Raiden's POVThe heavy tension in the air presse[1] [2] s down on my chest, but I don’t show it. I sit at my desk, eyes scanning the papers in front of me, though my mind is elsewhere. The words on the page blur as I hear the steady rhythm of my beta’s voice, cutting through the quiet of my office.
This cold, calculating woman who would rather reach out to Zion than me. This woman who talks about divorce, as if it’s something that could ever be so simple. Her love for me… was it all just a façade?I thought back to that night, when she had seen Lila and me together. The rage in her eyes, the h
Zion's POVI stare down at the proposal in my hand, the paper now damp with my previous drink. The alcohol hasn’t clouded my mind enough to miss the significance of what’s written in front of me. I can’t believe it. This proposal—this plan—is… impressive.I’ve spent years writing her off. Siena. The
I look down at the new proposal I’ve been working on. This one’s different. This one feels like it’s truly mine. It’s a refined version of my first plan, more thorough, more realistic. It’s my chance to prove myself, not just to Zion, but to everyone. To Raiden, to my pack, to myself.I push my hair
Siena's POVWhen Raiden turns to speak to me, his face is impossibly close, too close. His breath is warm against my skin, and I feel the heat of his presence radiating from him. My heart stutters, skipping a beat, and then racing uncontrollably. There’s something about the way he moves, the way he
I notice, and for once, I feel like I’ve won something. I’ve never felt like I was competing for Raiden’s attention before, but now, in this moment, it feels like the tide is shifting. I’m no longer just the woman he tolerates. I’m more than that now.We leave the noble’s villa after some time, and
Sienna‘s POVI can’t stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth as I point out the contradictions in Lila’s statements. I’m not holding back. Not anymore. “You said one thing, and now you’re saying something completely different. Which one is it, Lila?” I meet her gaze, my voice steady and firm, a
My wolf growls in the back of my mind. “You almost hurt her, but she slapped you right back! Haha, now it’s your turn to be upset!”I grimace, trying to ignore him. “Shut up. What do I have to be upset about?”But I know something is different. I’ve seen Siena get angry before, but never like this.
“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,