ValeriaOpening the door, I was greeted by a tall, broad-shouldered figure who wore a disarmingly cheerful expression. For a moment, I blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected warmth.“You must be Valeria,” the man said, flashing a bright smile. “I’m Finnian, the pack’s scout. I’ve been sent to bring you to the dining room for dinner.”I nodded, trying to adjust to the contrast of his easy demeanor, so different from Kade’s. “I’m surprised,” I admitted, as I followed him down the hall. “You’re much less… grumpy than Kade.”Finnian let out a hearty chuckle, the sound echoing through the dimly lit hallway. “Kade? Grumpy? That’s an understatement. He’s more like a thundercloud walking on two legs.”I couldn’t help but smile at that. It was nice to share a light moment, even if it didn’t last. As we walked through the corridors, my stomach twisted with nerves. Meeting Kade’s subordinates wasn’t exactly on my list of things I was excited about, especially given my situation.When we rea
ValeriaThe early morning light filtered through the curtains as I slowly blinked my eyes open. A strange feeling tugged at my senses, an awareness that something was off. My heart jumped in my chest when I turned and saw Kade standing by my bed, his face mere inches from mine, his breath steady but deep. He was close enough that I knew he was inhaling my scent. My wolf stirred, both startled and curious.“Kade?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The intimacy of the moment left me feeling exposed.As if sensing my discomfort, Kade straightened and took a step back. His face, which had softened for just a second, hardened into the stern look I’d come to associate with him. Any vulnerability that had been there was locked away again, hidden behind the walls he constantly kept up.“You’re coming with me to the training grounds,” he said, his tone clipped and all business. “Elder Eamon wants you there.”I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “Eamon wants me to come? Are you sur
ValeriaAs soon as Kade and I rounded a corner where no one could see us, I barely had a second to process what was happening before he grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me against the wall. My breath hitched, both from the shock of his roughness and the sight of his face, twisted in anger. He was seething, his eyes dark with fury.“What the hell was that back there?” Kade growled, his grip tightening on my collar. His face was inches from mine, his breath hot against my skin. “What did you do, Valeria?”“I—I don’t know,” I stammered, my heart racing. “I swear, I don’t know what happened back there.”But he wasn’t listening. His hands dug deeper into the fabric of my shirt as he shook me slightly, his body trembling with barely restrained rage. “Don’t lie to me,” he hissed. “That kind of power, it doesn’t just come out of nowhere.”“I’m not lying!” I protested, trying to wriggle free, but Kade’s hold was too strong. “I don’t know what that was. It just happened!”Kade’s eyes nar
ValeriaThe sudden knock on my door jolted me awake. I blinked groggily, realizing that I had fallen asleep on the floor, curled up by the door after crying myself into exhaustion. My eyes were swollen, my face still damp with the remnants of tears. I sat up slowly, the ache in my chest a dull reminder of the mess I had caused earlier with Kade.Another knock echoed through the room, and I wiped my face, trying to pull myself together before standing. When I opened the door, Finnian stood there with a small tray of food in his hands, his usual cheerful expression softening when he saw me.“I thought you might be hungry,” he said gently, holding out the tray. “I know it’s been a rough day.”I forced a small smile and took the tray from him, grateful for the gesture. “Thanks, Finnian,” I murmured, stepping back into the room and placing the tray on the table.Before he could turn to leave, I hesitated, my thoughts immediately drifting to Kade. I knew I had hurt him, but I had no idea ho
ValeriaThe kitchen was quiet when I slipped downstairs in the early morning. The packhouse, usually buzzing with activity, was still, and it was almost peaceful as I padded barefoot across the cool floor, feeling a strange calm in the silence. I headed straight for the kitchen, needing a drink of water to soothe the dry knot in my throat after the restless night I had.As I approached the fridge, I halted, realising I wasn’t alone. Kade stood in front of the open refrigerator, his broad frame illuminated by the faint light from inside. My instinct was to turn around and leave, but something made me hesitate. His wrist was still wrapped in the bandage, the injury from when I accidentally used that strange burst of power on him, and he was struggling to reach for something on the top shelf. His left arm hung stiffly, still numb from the strain.I sighed quietly, unsure whether to help or let him figure it out himself. My feet moved before my mind could decide.“Here, let me,” I said, s
ValeriaAs we arrived at the packhouse of the wolf pack, a strange blend of familiarity and unease washed over me. The towering structure with its rustic stone walls and heavy wooden doors felt like home, yet beneath that comfort lay an undeniable sense of danger, as if unseen eyes were watching me. My heart pounded, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. I don’t know what it was about but the feeling wouldn’t shake off my mind. It was as if the dangers were lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to make a mistake or for me to come to it, almost like that undeniable pull I felt as it drew me back to the wolf pack on that night I came back here.The moment I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by the comforting presence of Rylan and Aiden. Their faces were solemn but kind, both of them exuding a warmth I clung to. Their faces weren’t masked with stern expressions unlike Kade who looked like he had just finished fighting in a war. “Valeria,”
ValeriaI couldn’t shake the chill that crept up my spine as I watched one of the cloaked figures disperse into the shadows. Had they seen me? My heart was racing, and I could barely keep my breaths steady as I stayed hidden in the darkness. But then, just as I was about to turn and slip back into the packhouse, something caught my eye. One of the figures had broken off from the group, disappearing into the woods behind the courtyard.The other person had disappeared out of sight just before I could poke my head out again.I hesitated for a moment. I knew it wasn’t wise to follow someone into the forest, especially someone I suspected was involved in the Alpha King’s death, but my curiosity burned hotter than my sense of self-preservation. Without thinking, I found myself stepping into the moonlit path, trailing behind the cloaked figure at a safe distance.Each step was calculated, my feet moving as silently as possible on the dirt path. The figure ahead of me moved swiftly, like they
Valeria My legs ached with every step, the soreness from the fight with the rogue gnawing at me, but I forced myself to keep going. The sight of the packhouse brought a rush of relief, but it was fleeting. As I drew closer, I saw Kade standing outside, his eyes scanning the darkness. There was an unmistakable look of worry etched into his features. It was a look I hadn’t seen from him before, and for some reason, it made my chest tighten.The moment he spotted me, he rushed toward me, his brows furrowed in concern. “Where have you been?” he demanded, his voice sharp with worry. “You disappeared from your room all of a sudden. I thought—”“I just needed to get some fresh air,” I interrupted, forcing a small smile, though it was nowhere near convincing. There was no way I was going to tell him the truth—not about the rogue, the fight, or the strange power that had burst out of me again. He wouldn’t believe me anyway.Kade’s eyes roamed over me, taking in my disheveled appearance, the c
KadeThe weight of everything pressing down on me was almost unbearable as I walked through the corridors of the Shadowfang packhouse. My mind was still on Valeria—on how much she had been through, how her world had been turned upside down, and how, despite all of it, she was still standing strong. She had gone through so much already, and now she was living with the constant threat of Malachai’s twisted ambition looming over her. I couldn’t help but feel helpless.But I had responsibilities here too. I couldn’t let Shadowfang fall apart while Valeria was away. The pack needed me. The pack needed me.As I walked past the pack’s dining hall, the clinking of silverware and low murmurs of conversation caught my attention. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard this particular voice, but it always grated on my nerves just the same. I paused for a moment, glancing into the room. There, seated at the long dining table, was Mikaela.Her eyes met mine immediately, and the smile that spread across
Valeria The soft rustle of pages turning was the only sound in the library, my eyes scanning the text before me, desperate to uncover anything that might give me some insight into the Nightshade family. I had found the book myself, tucked away in the far corner of the packhouse’s library, one that had piqued my curiosity. It had an old, worn leather cover, its pages yellowed with age, and the scent of dust and parchment filled the air as I flipped through it.The book wasn’t like the others I’d come across; it wasn’t just about history or magical theory—it was a lineage book, a collection of stories and records about the Nightshade family. My heart beat faster with each page I turned. The further I went, the more details I uncovered about the Nightshades’ legacy. They were no ordinary family. This was no mere royal bloodline. This was the family that had been at the center of everything—controlling not just packs, but holding unimaginable power and magic. They weren’t just royalty—t
ValeriaSelene took a seat at the dining table, her eyes flicking between Aiden and me with an air of entitlement. The tension in the room was suffocating, a quiet storm building in the spaces between us. I could feel her gaze burning into me as she delicately placed her hands on the table, giving a sweet, mocking smile.“You know, I’ve always found it amusing,” Selene began, her voice light and casual, “how some people think they’re so special just because they’ve been labeled with a title.” Her eyes darted toward me, thinly veiled venom in her tone. “Being called the Luna Queen doesn’t make you royalty, Valeria. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re still… well, let’s just say, inexperienced in a lot of things.”I clenched my hands under the table, willing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let her rattle me, no matter how hard she tried. But her words still stung, especially with Aiden sitting right there. He remained silent, his eyes flicking between us, clearly trying to avo
ValeriaThe moonlight streamed through the large windows of the packhouse, casting a soft glow across the room as I sat on the bed. My mind was still reeling from my encounter with Selene earlier in the day. It was hard to shake off the tension her arrival had caused, but I knew I needed to focus on more important things—like Aiden. He had been quiet, his face tight with worry ever since Selene showed up, and I could sense the turmoil brewing inside him.I heard the door creak open and glanced up to see Aiden stepping into the room. His brows were furrowed, his shoulders tense. He had been on edge since our conversation with Selene, and I knew it was eating away at him. He paced the room for a moment before sitting down heavily beside me, running a hand through his hair.“I can’t believe this is happening,” he muttered, his voice low and strained. “Selene… of all people, she shows up now. After all this time, when I thought she was—” He broke off, his jaw clenching as if the words wer
Valeria The morning air was crisp as I made my way down the hall, lost in my thoughts. Aiden had been doing everything he could to make me comfortable here at Stormclaw, and for the most part, it had been working. But ever since that woman—Selene—had shown up, I felt a tension in the air, one I couldn’t ignore. It wasn’t that I feared her, but I knew she wasn’t here without reason. People didn’t just come back from the dead without some agenda.As I turned the corner, I wasn’t surprised to see her standing there, leaning casually against the wall. Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves down her back, and she had this smug expression on her face like she was waiting for me.“Valeria,” she said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. “I was wondering when we’d have a chance to talk. Alone.”I kept my expression neutral, refusing to rise to whatever bait she was trying to dangle in front of me. “Selene,” I replied, keeping my voice calm, though I could feel the heat simmering just benea
Aiden I stood in the hallway, watching as Selene unpacked her things, her old room slowly coming back to life around her. It felt surreal, like stepping into a memory that had long since faded, but was now being forced back into focus. She moved around the room with a certain ease, as if no time had passed at all, like she hadn’t been gone for months and everything was still the way it had been before. But things had changed—I had changed.She glanced over her shoulder, catching me watching her. “What? You’re just going to stand there?” she asked, raising an eyebrow with a hint of a smirk.I didn’t respond immediately. I was still trying to wrap my head around all of this, the fact that she was here again, alive and unpacking as if she planned on staying. I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, my mind running in circles.Selene turned back to her suitcase, folding a shirt neatly before placing it in the drawer. “Well, I guess it’s my turn to ask questions now,” she said, her v
Aiden The moment Selene’s name left my lips, I knew it was going to be a long night. She was standing in the dining room like a ghost from the past, a figure I never thought I’d see again, let alone here, in Stormclaw. My muscles tensed, the familiar scent of her filling the air, though it was tinged with something darker now—something I didn’t recognize.“Aiden,” she said again, her voice smooth and dripping with mock sweetness, “Didn’t you miss me?” Her words were accompanied by a coy smile, one that used to have a hold over me, but now? It just made me wary.I couldn’t respond right away. I didn’t even know where to start. The last time I’d seen her—no, the last time anyone had seen her—she was dead. Or at least that’s what I’d been told. The rumors of her death spread like wildfire, consuming everything in its path. I hadn’t even known how to feel about it back then, but now… standing here in front of her again, I felt like the ground was shifting beneath my feet.Before I could
Valeria The past few days had been the most peaceful I’d experienced in months. Here in Aiden’s pack, Stormclaw, there was a serenity that wrapped itself around me, quieting the storm that usually raged inside. The constant tension that had followed me seemed to dissipate, allowing me to breathe without the weight of the world pressing down on my chest. I could almost forget about Malachai’s threat and the lingering danger that loomed on the horizon.Aiden had been a constant source of comfort. Every day, he found new ways to make me feel safe, and though I had my moments of doubt, being with him made it easier to believe that things could turn out okay. He even went out of his way to bring me books from the pack’s library—one in particular caught my attention.“This one looked like something you’d enjoy,” Aiden said, handing me the book with a grin. His golden eyes sparkled with mischief, but there was an earnestness to the gesture that made my heart warm.I took the book, examining
Valeria The air in Stormclaw had a different feel to it—less stifling than in Shadowfang, and certainly less tense than I’d felt back in Lycora. Despite the looming threat of Malachai and the chaos in my life, Aiden’s pack had an almost calming effect on me. It was as if, for a brief moment, I could breathe. But still, the weight of what was happening gnawed at me. I couldn’t forget that I had left Kade behind, and that Malachai was out there, searching for me.That night, after settling in for what was supposed to be a quiet evening, Aiden surprised me. He knocked gently on my door, the soft sound breaking through my racing thoughts.“Valeria,” he said, leaning against the doorframe, his usual playful smirk in place. “I was thinking… how about we get out of here for a while?”I arched a brow, curiosity piqued. “What do you mean, ‘get out of here?’”Aiden pushed off the frame and took a few steps closer, his golden eyes shimmering in the dim light of the room. “There’s a place not fa