Mated at midnight
The guards didn’t speak, just bowed slightly before opening the reinforced obsidian gates.
Inside, the Tower had cathedral-like dark stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and a fire pit in the centre that never extinguished. The twelve seats of the Apex Circle circled the flame, each marked with the crest of its Alpha’s bloodline.
Caden Blackwell stood at the head, his silver eyes as cold as his power. “You’re late, Zane,” he said.
I shrugged off my coat. “I’m here. Let’s get started.”
The other eleven Alphas were already seated, some familiar allies, others snakes in polished armour. Tension was thick in the room. I took my place and nodded once to Caden.