บททั้งหมดของ The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate : บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Damon tripled the guards around the nursery the morning after we saw the raven, with warriors rotating every four hours and strict orders to kill anyone suspicious on sight without asking questions first.The pack noticed immediately and paranoia spread like poison through our territory as everyone wondered who might betray us for Council favor or gold or the promise of safety when the assessors came. I watched wolves who'd fought beside us now eyeing each other with suspicion, bonds of trust fracturing under the weight of fear.Baby Kai didn't understand why his world had suddenly filled with armed guards and hushed conversations that stopped when his cradle passed, but I saw how pack members looked at him now with fear rather than joy, seeing not an innocent child but a threat to their survival.The prophecy hung over us like an executioner's blade and everyone knew it would fall eventually."They're afraid of him," I told Damon one evening after watching another wolf cross the cou

Marina's POVI moved baby Kai to a secret room in the deepest part of the compound that night, a chamber hidden behind a false wall in the old archives that only Damon and I knew existed because we'd discovered it during renovations months ago and kept it to ourselves for exactly this kind of emergency.Not even Vera knew where I was taking my son because trust had become a luxury I couldn't afford anymore, and every person who knew Kai's location was another potential leak to whoever was hunting him.The room was small and windowless with stone walls that blocked sound and a single oil lamp for light because I didn't want even the flicker of firelight to give away our position. I fed Kai in complete silence, hyper-aware of every sound beyond the walls and every shadow that danced in the lamplight, changing his soiled clothes without making a noise and rocking him to sleep while my heart hammered against my ribs.The isolation was suffocating like being buried alive, and I found mysel

Marina's POVWe followed the footprints north into abandoned territory where Silvercrest refugees had supposedly died fleeing the massacre eight years ago, but the tracks remained clear and deliberate as if whoever made them wanted to be followed despite the danger.The forest grew darker and colder as we climbed higher into the mountains, with ancient trees blocking out the sun and the air thinning until each breath burned in my lungs. I felt the ancient Silvercrest magic still lingering in these woods like ghosts of my childhood, familiar and comforting despite the circumstances.Damon kept his hand on his weapon while scanning the shadows for threats, his warrior instincts on high alert in this unfamiliar territory. "This feels wrong, we're being led somewhere specific.""I know but we're too far in to turn back now.""We can always turn back, Marina, that's always an option."But it wasn't an option for me because answers about my mother waited somewhere ahead, and I couldn't aban

Marina's POVI wanted to rush to the Council immediately and help my mother, but the Silvercrest survivors surrounded me with desperate eyes begging me to stay because they needed their princess and needed hope that their pack could be rebuilt after eight years of hiding and fear."You're our future," Maya said quietly, her weathered hands gripping mine. "Your mother fought to keep us alive, but you represent what we're fighting for, the continuation of Silvercrest blood and tradition.""My mother is walking into a trap and you want me to stay here doing nothing while she dies?""I want you to be smart about this, rushing to the Council with no plan and no intelligence is exactly what Thaddeus would want because then he captures both Silvercrest heirs in one move."Damon agreed with Maya much to my frustration. "We should return home and fortify defenses rather than charging into Council territory where we'll be outnumbered and outmaneuvered by wolves who've spent centuries perfecting

Marina's POVVincent leaned against the cell wall watching guards chain me beside my mother, his casual demeanor making the betrayal somehow worse because he felt no shame or guilt about what he'd done."You're wondering why," he said conversationally. "Why help you get this far only to trap you at the end.""I'm wondering how you sleep at night knowing you're a coward and a traitor," I spat."Quite well actually, especially knowing I've been promised Damon's entire territory plus Silvercrest's old lands in exchange for delivering you and your mother to the Council." Vincent examined his fingernails like we were discussing the weather. "I've been a Council operative for years, placed strategically to monitor ambitious Alphas and eliminate threats before they grow too large.""You never wanted me as a mate.""Gods no, you're far too troublesome and headstrong, but I wanted you as a prisoner because the Council fears Silvercrest's return and fears your son's prophecy." He smiled. "Elimi