Mag-log inThe security office was located on the lower level of the palace, a warren of rooms filled with monitors and communication equipment. Joseph Matthews, the head of palace security, had established systems that blended traditional wolf patrols with modern technology. He was efficient, thorough, and utterly devoted to his job—qualities I respected, even when his methods sometimes clashed with my more intuitive approach.I found him hunched over blueprints of the palace grounds, grey eyes narrowed in concentration. His dark hair was cut with military precision, not a strand out of place despite the late hour. He looked up as I entered, surprise briefly flickering across his features before being masked by professional composure."King Callum," he said, straightening. "We weren't expecting you until tomorrow morning.""Made good time on the mountain pass," I replied, shutting the door behind me. "Thought we should finalise the festival security plan before I ge
The wheels of my SUV crunched through the fresh layer of snow as I pushed the vehicle harder than I should have up the winding castle approach. Exhaustion pulled at my limbs, a persistent ache from three days of digging out stranded pack members and clearing blocked roads. But that fatigue vanished beneath the urgent need to see her—to breathe in Ava's scent and feel her smaller frame tucked against mine. Ares paced restlessly in my mind, his agitation growing stronger with each mile that brought us closer to the castle, closer to Artemis. *Soon,* I promised him, though the word felt hollow after weeks of separation. The snow fell in thick, silent curtains around the vehicle, obscuring the castle until I rounded the final bend and its towers emerged like dark sentinels against the white sky. Home. Finally.I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, knuckles whitening. The eastern territories had been hit hardest by the blizzards—mountain passes buried under twenty feet of s
I pressed my fingertips against my temples, willing away the headache that had taken residence behind my eyes like an unwelcome squatter. The royal seal stared back at me from countless documents; requests for aid, reports of damage, inventories of dwindling supplies—all demanding immediate attention. Outside my office windows, snow fell in thick, unrelenting curtains, muffling the world in white silence. Five years as Queen, and I still hadn't mastered the art of being everywhere at once. My kings were scattered throughout the palace, and beyond, in Callum's case, all of us pulled in different directions by the needs of our people. The space beside me felt colder than the storm raging outside.I leaned back in my chair, the leather creaking softly beneath me. The fireplace across the room offered more light than warmth, its flames dancing and casting long shadows across the circular chamber. My office had become more of a home to me than my actual bedroom these past weeks.
AVA"Is this really necessary?" I grumbled, stumbling over what felt like the hundredth root as Oscar's hands remained firmly clasped over my eyes. The midnight air bit at my cheeks, my breath forming small clouds that I couldn't even see."Stop whining," Theo said, his voice warm with amusement as he guided me from the left. "We're almost there.""It's freezing, I'm tired, and these shoes were not made for hiking through the woods at midnight," I complained, though there wasn't much heat behind my words. Curiosity had overridden my irritation about twenty minutes ago."Just a few more steps," Noah promised from somewhere ahead."You said that ten minutes ago," I muttered, but allowed myself to be led forward.
AVAHours later, we finally emerged from our suite, dressed in our finest. I smoothed the crimson velvet of my gown, the gold embroidery catching the light as we descended the grand staircase. My Kings flanked me in their matching formal wear—black suits with crimson accents that proclaimed our unity to all who saw us."Ready?" Noah murmured, offering his arm.I nodded, taking a deep breath as we approached the massive double doors of the grand dining hall. The guards stationed outside straightened, then swung the doors open wide.The scene that greeted us stole my breath. Every table in the vast hall was filled, the space transformed by evergreen garlands and twinkling lights. Though many festival visitors had returned to their own territories for Christmas Day, a
AVAThe first light of Christmas morning filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow across our bedroom. I blinked awake, momentarily disoriented by the tangle of limbs surrounding me. Last night's Christmas Eve celebrations had ended with the five of us curled together in our new matching crimson pajamas, reading winter tales until we'd drifted to sleep.Christmas. The realization jolted me fully awake, excitement bubbling up inside me like champagne. I carefully extricated myself from between Noah and Theo, my heart racing with anticipation."Wake up!" I bounced on the mattress, jostling my four sleeping Kings. "It's Christmas!"Groans answered me as they stirred reluctantly."Come on, get your asses up!" I tugg







