Malachai The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a few flickering candles strategically placed around the grand chamber. The air was heavy with the scent of burning wax and a hint of something sweeter—perhaps jasmine. I waited with my arms crossed, leaning against the stone wall as the door creaked open. Seraphina stepped inside, her figure shrouded in shadows, but I could still see her sharp, calculating eyes scanning the room.She was a striking woman, no doubt about that—long, dark hair cascading down her back and her movements smooth like a predator’s. But what made her truly dangerous was her mind. Seraphina wasn’t just a pawn in anyone’s game, and that’s what made her the perfect ally. She had her own ambitions, her own desires. And today, I was counting on them.“Malachai,” she greeted, her voice like silk, gliding effortlessly through the room. “I didn’t expect to be summoned by you so soon.”I pushed off the wall, straightening up, and allowed a small smirk to tou
ValeriaThe cold air in Rylan’s packhouse clung to me, seeping into my bones, but it wasn’t the chill that left me trembling. It was the gnawing uncertainty, the endless stream of thoughts swirling in my mind, and the weight of the revelations Malachai had dumped on me. My heart still thudded heavily in my chest, each beat a reminder that nothing in my life was as it seemed. The truth of my lineage, the treachery that had surrounded my family, and the twisted game Malachai was playing—all of it left me raw.Rylan had offered me sanctuary, and yet, as I stood in the dimly lit hall of his packhouse, I wasn’t sure if this place could ever feel like safety to me. I wasn’t sure anywhere could. My hands shook slightly as I gripped the edge of the doorframe, staring out into the darkness beyond. I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was hanging by a thread.“Valeria.”His voice was calm but firm, as it always was. I turned slightly, catching Rylan’s gaze. His presence was commanding,
ValeriaThe morning light filtered through the wide windows of Rylan’s training room, casting a soft glow over the space. I stood in the center of the room, my breaths coming fast, sweat already clinging to my skin. Across from me, Rylan watched closely, his eyes steady and focused as he’d been for the past few weeks. He was patient, always waiting for me to catch my breath, never pushing too hard.“Try again,” he said softly, stepping closer, his voice calm, reassuring.I nodded, swallowing down the frustration that had been building. It was harder than I thought it would be—tapping into the power that Malachai had claimed was mine. The power that had supposedly been passed down through my bloodline. At times, it felt like I was pulling at threads that slipped between my fingers, intangible and distant. Other times, the surge of energy was so strong that I feared it would consume me.But Rylan was there through it all. Steady. Constant. His presence kept me grounded in a way I hadn’t
RylanSeraphina’s presence had always been a looming shadow in my life, ever since the day I broke off our engagement. What had once been a straightforward arrangement between families—an alliance meant to strengthen my pack—had turned into a festering wound I had yet to heal. And now, with Valeria here, that wound was being ripped open all over again.The pack was on edge. I could feel the tension in the air every time I walked through the corridors or addressed the council. Whispers followed me, people second-guessing my decisions, particularly my choice to shelter Valeria. They were worried about Malachai, and rightly so. But sheltering Valeria was not just about protection. It was about doing the right thing—for her and for us. But convincing the pack of that was becoming increasingly difficult.And Seraphina was at the heart of that difficulty.I knew she was still bitter. It wasn’t hard to see the fire in her eyes whenever we crossed paths. But I hadn’t expected her to become su
RylanThe days bled into one another as Valeria and I found ourselves spending more time together. Initially, it had been about training—helping her control her powers, guiding her through the limitations and possibilities of her abilities. But gradually, it became more than that. More than just a task to keep her safe. It became personal.I hadn’t realized how much I needed the company until I found myself anticipating our sessions. Training wasn’t just a responsibility anymore; it was a respite from the never-ending weight of leadership, the constant pull of duty, and the pressing demands of the pack. And with Valeria, it was different. She didn’t ask for anything. She didn’t demand explanations or expect solutions to every problem I faced. With her, I could breathe.As the days passed, we began to share more than just techniques and strategies. Small moments turned into conversations that ran deeper than the surface. We’d sit by the river after training, watching the water ripple u
RylanDealing with politics within my pack was always a complicated affair, but Seraphina made it downright exhausting. From the moment I broke off our engagement, I knew there would be consequences—there always were when it came to power dynamics within the pack. But I hadn’t anticipated just how much her bitterness would spill into every corner of my life.Seraphina was a master at subtlety, at pulling strings from behind the scenes. She wore her hurt like a badge, and her sharp tongue and clever words had already begun to stir whispers among the pack. I could feel their doubt pressing in on me every day. It wasn’t just the broken engagement that rankled the pack; it was the fact that I’d chosen to shelter Valeria.Valeria’s presence in my pack was a source of tension. She wasn’t just an outsider, she was a mystery. Malachai’s cousin. A woman with immense power, still learning to control it. The pack was wary, and Seraphina was using that wariness to her advantage. Every time I turn
RylanThe moon was high, casting a cold glow over the trees as I slipped out of the packhouse at midnight. My steps were quiet, deliberate, as I made my way through the shadows, avoiding any attention. It had become routine to meet in secret like this, but tonight, something felt different. The weight of the decision we were about to make hung heavily over me, even as I tried to shake the unease that had been building.When I arrived at the clearing, Kade, Aiden, and Jeric were already there, their figures barely visible in the dim light. Kade gave me a nod, and Aiden leaned against a tree, arms crossed as he always did when he was lost in thought. Jeric, however, was pacing, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket.“We need to move fast,” Jeric said the moment I stepped into the clearing, not wasting any time with pleasantries. “I’ve already started the campaign for Valeria’s coronation as Luna Queen. There’s strong opposition, of course, but I’ve handled worse. People a
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
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