I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening.There was no point in hiding any longer. Slowly, I stepped out from behind the training dummies, feeling the weight of Dalton’s piercing gaze as it swept over me. His golden eyes flicked from my face to my sweat-drenched clothes, as if silently evaluating whether I had slacked off in his absence. The damp strands of hair clinging to my temples should have been proof enough—I had trained just as diligently, even without him around.Elijah spotted me first, his face lighting up in greeting as he waved. Matt, on the other hand, simply gave a curt nod. The contrast between them was almost comical—Elijah, easygoing and friendly, while Matt mirrored Dalton’s cold, calculating demeanor. Sometimes, it felt as though Matt was merely a younger shadow of his king.Dalton shifted his attention back to his two warriors and spoke, his voice laced with challenge.“There are those who claim I don’t fight fair, that I wouldn’t stand a chance against two of my own
The past few days blurred together, each one indistinguishable from the last. My body ached in places I never knew existed, yet I pushed myself harder than ever. Dalton never had to remind me—I met his expectations before he could set them. If he was surprised by my tenacity, he didn’t show it.Pain became a companion, but so did strength. I felt it in my muscles, in my stance, in the way I no longer flinched under pressure.And now, the full moon was here.Excitement buzzed under my skin like a live wire. The morning stretched endlessly, each ticking second taunting me. Sleep had been a lost cause the night before—I had tossed, turned, and watched the clock as the hours dragged on. When the time finally arrived, I leaped out of bed, threw on my training clothes, and raced down the stairs.Tonight could change everything.I wanted to see Dalton. He had been my relentless trainer, my silent shadow. As cruel as his methods were, they worked. I had changed. My once frail body was now str
Dread settled in my bones, growing heavier with every breath. The thought of finally meeting my wolf—of standing before all those powerful Alphas—sent a wave of anxiety crashing through me.What if my wolf never awakened?What if I stood there, waiting, only to be met with silence?I wouldn’t be able to show my face after that. It would be the ultimate humiliation. The whispers would start, the judgmental stares would follow, and the realization that I was nothing—just a girl without a wolf—would suffocate me.I would rather lock myself in my room forever than endure that shame.Drusilla sat across from me, watching me with an unreadable expression. I could tell she was hesitating, weighing her words before speaking. That only made me more nervous.Finally, she sighed. “I just hope your wolf awakens soon.”My heart clenched at her words.“I do too,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But that’s not all you wanted to say, is it? You’re hiding something.”Drusilla pressed her
The grand doors creaked open, and the room fell into an eerie silence. Every conversation, every whispered discussion about rogue attacks and war strategies came to an abrupt halt. And it was because of her.Oliver stepped inside with slow, deliberate steps, her head held high even as her hands clenched at her sides. The confidence she tried to portray didn’t fully mask the nervous energy radiating from her, but that didn’t matter—not when she looked like that.My breath stalled in my throat as my gaze traced her figure from head to toe.The dark blue gown she wore clung to her body like a second skin, accentuating every curve in a way that had my jaw tightening. A slit ran up one side, stopping just high enough to tempt, to make my fingers twitch with the desire to reach out and feel the warmth of her skin beneath my touch.I had seen Oliver in all sorts of clothing—loose dresses, gym wear, simple pajamas. The only time she had worn something even remotely revealing was that night by
A few minutes ago, I had been happy. Genuinely happy.Today was supposed to be one of the most important days of my life. The day everything changed.For over a month, I had trained relentlessly. I had followed every order Dalton had given me, endured every grueling challenge, and pushed my body beyond its limits. All of it was for this night—the night of the full moon, the night my wolf would awaken.For the first time in my life, I had dared to dream.I had even dressed up for the occasion.Sure, I had worn elegant gowns before—at the ball, at that party with Harry—but this was different. This wasn’t about impressing others. This was about me. About reclaiming my worth.I had imagined walking among the alphas with my head held high. No longer an outcast, no longer a weakling—just a strong, capable woman worthy of respect.But reality had a cruel way of reminding me who I was.I hadn’t even planned to attend this meeting. My only intention was to pray—to offer a silent plea to the Mo
Oliver was going to be the death of me.Every time I tried to distance myself, something inside me rebelled. It wasn’t just my body—my heart ached for her in a way I couldn’t control.She was too pure, too naive, and too damn brave for her own good. The day I brought her home, I had only intended to make amends for my past sins, not entangle her in the darkness that surrounded me.But she stayed. Even when I was cold, even when I tried to shove her away, she never left. And I hated how much that relieved me.I could feel the weight of her gaze now, studying me, waiting—always waiting for something more. I should have ignored it. Should have walked away. Instead, words slipped past my lips before I could stop them.Oliver frowned. "What did you just say?"Damn it."Nothing," I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair.She took a step forward, unrelenting. "No, you said something. Tell me."I should lie. I should say anything to make her drop it. But the way she was looking at m
I had spent too long suppressing my emotions, tangled in my own confusion. But tonight, there was no running from the truth. No more pretending.The ache that had settled deep in my chest, gnawing at my very soul every time he wasn’t around, had become unbearable. I had tried to ignore it, push it aside, convince myself it was nothing. But the moment Dalton was near, my resolve shattered like fragile glass. The pull toward him was undeniable. My body craved his touch, my lips yearned for his kiss.And tonight, I would awaken my wolf. I could feel it in my bones, humming beneath my skin, restless and impatient.There was no one else I wanted by my side but him.Dalton had been my guide, my tormentor, my salvation—training me relentlessly, pushing me past my limits, never letting me give up even when I wanted to. He had never treated me as weak, never doubted my potential. And tonight, I wanted to thank him. In the most intimate way possible.I wanted his eyes on me, only me. Those gold
The ride to the lake felt agonizingly slow, stretched thin by the heavy silence between us. The small space of the car seemed to shrink, making it impossible to escape the tension that had taken root in the air.Dalton was focused on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned pale. His sharp jaw was clenched, the veins in his throat subtly protruding as if he were restraining something—anger, frustration, or something else entirely.I fidgeted with my fingers, my mind still replaying my foolish confession from earlier. I had blurted out my fascination with him so thoughtlessly, without a drop of alcohol to blame for my lack of restraint. What had I been thinking?If he was merely toying with me, leading me to a dead end where my feelings would be left shattered and bleeding, I had nowhere else to turn.Would he do that?The question burned in my chest, but I forced myself to look away, my gaze drifting outside the car window. The night was deep
The room fell silent, all eyes shifting between me, Cynthia, and Aleksander. His expression revealed nothing as he considered my judgment."Mercy," he finally remarked, "can be mistaken for weakness.""True mercy requires greater strength than vengeance," I countered calmly. "To heal rather than destroy, to rebuild rather than discard—these are not the actions of the weak."Something flickered across his face—not quite approval, but perhaps reassessment. "The judgment seems... appropriate," he conceded. "Though I would add one condition."I raised an eyebrow, waiting."During her year of service, she will spend one month in my territory, assisting our healers with the spring birthing season. She will see firsthand how packs can differ yet still respect each other's ways."The proposal surprised me—it was both a punishment and an opportunity, a chance for Cynthia to expand her understanding beyond the narrow confines of her prejudice.I glanced at Dalton, who gave a subtle nod, then at
The formal welcoming ceremony for Aleksander's pack was a masterpiece of carefully orchestrated pageantry. Every detail had been planned to demonstrate our pack's strength while honoring our guests—a delicate balance struck between power and hospitality.I stood at Dalton's side before the great stone archway that marked the entrance to our central compound, dressed in ceremonial garments that blended traditional pack symbols with subtle elements that marked me as Dalton's mate. As promised, I wore no magical protection, though Dalton had insisted on having Eliza work subtle strengthening spells into the embroidery of my jacket—"Not protection," he'd argued when I'd raised an eyebrow, "just enhancement of your natural abilities. Even Aleksander can't object to that."The distant sound of drums announced the Winter's Edge pack's approach. They moved with military precision, Aleksander at their head, his tall figure imposing even at a distance. Behind him marched his highest-ranking pac
Victor's expression was stone. "Enough, Cynthia.""The matter will be settled according to both our packs' laws," I interjected, unwilling to see her executed despite everything she'd done. "As the wronged party, I'll have a say in her fate."Aleksander's eyebrows rose again. "Mercy from an omega. How... unexpected.""Justice," I corrected. "Not revenge. That's the difference between leadership and tyranny."Something flickered in his cold eyes—not warmth, exactly, but perhaps a reluctant reassessment. "We'll see if you maintain that philosophy after spending more time as an Alpha's mate." He gestured to his pack members. "We return to our camp. The formal meeting will proceed tomorrow as originally planned."As they turned to leave, Cynthia was firmly escorted between two of Aleksander's guards—clearly now his prisoner rather than his informant. She twisted to look back at me, her expression a complex mixture of hatred and fear."This isn't over," she hissed.I met her gaze steadily.
My stomach dropped at the sight of her. She looked different—her usual polished appearance replaced by something harder, her blonde hair pulled back severely, her posture rigid with purpose. Her eyes found mine immediately, a small, triumphant smile playing at the corners of her mouth.The two groups halted a respectful distance apart, the morning breeze carrying scents between us—the unfamiliar, pine-and-snow smell of the Winter's Edge pack mixing with our own forest-and-earth scent.Protocol dictated that as the junior Alpha's representative, I should speak first, acknowledging Aleksander's status and thanking him for agreeing to this meeting. But before I could open my mouth, Cynthia stepped forward."This is the one I told you about," she said to Aleksander, her voice carrying clearly across the clearing. "The omega who ensorcelled our Alpha."A ripple of tension went through my escort. Victor's hand twitched at his side, his expression unreadable as he watched his daughter.Aleks
As the room cleared, Dalton maintained his grip on me, silently indicating I should remain. Once we were alone, his carefully controlled expression cracked, revealing the turmoil beneath."You can't seriously be considering this," he said, his voice low and intense."It's our best option," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "If I face him directly, on my terms—""He could kill you," Dalton cut in harshly. "Do you understand that? This isn't just pack politics, Oliver. Aleksander considers omega males an abomination. In his territory, they don't survive presentation."I swallowed hard. "I know. But that's exactly why this might work. He's expecting me to be weak, to hide. If I show strength—""He might respect it," Dalton acknowledged reluctantly. "Or he might see it as a challenge to his worldview that must be eliminated."I stepped closer, placing my free hand against his chest, feeling the strong, rapid beat of his heart. "Then we make sure elimination isn't an o
"Aleksander's pack approaches," Dalton began once we were seated, Dalton at the head of the table and me to his right. "And Cynthia has fled, likely to join them with false accusations against my mate.""False according to whom?" Victor challenged, his voice tight with barely controlled rage. "My daughter has served this pack loyally for years. She was raised to be your mate, to stand at your side as Alpha female. Instead, you publicly humiliate her for—" His eyes flicked dismissively toward me, "—this."A low growl rumbled from Dalton's chest, a sound that made the hairs on my neck stand on end. "Choose your next words carefully, Victor."The older wolf didn't back down. "The pack has a right to question your judgment in this matter. Aleksander certainly will.""My judgment is sound," Dalton replied, his voice dangerously even. "And your daughter attempted to kill my claimed mate. She's lucky exile is all she faces."Murmurs spread around the table at this. Exile was one of the harsh
Chapter"To check my injuries," I explained. "And to warn me about Aleksander."Dalton's expression darkened. "What exactly did she say?""That sometimes love isn't enough. That it takes strategy, too." I moved to the window, looking out at the pack grounds bathed in the day's fading light. Members were already moving with purpose, responding to what must have been Matteo's alerts. "She's right, Dalton. If we face Aleksander head-on about this, we risk everything—the alliance, the pack's safety, your authority.""What are you suggesting?" His voice was cautious.I turned back to him, an idea forming—one I wasn't sure I had the courage to voice. "What if... what if Aleksander doesn't see me as your mate when he arrives?"Dalton's eyes narrowed. "Absolutely not. I won't hide you, Oliver. I won't pretend our bond doesn't exist.""Not forever," I clarified quickly. "Just until the alliance is secured. Until we can find a way to introduce the idea more... gradually.""Deception isn't my wa
He turned to me, his golden eyes fierce. "Their opinions don't matter. I am the Alpha.""But their cooperation does matter," I pointed out gently. "Especially with the Northern Alliance meeting coming up."Dalton's expression darkened. "Matteo told you.""Cynthia did, actually," I corrected. "Right before she tried to cut my throat with a piece of broken glass."He winced, setting down the plate he'd been holding and moving closer to me. His hands came to rest on my shoulders, thumbs brushing against the fabric of my borrowed shirt."I should have told you," he admitted, his voice dropping. "I just... I didn't want to taint what we have with pack politics. Not yet."I leaned into his touch despite myself. "I need to know what we're facing, Dalton. All of it."He sighed, then nodded toward the dining table. "Let's eat. This conversation requires sustenance."We settled at the table, the domesticity of sharing a meal together still novel enough to send a ripple of warmth through me desp
I spent the rest of the day in a state of anxious anticipation. After cleaning up the broken glass and attending to my bruises—which were already fading thanks to my werewolf healing—Dalton had reluctantly left to deal with Cynthia and inform the pack council about the incident. He'd been hesitant to leave me alone again, but I insisted. I needed time to process everything that had happened.The Northern Alliance. The treaty negotiations. The fact that our relationship might trigger political consequences I hadn't even considered when I'd surrendered to the bliss of our claiming.I paced the length of Dalton's quarters—our quarters—trying to organize my thoughts. The initial euphoria of being chosen, of finally belonging, had been tempered by the harsh reality of what our union might cost the pack. Cost Dalton.A knock at the door interrupted my spiraling thoughts."Come in," I called, half-expecting it to be Dalton returning.Instead, Eliza—the pack's healer and one of the few who ha