The reminder feels like a blade slicing clean through my chest. Lila or not.I should be relieved. I should welcome the end of this torturous limbo. But all I feel is dread—an unbearable weight pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. “He’s my Beta,” I say, though the words sound hollow e
(Raiden’s POV) My thoughts are a storm I can’t escape.I spent years convinced I didn’t love her, that I never could—but what if that was a lie?What if I had merely built walls so high, so impenetrable, that even I couldn’t see the truth buried beneath them? Restless, I pace my quarters, replay
Siena folds her arms across her chest, waiting. I don’t know where to start. You’re my mate. I don’t want to lose you. I never stopped loving you—I was just too much of a coward to admit it. Instead, I blurt out, “I’ve been thinking about our marriage.” Siena tenses immediately. I see
(Siena’s POV) This game he plays—it is treacherous.The sudden interest in discussing our marriage leaves me wary, my instincts screaming that this is another maneuver—another calculated effort to unsettle me. I know better than to trust his intentions, especially now, with everything hanging in t
Her words should bring comfort, but my mind is elsewhere. “Raiden spoke to me today.” The confession slips out before I can stop it. Rairity raises an eyebrow. “About?” “Our marriage.” The words taste bitter in my mouth. Rairity expression darkens. “What does he want now?” “I don’t know.
(Raiden’s POV) The final day of the competition arrives with an air of anticipation so thick it feels like a living thing.The great hall is packed, the tension in the air palpable as the council prepares to announce the final standings. Both Silverfang and Windhowl have fought fiercely, their per
Fated mate bond? Horace’s reaction is instantaneous—violent rejection. A snarl bubbles up, barely contained beneath the surface. She’s lying. But the damage is already done. The crowd murmurs, questions flying as eyes dart between me, Lila, and Siena. And then— Lila pulls out photographs
(Siena’s POV) The celebration hums around me, the energy electric, the room alive with laughter and congratulations.For the first time in years, I feel a fragile sense of happiness, a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this night marks the turning point I’ve longed for.Windhowl has proven i
“Your legacy here remains strong,” comes a quiet voice beside me. I stiffen, my wolf immediately perking up at the familiar scent of pine and midnight. He’s so silent in his approach that I didn’t hear him coming, but now he stands beside me, his presence as steady and unyielding as ever. I gla
(Siena’s POV) Raiden’s eyes haunt me long after I walk away.The heat of his jealousy, the raw edge of his questions about Alaric—it clings to me like smoke, unwelcome and suffocating.My wolf, traitorous as always, stirs with restless energy, but I shove her back into the recesses of my mind. She
"We’ve rerouted delegates through alternate paths. Escorts from neutral territories will accompany them. No region should feel exposed or compromised."I watched the way her amber eyes scanned the room—not once landing on me. Every answer was precise, measured. She hadn’t lost her edge."Excellent.
(Raiden’s POV)I recognize this mask, this careful distance, all too well.It mirrors the very treatment I once inflicted upon her, unaware or uncaring of its cruelty.The irony burns me, bitter and undeniable, twisting painfully through my chest as she deflects each of my subtle attempts to shift t
“Alpha King Raiden,” I greet him formally, my tone smooth and diplomatic. “I understand the SOA preparations are proceeding well. Congratulations on your foundation’s success.” The words are deliberate, calculated to keep the conversation professional. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing h
(Siena’s POV) The scent hits me before I see him—pine and midnight, sharp and familiar even amid the layered perfumes and alcohol that saturate the air in the bar. It slices through the laughter and music like a blade, striking a part of me I’ve tried so hard to bury.My wolf stirs immediately, he
This is the light I dimmed with my reckless rejection. But what twists the knife even further is the man sitting next to her. He’s tall and broad-shouldered, with the kind of effortless charm that draws people in. His accent, when he speaks, is undeniably European, and his hand rests casually on
(Raiden’s POV) The news hits me harder than I expect. Eighteen months. It’s been eighteen months since Siena walked out of my life, her head held high, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes.Eighteen months since she severed the bond between us with those ancient words, leaving me to dr
Unease coils through me, a flush rising to my cheeks. I never wanted praise for doing what was right. I simply wanted my pack to thrive.Rairity continues softly, admiration clear in her tone. “Marcus announced it openly today. Raiden was there.” Her eyes glint with satisfaction. “He looked stunned,