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
Valeria The next morning arrived with a thick, heavy cloud of sorrow hanging over the wolf pack. The air itself seemed to mourn the loss of the Alpha King and his family. As I dressed for the funeral, a somber chill ran down my spine. There was a hollowness in my chest, a strange ache that throbbed with every breath. I couldn’t explain it, but the closer we got to the time of the ceremony, the more unsettled I felt.Rylan had insisted on accompanying me, and I was grateful. As much as I tried to stand strong, something about this day made me feel as if I might crumble at any moment. We walked in silence, and I found myself unconsciously leaning into his side, seeking comfort in his presence. He didn’t say anything about it, but his arm brushed against mine, and it was enough to ground me.When we reached the ceremonial grounds, my heart clenched. The sight of the Alpha King and his family being laid to rest was overwhelming. A strange familiarity swept through me, as if I knew them,
ValeriaWith Kade gone, the packhouse felt strangely quieter, more still than usual. I spent most of my day with Rylan, trying to distract myself from the weight of everything looming over me: the trial, the prophecy, the questions swirling in my mind about the rogue, and my growing connection with my mates. Rylan, as always, was steady and reliable, his calm presence offering a kind of solace I desperately needed.We took a walk through the woods in the afternoon, and I found myself laughing more than I had in days. Rylan had a way of making me feel lighter, as if the world wasn’t quite so heavy when he was around. We talked about everything and nothing—the trials he’d been through as a pack warrior, my childhood memories, and even mundane things like our favorite foods. I appreciated that he didn’t bring up the trial or the prophecy, choosing instead to focus on the present, on just being with me.By the time night fell, the air had cooled considerably. We returned to the packhouse,
Valeria The early morning light seeped through the curtains as I forced myself out of bed, already feeling the warmth of the day ahead. I hadn’t slept well after everything that had happened with Rylan the night before. My mind was still tangled with thoughts of the mate bond, the trial, and the strange prophecy Jeric had mentioned at the funeral. I wasn’t sure what to make of any of it, but I knew I didn’t have time to dwell on it now. A pack member had come to my door with a summons from Jeric. Great. Just great.I sighed, pulling myself together, and headed to Jeric’s office, preparing myself for another round of accusations or smug remarks. As I entered, I kept my expression neutral, waiting for whatever new insult he had in store for me.But to my surprise, Jeric didn’t launch into any tirade. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, a curious expression on his face. “Valeria,” he began, his tone strangely calm, “do you know anything about the prophecy of the coming Luna Queen?”I
KadeThe ride back to Shadowfang’s packhouse felt longer than usual. Every mile stretched on, weighed down by thoughts of Valeria. Leaving her behind felt like tearing a part of me away—like there was something vital missing. But I couldn’t let myself stay, not after everything that had happened. Not with everything I still carried.Callan, my beta, glanced at me from the driver’s seat. I could feel his eyes on me, though I kept mine on the passing trees. “You sure leaving her like that was the right move?” he asked, breaking the silence.I exhaled slowly, trying to rein in the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “I don’t know, Callan,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair. “What’s the right move in a situation like this?”“She’s your mate, Alpha,” Callan said. “You can’t keep acting like she doesn’t matter. She needs to know where you stand, and so far, you’ve shown her nothing but nonchalance, reticence and closed-off.”“She’s still under suspicion, Callan, don’t forget,” I
Valeria Stepping into the packhouse, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. My mind was still spinning from what had just happened. Rogues… they had threatened me, and if that was true, it meant something far more disturbing—Jeric hadn’t been killed by Kade, but by the rogues. The weight of that realization settled heavy in my chest as I walked forward, the packhouse looming before me in the night.Outside, I spotted Rylan. His tall, broad figure was unmistakable, even in the shadows. He was pacing, looking tense and worried, his eyes scanning the darkness as if he were searching for something—or someone. Probably me.I took a deep breath and steeled myself. There was no time to dwell on the fear gnawing at my insides. I had to tell someone, but the pieces of the puzzle still didn’t fit perfectly. Why would the rogues care about me becoming Luna Queen? What was the real reason behind all this?“Valeria?” Rylan’s voice broke through my thoughts as he spotted me. His e
Valeria The rogue leader’s grin widened as he leaned against the stone wall of the small, dark room they had thrown me into. His eyes glinted with amusement, like he was enjoying my confusion. I narrowed my gaze at him, refusing to let fear take root in my voice.“Why should I give up the coronation?” I demanded. “What could you possibly gain from stopping me?”The rogue leader crossed his arms, tilting his head as if considering my question. His features were sharp, hardened by years of living in the wild, away from the structure and protection of a pack. There was a wildness in his eyes that unnerved me, but I kept my composure.“I could ask you the same question, Luna,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “What’s in it for you? Power? Control? Or is it something more personal?”I kept my face neutral, refusing to let him bait me into an argument. “Becoming the Luna Queen isn’t just about power. It’s about protecting my pack, uniting the wolves against Malachai. You know what he’s
Valeria The morning of Jeric’s funeral came far too quickly. The air was heavy with the weight of loss, and as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the simple black dress I had chosen for the day, a dull ache settled deep in my chest. The Beta of our pack—Jeric, my friend and one of my most loyal supporters—was gone. It still didn’t feel real.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Today was not about me; it was about honoring Jeric and his service to the wolf pack. But deep down, the growing storm of uncertainty and betrayal gnawed at me. Who could have done this? And why?A soft knock sounded at my door, pulling me from my thoughts. I opened it to find Rylan standing there, his face a mixture of concern and determination. His presence always brought a strange comfort, though today, I couldn’t shake the tension that seemed to hang in the air between us.“Valeria,” he said softly, stepping into the room. “I wanted to check on you before the funeral. Are you alright?”I f
Valeria Sitting on the stone ledge of the balcony, I watched the sky above me, dark and heavy with clouds that threatened rain but never delivered. The stars were barely visible through the blanket of gray, and it felt as though the world was mirroring my internal turmoil. The night air was cool, biting against my skin, but I didn’t care. I had too much on my mind to even notice.Jeric was dead. Kade was being accused of his murder. And now, just days before I was supposed to be crowned as Luna Queen, everything felt like it was falling apart.I rested my head in my hands, my chest tightening as the weight of it all pressed down on me. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Jeric was supposed to be by my side, helping me navigate the political minefield, guiding me through the challenges of leadership. And Kade—how could anyone think that Kade would kill him? It didn’t make sense. Kade and Jeric had been brothers in everything but blood. To believe that Kade would betray him, be
KadeJeric’s body had barely gone cold, and already I felt the weight of the world pressing down on me. My heart was shattered, and my mind spun in chaotic loops. Jeric—my best friend, my brother in arms—was gone, ripped from this world by an assassin’s blade. I hadn’t been able to save him, and that failure sat heavy on my chest like a boulder.But even in my grief, one thing was clear: this wasn’t just an attack. It was a deliberate, calculated strike meant to unravel everything we’d been working for. The timing, the location, the swiftness of the blow—it was all too perfect. Jeric’s death was designed to stop Valeria’s coronation and plunge us into chaos. And I could already feel the noose tightening around my neck.The moment I stepped foot back into the pack’s territory, the whispers began. Eyes followed me with suspicion, and the once-familiar faces of my pack members now seemed hostile, accusing. I gritted my teeth, trying to hold it together as I made my way to the heart of th
The night air was thick with anticipation as I made my way to the meeting point. The moon hung low, casting a pale glow over the forest clearing. The coronation was less than twenty-four hours away, and every muscle in my body was coiled tight, ready to spring at the slightest hint of danger.I hated this feeling—the gnawing uncertainty that had settled in my gut over the past few days. I tried to push it down, but the closer we got to Valeria’s coronation, the louder that inner voice became. Something wasn’t right. I could feel it.As I approached the clearing, I spotted Jeric standing by the fire we’d set up for these late-night strategy sessions. His silhouette was tall and steady, the flames casting shadows across his face as he rifled through some papers. Jeric, ever the politician, ever the confident leader, always looked so damn composed.“Kade,” he called out, not looking up from his notes. “You’re late.”“Had to check on security,” I replied, coming to stand beside him. “You
KadeThe sun was setting as I stood by the window, staring out at the training grounds below. Pack members moved with purpose, preparing for Valeria’s coronation. Despite the outward display of unity, I could feel the tension simmering beneath the surface. It was subtle, but it was there—whispers, side glances, moments of hesitation when Valeria’s name was mentioned. Some still doubted her, questioning whether she was strong enough to lead us, to unite the packs and face Malachai’s growing threat.I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside. Jeric and I had come too far to let doubts derail our plans now. We had the support of most of the key leaders, and once the coronation was done, Valeria would have the authority she needed to solidify her position. Still, something gnawed at me. Seraphina’s presence lingered like a shadow, always on the edge of things. She was no longer openly defiant, but I knew better than to trust her sudden silence.“Something’s not right,” I muttered to my
KadeThe room was quiet except for the soft scratching of pens on paper. I glanced at Jeric across the table, his brow furrowed in concentration as he scribbled notes in the margins of the coronation agenda. His dedication to Valeria’s future as Luna Queen was unwavering, a quality I both admired and relied on. He believed in her, just as I did. Her ascension was not just about securing the future of the pack—it was about standing strong against the threat Malachai posed to all of us. If Valeria could unite the packs under one banner, we’d have the strength we needed to crush him.“We need to make sure the northern pack leaders are on board,” Jeric said, not looking up from his notes. “Without their support, it’ll be hard to get the others to fall in line.”I nodded, leaning back in my chair. The coronation was less than a week away, and the opposition was growing. There were those who still questioned Valeria’s capability, who whispered that she wasn’t ready to lead. But I knew bette
RylanThe night was thick with shadows as I moved through the dense trees, the silence broken only by the soft crunch of leaves beneath my boots. It had taken time to make the necessary arrangements, to ensure that no one would notice my absence from the packhouse. This was a dangerous meeting, one that would raise too many questions if anyone found out. But I didn’t have a choice. The stakes were higher than anyone realized, and I had to take control of the situation before it spiraled beyond our grasp.The rogues had agreed to meet me at the edge of the forest, far from any patrol routes or prying eyes. It was neutral ground, but there was always an underlying tension when dealing with rogues. They weren’t bound by the same rules or codes that governed the packs. They thrived on chaos, on breaking the very order I was sworn to uphold. But tonight, I needed them.As I stepped into the clearing, I saw them waiting. Three rogue leaders, each with their own reputation for violence and c