جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

The hosts, seasoned predators in the media wilderness, quickly caught the scent of blood beneath my carefully phrased story.Why would the High Alpha of an agency provide a "gift" to a mere shadow? And why would that shadow’s kin be "accidentally" gathered, forcing an investigation by the Enforcers? It was glaringly obvious: Sloane had been using the elder as a silver leash to choke my spirit. Having prowled the entertainment territory for years, the hosts had seen every foul trick in the book. By framing it as I did, I was delivering a public ultimatum: Sloane, release the elder now, or the entire pack will know you are a kidnapper.I had used the softest howl to force a surrender she couldn't refuse."Of course, those are just fascinating rumors," the host said, shifting gears with a professional smile. "Now that we’ve cleared the air, let’s move to the next scent. Ava, try to keep pace… after that heavy strike, are you ready for something lighter?""Whenever you call a question 'li

He held me with a crushing intensity. There was no need for grand declarations or whispered vows; that simple, heavy embrace spoke of a bond deeper than any spoken word.After a long silence, while I was still tucked into his side, he made a move to sit up. As he began to swing his legs off the bed, I reached out and pulled him back. Connor looked down at me, his gaze flickering with curiosity.In that moment, I felt like a pup clinging to its alpha, unwilling to let the warmth of the den fade.He reached over to flick on the bedside lamp, the amber glow illuminating the room as he gently traced the line of my spine. A faint, doting smile played on his lips. "Aren't you going to wash away the scent of the night?""I just want you to hold me," I murmured, burying my face back into the hollow of his neck. "I don't want to break the tether yet.""Weren't you the one who insisted I stay behind in New York?"I only wanted to spare him the exhaustion of the journey. And perhaps, I didn't wa

"Holden, have you completely lost your scent? Why was this strike authorized without my howl?""Because if we had waited another moon, Sloane, Ava would have ripped our throats out first. She is a master of the long game. The South Korean scouts caught her red-handed with that pup at the cathedral. Why hesitate when we can bury her now?""I don't like my enforcers making executive kills without my word. But... you aren't wrong. If H World stays silent while the territory tears her apart, there will be nothing left for her to crawl back to.""She won't recover this time. I have a whole cache of silver aimed at her heart. If she tries to fight the 'lust' narrative, I’ll release the next batch. No one is coming to save a she-wolf who betrays her own pack's image.""I knew it. She acts like a lunar goddess on the runway, but she's just a stray looking for heat.""Every time she leaves the Blackwood territory, she vanishes from the agency's radar. She isn't in the hotel? She's definitely i

"Who is this goddess of the North?""Look at those legs... they should be declared a national treasure. No wolf has ever moved with such grace!""Is that a lunar spirit in the flesh? I’ve never seen anything so lethal and beautiful at the same time."I didn't let the murmurs distract me. The moment my boots hit the stone of the cathedral, I wasn't just Ava Hart anymore. I was the apex predator of the runway. Every step was a declaration of war, every glance a claim on the territory. I wasn't just wearing the clothes; I was the soul of the Blackwood theme.The cathedral didn't just applaud; it erupted. The international crowd was on their feet, howling their approval.The disaster Connor and Zephaniah had feared never materialized. Gaby didn't trip me. In fact, he was the one struggling to keep his footing, his movements stiff and desperate.For a heartbeat, my eyes found Connor in the shadows. We didn't need words. His gaze told me he would never let me face the pack alone, and if I f

The rhythmic click of the camera shutters felt like the snapping of teeth. Zephaniah stood before the pack of reporters, his expression a mask of unnatural calm. A sharp, lethal smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.The last time he had faced a gathering this large was during the lunar cycle when Sabrina had been named the global face of the VL brand. Today, however, he wasn't here as a handler; he was here to undergo a shedding of skin. He was here to be reborn.The clock struck 3:20 PM.The scent of anticipation in the hall was thick enough to choke on. The Vale Media enforcers at the doors struggled to maintain a perimeter as the press was granted fifteen minutes to hunt for the truth.Sloane Pierce stepped onto the podium, her eyes scanning the room with cold authority. "Members of the media, thank you for answering the call. Regarding the viral stains on H World’s reputation, we are providing a full account today.""Our agency has reached its standing through blood and merit.