a wicked grin, "the scent of four Maxwell males is going to be all over you. Even if they somehow missed the marks, they'll smell our claim the moment you walk into the room."I felt heat rise in my cheeks at the thought. "Is that... normal? The scent thing?""Completely normal," Brent assured me, though his eyes were dark with possessive satisfaction. "It's nature's way of warning other wolves that you're taken. Protected."I slid out of bed, my legs slightly unsteady as I made my way to the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror made me gasp, four distinct bite marks decorated my neck, each one swollen and tender but already beginning to heal. My lips were kiss-swollen, my hair mussed, and there was something different in my eyes. Confidence, maybe. Or purpose."I need to get ready," I

As if responding to her name, I felt another flutter of presence within me, a promise of power and partnership that made me stand straighter. Tomorrow night, Seraphina Blackthorne would truly be born. And this time, the Northern Alliance would learn what happened when they threatened a daughter of wolves.“In saying that, if your wolf is starting to wake up properly, someone is going to need a good meal,” Fin said, although his eyes said something else completely.I felt heat flood my cheeks at the look in Fin's eyes, and through our newly strengthened bond, I caught an echo of what he was thinking. My stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, betraying just how hungry I actually was."Food first," I said firmly, though my voice came out breathier than I intended. "I can barely think straight, let alone deal with whatever else you're suggesting."Kane chuckled, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "She's right. The awakening process requires a significant amount of energy. You nee

"Most likely." His grey eyes were grim. "Which means we need to be even more strategic about our own preparations."We moved back into the main sitting room, where maps and documents had been spread across the coffee table. I recognised the layout of the pack's ceremonial grounds, a natural amphitheatre in the woods behind the main house."The ceremony traditionally takes place here," Alpha Maxwell pointed to the centre of the clearing. "You'll be presented to the pack, then undergo your first shift under the full moon."I studied the map, Diamond's voice whispering observations in my mind about sight lines and escape routes. Her tactical awareness was startling; apparently, Alpha bloodline wolves came with built-in strategic instincts."Where will the Northern Alliance representatives be positioned?" I asked."Here, in the place of honour." He indicated a raised section of natural stone seating. "Close enough to witness the ceremony, far enough away that they shouldn't be able to inte