Semua Bab Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Crown: Bab 191 - Bab 200

Ember Frost’s POVMost of them were still unconscious when I went around checking.My heart raced at first as I knelt beside each one, brushing the snow from their faces and listening for steady breaths. One by one, I realized the damage wasn’t as severe as it looked in the chaos.A few scratches, some dark bruises beneath the skin. Their energy was drained, yes, but the battle had worn down their minds more than their bodies. No broken bones. No fading heartbeats. They were simply exhausted.I finally let out the breath I had been holding. For werewolves, that was nothing a long, deep sleep couldn’t fix.Relief warmed my chest. If I hadn’t taken that risk earlier… I didn’t even want to picture how this night could have ended. The thought alone made my stomach churn.“Ember.”I turned at the sound of my name.Elder Anna was standing a few steps away, her usual firm posture softened. There was something different in her eyes now—less authority, more honesty.“You did something brave,”

Ember Frost’s PovAfter a long discussion the night before, we finally settled on a plan. At first light the next day, we would begin searching the mountains, spreading out to cover the area within about two miles of the ruins.On paper, it didn’t seem like much.But anyone who had spent time in these mountains knew better. The ground was buried beneath thick snow, broken by jagged rocks, fallen trees, and steep slopes that made every step a struggle. Even covering a few hundred meters could take hours. If someone ran into trouble—or found something strange—it could easily delay a whole team for the rest of the day.Still, it was the best lead we had.So we were divided into five teams, each with five members. Every group would move in a different direction, slowly combing through the terrain.Before we set out, the werewolf elders repeated the same ritual they had used before. One by one, they left a tiny glowing symbol on each of us. It wasn’t meant to hurt—it was more like a signal

Ember Frost’s POVAfter the trouble we ran into last time, no one wanted to take chances again. We came prepared. Some of the team carried small containers of thick tree sap, while others brought strips of cloth soaked in oil to help the flames catch faster. A few torches were packed along, and one of the archers carried a folding bow that could easily be opened when needed.No one said it out loud, but we all understood the reason. The forest we were walking into wasn’t normal. If things went wrong again, fire might be the only thing that could hold those strange plants back.The moment the signal came, everyone moved. No one needed instructions. A few members rushed forward and spread the sticky sap across the forest floor, rubbing it into the dry pine needles and tangled vines. Others tossed bundles of oil-soaked cloth between the trees.At the same time, the archers stepped up. They lit the tips of their arrows, waited until the flames burned steady, then pulled back their bows an

Ember Frost’s POVWith a werewolf’s sharp hearing, I was certain no one on the team could have missed Elder Marcus’s words—right?Yet, most of the seasoned members acted as if they hadn’t heard a thing. They focused on sorting their scattered gear, pretending Elder Marcus was mute and his voice didn’t exist.Marcus, slow to catch on, finally realized his mistake. He opened his mouth to speak, but a sharp glare from Elder Anna shut him down immediately.Elder Anna stepped toward me, but before she could say anything, I raised a hand. “It’s fine. Not the time to argue. Let’s head back first.”On our way, we ran into Elder Harriet’s group. With their help, we made quick work of the journey back to the hideout.Harriet looked exhausted; she clearly hadn’t slept all night. But the moment she saw that we had all returned safely, a visible sigh of relief escaped her lips. She carefully took Lilian from us. Lilian was still unconscious as Harriet joined the other two elders to examine her, bu

Ember Frost’s POVEventually the music began to slow. The laughter was still there, but the energy of the night was gently fading. One by one, the songs came to an end until the final dance finished and the small wedding celebration slowly settled down.The bride and groom stepped forward at the front of the crowd, smiling warmly as they thanked everyone for coming.Cheers and whistles rose from the crowd. Some people clapped loudly while others called out playful blessings. With the towering Stormsphire Mountains behind them, the couple looked at each other and shared a soft kiss, shy but full of joy.Watching them, something stirred quietly inside me.It was hard to explain. I suddenly understood that what I had just witnessed wasn’t just a party or a gathering. It was the start of something big for two people. A promise. A life tied together.Marriage.I wasn’t part of their story. I was only a stranger who happened to wander into their celebration.And yet, standing there, watchin