All Chapters of Marked by Gold and Ruin: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

(DARIUS’ POV) Farina screamed. I was already moving before the sound had fully left her mouth. "Get the healers!" "They're already here, Alpha!" Another scream tore through the corridor, followed by the frantic sound of footsteps behind closed doors. My hands curled into fists. "How long has she been in labor?" "Almost three hours." I looked at the doors again. Three hours of waiting—of hearing Farina cry out and being unable to do anything about it. I hated it; the helplessness, standing outside while other people worked to bring my child into the world. Most of all, I hated the uncertainty. Another scream came from inside. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin; he had been agitated since the labor began, and I didn't understand it. This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life: my heir was coming. After years of uncertainty, of wondering whether Ironridge would have a future through me, my son was finally being born. The thought should have settled m

(ELARA'S POV) The morning after the council meeting was surprisingly peaceful. No urgent messages, no disputes between packs, and no unexpected visitors. For once, Trueblood seemed content to let me breathe. I sat near the window in my room with Lucian asleep against my chest, one hand resting gently over his back. He had grown heavy enough for me to notice. A few weeks ago, I could hold him for hours without feeling anything in my arms, but now, after ten minutes, my shoulder was already beginning to ache. I smiled down at him. "You are getting spoiled." He slept through the accusation while I adjusted the blanket around him. Outside, the courtyard was already busy. Warriors crossed between buildings, servants carried baskets toward the kitchens, and several young wolves were being put through their morning training. Life had settled into a rhythm I had never known before. There was still work, and there were still problems, but there was peace too, and I had learned to appre

(ELARA’S POV) A few months had passed since I’d given birth to Lucian, and somehow, the days had begun to feel fuller than they ever had before. There was always something happening. A council meeting, a visiting Luna, a dispute between two packs or even a request that needed my attention. And, of course, there was Lucian who had recently discovered that he could make noises loud enough to summon an entire room and was determined to practice that skill whenever I was in the middle of something important. That morning was no different. I was sitting at the long council table when a faint cry came from the hallway outside. I paused. Several Lunas around the table smiled and one of them laughed softly. “He’s getting louder.” “I’ve noticed,” I said. A few women laughed. The Luna Council had grown steadily since its creation. More Lunas had joined, and more were beginning to attend meetings regularly. The room was rarely quiet anymore, which I preferred. There was s

(FARINA’S POV) The room fell silent the moment I entered, but I didn’t slow down. I had grown used to that reaction over the years, and unlike some people, I didn’t mistake silence for discomfort—silence meant obedience. The pack members rose as I approached the head of the table, their eyes dropping almost immediately when mine moved across them. “You can sit.” They obeyed, so I took my seat beside Darius and opened the report waiting in front of me. The meeting continued with a border complaint from one of the smaller territories and a request for additional guards along the northern road, among other administrative details. I listened while they spoke, occasionally interrupting when their explanations became too long, and every time I did, they stopped instantly. No one argued with me anymore, but it hadn’t always been like this. When I first became Luna, Ironridge had welcomed me with open arms. They had never truly wanted Elara, so seeing me take her place had felt like

(RONAN’S POV) The first thing I heard that morning was Luke laughing. His laughter carried across the training yard, bright and carefree, and I found myself smiling before I even looked up from the report in my hands. “Father!” I barely had time to set the parchment aside before he came running toward me and I crouched just as he reached me, catching him around the waist and lifting him into my arms. “There you are.” “You forgot.” I raised an eyebrow. “Forgot what?” “You were supposed to watch me train.” I glanced toward the practice field. “I’m here now.” “You came late.” “I did.” He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly deciding whether I deserved forgiveness. That made me smile. “Okay. I’ll only stay for five minutes.” “Twenty.” “Ten.” “Twenty.” “You drive a hard bargain.” He grinned, clearly proud of himself. I lowered him to the ground and held out my hand. “Come on, then. Show me what you learned,” I said. He immediately grabbed my hand and