The next morning at Ragnar’s camp, Stella went to great lengths to avoid Caden, who was paying close attention to her every move. His wolf was restless at being so close to their mate, yet she was ignoring him. He just wanted to talk to her, to understand why she would reject him when she hadn’t even met him.
Caden was irritated by how attached she was to her brother, using him as a human shield. Between that and the weird glances Collin, Ragnar’s friend, kept throwing his way, he was confused.“The carriage is ready, Caden,” Ember called from the carriage.Raphael, wordless ever since they arrived and Ragnar met Kaya, sat in the driver’s spot, staring off into the woods.Caden didn’t know whose situation was worse, his or Raphael’s. Your long time crush finding her mate, or your mate rejecting you?Ragnar had permitted some of his pack members to accompany them to Bloodveil to assist, as they were venturing into abandoned territory, and with two sick women requiTheir arrival at Bloodveil territory was quieter than they had imagined it would be. The regents stationed at the borders parted and let them through as if they had been expecting them.Ember had thought they’d have to fight their way in since the territory was under Thorne’s control, but no such thing happened. As the carriage rolled toward the towering gates of Bloodveil’s pack house, Ember was overcome with nostalgia. This was the land and home she had been born and raised in, where she had lived her early years with her brother and parents.She turned to look at Caden and found him staring up at the gates in quiet awe, just as she had been.The sparse guards moving around the territory paid them no mind as the carriages rolled to a stop in the courtyard. The huge building looked old and weathered, in need of repainting and fixing in areas where windows and pillars had chipped away. The house was a shadow of itself, obviously neglected under Thorne’s rule.Raphael
The room was in worse condition than Ember had expected. Dust caked the furnitures and cobwebs stretched from the bedposts to the ceiling, the heavy curtains hung tattered, barely covering the dust coated windows. The air was thick with the scent of abandonment clinging to every surface.Caden swept his hand over the old dresser, raising it to show a layer of dust so thick it looked like soot. He wiped it on his pants and a muttered curse. “This is disgusting.”Raphael was already by the bed, testing the bed frame with a tentative push. It groaned under his weight but held. “Not as bad as it could be. At least it’s still standing.”Ember ignored both of them, stepping further into the room. It was her parent’s room once, a place she’d played in as a child, watching her mother brush her hair by the mirror, her father leaning against the doorway, murmuring things Ember had been too young to understand. It had been warm then, and alive. But now, it felt like a tomb.She swallowed hard, p
Darius stood in the middle of the wreckage, blood dripping from the wound on his arm where a splinter had torn through flesh in his rage. The room was a disaster with broken furniture and shattered glass littered on the floor. None of it mattered though, Serene was gone. Back to Matteo, to comfort, back to a life that suited her, and she was going to kill his child. He didn’t blame her though, she was never meant for cheap inns and uncertainty, or scraping by with nothing but empty promises. He had nothing to offer her anymore.A sharp, impatient knock sounded at the door. He didn’t move. The door creaked open, and the innkeeper stepped in, pausing as he took in the mess. His eyes narrowed in irritation. “What the hell is this?”Darius didn’t respond.The man huffed, stepping further inside and crossing his arms over his chest. “You think you can tear up this place and just stand there?” His voice rose with frustration. “I want you out. Now.”Darius exhaled, slowly flexing his finger
Serene reached the gates of Matteo’s estate, her dress wrinkled from her journey, dust clinging to the cloth. She had run the whole way in her wolf form, then stole the dress from a small clan on the way, but none of that mattered now.She was back.The guards stepped in front of the gate, blocking her path. “You’re wasting your time,” one of them said lazily as he ran his gaze over her.Serene lifted her chin. “Open the gate.”The other guard snorted. “You think you can just walk back in? After what you did?”Her jaw clenched, but she kept her voice steady. “I said, open it.”“You got kicked out for spreading your legs for Thorne,” the first one sneered. “Matteo doesn’t want you.”“Maybe you didn’t hear me,” she said, stepping closer. “Open. The. Gate.”The guards laughed, shaking their heads. “Or what? You’ll beg your way in? Or maybe you’ll suck…”Her eyes flashed gold and the smirk on his face disappeared.“You really want to test that theory?” she asked, her voice low and deadly.
Serene let the warm water cascade down her body, sighing in pleasure as it melted away the tension in her muscles. It was a rare luxury and one she intended to enjoy. The bathroom door was locked, and she had no plans of leaving anytime soon, no matter how loudly Matteo pounded on the other side.“Serene!” He yelled, his voice was furious. “Get out. Now.”She smirked, tilting her head back to let the water run over her face. “I’m busy,” she called back lazily.His fist struck the door again, the sound echoing through the walls. “You think you can just waltz in here and make yourself at home?”“Yes,” she answered simply.A growl followed, then heavy footsteps pacing outside. She heard the shift in his breathing, the way he was holding back the full force of his rage. He wanted to kick the door down, she could feel it, but he wouldn’t. A moment later, his voice turned cold. “You have five seconds before I drag you out myself.”Serene only hummed in response, dragging her fingers throug
Ember stood on the crumbling balcony of what was once her family’s mansion, the wind cold against her skin as she stared out over their ruined territory. The sight of it still made her angry, this place, once filled with life, was now nothing but decayed. Bloodveil belonged to Thorne now.And inside her… so did a piece of him.Her hand moved to her stomach, the weight of her secret pressing on her heavier than ever. But before she could sink too deep into her thoughts, a voice tore through the silence.“Ember!”She turned sharply to Caden’s voice, the urgency in it sending her pulse racing. It was coming from their parents room.Her heart pounding, she rushed inside, her footfalls echoing through the abandoned halls until she reached the doorway. Caden was hunched over their mother’s still form, his hands gripping the the sheets. He looked up at Ember, his eyes wide with disbelief.“She twitched,” he breathed. “I think she’s about to wake up.”Ember rushed to her mother’s side, pressi
Stella sat with her back against a tree, the small carving knife gripped in her hand as she worked on the piece of wood, shaping it little by little into the form of a wolf. Her strokes were slow and careful, the quiet scrape of blade against bark echoing around her.Then, some movement. She barely had time to react before a figure slipped into view from her side, moving too quietly for comfort. She shot to her feet, the knife gripped tightly in her fingers, heart hammering against her ribs.Collin.The moonlight caught the glint in his eye, a wicked, amused expression pulling at his mouth. He hadn’t meant to be caught, or maybe he had.Stella took a slow step back, her wary gaze locked onto him. “What do you want?”Collin tilted his head, his hands tucked into his pockets like he had all the time in the world. “Relax, little wolf,” he said, voice smooth and too easy. “Just curious. You and Caden, huh?”Her grip on the knife tightened. “That’s not your business.”Collin let out a low
Back at Bloodveil, Luna Zyrah, recovered, sat up in the bed, her sharp eyes cutting through the dim light of the room. There was no softness in her tone when she spoke. “How did you survive all these years, Ember?” Her gaze flickered to Caden for a second, but she didn’t acknowledge him further. Ember stood stiffly beside the bed, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I survived. Day by day.”Caden leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, avoiding eye contact, clearly uncomfortable with the moment.Zyrah didn’t waste time. “I missed you. But I want the truth. How’d you end up here?” Her eyes locked on Ember’s, calculating. “Sold to Thorne’s pack, I hear? Must’ve been a hard bargain.”Ember’s stomach twisted. She avoided her mother’s gaze. “It wasn’t easy,” she said quickly, skimming over the details. “But I managed.”Silence settled between them, thick with unasked questions yet Zyrah’s sharp eyes never left her. “Have you met him yet?”Ember’s heart stuttered. “What do you mean
Thorne’s massive black wolf clashed with the white one, their growls shaking the quiet woods as they snapped and scraped at each other. They broke apart, circling each other, both ready to kill.Before either of them could lunge again, a voice yelled out. “Ragnar!” Kaya shouted as she burst into the clearing with panic all over her face.Ember’s heart skipped and her eyes darted to the white wolf... realizing…“Wait…” she murmured, “That’s Ragnar…”She didn’t stop to think and she rushed toward them, throwing her arms out. “Stop! Both of you!”The black wolf that was Thorne skidded to a halt, baring his teeth. The white wolf growled, his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths.“He’s with us,” Ember said quickly, her eyes on Thorne. “Ragnar’s one of us. He’s not the enemy.”Ragnar growled through the mind-link, his voice rough and angry in her head.“He’s always been the enemy. I came here to kill him.”Thorne responded just as coldly.“You can try. Everyone who’s ever wanted a pie
“I’m going outside to get some air,” Ember muttered.Caden just nodded, already sinking back onto the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving Stella’s face.Ember made her way down the stairs as the house buzzed with activity all around her. Hammers tapped, brushes sweeping, voices murmuring all around the house. She passed the workers, each one pausing to bow slightly or nod at her.The hallway no longer looked like abandonment. The cobwebs were gone, the heavy smell of dust had been replaced with clean air and the faint scent of polish. The faded wallpapers had been stripped and replaced with colors that glowed warmly under the light streaming through the lamps. It was becoming a home again. She was the Luna of Thorne Maddox’s pack. That truth echoed in her head with a weight she could finally carry, and she was carrying his child. And despite all his scars and all their disagreements, Thorne had ordered this house to be rebuilt and had stationed guards to protect her, he had exten
Ember watched from the far side of the room as Caden pressed his palm to Stella’s forehead. His expression was grim, and his shoulders dropped in sadness.“She’s not burning up,” he said, “she’s healing fine… just still out cold.”Probably from the trauma, Ember thought, but she didn’t say it out loud. Stella’s lashes twitched a little but her face was slack. Ragnar sat on one of the narrow beds with his legs spread and his hands clenched. The big room was starting to feel like a den, her mother’s corner armchair, Caden kneeling beside Stella sleeping, Ragnar barely holding it together, and her, watching it all. The builders hadn’t finished the left wing they started with so for now, the master bedroom was all they had.Ragnar’s voice broke the silence. “Where’s Kaya?”“She’s okay,” Ember said. “She’s healed completely. But she wasn’t here when we brought you two in. She probably went out for a run or something.”He didn’t say anything, he just gave her a stiff nod and stared down at
The night was silent, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. Moonlight slipped through the dense canopy of the trees above, casting shadows over the forest floor where the eight men moved like ghosts, silently and focused.Darius kept his eyes ahead and his senses sharp. Every step brought them closer to the edge of Thorne’s estate. The tall walls of stone loomed in the distance, partially covered by wild vines and the mist.Collin crouched ahead of them, and raised one hand as a signal.Darius stepped forward and joined him, crouching beside him in the bushes. Collin’s breath steamed slightly in the cool night as he leaned in towards him.“We can get in without much trouble,” he whispered. “Security is even more lighter than we expected.”Darius gave him a curt nod that confirmed that he’d heard. Bloodveil had drawn Thorne’s attention and he had left his home vulnerable.Collin looked over his shoulder at the men behind them, then turned back
Darius watched as Collin spat out a thick glob of blood, then he laughed… actually laughed, and slapped his thighs like it was all a joke.“I can’t believe she escaped before I ever got a taste,” Collin said like it was nothing. Stella had nearly died.Disgust crawled under Darius’s skin, but he kept his expression flat. He reminded himself for the hundredth time that he needed Collin. At least until Thorne was dead. After that, they’d never have to cross paths again.The air still smelled like blood, and the clearing was eerily silent now that the chaos had ended. Ragnar had fought like a possessed man, pummeling Collin to the edge of death before scooping his unconscious sister into his arms and walking away without a word. Back to Bloodveil, no doubt.Collin spat again then rolled his shoulders as his body continued the process of healing. Flesh stitched itself together where Ragnar’s claws had torn into his ribs.He’d taken damage, but he’d given it too. It had been a dirty fight
Luna Zyrah stood from her bed, her robe brushing against the stone floor as she walked over to Kaya’s corner. Kaya sat curled up by the window, staring blankly at the wall like it held all the answers to her pain.“How long do you plan to sulk?” Luna Zyrah asked with her arms crossed. “Shouldn’t you be preparing to meet your mate? The one who saved your life?”Kaya didn’t move or blink. “I asked you a question,” Zyrah said, her voice tight. “When I speak to you, you answer.”“I’m not one of your wolves,” Kaya said flatly. “You’re not my Luna. I don’t belong to anyone.”Luna Zyrah’s hand lifted like she meant to slap her across the face.“Mother,” Ember’s voice cut through the air, sharp and calm all at the same time.Zyrah froze mid-motion. She didn’t look back at Ember, she just exhaled sharply through her nose and stormed out of the room, robes flaring behind her.Ember crossed the room with slow, careful steps, like she wasn’t sure Kaya would even tolerate her presence.“You shoul
Raphael opened his eyes slowly, blinking up at the sky above. His vision was blurry at first, but when it cleared, all he could see were branches leaning over the edge of a pit. Cold air brushed against his skin, and his whole body felt like it had been hit by a truck.He tried to sit up and winced. His back ached, and his legs hurt even more. He glanced down and realized one ankle was swollen. Definitely twisted, maybe worse. The dirt beneath him was damp and cold, clinging to his clothes. He must’ve been lying there for a while.Right. The fall. He had been running. Everything came back in a slow, bitter wave.He had been running through the forest like a man with nowhere to go and everything to lose. Leaving Bloodveil, leaving Kaya, and Ember.Raphael let out a shaky breath and leaned his head back against the wall behind him. His heart didn’t ache like it had when he first saw Ragnar with Kaya, it burned. He hadn’t expected it. He’d always thought there was a chance, no matter how
Collin tilted his head towards Stella who was standing by the fire with her arms crossed, the glow danced across her soft features. “Have you ever seen anything finer than that?” he muttered, nudging Darius with his elbow, his eyes locked on her like he hadn’t eaten in days and she was the main course. “Sexy as hell, isn’t she?”Darius smiled but he didn’t say a word.Collin scoffed. “What a waste though. Mated to a scrawny teenage boy who has probably never even seen a woman naked.”Darius gave a lazy shrug and let his gaze wander to the trees. “When are you making your move?”Collin blinked. “On?”“Thorne,” Darius said plainly, his tone shifting. “Before he picks a beta. Once he does, his perimeter and security is going to get tighter. I’m running out of time.”That wiped the grin off Collin’s face. He straightened up, his shoulders rolling as his whole vibe turned serious. “What’s this really about? Why the obsession?”Darius didn’t answer right away. He rubbed the back of his nec
The room was quiet as Raphael, Ragnar, Caden, and Luna Zyrah all watched her, like the fate of the world depended on the words sitting heavy on her tongue. Ember swallowed, her throat was tight but she already knew the answer. She’d known it the second Ragnar helped them that night in the woods and from how he treated and protected his sister. But knowing didn’t make it easier.She didn’t want to hurt Raphael, not with the way his eyes were pleading and desperate and full of history she still didn’t understand. He was with Kaya when she had being taken to Thorne’s mansion and he no doubt protected her too.But this wasn’t about comfort or friendship, or even who came first. This was about who Kaya needed now.Ember shifted her gaze slowly, locking eyes with Raphael calmly despite the weight in her chest.“She’ll need someone strong,” she said quietly. “Someone who won’t hesitate in making decisions that’s best for her.”Then she turned to Ragnar.“It should be you. I’m trusting you to