Siena turns slowly, her movements deliberate, her expression carefully blank. But her eyes—they burn with something fierce, something raw, and it unsettles me in ways I don’t want to admit."What did I do?" she echoes, her voice quiet but sharp, like the edge of a blade. "Are you even going to ask w
Siena’s POVThe competition hall smells like sweat, metal, and a faint trace of pine drifting in from the open windows.It’s a chaotic symphony of sound: the clang of weapons being tested, the murmur of hushed strategies, and the occasional burst of laughter from cocky warriors who think they’ve alr
When she finally lowers it, the silence breaks into scattered applause. It’s not much, but it’s enough to remind the others that strength comes in many forms."Impressive," Lila says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "For someone her age, anyway."I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. E
Raiden’s POVThe arena falls silent as Windhowl’s pack steps forward. The sound of their boots hitting the stone floor echoes in the stillness, each step deliberate and steady.The sunlight streams down from on high, glinting off medals pinned to their chests. But it’s not the medals that catch my a
The demonstration begins, and the crowd falls silent again. Windhowl’s pack moves as one, their fighting techniques unlike anything I’ve ever seen. They don’t rely on brute strength or speed.Instead, they use strategy, leveraging each other’s strengths to cover their weaknesses.An older warrior wi
Raiden’s POVMy seat feels colder beneath me, harder somehow, as the head judge’s voice echoes through the air."For innovative pack leadership and redefining strength—Windhowl!"The words ripple across the space like a crack of lightning.My eyes snap to Siena, almost instinctively, and I catch the
She doesn’t care about anyone but herself.Dismissing her efforts as another one of her power plays. I told myself she was pretending. That it was all for show. But now, staring at this projection, I feel something twist uncomfortably in my chest."She stole it," Lila whispers in my ear, her voice f
Siena’s POVThe air in the council chamber is thick with animosity.Whispers ripple through the gathered Alphas, their voices low but sharp, cutting through the silence like knives.I stand at the center, perfectly still, my head high and my shoulders squared, but inside, my wolf paces nervously. He
“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,