CHAPTER 70

AUSTINI was only half awake as I sat in the meeting room and listened to the morning report. Edgar was informing me about the investigation being conducted about the attempted kidnapping that'd taken place in the market, and the councilor's dark eyes were glum as he spoke."We checked the identity of the kidnapper, Your Majesty," he said. "They didn't live in Ravenspire, nor did they seem to be residents of Valcrest at all."My brow shot up immediately. "Do you think they were foreigners?"Edgar nodded. "I believe so, Your Majesty. But without officially issued certification, no foreigners would have been able to pass the territory line of Valcrest."I frowned.This was all very strange."Did the soldiers stationed there fail their duties?" I wondered as frustration rose within me. "How could a foreigner enter the territory without anyone knowing?"Edgar hesitated for a moment."Perhaps," he began. "There's another possibility. I find it a little coincidental that the king of Kestrav

Last Updated : 2026-11-03

CHAPTER 71

AUSTINMy brow raised instinctively as I stared at Reginald Moses in surprise.Had he really just suggested something like that? Now, of all times?"Why?" I asked, and I raised my chin slightly. This suggestion reeked of suspicion, and I was going to get to the bottom of it."Your Majesty, it's been five years since the death of our former king," he explained evenly. "I understand that you're still in a state of mourning, as anyone in your position would be. But I firmly believe that the Moonfall Pack needs a Luna, someone who could raise the morale of both this Pack and all of Valcrest for that matter. It's been five years since your wedding. I believe this is the right time to declare her your mate."I opened my mouth to protest this fact, but I knew it would get me nowhere. Vanessa may have been my wife, but she wasn't my mate. Elena had been my mate and no one would ever replace that, no matter how much Reginald Moses wanted to change that fact.I had to admit that I'd underestima

Last Updated : 2026-11-04

CHAPTER 72

SELINEOnce Roman left my chambers, I crawled back into bed and stared up at the ceiling. My fever was lessening by the moment, but I was feeling all sorts of awful, not to mention downright tired.The king of Kestraven had given me an emotionally charged speech, but I couldn't help but ponder the authenticity of his words. Roman had always been kind to me and didn't have any reason to lie to my face, but I knew better than to accept someone's statements blindly.Despite his explanation, I didn't understand why he wanted me specifically to help treat his ailing father. Any number of the healers in Ravenspire were more talented than I was, and even with the knowledge that Caleb had been the one to gift them medicine, it wasn't as if my late husband had left me with notes. I had no idea what he'd used to treat the king and there was no guarantee that I could figure it out.Yet, once again, why would he lie about something so serious?I couldn't help but think about what going to Kestrav

Last Updated : 2026-11-05

CHAPTER 73

SELINEAustin's gray eyes darkened instantly and his nostrils flared."Absolutely not," he growled. "No, Seline. We'll find another resolution. There's no way I will allow you to set foot in the viper pit.""Your Majesty, we're running out of time," I insisted. "We need to find out what's going on down there.""I need you here to treat the guards," Austin said, but I shook my head."Hannah is here and she's more than capable of handling it while I'm gone," I pressed.The Alpha King ran a hand through his dark hair and shook his head."There has to be someone else," he murmured. "Anyone else.""There's not," I said firmly. "You heard your men. Every guard you have at your disposal is too strong and large to make it down that corridor. I'm not. If the size he indicated is accurate, I should have no issue making it down there. Besides, I'm the best choice anyway. I know the vipers well. I've been studying them for years and I know how to protect myself."Austin shook his head again. "Sel

Last Updated : 2026-11-06

CHAPTER 74

SELINEMy heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the bottle. My hands began to shake so hard that for a moment, I nearly slipped and dropped the container on the ground.Were all of these bottles full of poison?Did someone raise these vipers here?Everything was so strange and confusing and my mind began to drown in the possibilities.Just as I started to steady myself, I heard something move behind me. I started to turn around, but I was shoved forward before I could. A cry rose up from my chest, and when I whipped around, a tall, dark figure stood behind me.The light down here was too dim to make out his features, and even if I could, he was moving far too quickly for me to recognize him.The man lunged at me, and suddenly, my mask was knocked off and crashed to the floor. As it broke into pieces, the smell of the basement hit me in full force. I plugged my nostrils as I tried to put some distance between my assailant and me, but it was too late. The scent of the anesthetics was

Last Updated : 2026-11-07

CHAPTER 75

VANESSAFather didn't look well when he returned home. His cheeks were red and his eyes were frantic as they darted around. As his hands twitched at his sides, I realized that wherever he'd come from, he was in a terrible mood.Whenever he was angry or agitated, his hand twitched, along with his right eye. As he paced around the room, I saw his eye tick, and I knew that whatever had happened, it wasn't good."What happened, Father?" I asked as I timidly approached."You're an idiot and a fool, Vanessa!" Father shouted as his nostrils flared. His sudden outburst startled me and I took a step back."What do you-" I started to say, but before the words could leave my mouth, Mother appeared and swooped in between us."Reginald, dear, what's going on?" Mother said gently, and she rubbed Father's shoulder. As she tried to soothe him, I took the opportunity to create some distance between us.After the incident in the palace laboratory, I'd remained in the House of Moses. My parents had told

Last Updated : 2026-11-08