CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE UNCONSCIOUS MATE

RONAN'S POV"LEILA!"My howl tore through the forest, desperate and furious. Hours of searching. Hours of following trails that went nowhere, scenting the air for any trace of her.Nothing.She was gone. Vanished like smoke.And it was tearing me apart.I shifted back to human form in a clearing, my body trembling with exhaustion and rage. We'd been running for six hours straight, pushing ourselves beyond normal endurance.Still nothing."Ronan." Maddox appeared beside me, also shifting back. His eyes were wild, his control hanging by a thread. "We need to regroup. Figure out our next move.""Our next move is finding her!" I spun on him. "We don't stop. We don't rest. Not until…""Not until what?" Alec emerged from the trees, his expression carved from stone. "We've searched every inch of pack territory twice over. The trail is cold. Whoever took her knew how to hide his tracks.""Then we search again!" I was shaking now, the incomplete bond pulling at my chest like fishhooks. "We kee

Last Updated : 2025-12-18

CHAPTER TWELVE: THE MISSING MATE

MADDOX'S POVOne hour later, we stood at the edge of pack territory, bags packed, weapons ready.No one had tried to stop us. The pack guards had seen us leaving and looked the other way, whether out of sympathy or indifference, I couldn't tell.Diana had found us before we left. She'd pressed a small bag into my hands, her eyes red from crying."Leila's things," she'd whispered. "Something with her scent. To help you track her.""We'll bring her home," I'd promised."I know." She'd smiled, broken but hopeful. "You're her mates. Nothing can stop you. Not even death."Now, standing at the border, reality was setting in.We were leaving pack protection. Going into unknown territory to face an unknown enemy. Three wolves against the world."Last chance to back out," I said to my brothers.Ronan snorted. "Not happening.""Agreed," Alec said. "We're all in. No matter what."I nodded, feeling the bond between us pulse with determination."Then let's go find our girl."We shifted and ran int

Last Updated : 2025-12-18

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE ENEMY'S ALLY

ALEC'S POVThe journey to Riverbend territory took us through some of the most treacherous terrain I'd ever crossed. Dense forests gave way to rocky cliffs, then to marshlands that reeked of decay and death. Perfect defensive geography for a pack that wanted to remain isolated.Perfect for an Alpha who had enemies.We stopped at the border as the sun climbed higher, the heat already oppressive despite the early hour. A line of scent markers made it clear we were entering claimed territory, and unwelcome guests would be dealt with harshly."How do we do this?" Maddox asked, staring at the invisible boundary. "Just walk in and hope they don't tear us apart?""We announce ourselves properly," I said. "Request an audience. Show respect even if we don't feel it.""Respect for an Alpha who might be as bad as the one holding Leila?" Ronan's voice was tight with barely controlled rage."Respect for survival." I pulled out a white cloth from my pack, the universal signal of peaceful intent. "W

Last Updated : 2025-12-19

CHAPTER 14: THE ENEMIES ARE AROUND

ALEC'S POVSomething in his tone made my skin crawl."We want her back," Maddox said. "And we heard you might know a way into Shadowpine. A way to get close to Corvus.""Oh, I know several ways." Garrett moved to a cabinet and poured himself a drink. He didn't offer us any. "The question is, why would I help you? What do I gain from three young wolves foolish enough to challenge an Alpha ten times their age and power?""A chance to hurt Corvus," I said. "A chance to take something from him the way he's taken from you.""He hasn't taken anything from me.""The Shadowstone. We heard about the dispute. He has something you want."Garrett's expression darkened. "The Shadowstone is mine by right. Stolen by his father during the border wars. But that's old business. Ancient history that doesn't concern you.""Then why did you bring Council members to his territory?" Ronan challenged. "Why the formal complaint if you don't care?"Garrett studied us for a long moment. Then he laughed—a cold,

Last Updated : 2025-12-19

CHAPTER 15: THE ALPHA'S IN TROUBLE

ALEC'S POV"What?""An oath. A blood oath that when Corvus falls, you'll support my claim to Shadowpine territory. That you'll testify to the Council that his death was justified. That he'd become unstable, dangerous, a threat to all packs.""You want us to help you take his territory," I said flatly."I want you to help me take what should have been mine decades ago." Garrett's eyes blazed. "Corvus's father stole from my pack. Killed my grandfather. Built his empire on blood and treachery. It's time for justice. Time for the Shadowpine pack to have a real Alpha. One who understands purity. Strength. Proper pack hierarchy."Everything about this felt wrong. Garrett was using us. Using our desperation to advance his own agenda.But what choice did we have?Without his help, we had no way to get close to Leila. No way to rescue her from Corvus."We need to discuss this," I said carefully. "Privately.""Of course." Garrett waved his hand dismissively. "Take all the time you need. But kno

Last Updated : 2025-12-26

CHAPTER 16: THE ALPHA'S PLAN

RONAN'S POVThree days. That's how long Garrett said it would take for his spies to position themselves properly. Three days to spread the right rumors, plant the right seeds of doubt.Three days while Leila was trapped with Corvus.Every hour felt like torture.We'd been given quarters in Garrett's fortress—rooms that felt more like prison cells than guest accommodations. Guards watched our every move. We weren't prisoners, exactly, but we weren't free either."I hate this," Maddox growled, pacing our shared room. "Sitting here doing nothing while she's out there.""We're not doing nothing," Alec said from his position by the window. "We're gathering intelligence. Learning about Shadowpine's defenses. Preparing for the extraction.""We're waiting," I corrected. "While Garrett's spies do the real work.""Because we don't have a choice." Alec's voice was tight with frustration. "We can't infiltrate Shadowpine ourselves. We're too recognizable. Too connected to Leila. The moment we cros