Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

ZORENI give Cassie three hours. When the fourth hour passes without a sign of her, the low unease in my chest sharpens. Charging out of the office we were in hours ago, I find Nicole, one of the she-wolves who lives in the pack house.“Have you seen Cassie? Cassie Marlowe?” The new last name is like poison on my tongue. Nicole shakes her head, worry flickering across her face. “No. Not since this evening. I thought she was with you—”I don’t wait for Nicole to finish. I rush to the security post, call a four-wolf patrol team, and head straight for the eastern trails. The moment we cross into the older part of the forest, my wolf rises at that familiar scent. Cassie’s scent is faint at first. But it gets stronger with every step, layered with stress, adrenaline, and something much sharper.Blood.My pace quickens until the others are forced into a run to keep up. As we

ZORENA sensible person will make the most of his opportunity, but Mars sneers, his yellowed eyes locking onto mine with malicious glee. He thinks he knows the rules of the pack. He thinks he knows my boundaries. But he’s in for a shock. Still… Certain things don’t add up. If he already knows about Cassie and my title as future Alpha, then none of this is a coincidence. They can’t leave this place knowing how strong Cassie is. It’s a secret that belongs to our family. “What are you getting so worked up for, future Alpha? It’s not like we touched a mate. We heard the rumors.”I make a mental note of that information. There are so many packs and it’s impossible for the gossip not to float. But what does that have to do with them attacking her?“She’s just your new little sister, right?” he taunts. She’ll never be my sister. No matter how often Dad and Mom spell

CASSIEIt takes four weeks for the infirmary to allow me to leave, and that’s under firm conditions. No long walks. No lifting anything heavier than a water glass. Mara, the head healer is clear, and Zoren enforces every rule as if the pack’s survival depends on it. Aunt Pat insists I stay in my room for most of the week since even walking to the window leaves me short of breath. Elaris stays quiet and heavy inside me, recovering at the same slow pace.I’ve never been one to stay idle for long. So after two days of forced bedrest, I freshen up with plans to visit the pack house since the Marlowes refuse to let me do anything. But as soon as I open the door, Zoren blocks the doorway with his body and lifts one eyebrow. Did he camp outside my room? I didn’t ask about the outcome of the meeting with Liora, and he didn’t mention it. But now, I wonder…“Zoren. I—”“Rest means rest,” Zoren cuts in. True, but I try to step

CASSIEAustin’s call comes on a quiet Thursday afternoon while I’m on the back terrace with a half-finished book and the residual ache still humming in my legs. We haven’t spoken since the last time he was at the Marlowe’s. I guess we’ve returned to our normal lives as people from separate packs. “I’m in the city for the weekend,” he says. “Thought the rest of you might want a night that doesn’t smell like pine and duty. Neutral ground. A proper send-off before Zoren disappears to college. My treat. You can invite Emilia too.”I glance toward the main house. Zoren is somewhere inside finishing alliance paperwork. Katherine is in the study. The date on the kitchen calendar shows it’s four weeks until he leaves. Austin is right. We need that break. “Fine. I’ll ask,” I tell him. The call ends. I shut the book and slip inside to tell them about A

CASSIE My eighteenth birthday party is small on purpose. I had insisted on keeping it private, against Aunt Pat’s wishes for a bigger celebration, and she reluctantly agreed. It’s just me, Aunt Pat, Katherine, Austin, Emilia, and Uncle Hayden. No Zoren. No pack-wide celebration. No extra eyes. The sitting room has been cleared of the usual formal chairs and replaced with a low table holding a simple chocolate cake. Soft lights gleam from the walls, and the few balloons in the air makes the space feel both festive and fragile.As everyone talks, happy to be here, I glance at the door for the umpteenth time. But each time, it remains closed. Something tightens under my ribs. Zoren is at college, and he might have a real reason to be late, but he hasn’t been home in two years, so I don’t know what to expect. The last time I saw him was that night on his bed, when