LOGINRavenThe house was quieter than usual, the kind of quiet that made every small sound feel very loud and obvious. The faint ticking of the wall clock, the soft hum of the heater, Aella flipping through a children’s book on the couch while the twins leaned against her… everything sounded too sharp. Too too obvious. I sat at the edge of the dining table, elbows on my knees, hands clasped so tightly my knuckles had gone pale. I tried to steady my breathing, but it kept slipping, breaking, fluttering in my chest like a bird desperate to get out.Logan had been gone for hours.He said he’d check in.He said he’d be quick.He said he’d come back the very same way he left. But every minute that passed felt like another invisible fist pushing down on my lungs.Aella lifted her head. “You’re going to chew through your lip if you keep doing that.”I blinked. I hadn’t even realized I was biting it.“I’m I’m fine,” I murmured.“No. You’re not.”I didn’t respond. I didn’t have the energy for a li
LOGAN’S POVNight was drawing close as we rode deeper into Moonfyre territory.The air was cold, colder than it should’ve been for autumn, and every breath left a faint white cloud in front of me.But even the icy wind couldn’t numb the heaviness lodged in my chest.I kept hearing Raven’s voice, raw, broken, furious.“This is all your fault, Logan!”I inhaled slowly, letting the ache settle in deeper. Raymond rode beside me, silent as always, though I caught him glancing my way more than once. Probably checking if I was going to break apart before we reached Seraphine’s home.I wouldn’t. I didn’t have that privilege.“Alpha,” Raymond finally murmured, adjusting the cloak around his shoulders. “We’re close.”I nodded once. “I know.”The scent of ash was faint but unmistakable. The wind carried it straight to us, threading through the cold air like smoke trailing from an extinguished candle.My jaw flexed.Seraphine hadn’t deserved to die alone here. Not like this. And Raven… Raven dese
RAVEN'S POV"Raven? Are you awake?”A knock followed Aella's voice from the door, and I cupped a hand over the flickering flame of my candle, to steady it, as I answered, “yes, come in.”I furrowed my brows as I shot a worried glance at the connecting door, the room had been quiet for so long that even the smallest sound felt like a shatter, and I didn't want Aurora or Reed to awaken.I dragged my sleeve across my face, smearing away tears that had already dried and cracked on my cheeks as the door creaked open.Aella stepped in, still in her tunic, her hair half undone like she hadn’t slept either. She gave me a warm smile as she made forward and sat down beside me on the bed.“Why aren't you asleep?” She asked and I shrugged, shoving down the knot in my throat.“I was, I just woke up…before you knocked.”Aella nodded, then placed a warm, gentle hand on my arm. “I came to take the children,” she said quietly. “So you can get a well deserved rest tonight.”I tried to smile, but it di
AELLA'S POV The heavens began to pour.It came soft at first, tapping the glass like a whisper, but then it gathered strength, drumming against the panes until the sound filled every corner of my chamber.The sound was almost comforting, and perhaps it would've if only the gloominess of the weather didn't match mine.I sat curled on the edge of my bed, elbows propped on top of my knees, and my chin resting on my palms. My cloak lay abandoned on the chair, a heap of dark wool that smelled faintly of sweat and the damp hallways I’d walked through earlier. I hadn’t bothered to change out of my boots either even as it left slight dirt marks on the floor.I'd just have to clean up later.The hearth was unlit. I couldn’t bring myself to light it. The shadows suited my mood too and that of the whole castle since Raven got the news of her aunt's demise.Seraphine, I'd known the woman well, well enough to understand that she loved her family, her children and her nieces, yes, even Lila.Now
RAVEN’S POVThe world went quiet when I finished reading my aunt's letter.The scrawled words, strong, elegant, despite what they conveyed, stared back at me. The ink smudged in places as if she’d written it in haste, or in pain. “If you’re reading this, then I’m already gone from this world.”I found myself muttering the last words under my breath as my chest began to constrict and tighten painfully.I didn’t realize I’d dropped the paper until it fluttered onto the floor, landing near my feet like a fallen leaf. I placed a shaky hand to my throat as I tried to control my splintering resolve, trying to convince myself that maybe the letter was all wrong. Maybe I’d read it all wrong This was a lingering thought, but I knew the truth.My throat cinched. For a long moment, I just stood there, staring down at the letter, trying to breathe through the hollowness yawning in my chest.“Aunt Seraphine's dead…” I whispered.Then a loud scream of sorrow and acceptance, split through me, wit
LOGAN'S POV Agamemnon arrived at the pack with the dawn, breezing into the meeting hall with an air of practiced importance. And for once, he didn't look like the gods had dragged him directly out of his bed and shoved him towards my pack.He swept into the war room with all the grace of a wolf who knew age and loss hadn’t dimmed his authority one bit, the tail of his fur cloak dragging on the stone floor behind him.The old alpha took one look at me and barked out a laugh.“Well, if it isn’t the young Alpha who refuses to die.”I grinned, standing to clasp his forearm. “And if it isn’t the old wolf who refuses to leave his pack no matter what. I'm surprised.”He threw his head back, laughter booming off the stone walls. “Leave? When you all can just come to me?”“That is why you have no friends ,” I said dryly.He smacked my shoulder hard enough to make me wince. “Good, you’ve still got humor in you. I was worried Rune had stabbed it out along with your blood.”“I heal fast.”“I see







