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
Kade “You should learn to lighten up, boy,” he chuckled deviously. “Want some smoke?”His eyes were sharp as ever, studying me with a cold, calculating gaze. The room felt like it shrunk the moment I had stepped inside, my heart pounding in my chest as the familiar tension between us settled like a thick fog.“I didn’t know you were in town,” I replied instead, keeping my tone as neutral as possible. My stomach twisted in knots. The last time we’d spoken, things hadn’t ended well. It was a conversation that still haunted me, one filled with harsh words, threats, and ultimatums.“Business,” he said simply as he lit up his smoke, as if that was what mattered to him the most. But of course, I knew more than anyone that he could only come back to the pack for a reason… and what that reason could be, scared me. I stayed silent, waiting for him to continue. He never showed up without an agenda, and I wasn’t about to play into whatever scheme he had planned. My father had always been a ma
Valeria The day of my first trial had come. The pressure of it hung heavily in the air as I stood before the council, every gaze in the room focused on me. My pulse throbbed in my ears, but I couldn’t let them see my fear. Rylan and Aiden stood at my side, their silent support a small comfort in the midst of the chaos swirling around me. Jeric, of course, was the first to speak, his voice sharp and biting.“What was your relationship with Prince Darius before he rejected you as his mate?” Jeric’s tone was accusatory, as if he already knew the answer and was waiting for me to fall into a trap.I met his eyes, keeping my voice steady. “We weren’t close, not even after discovering we were mates. There was no bond between us.”Jeric’s lips twitched, as if he were amused by my response. He was like a predator, circling me, waiting for the right moment to strike. Another member of the council, an elder with grey streaks in his hair, leaned forward and asked the next question.“If that was
Valeria The stranger’s mocking gaze unsettled me, his eyes lingering on Rylan and me as if we were some amusing spectacle for his entertainment. His presence was sharp, dark, and heavy, as if the very air around him had shifted, tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. But I knew one thing for sure— this man was dangerous.“Who are you?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. Rylan’s hand was warm on my arm, a grounding presence beside me, but even he seemed cautious.The man didn’t answer right away, just smirked, his gaze flickering to something over my shoulder. His next words were spoken with a casual arrogance. “Kade.”I froze. Kade? The tension in the air shifted again, thicker, as if the very world held its breath. From the shadows, Kade emerged, his expression unreadable, his eyes hard as they locked onto the stranger.“Kade…” I whispered his name, my confusion growing. I glanced between them, heart pounding. “Who is this?”For a moment, Kade didn’t respond, his gaze li
Valeria The morning light filtered through the trees as Rylan and Aiden prepared to leave. They stood on the porch, their expressions serious but soft, as if they too were reluctant to go. I tried to ignore the ache in my chest, knowing I would miss their presence, their steady support, but it had to be this way. They both had duties to their packs, and this situation was far from over.Rylan was the first to step forward, his warm brown eyes locked onto mine. “Stay safe, Valeria,” he said softly, his voice carrying the warmth of his affection. “I’ll be back soon. Just call if you need anything.”I gave him a small, bittersweet smile, trying to hold back the rising emotions. “I will. Thank you, Rylan.”He pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms solid and protective. I felt a sense of peace for a moment, enveloped in his warmth, but as he pulled away, the reality of our situation settled back in. This was only a temporary farewell.Aiden, always the more lighthearted of the two, gave
ValeriaAs soon as we stepped into Kade’s study, I could feel the tension radiating from him. The door clicked shut behind me, the sound echoing in the silence that stretched between us. I crossed my arms, narrowing my gaze at him, demanding answers with just a look.“Kade,” I said, my voice firm, “you need to tell me what’s going on. No more secrets.”He hesitated, pacing back and forth across the room like a caged animal. For a moment, I thought he might avoid my question altogether, but then he stopped and faced me, his expression grave.“I don’t know how much you’ve guessed already, but you need to understand how dangerous my father is,” Kade began, his voice low and controlled. “You can’t let your guard down around him. He’ll manipulate anyone, destroy anything in his way. And now, I’m afraid he’s set his sights on you.”I stiffened at his words, my heart pounding in my chest. “Why me? Why now?”“Because of our bond,” Kade replied, his eyes darkening with something I couldn’t qui
Kade The night was quiet, too quiet. It had been gnawing at me since the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the Shadowfang pack cloaked in uneasy silence. My senses were sharper than usual, every shadow in the packhouse casting doubt, every sound making me tense. Something was coming. I could feel it, like a storm brewing just out of sight, ready to tear everything apart.As I moved through the packhouse, making my usual rounds, I found myself thinking about Valeria—again. She was safe with Aiden, but the distance between us felt like an open wound. I hated being away from her, hated not knowing exactly what she was doing, if she was alright. I knew she was strong, capable, but with Malachai lurking around, I couldn’t shake the fear that something could go wrong. And I wasn’t there to protect her.Shaking off the thought, I kept walking. The weight of my father’s earlier warning still hung over me. “Don’t cross any lines,” he had said, but what did he know about the lines I wa
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