All Chapters of Wolf shifter romance with murder mystery: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The retaliation comes three months later, subtle and devastating.Connor's Cooperative Healthcare Initiative starts losing members. Facilities that were thriving suddenly face financial difficulties—equipment failures, supply chain disruptions, staff leaving for better-paying dragon-owned positions."It's not coincidental," Amara says, reviewing the pattern. "Every problem traces back to dragon-controlled suppliers or dragon-affiliated companies. They're sabotaging us.""Can we prove it?""Not legally. Everything looks like normal business—competitive offers for our staff, supply chain issues that could be explained by market forces. But the pattern is clear. Dragons are systematically undermining our alternative model."Connor wants to fight back. But how do you fight beings who control trillions in assets and play century-long games?He reaches out to Elena for help. "Dragons are destroying the cooperative model. We need Council intervention.""Based on what evidence? Aria's good at

Aria Chen's first month as Secretary-General tests everyone's faith in Elena's decision.The crisis begins on a Monday morning when Master Cassius of the New York vampire coven makes a very public declaration. He's old—over six hundred years—and commands respect across the vampire community. His words carry weight."We've existed for millennia," Cassius tells a gathered press conference, vampire representatives from a dozen courts standing behind him. "We've survived crusades, inquisitions, and Order purges. We don't bow to creatures who've been hiding in caves while we built civilizations."The insult is deliberate. Dragons emerged from hiding only three years ago. Vampires see them as newcomers, upstarts, unworthy of political authority.Aria's response is measured. She doesn't rage, doesn't threaten. She simply states facts."Master Cassius is certainly entitled to his opinion. The Council respects free speech and welcomes diverse perspectives. Integration thrives on honest dialogu

Hope stands at the edge of the ceremonial grounds, watching preparations for the Autumn Gathering with a knot of anxiety in her stomach. Three months since her collapse. Three months of learning to lead without her gift. Three months of feeling like she's pretending to be an alpha."The territory markers are secure," Marcus reports, clipboard in hand. "All visiting packs have confirmed arrival times. We're expecting seventeen alphas, their immediate families, and honor guards.""That's over two hundred wolves." Hope calculates quickly. "Housing arrangements?""Handled. The Bennett pack is in the east cabins, Nightshade in the west wing of the main house, smaller packs scattered throughout—""Wait." Hope holds up a hand. "Nightshade Pack? As in Dante Nightshade?"Marcus nods. "Alpha Dante confirmed three days ago. Is that a problem?"Is it a problem that my grandmother's ex-mate—the man who broke her heart five years ago—is coming to our territory for the first time since their separat

Elder Thorne circles Hope like a predator assessing prey. The six other Council members—Elders Blackwood, Ravencroft, Stoneheart, Ashford, Winterborn, and Nightwhisper—sit in a semicircle behind him, silent and judging."You're fourteen years old," Thorne begins. "You've been alpha for barely a year. You suffered a catastrophic psychic breakdown three months ago. And now, under your leadership, a demon summoning is being orchestrated on your territory.""The summoning isn't happening because of my leadership—""Isn't it?" Thorne's voice cuts like a whip. "A strong alpha maintains control of their territory. Prevents threats before they materialize. Your youth and inexperience have created a vulnerability that our enemies are exploiting."Hope forces herself to breathe slowly, to think before reacting. Thorne is baiting her, trying to provoke an emotional response that will prove his point about her immaturity."With respect, Elder Thorne, the first three murders occurred on neutral te

Hope stands over Alpha Ryker's body, fighting the urge to vomit.He was twenty-six years old. Battle-scarred and intense, according to his file. A warrior alpha who'd led his pack through three territory disputes and won them all.Now he's just another corpse with his throat torn out and his blood drained into another summoning circle."This one's different," Amara observes, kneeling beside the body. She's in full medical examiner mode—clinical, detached, professional. "The others were killed quickly, efficiently. This one fought back. See the defensive wounds on his forearms? The claw marks on the ground where he tried to crawl away?""He knew what was happening," Dante adds grimly. "The others were ambushed. This one saw his killer coming and still couldn't stop them.""How is that possible?" Connor demands. "Ryker was a combat specialist. One of the best fighters in the western territories. What kind of killer can overpower someone like that?""The kind enhanced by demonic power,"